| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08855448B2 |
Advanced modulation format using two-state modulators
An optical modulator device comprising an interferometer. The interferometer includes an input optical coupler, an output optical coupler, and two or more controllable optical waveguides located on a substrate. Each controllable optical waveguide connects the input optical coupler to the output optical coupler and has two-state modulator along a segment thereof. The two or more controllable optical waveguides are connected to transmit an output to the output optical coupler, substantially different light amplitudes and/or phases when the two-state modulators of the two controllable optical waveguides are in different states, as driven by data streams having different information content. The two or more controllable optical waveguides are configured to modulate the light amplitudes and/or phases in a substantially same manner when the two-state modulators are in identical states. |
| US08855445B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire original image data expressing an original image that comprises a first type pixel and a second type pixel; and an enlargement processing unit configured to execute enlargement processing for the original image data to generate enlarged image data expressing an enlarged image that is obtained by enlarging the original image in a first direction. The enlargement processing unit includes: a pixel group selection unit configured to select a pixel group extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction in the enlarge image when a specific pattern configured by the first type pixel and the second type pixel is included in the original image; and a setting unit configured to set a pixel configuring the pixel group in the enlarged image as the second type pixel. |
| US08855443B2 |
Detection of non-uniform spatial scaling of an image
To detect non-uniform spatial scaling of an image in the horizontal direction (for example in 4:3 to 16:9 aspect ratio conversion) the image is divided into regions, for example a middle region and two side regions. A measure of horizontal spatial frequency energy is taken in each region by for example subtracting the values of horizontally adjacent pixels and a comparison is made between measures of horizontal spatial frequency energy for the different regions. |
| US08855435B2 |
Image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, and image coding and decoding apparatus
The image coding method is used to code images to generate a coded stream. The image coding method includes: writing, into a sequence parameter set in the coded stream to be generated, a first parameter representing a first bit-depth that is a bit-depth of a reconstructed sample in the images; and writing, into the sequence parameter set, a second parameter which is different from the first parameter and represents a second bit-depth that is a bit-depth of an Intra Pulse Code Modulation (IPCM) sample in the images. |
| US08855430B1 |
Refining image annotations
Methods, systems and apparatus for refining image annotations. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, for each image in a set of images, a corresponding set of labels determined to be indicative of subject matter of the image. For each label, one or more confidence values are determined. Each confidence value is a measure of confidence that the label accurately describes the subject matter of a threshold number of respective images to which it corresponds. Labels for which each of the one or more confidence values meets a respective confidence threshold are identified as high confidence labels. For each image in the set of images, labels in its corresponding set of labels that are high confidence labels are identified. Images having a corresponding set of labels that include at least a respective threshold number of high confidence labels are identified as high confidence images. |
| US08855426B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method and program
An information processing apparatus includes: an inputting section adapted to input an image; a detection section adapted to detect a portion of an image pickup object from within the inputted image; a noticed region setting block adapted to set a noticed region from the detected portion; a restriction region setting block adapted to set a restriction region from the detected portion; and an extraction section adapted to extract feature values of the noticed region restricted by the restriction region. |
| US08855425B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for determining document validity
A method according to one embodiment includes performing optical character recognition (OCR) on an image of a first document; and at least one of: correcting OCR errors in the first document using at least one of textual information from a complementary document and predefined business rules; normalizing data from the complementary document using at least one of textual information from the first document and the predefined business rules; and normalizing data from the first document using at least one of textual information from the complementary document and the predefined business rules. Additional systems, methods and computer program products are also presented. |
| US08855424B2 |
Word recognition method, word recognition program, and information processing device
A word recognition method in which as a result of a recognition process performed on an image of a character string, one or more character candidates are obtained for each of characters forming the character string, according to which a word corresponding to the character string is recognized using a word database having registered therein a plurality of words includes setting a predetermined number of words included in the word database, as initial word candidates, performing a process in which the characters forming the recognition target character string are set as processing targets, one character by one character, and every time a processing target character is set, word candidates present at a time of the setting are narrowed down to words in which character candidates obtained for the processing target character are arranged at a same location as a location where the processing target character is arranged in the recognition target character string, and identifying, when a narrowing-down process performed on a last processing target character in the recognition target character string is completed, a word corresponding to the character string from among word candidates extracted at a point in time of the completion of the narrowing-down process. |
| US08855422B2 |
Light source detection from synthesized objects
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining a location relative to an object and a type of a light source that illuminated the object when the image was captured, are described. A method performed by a process executing on a computer system includes identifying an object of interest in a digital image. The method further includes projecting at least a portion of the digital image corresponding to the object of interest onto a three dimensional (3D) model that includes a polygon-mesh corresponding to the object's shape. The method further includes determining one or more properties of a light source that illuminated the object in the digital image at an instant that the image was captured based at least in part on a characteristic of one or more polygons in the 3D model onto which the digital image portion was projected. |
| US08855418B2 |
Systems and methods for block recomposition for compound image compression
A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support block-based compression of a compound image by skipping “don't care” blocks in the layers of the image while neither introducing significant overhead nor requiring changes to the compression method used. The block-based compression approach first segments a compound image into multiple layers and then recomposes a new set of image layers, possibly with new dimensions, from only the non-“don't care” blocks in the layers of the original image. The approach may later decompress the compressed image layers and restore the image by copying the decompressed blocks to their respective positions in the original image. |
| US08855414B1 |
Apparatus and method for encoding an image generated in part by graphical commands
A method and apparatus for encoding an image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying initial pixels within a spatially defined sub-section, the initial pixels at least a defined number of pixels each comprising a first color; identifying background pixels, the background pixels comprising the first color and in a first defined spatial proximity to the initial pixels; identifying text pixels, the text pixels contrasting the first color and in a second defined spatial proximity to the background pixels; identifying picture pixels as all pixels other than the background pixels and the text pixels; generating a background encoding comprising (i) spatial locations of the background pixels and (ii) a lossless encoding of the first color; generating a text encoding identifying a spatial location and a lossless color encoding of each of the text pixels; and generating a picture encoding comprising a lossy encoding of the picture pixels. |
| US08855412B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for image processing, for color classification, and for skin color detection
Embodiments include a method of image processing including decomposing a reflectance spectrum for a test surface into a linear combination of reflectance spectra of a set of test targets. The coefficient vector calculated in this decomposition is used to predict a response of an imaging sensor to the test surface. A plurality of such predicted responses may be used for various applications involving color detection and/or classification, including human skin tone detection. |
| US08855410B2 |
Method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing data
An example method includes interpreting compressed source data to produce a set of representative colors and modulation data. Portions of the modulation data are interpreted as a plurality of vectors. Each vector pertains to a respective region of the image, which has multiple portions, each with elements. Modulation data is interpreted to include vector modifier data. A respective color for each element within a first portion of the region is determined from the set of representative colors, which are combined according to a selected vector (can be a selection made from a subset of the plurality). Colors for elements in other portions of the region are determined by selecting a vector, modifying the vector according to vector modifier data, and applying the modified vector with the set of representative colors to produce colors for elements in the region. Aspects include systems and methods for source data compression and image reconstruction. |
| US08855408B2 |
Method and apparatus for recovering depth information of image
An image processing apparatus and method may estimate binocular disparity maps of middle views from among a plurality of views through use of images of the plurality of views. The image processing apparatus may detect a moving object from the middle views based on the binocular disparity maps of the frames. Pixels in the middle views may be separated into dynamic pixels and static pixels through detection of the moving object. The image processing apparatus may apply bundle optimization and a local three-dimensional (3D) line model-based temporal optimization to the middle views so as to enhance binocular disparity values of the static pixels and dynamic pixels. |
| US08855406B2 |
Egomotion using assorted features
A system and method are disclosed for estimating camera motion of a visual input scene using points and lines detected in the visual input scene. The system includes a camera server comprising a stereo pair of calibrated cameras, a feature processing module, a trifocal motion estimation module and an optional adjustment module. The stereo pair of the calibrated cameras and its corresponding stereo pair of camera after camera motion form a first and a second trifocal tensor. The feature processing module is configured to detect points and lines in the visual input data comprising a plurality of image frames. The feature processing module is further configured to find point correspondence between detected points and line correspondence between detected lines in different views. The trifocal motion estimation module is configured to estimate the camera motion using the detected points and lines associated with the first and the second trifocal tensor. |
| US08855405B2 |
System and method for detecting and analyzing features in an agricultural field for vehicle guidance
A system and method for creating 3-dimensional agricultural field scene maps are disclosed comprising producing a pair of images using a stereo camera and creating a disparity image based on the pair of images, the disparity image being a 3-dimensional representation of the stereo images. Coordinate arrays can be produced from the disparity image and the coordinate arrays can be used to render a 3-dimensional local map of the agricultural field scene. Global maps can also be made by using geographic location information associated with various local maps to fuse together multiple local maps into a 3-dimensional global representation of the field scene. The disparity images can be used to analyze a variety of agricultural features. |
| US08855404B2 |
Methods and systems for inspecting a workpiece
Methods and systems for inspecting a workpiece are provided. The method includes storing model data associated with the workpiece in an inspection system, determining a relative position of a depth sensing device relative to the workpiece, and calibrating a pose view for the inspection system relative to the model based on the position of the depth sensing device relative to the workpiece. The method further includes measuring actual depth distance data of at least one pixel of the depth sensing device relative to the workpiece and determining, based on the actual depth distance data, if the workpiece satisfies predetermined inspection criteria. |
| US08855399B2 |
System, a method and a computer program product for CAD-based registration
A system for location based wafer analysis, the system comprising: (i) a first input interface; (ii) a second input interface; (iii) a correlator; and (iv) a processor, configured to generate inspection results for the inspected wafer, with the help of at least one frame run-time displacement. |
| US08855395B2 |
Conditional likelihood material decomposition and methods of using the same
Embodiments of methods and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining a radiographic phase-contrast digital computed tomography imaging system and methods for same that can include obtaining a first and second plurality of 2D projection images over a range of scan angles, generating at least two statistically independent reconstructed images of an object from the first plurality of 2D projection images and the second plurality of 2D projection images, determining a material property as a function of volume for each of at least two materials represented in the projection images, using a conditional likelihood determination comprising the material property as a function of volume and the at least two statistically independent reconstructed images to differentiate the at least two materials in a reconstructed image of the object. |
| US08855388B2 |
Microcalcification detection classification in radiographic images
An analysis of a digitized image is provided. The digitized image is repeatedly convolved to form first convolved images, which first convolved images are convolved a second time to form second convolved images. Each first convolved image and the respective second convolved image representing a stage, and each stage represents a different scale or size of anomaly. As an example, the first convolution may utilize a Gaussian convolver, and the second convolution may utilize a Laplacian convolver, but other convolvers may be used. The second convolved image from a current stage and the first convolved image from a previous stage are used with a neighborhood median determined from the second convolved image from the current stage by a peak detector to detect peaks, or possible anomalies for that particular scale. |
| US08855386B2 |
Registration method for multispectral retinal images
A method for performing registration of multispectral retinal images. Corresponding cross-over points and bifurcation points of blood vessel in an eye are identified in a fixed image and in an offset image. The relative displacement of each point, between the images, is calculated. Based on these relative displacements, the offset of each pixel in the offset image is interpolated and the offset image is transformed into a corrected (distorted) image. Such an image can be used to assess the health of the eye. Further, a fixed image and a offset image of an eye are divided in a tile pattern. The relative displacement of each tile of the offset image with respect to the corresponding tile in the fixed image is calculated. An offset for each tile is calculated and the offset image is corrected as a function of those offsets. |
| US08855384B2 |
Continuous cardiac pulse rate estimation from multi-channel source video data
What is disclosed is a computationally efficient system and method for estimating a subject's cardiac pulse rate from multi-channel source video data. In one embodiment, A time-series signal is received. A sliding window is used to define overlapping segments of the time-series signal. Signal segments are processed by performing constrained independent component analysis (cICA) until convergence to obtain an estimated source signal. A frequency of each estimated source signal obtained by the cICA at convergence is determined to be the subject's estimated cardiac pulse rate for each signal segment. A seed reference signal used by the cICA is repeatedly updated. A sliding window is shifted to define a next time-series signal segment for processing. The method repeats for each signal segment until a termination criteria is met. In such a manner, the subject's cardiac pulse rate is estimated from a video of the subject on a continuous basis. |
| US08855383B2 |
Lesion diagnosis apparatus and method to determine regularity of shape of lesion
A lesion diagnosis apparatus and method to determine a regularity of a shape of a lesion are provided. The lesion diagnosis apparatus to determine a regularity of a shape of a lesion, includes a lesion area detecting unit configured to form a lesion area by selecting virtual points along a boundary of a lesion included in an image, and a lesion diagnosing unit configured to determine the regularity of the shape of the lesion by analyzing a correlation of the selected virtual points. |
| US08855378B2 |
Biometric authentication device and method
A biometric authentication device includes, an acquisition unit configured to repeatedly image a biological part of an authenticated person while changing a relative position with respect to the biological part so as to acquire time-series biological images; a detection unit configured to detect a pixel corresponding among the biological images from the time-series biological images; an extraction unit configured to extract a pixel of which a pixel value includes a surface reflection component from the biological part, from each of the time-series biological images, on the basis of a degree of divergence of temporal variation of a pixel value of the detected pixel in the time-series biological images from an estimation result of temporal variation; a generation unit configured to correct the pixel value of the extracted pixel on the basis of a pixel value; and an authentication unit configured to perform personal authentication of the authenticated person. |
| US08855374B2 |
Insect image recognition and instant active response
A device for detecting insects on substrates such as lettuce and other leaves. The device has a microscope lens which magnifies a portion of the leaf and send an image of the leaf portion to an image recognition system. If the image recognition system detects the presence of an insect—further steps are taken to remove the insect. |
| US08855373B2 |
Similarity calculation device, similarity calculation method, and program
The similarity calculation device is provided with a displacement vector estimation unit 101 for estimating a displacement vector between a first local region set in a first image, and a second local region which is most similar to the first local region in a second image, a geometric transformation parameter estimation unit 102 for estimating a geometric transformation parameter which geometrically transforms the first image into the second image, a displacement vector correction unit 103 for correcting the displacement vector based on the geometric transformation parameter, a scoring unit 104 for scoring the displacement vector, corrected by the displacement vector correction unit 103, in a two-dimensional space and creating a scored image, a peak detection unit 105 for detecting a peak in the scored image, and a similarity calculation unit 106 for calculating a similarity of the first image and the second image according to a size of the peak. |
| US08855367B2 |
Environment recognition device and environment recognition method
There are provided an environment recognition device and an environment recognition method. The environment recognition device provisionally determines a specific object corresponding to a target portion from a luminance of a target portion, groups, as a target object, adjacent target portions provisionally determined to correspond to a same specific object, groups, as the target object, the target portions corresponding to a same specific object with respect to the target object and the luminance, when differences in horizontal distance and in height from the target object of target portions fall within a first predetermined range, and determines that the target object is the specific object when a ratio of target portion of which luminance is included in a predetermined luminance range with respect to all target portions in a specific region in the target object is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value. |
| US08855366B2 |
Tracking three-dimensional objects
Method and apparatus for tracking three-dimensional (3D) objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of tracking a 3D object includes constructing a database to store a set of two-dimensional (2D) images of the 3D object using a tracking background, where the tracking background includes at least one known pattern, receiving a tracking image, determining whether the tracking image matches at least one image in the database in accordance with feature points of the tracking image, and providing information about the tracking image in respond to the tracking image matches the at least one image in the database. The method of constructing a database also includes capturing the set of 2D images of the 3D object with the tracking background, extracting a set of feature points from each 2D image, and storing the set of feature points in the database. |
| US08855364B2 |
Apparatus for identification of an object queue, method and computer program
In daily life, people are often forced to join a queue in order, for example, to pay at a checkout or to be dealt with at an airport, etc. Because of the various forms of a queue, these are not usually recorded automatically, but are analyzed manually. For example, if a long queue is formed at a supermarket, as a result of which the predicted waiting time for the customers rises above a threshold value, this situation can be identified by the checkout personnel, and a further checkout can be opened. A device 1 is proposed for identification of a queue 2 of objects 10 in a monitoring area, having an interface 6 which can be connected to an image source 7, with the interface 6 being designed to observe at least one monitoring image 3 of the monitoring area of the image source, wherein the monitoring image 3 shows a scene background of the monitoring area with possible objects 10, having an evaluation device 5 which is designed to identify the queue 2 of the objects 10 in the at least one monitoring image, wherein the evaluation device 5 has an object detector module 8 which is designed to detect a plurality of objects 10 on the basis of the monitoring image 3, wherein the plurality of the detected objects 10 forms the basis for identification of the queue 2 of the objects 10, wherein the object detector module 8 is designed to identify the objects 8 in the monitoring image with the scene background and/or wherein the object detector module 8 has content-sensitive detectors 9 for detection of the objects 10. |
| US08855360B2 |
System and method for face tracking
Improved face tracking is provided during determination of an image by an imaging device using a low power face tracking unit. In one embodiment, image data associated with a frame and one or more face detection windows from a face detection unit may be received by the face tracking unit. The face detection windows are associated with the image data of the frame. A face list may be determined based on the face detection windows and one or more faces may be selected from the face list to generate an output face list. The output face list may then be provided to a processor of an imaging device for the detection of an image based on at least one of coordinate and scale values of the one or more faces on the output face list. |
| US08855357B2 |
Speaker diaphragm and speaker using same, and electronic equipment and device using said speaker, and speaker diaphragm manufacturing method
A diaphragm is formed of paper manufactured from a first fiber material and a second fiber material. The first fiber material is beaten to have a given freeness, and the second fiber material is made by carbonizing bamboo fiber that has been fibrillated into a microfibril state. This structure allows the second fiber material to increase a rigidity of the diaphragm and also increase an internal loss, so that sound quality of the speaker that employs this diaphragm can be improved. |
| US08855356B1 |
Dual ring magnet apparatus
An apparatus related to a magnetic circuit design is disclosed. The apparatus includes a magnetic assembly and an electrically-conductive mobile member. The magnetic assembly includes an inner magnet, an outer magnet, an inner cap, an outer cap and a washer. The magnetic assembly is configured to produce a magnetic field having a zone of operation between the inner cap and the outer cap. The zone of operation has substantially uniform magnetic field strength. The zone of operation has magnetic field directions substantially perpendicular to an ideal motion direction. The electrically-conductive mobile member is disposed in the zone of operation of the magnetic field and electrically coupled to a diaphragm of a driver. The electrically-conductive mobile member is configured to move within the zone of operation of the magnetic field in response to the magnetic field when an alternating current is passed through the electrically-conductive mobile member. |
| US08855355B2 |
Micro-speaker
Disclosed is a micro-speaker. A micro-speaker includes a frame forming a receiving space, a vibrating unit, a magnetic circuit unit, a number of contacts, a front cover and a back cover. The contacts include a first contact and a second contact retained by the frame and partially exposed out of the frame, and a third contact disposed within the receiving space. The vibrating unit includes a diaphragm and a voice coil with a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is electrically connected to the first contact, the second terminal is electrically connected to the third contact. An FPC is provided to electrically connect the third contact to the second contact. |
| US08855354B2 |
Electroacoustic transducer with wireless charging coil
An electro-acoustic transducer includes a frame; a cover covering the frame, a magnetic system assembled with the frame, a vibration system having a diaphragm and a driving coil assembled with the frame, conductive terminals assembled with the frame, and an wireless charging coil supported by the frame. The conductive terminals include a pair of first terminals connecting to the driving coil and a pair of second terminals connecting to the wireless charging coil. The present electro-acoustic can provide wireless charging function. |
| US08855352B2 |
Listening aid device
An earphone plug for receiving sound signals, having a first headphone cord connected to the earphone plug having a first length and a second headphone cord connected to the earphone plug having a second length is provided. A first earphone body connected to the first headphone cord is provided for converting the sound signals to audible sounds. A second earphone body, connected to the second headphone cord, is provided for converting the sound signals to audible sounds. A flexible strap, having a portion thereof in communication with one of at least a portion of the first headphone cord and the second headphone cord is also provided. |
| US08855351B2 |
Ear phone listening device
An earphone plug for receiving sound signals, having a first headphone cord connected to the earphone plug having a first length, and a second headphone cord connected to the earphone plug having a second length is provided. A first earphone body connected to the first headphone cord is provided for converting the sound signals to audible sounds. A second earphone body, connected to the second headphone cord, is provided for converting the sound signals to audible sounds. An attachment mechanism coupled to at least a portion of the first headphone cord or the second headphone cord for securing the earphone to an article of clothing. |
| US08855345B2 |
Battery module for perpendicular docking into a canal hearing device
A modular canal hearing aid assembly having a main module and a disposable battery module that docks perpendicularly into the main module which surrounds the battery module circumferentially and laterally for secure connection that eliminates inadvertent separation of the modules during removal of the hearing aid assembly from the ear canal. The disposable battery module incorporates battery cell, sound port, and handle, in a unitary structure that is easy to handle and replace as an integrated unit when any of the degradables within are consumed. The disposable battery module also comprises a membrane filter for filtering out earwax and liquids. The perpendicular docking mechanism provides highly space efficient design for comfortable and inconspicuous fit deep in the ear canal. |
| US08855344B2 |
Dynamic noise reduction in auditory prosthesis systems
An exemplary method includes a sound processing subsystem 1) dividing an audio signal presented to an auditory prosthesis patient into a plurality of signals each representative of a distinct frequency portion of the audio signal and each contained within a distinct analysis channel included in a plurality of analysis channels, 2) determining a sound level of each signal included in the plurality of signals, and 3) setting an amount of noise reduction applied to each signal included in the plurality of signals in accordance with the determined sound level of each signal included in the plurality of signals. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08855343B2 |
Method and device to maintain audio content level reproduction
An earpiece and method to control a level of audio reproduction within an occluded ear canal are provided. The method includes the steps of measuring an ambient sound level from an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) at an entrance to an occluded ear canal, measuring a residual background noise level within an occluded ear canal from an Ear Canal Microphone (ECM), measuring a level of audio content delivered to the occluded ear canal, and adjusting a gain of the audio content so as to maintain reproduction of the audio content within a predetermined level range. |
| US08855341B2 |
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for head tracking based on recorded sound signals
Systems, methods, apparatus, and machine-readable media for detecting head movement based on recorded sound signals are described. |
| US08855335B2 |
Distortion suppression in high-level capable audio amplification circuit
The present invention relates to an audio amplification circuit comprising a first preamplifier for receipt of an audio input signal and a second preamplifier comprising a first differential input for receipt of an attenuated audio input signal. The attenuated audio input signal is generated by an attenuator coupled to the audio input signal. A non-linear element is coupled to a first input of the first preamplifier thereby distorting the audio input signal at the first input at large signal levels. A distortion compensation network is adapted to supply a distortion compensation signal from the first input of the first preamplifier to a second differential input of the second preamplifier such that distortion in the output signal of the second preamplifier is cancelled or attenuated. The invention further relates to a corresponding method of compensating an audio amplification circuit for distortion induced by a non-linear element. |
| US08855334B1 |
Mixed content for a communications device
A method for providing a user with mixed content for a device. The method includes pre-rendering mixed content comprising a mix of a first source track and a second source track identified as being compatible with the first source track. The pre-rendered content is stored in a database. Upon receiving a user request which identifies the first source track as a track to be included in the mixed content for a device, the system retrieves a list of second source tracks having characteristics compatible with the first source track and provides the list to the user. Then, the system receives request identifying the second source track as a track to be included in the mixed content along with the first track. In response, the system retrieves the pre-rendered mixed content from the database and sends the pre-rendered mixed content to the device. |
| US08855329B2 |
Quiet fan incorporating active noise control (ANC)
An active noise control (ANC) system may be implemented to both sides of a fan, such that both directions of the noise emitting are treated to reduce the overall noise. The impact on airflow is minimal, and the technique is very effective in a broad range of low frequencies. Passive sound-absorbing materials may be included for attenuation of high frequencies. The resulting quiet fan produces a low level of noise compared to any other device based on fan, which produces the same capacity of airflow. The quiet fan may be incorporated in any mechanical system which requires airflow induction such as: computers, air conditioners, machines, and more. |
| US08855326B2 |
Microphone system and method of operating the same
A microphone system is provided, wherein the microphone system comprises a microphone array comprising a plurality of microphone units each adapted to generate a primary signal indicative of an acoustic wave received from the respective microphone unit, a first echo cancellation unit, an integrator unit, and a combination unit, wherein the microphone system is adapted to generate a first dipole response and a monopole response from the primary signals, wherein the integrator unit is adapted to generate a first integrated dipole response by integrating the first dipole response, wherein the first echo cancellation unit is adapted to generate a first echo cancelled integrated dipole response from the first integrated dipole response, and wherein the combination unit is adapted to combine the monopole response and the first echo cancelled integrated dipole response. |
| US08855321B2 |
Method for processing audio signal and broadcasting output apparatus using the same
An audio signal processing method and a broadcasting output apparatus using the audio signal processing method are provided. The audio signal processing method includes selecting an audio signal to be processed from among a plurality of audio signals in which the same audio data is compressed in different formats, when the plurality of audio signals are received; and processing the selected audio signal. Therefore, it is possible to select a high quality audio signal from among audio signals compressed in various audio formats and to provide a user with the high quality sound. |
| US08855319B2 |
Audio signal processing apparatus and audio signal processing method
An audio signal processing apparatus and an audio signal processing method are provide. The audio signal processing apparatus comprises: a plurality of individual audio interfaces, an audio signal processing unit, and an audio channel splitting unit. The audio signal processing unit is utilized for determining a total number of audio channels corresponding to the individual audio interfaces and generating a first output audio signal with a first number of audio channels according to an input audio signal and the total number of audio channels when the audio signal processing apparatus is operated under a first operational mode. The audio channel splitting unit is coupled to the audio signal processing unit and the audio interfaces. When the audio signal processing apparatus is operated under the first operational mode, the audio channel splitting unit splits the first output audio signal with the first number of audio channels to the audio interfaces, respectively. |
| US08855318B1 |
Master key generation and distribution for storage area network devices
Mechanisms are provided for generating a master key used to secure key objects associated with data blocks in a data center. A cryptographic node creation request is received. It is determined that a master key can not be obtained from another cryptographic node in the data center. A master key is generated. The master key is included in a key hierarchy used to encrypt a data center key object, the data center key object corresponding to a data block maintained in a storage area network (SAN), where the data center key object includes a unique identifier, an encrypted key, and a wrapper unique identifier. The master key is split into N shares, with M shares required to recreate the master key, wherein M is less than N. The N shares are distributed to different entities. |
| US08855315B2 |
Method and system for realizing secure forking call session in IP multimedia subsystem
The present invention relates to a method for realizing a secure forking call session, which comprises: performing authentication between a calling party and a KMS or between each called party and the KMS, and acquiring a shared key between the calling party and the KMS or a shared key between each called party and the KMS; generating a random number by the calling party and calling each called party through an IMS; generating a random number by each called party and acquiring a media root key from the KMS; generating a media key, which is shared with the calling party, by each called party according to the media root key and the random number generated by the called party; sending the media root key and the generated random number by a called response party in the called parties, who responds the call, to the calling party through the IMS network; generating a media key identical to that of the called response party by the calling party according to the media root key and the random number generated by the called response party; and performing a secure media session between the calling party and the called response party with the identical media key. |
| US08855313B2 |
System and method for providing variable security level in a wireless communication system
A system and method for providing variable security levels in a wireless communication network. The present invention optimizes the often conflicting demands of highly secure wireless communications and high speed wireless communications. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, various security sensors are scanned to determine the likely presence of an intruder within a predetermined trust zone. If an intruder is likely present, the security level is changed to the highest setting, and consequently a lower data rate, while the intruder is identified. If the identified intruder is in fact a trusted node, the security level is returned to a lower setting. If the identified intruder is not a trusted node, the security level is maintained at an elevated state while the intruder is within the trust zone. |
| US08855312B1 |
Mobile trust broker
A method performed by a first computing device is disclosed. The method includes (a) establishing a proximity-based communications channel between the first computing device and a second computing device, one of the first device and the second device being a mobile device, (b) sending a request for authentication of identity of a remote entity from the first device to the second device, the remote entity being in possession of the second device, (c) receiving, at the first device, from the second device, an identity assertion that the remote entity is authentically identified by an identifier, the identity assertion's truth being conditional on a proximity-based condition, (d) verifying, at the first device, that the proximity-based condition is satisfied, and (e) in response to verifying, validating the identifier of the remote entity. An apparatus and computer program product for carrying out the method are also provided. |
| US08855309B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing security service
An apparatus and method for providing a security service are provided. The apparatus for providing a security service includes a first block cipher and a second block cipher. The second block cipher is independent of the first block cipher, and is configured to be used as a random number generator when the first block cipher is used to perform encryption/decryption, and to be used to perform encryption/decryption when the first block cipher is used as a random number generator. |
| US08855306B2 |
Node distributed with group key and group key updating
According to one embodiment, a node that is a root node of a network forming a directed acyclic graph topology, which is composed of plural nodes including the node serving as the root node and having a parent-child relationship among nodes of adjacent hierarchies, includes a generating unit, an encrypting unit, and a transmitting unit. The generating unit generates a group key, and a list indicating a first node to which a distribution of the group key is inhibited. The encrypting unit encrypts the group key so as to be capable of being decrypted by a first child node other than the first node out of the child nodes of the root node. The transmitting unit transmits a first message, including an encrypted group key, which is the group key that is encrypted with respect to the first child node, and the list. |
| US08855305B2 |
Methods and apparatus for protecting digital content
An embodiment of the invention includes a processing system to provide protected digital content, the processing system comprising a processor and control logic which, when used by the processor, results in the processing system performing operations comprising determining first and second receivers, which are coupled to the processing system, are within a predetermined acceptable proximity to the processing system. The processing system is upstream to the first receiver and the first receiver is upstream to the second receiver. Other embodiments are provided herein. |
| US08855300B2 |
Image-based key exchange
This disclosure is directed for improved techniques for configuring a device to generate a secondary password based at least in part on a secure authentication key. The techniques of this disclosure may, in some examples, provide for capturing, by a computing device, an image of a display of another computing device. The captured image includes at least one encoded graphical image, such as a barcode, that includes an indication of the content of a secure authentication key. The computing device may use the secure authentication key to generate a secondary password to be used in conjunction with a primary password to gain access to a password-protected web service. |
| US08855297B2 |
Device and authentication method therefor
According to one embodiment, an authentication method includes generating, by the memory, first authentication information by calculating secret identification information with a memory session key in one-way function operation, transmitting encrypted secret identification information, a family key block, and the first authentication information to a host, and generating, by the host, second authentication information by calculating the secret identification information generated by decrypting the encrypted secret identification information with the host session key in one-way function operation. The method further includes comparing, by the host, the first authentication information with the second authentication information. |
| US08855295B1 |
Acoustic echo cancellation using blind source separation
Techniques for utilizing blind source separation as a front-end to an acoustic echo canceller are described herein. The techniques include removing a first portion of an acoustic echo from an audio signal using blind source separation and a reference signal. The techniques then further remove a second portion of the acoustic echo using an acoustic echo canceller and the reference signal. Further, output of the blind source separation may be used to improve double-talk detection. |
| US08855294B2 |
Dialling phone numbers
Method and apparatus for effecting a voice communication between user terminals connected via a communication network include displaying a menu of country options to a user and receiving a number in local form. Formatting rules are recalled for a destination country selected by the user from the country options. A country prefix for the destination country is prepended to the number in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a formatted number. The formatted number is supplied to a client installed at the user terminal for effecting the voice communication using the formatted number. |
| US08855287B1 |
Voice over internet protocol call handling applications
Providing alerts to a user that is participating in a telephone call includes operating a telephone call between a first user and a second user. The telephone call uses a voice path, a first signaling path, and a second signaling. An indication of an alert to be presented to the first user is received. The alert is configured for presentation to the first user on a telephone used by the first user. Control signals are sent from the telephony services provider to the first telephony proxy server over the first signaling path. The control signals are configured to cause the alert to be presented audibly to the first user on the telephone used by the first user such that (i) the first user hears the alert, (ii) the second user does not hear the alert, and (iii) the alert does not obscure other content of the telephone call. |
| US08855285B1 |
Systems and methods for conference calling using personal URL
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing conference calling using a URL assigned to a conference call organizer. One method includes receiving, from a conference call organizer, a request to be placed into a conference call associated with a URL assigned to the organizer; and receiving, from a prospective conference call participant, a request to be placed into the conference call associated with the URL. Another method includes receiving, from a first user, through a web page of a URL assigned to the first user, a first phone number at which the first user can be called; receiving, from a second user, through the web page of the URL, a second phone number at which the second user can be called; and initiating phone calls to the first user at the first number and the second user at the second number. |
| US08855284B2 |
Assignment of full enterprise identity to audio conference bridges for improved conference scheduling and call-in experience
Systems and methods can provide an identity to a conference bridge; the identity including an email address for the conference bridge. When two or more people desire to conduct a conference, a person creates an invitation to the conference. The invitation can be an email invitation from a calendar program that can be sent to the invitees. The invitation can be sent to the conference bridge using the email address for the conference bridge. The conference bridge may then receive a call from a caller for a conference. The conference bridge can extract a caller identifier from the call and determine an email associated with the caller. The conference bridge may then retrieve the invitation having the email. Then, the conference bridge can attach the caller to the conference associated with the invitation. |
| US08855280B1 |
Communication detail records (CDRs) containing media for communications in controlled-environment facilities
Systems and methods for creating, maintaining, and making available Communication Detail Records (CDRs) containing media for communications in controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include enabling, at least in part via one or more communication systems, a communication between two or more parties, where at least one of the two or more parties is a resident of a controlled-environment facility, and where the resident operates a communication device disposed within the controlled-environment facility. The method may also include creating, at least in part via the one or more communication systems, a CDR associated with the communication, where the CDR includes or references a digital media file. |
| US08855277B2 |
Telephone outlet for implementing a local area network over telephone lines and a local area network using such outlets
An outlet for coupling at least one data unit to digital data carried over wiring that simultaneously carry a packet-based serial digital data signal and a power signal over the same conductors. The outlet includes: a wiring connector for connecting to the wiring; a transceiver coupled to the wiring connector for transmitting and receiving packet-based serial digital data over the wiring; a LAN connector coupled to the transceiver for bi-directional packet-based data communication with at least one data unit; a bridge or a router coupled between the transceiver and the LAN connector for passing data bi-directionally between the at least one data unit and the wiring; and a single enclosure housing the above-mentioned components. The enclosure is mountable into a standard wall outlet receptacle or wall outlet opening, and the transceiver and the bridge or router are coupled to the wiring connector to be powered from the power signal. |
| US08855276B2 |
Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
An apparatus for enabling legacy communication devices to engage in conversations in either a near real-time or a time-shifted mode. The apparatus includes a gateway node having a first interface to enable the gateway node to receive conversation control information from a remote conversation management device and a second interface to couple the gateway node to a communication network. The communication network is configured to support a conversation between a first communication device and one or more other communication devices over the communication network. The gateway node further includes a message buffer configured to receive over the second interface media of the conversation and to store the media of the conversation as the media is received from the communication network. The gateway node also includes a conversation management element configured to receive the conversation control information from the remote conversation management device, and in response, manage the rendering of the conversation for the first communication device by controlling the timing of when the media is (i) retrieved from the message buffer and (ii) transmitted over the communication network to the first communication device. |
| US08855274B2 |
System and method of providing caller identification information
Systems and methods for providing caller identification information are provided. A method of providing caller identification information may include receiving caller identification information associated with a first communication device at a video processing device via a wireless communication. The method may also include selecting a first display profile associated with the first communication device from a plurality of display profiles. The method may also include generating a display in accordance with the first display profile. The display may include data related to the caller identification information. |
| US08855266B2 |
X-ray stress measurement apparatus
An X-ray stress measurement apparatus having: a camera for producing an optical image of a sample; a display for displaying the optical image; an input device capable of inputting positions on a display screen; an X-ray source for generating an X-ray; a table for moving the sample; an X-ray detector for detecting an X-ray exiting the sample; a measurement program for determining the measurement positions of the sample on the basis of the positions indicated by the input device, and measuring the determined measurement positions of the sample; a stress computation program for computing the stress at the measurement positions of the sample on the basis of an output signal from the X-ray detector; and an image formation program for causing the optical image, the measurement positions of the sample, the absolute value of the stress, and the direction of the stress to be displayed on the same display screen. |
| US08855263B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining volume fractions in a multiphase flow
A method, apparatus and computer program product for measuring a composition of a multiphase fluid, including radiating a photon beam through the multiphase fluid and measuring radiation absorption by the multiphase fluid for at least three energy levels to obtain measured radiation absorption data, and providing the measured radiation absorption data to processing unit configured to calculate the composition of the multiphase fluid using the measured radiation absorption data, whereby an effect of an injected fluid on the absorption of the photon beam is taken into account during calculation of the composition of the multiphase fluid. |
| US08855254B2 |
Systems and methods for pre-averaged staggered convolution decimating filters
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for implementing a multirate digital decimating filter for filtering received symbol data. The method may include sampling the received symbol data at a selected sample rate, pre-averaging the sampled received data to provide two samples per symbol; convolving the pre-averaged samples with decimated finite impulse response (FIR) aperture impulse response coefficients to produce detected output samples, convolving the pre-averaged samples with shifted decimated FIR aperture impulse response coefficients to produce zero-crossing transition samples, and adjusting the sample rate based at least in part on averaging the zero-crossing transition samples. |
| US08855251B2 |
Power adjusting method and apparatus
A power adjusting method and apparatus provided by embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communications. The power adjusting method of this embodiment includes: receiving a signal from a sending end, where the signal includes a cyclic prefix (CP) signal; detecting and acquiring first receiving power and second receiving power of the CP signal, where the first receiving power is average power of N sampling points of the CP signal, and the second receiving power is average power of M sampling points of the CP signal; after determining that a ratio of the first receiving power to target power is greater than a first preset threshold, adjusting signal power magnification; and after determining that the ratio of the second receiving power to the target power is greater than a second preset threshold, adjusting the signal power magnification again. |
| US08855250B2 |
Wireless communication system with improved automatic gain control
A wireless communication device is disclosed that includes an automatic gain controller capable of accurately adjusting gain of a received signal. The received signal includes a plurality of symbols, including pilot symbols that each includes at least one pilot tone, and data symbols that do not include any pilot tones. A power of a pilot symbol is determined, and a power of a data symbol is determined. The determined data symbol power is then scaled by a scaling factor (that depends on various system parameters) and is subtracted from the determined pilot symbol power to provide an estimate of a power of the pilot tones within the signal. From the estimated pilot tone power, the automatic gain controller can accurately determine a preferred gain for amplifying future frames of the received signal. |
| US08855249B2 |
Preamble detection at low signal-to-noise levels
A preamble detector has a correlator outputting for every sample position of the preamble part of an incoming sampled signal stream a score and associated class value; and a multiple cluster unit receiving the class and score output values from the correlator, wherein a first cluster receives output values from the correlator and the following clusters are coupled in series such that each cluster receives output values from the correlator and a preceding cluster and wherein the output values of the correlator and a cluster are processed such that an n-th cluster of the multiple cluster unit, with n>1, accumulates the highest score values of n score values with matching class values. |
| US08855245B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals based on dual compressive sensing in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting signals based on dual sensing in a wireless communication system is disclosed. One or more sensor nodes receive Gaussian codes corresponding respectively to the one or more sensor nodes, allocated from a fusion center. The one or more sensor nodes determine whether to operate at a specific time. At least one sensor node that has determined to operate among the one or more sensor nodes multiplies the Gaussian codes by a transmission signal and transmits the multiplied signal to the fusion center. |
| US08855243B2 |
Method and system for performing complex sampling of signals by using two or more sampling channels and for calculating time delays between these channels
A method and system for performing complex sampling of signals using two or more sampling channels and calculating time delays between these channels. The system and method are operable to enable complex sampling of a signal in a frequency-domain by predefined-order sampling, including utilizing a sampling channel for converting an analog signal to a corresponding substantially non-delayed digital signal; and transforming the digital signal into a plurality of corresponding frequency-domain substantially non-delayed discrete components; providing additional sampling channels enabling to perform a predefined-order sampling, the predefined-order depending on a number of the additional sampling channels, each additional sampling channel configured to perform a number of stage, giving rise to the multiplied frequency-domain delayed discrete components; and combining the multiplied frequency-domain delayed discrete components with the corresponding frequency-domain substantially non-delayed discrete components, giving rise to an output frequency-domain complex signal. |
| US08855237B2 |
Digital broadcasting transmission/reception system having improved receiving performance and signal processing method thereof
A digital broadcasting transmission/reception system having improved receiving performance and signal processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter according to the present invention includes a data pre-processor which processed robust data and generates robust data packet of predetermined format, a TS stream generator which combines robust data packet with a normal data packet to generate a TS stream of a predetermined format, a randomizer which randomizes the TS stream output from the TS stream generator, a convolution encoder which performs convolution encoding with respect to the robust data of the data output from the randomizer, and a RS encoder which performs RS encoding with respect to the data output from the convolution g encoder. Accordingly, digital broadcasting receiving performance can be improved in a poor multipath channel, while maintaining compatibility with existing transmission/reception system. |
| US08855236B2 |
Digital amplitude modulation
A transmitter using quadrature modulation includes a rectangular to polar converter for converting data symbols into a polar form, where each polar symbol has a magnitude signal and an angle signal. Digital phase modulation circuitry includes an all digital PLL circuit for generating a phase modulated RF carrier signal responsive to the angle signal frequency control word (FCW) and a carrier frequency FCW. A digitally controlled amplifier for amplifying the phase modulated signal is controlled by a digital amplitude control circuitry for controlling the gain of the digitally controlled amplifier responsive to the magnitude signal. |
| US08855233B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing digital baseband predistortion
An apparatus for implementing digital baseband predistortion includes a transmission channel including a digital-to-analog converter, a modulator, an amplifier and a power amplifier, and further includes a feedback channel analog part including a diode detector, a filter and an analog-to-digital converter, and a feedback channel digital part including a predistorter, a mode obtaining unit, a predistortion coefficient generator and a feedback correcting unit. The diode detector is configured to obtain an envelope of an output signal of the power amplifier. Embodiments of the present invention further provide a method for implementing digital baseband predistortion by applying the foregoing single-chip. Due to a simple structure of the diode detector, not only the number of radio frequency devices on the feedback channel is reduced, implementation complexity of hardware is lowered, power consumption is reduced, but also a feedback channel analog part may be integrated onto the single-chip. |
| US08855230B1 |
Systems/methods of transmitting information via baseband waveforms comprising frequency content agility and an orthogonality therebetween
Communications systems and/or methods are disclosed that may be used to convey information by forming, and then using, a plurality of frequency agile baseband waveforms, wherein any two different waveforms of the plurality of frequency agile baseband waveforms comprise an orthogonality therebetween. The systems/methods disclosed can convey information by mapping an information sequence into a baseband waveform sequence that includes waveforms of the plurality of baseband waveforms, and by transmitting the baseband waveform sequence. Such systems and/or methods can provide extreme privacy, cognitive radio capability, robustness to fading and interference, communications performance associated with M-ary orthonormal signaling and/or high multiple-access capacity. |
| US08855228B2 |
Calibration correction for implicit beamforming in a wireless MIMO communication system
A transmitter beamforming technique for use in a MIMO wireless communication system determines a partial description of a reverse channel without determining a full dimensional description of the reverse channel. A correction matrix is developed from the partial description of the reverse channel and a description of the forward channel. The correction matrix is used to process signals to be transmitted via the forward channel, and a steering matrix is used to perform beamforming in the forward channel. |
| US08855227B2 |
Methods of receiving multiple input multiple output signals and related communication devices
A MIMO (Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output) receiver may receive a plurality of MIMO transport blocks transmitted from a plurality of MIMO transmission antennas over a same carrier frequency. More particularly, a MIMO signal including the plurality of MIMO transport blocks may be received through a plurality of reception antennas, and respective measures of signal quality for each of the MIMO transport blocks may be computed. A MIMO transport block may be selected from the plurality of MIMO transport blocks based on the measures of signal quality, and the selected MIMO transport block may be decoded. Responsive to failure decoding the selected MIMO transport block, processing of all MIMO transport blocks received in the MIMO signal may be terminated. Related communication devices are also discussed. |
| US08855226B2 |
Rate selection with margin sharing
Rate selection with margin sharing in a system with independent data stream rates is presented. Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) estimates are obtained for each stream. Rates are selected for the streams based on the SNR estimates, such that at least one data stream has an SNR margin below a threshold, each remaining data stream has an SNR margin above a respective threshold, and the total SNR margin for all streams is above a total threshold. For rate selection with margin sharing with a vector-quantized rate set, SNR estimates are obtained for usable transmission channels. The total SNR margin is determined for each rate combination based on the estimates. Each rate combination is associated with a specific number of data streams to transmit, a specific rate for each data stream, and a specific overall throughput. The combination with the highest overall throughput and non-negative total SNR margin is selected. |
| US08855224B2 |
Receiver and method of receiving signal for reducing intersymbol interference
A synchronization method for a receiver includes generating, by a beacon detector, an operating signal by performing a logic operation on a baseband signal, and calculating, by a coarse sync block, a coarse FFT window start position value where a signal-to-noise ratio becomes maximized by estimating a noise level of the operating signal. |
| US08855223B2 |
HS-SCCH orders for CQI mode selection
A network node (28) communicates over a radio interface (32) with a wireless terminal (30). Both the network node (28) and the wireless terminal (30) have multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capabilities. A MIMO-related order (90) is generated for inclusion in control signaling on a high speed downlink shared channel from the network node (28) to the wireless terminal (30). The MIMO-related order (90) is configured to modify channel quality indication (CQI) communications between the wireless terminal (30) and the base station (28) in view of MIMO capabilities of the wireless terminal (30). The method further comprises providing a channel quality indication (CQI) report (92) the wireless terminal (30) to the base station (28) in accordance with the order. |
| US08855221B2 |
Method and apparatus for iterative receiver structures for OFDM/MIMO systems with bit interleaved coded modulation
The techniques and components described herein may improve the performance for a class of reduced-complexity receiver designs for coded OFDM MIMO systems with bit interleaved coded modulation. The receiver structures described are soft-input soft-output inner/outer decoder receiver structures that include one or more of the following: 1) an inner decoder that includes a linear front-end followed by a limited tree-search based on a soft-output M-algorithm; 2) a conventional near-optimal or optimal decoder for the outer binary code; and 3) iterative decoding (ID), whereby decoding (output) information is passed from one decoder module as input to the other and used to refine and improve the inner/outer decoding module outputs. |
| US08855220B2 |
Robustness improvement for bandwidth communication system
A computer-implemented method of communicating message data in a frame of data includes transmitting the frame of data across a communication channel. The frame of data includes the message data, a first 8-bit digital control word, and a second 8-bit digital control word. Each control word has a unique bit pattern and is associated with a different time interval that individually indicates where or when the message data begins or began in the frame of data relative to the time interval's associated control word. At least one of the control words and other data are received. At least some of the other data are identified as the message data based upon receipt of at least one of the control words. Only one of the control words needs to be received to identify the message data from the other data. |
| US08855219B2 |
Flexible self-adaptive differential system to improve transmission efficiency
A system and method for transmitting data. The system and method is configured to dynamically implement one of a differential signaling method or a single-ended signaling method during a transmission of data. The signaling method is selected based on a measured interference level during the transmission of data. The implementation of the signaling method is performed without interrupting the data transmission. |
| US08855217B2 |
Interface with variable data rate
A device includes a transmitter coupled to a node, where the node is to couple to a wired link. The transmitter has a plurality of modes of operation including a calibration mode in which a range of communication data rates over the wired link is determined in accordance with a voltage margin corresponding to the wired link at a predetermined error rate. The range of communication data rates includes a maximum data rate, which can be a non-integer multiple of an initial data rate. |
| US08855200B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding/encoding a video signal with inter-view reference picture list construction
A method of decoding a video signal is disclosed. The present invention includes obtaining identification information indicating whether a coded picture of a current NAL unit is an inter-view picture group, obtaining interview reference information of the inter-view picture group, and constructing a reference picture list for inter-view prediction using the inter-view reference information according to the identification information, wherein the inter-view reference information includes view identification information of an inter-view reference picture. |
| US08855199B2 |
Method and device for video coding and decoding
Embodiments of the present invention relate to video coding for multi-view video content. It provides a coding system enabling scalability for the multi-view video content. In one embodiment, a method is provided for encoding at least two views representative of a video scene, each of the at least two views being encoded in at least two scalable layers, wherein one of the at least two scalable layers representative of one view of the at least two views is encoded with respect to a scalable layer representative of the other view of the at least two views. |
| US08855192B2 |
Device, method and system for transmitting video data between a video source and a video sink
Disclosed is a method, circuit and system for transmission of video data between a video source and a video sink. A video source transceiver may include: (1) a video source interface for receiving video data, optionally including one or more video synchronization signals functionally associated video source device; (2) a video source clock sampler for sampling a video clock parameter of received video data; (3) a video data buffer for buffering received video data prior to transmission; and (4) a video transmission circuit including packet size timing logic adapted to generate and transmit to a functionally associated video sink transceiver a value correlated to an expected data packet size based on video data stored in the video buffer. A video sink transceiver may include: (1) a video reception circuit adapted to receive a transmitted data packet, including one or more values generated by the packet size timing logic, and to regenerate a video frame; (2) video sync signal generation logic adapted to regenerate one or more video frame synchronization signals based on the one or more values generated by the video transmission circuit, and (3) a video sink interface for forwarding received video data, including one or more video clock and/or synchronization signals to a functionally associated video sink device. |
| US08855186B2 |
Methods and systems for providing optimum decision feedback equalization of high-speed serial data links
Computationally efficient methods and related systems, for use in a test and measurement instrument, such as an oscilloscope, optimize the performance of DFEs used in a high-speed serial data link by identifying optimal DFE tap values for peak-to-peak based criteria. The optimized DFEs comply with the behavior of a model DFE set forth in the PCIE 3.0 specification. |
| US08855184B2 |
System and method for non-interleaved signal field
Efficient decoding in IEEE 802.11ah networks can be achieved by transmitting the signal (SIG) preamble field without interleaving bits within the SIG field. This may allow channel equalization and decoding steps to be performed contemporaneously upon reception of the frame, which allows for the implementation of non-linear channel equalization techniques (e.g., maximum likelihood (ML) equalization, etc. |
| US08855183B2 |
Adaptive covariance matrix conditioning for a linear equalizer with receive diversity
A method of wireless communication with improved performance employs an equalizer receiver with multiple receive antennas. Equalizer taps for linear filters of the equalizer receiver are generated by determining a conditioned covariance matrix of a first data path and a second data path based on a first gain (g0) of this first data path and a second gain (g1) of the second data path. The equalizer taps of the first data path and the second data path are determined based on the conditioned covariance matrix. The first data path and the second data path are then equalized using the equalizer taps. An equalized signal is generated by combining the equalized first data path with the equalized second data path. |
| US08855181B2 |
Method and system for compensating a delay mismatch between a first measurement channel and a second measurement channel
A method and a system for compensating a delay mismatch between a first measurement channel and a second measurement channel is disclosed. A method for compensating a delay mismatch between a first measurement channel and a second measurement channel includes providing a reference point for starting the first and second measurement channel, and starting the first measurement channel after expiration of a first delay period which begins at the reference point. The method further includes starting the second measurement channel after expiry of a second delay period which begins at the reference point, wherein a difference between a length of the first delay period and a length of the second delay period is substantially equal to the delay mismatch between the first measurement channel and the second measurement channel. |
| US08855176B1 |
Serializer/deserializer apparatus with loopback configuration and methods thereof
The present invention is directed to integrated circuits. In a specific embodiment, high frequency signals from an equalizer are directly connected to a first pair of inputs of a sense amplifier. The sense amplifier also has a second pair of inputs, which can be selectively coupled to output signals from a DAC or high frequency loopback signals. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US08855173B2 |
Method of capturing satellite signal and device for capturing satellite signal
A method of acquiring a satellite signal includes calculating a correlation result of a reception signal from a GPS satellite and a replica code using an output value of one adder-subtractor for a combination of addition and subtraction corresponding to time-series change in code values of the replica code from among a plurality of adder-subtractors for addition-subtraction of sampling values obtained by sampling the reception signal in a time series with different combinations of addition and subtraction, and acquiring the satellite signal of the GPS satellite using the correlation result. |
| US08855171B2 |
Satellite signal acquisition
A technique for reducing the dwell time in acquiring a satellite signal is provided. The technique minimizes the dwell time in searching for a satellite signal in cells of a search space by comparing the peak-power-to-average ratio (PAPR) to one or more thresholds at one or more intermediate points during the search in a code phase/Doppler frequency bin. The comparison is then used to determine whether to continue the search in a current code phase/Doppler frequency bin or to continue to the next code phase/Doppler frequency bin. |
| US08855164B2 |
Laser apparatus
A laser apparatus may include: a first module including an oscillator configured to output a laser beam and an oscillator support portion for supporting the oscillator; a second module including a beam delivery unit for delivering the laser beam and a beam delivery unit support portion for supporting the beam delivery unit; a third module including an amplifier for amplifying the laser beam and an amplifier support portion for supporting the amplifier; and a frame on which the modules are placed, the frame including mounts on which the oscillator support portion, the beam delivery support portion and the amplifier support portion are placed. |
| US08855163B2 |
Optical semiconductor device
An optical semiconductor device of one embodiment includes: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; an active layer provided on the first semiconductor layer and has a ring- or disk-like shape; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type that is provided on the active layer and has a ring- or disk-like shape; a first electrode provided on the first semiconductor layer; and a second electrode provided on the second semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer includes a first region having a ring- or disk-like shape, and a second region provided around the outer circumference of the first region and has a smaller thickness than the first region. The first electrode is provided on the second region, and a groove or holes are provided in a portion of the second region located between the first region and the first electrode. |
| US08855161B2 |
Semiconductor laser device, method of manufacturing semiconductor laser device, and semiconductor laser array
A semiconductor laser device includes a substrate, ridge stripes on the substrate and separated by separation sections, a top surface electrode continuously extending over the ridge stripes, and a bottom surface electrode on a bottom surface of the substrate. Each of the ridge stripes includes a lower cladding layer on the substrate, an active layer on the lower cladding layer, an upper cladding layer on the active layer, and a contact layer on the upper cladding layer. |
| US08855160B2 |
Horizontal-cavity surface-emitting laser
Specifically, provided is a horizontal-cavity surface-emitting laser including, on a semiconductor substrate: a cavity structure; a waveguide layer; and a reflecting part, wherein a first electrode provided on the semiconductor substrate along side regions of the cavity structure and the reflecting part and a second electrode provided on the main surface of the cavity structure are provided, the first electrode includes an electrode (1) that is provided around one side region of the reflecting part located in the direction intersecting with the traveling direction of light guided through the waveguide layer and an electrode (2) provided around one side region of the cavity structure and the other side region of the reflecting part that are located in the direction parallel with the traveling direction of light guided through the waveguide layer, and the shape of the electrode (2) has different widths at at least two positions. |
| US08855157B2 |
Surface emitting laser element
Disclosed is a surface emitting laser element capable of reducing threshold current. A surface emitting laser element according to an embodiment includes a semiconductor portion having a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer, a first reflector disposed at the first semiconductor layer side of the semiconductor portion, and a second reflector disposed at the second semiconductor layer side of the semiconductor portion. Particularly includes a second electrode disposed between the second semiconductor layer and the second reflector and connected to the second semiconductor layer, a connecting electrode disposed laterally around the second reflector and connected to the second electrode, and a current confinement portion disposed between the second semiconductor layer and the connecting electrode and capable of reflecting light from the semiconductor portion. |
| US08855155B2 |
Semiconductor laser light source
In at least one embodiment of the semiconductor laser light source, the latter includes a carrier and at least two semiconductor lasers. The semiconductor lasers are mounted on a carrier top. The semiconductor laser light source furthermore includes at least one optical component, which is arranged downstream of at least one of the semiconductor lasers in a direction of emission. The semiconductor lasers and the optical component are housed tightly in a common enclosure by way of a cover. The dimensions of the enclosure, viewed in three orthogonal spatial directions, amount in each case to at most 8 mm×8 mm×7 mm. |
| US08855151B2 |
YB: and ND: mode-locked oscilltors and fiber systems incorporated in solid-state short pulse laser systems
The invention describes classes of robust fiber laser systems usable as pulse sources for Nd: or Yb: based regenerative amplifiers intended for industrial settings. The invention modifies adapts and incorporates several recent advances in FCPA systems to use as the input source for this new class of regenerative amplifier. |
| US08855144B2 |
Method of generating pilot pattern for adaptive channel estimation in OFDMA systems, method of transmitting/receiving using the pilot pattern and apparatus thereof
Provided is a method of generating a pilot pattern capable of perform adaptive channel estimation, and a method and apparatus of a base station and a method and apparatus of a terminal using the pilot pattern.The pilot pattern selects pilot symbol positions based on distances from pilots of previous orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) symbols to a subcarrier position of a current OFDMA symbol in the frequency domain and the time domain, so that a low pilot density is maintained so as to effectively transmit data, and stable channel estimation performance can be obtained even in a bad channel environment.In addition, the minimum burst allocation size is determined according to the channel environment between the base station and the terminal, guaranteeing channel estimation performance suitable for the channel environment, and improving granularity, channel estimation latency, and channel estimation memory size. |
| US08855134B2 |
Network-assisted peer discovery
Techniques for transmitting information in a long term evolution (LTE) wireless communication network are disclosed. A base station may receive a first user equipment (UE) expression and first UE location information of a UE seeking peers. The base station may also receive a second UE expression and second UE location information of at least one of the peers. In accordance with the first and second UE expressions and the first and second UE location information, the base station may match ones of the peers proximate to the UE. The base station may transmit, using a data exchange efficiency technique, information to alert the UE to the presence of the peers. This transmission may comprise wide area network (WAN)-specific signaling. |
| US08855129B2 |
Hybrid method and device for transmitting packets
A method for transmitting packets, the method includes receiving multiple packets at multiple queues. The method is characterized by dynamically defining fixed priority queues and weighted fair queuing queues, and scheduling a transmission of packets in response to a status of the multiple queues and in response to the definition. A device for transmitting packets, the device includes multiple queues adapted to receive multiple packets. The device includes a circuit that is adapted to dynamically define fixed priority queues and weighted fair queuing queues out of the multiple queues and to schedule a transmission of packets in response to a status of the multiple queues and in response to the definition. |
| US08855127B2 |
Method and system for intelligent deep packet buffering
Disclosed is a method and system for deep packet buffering on a switch core comprising an ingress and egress deep packet buffer and an external deep packet buffer. |
| US08855120B2 |
Method and device for filtering media packets
A method including: receiving, at a video conferencing device, a packet of a video conferencing media stream, the video conferencing device including a processor; determining, by the video conferencing device, whether a length of the packet is sufficiently long to contain media; sending a request to a Look-up Table memory using the media stream ID as an input value while in parallel determining, with the processor, whether the packet is a valid media packet; in response to receiving a destination address in a media processing network from the Look-up Table memory and determining that the packet is a valid media packet, modifying, by the video conferencing device, a header of the packet with the destination address received from the Look-up Table memory; and transmitting, by the video conferencing device, the packet to the modified destination address. |
| US08855115B2 |
Methods for reliable multicasting in local peer group (LPG) based vehicle ad hoc networks
A method for routing a multicast message comprising the steps of receiving a multicast message including at least a message, a source identifier, a sequence number, a time-to-live value and a multicast group destination, determining if the multicast group destination is in a multicast forwarding table, determining if the message has been previously received, adding the multicast message to the multicast forwarding table if it is determined that the multicast message has not been previously received, determining if a node that received the multicast message is a forwarding node; randomly setting a wait time for forwarding the multicast message; and forwarding the multicast message at the expiration of the wait time. |
| US08855111B2 |
Communication device with energy saving mode and method thereof
A communication device has a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, and a controller. The transmitting circuit transmits a first data to a transmission line. The first data is generated by a first scrambler wherein the values of the registers of the first scrambler are characterized by a first combination number. The receiving circuit receives a second data scrambled by a second scrambler from the transmission line. The first and the second scramblers have the same scrambler generator polynomial. The receiving circuit has a descrambler having a plurality of registers for descrambling the second data. The values of the registers of the second scrambler are characterized by a second combination number when the descrambler descrambles the second data. The controller configures the values of the registers of the first scrambler according to the first combination number, the second combination number, and/or a difference between the first and the second combination numbers. |
| US08855107B1 |
Methods and systems for call routing via a telephone number
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications and in particular to systems and methods for routing telephone calls. By way of example, a first address, such as a first phone number, can be associated with a telephonic terminal, such as a mobile phone. Incoming calls to the first address can be routed to the telephonic terminal or to other destinations based on telephonic terminal status. |
| US08855106B1 |
System and process for realtime/neartime call analytics with speaker separation
A system, method, and program product for realtime/neartime call analytics, the method comprising: receiving an inbound call connection; capturing a destination network address; initiating placement of a call; capturing first data of the initiating party and converting the first data to first data packets with time stamps and a first designation; creating a first audio stream; sending the first audio stream of audio data packets to an audio analytics service; capturing second data including audio data of the destination party and converting the second data to second data packets with time stamps and a second designation; creating a second audio stream; and sending the second audio stream of audio data packets to the audio analytics service. |
| US08855105B2 |
Call handling for IMS registered user
The present invention proposes a solution for providing IMS services to users having circuit-switched controlled terminals. In particular, it is proposed, in order to allow IMS to take the full call and service control, to combine circuit-switched and packet-based multimedia functionality in a new node type called Mobile Access Gateway Control Function (MAGCF). In particular the present invention provides a method for ensuring that the MAGCF node acts as a roaming anchor point in order to enforce the handling of originating and terminating calls in the IMS. |
| US08855104B2 |
Method for switching the session control path of IP multimedia core network subsystem centralized service
A method for switching the session control path of IMS centralized services is provided. When the condition for switching the session control path is satisfied during the ICS session based on the first session control path, the following steps are performed: one party of the ICS UE and ICCF of the ICS session transmits the request of switching the session control path to the other party; the receiving party identifies the ICS session corresponding to the request, and transmits an acknowledgement response to the transmitting party; and the ICCF and ICS UE set the session control path corresponding to the identified ICS session as the second session control path and transfer the subsequent session control information associated with the ICS session via the second session control path; wherein the first or second session control path is one of the PS session control path and the CS session control path. |
| US08855092B2 |
Direct link setup method in tunneled direct link setup wireless network and station supporting the method
Provided are a Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) establishment method for a TDLS initiator and a station supporting the establishment method. In the establishment method, a requesting Non-AP QSTA transmits a TDLS setup request frame via an access point (AP) to an intended peer Non-AP QSTA. And, the requesting Non-AP QSTA receives a TDLS setup response frame via the AP from the intended peer station in response to the TDLS setup request frame. And, the requesting Non-AP QSTA transmits a TDLS setup confirm frame via the AP to the intended peer station in response to the TDLS setup response frame. |
| US08855088B2 |
Reverse protocol for low latency wireless applications
Embodiments of a system and method for communicating according to an IEEE 802.11 standard or a WiGig specification. The method includes identifying a message that requires a response from another station in less than a threshold amount of time, and that the other station cannot likely respond to within a point coordination function (PCF) interframe sequence (PIFS). The message also includes setting a reverse direction (RD) response time field in a header of an MPDU corresponding to the message to a value indicating that a response from the other station is not required within a short interframe sequence (SIFS). |
| US08855086B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient multimedia delivery in a wireless packet network
The present invention sends multiple versions of a multimedia packet to the base station, and, based on the radio channel and traffic characteristics, an appropriate version of the multimedia packet is selected to send to the mobile station at a given time. In this way, source transmission is improved to instantaneous conditions. The steps of the present invention are performed in conjunction with RTP used for multimedia transmission over internet protocol (IP) networks. In a first embodiment, the multiple versions are sent to the base station in the same RTP packet, and the base station strips out the extraneous versions. In a second embodiment, the base station receives multiple RTP packets having identical information in the packet header in many fields, and selects an appropriate one among these for transmission to the mobile station, discarding the rest. |
| US08855083B2 |
Inter-access network handover
In a wireless network environment comprising first and second packet-switched access networks, each access network using a tunnelling-type micro-mobility protocol and a Quality of Service (QoS) routing protocol to route packet data to and from mobile nodes attached thereto, and each access network comprising an access router to which a mobile node may attach, a mobility agent with which said mobile node may register and a gateway, a method of facilitating network layer handover of said mobile node from said first access network to said second access network, said mobile node registered in said first access network with a serving mobility agent, which method comprises the steps of: said mobile node receiving a router advertisement from said second access network, which router advertisement comprises a network-layer address of a target mobility agent in said second access network with which said mobile node may register; and said mobile node forwarding said network-layer address to said serving mobility agent, whereby said serving mobility agent may communicate with said target mobility agent to facilitate network-layer handover of said mobile node to said second access network. |
| US08855081B2 |
System and method for selecting a transmission channel in a wireless communication system that includes an adaptive array
A method for establishing wireless communication between a transmitter and a receiver in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The receiver includes an adaptive array that has at least two antennas. Each antenna receives a signal and produces a received signal. The transmitter includes at least two transmission channels for communicating the signal from the transmitter to the receiver. The wireless communication system suppresses interference at the receiver by applying an interference suppression technique when combining the received signals. The selection of a channel at the transmitter is based on the channel performance at the receiver for each transmission channel. The channel performance is based on a combining technique different from the interference suppression technique. |
| US08855077B2 |
Communication method and radio transmitter
Radio transmission is performed even to a communication party whose bandwidth that can be used for transmission and reception is limited without having an influence of an offset of a DC component. A radio transmitter applied to an OFDMA communication system in which a plurality of different terminals performs communication using OFDM signals at the same time that includes a mapping part that allocates transmission power to each subcarrier, and also selects a subcarrier to which minimum power of the transmission power to be allocated is allocated and modulates transmission data in units of communication slots to output the modulated data; and a transmission part for transmitting radio signals including the modulated data using each of the subcarriers. |
| US08855069B2 |
HARQ operation for macro-diversity transmissions in the downlink
The invention relates to a downlink transmission scheme that supports downlink HARQ operation and macro-diversity that is capable of overcoming the problem of HARQ protocol de-synchronization when using HARQ in the downlink with multiple data transmitting network nodes. In this scheme, a distributed HARQ protocol operation for downlink data transmissions involving multiple network nodes is provided, where only one network node is terminating downlink HARQ protocol operation towards to mobile terminal, i.e. retransmissions of a data packet are sent from a single network node, a single HARQ transmitter, to the mobile terminal. The multiple network nodes send a first transmission of the data packet to the mobile terminal in a single transmission time interval using HARQ. One of the multiple network nodes is designated as the HARQ terminating node that controls/handles all retransmissions of the data packet. |
| US08855067B2 |
Multi-user communication group management and signaling
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes generating one or more assignment records for a wireless communication device, generating an assignment message that includes the one or more generated assignment records, and transmitting the assignment message to cause the wireless communication device to initialize or update a multi-user group table based on the assignment message and filter one or more received multi-user transmissions based on the multi-user group table. The assignment message can indicate one or more group identifiers and one or more group member identifiers that are assigned to the wireless communication device and one or more group identifiers that are not assigned to the wireless communication device. |
| US08855063B2 |
Method and apparatus for response scheduling in a downlink multiple-user multiple input multiple output network
Embodiment and methods and apparatus for scheduling one or more responses for multiple stations (STAs) in a downlink multiple-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) network transmission are provided. |
| US08855050B2 |
Soft state framework for mobile WSN routing
A soft state framework to support routing functionality in a mobile wireless sensor network is provided. This invention allows each node of the wireless sensor network to move in random directions in a three dimensional space. The invention seeks to minimize resource consumption while optimizing routing functionality in a mobile condition. |
| US08855047B2 |
Method and apparatus for PCDP discard
A method and apparatus for discarding a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) service data unit (SDU) are disclosed. A PDCP layer sets a timer and discards a PDCP SDU upon expiration of the timer. The timer may be set upon receiving the PDCP SDU from an upper layer or upon submitting the PDCP SDU to a lower layer for transmission. The timer and a radio link control (RLC) discard timer may be coordinated. Alternatively, the PDCP layer may discard the PDCP SDU based on a notification from an RLC layer or based on a PDCP status report. |
| US08855046B2 |
Method and system for uplink coordinated reception in orthogonal frequency division multiple access systems
Embodiments disclose a method of coordinating reception of uplink transmissions in order to reduce interference among transceivers in an OFDM wireless transmission system, or similar communication system, including a number of receivers communicating with one or more basestations in cell or sector arrangements. A basestation within each sector includes an uplink coordinated reception process that imposes coordinated reception techniques across sector or cell boundaries in order to improve uplink transmission quality between target terminals and basestations within each sector. |
| US08855044B2 |
Two-step uplink synchronization for pico/femtocell
A two-step uplink synchronization method is provided for uplink synchronization between a mobile station and a pico/femto base station that is deployed together with an overlay macro/micro base station. In a first step, the pico/femto BS encodes and broadcasts UL transmission timing advance offset information via a broadcast channel. The MS decodes the received UL transmission timing advance offset information and advances its uplink timing for uplink ranging or reference signal transmission based on the decoded offset value. In a second step, the MS and the pico/femto BS performs regular uplink synchronization and uplink access. In one example, the UL transmission timing advance offset information indicates a round-trip propagation time of radio signals between the pico/femto base station and the overlay macro/micro base station. By using the two-step uplink synchronization method, a unified synchronous ranging channel may be used for ranging and UL access in pico/femtocells with reduced interference. |
| US08855038B2 |
Methods and systems for handling unsuccessful reception in broadcast/multicast service
The present disclosure discloses a method for handling unsuccessful reception in broadcast/multicast service. The method comprises: the user terminal which fails to receive broadcasted/multicasted service contents obtains the service contents actively or passively after a mobile data broadcast/multicast platform broadcasts/multicasts the service contents. The present disclosure also discloses a system for handling unsuccessful reception in broadcast/multicast service, in which an obtaining unit is configured to obtain the service contents actively or passively by the user terminal which fails to receive the broadcasted/multicasted service contents after the mobile data broadcast/multicast platform broadcasts/multicasts the service contents. By the method and system provided in the present disclosure, handling of the unsuccessful reception of broadcasted/multicasted service contents can be triggered and realized by the user terminal. |
| US08855034B2 |
Method of allocating paging carrier and mobile station
A method of allocating a paging carrier in a multi-carrier environment is disclosed. The method of allocating the paging carrier includes receiving a first message including first allocation information of the paging carrier, transmitting a second message for requesting entry into an idle mode to a base station; and receiving a third message including second allocation information of a changed paging carrier from the base station. At this time, the paging carrier includes a paging channel out of multiple carriers including one or more carriers. |
| US08855030B2 |
Suppression of discovery of mobile devices in a wireless network
Technologies are generally described for suppressing discovery of mobile devices in a wireless ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) network, reducing the number of network transmissions by devices in the network and reducing network congestion and prolonging battery life. A mobile device may add supplementary information to introductory beacons transmitted by the device that indicate no response is necessary from other devices participating in the network except for a coordinator of the network. The mobile device may transmit a malformed introductory beacon that will be ignored by other devices in the network except for the coordinator. The coordinator of the wireless network may detect the mobile device moving through the network and transmit a suppression signal to other devices in the network causing the devices to ignore the introductory beacons transmitted by the mobile device. |
| US08855029B2 |
LMS adaptive filter for digital cancellation of second order inter-modulation due to transmitter leakage
A transmit signal second-order inter-modulation (IM2) canceller for a portable handset using a full duplex mode of operation (e.g., WCDMA) is used to controllably reduce IM2 introduced by a transmit signal that appears in a received signal in a receive channel of the portable handset. The transmit signal IM2 canceller includes a delay estimator and a digital signal adjuster. The delay estimator receives a first input from a receive channel and a second input from a transmit channel. The delay estimator generates an estimate of the IM2 that the transmit channel introduces in the receive channel. The digital signal adjuster removes the estimate of the IM2 before forwarding a modified receive channel signal to a baseband subsystem of the portable handset. |
| US08855027B2 |
Method for transmitting control information and apparatus therefor
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting uplink control information in a wireless communication system that supports carrier aggregation and operates in a TDD system, and to an apparatus therefor. The system comprises the steps of: generating a first set of hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) associated with a first component carrier (CC); generating a second set of HARQ-ACK associated with a second CC; and transmitting 4-bit information corresponding to the first set of HARQ-ACK and the second set of HARQ-ACK on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). |
| US08855026B2 |
Cooperative multipoint scheme selection codebook
A network sends to a user equipment UE a reference signal configuration, and from receiving it the UE selects a codeword identifying a cooperative multipoint CoMP transmission scheme. There is a CoMP scheme selection codebook from which the UE selects the codeword corresponding to its recommended CoMP scheme. The UE sends to the network that codeword which identifies the CoMP transmission scheme, along with the CSI feedback characterizing the CoMP transmission scheme. From that codeword which the network receives it determines the UE's assumed CoMP transmission scheme, which the network uses to determine how the CSI feedback, received from the UE, was calculated by the UE (for example, joint transmission, or dynamic point selection with or without muting, or coordinating scheduling/beamforming). The network uses this information for selecting a CoMP transmission scheme for downlink CoMP transmissions to the UE. |
| US08855023B2 |
Method for SRVCC emergency call support
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for emergency call support. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include a home subscriber server receiving a first message comprising a generated value representing a session transfer number. The session transfer number may relate to a transfer of an emergency session from a first network to a second network. The method may further comprise a home subscriber server updating a user profile with the generated value representing the session transfer number for the emergency session. The user profile may be stored in the home subscriber server. The method may further comprise a home subscriber server sending a second message comprising the generated value representing the session transfer number. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described. |
| US08855021B2 |
Video delivery apparatus and method
To reduce the delivery delay of video data to a display device in which a control right for adjusting parameters of the video data is vested, a video delivery apparatus modifies a delivery tree for delivering the video data to multiple display devices, and delivers the video data to the multiple display device via a network in accordance with the delivery tree. |
| US08855015B2 |
Techniques for generic pruning in a trill network
Techniques are provided for managing and distributing communications in a network. At a first switch device arranged in a first configuration in a network, a set of one or more network attributes are determined, which are associated with network communications that the first switch device is interested in receiving from other network devices. The first switch device sends to a controller device an attribute interest message that informs the controller device of the set of network attributes. The first switch device receives a mapping of the network attributes in to one or more identifiers. The identifiers are included in a header of subsequent frames sent in the network. An identifier interest message is then sent to a second switch device arranged in a second network configuration in the network to inform the second switch device of identifiers of the network attributes of which the first device has an interest. |
| US08855014B2 |
Distributed stateful path computation element overlay architecture
In one embodiment, a particular device in a computer network maintains a locally owned tunnel-state table, and joins a distributed hash table (DHT) ring. In addition, the locally owned tunnel-state table is shared with other devices of the DHT ring to establish a DHT-owned tunnel-state table. The particular device (and other devices) determines ownership of link-state advertisements (LSAs) for a specific portion of a traffic engineering database (TED) according to the DHT ring. As such, when the particular device (or any device) computes a path for a tunnel using a local TED, the particular device may request permission to use resources along the computed path that were advertised in particular LSAs from owners of those particular LSAs when not owned by the particular device. |
| US08855012B1 |
Mobile, secure and customizable emergency service gateway system
A mobile, secure and customizable emergency communication gateway system for providing effective electronic data communications for emergency personnel in a mobile environment. The mobile, secure and customizable emergency communication gateway system generally includes a mobile communication unit, a plurality of remote devices in communication with the mobile communication unit, a central communication unit, and a plurality of telecommunication networks. The mobile communication unit creates a plurality of virtual private networks (VPN) over the telecommunication networks tunneled to the central communication unit. The plurality of VPNs ensure that at least one VPN is available at all times for the mobile communication unit to communicate with the central communication unit. Load balancing, bundling and link bonding of communications may also be achieved over the plurality of VPNs. |
| US08855008B2 |
Digital multimedia network with parameter join mechanism
A digital multimedia network with a parameter join mechanism comprising at least one apparatus. A requesting device parameter of a source apparatus updates a local parameter group list by adding an entry for each device parameter of a target apparatus which joins the parameter group. |
| US08855007B2 |
Configuring an identifier for an access point
An access point is configured based on acquired information. An access point may be configured based on the configuration(s) of at least one other access point. An identifier to be transmitted by an access point may be selected based on the identifier(s) transmitted by at least one other access point. An access point may configure itself with assistance from a configuration server. For example, the access point may send information such as the location of the access point to a configuration server and the configuration server may respond with a list of neighboring access points for that access point. A configuration server may provide configuration information to an access point based on the location of the access point. A configuration server also may direct an access point to a different configuration server. |
| US08855004B2 |
Methods and arrangements for establishing a radio connection in a communication system
This invention pertains in general to the field of establishment of radio connection in a communication system. More particularly the invention relates to establishing a radio connection in a communication system. By broadcasting Random Access Channel related system information, user equipments can send a RACH request and receive a set of DL demodulation reference signals associated with a DL control channel. |
| US08855000B2 |
Interference estimation using data traffic power and reference signal power
In a wireless communication system, interference on data tones is estimated by detecting data transmissions from interferers. An overall interference covariance matrix is estimated as a function of scalar traffic to pilot ratio (TPR) estimates, residual interference covariance estimates, and covariance of channel estimates of dominant interferers. The interference estimates are refined as a function of reliability based on a ratio of power received from a serving cell and power received from a dominant interferer. |
| US08854998B2 |
Method of UE RSRQ measurement precaution for interference coordination
A method of UE RSRQ measurement precaution for interference coordination is provided. The UE receives radio signals of a neighbor cell under measurement. The neighbor cell applies a TDM silencing pattern for inter-cell interference coordination (TDM ICIC). The UE determines a measurement pattern that includes multiple subframes. The UE performs RSRQ measurements of the cell over multiple subframes and obtains multiple RSRQ measurement samples. The UE derives RSRQ measurement result by estimating the multiple RSRQ samples and applying a weighted average. RSRQ samples estimated to be more applicable are taken into account to more extent (e.g., applied with more weight), and/or RSRQ samples estimated to be less applicable are taken into account to less extent (e.g., applied with less weight, or discarded with zero weight). With UE precaution, a more predictable RSRQ measurement result is produced. |
| US08854997B2 |
Shortest path routing systems and methods for networks with non-fully meshed vertices
Shortest path routing systems and methods are presented for networks with non-fully meshed vertices or nodes. The systems and methods may include a shortest path routing method in a network with non-fully meshed vertices, a network with non-fully meshed vertices, and a system for implementing the shortest path routing methods. The shortest path routing systems and methods include modifications to the Dijkstra algorithm to more accurately model a network, such as an optical or photonic network. In an exemplary embodiment, the Dijkstra algorithm is modified to represent degrees at a site with an ingress vertex (e.g., a demultiplexer) and an egress vertex (e.g., a multiplexer). In another exemplary embodiment, in addition to representing degrees as ingress and egress vertices, the Dijkstra algorithm is modified to maintain knowledge of previously visited degrees to prevent revisiting a same degree in determining a shortest path. |
| US08854995B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving channel quality information in a communication system using an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing scheme
A method and Mobile Subscriber Station (MSS) are provided for transmitting Channel Quality Information (CQI) in a wireless communication system using an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme. A Carrier to Interference and Noise Ratio (CINR) of at least two bands are measured; each of the at least two bands including a plurality of adjacent subcarriers for a band Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) operation. A Report Response (REP-RSP) message including first information related to the measured CINR is sent. Second information related to a differential CINR of the at least two bands is sent via a Channel Quality Information Channel (CQICH). |
| US08854991B1 |
Tunneling binding messages in registration messages
A method, system, and medium are provided for updating bindings associated with a first mobile IP session by tunneling binding updates through registration messages associated with a second mobile IP session. A first mobile IP client provides binding updates to a second mobile IP client, which includes the binding updates in an extended registration request. The extended registration request is communicated to a mobile IP agent associated with the second mobile IP session. The request is parsed, and the binding updates are provided to a mobile IP agent associated with the first mobile IP session. Binding-update acknowledgements can be returned to mobile IP clients in a similar fashion. |
| US08854986B1 |
Energy efficiency ethernet (EEE) with 10GBASE-T structures
A communications system and method for switching data rates while maintaining convergence of adaptive components. The data rates can switch between, for example, 10G, 1G, 100M and the like. The adaptive components can include, for example, equalizers, cross-talk filters (e.g., NEXT filters; FEXT filters), transmission drivers, low density parity checks and echo cancellers. The data rate is reduced by maintaining the same symbol rate over a channel, while reducing the number of channels, reducing the symbol alphabet, and zero-filling unused bits in the transmission frame. In addition, full duplex communication can be changed to simplex communication. A usage rotation (e.g., a round robin rotation) switches among different twisted pairs of a communication channel to maintain convergence of the adaptive components. Inactive components can be powered down, or the power can be reduced, in order to reduce the amount of power required for the communications system. |
| US08854985B2 |
System and method for using ultrasonic communication
A system for wireless communication using ultrasonic signals that includes a transmission module, which receives input signals from a wireless device, modifies the received input signals in a manner that converts each received input signal into a corresponding ultrasonic signal and wirelessly transmits each said ultrasonic signal over an ultrasonic link, and a receiving module, which receives the transmitted ultrasonic signals, recovers the corresponding input signals therefrom and enables outputting each respective input signal through one or more output devices. Modification of the input signals may include compressing, encoding and modulating the input signals. The input signals may be voice audio signals for enabling to use the system for supporting phone calls by enabling ultrasonic communication between for instance, a wireless headset and a mobile phone. Transmission and receiving modules may be associated with a wireless headset and mobile phone for allowing ultrasonic and optionally RF communication therebetween. |
| US08854984B1 |
Network fabric stress test
A method of testing network device connectivity in a network by a host computing device includes identifying a topology of the network, where the network includes a plurality of communication paths connecting a plurality of network devices. The method further includes developing a test procedure based on the topology and a plurality of constraints, where a first constraint in the plurality of constraints includes sending a test data stream through each communication path in the plurality of communications paths only once in each direction. The method further includes configuring the plurality of network devices to perform the test procedure, initiating the test procedure, where initiating includes sending the test data stream from the host computing device to a first network device in the plurality of network devices, and monitoring the progress of the test procedure. |
| US08854983B2 |
Data path utilization for low level pattern generation and checkiing
Decision modules are strategically located along with various modules to route signals from either a test pattern generator or the data link layer through the various modules for performing scrambling, encoding, and serializing procedures on the signals before transmission of the signals on a serial bus. Decision modules are strategically placed along with various modules to route signals to either a test pattern checker or the data link layer through the various modules for performing descrambling, decoding, and deserializing procedures on the signals after receiving the signals from a serial bus. |
| US08854981B2 |
Signal interference measurements in a wireless communication network
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe techniques and configurations for handling interference measurements in a wireless communication network. An apparatus may include computer-readable media having instructions and processors coupled with the computer-readable media and configured to execute the instructions to identify, for a serving eNB, a neighboring eNB for which signal interference measurements are to be performed by one or more wireless devices served by the serving eNB, and request that the neighboring eNB transmit typical interference signals within data units which are configured for, and may or may not have, a scheduled physical downlink shared channel transmission. The wireless devices may be configured to perform the signal interference measurements based at least in part on the typical interference signals, which may include non-zero-power signals or zero-power signals. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08854980B2 |
Switching module
A fiber channel switching module can include an integrated trace buffer memory, a crossbar switch and a control processor disposed on a single line replaceable module (LRM). The trace buffer memory may be adapted to capture selected data traffic transiting the switch fabric based on pre-selected triggers. The selected data can be read out of the trace buffer memory and used for selected diagnostics. |
| US08854978B2 |
HSUPA carrier activation notification
A radio access network (20) comprises a serving base station (28S) configured to control a serving cell (34S) in an active set of a wireless terminal (30) as well as a non-serving base station (28N) configured to control a non-serving cell (34N) in the active set of the wireless terminal (30). Methods and apparatus are provided for signaling, to the non-serving base station (28N), information indicating a subset of active carriers in the set of at least two carriers. |
| US08854977B2 |
Relay node
A relay node functions as a master node or a slave node and includes a status monitoring means, an update requesting means, a master transferring means, and a master accepting means. The status monitoring means monitors a status of a connection related to communication data. The update requesting means transmits a first update request to a first node upon the relay node receiving first communication data while the first node functioning as the master node. The master transferring means determines whether to transfer authority of the master node to a second node in accordance with a status of a first connection upon the relay node receiving a second update request from the second node. The master transferring means transmits a first master transfer notification to the second node. The master accepting means prepares to become the master node upon the relay node receiving a second master transfer notification. |
| US08854973B2 |
Sliced routing table management with replication
Techniques are provided for hash-based routing table management in a distributed network switch. A frame having a source address and a destination address is received by a switch module having bridge elements and a routing table divided into slices of buckets, each slice having a respective property and including one or more buckets. If a routing entry for the source address is found in a first slice of a first set of buckets of the routing table responsive to a lookup request for the source address, and the property of the first slice satisfies a replication condition, then the routing entry is replicated to a second set of buckets of the routing table. |
| US08854972B1 |
Security device implementing flow lookup scheme for improved performance
A security device performing flow classification and storing flow information in a flow table includes a flow engine generating a flow key identifying a flow to which a received data packet belongs, the flow engine applying a hash function to the flow key to generate a flow hash value and an entry hash value being orthogonal to each other. The security device includes a hash map and a flow data table. The hash map table is indexed by the flow hash value and an entry index value is derived from the entry hash value. The flow data table is indexed by the flow hash value and the entry index value to return at least a retrieved flow key from a flow record of an indexed entry. |
| US08854971B2 |
System and method employing intelligent feedback mechanisms for traffic suspension on a client device
A method for suspending data transmission on a client device comprising: designating certain sockets within a socket layer on the client device as opportunistic and other sockets as non-opportunistic; detecting that a network interface is being throttled by utilizing flow feedback from a layer beneath the socket layer; and responsively suspending any opportunistic sockets while the network interface is throttled. |
| US08854968B2 |
Communication network, device, and method
The present invention discloses a communication network, device and method. The communication method includes the following steps: a Mobile Broadband Edge (MBB-Edge) node sends a traffic offloading indication to a NodeB according to a traffic offloading policy; and the NodeB directs User Plane (UP) data of a Packet Switched (PS) service to a Public Data Network (PDN) through a fixed broadband bearer network of an offloading path according to the traffic offloading indication. The present invention increases the transmission efficiency of PS services. |
| US08854963B1 |
Control and coordination of ODUflex bandwidth resizing operation
Methods and systems are provided for controlling elements in a signal path of a communication network to accommodate changes in the rate of a client signal. In particular, during the bandwidth resizing (BWR) portion of ITU-T Recommendation G.7044 Hitless Adjustment of ODUflex(GFP) protocol (HAO), the nodes in the chain along the ODUflex(GFP) signal path change their output rates in parallel such that FIFO over/underflow is avoided in the nodes. Certain embodiments provide mechanisms to synchronize and stabilize the nodes in a verifiable manner. |
| US08854960B2 |
Mechanism to prevent load in 3GPP network due to MTC device triggers
Embodiments of methods and apparatus to manage MTC device trigger load in a wireless network are described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08854956B2 |
System and method for finding segments of path for label switched path crossing multiple domains
An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) associated with a domain in a network and configured to find a segment of a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Traffic Engineering (TE) Label Switched Path (LSP) that crosses a plurality of domains in the network using a Constraint Shortest Path First (CSPF) algorithm or a reverse CSPF algorithm that computes a plurality of shortest paths in the domain of which the segment is selected, wherein the CSPF algorithm or the reverse CSPF algorithm is selected to reduce the number of shortest path computations in the domain based on the number of starting nodes and ending nodes that are considered for computing the shortest paths in the domain. |
| US08854954B2 |
Quality of service prediction and call failover
A method, computer program product, and system for a quality-of-service history database is described. One or more characteristics of an electronic call are monitored. A current quality-of-service score is determined, based upon, at least in part, the one or more characteristics. A predicted quality-of-service score is determined based upon, at least in part, one or more of the current quality-of-service score and the one or more characteristics, wherein the predicted quality-of-service score is associated with one or more future times. A failover connection associated with the electronic call is provided. A current connection associated with the electronic call is replaced with the failover connection based upon, at least in part, one or more of the predicted quality-of-service score and a threshold quality-of-service score. |
| US08854953B2 |
Optimizing endpoint selection of MRT-FRR detour paths
A method is described to be implemented by a node in a network. The method is for selecting an endpoint for a maximally redundant tree-fast reroute (MRT-FRR) detour path to optimize detour path cost or length across the network. The method defines a set of steps including selecting a destination node and next hop failure to calculate detour paths. A clean set of nodes for the network is then calculated, where the clean set of nodes are nodes in the network that are not impacted in reaching the destination node by the failure in the given next hop. A candidate node for the endpoint of the detour p path is selected from the set of clean nodes based on any one of a plurality of configured options and forwarding of data packets is configured to the selected candidate as the endpoint of the detour path to the destination node. |
| US08854952B2 |
Reallocating secondary destinations on a network switch
A method, system and program product that in response to a segmented server going offline reallocates only those primary and secondary destinations that need to be reallocated on an evenhanded basis, so there is at most a difference of one in the number of buckets allocated to each segmented server before and after re-allocation. |
| US08854945B2 |
Enhanced adaptive gain control in heterogeneous networks
In wireless communications, adaptive gain control may be performed by scaling of signals before and after a transform. A received signal power may be non-causally scaled to a first level within a desired range before transforming the received signal. The scaled signal is transformed between a time domain to a frequency domain and then its power is again non-causally scaled based on the first level. A feed forward circuit may be used in the power scaling. Different portions of the signal may be power adjusted independently of other portions. The different portions may be separated on a per-channel basis. Power scaling may be done on a symbol-by-symbol basis. |
| US08854943B2 |
Systems and methods for adjusting time slots of vectoring streams based on bit loading
A communication system comprises a plurality of line cards having transceivers coupled to a plurality of subscriber lines. Each line card has at least one transceiver within the same vectoring group, and each line card also has vector logic capable of cancelling crosstalk induced by a tone communicated by any member of the vector group. Further, the line cards are coupled to one another via a data connection across which a vectoring stream carrying vectoring information from one line card to the next. The bandwidth of the vectoring stream is reduced by dynamically adjusting time slots of the vectoring stream based on bit loading for the communicated tones. |
| US08854942B2 |
Systems and methods for bypassing failed line cards in multi-card vectoring groups
A communication system comprises a plurality of line cards having transceivers coupled to a plurality of subscriber lines. Each line card has at least one active transceiver within the same vectoring group, and each line card also has vector logic capable of cancelling crosstalk induced by an active transceiver that is a member of the vectoring group. Further, the line cards are coupled to one another via a ring connection across which vectoring information is passed from one line card to the next. In the event of a failure of one of the line cards, the failed card is bypassed by the vectoring stream so that the operational line cards can continue crosstalk vectoring operations despite such failure. |
| US08854941B2 |
Vectored DSL crosstalk cancellation
A vector DSL system includes a plurality of modems, which may be multi-port devices. Unprocessed user data is extracted from the modems and passed through a private vectoring data routing apparatus to one or more vectoring modules, such as vectoring cards. Each vectoring module includes one or more vector processors that include processing units configured to process the unprocessed user data on the basis of all modems' data for a given DSL tone grouping. Processing of the unprocessed user data removes the effects of FEXT from upstream and downstream user data and returns the processed user data to the modems using the vectoring data routing apparatus, which can be a specialized data transmission network utilizing one or more vector routers. |
| US08854940B2 |
Device for and method of recording information
A device for recording data and data structures on a write-once storage medium. The device has writing means for recording the data and the data structures and controlling means for generating the data structures and controlling the writing means. The data structures comprise space bit map and defect management structures. The controlling means are adapted to record the data structures at a predefined temporary location on the write-once storage medium and to finalize the write-once storage medium by recording the data structures at a predefined fixed location as defined for a rewritable storage medium. |
| US08854939B2 |
Optical information apparatus and gap control method thereof
An optical disk apparatus has: a laser (14) that outputs light; an optical system that includes an SIL (2) for forming a predetermined sized beam spot on an optical disk (1) using the light from the laser; a detector (26) that detects output power of the laser and generates a laser power detection signal; a laser power control circuit (27) that controls the output power of the laser using the laser power detection signal; a detector (10) that detects a gap length between the optical disk and the SIL and generates a gap detection signal; and a gap control circuit (15) that controls the gap length between the optical disk and the SIL using the gap detection signal. The power control circuit has a gain crossover frequency greater than a gain crossover frequency of the gap control circuit. |
| US08854936B1 |
Automatic forward sense calibration for writing systems
Embodiments of optical disc drives are described that perform automatic forward sense calibration of write laser power using a sample and hold sampling strategy that is automatically determined based on an automatically selected write strategy. Embodiments of the described optical disc drive may be dynamically configured to support any optical disc media, any write mode, and any write strategy. The write strategies supported may include dynamically changing write speeds and/or write power levels across the respective optical media tracks. As the optical drive is automatically configured for a selected write media/write mode/write strategy, the sample and hold sampling delays used to control the sampling of a forward sense feedback signal are also automatically configured, thereby allowing each forward sense sampling point to be aligned with an area of the forward sense feedback signal that corresponds to a power level of interest and that avoids distortion in the feedback signal. |
| US08854928B1 |
Differential laser diode driver apparatus and systems
Apparatus and systems create differential drive signals suitable for HAMR data recording. A laser diode differential driver provides heating current pulses at a time Φ1. The pulses energize a laser diode to pre-heat the magnetic medium to be written. Some embodiments duplicate portions of the laser diode circuit architecture to create a magnetic write head differential driver. The write head driver provides write current pulses to a magnetic write head in one direction with θ1 timing and in the opposite direction with θ2 timing. Both drivers utilize sets of reference voltages capable of being switched to one terminal or the other of the element to be driven. In the laser diode case, the common mode is split between the anode and cathode sections of the driver. A feedback element is added between the cathode and anode sections to provide current accuracy independent of the electrical characteristics of the selected laser diode. |
| US08854927B2 |
Watch capable of playing sound
A watch capable of playing sound includes a main body and a sound playing body. The main body includes an interface unit, a signal amplification unit, a control unit, and a first electromagnetic coil unit. The control unit transmits audio signal to the signal amplification unit via the interface unit. The first electromagnetic coil unit generates inducted electromagnetic filed in response to the audio signal amplified by the signal amplification unit. The sound playing body includes a second electromagnetic coil unit and a loudspeaker. The second electromagnetic coil unit generates electric signal in response to the induced electromagnetic filed. The loudspeaker plays the audio signal in response to the electric signal. |
| US08854925B1 |
Smart watch and control method for the same
Discussed are a smart watch and a control method for the same, which provide a notification indicating events, which are scheduled to occur later on the basis of a take-off time, if the smart watch is taken off. The smart watch includes a display unit to display content, a communication unit to perform transmission/reception of data, and a sensor unit to detect an input signal with regard to the smart watch and transmit the signal to a processor that serves to control the aforementioned units. The processor detects a take-off signal, indicating separation of the smart watch from a user, in a worn mode, to switch the smart watch to an unworn mode in response to the detected take-off signal, and provides a notification indicating at least one event that is scheduled to occur after detecting the take-off signal in the unworn mode. |
| US08854922B2 |
Foldable marine seismic source
The invention relates to a source device for the emission of seismic waves designed to operate by being towed by a vessel.The source device according to the invention comprises at least three support-beams, a plurality of guns placed along each support-beam, a central hub receiving one end of support-beams and arranged such that support-beams can be deployed according to a star-like geometry, and the means to keep support-beams in this geometry during operation. |
| US08854919B2 |
Generating inversion ready seismic data
A technique includes receiving first seismic data acquired by one or more receivers in response to energy produced by one or more seismic sources interacting with a subsurface feature. The first seismic data is indicative of measured reflection coefficients for image points for the subsurface feature, the measured reflection coefficients are associated with incidence angles, and a range of the incidence angles varies with respect to an image point position. The technique includes processing the first seismic data in a machine to generate second data indicative of a normal incidence reflection coefficient for at least one of the image points not associated with a normal angle of incidence. |
| US08854916B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and access method thereof
Example embodiments provide a semiconductor memory device that may include: a cell array arranged in pluralities of rows and columns; and a sense amplifier conducting writing and reading operations to the cell array in response to writing and reading commands in correspondence with an access time, which may be variable in period. The sense amplifier adjusts pulse widths of write-in and read-out data in accordance with a period of the access time. |
| US08854909B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of testing the same
A semiconductor memory device including an open bit line structure is disclosed. The semiconductor memory device including an open bit line structure includes a first mat, a second mat contiguous to the first mat, a first sense amplifier coupled to a first bit line of the first mat, a second sense amplifier coupled to a second bit line of the first mat and a third bit line of the second mat, a third sense amplifier coupled to a fourth bit line of the second mat, and a plurality of bit line precharge voltage providers for varying a level of a bit line precharge voltage provided to the first, second, and third sense amplifiers, selectively providing the resultant bit line precharge voltage level, and providing the same voltage as that of data of a selected cell to a non-selected sense amplifier during a read operation. |
| US08854908B1 |
System and method for memory access in server communications
A random access memory includes a plurality of memories configured to store and provide data, and a test module coupled to the plurality of memories, wherein the test module is configured to write a first write data pattern into at last a first portion of the plurality of memories in response to a data pattern value, wherein the test module is configured to read a read data pattern from the plurality of memories, wherein the test module is configured to compare the first write data pattern to the read data pattern, and wherein the test module is configured to report errors in response to a comparison of the write data pattern to the read data pattern. |
| US08854905B2 |
Semiconductor device and operation method thereof
A semiconductor device may include an internal circuit configured to perform write operations in response to each of a plurality of write commands, wherein the plurality of write commands are sequentially input to the internal circuit, a first pulse generation unit configured to generate a first pulse activated during a first delay amount in response to a write command, a second pulse generation unit configured to generate a second pulse activated during the first delay amount in response to a delayed write command out of the plurality of write commands after a second delay amount from the activation time of the first pulse, and a transfer control unit configured to prevent commands other than the plurality of write commands from being transferred to the internal circuit during a sum of the activation period of the first pulse and the activation period of the second pulse. |
| US08854902B2 |
Write self timing circuitry for self-timed memory
A self-timed memory includes a plurality of write timer cells. A reference write driver circuit writes a logic low value to a true side of the write timer cells. Each write timer cell includes a pullup transistor whose gate is coupled to an internal true node. Self-timing is effectuated by detecting a completion of the logic value write at a complement side of the write timer cells and signaling a reset of the self-timer memory in response to detected completion. To better align detected completion of the write in write timer cells to actual completion of a write in the memory, a gate to source voltage of the write timer cell pullup transistor is lowered by increasing a lower logic level voltage at the internal true node in connection with driver circuit operation to write a low logic state into the true side of the write timer cell. |
| US08854901B2 |
Read self timing circuitry for self-timed memory
A self-timed memory includes a plurality of timer cells each including an access transistor coupled to a true node and having a gate coupled to a reference wordline actuated by a reference wordline driver. Self-timing is effectuated by detecting completion of reference true bitline discharge in the timer cells resulting in enabling a sense amplifier. To better align detected completion of the discharge by the timer cells to a read from actual memory cells at any voltage in the operating voltage range of the memory, the gate to source voltage of the timer cells' access transistors is lowered by decreasing the logic high voltage level applied by the reference wordline. The timer cells may also, or alternatively, have pulldown transistors coupled to the internal true node, wherein a gate terminal of the pulldown is coupled to the reference wordline node and activated with the lowered gate to source voltage. |
| US08854900B2 |
Non-volatile memory and method with peak current control
A non-volatile memory with multiple memory dice manages simultaneous operations so as to not exceed a system power capacity. A load signal bus is pulled up with a strength proportional to the system power capacity. Each die has a driver to pull down the bus by an amount corresponding to its degree of power need as estimated by a state machine of the die. The bus therefore provides a load signal that serves as arbitration between the system power capacity and the cumulative loads of the individual dice. The load signal is therefore at a high state when the system power capacity is not exceeded; otherwise it is at a low state. When a die wishes to perform an operation and requests a certain amount of power, it drives the bus accordingly and its state machine either proceeds with the operation or not, depending on the load signal. |
| US08854898B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for comparing a current representative of a number of failing memory cells
Apparatuses and methods for comparing a sense current representative of a number of failing memory cells of a group of memory cells and a reference current representative of a reference number of failing memory cells is provided. One such apparatus includes a comparator configured to receive the sense current and to receive the reference current. The comparator includes a sense current buffer configured to buffer the sense current and the comparator is further configured to provide an output signal having a logic level indicative of a result of the comparison. |
| US08854888B2 |
High voltage switching circuitry for a cross-point array
Circuitry for generating voltage levels operative to perform data operations on non-volatile re-writeable memory arrays are disclosed. In some embodiments an integrated circuit includes a substrate and a base layer formed on the substrate to include active devices configured to operate within a first voltage range. Further, the integrated circuit can include a cross-point memory array formed above the base layer and including re-writable two-terminal memory cells that are configured to operate, for example, within a second voltage range that is greater than the first voltage range. Conductive array lines in the cross-point memory array are electrically coupled with the active devices in the base layer. The integrated circuit also can include X-line decoders and Y-line decoders that include devices that operate in the first voltage range. The active devices can include other active circuitry such as sense amps for reading data from the memory cells, for example. |
| US08854886B2 |
Memory and program method thereof
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory includes: applying a common program pulse to program cells within each page of a memory region including two or more pages; applying one or more different program pulses to the program cells within each page of the memory region, according to target threshold voltages of the program cells; and programming each page of the memory region such that the program cells have their own target threshold voltages. |
| US08854883B2 |
Fusion memory
According to one embodiment, there is provided a fusion memory including a first memory cell array formed of a NAND cell unit and a second memory cell array formed of a DRAM cell on a semiconductor substrate. The NAND cell unit is formed of a non-volatile memory cell having a two-layer gate structure in which a first gate and a second gate are stacked, and a selective transistor connecting the first and second gates of the non-volatile memory cell. The DRAM cell is formed of a cell transistor having a structure same as the structure of the selective transistor, and a MOS capacitor having a structure same as the structure of the non-volatile memory cell or the selective transistor. |
| US08854882B2 |
Configuring storage cells
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for configuring storage cells. A method includes detecting a shift in a read voltage level past a read voltage threshold for a set of memory cells of a non-volatile memory medium. A method includes adjusting a read voltage threshold for the set of memory cells by an amount based at least in part on one or more characteristics of the set of memory cells in response to the shift in the read voltage level. A method includes configuring the set of memory cells to use the adjusted read voltage threshold. |
| US08854878B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a controller. The controller is configured to perform a verify operation using a first verification voltage and a second verification voltage (first verification voltage |
| US08854877B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of reusing same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and a method of reusing the same that allow a good use of the semiconductor device without degrading characteristics even when reused. The semiconductor memory device comprises information holding means for holding information that indicates an operation mode of said memory cell array, a decoder for generating, to said memory cell array, a selection signal to designate at least a read address of said memory cell array in accordance with an address signal that comprises plural bits; and mode setting means for fixing a logical value of at least one bit of said plural bits of said address signal in accordance with the information held by said information holding means, and supplying said address signal, on which fixing of the logical value is effected, to said decoder. |
| US08854875B1 |
Phase change memory with flexible time-based cell decoding
Methods and systems for time-based cell decoding for PCM memory. Generally, the higher the PCM element resistance, the longer it takes for a read output to change state. PCM memory output is determined using differentiated timings of read outputs changing state, rather than differentiated values of read outputs. In some single-bit single-ended sensing embodiments, a reference, with resistance between the resistances corresponding to a pair of adjacent logical states, is stored in multiple reference cells; a “vote” unit emits a clock signal when a majority of the reference cell read outputs transition at the vote unit. Timing units produce different binary outputs depending on whether a data read output or the clock signal changes state first at the timing unit. Time-based decoding provides advantages including improved temperature and drift resilience, improved state discrimination, improved reliability of multibit PCM, and fast and reliable sensing. |
| US08854874B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including variable resistance element
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a control circuit. The memory cell array include the memory cells each including a variable resistance element in which a reset current flowing in a reset operation is smaller than a set current flowing in a set operation by not less than one order of magnitude. The control circuit performs the reset operation and the set operation for the memory cells. The control circuit performs the reset operation for all memory cells being in the low resistance state and connected to selected first interconnections and selected second interconnections. |
| US08854870B2 |
Magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) die including an integrated magnetic security structure
An MRAM die may include a first write line, a second write line, an MRAM cell disposed between the first write line and the second write line, and a magnetic security structure adjacent to the MRAM cell. The magnetic security structure may include a permanent magnetic layer and a soft magnetic layer. |
| US08854869B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device and system
A semiconductor integrated circuit which can respond to changes of the amount of retained data at the time of standby is provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit comprises a logic circuit (logic) and plural SRAM modules. The plural SRAM modules perform power control independently of the logic circuit, and an independent power control is performed among the plural SRAM modules. Specifically, one terminal and the other terminal of a potential control circuit of each SRAM module are coupled to a cell array and a local power line, respectively. The local power line of one SRAM module and the local power line of the other SRAM module share a shared local power line. A power switch of one SRAM module and a power switch of the other SRAM module are coupled in common to the shared local power line. |
| US08854866B2 |
Identification circuit and method for generating an identification bit
A semiconductor device includes an identification circuit. The identification circuit includes a memory cell which includes a first transistor having a first value of a switching characteristic and a second transistor having a second value of the switching characteristic. The identification circuit is operable to generate a memory-cell-specific identification bit which is dependent on production-dictated differences in the first switching characteristic of the first transistor and the second switching characteristic of the second transistor. The identification circuit further includes a drive circuit for the memory cell. The drive circuit is operable to connect or isolate an upper supply potential and a lower supply potential of the semiconductor device to or from the memory cell independently of one another. |
| US08854859B2 |
Programmably reversible resistive device cells using CMOS logic processes
Junction diodes fabricated in standard CMOS logic processes can be used as program selectors for reversible resistive devices, such as PCM, RRAM, CBRAM, or other memory cells. The reversible resistive devices have a reversible resistive element coupled to a diode. The diode can be constructed by P+ and N+ active regions on an N well as the P and N terminals of the diode. By applying a voltage or a current between a reversible resistive element and the N terminal of a diode, the reversible resistive device can be programmed into different states based on magnitude, duration, voltage-limit, or current-limit in a reversible manner. The P+ active region of the diode can be isolated from the N+ active region in the N well by using dummy MOS gate, SBL, or STI/LOCOS isolations. |
| US08854858B2 |
Signal level conversion in nonvolatile bitcell array
A system on chip (SoC) includes one or more core logic blocks that are configured to operate on a lower supply voltage and a memory array configured to operate on a higher supply voltage. Each bitcell in the memory has two ferroelectric capacitors connected in series between a first plate line and a second plate line to form a node Q. A data bit voltage is transferred to the node Q by activating a write driver to provide the data bit voltage responsive to the lower supply voltage. The data bit voltage is boosted on the node Q by activating a sense amp coupled to node Q of the selected bit cell, such that the sense amp senses the data bit voltage on the node Q and in response increases the data bit voltage on the node Q to the higher supply voltage. |
| US08854857B2 |
Electronic device and method for FRAM power supply management
The invention is an electronic device including a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), a first supply voltage domain, a second supply voltage domain and a low drop output voltage regulator (LDO) receive a first supply voltage of the first supply voltage domain and providing a second supply voltage of the second supply voltage domain. The second supply voltage domain supplies the FRAM. The LDO switches between a first state providing and maintaining the second supply voltage of the second supply voltage domain and a second state providing a high impedance output to the second supply voltage domain. The electronic device switches the LDO from the first state to the second state in response to a failure of the first supply voltage domain. |
| US08854851B2 |
Techniques for suppressing match indications at a content addressable memory
A content addressable memory (CAM) suppresses an indication of a match in response to determining that the entry that stores data matching received compare data is the subject of a write operation. To suppress the indication, an address decoder decodes a write address associated with the write operation to determine the entry of the CAM that is the subject of the write operation, and provides control signaling indicative of the determined entry. The CAM uses the control signaling to suppress any match indications for the entry being written, thereby preventing erroneous match indications. |
| US08854847B2 |
Power and management device and method
A power management device comprises: an input for receiving a transient energy pulse; a first storage section and a second storage section for storing energy from the input; an output; a switching section for selectively connecting the input, first storage section, second storage section and output in at least first and second configurations, wherein in the first configuration the first and second storage sections are connected so as to distribute energy from the transient energy pulse between the first and second storage sections, in the second configuration the respective voltages across the first and second storage sections are combined additively to produce an output voltage at the output, whereby the output voltage after switching to the second configuration is greater than the output voltage before switching to the second configuration. |
| US08854843B2 |
HVDC converter with neutral-point connected zero-sequence dump resistor
A power electronic converter (30)is for use in high voltage direct current power transmission and reactive power compensation, the power electronic converter (30) including three phase elements (32) defining a star connection (36) and a converter unit (34) including first and second DC terminals (50,52) for connection in use to a DC network (56) and three AC terminals (54), the converter unit (34) including a plurality of switching elements (70,74) controllable in use to facilitate power conversion between the AC and DC networks (44,56), the power electronic converter (30) further including a third DC terminal (78) connected between the first and second DC terminals (50,52), the third DC terminal (78) being connected to a common junction (40) of the star connection (36) to define an auxiliary connection (82), the auxiliary connection (82) including at least one dump resistor (84) connected between the common junction (40) and the third DC terminal (78), wherein the switching elements (70,74) of the converter unit (34) are controllable in use to modify a phase voltage at each AC terminal (54) to include a triplen harmonic voltage component so as to dissipate real power in the or each dump resistor (84) at a triplen harmonic frequency. |
| US08854839B2 |
AC-to-DC power converting device
An AC-to-DC power converting device includes: a filter for filtering an external AC input voltage; a rectifier for rectifying the AC input voltage filtered by the filter to output a rectified voltage; a power factor corrector for receiving the rectified voltage from the rectifier to generate a boosted voltage; and a step-down converter for receiving the boosted voltage from the power factor corrector to output a DC output voltage. The power factor corrector includes first and second capacitors connected in series across an output side of the rectifier, a series connection of a first diode, a first inductor, a third capacitor, a second inductor and a second diode coupled to the output side of the rectifier, and first and second switches connected in series across the third capacitor. A common node between the first and second capacitors is coupled to a common node between the first and second switches. |
| US08854837B2 |
Boost converter for reducing voltage stress
There is provided a boost converter capable of reducing voltage stress within each element thereof, without using a separate loss snubber circuit, by clamping a voltage applied to an output diode to correspond to a difference between an input voltage and an output voltage. The boost converter includes a transformer including a primary winding receiving an input power and a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled to the primary winding and having a preset turn ratio therewith; a switching unit switching the input power transferred to the primary winding on and off according to a preset duty ratio; a stabilizing unit including an output diode rectifying the power outputted from the secondary winding to stabilize an output power; and a clamping unit clamping a voltage applied to the output diode to correspond to a difference between the input power and the output power during a switching on operation of the switching unit. |
| US08854835B2 |
Hi-definition multimedia interface shield with fingers
An electromagnetic shield comprises a single sheet of metal having outer and inner peripheries. The outer periphery forms a plurality of outer deflectable fingers extending outward from a bent edge of the outer periphery for contacting a surface of a faceplate. The plurality of outer deflectable fingers is deflectable to allow for installation and removal of the faceplate. The inner periphery has an opening for receiving an HDMI connector and forming a plurality of inner deflectable fingers extending inwardly from a bent edge of the inner periphery. The plurality of inner deflectable fingers is deflectable to allow for insertion and removal of the HDMI connector. |
| US08854834B2 |
Dual screen folding display hinge
Dual screen display devices are disclosed. The device is able to be a mechanical hinge capable of joining multiple screens to form a single display or a substantially continuous display. The device is also capable of splitting a jointed display into separated screens. In some embodiments, the device comprises detaining mechanisms allowing the device to instantly interchange among several pre-defined angles or positions. |
| US08854832B2 |
Grounding structure of high voltage secondary battery for vehicle
Provided is a grounding structure of a high voltage secondary battery for a vehicle capable of securing stable ground potential of various electric devices included in the vehicle and reducing a risk factor that may be generated due to a potential difference by connecting a battery pack including a secondary battery and an inverter for the vehicle provided in the next generation vehicle such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), an electric vehicle (EV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to each other by a ground wire formed of an electric wire in order to allow a vehicle body and a battery pack to have equipotential. |
| US08854831B2 |
Low power, high density server and portable device for use with same
A high density server including a plurality of portable devices is disclosed. The portable devices may be arranged in drawers, which may be assembled into shelves for mounting within the high density server. The server rack of the high density server has a substantially open bottom and open top to permit passive airflow in and around the portable devices housed therein. Because of the configuration of the portable devices within the server, the computing power density is increased over a traditional server. Also, the design of the portable devices and their placement within the high density server minimizes the need for active cooling and in some embodiments removes the need for active cooling mechanisms altogether. The portable devices are encased in a protective coating that facilitates heat dissipation away from the portable device. The portable devices include components found in traditional servers. |
| US08854825B2 |
Terminal box, output cable connection arrangement for solar cell module terminal box and fixation arrangement for the output cable
A terminal box is provided having a terminal plate body and a fixed attachment portion to which at least one lead terminal portion of the diode is fixed, and the fixed attachment portion is connected to the terminal plate body via a displacement-allowing connecting portion. An output cable connection arrangement for a solar cell module terminal box is further provided in which an output cable is inserted to a cable insertion portion such that an inner coating portion coating a core wire of the output cable and an outer coating portion coating the inner coating portion are engaged within the cable insertion portion. An output cable fixation arrangement for a solar cell module terminal box is further provided in which an output cable is fixed to the terminal box by means of a cable fastener having a first fixing portion to be fixed to a barrel portion of the output cable. |
| US08854820B2 |
Power module
A power module can prevent damages due to cracking or breakage of an insulating substrate when molding even if a heat plate constituting a power module pre-product is made areally smaller than the insulating substrate, and can also sufficiently satisfy demand for minimization. Specifically, the power module pre-product is sealed by a molding resin layer in a state where externally exposed end portion on one end side in both external connecting terminals and the other surface side of a heat plate are each exposed to the outside. The power module substrate constituting a multilayer substrate body includes an aligning hole, into which an aligning pin is inserted, the pin being included in a lower molding die constituting a molding die with an upper molding die that molds a molding resin layer, so as to position the power module pre-product inside a cavity. |
| US08854818B1 |
Retaining and cooling system for line replaceable units
A device for selectively clamping an electronic module to a heat sink comprising a frame and a camshaft rotatably attached to the frame. The camshaft comprises at least one cam lobe arranged thereon for selectively applying a clamping force on the electronic module in a direction generally normal to the heat sink. |
| US08854816B2 |
Water-proof cover for an inverter unit
The front case of the unit case contains a circuit section including a power semiconductor module, and the rear case contains a cooling fin assembly of the semiconductor module and a cooling fan. The cooling air ventilated through the wind channel by the cooling fan is discharged upward from the unit case. The water-proof cover is placed over the top of the unit case. The water-proof cover includes an exhausting structure formed with openings downward at the left and right sides of a front part of the water-proof cover to form an exhausting path; and a ventilation guide formed around an exhausting port inside a rear part of the water-proof cover. The cooling air discharged to the inside space of the water-proof cover by the cooling fan is ventilated through the ventilating path and exhausted outside through the exhausting path. |
| US08854814B2 |
Hybrid cooling design for modular systems
A system and method for chassis cooling is provided. A preferred embodiment comprises an orthogonal backplane along with a hybrid cooling air flow. One air flow is routed horizontally through aligned and suitable openings on the backplane, vertically over components to be cooled, and horizontally out of the chassis. A second air flow is routed horizontally over components and through aligned and suitable openings on the backplane before it is routed horizontally out of the chassis. |
| US08854811B2 |
Electronic device with cover plate
An electronic device including a housing, a cover plate, and a button is provided. The cover plate is separably disposed on the housing and corresponds to an opening on the housing. A groove is formed on an edge of the cover plate. The button pivotally connects to an edge of the housing which encompasses the opening. The button can rotate on a housing plate of the housing and corresponds to the position of the groove. The button is behind the edge of the housing while the button is in a release position; a portion of the button extends out and into the groove of the cover plate while the button rotates to a lock position. |
| US08854807B2 |
Converter arrangement with an air cooling system
A converter arrangement includes a housing having a first cooling air channel, at least one capacitor disposed in the housing, a fan for generating a cooling air flow, and a first power electronics module disposed in the housing between the at least one capacitor and the fan, as viewed in a direction of the cooling air flow. The first power electronics module is positioned in relation to the fan so as to only be cooled by a first partial air flow. A second partial air flow provided for cooling the at least one capacitor is routed via the first cooling air channel past the first power electronics module such that the second partial air flow is thermally separated from the first power electronics module. |
| US08854805B2 |
Storage device carriers for adapting a storage device of a first size to a slot for a storage device of a second size
Apparatus and devices for carrying a storage device and adapting it to a slot for a storage device having a different form factor. The system comprises an opening means for elastically deforming a shape of the system from an original shape so that the carrier may receive the storage device. The system also comprises restraining means for constraining the motion of the storage device within the system when the system returns to the original shape. Furthermore, the system comprises a spacing means for aligning the storage device with the slot while the storage device is restrained within the system. |
| US08854801B2 |
Portable computer display housing
A display housing for a portable computing device that utilizes a plastic cover bonded to an internal metal frame is described. To account for thermal cycling issues and in particular to prevent bond slippage, multiple types of adhesives are employed to join the metal frame and the plastic cover. In particular, a very high bond (VHB) adhesive material is used in certain areas to bond the metal inner frame to the plastic cover and a liquid adhesive is used in other areas. The plastic cover can be translucent to light. A method of coating the plastic cover to block light, such as from a backlight used for the display, is described. |
| US08854800B2 |
Portable computer
A portable computer includes a main body casing including an upper plate and an opening formed on the upper plate; a cover pad which may be coupled to the upper plate and covers the opening, the cover pad having a plate surface and a rear surface; and a touch-pad coupled to the rear surface of the cover pad through the opening, thus protecting the touch-pad and enabling the touch-pad to sense a coordinate touched on the plate surface and generate a position data of a pointer. |
| US08854798B1 |
Transmitter holder apparatus and method
A transmitter holder apparatus includes a bezel with a front surface, sides and a flat back where the front surface includes a recess A transmitter assembly is provided where the transmitter assembly is configured to fit within the recess in the front surface of the bezel. A connector device is provided for removably connecting the transmitter assembly with the bezel. |
| US08854792B2 |
Low operating temperature high voltage contactor
An electrical contactor for use in a high voltage bus utilizes two capacitor plates and a dielectric element movable in a gap between the plates under a charging voltage applied to the plates. The dielectric element is biased to a contactor off, or open, position by a biasing element, such as a spring. Once activated, the contactor remains closed under the influence of the charging voltage across the capacitor plates, yet does not draw a current during this state. The contactor may be released by a controllable discharge circuit placed across the capacitor plates. |
| US08854788B2 |
Ion generating apparatus and ion presence determining method
It is expected to provide an ion generating apparatus and an ion presence determination method that can prevent the lower accuracy of the ion presence determination caused by the humidity effect. The ion generators are switched ON at the different timing, the electrical potential of the collecting electrode is measured to determine that the ion is present (or not present) when the voltage difference is larger (or smaller) than the threshold. A humidity detecting unit is arranged in a duct. The set threshold for the determination is based on the humidity of the humidity detecting unit, and the ion presence determination is not performed when the humidity is equal to or more than a predetermined humidity. When the determination representing no ion is obtained predetermined times, the warning is output for the users with a LED of a display, a buzzer of a controller or the like. |
| US08854784B2 |
Integrated FET and reflowable thermal fuse switch device
A circuit protection device includes a reflowable thermal fuse that shuts off current to a field-effect transistor if the field-effect transistor is overheating. In particular, the reflowable thermal fuse is integrated with the field-effect transistor to provide greater proximity between the field-effect transistor and the reflowable thermal fuse, thus providing efficient and accurate detection of an overtemperature condition in the field-effect transistor. |
| US08854782B2 |
Overcurrent protection device
An overcurrent protection device includes a power input terminal, a power output terminal, a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal, a testing circuit, and a switch element. The power input terminal and the first signal terminal are connected to a power supply. The power output terminal and the second signal terminal are connected to a computer motherboard. If the first and second terminals are disconnected from each other when the computer motherboard works, the power supply stops working. The testing circuit includes a fixed resistor and a control chip parallel connected between the power input and output terminal. The control chip stores a predetermined voltage threshold, and detects voltage between the two terminals of the fixed resistor, and compares the measured voltage with the predetermined voltage threshold. The switch element disconnects the first and second signal terminals when the measured voltage is greater than the predetermined voltage threshold. |
| US08854781B2 |
Power supply device for plasma processing
A power supply device for plasma processing, wherein electric arcs may occur, comprises a power supply circuit for generating a voltage across output terminals, and a first switch connected between the power supply circuit and one of the output terminals. According to a first aspect the power supply device comprises a recovery energy circuit connected to the output terminals and to the power supply circuit. According to a second aspect the power supply device comprises an inductance circuit including an inductor and a second switch connected parallel to the inductor. According to a third aspect the power supply device comprises a controller for causing the power supply circuit and the first switch to be switched on and off. The controller is configured to determine a quenching time interval by means of a self-adaptive process. The quenching time interval defines the time interval during which, in an event of an arc, no voltage is generated across the output terminals. |
| US08854776B2 |
Relay and method for protecting transformer, and transformer protecting system having the same
Disclosed are a relay and method for protecting a transformer, and a transformer protecting system having the same. In the present disclosure, whether a transformation ratio of a transformer has been correctly set or not may be determined based on an inner algorithm. If it is determined that the transformation ratio of the transformer has been incorrectly set, a user may be informed to reset the transformation ratio. This may prevent a malfunction of the relay when the system is operated, and may enhance a system stability. |
| US08854774B1 |
Nanut fault current limiter circuits
A fault current limiter includes a rectifier having AC terminals and direct current (DC) terminals, the AC terminals to be coupled to an AC power source and a load. The fault current limiter further includes a DC diode coupled in parallel across the DC terminals of the rectifier and a DC reactor coupled to the DC diode. When an AC current drawn from the AC power source is less than a predetermined threshold, the DC diode is in a forward bias state to allow the AC current flowing to the load through the DC diode. When the AC current drawn from the AC power source is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold, the DC diode is in a reverse bias state, forcing the AC current to flow to the load through the DC reactor. |
| US08854771B1 |
Hard disk drive bypass channel having a close-sided voice coil motor
Approaches to improving head positioning accuracy in a hard disk drive, by suppressing airflow disturbances that would otherwise cause unwanted component vibration, include a voice coil motor having a sidewall spanning a gap between the VCM upper yoke and lower yoke. This VCM sidewall also serves as the inner wall of a bypass channel, for diverting airflow away from the actuator arm and associated components. |
| US08854768B2 |
Magnetic head and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus
To realize a highly reliable magnetic head for a high-frequency magnetic field assisted recording system by preventing current crowding in an oscillator and increasing the current resistance of the oscillator. Between a main pole that generates a recording magnetic field and a trailing shield, an oscillator that includes a non-magnetic metal layer, a spin injection pinned layer, an intermediate layer, and a high-frequency magnetic field generation layer and that generates a high-frequency magnetic field is disposed. The non-magnetic metal layer adjacent to the main pole is tapered with the width gradually increasing from the trailing side toward the leading side. |
| US08854764B2 |
Multiple-sense thermo-resistive sensor for contact detection of read-write heads
Techniques of the present invention include detecting a touchdown between a read/write head of a disk drive and a surface of a magnetic disk using multiple touchdown sensors located at an air-bearing surface (ABS). The multiple sensors increase the likelihood that a touchdown event—i.e., a portion of the ABS of the head contacting the underlying magnetic disk surface—will be detected. During touchdown, the portion of the head contacting the magnetic disk generates frictional heat which changes a characteristic (e.g., the electrical resistance) of at least one of the sensors located at the ABS. When the sensors are connected to a detection circuit, the changing characteristic may be monitored to identify a touchdown event. The touchdown sensors may be, for example, electrically connected in either series or parallel to the detection circuit. Thus, as long as the electrical resistance of one of the sensors is changed, a touchdown event may be detected. |
| US08854761B1 |
Method and system for specifying self-servo-write patterns
A method of writing servo data to a data storage medium includes reading a servo instruction from a memory, the servo instruction comprising a control portion and a data portion, processing the servo instruction in a controller to generate a servo data pattern from the data portion based on the control portion, and transferring the servo data pattern to the data storage medium. The processing may include transforming the data portion into the servo data pattern based on the control portion. The processing also may include following a command in the control portion to use the data portion as an index to retrieve a pre-programmed servo data pattern from a pattern store. The transferring may include storing the servo data pattern in a buffer, and writing the servo data pattern from the buffer to the data storage medium. |
| US08854757B2 |
Systems and methods for old data inter-track interference compensation
Systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to estimating or calculating interference between tracks on a storage medium. |
| US08854756B1 |
Systems and methods for mitigating data interference in a contact signal
The present inventions are related to systems and methods for determining contact between two elements, and more particularly to systems and methods for determining contact between a head assembly and a storage medium. |
| US08854749B2 |
Voice coil motor having a base with protrusions and a shell with mounting holes receiving the protrusions
A voice coil motor includes a base made of plastic or resin, a stator, a moving and a shell. The base includes a mounting surface, assembling surfaces, and protrusions extending from at least one of the assembling surfaces. The stator includes a rack and magnets. The rack is mounted to the mounting surface. The moving unit received in the rack. The shell includes a top plate and side plates extending from the top plate. The shell defines at least one slot. Each slot is positioned at a joint between two neighboring side plates. At least one side plate defines mounting holes. The base, the moving unit, and the stator are accommodated in the shell. Each protrusion passes through a mounting hole and is heated to form a head portion. The head portion is positioned outside the shell and has an outer diameter greater than a diameter of each mounting hole. |
| US08854747B2 |
Optical system and image pickup apparatus including the same
An optical system includes a first lens unit, an aperture stop, and a second lens unit having a positive refractive power. The first lens unit includes a first lens having a negative refractive power and a second lens having a positive refractive power. The second lens unit includes a cemented lens, a fifth lens having a negative refractive power and a concave surface facing an object side, and a sixth lens having a positive refractive power and a convex surface facing an image side. In the cemented lens, a third lens having a positive refractive power and a fourth lens having a negative refractive power are cemented. A distance D1 from an object-side lens surface vertex of the first lens to the aperture stop and a distance Dt from the object-side lens surface vertex of the first lens to an image plane are appropriately set. |
| US08854736B2 |
Optical body, window member, fitting, solar shading device, and building
An optical body includes a first optical layer having a concave-convex surface, a wavelength selective reflecting layer formed on the concave-convex surface, and a second optical layer formed on the wavelength selective reflecting layer and embedding the concave-convex surface. The wavelength selective reflecting layer selectively directionally reflects light in a particular wavelength band while transmitting light other than the particular wavelength band therethrough. The concave-convex surface is made up of a plurality of triangular pillars arrayed in a one-dimensional pattern, and the triangular pillar has an apex angle α and a slope angle β, the apex angle α and the slope angle β satisfying a predetermined relationship. |
| US08854735B2 |
Virtual image display system
A thickness of a tapered part provided at the deeper side (−X side) in a light guide direction of a light transmission member is smaller toward the deeper side, and thus, a reflection angle of ghost light that has passed through a fourth reflection surface provided with a half mirror layer and reached the light transmission member gradually becomes smaller within the tapered part and no longer satisfies a total reflection condition, and the light is ejected to the outside in the position diverging from an eye of an observer. That is, the tapered part may prevent the ghost light from reaching the eye and good see-through observation can be realized. |
| US08854730B2 |
Negatively birefringent polyesters and optical films
Presently described are multilayer optical films, oriented polyester films, negatively birefringent copolyester polymers, fluorene monomers, and polyester polymers prepared from such fluorene monomers. In one embodiment, the multilayer optical film comprises at least one first birefringent optical layer; and at least one second optical layer having a lower birefringence than the first optical layer; wherein at least one of the optical layers comprises a negatively birefringent polyester polymer comprising a backbone and repeat units comprising at least one pendent aromatic group that is conformationally locked relative to the backbone. |
| US08854729B2 |
Microscope adapter unit
A microscope adapter unit disposed on an optical path of illumination light between a light source unit including a light source and a sample surface includes a first lens group having at least one lens and a second lens group having at least one lens. The first lens group converts the illumination light into roughly parallel luminous fluxes, and makes the illumination light enter the second lens group. |
| US08854728B1 |
Endcaps for hollow-core optical fibers and method
A method and apparatus use a photonic-crystal fiber having a very large core while maintaining a single transverse mode. In some fiber lasers and amplifiers having large cores problems exist related to energy being generated at multiple-modes (i.e., polygamy), and of mode hopping (i.e., promiscuity) due to limited control of energy levels and fluctuations. The problems of multiple-modes and mode hopping result from the use of large-diameter waveguides, and are addressed by the invention. This is especially true in lasers using large amounts of energy (i.e., lasers in the one-megawatt or more range). By using multiple small waveguides in parallel, large amounts of energy can be passed through a laser, but with better control such that the aforementioned problems can be reduced. An additional advantage is that the polarization of the light can be maintained better than by using a single fiber core. |
| US08854725B2 |
Wavelength conversion element, method of manufacturing the same, and LED element and semiconductor laser light emitting device using wavelength conversion element
A wavelength conversion element disclosed in the present application includes a phosphor layer including a plurality of phosphor particles and a matrix that is located among the plurality of phosphor particles and is formed of zinc oxide. The zinc oxide is columnar crystals or a single crystal in a c-axis orientation. |
| US08854715B2 |
Magnetic control of surface states
A magnetic field may be applied to a plasmon path to affect plasmon propagation. |
| US08854714B2 |
Colored conductive fluids for electrowetting and electrofluidic technologies
Colored conductive fluids for electrowetting or electrofluidic devices, and the devices themselves, are disclosed. The colored conductive fluid includes a polar solvent and a colorant selected from a pigment and/or a dye. The polar solvent has (a) a dynamic viscosity of 0.1 cP to 1000 cP at 25° C., (b) a surface tension of 25 dynes/cm to 90 dynes/cm at 25° C., and (c) an electrowetting relative response of 20% to 80%. The colored conductive fluid itself can have an electrical conductivity from 0.1 μS/cm to 3,000 μS/cm and can have no greater than 500 total ppm of monatomic ions with ionic radii smaller than 2.0 Å and polyatomic ions with ionic radii smaller than 1.45 Å. The colored conductive fluid should not cause electrical breakdown of a dielectric in the device in which it is employed. An agent for controlling electrical conductivity can optionally be added to the colored conductive fluid. |
| US08854710B2 |
Method of laser illumination with reduced speckling
Proposed is a method of laser illumination with reduced speckling for in optical microscopy, machine vision systems with laser illumination, fine optical metrology, etc. The method comprises forming a net of planar ridge waveguides into an arbitrary configuration and providing them with a plurality of holograms having holographic elements formed into a predetermined organization defined by the shape of a given light spot or light field which is to be formed by light beams emitted from the holograms on the surface of the object or in a space at a distance from the planar ridge waveguide. Speckling is reduced by locating at least a part or all of the holograms at distances from each other that are equal to or greater than the coherence length. The geometry and organization of the holographic elements allows controlling position, focusing and defocusing of the beam. |
| US08854701B2 |
Image-forming lens, image reader, and image-forming device
An image-forming lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first group having a negative power as a whole, the first group consisting of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface on the object side and a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface on the object side, the positive meniscus lens and the negative meniscus lens being cemented, an aperture stop, a second group consisting of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface on the image side, a third group consisting of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface on the image side, a fourth group consisting of a lens having a negative power, and a fifth group consisting of a biconcave lens. |
| US08854700B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a main body, a rotation unit supported on the main body so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis, an imaging unit that is mounted on the rotation unit at an outward position in a radial direction of the rotation axis and images a medium to be read that is placed on a placement surface located under the rotation unit in the vertical direction, and a light source that irradiates the medium to be read with light. The light source and the imaging unit can be arranged with a relative positional relationship capable of suppressing specular reflected light of light that is emitted from the light source and reflected by the medium to be read from being incident on the imaging unit. |
| US08854699B2 |
Scan movement indicator and an image forming apparatus having the same
A scan movement indicator in which light directed toward an indicating unit or external light entering through the indicating unit does not penetrate a scanning area so that improved quality of a scanning and printing operation is provided, and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The scan movement indicator includes a light source unit disposed in a scan unit which is movable in a main body of an image forming apparatus, an indicating unit disposed in the main body of the image forming apparatus along a moving direction of the scan unit, and having a portion of the indicating unit that is brightened by light from the light source, and a light blocking unit to block light directed toward the indicating unit or external light entering through the indicating unit from penetrating into a scanning area. |
| US08854697B2 |
System and method for scanning and enlarging user selected grid areas of a printed page
Systems and methods of scanning, enlarging, and printing one or more selected areas of a document are disclosed. The systems and methods include an imaging device that partitions a document into a plurality of grid areas and receives, from a user, a selection for one or more of the grid areas to be enlarged and printed. The imaging device further receives or determines an enlarged output size for the selected grid areas. The imaging device scans the document to form digital images corresponding to the selected grid areas, and adjusts and enlarges the digital images to equate to the enlarged output size. A printer of the imaging device outputs the enlarged digital images on paper of the output size. |
| US08854696B2 |
Facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting converted fax data to transmission source apparatus based on identifcation of the transmission source apparatus
A facsimile device includes a facsimile receiving unit that receives facsimile data transmitted from a transmission source device, a storing unit that stores identification information and transmission source information of the facsimile data received by the facsimile receiving unit in a storing portion. The identification information distinguishes the facsimile data received by the facsimile receiving unit from other facsimile data received by the facsimile receiving unit, and the transmission source information indicates the transmission source device of the facsimile data. The facsimile device also includes a message transmitting unit that transmits a message to an external device in response to receiving the facsimile data from the transmission source device, the message including the identification information and the transmission source information of the facsimile data stored in the storing portion, and a message receiving unit that receives a message transmitted from the external device or from another external device. |
| US08854691B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method for extracting a line segment
An image processing apparatus extracts a line segment included in an image, and includes a density gradient direction determining section that determines a direction, in which density changes, of each processing unit composed of a predetermined number of pixels of an image, and an line segment extracting section that regards a couple of processing units whose density gradient direction are opposite each other as a processing unit pair and extracts a processing unit group including a plurality of processing unit pairs allocated in a row in a direction perpendicular to the density gradient directions as a line segment. |
| US08854690B2 |
Creation method of total color material amount restriction table, and recording medium
According to the present invention, it is possible to adequately restrict the total color material amount from the viewpoint of the second scale which substantially represents a color material amount, and sufficiently produce the color reproducibility which is potentially held by an image formation apparatus. Moreover, since the order of the CMY ratio in the space of the first scale is maintained, it is possible to smoothly secure the connection between tones. |
| US08854689B2 |
System, method and software for reducing printer colorant usage
A system, method, and printer controller software for reducing printer colorant usage by using printer controller software which controls the deposition by the printer of the printer colorant on the printable medium in response to selected print image quality and printer colorant reduction criteria, as well as identifying printer colorant deposition characteristics of the printable medium, identifying characteristics of the printer, and identifying characteristics of the printer colorant. |
| US08854687B2 |
Image forming apparatus with setting screen, setting method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with setting program
An image forming apparatus includes a setting screen displaying portion to display a setting screen having a setting value setting area, an input screen displaying portion, responsive to designation of a position within a prescribed area determined by the setting area in the setting screen while the setting screen is being displayed, to display an input screen including input key images to be overlaid on the setting screen, a first setting value accepting portion to accept a value corresponding to the input key image designated by the user in the input screen, an operation accepting portion including hard keys, a second setting value accepting portion to accept a value corresponding to the hard key designated by the user, and a display terminating portion, responsive to acceptance of an operation of enabling the operation accepting portion while the input screen is being displayed, to terminate the display of the input screen. |
| US08854686B2 |
Digital printing systems for packaging and document printing with special colors
A printing apparatus or printing system that uses multiple print engines to form an image on a substrate. The printing apparatus or printing system may be a surface printing system or a reverse printing system. Each of the multiple print engines has at least one color station. The color stations are arranged in the print engines and between the multiple print engines based on whether the printing system is a surface printing system or a reverse printing system to control the order in which colorant is formed on a substrate. Multiple print engines allow for, among other things, a greater color gamut and therefore assists in expansion of the standard color gamut. |
| US08854685B2 |
Image forming device that detects an undecodable image portion
Provided is an image determination device including a sheet detecting unit that detects a sheet on which a code image is printed, a first acquiring unit that acquires information on the code image and an absorption wavelength of the code image, a second acquiring unit that acquires a reading unit necessary for decoding a code portion of the code image, a third acquiring unit that acquires a document image of an electronic document, a dividing unit that divides the document image into plural blocks corresponding to the reading unit, a detecting unit that detects a block in which an image portion of the document image that uses a color having an absorption band at the absorption wavelength of the code image overlaps with the code portion of the code image as an undecodable block, and an output unit that outputs a warning indicating the generation of an undecodable area. |
| US08854684B2 |
Lenticular image articles and method and apparatus of reducing banding artifacts in lenticular image articles
A method of creating a lenticular imaging article. The method comprises printing an interlaced composite image according to a reference grid of a printer, providing a lenticular lens sheet having a plurality of parallel lenticular lines between a plurality of lenslets, selecting an acute angle for an intersection between the first and second axes according to a function of a resolution of the interlaced composite image and a pitch of the lenticular lens sheet, and positioning the lenticular lens sheet so that the intersection forms the acute angle. |
| US08854682B2 |
Image processing apparatus and processing program for arranging manuscript data on folded sheets
An image processing apparatus that prints a plurality of manuscript data onto sheets and folds the printed sheets into N (2≦N) equally sized divisions is equipped with: a manuscript size obtaining section that obtains sizes of the manuscript data; a reference size obtaining section that obtains a first reference size, set based on a unit size equal to the size of the sheets divided into N divisions, and M reference sizes, set based on the unit size multiplied by M (2≦M≦N); and an arrangement setting section that arranges manuscript data of the reference size or less at single surfaces from among a plurality of printing surfaces of the sheets formed by the sheets being folded, and arranges manuscript data of an (M−1)th reference size or greater and an Mth reference size or less at M continuous surfaces from among the plurality of surfaces. |
| US08854678B2 |
Scanner, reading system, and computer program that sequentially supplies image data to an external device
A scanner connected to an external device through a network is provided. The scanner includes, a reading section that reads an image recorded on a sheet so as to generate image data, an image data group supply section that, in a case where a plurality of images recorded on a plurality of sheets are read by the reading section, sequentially generates an image data group every time a part of the plurality of sheets is read by the reading section, and sequentially supplies the generated image data group to the external device, a joint information generation section that generates joint information used to join two or more of the image data groups, the two or more of the image data groups representing the plurality of images; and a joint information supply section that supplies the joint information to the external device. |
| US08854676B2 |
Merging a scanned document with an existing document
An approach for processing scanned document data includes a document merging network service receiving a request for existing electronic document data. In response, the document merging network service identifies and providing, to a scanning device, identification data that identifies existing electronic document data. The existing electronic document data may be stored by a third party storage service. In response to user selection of an existing electronic document identified in the identification data, the scanning device transmits, to the document merging network service, scanned document data, data that identifies an existing electronic document, and location insertion data. The document merging network service merges the scanned document data at one or more locations in the existing electronic document based on the location insertion data. |
| US08854674B2 |
Image forming apparatus equipped with real size preview function, method of displaying image, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus having a preview function which enables a user to select a desired area of a print image and is capable of providing a real size preview of the area selected by the user. A bird's eye preview unit displays the image by changing a size of the image, to a size which enables the whole image to be displayed on a display unit. A real size preview unit performs real size preview display of the image. A real size preview display area-setting unit accepts a setting of a preview display area of the image for being displayed by the real size preview display, from the image displayed by the bird's eye preview display. The real size preview unit displays an image within the set preview display area on the display unit. |
| US08854673B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method for controlling sending of an advertising packet
An image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium, a communication interface configured to connect with a network and a control unit configured to stop sending an advertising packet indicating the existence thereof if an aggregate server for storing documents is detected based on the advertising packet received via the communication interface. |
| US08854671B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting printing option
A method of setting printing options at a host apparatus using a LINUX-based operation system (OS), the method including displaying at least one printing option providing text input for a user from among printing options provided by an image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus; receiving setting information regarding printing options selected by a user from among the at least one printing option as text input; and storing the setting information with the corresponding printing options. |
| US08854664B2 |
Image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses, each storing information indicating a plurality of storage locations
An image forming system includes a transmitter apparatus that transmits, to a predetermined storage location of multiple storage locations, identification information identifying a user and image data associated with the identification information, and multiple image forming apparatuses. Each of the image forming apparatuses includes a first storage unit that stores storage information indicating the storage locations, a storage location that is included in the storage locations and stores the identification information and the image data associated with the identification information, a retrieval unit that accesses the storage locations, indicated by the storage information stored on the first storage unit, when the identification information is inputted by the user, and retrieves the image data from the storage location, and an image forming unit that forms an image corresponding to the image data retrieved by the retrieval unit. |
| US08854663B2 |
Dynamic print server generation in a distributed printing environment
Methods, systems, and devices are described for dynamic print server generation in a distributed printing environment. A data store may store multiple operating systems. A central server computer system is in communication with the data store. The central server computer system may receive notification of a print job, select a printer for the print job, map a stored driver to the selected printer, select an operating system associated with the driver from the data store, and dynamically load the operating system associated with the driver to generate a print server for the print job. |
| US08854661B2 |
Tool for positioning an icon on a display
According to one embodiment, a print setting apparatus includes an input section, a display section configured to display, on a same screen, an icon showing a tool to perform a process of binding sheets, a preview image showing a state of a sheet after printing, and one or plural area images displayed on the preview image, and a control section configured to change, when detecting that a specified coordinate from the input section is moved from a display area of the icon to a display area of the area image, the area image to an image showing a state after the process of binding the sheets is performed. |
| US08854658B2 |
Selectively displaying print job information based on image forming apparatus display capability
Upon reception of print jobs from a host, an application server holds the print jobs, saves a price list, and calculates the cost to output the print jobs based on the price list and the setting information of the received print jobs. The server transmits the cost information and print jobs to a print apparatus which outputs the print jobs. The print apparatus displays the received cost information on an operation unit to make a user determine whether to output the print jobs prior to output of the jobs. |
| US08854656B2 |
Management apparatus, system, and management method
A management apparatus transmits a reservation request for specifying time for turning off power supply of an image processing apparatus in response to determination that current time is in a time period for turning off the power supply of image processing apparatus if a start-up request is received from the image processing apparatus, transmits a start-up response for permitting start-up of functions other than a communication function provided in the image processing apparatus when a reservation response, to the reservation request from the image processing apparatus, including specified time for turning off the power supply of the image processing apparatus is received, and transmits a command for turning off the power supply of the image processing apparatus at the time specified by the reservation response, to the image processing apparatus. |
| US08854655B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of generating additional information-added documents
Provided are a method of generating an additional information-added document and an image forming apparatus performing the method, the method including inputting a property of the additional information to at least one document box in the image forming apparatus, storing a first document, which is an object document, to one of the at least one document box, generating a second document by adding additional information corresponding to a property that is set in the document box in which the first document is stored, to the first document, and storing the second document. |
| US08854651B2 |
Image forming apparatus, information processing method, and recording medium indicating a version of a function supported by the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including an application is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a determining unit that, when the application starts in the image forming apparatus, checks first information indicating a function to be used by the application against second information indicating a function supported by the image forming apparatus so as to determine whether the function to be used by the application is executable, and changes operations of the application according to a determination result. The determining unit is automatically updated if the determining unit does not support a structure of the first information or a structure of the second information. |
| US08854647B2 |
Image forming apparatus with time-divisional function execution
Whether or not allocation to router control is used up is determined. Whether or not CPU utilization allocated to the router control is used up is determined. If it is determined that the allocation for router control is used up, a sub-allocation changing process is executed for changing the CPU utilization. If it is determined that the allocation for router control is not used up, a router control allocation subtracting process is executed. |
| US08854645B2 |
Method of displaying, processing and storing search screen information in a hierachical structure
A search screen information processing system includes a display device, an input device, and a computer, and displays imposition templates acquired in search screen information based on a processing sequence of the computer. The search screen information processing system displays, as search screen information, a search condition menu display area in which search contents information corresponding to a plurality of search conditions can be entered, and imposition templates that agree with a plurality of entered pieces of search contents information. Further, the search screen information processing system creates folders based on the search contents information, constructs layers according to an order in which the search conditions are entered, and displays a plurality of folders based on layers in the search condition menu display area. |
| US08854644B2 |
Instruction accepting system for contacting one or more instruction devices on display device and validate identification information to process images
Between a digital multi-function peripheral for processing data, and one or a plurality of memory devices for giving an instruction for the digital multi-function peripheral to process data, when the memory device(s) contacts a display surface of a display section of the digital multi-function peripheral, the digital multi-function peripheral accepts a first instruction concerning authentication and a second instruction concerning processing of the data based on a contact position, in this case, acquires first identification data stored in the memory device(s) concerning the first instruction and second identification data stored in the memory device(s) concerning the second instruction, and when the first identification data and the second identification data do not coincide with each other, invalidates the accepted second instruction. |
| US08854639B2 |
Control device, image forming apparatus, and reading device
For functions of a multifunction machine for processing of processing items relating to document reading operations and processing items relating to operations other than document reading operations in a case where operation screens for setting content in regard to the processing items in a wizard format display are displayed in the wizard format display, a display order is set in advance for the operation screens for the processing items so that the operation screens for processing items relating to document reading operations are displayed prior to operation screens for processing items relating to operations other than document reading operations. |
| US08854637B2 |
Host apparatus connected to image forming apparatus and setting information management method thereof
A setting information management method of a host apparatus which is communicatively coupled to a plurality of image forming apparatuses that include setting information, the method including selecting at least two image forming apparatuses, receiving at least one setting item and a setting value corresponding to the setting item of the setting information from the selected image forming apparatuses, displaying the at least one received setting item and setting value for each of the selected image forming apparatuses; comparing and displaying the at least one setting item and setting value of the selected image forming apparatuses according to a comparison option, selecting at least one of the displayed setting item and setting value to be updated, and changing at least one of the setting item and the setting value of at least one of the selected image forming apparatuses. |
| US08854628B2 |
Interferometric methods for metrology of surfaces, films and underresolved structures
A method for determining information about a test object includes combining two or more scanning interference signals to form a synthetic interference signal; analyzing the synthetic interference signal to determine information about the test object; and outputting the information about the test object. Each of the two or more scanning interference signals correspond to interference between test light and reference light as an optical path length difference between the test and reference light is scanned, wherein the test and reference light are derived from a common source. The test light scatters from the test object over a range of angles and each of the two or more scanning interferometry signals corresponds to a different scattering angle or polarization state of the test light. |
| US08854626B2 |
Rotating stall detection using optical measurement of blade untwist
Systems and methods are provided for real-time detection of the onset of stall in turbomachinery, such as compressor stall. The methods are capable of detecting and analyzing time of arrival of the chord of the blade at a sensor array to provide an indication of the onset of compressor stall. Systems for detecting the onset of compressor stall include: light sources; a plurality of linearly arranged optical fibers for transmitting light from the light sources and for receiving transmitted light reflected from a blade; a detector for measuring intensity of the reflected light; and a processor for analyzing the intensity of the reflected light to determine blade twist angle and from the blade twist angle identify onset of compressor stall. The invention can prevent the needless loss of life and assets caused by compressor stall that may lead to unexpected catastrophic failure of an engine. |
| US08854615B2 |
Inspection apparatus and inspection method
According to one embodiment, an inspection apparatus includes a first monochromatic body disposed behind an inspection target including a transparent member or a semitransparent member, relative to an observation position which deviates from a normal direction of the inspection target, a light source configured to illuminate the inspection target and disposed at such a position in front of the inspection target that an image of the light source is not reflected on the inspection target which is observed at the observation position, and a second monochromatic body disposed at such a position in front of the inspection target that an image of the second monochromatic body is reflected on the inspection target which is observed at the observation position. |
| US08854611B2 |
Method for determining the optic center of a lens blank
A method comprises providing a lens blank, a precision positioning device, an illumination device, and a vision system, wherein the lens blank includes at least one feature whose position is known relative to a position of an optic center of the lens blank, and wherein the vision system comprises an image sensor and a processor; mounting the lens blank on the precision positioning device; illuminating the lens blank with the illumination device; viewing the lens blank with image sensor of the vision system; determining the position of the at least one feature using the processor; and determining the position of the optic center of the lens blank based on the position of the at least one feature using the processor. |
| US08854606B2 |
Projection exposure system, method for manufacturing a micro-structured structural member by the aid of such a projection exposure system and polarization-optical element adapted for use in such a system
The invention relates to a projection exposure system, in particular for micro-lithography. The projection exposure system according to the invention comprises a light source for producing light in the EUV region. The projection exposure system further comprises a first optical system for illuminating a mask by the light of the light source and a second optical system for imaging the mask on a component. At least one polarization-optical element is disposed on the beam path between the light source and the component. |
| US08854602B2 |
Holding device for an optical element in an objective
A holding device for an optical element in an objective has a mount that is connected to the objective, on the one hand, and at least indirectly to the optical element, on the other hand. Arranged between the mount and the optical element is a reinforcing element whose coefficient of thermal expansion corresponds substantially to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the optical element. |
| US08854600B2 |
Exposure apparatus and photomask
The present invention provides an exposure apparatus for intermittently irradiating light from a light source to a TFT substrate through a photomask while conveying the TFT substrate in one direction, and forming an exposure pattern on the TFT substrate corresponding to a plurality of mask patterns formed on the photomask. On one surface of the photomask, electrode wiring patterns and signal wiring patterns requiring different resolutions are formed and an electrode wiring pattern group including a plurality of electrode wiring patterns and a signal wiring pattern group including a plurality of signal wiring patterns are formed in front and back in the conveying direction of the TFT substrate, and on the other surface of the photomask, micro-lenses which reduce and project the electrode wiring patterns requiring a high resolution onto the TFT substrate are formed. The photomask is disposed so that the micro-lenses face the TFT substrate. |
| US08854599B2 |
Liquid recovery apparatus, exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by projecting an image of a pattern onto the substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid that fills a space between the projection optical system and the substrate. The exposure apparatus has a liquid supply system having a supply path that supplies liquid to the space between the projection optical system and the substrate. A liquid recovery system having a recovery path recovers the liquid from the space during the exposure. The apparatus also includes a suction path with which at least part of the supply path of the liquid supply system is connected when the exposure apparatus functions abnormally. |
| US08854597B2 |
Wavelength selective switch
An optical switching device has multiple input ports and multiple output ports and is capable of switching a wavelength component from any of the input ports to any of the output ports. The optical switching device is configured with beam steering arrays that are controlled to provide the switching from any of the input ports to any of the output ports. The beam steering arrays may be microelectromechanical (MEMS) mirror arrays or liquid-crystal on silicon (LCOS) panels. In addition, an array of beam-polarizing liquid-crystal elements provides wavelength-independent attenuation. |
| US08854594B2 |
System and method for tracking
Systems and methods are provided for tracking at least position and angular orientation. The system comprises a computing device in communication with at least two cameras, wherein each of the cameras are able to capture images of one or more light sources attached to an object. A receiver is in communication with the computing device, wherein the receiver is able to receive at least angular orientation data associated with the object. The computing device determines the object's position by comparing images of the light sources and generates an output comprising the position and angular orientation of the object. |
| US08854588B2 |
Liquid crystal display
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display including: a first substrate and an opposing second substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a light blocking member disposed on the first substrate or the second substrate; a first field generating electrode disposed on the first substrate; a second field generating electrode disposed on the first substrate and including branch electrodes overlapping the first field generating electrode; and a gate line disposed on the first substrate and extending in a first direction. A branch electrode of the branch electrodes includes a central portion and a first edge portion disposed at one end of the central portion. A first angle formed between the first edge portion and a second direction is greater than a second angle formed between the second direction and the central portion, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. |
| US08854586B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
An object is to provide a liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal material exhibiting a blue phase, in order to enable a higher contrast. In a liquid crystal display device which includes a liquid crystal layer exhibiting a blue phase, a first structure body and a second structure body are provided over a first electrode layer (a pixel electrode layer) and a second electrode layer (a common electrode layer), respectively. The first structure body and the second structure body are insulators each having a higher dielectric constant than a liquid crystal material used for the liquid crystal layer, and are provided to project into the liquid crystal layer. |
| US08854581B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention has an object of providing a liquid crystal display device having a high transmittance or a high viewing angle characteristic. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a pixel electrode (30) including a peripheral portion (36), an island portion (32) and a plurality of branch portions (34). The plurality of branch portions (34) are formed of a plurality of first through fourth branch portions (34A through 34D) respectively extending in first through fourth directions. By these branch portions, first through fourth regions (35A through 35D) in which liquid crystal molecules are aligned in different directions from each other at the time of voltage application are formed. The island portion (32) is surrounded by the first through fourth regions (35A through 35D), and is connected to the peripheral portion (36) by a connection portion (38) but not by any of the plurality of branch portions (34) or connected to the peripheral portion (36) by one of the first through fourth branch portions (34A through 34D). |
| US08854579B2 |
Liquid crystal display
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display having a display area and a non-display area which includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate, a layer having a first opening, a spacer disposed in the first opening, and a first light blocking member disposed in the non-display area. The spacer is disposed in the first opening to maintain an interval between the first substrate and the second substrate. The spacer and the first light blocking member include the same material. |
| US08854578B2 |
Display apparatus and method of operating the same
A display apparatus may include a first substrate defined by a pixel region and a transmitting region adjacent to the pixel region, the pixel region emitting light in a first direction and the transmitting region transmitting external light; a second substrate that faces the first substrate and seals pixels defined on the first substrate; an optical filter arranged on a first side of the display apparatus through which light is emitted, the optical filter being configured to transmit circularly polarized light that rotates in a predetermined direction; and an optical reflectance conversion device arranged on a second side of the display apparatus, opposite the first side, the optical reflectance conversion device being configured to change a reflectance of the external light according to modes of operation of the display apparatus. |
| US08854573B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device including a display is provided. The display displays a received information content, and the information content has a horizontal direction. The display has a horizontal direction parallel to the information content's horizontal direction. The display includes a display panel, a backlight module and a first polarization unit. The backlight module is disposed at a side of the display panel, wherein the backlight module includes a horizontal prism sheet. The horizontal prism sheet includes a plurality of first prisms, wherein top angles of the first prisms are larger than or equal to 80 degrees and are smaller than 90 degrees. The display panel is located between the first polarization unit and the backlight module. A first angle between a transmission axis of the first polarization unit and the horizontal direction of the display is larger than 45 degrees and smaller than 135 degrees. |
| US08854572B2 |
System for using constricted convection with closed loop cooling system as the convection plate
A method for cooling an electronic display is disclosed herein. The electronic display preferably contains a rear surface, where a substantially planar surface is positioned adjacent to the rear surface to define a gap. Cooling air is preferably forced through said gap. In some embodiments, the additional step of circulating gas around the display in a closed loop may also be performed. In these embodiments the circulating gas may contact the front viewing surface of the electronic display, so that heat can be removed from this surface. |
| US08854567B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate including: gate and data lines crossing each other on a first substrate to define a pixel region; a common line in parallel with the gate line; first and second common line patterns extending from the common line, wherein the data line is between the first and second common line patterns; a thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor and in the pixel region; and an inorganic black matrix below the gate line, the common line, and the first and second common lines, wherein the inorganic black matrix below the first and second common lines shields the data line; an opposing substrate including a common electrode on a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the array substrate and the opposing substrate. |
| US08854565B2 |
Method of fabricating liquid crystal display device
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes the steps of forming a gate electrode and a gate line on a first substrate, forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode, forming an active layer on the gate insulating layer and an ohmic contact layer on the active layer, forming source and drain electrodes spaced apart from each other and on the ohmic contact layer, forming a data line that crosses the gate line, etching a portion of the ohmic contact layer between the source and drain electrodes in a chamber of a dry-etching device to expose a portion of the active layer, forming a passivation layer on the first substrate which remains in the chamber, the passivation layer covering the portion of the active layer, forming a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode, and interposing a liquid crystal layer between the pixel electrode and a second substrate. |
| US08854562B2 |
Liquid crystal panel
A liquid crystal panel (10) includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern having rows and columns. A plurality of Cs bus lines (43c) as storage capacitor lines are routed in the row direction of the liquid crystal panel (10). A plurality of branch lines (310) are routed in the column direction across a pixel region (10a). The branch lines (310) are connected to the Cs bus lines (43c) so that control signals are sent to storage capacitors from the branch lines (310) through the Cs bus lines (43c). |
| US08854560B2 |
Auto-stereoscopic display device, liquid crystal lens, and driving method thereof
An auto-stereoscopic display device is proposed. The auto-stereoscopic display device includes a display panel and a liquid crystal lens. The liquid crystal lens includes a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer includes a plurality of first electrode stripes arranged in parallel along pixel units and extending in a first or second direction. The second electrode layer includes a plurality of second electrode stripes extending slantingly relative to the plurality of first electrode stripes and being arranged in parallel. A liquid crystal lens and a driving method thereof are also proposed. Based on the present invention, a first lenticular lens unit is generated and arranged along the plurality of second electrode stripes for the 3D display mode, and a second lenticular lens unit is generated and arranged along the plurality of first electrode stripes for the 2D display mode. The invention can fulfill the 3D-mode requirement and enhance brightness and luminance in the 2D mode. |
| US08854554B2 |
Channel setting apparatus and television
Disclosed is a channel setting processing including the steps of: generating a channel map data including physical channel information about a physical channel available to receive a broadcast signal, the physical channel information being at least a main channel number of a virtual channel, a sub channel number of the virtual channel, a broadcast station name, and a predetermined program information indicating program contents; judging whether or not there exist plural physical channels on standby for reception and capable of sharing the same program there between, based on at least two kinds of information among the physical channel information, recorded on a channel to channel basis on the channel map data; and, based on the judgment that there exit plural physical channels sharing the same program, disenabling other physical channels except one physical channel thereamong to be selected despite the instruction of physical channel selection through external manipulation. |
| US08854549B2 |
Dual slider bar control
An application for a slider bar on a display has a series of ticks, each indicating one or more gradations of a parameter ranging between a minimum value and a maximum value. Two marker icons are on the display screen in relation to the ticks. A user control moves a first marker icon within a predetermined range of ticks. Once the first marker icon reaches an end of travel, if the end of travel is next the second marker icon, the first marker becomes inactive (remaining at its current location) and the second marker icon becomes the active marker icon, moving within a predetermined range for the second marker icon. |
| US08854548B2 |
Mechanism for memory reduction in picture-in-picture video generation
A mechanism for memory reduction in picture-in-picture video generation is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes receiving, from a transmitting device, a plurality of video streams at a receiving device coupled to the transmitting device, wherein a first video stream of the plurality of video streams is designated to be displayed as a main video and one or more other video streams of the plurality of video streams are designated to be displayed as one or more sub videos to the main video. The method further includes transforming the one or more other video streams into the one or more sub videos, temporarily holding the one or more sub videos in a compressed frame buffer, and merging, via pixel replacement, the main video and the one or more sub videos into a final video image capable of being displayed on a single screen utilizing a display device, wherein pixel replacement is performed such that the one or more sub videos occupy one or more sections of pixels of screen space pixels occupied by the main video. |
| US08854547B2 |
Video display apparatus, source apparatus, video display method, and video display system
According to one embodiment, there is provided a video display apparatus, including: a video display unit configured to display a video by receiving a video signal output from a source apparatus; a status information acquisition module configured to acquire, from the source apparatus, status information indicating whether the source apparatus is active or inactive; and a power controller configured to perform a control of powering off the video display apparatus if the acquired status information indicates that the source apparatus is inactive. |
| US08854544B2 |
Multi-point television motion sensor system and method
A system is disclosed for controlling operation of an electronic device, such as a TV. The system includes a first sensor located at or near the electronic device and a second sensor spaced apart from the first sensor, wherein the first and second sensors are configured to detect motion of a user within an operating zone associated with the electronic device. A processor is coupled to the electronic device and the first and second sensors, the processor being configured to input a signal from the first and second sensors. Memory is coupled to the processor, the memory comprising a sensing algorithm configured to process the input signal from the first and second sensors and determine the location of the user with respect to the operating zone. The processor is configured to send a control command to the electronic device based on an output of the sensing algorithm. |
| US08854542B1 |
Display interface methods and systems
Methods and systems for implementing video driving circuitry are disclosed. For example, in an embodiment, a system for driving a plurality of different types of video devices is disclosed. The system includes, for example, a System on a Chip (SoC) that itself includes a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) controller circuit configured to generate digital video data, a first synchronization signal for controlling a first characteristic of the digital video data, and a second synchronization signal for controlling a second characteristic of the digital video data. The SoC further includes a delay circuit configured to variably delay the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal relative to the digital video data to generate a delayed first synchronization signal and a delayed second synchronization signal. |
| US08854539B2 |
Method and system for direct recording of video information onto a disk medium
A method for converting video information from an incoming format to an outgoing format using a process free from one or more intermediary files. The method includes receiving video information in a first format and receiving a desired output media format based upon a first input and a desired TV standard based upon a second input. The method decodes the video information in the first format to raw video information in an uncompressed format and directly resizes the raw video information in the uncompressed format into a size associated with the desired output media format and the desired TV standard. The method adjusts the uncompressed format in the size associated with the desired output media format and the desired TV standard to a frame rate associated with the desired TV standard and encodes the uncompressed format in the size and the frame rate into an elementary video stream. A step of multiplexing the elementary video stream with audio information in the desired output media format and the desired TV standard to form video and audio information in a presentation format based upon the desired output media format and the desired TV standard is included. |
| US08854538B2 |
Quad-core image processor
A quad-core processor for use in a hand-held device with a CMOS image sensor. The quad-core processor has an image sensor interface for receiving data from the CMOS image sensor and four processing units interconnected with each other for parallel processing of data from the image sensor interface. The four processing units and the image sensor interface are integrated onto a single chip. |
| US08854534B2 |
Image processing apparatus, focus adjusting method, and camera module
According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus has a focus control unit. The focus control unit retrieves a focusing point by setting a cutback threshold as a first value. The focus control unit executes a driving operation of an image pickup lens depending on a contrast evaluation value in the case in which the cutback threshold is set to be a second value. The second value is smaller than the first value. The focus control unit executes a driving operation of the image pickup lens depending on a contrast evaluation value in the case in which the cutback threshold is changed from the second value to the first value. |
| US08854533B2 |
Image capture apparatus and control method therefor
An image capture apparatus comprises an image sensor including at least three focus detecting pixels, an optical axis displacement unit which displaces an optical axis of an imaging optical system by driving at least part of the imaging optical system, and a focus adjustment unit which performs focus adjustment by a phase-difference detection method using a pair of images detected in the at least three focus detecting pixels, wherein if the optical axis displacement unit moves the at least part of the imaging optical system, the focus adjustment unit performs focus adjustment using detection results of a pair of focus detecting pixels, among the at least three focus detecting pixels, other than a focus detecting pixel in which a common part of an exit pupil area and the light-receiving area of the focus detecting pixel is smallest. |
| US08854526B2 |
Image sensor device with opaque coating
The invention provides an image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a chip package and an opaque coating. The chip package includes an image sensor array chip, wherein a set of optical elements connect to the image sensor array chip, and an outer frame shielding the optical elements. The opaque coating overlies the outer frame. |
| US08854524B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying first content alone or first and second content simultaneously based on movement
A digital image processing apparatus, and a controlling method thereof are provided. The digital image processing apparatus displaying first content and second content generated with respect to the first content includes: a sensing unit that senses a movement of the digital image processing apparatus; a movement detecting unit that determines a movement of the digital image processing apparatus based on a sensed signal from the sensing unit; and a display control unit that controls display of the first and second contents, wherein the display control unit controls a single reproduction of the first content or a simultaneous reproduction of the first and second contents based on the determination of the movement detecting unit. A user may easily and intuitively manage various contents by using the digital image processing apparatus. |
| US08854519B2 |
Electro-active focus and zoom systems
Aspects of the present invention provide dynamic focusing systems and dynamic zoom systems having no moving parts. The dynamic focusing systems can include an electro-active lens, a fixed focus lens in optical communication with the electro-active lens and a focal plane. The dynamic zoom systems can include a first electro-active lens, a second electro-active lens, a fixed focus lens, and a focal plane. The electro-active lenses of the present invention can have an adjustable optical power to provide variable focusing capability. The dynamic focusing systems and dynamic zoom systems can include a controller for altering the adjustable optical powers of the electro-active lenses. The dynamic focusing systems can focus on objects at various distances based on the controlled optical power of the included electro-active lenses. The dynamic zoom systems can provide magnification and de-magnification based on the controlled optical power of the included electro-active lenses. |
| US08854516B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and camera system
A solid-state imaging device and a camera system are disclosed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit and a pixel signal readout circuit. The pixel signal readout circuit includes a plurality of comparators disposed to correspond to a pixel column array, and a plurality of counters. Each counter includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a mirror circuit to from a current mirror in parallel with the second amplifier. The first amplifier includes differential transistors, initializing switches connected between gates and collectors of the differential transistors, and first and second capacitors connected to each of the gates of the differential transistors. The second amplifier includes an initializing switch and a third capacitor. The mirror circuit includes a gate input transistor whose gate is inputted with a voltage sampled by the first amplifier or a voltage sampled by the second amplifier. |
| US08854515B2 |
Efficient spectral imaging based on imaging systems with scene adaptation using tunable color pixels
A method for adaptive spectral image capture that may be performed via an image capture device is disclosed. A default capture parameter is applied to an imaging assembly and a sample image of a scene is captured by an image capture device. The sample image is analyzed to identify transition zones between multiple different regions. An initial guess as to which spectral regions a filter mode might work best is obtained based on dominant transition region spectrum and a first iterated step in which numerical values for the filter mode are calculated. A second iterated step in which each such filter mode is evaluated for effectiveness against other filter modes. The regions in which a specific filter mode works best becomes associated with the filer mode and these regions become the guess for the next iteration. |
| US08854511B2 |
Apparatus and method for image processing and storage medium, and image pickup apparatus
An image processing method includes: acquiring a mosaic image photographed by image pickup means including an image pickup element in which a basic array pattern is repeatedly arranged in horizontal and vertical directions, storing first correction data containing a coordinate of a defective pixel and correction information associated with a position of the defective pixel in the basic array pattern, and second correction data containing a correction pattern corresponding to the correction information and indicating positions, relative to the defective pixel, of plural peripheral pixels that have a same color as the defective pixel, reading the correction pattern based on the correction information, calculating coordinates of the peripheral pixels based on the first correction data and the read correction pattern, extracting pixel values corresponding to the peripheral pixels at the calculated coordinates from the mosaic image, and calculating the pixel value of the defective pixel. |
| US08854508B2 |
Adaptive image processing method and related device
An adaptive image processing method includes: defining a pixel zone involving a target pixel according to a color corresponding to the target pixel; selecting a plurality of adjacent pixels from the pixel zone, wherein the adjacent pixels and the target pixel correspond to the same color; acquiring a defect pixel threshold value by calculating a product of a sum of absolute differences between each pixel of the plurality of adjacent pixels and a defected pixel compensation ratio; acquiring an adjacent difference value by calculating a sum of absolute differences between the target pixel and each pixel of the plurality of adjacent pixels; and determining whether the target pixel is a defect pixel by comparing the defect pixel threshold value with the adjacent difference value. |
| US08854507B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
A solid-state imaging device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention includes: pixel units P(x, y) each of which includes a photoelectric conversion element and an amplifying unit for a pixel unit and which are two-dimensionally arranged; at least one row of optical black units Pob(x, y) each of which includes a photoelectric conversion element, an amplifying unit for a pixel unit, and a light shielding film that covers the photoelectric conversion element, the photoelectric conversion element and the amplifying unit for a pixel unit being the same as those of the pixel unit P(x, y); and at least one row of optical gray units Pog(x, y) each of which includes an amplifying unit for a pixel unit which is the same as that of the pixel unit and to which a reference voltage is input. The value of the reference voltage is less than the value of the output signal from the photoelectric conversion element in a saturated state. |
| US08854506B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method of driving the same, and electronic apparatus using the same
Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including: a photoelectric conversion portion generating signal electric charges corresponding to a quantity of light; a pixel array block having pixels, each of the pixels including three or more electric charge accumulating portions having a first electric charge accumulating portion, a second electric charge accumulating portion, and a third electric charge accumulating portion, and plural pixel transistors; a scanning block carrying out scanning in such a way that accumulation periods of time for the signal electric charges become simultaneous for all of the pixels, and scanning reading-out of the low illuminance signal and the high illuminance signal; and an arithmetic operation processing portion acquiring a false signal accumulated in the third electric charge accumulating portion before the reading-out of the low illuminance signal, and correcting the low illuminance signal and the high illuminance signal by using the false signal. |
| US08854499B2 |
Device and method for embedding and retrieving information in digital images
A digital imaging device and method for embedding and retrieving of information in digital images are provided. The digital imaging device includes a capture module for capturing an image and creating a digital image file; a locational information module for determining a location of the device when capturing the image; and a processing module for associating the location information to the digital image file. The device further includes a user verification module for verifying an identity of a user of the device at a time of image capture and an encryption module for encrypting the digital image file and associated information. The method provides for securing information associated with the digital images and for verifying activities of a user. |
| US08854495B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, method for controlling flicker and computer readable medium
An image pickup apparatus and method operable to reduce flicker is disclosed. A power supply frequency is detected, and a shutter speed is changed. A changed shutter speed value is slower than a calculated shutter speed and that is an integral multiple of 1/(2f), where “f” represents the power supply frequency. One or more still images are captured at the changed shutter speed, and an electronic hand-shake correction is performed in accordance with the captured still images. |
| US08854494B2 |
Portable hand-held device having stereoscopic image camera
A portable hand-held device is provided having a digital camera and a processor. The digital camera has two image sensors respectively arranged to capture corresponding images of the same scene. The processor image processes the images captured by the image sensors so as to output three dimensional stereoscopic images. The processor has two interfaces for respectively receiving the images captured by the image sensors. |
| US08854493B2 |
Hand held image capture device with multi-core processor for facial detection
A hand held image capture device that has a camera with an image sensor to capture a scene viewed by the camera and, a central processor having multiple processing units and an image sensor interface integrated onto a single chip. The image sensor interface is configured to receive data from the image sensor and the multiple processing units being configured for processing in the data. The processing of the data includes detecting faces within the scene. |
| US08854490B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensating a black level of an image signal
A method and an apparatus for compensating a black level are provided, in which an image signal processor converts an input image signal into an image signal at YUV color coordinates so that the image signal at the YUV color coordinates is in a first signal range, and a black level compensator compensates a Y component of the image signal at the YUV color coordinates so that the Y component of the image signal at the YUV color coordinates are in a second signal range narrower than the first signal range or maintains the Y component of the image signal at the YUV color coordinates in the first signal range, according to a type of an external image output device. |
| US08854489B2 |
Image processing method and image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus and an image processing method, the method including: providing one or more low dynamic range images having different exposure levels; classifying each of the one of more low dynamic range images as a saturation region, an under-saturation region, and a non-saturation region with respect to an intensity value; generating feature maps indicating a similarity between patterns of the non-saturation regions; generating final feature maps converting pixels included in the feature maps into moving pixels and non-moving pixels; defining moving regions and non-moving regions included in the one or more low dynamic range images; removing noise from the moving regions and the non-moving regions by using a first noise reduction filter for the moving regions and a second noise reduction filter for the non-moving regions; and generating a radiance map corresponding to the one or more low dynamic range images. |
| US08854486B2 |
Method and system for processing multiview videos for view synthesis using skip and direct modes
Multiview videos are acquired by overlapping cameras. Side information is used to synthesize multiview videos. A reference picture list is maintained for current frames of the multiview videos, the reference picture indexes temporal reference pictures and spatial reference pictures of the acquired multiview videos and the synthesized reference pictures of the synthesized multiview video. Each current frame of the multiview videos is predicted according to reference pictures indexed by the associated reference picture list with a skip mode and a direct mode, whereby the side information is inferred from the synthesized reference picture. Alternatively, the depth images corresponding to the multiview videos of the input data, and this data are encoded as part of the bitstream depending on a SKIP type. |
| US08854482B2 |
Digital camera with integrated accelerometers
A digital camera system has integrated accelerometers for determining static and dynamic accelerations of the digital cameral system. Data relating to static and dynamic accelerations are stored with recorded image data for further processing, such as for correcting image data for roll, pitch and vibrations and for displaying recorded images with a predetermined orientation using information about, e.g., roll. Data may also be used on-the-fly for smear suppression caused by vibrations. |
| US08854480B2 |
Display control device, imaging device, and printing device
A digital camera 1 has an image recorder 12, a microprocessor 3, and an image display controller 13. The image recorder 12 records a plurality of sequentially captured images along with a panning mode signal 60 related to the panning operation of the digital camera 1. The microprocessor 3 determines the layout of the plurality of images on the basis of the panning mode signal 60 recorded to the image recorder 12. The image display controller 13 displays a plurality of images side by side on a liquid crystal monitor 55 on the basis of the determination result of the microprocessor 3. |
| US08854476B2 |
Display system with image display correction mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a display system includes: sending a known test sample; retrieving the known test sample; comparing the known test sample and the retrieved known test sample; generating a compensation model based on the comparison for correcting the retrieved known test sample; and providing the compensation model for displaying a corrected display on a device. |
| US08854474B2 |
System and method for quick object verification
Systems and methods for identifying an appearance of an object in a video stream, include receiving, in real-time, an indication of an area of interest, from a user, within a frame of a video stream. The area of interest may include an image of an object. Automatically analyzing the characteristics of the area of interest, finding a frame in which the object first appears in time in the video stream and displaying to the user the video stream starting from the frame in which the object first appears. |
| US08854473B2 |
Remote tracking system and method for image object region using image-backward search
In one exemplary embodiment, an object region tracking and picturing module is constructed on a moving platform of a mobile end and a remote control module is constructed on another platform for an image object region tracking system. The two modules communicate with each other via a digital network for delivering required information. The object region tracking and picturing module uses a real-time image backward search technology to store at least an image frame previously captured on the moving platform into a frame buffer, and start tracking an object region from the position pointed out by the remote control module to a newest image frame captured on the moving platform, then find out a relative position on the newest image frame for the tracked object region. |
| US08854472B1 |
Imagine capturing device and image capturing method
Disclosed is an image capturing device having an irradiation unit, an image capturing unit, and a color representation setting unit. The irradiation unit irradiates a subject with infrared rays having different wavelength intensity distributions, the image capturing unit captures images of the subject by the respective infrared rays having different wavelength distributions which are reflected by the subject, and forms image information indicating the respective images, and the color representation setting unit sets color representation information for representing the respective images, which are indicated by the formed image information, by different plain colors. Also disclosed is an image capturing method for separating infrared rays from a subject into infrared rays having different wavelength intensity distributions, capturing images of the subject by the respective infrared rays having different wavelength intensity distributions, forming image information indicating the respective images, and representing the respective images, which are indicated by the formed image information. |
| US08854471B2 |
Infrared sensor and sensing method using the same
Disclosed herein are an infrared (IR) sensor and a sensing method using the same, in which disturbance by an external luminous object is removed using the IR sensor that irradiates IR light into a sensing area to sense an object, so that the position or distance of the object can be precisely and accurately sensed. An IR sensor includes an illumination unit that irradiates IR light into a sensing area; an image pickup device that obtains an IR image in the sensing area by sensing the IR light incident from the sensing area; and a control unit that controls the emission time at which the illumination unit irradiates the IR light and the pickup time of the image pickup device. In the IR sensor, the control unit includes an illumination controller that controls the emission time of the illumination unit; an image pickup device controller that controls the pickup time of the image pickup device; a memory that stores the IR image obtained by the image pickup device; and an image processor that calculates the position or distance of the object in the sensing area by performing comparison operation processing with respect to an IR image obtained when the illumination unit irradiates the IR light and an IR image obtained when the illumination unit does not irradiate the IR light in the IR images stored in the memory. |
| US08854470B2 |
Vision-based augmented reality system using invisible marker
A vision-based augmented reality system using an invisible marker indicates an invisible marker on a target object to be tracked, such that it can rapidly and correctly track the target object by detecting the invisible marker. The augmented reality system includes a target object (TO) including an infrared marker (IM) drawn by an invisible infrared light-emitting material; a visible-ray camera (110) for capturing an image of the TO; an infrared-ray camera (120) for capturing an image of the IM included in the TO image; an optical axis converter for allowing the infrared-ray camera (120) and the visible-ray camera (110) to have the same viewing point; an image processing system (140) for rendering a prepared virtual image to the TO image to generate a new image. |
| US08854468B2 |
Method and system for video surveillance system motor overcurrent protection
The present invention provides a video surveillance system, having a video camera; a motor operable to move the video camera; and a processor monitoring a value of a signal provided to the motor, the processor terminating the signal to the motor when the monitored signal value exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time. A network may be coupled to the processor for communication of the signal termination. The processor may reinitiate a signal transmission to the motor sufficient to maintain a position of the motor after a predetermined period of time, and the processor may monitor the signal transmission and adjust at least one of a zoom setting and focus setting of the video camera based at least in part on the monitored signal. |
| US08854464B2 |
Active visibility support apparatus and method for vehicle
A visibility support apparatus includes a light receiving unit receiving reflected light from an object to generate a signal for an image for each of wavelength bands, a wavelength selecting unit to set, in the image for at least one wavelength band, a set of those of pixels with comparable signal intensities which define the largest occupied area to be a reference area and to compare, for each of identification target pixels not included in the reference area, a value of the pixel in the image for each wavelength band with a pixel value of the reference area to select at least two wavelength bands which are effective for detecting the object, and a display unit to group the identification target pixels based on a wavelength band combination selected for each identification target pixel and display an image in which the object is distinguishably shown based on the grouping. |
| US08854461B2 |
Method of controlling camera
A method of controlling a camera to photograph a target, the method including: obtaining position information about a plurality of reference points which are positioned around the target; obtaining panning angles and tilting angles of the camera for the reference points; obtaining position information about the target from information about the target which is received from a radar device; obtaining a panning angle and tilting angle of the camera for the target, based on the position information about the reference points, the panning angles and tilting angles of the camera for the reference points, and the position information about the target; and controlling panning and tilting of the camera based on the panning angle and tilting angle of the camera for the target. |
| US08854458B2 |
Object detection device
An object detection device, including: an imaging unit that is mounted on a movable body; an object detection unit that calculates an image displacement of a partial image between two images captured by the imaging unit at different times, and performs detection processing to detect an object in an image based on at least the image displacement; and a control unit that changes a manner of performing the detection processing based on a position in the image in a lateral direction of the movable body. |
| US08854456B2 |
Travel distance detection device and travel distance detection method
A travel distance detection device includes: an image-capturing unit configured to capture an image; an alignment unit configured to align images in position of bird's-eye view image, the images captured at different times by the image-capturing unit; and a solid object detection unit configured to detect a solid object based on difference image data between data of the images captured at the different times and aligned by the alignment unit. The solid object detection unit counts the number of pixels which each express a certain difference on the difference image data and which are arranged in a direction in which the solid object is inclined when the image of the predetermined region is converted into the bird's-eye view image, then produces a frequency distribution of the counted pixels to generate a difference waveform, and calculates a travel distance of the solid object based on time variation of the difference waveform. |
| US08854455B2 |
Method and device for processing recorded image information from a vehicle
A method for improving the driver assistance function, in particular of driver assistance systems based on video images recorded from a vehicle, and a corresponding device for that purpose made up of a camera and processing unit. To improve the function during rain, the passing of a windshield wiper through the camera image be used to classify individual images and/or portions of images as being of higher or lower quality, in order to improve the quality of the images from the camera. The images from camera are intended to be used for automatic driver assistance systems. |
| US08854454B2 |
Chassis testing unit and method for testing a chassis
A chassis testing unit (2) according to the present invention, in particular a shock absorber testing unit, for a vehicle on a test set-up (4) includes at least one correlation sensor (14-18), having an associated lens, situated at the side of the test set-up (4). The correlation sensor (14-18) is directed toward the test set-up (4), and is designed to detect a time sequence of images of a section of a motor vehicle (6), in particular of the body of the motor vehicle (6) and of the motor vehicle wheel, moving on the test set-up (4), and to determine directional velocity components therefrom. The chassis testing unit also includes a data processing unit which is connected to the correlation sensor or correlation sensors (14-18), and which is designed to determine the motion of the motor vehicle, in particular of the body of the motor vehicle (6) and of the motor vehicle wheel, on the basis of the directional velocity components of the correlation sensor or correlation sensors (14-18). |
| US08854446B2 |
Method of capturing image data for iris code based identification of vertebrates
A method of capturing image data for iris code based identification of vertebrates, including humans, comprises the steps of: recording a digital image of an eye with a camera equipped with at least two light sources that have a fixed spatial relationship to an object lens of the camera; locating the eye in the digital image by detecting a specularity pattern that is created by reflection of light from said at least two light sources at a cornea of the eye; and calculating information on the position of the camera relative to the eye on the basis of said fixed spatial relationship between the light sources and the object lens and on the basis of said specularity pattern. |
| US08854445B2 |
Endoscope apparatus
An endoscope apparatus includes an image pickup section equipped with a color separation section that picks up an image of returning light from a subject illuminated by an illumination section, an emphasis processing section that performs emphasis processing on sharpness of an image signal generated from the output signal of the image pickup section and a storage section that stores information for modifying processing contents of the emphasis processing, wherein the storage section stores information for setting image signals to be subjected to emphasis processing in first and second observation modes in which images are picked up under illumination of white light and narrow band light respectively to a luminance signal and a color difference signal, and the emphasis processing section performs emphasis processing on the luminance signal with a greater emphasis characteristic than the color difference signal over an entire frequency domain. |
| US08854436B2 |
Stereoscopic image display and method for driving the same
A stereoscopic image display includes a display panel, which displays first to nth view images produced by separating cameras from one another by a general distance between both eyes and photographing images of an object, where n is a natural number, a liquid crystal (LC) lens cell, which moves LC molecules existing in an LC layer between a lower substrate and an upper substrate of the display panel based on a voltage difference between a common electrode and each of electrodes to form an LC lens, an LC lens cell controller controlling a voltage supplied to each of the common electrode and the electrodes, and an LC lens cell driver supplying the voltage to each of the common electrode and the electrodes. |
| US08854432B2 |
Multi-lens camera and control method
A dual lens camera for producing a three-dimensional image includes plural lens systems and a zoom mechanism. Initial correction data is constituted by a displacement vector of an amount and a direction of misalignment between plural images according to a superimposed state thereof for each of zoom positions of the lens systems. A vector detector, if a calibration mode is set, obtains a current displacement vector related to one first zoom position. A data processor outputs current correction data by adjusting the initial correction data according to the initial correction data and current displacement vector. If the current correction data is stored, a displacement vector is obtained from the current correction data according to a zoom position of the lens systems upon forming the plural images, to carry out image registration between the images according to the obtained displacement vector for producing the three-dimensional image. |
| US08854431B2 |
Optical self-diagnosis of a stereoscopic camera system
The present invention relates to a method for the optical self-diagnosis of a camera system and to a camera system for carrying out the method. The method comprises recording stereo images obtained from in each case at least two partial images (2, 3) creating a depth image, that is to say a disparity map (5) given by calculated disparity values, determining a number of valid disparity values (6) of the disparity map (5), and outputting a warning signal depending on the number of valid disparity values determined. A device for carrying out such a method comprises a stereo camera (1) having at least two lenses (7,8) and image sensors, an evaluation unit and a display unit. |
| US08854424B2 |
Generating an aerial display of three-dimensional images from a single two-dimensional image or a sequence of two-dimensional images
Systems, methods, and devices that generate and display a multiple view 3-D holographic image (“image”) of a 3-D real or synthetic scene are presented. A capture system can capture or generate as little as a single 2-D image, or a sequence of 2-D images, of a scene and can convert the 2-D visual information to facilitate generating a 3-D scene from various perspectives. Predefined distortion morphing or transition morphing is employed to generate one or more morphing images to reconstruct different perspectives of the scene without having to capture such different perspectives. A sequence of 2-D images, including the morphing images, each representing a respective view of the scene are integrated to form a 3-D integrated image, which can be displayed on a 3-D aerial projection system. The disclosed subject matter can generate and/or maintain disparity information to improve quality of the display of the 3-D integrated image. |
| US08854422B2 |
Apparatus for rendering surroundings and vehicle having such an apparatus for rendering surroundings and method for depicting panoramic image
An apparatus for rendering surroundings includes an image source, image signal processing device, and image reproduction device. The image source feeds input image signals to the image signal processing device to create output image signals for a panoramic image that are forwarded to the image reproduction device for displaying the panoramic image. The image signal processing device processes the input image signals such that a first region of the panoramic image is reproduced undistorted or compressed in a first compression and a second region of the panoramic image is reproduced compressed in a second compression. The image signal processing device is configured such that the portion of the regions reproduced undistorted or compressed is variably selectable, the compression of the regions reproduced compressed is selectable, and these changes in the region reproduced compressed may occur during the operation of the apparatus for rendering surroundings. |
| US08854421B2 |
Image processing apparatus and on-vehicle camera apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a line buffer, an FIR filter serving as an edge enhancement filter that enhances high-frequency components of an image, and an IIR filter serving as a low-pass filter that reduces noise. The same line buffer is used by both the FIR filter and the IIR filter. According to a switching signal, switches enable the FIR filter and disable the IIR filter for a relatively low noise level while the switches enable IIR filter and disable the FIR filter for a relatively high noise level. |
| US08854420B2 |
High-resolution, variable depth of field image device
A high-resolution image device that is used to receive images in a variable depth of field environment may include a color image sensor, a panchromatic image sensor, and a measuring device. The color image sensor may be configured to receive a color image of an object. Similarly, a synchronous panchromatic image may be received by the panchromatic image sensor. The image device may be configured to replace a luminance component from the original color image with a luminance component from the panchromatic image. The measuring device may be configured to measure a distance between the image sensors and the object, such that the image device may be configured to use the distance to account for the effect of parallax. |
| US08854419B2 |
Method and system for controlling multipoint video conference, central control subsystem and video terminal
A system and method for controlling multipoint video conference, a video terminal and a central control subsystem are provided by the present invention. The system includes a central control subsystem and a video terminal at the conference place side, and central office equipment at the network side. The central control subsystem is configured to transmit a multipoint video conference control command to the video terminal; the video terminal is configured to transmit the received multipoint video conference control command to the central office equipment at the network side; the central office equipment is configured to control the video terminal of each conference place according to the received multipoint video conference control command. The scheme of the present invention maintains the good usability of the central control subsystem and guarantees the safety and the stability of the central office system. |
| US08854416B2 |
Recording a videoconference using a recording server
A videoconference may be initiated between a plurality of endpoints. At least one of the endpoints may be coupled to a recording server, which may be configured to record the videoconference. A configuration may be selected (e.g., automatically or manually) for performing the recording. The endpoint (e.g., acting as an MCU) may transmit information to endpoints and may transmit recording information to the recording server. The recording information may be different from the videoconference information. For example, it may be in a “streaming friendly” format, at a different bit rate, encoded differently, have different inputs, etc. The manner in which the videoconference is stored and/or recorded may be based on the selected configuration. Clients may be configured to receive and display the videoconference from the recording server and may be configured to change the provided layout to different layouts, e.g., based on user input. |
| US08854412B2 |
Real-time automatic scene relighting in video conference sessions
Video frames are captured at one or more cameras during a video conference session, where each video frame includes a digital image with a plurality of pixels. Depth values associated with each pixel are determined in at least one video frame, where each depth value represents a distance of a portion of the digital image represented by at least one corresponding pixel from the one or more cameras that capture the at least one video frame. Luminance values of pixels are adjusted within captured video frames based upon the depth values determined for the pixels so as to achieve relighting of the video frames as the video frames are displayed during the video conference session. |
| US08854410B2 |
Exposure device and image forming apparatus
An exposure device includes at least one light emitting element that emits light in a normal direction of the substrate; at least one hologram element that is recorded on a recording layer arranged on the substrate to diffract light emitted from the light emitting element and condense the diffracted light on a condensing point on a normal line of the light emitting element; and at least one light inhibiting part that is arranged on a straight line that connects the light emitting element and the condensing point such that the light diffracted by the hologram element passes through the outside of the light inhibiting part and condenses at the condensing point, to inhibit transmission of zeroth-order light that goes straight toward the condensing point from the light emitting element without being diffracted by the hologram element. |
| US08854409B2 |
Image forming apparatus having variable developer intervals
An image forming apparatus including a plurality of developers and optical scanners, each of the optical scanners having a light source and a light reflecting unit and forming an electrostatic latent image on a photo conductor of each of the developers. The optical scanners have the same focusing distance from the light source to the photo conductor. The light reflecting unit of one of the optical scanners is arranged at a position different from the light reflecting unit of another optical scanner, such that intervals between the developers vary. The plurality of developers include a yellow (Y) developer, a magenta (M) developer, a cyan (C) developer, and a black (K) developer. The optical scanners include a first optical scanner, which forms electrostatic latent images on two of the developers including the black (K) developer, and a second optical scanner, which forms electrostatic latent images on the other two developers. |
| US08854408B2 |
Image forming apparatus for performing exposure a plurality of times
An image forming apparatus includes; an exposure unit configured to perform, based on the image data, first exposure for a photosensitive member and second exposure for the photosensitive member exposed by the first exposure; a determination unit configured to determine a type of the image to be formed based on image data; and a control unit configured to control the exposure unit such that a difference in an exposure amount between the first exposure and the second exposure performed based on the image data when the type of the image is a character is larger than the difference in the exposure amount between the first exposure and the second exposure performed based on the image data when the type of the image is a picture. |
| US08854407B2 |
Image forming apparatus that forms image using multiple light emitting elements
An image-forming position displaces from an ideal position occurring due to a portion of a support substrate bending in a direction approaching a photosensitive drum. This displacement is set as a first gap data. Spot size expansion caused by bending of the support substrate can be reduced by using light amount control data that has been corrected in response to this first gap data. Furthermore, by using light amount control data corrected in response to second gap data that indicates displacement to an ideal position from exposure areas occurring due to decentering of the photosensitive drum, spot size expansion caused by decentering of the photosensitive drum can be reduced. |
| US08854404B2 |
Method for maintaining proper page sequence while reducing printer artifacts
A printing method wherein a position of a receiver media in a printer is determined to be nearer to one of two thermal printheads at an end of a print job. A next print job is started using either one of the two thermal printheads depending on which one was determined to be nearer the receiving media. |
| US08854396B2 |
Rendering image on web browser display at smaller resolution than original image without storing original image first to conserve space
An accessing computer accessing an image specified by a web page to be rendered at a resolution that is smaller than the resolution of the full image downloaded from the server does not store the full image. Instead, the accessing computer immediately decompresses the full image to the specified smaller resolution, renders it, and then stores the smaller version of the image. |
| US08854394B2 |
Processing method and apparatus therefor and image compositing method and apparatus therefor
In order to combine N (N≧3) pieces of image data including not only color data but also distance data and opacity data, when images that are to be combined are input, distance data of each pixel in each image data is sorted in parallel for each pixel data at identical coordinates in a plurality of images so as to determine the distance relationship as the order relationship concerning the input image data. On the other hand, color data and opacity data of each input image that are to be combined are stored in a pixel-by-pixel manner. The color data and opacity data stored in the storing step are read and rearranged in parallel by using the order relationship concerning the input image data obtained in the sorting step so that the color data and opacity data are arranged in the order relationship corresponding to the input images. The color data and opacity data rearranged in the rearranging step are combined, in an alpha blending technique, in parallel. |
| US08854390B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, computer program, and information processing system
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a setting information changing unit adapted to change setting information for setting a presentation state of a content on the basis of viewing environment information representing an environment in which the content is to be viewed and presentation state changing information for changing the presentation state of the content in accordance with the environment in which the content is to be viewed, and a content presentation unit adapted to present, on the basis of the setting information, the content to a user via a display device. |
| US08854388B2 |
Image processing apparatus and memory management method for image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus has a plurality of functions and is capable of executing a job relating to any of the plurality of functions. The image processing apparatus includes a memory management unit to secure a storage region in a first storage device for program execution, a save unit to save information from the storage region in the first storage device to a second storage device, a history recording unit to record a history relating to execution of the job each time the image processing apparatus executes the job, and a save restriction unit to restrict saving of information from the storage region in the first storage device to the second storage device in order to execute a job relating to a function which is specified based on a job history recorded by the history recording unit from among the plurality of functions. |
| US08854386B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling writing of data to graphic memory
A method and apparatus for controlling writing of data to a graphic memory is provided. In the method and apparatus, a plurality of consecutively input data pieces are controlled to be not consecutively written to the same memory area in terms of time or space. |
| US08854380B2 |
System and method for rendering and displaying high-resolution images
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for displaying high-resolution images using multiple graphics processing units (GPUs). The graphics driver is configured to present one virtual display device, simulating a high-resolution mosaic display surface, to the operating system and the application programs. The graphics driver is also configured to partition the display surface amongst the GPUs and transmit commands and data to the local memory associated with the first GPU. A video bridge automatically broadcasts this information to the local memories associated with the remaining GPUs. Each GPU renders and displays only the partition of the display surface assigned to that particular GPU, and the GPUs are synchronized to ensure the continuity of the displayed images. This technique allows the system to display higher resolution images than the system hardware would otherwise support, transparently to the operating system and the application programs. |
| US08854377B2 |
Hierarchical motion blur rasterization
Motion blur rasterization may involve executing a first test for each plane of a tile frustum. The first test is a frustum plane versus moving bounding box overlap test where planes bounding a moving primitive are overlap tested against a screen tile frustum. According to a second test executed after the first test, for primitive edges against tile corners, the second test is a tile corner versus moving edge overlap test. The corners of the screen space tile are tested against a moving triangle edge in two-dimensional homogeneous space. |
| US08854373B2 |
Graph to analyze drilling parameters
A method for presenting drilling information includes presenting a display including a graph having a first axis and a second axis. The first axis represents a rate of penetration (ROP) of a drill bit into a borehole and the second axis representing a mechanical specific energy (MSE) of a drilling system that includes the drill bit. The method also includes plotting time based or foot based data with a computing device for one or more drilling runs on the graph and overlaying the graph with lines of constant power. |
| US08854370B2 |
Color waveform
Some embodiments provide a program that provides a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes a display area for displaying an image that includes several pixels. Each pixel includes a set of color component values. The GUI includes a waveform monitor for displaying a graph that includes several graphical representations of the several pixels in the image. Each graphical representation is (1) plotted along a first axis of the graph based on a position of a corresponding pixel in the image and (2) plotted along a second axis of the graph based on the set of color component values of the corresponding pixel in the image. A color of each graphical representation is similar to a color of the corresponding pixel that is used for displaying the pixel in the display area. |
| US08854368B1 |
Point sprite rendering in a cross platform environment
Method, system, and computer-readable medium for emulating a point sprite represented by a three dimensional vertex in a cross platform environment. The system includes a three dimensional vertex representing a point sprite and a vertex and fragment shaders written in the first programming language. One or more variables are assigned to a set of points representing the 3D vertex using the vertex shader and convey information from the vertex shader to the fragment shader. The point sprite emulator translates the vertex and fragment shaders from the first programming language into a second programming language. The translation includes a transfer of each variable from the vertex shader to the fragment shader such that the information included in each variable is preserved. The point sprite is rendered from the 3D vertex using the translated vertex fragment shaders and displayed on a display screen. |
| US08854364B1 |
Tight depth range occlusion prediction system and method
The range of depth values within the overlap of a convex polygon and a square or rectangular rasterization area can be determined by identifying whether the minimum and maximum depth values occur at the corners of the rasterization area or at intersections of the polygon's edges with the area's sides. By choosing between the corner and intersection for both the minimum and maximum depth limit, solving the depth plane equation at the chosen location, and clamping against the polygon's vertex depth range, a tight depth range describing the depth values within that overlap are obtained. That tight depth range is utilized to cull pixel values early in the pipeline, improving performance and power consumption. |
| US08854354B2 |
Power supply circuit for liquid crystal display device that changes durations of control signals
A power supply circuit of a liquid crystal display device includes a first positive polarity charge charging unit including a first capacitor connected to positive and negative power terminals through switches to charge a charge, a second positive polarity charge charging unit including a second capacitor connected to the positive power terminal and a ground terminal through switches to charge a charge, a first positive polarity charge loading unit loading the charge supplied through the positive power terminal to a negative polarity terminal, a second positive polarity charge loading unit loading the charge charged in the first capacitor to a negative polarity terminal, a third positive polarity charge loading unit loading the charge charged in the second capacitor, and a positive polarity charge charging/loading control unit outputting charging control signals with a same phase to the switches, and periodically or irregularly changing durations of the charging and loading control signals. |
| US08854352B2 |
Image display device
An image display device is provided with a cover that covers a drive circuit unit and an optical unit and a falling-down detecting unit that detects the falling-down of the image display device. The falling-down detecting unit further detects, based on force to be applied to the falling-down detecting unit in a state in which the cover is attached to the image display device, whether or not the cover is detached from the image display device. |
| US08854351B2 |
Electrophoretic display device and method of driving an electrophoretic display device
A method of driving an electrophoretic display device displays an image during an image frame divided into a plurality of sub-frames. Sub-frame periods of the plurality of sub-frames are determined based on a predetermined resolution of the image. The plurality of sub-frames have sub-frame periods that differ from one another. A plurality of unit pixels are initialized by applying a common voltage to a common electrode and by applying a first voltage to a plurality of pixel electrodes. Each pixel electrode corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of unit pixels. Gray levels of the plurality of unit pixels are controlled by selectively applying one of the common voltage and a second voltage to each pixel electrode during each sub-frame. |
| US08854345B2 |
Monitor chaining and docking mechanism
A circuit that supports multiple monitors, docking functions, and protected content via one cable. The circuit includes a receiver that receives multiple video streams, each including respective video data, a mux/demux, coupled to the receiver, that determines which video stream to display on a monitor, a display interface coupled to the first mux/demux, wherein the display interface is configured to generate output signals based on the video data of the determined video stream to be displayed on the first monitor, a transmitter coupled to the mux/demux, and a transmit physical interface (TPI) coupled to the transmitter. The mux/demux sends at least a remainder of the video streams to the transmitter, which sends them to the TPI, which transmits them as output, useable as input to further instances of the circuit. |
| US08854344B2 |
Self-refresh panel time synchronization
In an embodiment, a method in a device of controlling a display is provided. The method includes transmitting a heartbeat signal in a self-refresh state. The heartbeat signal is configured to be used by a display to remain in sync with the device while the device is in the self-refresh state. |
| US08854341B2 |
Structure of touch stylus
An improved structure of touch stylus includes a barrel, a sleeve, a positioning bar, a non-conductive head, and a flexible metal fabric. The sleeve and barrel are assembled together as a unitary member and the positioning bar is received in the sleeve. The non-conductive head receives a non-conductive body fit therein and the non-conductive body is fit over the positioning bar so that the non-conductive head is supported by the non-conductive body when the flexible metal fabric that surrounds outside the non-conductive head is put in contact with the a touch screen. As such, the non-conductive head is provided, internally, with a supporting force that prevents the non-conductive head from not resuming the original shape after being pressed down by the contact and thus improving accuracy of touch and extending the lifespan. |
| US08854339B2 |
Acoustic touch sensor
A touch sensor comprises a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves and includes a first surface having a touch sensitive region. A first sidewall intersects the first surface along a first edge. The first edge is configured to propagate a first acoustic wave along the first edge. The first acoustic wave may be a one-dimensional edge wave. A wave converter converts the first acoustic wave to a second acoustic wave, and the first surface is configured to propagate the second acoustic wave across the touch sensitive region. |
| US08854338B2 |
Display apparatus and method of controlling display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a pointing device including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit to detect a position of an object inserted into an optical path between the light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, wherein the pointing device includes an optical intensity store unit configured to store an optical intensity distribution detected by the light receiving unit in a memory unit upon detection of a change in a position or location of a display, and a position calculating unit configured to detect the position of the object by detecting a dark point in the optical intensity distribution caused by the insertion of the object based on a difference between the optical intensity distribution stored in the memory unit and an optical intensity distribution subsequently detected by the light receiving unit. |
| US08854334B2 |
Touch panel and touch display device using the same
An exemplary embodiment of touch display device includes a touch panel and a signal processing circuit. The touch panel includes a plurality of touch sensing units, and each touch sensing unit includes a touch sensing element and a coupling sensing element. The signal processing circuit is electrically connected to the touch sensing element and the coupling sensing element. The touch sensing element provides a touch signal to the signal processing circuit, the coupling sensing element provides a coupling signal to the signal processing circuit, and the signal processing circuit processes the touch signal according to the coupling signal to filter an interference signal of the touch signal. A touch display device using the touch panel is also described. |
| US08854329B2 |
Contact detecting device and display device having regions to be driven
Disclosed herein is a contact detecting device including: a contact responding section configured to produce an electric change in response to an object to be detected coming into contact with or proximity to a detecting surface; and a contact driving scanning section configured to scan application of driving voltage to the contact responding section in one direction within the detecting surface, and control output of the electric change in time series, wherein the contact driving scanning section performs a plurality of scans of different regions of the contact responding section in parallel with each other, and outputs a plurality of the electric changes in parallel with each other. |
| US08854328B2 |
Touch panel, manufacturing method thereof, display device, and electronic apparatus
A touch panel includes: a wire substrate and a cover substrate joined to each other, wherein the wire substrate includes a sensor electrode; a plurality of signal wires that are electrically connected to the sensor electrode and extend along a circumference of the sensor electrode; and a first light blocking layer that covers at least a signal wire disposed closest to the sensor electrode of the plurality of signal wires, and wherein the cover substrate includes a second light blocking layer that faces a continuous region including an outer edge region of the first light blocking layer and a signal wire disposed so as to be the most distant from the sensor electrode. |
| US08854325B2 |
Two-factor rotation input on a touchscreen device
An electronic device and method are provided for rotating an object displayed at or by the device. The object may be an entire displayed region of a display screen, such as a window, frame, or other region or subregion, or a block element or other type of content component such as an image or map. A first input defining a reference point for the object is detected at a first user interface mechanism. After commencement of the detected first input, a second input at a second user interface mechanism, such as a touchscreen display, is detected. In response to the second input, a rotation transformation is applied to the object, the rotation transformation center being defined by the reference point, and the rotation transformation angle being defined by the second input. The object may be displayed by the touchscreen display, or by a display device external to the electronic device. |
| US08854322B2 |
Image processing apparatus, computer readable medium, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes an image output apparatus and an image reading apparatus. The image output apparatus includes a writing tool information receiving unit that receives writing tool information, an information image generating unit that generates an information image, a combining unit that combines the information image with an input field in a document, and a first output unit that outputs the document onto a medium. The image reading apparatus includes a writing tool information memory that stores writing tool information, a reading unit that reads an information image that has been output onto a medium by the image output apparatus and that is used for extracting a writing position, an extracting unit that analyzes the information image, thereby extracting writing tool information, and a determining unit that determines whether or not the writing tool is suitable as a writing tool for performing writing. |
| US08854321B2 |
Methods and systems for facilitating data entry by way of a touch screen
An exemplary method includes 1) detecting an initialization action performed by a first extremity of a user and a second extremity of the user, the initialization action comprising a touching of a first arbitrary location on the touch screen by the first extremity and a touching of a second arbitrary location on the touch screen by the second extremity, 2) designating, in response to the initialization action, the first arbitrary location as a first reference position and the second arbitrary location as a second reference position, 3) detecting one or more tapping actions performed on the touch screen, 4) determining a relative position on the touch screen of each of the one or more tapping actions with respect to the first and second reference positions, and 5) identifying one or more data entry commands associated with the one or more tapping actions. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08854320B2 |
Mobile type image display device, method for controlling the same and information memory medium
Provide is a portable image display device which allows a user to perform many different operation inputs with ease. The portable image display device includes: a display screen having a substantially rectangular shape; and a plurality of touch sensors provided along at least two sides defining a circumference of the display screen, for each detecting a position touched by a finger of a user. The portable image display device changes an image displayed on the display screen in accordance with a combination of the positions of a plurality of the fingers which are respectively detected by the plurality of touch sensors. |
| US08854319B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating piezoelectric transducer excitation waveforms using a boost converter
Transducers formed as part of a touchscreen system emulate the motion of a pushbutton or other mechanical elements. A touchscreen system positions a transducer adjacent to an icon displayed on the touchscreen surface. When a user touches the icon, the transducer senses the touch and is then deformed in a pattern that emulates a mechanical motion, giving the user the sensation of touching a mechanical button. An excitation signal applied to the transducer is compared to a target excitation signal that, when applied to the transducer, causes the transducer to emulate the desired motion. When any differences between the two signals are detected, the excitation signal is adjusted so that the motion is corrected. The target excitation signal, or time and voltage segments defining it, are stored in memory and retrieved for comparison. The excitation signal is also selected to reduce any acoustic artifacts that can cause the transducer to generate audible clicks. |
| US08854309B2 |
User interface for electronic devices and methods therefor
A user interface (301) comprises a layered structure defining one or more keys (302,303,304). The layers can include a top layer (331), a base layer (335), and an interior layer (332) disposed therebetween. One or more layers are pliant and can be compressed. Magnetically permeable materials (308,309) form a closed loop (310). A corresponding coil (311) is operable with the loop. Electrical properties of the closed loop change in response to user input. A control unit (312) is then configured to detect a change in the electrical properties when the pliant material is compressed. Where the change is greater than a predefined threshold, the control unit (312) discharges an energy storage device into the coil to provide a haptic response (109). |
| US08854303B1 |
Display device and control method thereof
A display device is disclosed. A display device according to an embodiment of the present specification includes a display unit configured to display visual information, a camera unit configured to capture an image in front of the display device, a sensor unit configured to sense user input applied to the display device, and a control unit configured to control the display device, wherein the control unit detects at least one user from the captured image, maintains display of the visual information and processes received user input when the detected user includes a predetermined master user, the control unit detects at least one user from the captured image, maintains display of the visual information and does not process the received user input when the detected user does not include the predetermined master user, and the control unit deactivates the display unit when no user is detected in the captured image. |
| US08854302B2 |
System and method for display management based on user attention inputs
A system and method are provided for managing data being displayed on at least one monitor screen based on monitoring user's attention in relation to the monitor screen. In one embodiment, upon detecting that the user's attention is leaving at least a portion of a screen, the system may alert the user of such an event. Alternatively, the system could alert the user upon detecting a triggering condition while the user's attention is away from the at least a portion of the screen. The step of alerting the user may include modifying at least a portion of a display on a monitor not being viewed by the user. Additionally, the system may initiate preparation of a report including any data not being viewed by a user during the time period when the user is not viewing a portion of the monitor. |
| US08854299B2 |
Orientation based application launch system
An electronic device may include multiple faces, an application launch input element, a memory that stores multiple applications, and a processor that accesses the memory. In response to a detected trigger of the application launch input element, the processor determines the orientation of the device. For example, the processor may determine which face of the electronic device is pointed in a predetermined direction. Based on the determined orientation of the device, the processor selects and activates a specific application from the multiple available applications. |
| US08854286B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and electronic device including the liquid crystal display device
In a liquid crystal display device including a plurality of pixels in a display portion and configured to performed display in a plurality of frame periods, each of the frame periods includes a writing period and a holding period, and after an image signal is input to each of the plurality of pixels in the writing period, a transistor included in each of the plurality of pixels is turned off and the image signal is held for at least 30 seconds in the holding period. The pixel includes a semiconductor layer including an oxide semiconductor layer, and the oxide semiconductor layer has a carrier concentration of less than 1×1014/cm3. |
| US08854280B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus acquires a time interval which is set in a display apparatus and at which the display screen is updated, determines a profile used for a color correction process based on the acquired time interval, and performs the color correction process using the determined profile to an input video signal. |
| US08854279B2 |
Position detecting system and position detecting program
A plurality of positional information transmitters 100, each of which transmits positional information to which a plurality of unit spaces are each uniquely assigned, are disposed on a ceiling. A mobile terminal 10 receives the positional information transmitted from each of the positional information transmitters 100 and changes a terminal-side image in accordance with the received positional information. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 10 transmits to a server 300 current positional information and operation information indicating an instruction inputted by a user. The server 300 changes, in accordance with the current positional information and the operation information received by the mobile terminal 10, a floor image displayed on a plurality of floor displays 200 disposed on a floor. Thus, it becomes possible to provide a highly interesting and novel position detecting system. |
| US08854267B2 |
Antenna device for a portable terminal
An antenna device for improving antenna performance of a portable terminal having a metal edge installed on a case frame is disclosed. The antenna device includes a main board equipped with a power supply end for supplying power and a ground surface for grounding the main board, a loop radiator connected with the power supply end of the main board at first end and connected with the ground surface of the main board at a second end, and a metal body disposed along an edge of the portable terminal and electrically connected with the ground surface of the main board. |
| US08854266B2 |
Antenna isolation elements
Electronic devices may be provided with antenna structures and antenna isolation element structures. An antenna array may be located within an electronic device. The antenna array may have multiple antennas and interposed antenna isolation element structures for isolating the antennas from each other. An antenna isolation element structure may have a dielectric carrier with a longitudinal axis. A sheet of conductive material may extend around the longitudinal axis to form a conductive loop structure. The loop structure in the antenna isolation element may have a gap that spans the sheet of conductive material parallel to the longitudinal axis. Electronic components may bridge the gap. Control circuitry may adjust the electronic components to tune the antenna isolation element. |
| US08854265B1 |
L-shaped feed for a matching network for a microstrip antenna
A microstrip patch antenna including a ground plane base, an L-shaped feed structure and a laminate structure is disclosed herein. A matching network is formed by a clearance member of the laminate structure around a pin and a stub of the L-shaped feed structure on the bottom surface in which the clearance member around the pin effectively decreases shunt inductance and reduces a series capacitance at a feed point to enable a 50 ohm wideband operation. |
| US08854264B2 |
Two-dimensional antenna arrays for beamforming applications
Embodiments relate to two-dimensional antenna arrays. In one embodiment, an antenna array includes single-ended fed patch antennas and differentially fed patches. Field polarization of the radiated and/or received EM waves is different by 90 degrees for each different antenna type. Thus, an aligned polarization pattern can be achieved using orthogonal feeding direction for single-ended and differential patches. Embodiments can be used in radar or virtually any other 2D array antenna system. |
| US08854261B2 |
Parameter calculating method, long-term prediction orbit data providing method, information providing device, and positioning system
A parameter calculating method includes: setting lengths of prediction target terms as divisions of a predetermined effective period of a satellite orbit as variable lengths; and calculating a parameter of a predetermined orbit model expression used for approximating the satellite orbit based on prediction position data containing prediction positions of a positioning satellite in time series for each of the prediction target terms. |
| US08854257B2 |
Conformal array, luneburg lens antenna system
A Luneburg lens is used in conjunction with a patch antenna array. The patch antenna array is conformed or adapted to cover a portion or backside of the Luneburg len's surface with the backplane of the conformed antenna array defining a field of regard (FOR) in which objects are detected and tracked. A processor is connected to a receiver/exciter module which connects to transmit/receive modules which are connected to the individual patch antennas through a network of MEMS switches. In a receive mode, selected subarrays of the conformed patch antenna array are scanned during selected time intervals with the sum and delta beams being formed coherently in amplitude and phase to realize amplitude monopulse sensing and angle tracking of an object. |
| US08854252B2 |
Multi-mode, multi-static interferometer utilizing pseudo orthogonal codes
A system for providing a multi-mode, multi-static interferometer may include a transmitter array, a receiver array and a processor. The transmitter array includes at least a first transmitter and a second transmitter spatially separated from each other by a first known distance. The receiver array includes at least a first receiver and a second receiver spatially separated from each other by a second known distance. The receiver array is positioned to enable receipt of a return signal from transmissions provided by the transmitter array and reflecting off an object. The processor is configured to enable the transmitter array to generate uniquely coded signals and configured to distinguish, based on the uniquely coded signals, a first signal transmitted by the first transmitter from a second signal transmitted by the second transmitter in response to reception of a combined signal including reflected signals corresponding to at least the first and second signals by the receiver array. |
| US08854248B2 |
Real-time system for imaging and object detection with a multistatic GPR array
A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the imaging and detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across the surface and that travels down the surface. The imaging and detection system pre-processes the return signal to suppress certain undesirable effects. The imaging and detection system then generates synthetic aperture radar images from real aperture radar images generated from the pre-processed return signal. The imaging and detection system then post-processes the synthetic aperture radar images to improve detection of subsurface objects. The imaging and detection system identifies peaks in the energy levels of the post-processed image frame, which indicates the presence of a subsurface object. |
| US08854247B2 |
Metal detector and ground-penetrating radar hybrid head and manufacturing method thereof
A hybrid ground penetrating radar (GPR)/metal detector (MD) head includes a V-dipole GPR antenna and transmit and receive MD coils. One of the MD coils is arranged in a quadrupole configuration with a crossbar, and the V-dipole antenna is perpendicular to the crossbar. The legs of the V-dipole antenna may straddle the crossbar or may be on one side of the crossbar. The MD coils may be fabricated on a printed circuit board, which may be at a non-normal angle with respect to a central axis of the V-dipole antenna. |
| US08854246B1 |
Method of converting an electromagnetic anechoic test chamber to an electromagnetic reverberation test chamber
The invention is a method of converting an electromagnetic anechoic test chamber into an electromagnetic reverberation test chamber. Lightweight and flexible conductive fabric is used to cover (fully or partially) the radio frequency absorbing walls of an anechoic test chamber. The conductive fabric is strategically arranged and disposed across the interior of the anechoic test chamber by a variety of means including magnets and low-loss dielectric frames. |
| US08854244B2 |
Imagers with improved analog-to-digital converters
An imager may include analog-to-digital converter circuitry that converts an analog input voltage to a digital output value by generating a number of samples of the analog input voltage. The analog input voltage may be formed from the difference between a pixel signal and a reference signal received at first and second inputs of the analog-to-digital converter circuitry. Processing circuitry may control the number of samples generated from the analog input voltage based on a desired gain level. The analog-to-digital converter circuitry may include a counter that counts to a maximum value. Ramp generation circuitry may generate a ramp signal based on the counter value and apply the ramp signal to the pixel signal at the first input of the analog-to-digital converter circuitry. The total time for generating samples for each different desired gain level may be constant while generating the ramp signal with a slope having a constant magnitude. |
| US08854243B2 |
AD converter circuit and ad conversion method
A low-power and high-speed ADC includes: a successive approximation converter circuit configured to sequentially compare and coarsely convert the analog input signal voltage into a digital signal with a number of higher-order bits, and also to output a residual voltage; a fixed-quantity change time measurement converter circuit configured to finely convert the residual voltage into a digital signal with a number n of lower-order bits by changing the residual voltage at a fixed rate of change and by measuring the time until a predetermined value is reached; and an encoder circuit configured to generate a digital signal with the predetermined number of bits by combining the digital signal with the number of higher-order bits output from the successive approximation converter circuit and the digital signal with the number of lower-order bits output from the fixed-quantity change time measurement converter circuit. |
| US08854242B1 |
Radio frequency digital to analog converter
A RF digital to analog converter has a first capacitor arrangement, a first common node, and a first controller. The first capacitor arrangement has multiple switchable capacitor paths arranged in parallel. Respective switchable capacitor paths have a switchable element and a capacitor coupled in series. The first common node is connected to the multiple switchable capacitor paths. The first controller receives a baseband signal having an in-phase component and a quadrature component, and a local oscillator (LO) signal having an in-phase LO signal and a quadrature LO signal. The first controller combines the in-phase component and the in-phase LO signal to obtain a first in-phase modulation signal and combines the quadrature component and the quadrature LO signal to obtain a first quadrature modulation signal. The first controller controls the multiple switchable capacitor paths of the first capacitor arrangement with the first in-phase modulation signal and/or the first quadrature modulation signal. |
| US08854239B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method
A data processing apparatus and a data processing method thereof are provided. The data processing apparatus includes a register and a processor electrically connected to the register. The register is stored with a plurality of data. The plurality of data each includes a first sub-datum and a second sub-datum. The plurality of first sub-data corresponds to a first column and the plurality of second sub-data corresponds to a second column. The processor compresses the first sub-data by a first compression algorithm according to a first characteristic of the plurality of first sub-data and compresses the second sub-data by a second compression algorithm according to a second characteristic of the plurality of second sub-data. |
| US08854237B2 |
Modulation encoding and decoding
A method for producing N-bit output words of RLL-encoded data having both a global constraint Go and an interleave constraint Io on bits of a first value includes receiving N-bit input words of RLL-encoded data having both a global constraint Gi and an interleave constraint Ii on bits of like value; and producing the output words from respective input words by sliding-window encoding of each input word to replace predetermined bit-sequences with respective substitute sequences such that Go |
| US08854234B1 |
Decompression circuit and associated decompression method
A decompression circuit includes a first decompression unit and a second decompression unit. The first decompression unit performs a first decompression operation on data to generate first decompressed data. The first decompressed data includes a plurality of literals and a distance-length pair. The second decompression unit receives the first decompressed data, and sequentially performs a second decompression operation on the literals and the distance-length pair to generate second decompressed data. After the second decompression unit receives the distance-length pair from the first decompression unit and before the second decompression unit completes decompressing the distance-length pair, the second decompression unit transmits data required for the subsequent first decompression operation performed by the first decompression unit to the first decompression unit according to the distance-length pair. |
| US08854231B2 |
Parking assistance system and method
A vehicle parking assistance system is based on presenting a bird's eye view. The display has an input interface such as a touch-input display or a remote input device such as a joystick. In this case, by selecting a desired position on the display (which is presenting an image of an object or location in space for which the driver is wanting to know the range), the user is able to request a distance calculation between the vehicle and that location in space. The distance information can be provided as an audible message and/or as a visual overlay message onto the bird's eye view. |
| US08854230B2 |
Traffic signal broadcasting, reproducing
Reducing traffic signal obstruction, through reproducing the contents of traffic signals, so the driver of a small vehicle blocked by a big vehicle also can be aware of the contents of traffic signals indicated by an obstructed traffic signal indicator. The system of reproducing traffic signals on a vehicle includes: a signal receiver, configured to receive the contents of traffic signals, wherein the contents of traffic signals is indicated by at least one traffic signal indicator; a signal processor, configured to determine whether to reproduce the received contents of traffic signals; and a reproducer, configured to reproduce the contents of traffic signals if it is determined to do so by the signal processor. |
| US08854222B2 |
Emergency message transmission method and electronic device implementing the method
The disclosure provides an emergency message transmission method and an electronic device implementing the method. The electronic device stores a reference voltage value and comprises a smoke assessing unit. The method includes steps: capturing air composition around the electronic device, assessing whether the air composition has changed, if the air composition has changed, detecting an electrical current of the smoke assessing unit, amplifying the electrical current and converting the amplified current to a voltage value, comparing the converted voltage value with the reference voltage value, judging whether the converted voltage value reaches the reference voltage value, and if the converted voltage value reaches the reference voltage value, outputting a signal including an emergency message. |
| US08854214B2 |
Electronically triggered personal athletic device
An athletic device is worn by a participant during an athletic event (e.g., a race). In one example, a race course is provided with a plurality of mats or signal devices along the race course. The mats may have antennas and generate a magnetic field. The device may include a chip system having an RFID tag and a display. As the participant progress along the course, the tag is triggered at each mat and race data may be displayed on the device. Data relating to a location of the participant may also be provided to the participant during the athletic event. |
| US08854209B2 |
Warning tag and method for providing an indication relevant to shelf life of a product
A warning tag for providing an indication relevant to shelf life of a product is to be disposed on a product. The warning tag includes a storage unit, a clock unit, a control unit and a warning unit. The storage unit stores product information of the product. The product information includes time data associated with end of the shelf life of the product. The clock unit generates a current time. The control unit is electrically coupled to the storage unit and the clock unit, and outputs a warning signal based on the current time and the end of the shelf life of the product. The warning unit is electrically coupled to the control unit, and generates the indication according to the warning signal. |
| US08854202B2 |
Unified display of alarm configurations based on event enrollment objects
Management systems, methods, and mediums. A method includes identifying a description of a system object from a request to generate an event enrollment object to monitor the system object in response to receiving the request. The method includes storing the description of the system object in association with the event enrollment object. The method includes identifying the stored description of the system object associated with the event enrollment object in response to identifying an alarm generated for the event enrollment object. Additionally, the method includes including the description of the system object in a notification of the alarm generated for event enrollment object. |
| US08854200B2 |
TPMS tire fill detection mode to ensure accurate tire filling
A method and system for managing tire pressure in a vehicle are disclosed. The system is a tire pressure monitoring system associated with the tire pressure sensors. The method includes the general steps of informing the operator that air pressure in a tire is below a desired level, causing the sensor to undertake a rapid sampling of pressure of the tire during an interim state while the vehicle is being driven, advising the operator to manually add pressure to the tire in discrete increments of, for example, between 5 and 10 seconds, causing the sensor to undertake a rapid sampling of tire pressure while air is being manually added to the tire, and causing the sensor to transmit tire air pressure data until the operator stops adding air. The method may also include the step of providing the operator with feedback when a predetermined tire air pressure is reached. |
| US08854193B2 |
Systems and methods for remote or local shut-off of a photovoltaic system
Systems and methods for shut-down of a photovoltaic system. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a computer system includes: communicating, via a central controller, with a plurality of local management units (LMUs), each of the LMUs coupled to control a respective solar module; receiving, via the central controller, a shut-down signal from a user device (e.g., a hand-held device, a computer, or a wireless switch unit); and in response to receiving the shut-down signal, shutting down operation of the respective solar module for each of the LMUs. |
| US08854192B1 |
Configuration method for a remote
An online remote control configuration system for efficiently programming a remote control to recognize a plurality of external electronic devices. The online remote control configuration system includes a remote control having a housing, a keypad, and an electronic system for receiving configuration data from a control station is a global computer network (e.g. Internet). The user preferably “samples” one or lore signals from a remote control into the electronic system and then uploads the samples to the control station. The control station analyzes the uploaded samples and transmits the appropriate configuration data to properly configure the electronic system. The user may also access a web site of the control station and manually select each of the external electronic devices that the remote control is to operate after which the control station sends the appropriate configuration data to the electronic system. |
| US08854191B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for operating the same
To provide a semiconductor device including an RFID which can transmit and receive individual information without checking of the remaining charge of a battery or a replacing operation of the battery in accordance with deterioration over time of the battery for driving, and can maintain an excellent state for transmission and reception of individual information even when power of a radio wave or an electromagnetic wave from outside is insufficient. A battery (also described as a secondary battery) is provided as a power supply for supplying power to the RFID. Then, when power which is obtained from a signal received from outside is larger than predetermined power, its surplus power is stored in the battery; and when the power which is obtained from the signal received from outside is smaller than the predetermined power, power which is obtained from the battery is used for the power for driving. |
| US08854190B2 |
Systems and methods to detect cross reads in RFID tags
Systems and methods to detect cross reads in RFID tags are disclosed. Existing RFID reading mechanisms do not have the provision of detecting cross reads and eliminating the cross reads while performing inventory of an area. As a result, the user will have to manually determine the cross reads from the data and eliminate them. The disclosed method employs a RFID reader that is equipped with a plurality of engines for performing scan on the inventories. The scanned data is processed by a processing unit. In the processing unit, normalization is performed on the scanned data, neighboring assets and spatial location maps are created. The data from the above processes is employed for detecting cross reads during the scan. The identified cross reads are eliminated based on various other parameters obtained by analyzing scanned data. |
| US08854188B2 |
Signal cancelling transmit/receive multi-loop antenna for a radio frequency identification reader
In an inductively coupled radio frequency identification (RFID) system deployed in animal and livestock applications, reading system efficacy can be compromised by animal movement on, around, or near metal structures prone to producing sonic frequencies. Such is the case, for example, when a walk-by antenna is mounted at the entry door of a livestock transport trader, and animals transit on a metallic ramp and metallic trader floor. Associated with the observable acoustic noise are subtle disturbances in the magnetic field surrounding the antenna due to vibrating metal altering the reluctance of the antenna's magnetic field. This acoustic noise manifests itself as an electrical noise phenomenon that interferes with the signals of certain types of identification tags which rely on amplitude modulation. The detrimental effects of acoustic noise from metal structures can be mitigated by using a multi-loop antenna that limits the spatial distribution of the transmitted magnetic field and cancels close by magnetic field disturbances. |
| US08854187B2 |
System and method for wireless interactive security services using a key-switch interface
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an alarm communicator configured to communicate directly with an alarm panel. The alarm panel includes a key-switch input terminal which is in direct communication with a relay switch defined on the alarm communicator. The alarm communicator is capable of sending open or closed signals from the relay switch to the key-switch input terminal in response to receiving a command that was initiated from a remote device. |
| US08854184B2 |
Multiple kiosks for rental of securable devices
A system and method for assigning controlled access to a securable device may include multiple securable devices available for a user to rent. A first kiosk may be configured to enable the user to rent a securable device from among the securable devices. A second kiosk may be configured to alternatively enable the user to rent the securable device from among the securable devices. A lock unit may be associated with the securable device and be in communication with the first and second kiosks. The lock unit may be configured to enable the user to access the securable device after being rented by the user via either of the first or second kiosk. |
| US08854182B2 |
Opening management through gait detection
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for managing an opening through gait recognition. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for managing an opening through gait recognition is provided. The method includes capturing imagery, for example through the use of a Web cam, of a moving object as the moving object approaches an automated door. The method additionally, includes determining from the captured imagery a presence or absence of a gait of the moving object. Finally, the method includes managing an automated opening of the door according to the determined presence or absence of a gait of the moving object. |
| US08854180B2 |
Access control system
An access controlled storage device may include multiple doors, each having a different lock, to insure safety and security of the contents of the storage device. In one example, the access controlled storage may include a first outer door having a physical lock and a second interior door having an electronic lock. The physical lock and the electronic lock may require different keys. Additionally or alternatively, unlocking the interior door may require unlocking of the first door in an authorized manner. Access and inventory data may be transmitted to or received from remote devices through wireless communication networks. |
| US08854178B1 |
Enabling authentication and/or effectuating events in virtual environments based on shaking patterns and/or environmental information associated with real-world handheld devices
Shaking patterns and/or environmental information associated with real-world handheld devices may form a basis for enabling authentication and/or effectuating events in a virtual environment. The handheld devices may include toys and/or other object that can be used to play. The handheld devices may be associated with the virtual environment in that individual handheld devices may share an appearance and/or theme with an avatar, a virtual object, and/or other element within the virtual environment. Shaking a pair of handheld devices together may facilitate authentication of the handheld devices with respect to the virtual environment and/or effectuate one or more events within the virtual environment. By way of non-limiting example, two avatars may dance together or become friends in the virtual environment responsive to two corresponding handheld devices being shaken together. Shake patterns may be used in conjunction with geo-location and/or environmental information to improve pairing between handheld devices. |
| US08854177B2 |
System, method and database for managing permissions to use physical devices and logical assets
A system and method for storing user permissions for multiple disparate physical devices and systems in a unified permissions database connected to a network in common with the devices. The permissions database also stores user permissions for logical assets on or attached to the network. |
| US08854176B2 |
Wireless power transmission system
The wireless power transmission is a system for providing wireless charging and/or primary power to electronic/electrical devices via microwave energy. The microwave energy is focused to a location by a power transmitter having one or more adaptively-phased microwave array emitters. Rectennas within the device to be charged receive and rectify the microwave energy and use it for battery charging and/or for primary power. |
| US08854174B2 |
Fused disconnect switch with terminal opening cover
A fusible switching disconnect device includes a switch housing and terminal cover therefore that blocks access to a line side fuse clip and prevents insertion of a rectangular fuse module when switch contacts in the device are closed. An interlock element further presents the fuse from being retracted when the switch contacts are closed. |
| US08854173B2 |
Fe-based amorphous alloy powder, dust core using the same, and coil-embedded dust core
An Fe-based amorphous alloy powder of the present invention has a composition represented by (Fe100-a-b-c-x-y-z-tNiaSnbCrcPxCyBzSit)100-αMα. In this composition, 0 at %≦a≦10 at %, 0 at %≦b≦3 at %, 0 at %≦c≦6 at %, 6.8 at %≦x≦10.8 at %, 2.2 at %≦y≦9.8 at %, 0 at %≦z≦4.2 at %, and 0 at %≦t≦3.9 at % hold, a metal element M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti, Al, Mn, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, and W, and the addition amount α of the metal element M satisfies 0.04 wt %≦α≦0.6 wt %. Accordingly, besides a decrease of a glass transition temperature (Tg), an excellent corrosion resistance and high magnetic characteristics can be obtained. |
| US08854172B2 |
Inductor and transformer
An inductor and a transformer, each of which includes a first bobbin on which a first coil is wound and a second bobbin on which a second coil is wound, are provided. The first bobbin includes a first bobbin part on which the first coil is wound and a first support part provided at one end of the first bobbin part. The second bobbin includes a second bobbin part on which the second coil is wound and a second support part provided at one end of the second bobbin part. Another end of the first bobbin part is coupled to the second support part and another end of the second bobbin part is coupled to the first support part. |
| US08854170B2 |
System and method of filling an air gap between a pair of core sections of a transformer
An energy conversion system includes a first core section, a tank, a flexible structure, and an output coil. The tank contains a volume of fluid having a high magnetic permeability. The flexible structure is fluidly coupled to the tank and movable from a retracted to an extended position in response to the injection of the fluid from the tank. The output coil is in electrical communication with the first core section. A charging station includes a second core section and an input coil. The first and second core sections are in alignment to define an air gap therebetween. The air gap is reduced when the flexible structure is in the extended position within the air gap such that the flexible structure transmits magnetic flux between the second core section and the first core section. The magnetic flux in the first core section induces electrical current in the output coil. |
| US08854167B2 |
Magnetic assembly
A magnetic assembly is formed by a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and a cover. A plurality of magnetic elements is electrically disposed on the PCB, and the magnetic elements are connected to one another through an electric circuit on the PCB. An accommodation space is formed on the cover for receiving the magnetic elements. During the manufacturing of the magnetic assembly, a cover with an appropriate space is selected according to the size, quantity, and specification type of the magnetic elements. After the two components are assembled, adhesive is injected into the cover, so that the cover and the PCB are fixedly disposed, and the elements in the accommodation space are protected. Therefore, in a process of manufacturing the magnetic assembly, covers with different accommodation spaces are selected for collocation according to requirements of the assembled electrical elements. |
| US08854161B2 |
Wideband frequency tunable ring resonator
The present invention provides a wideband frequency tunable ring resonator, wherein, comprises a closed λg/2 transmission line and two variable capacitors with tunable capacitance, the λg/2 transmission line is axisymmetric around a central line, first ends of the two variable capacitors are respectively connected to two intersection points of the λg/2 transmission line and the central line, the second ends of the two variable capacitors are respectively grounded. By implementing the technical solution of present invention, following technical effects are obtained. The fundamental resonant frequency (ffund) can be shifted up and down by controlling the respective values of the two loading capacitors, resulting in a bi-directional tuning of ffund. As a result, the tuning range of this invention can be approximately doubled as compared with the conventional tunable ring resonator. |
| US08854157B2 |
Balun comprising two conversion circuits each constituted by first to third FBARs
Disclosed is a balun including a film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR). The balun may be implemented using the FBAR to fabricate a small sized balun. Also, the balun may be implemented using the FBAR, thereby reducing a difference in two outputs. |
| US08854152B2 |
High-frequency module including a conductor with a slot therein and a conductive wire crossing over the slot and physically contacting the conductor
A high-frequency module includes a high-frequency component including a high-frequency circuit, a conductor plate including a slot, a first conductive wire, and two second conductive wires. The high-frequency component includes a signal terminal and two reference potential terminals. The signal terminal is used for at least one of input and output of a high-frequency signal. The two reference potential terminals are connected to a reference potential. The first conductive wire is connected to the signal terminal in terms of high-frequency. The first conductive wire crosses over above the slot. The two second conductive wires are connected to the two reference potential terminals in terms of high-frequency. The two second conductive wires are so disposed along the first conductive wire and do not cross over the slot. The first conductive wire and the two second conductive wires form a pair and are electromagnetically coupled to the slot. |
| US08854148B1 |
Programmable sinusoidal oscillator circuit
A programmable sinusoidal oscillator circuit is a sinusoidal oscillator circuit that includes a current-feedback operational-amplifier (CFOA) operably connected to two operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs), two capacitors and a resistor. The programmable sinusoidal oscillator circuit enjoys electronic orthogonal tuning of the frequency and the condition of oscillation by adjusting the biasing currents (voltages) of the OTAs, as well as providing a low output impedance. |
| US08854146B2 |
Systems and methods for external frit mounted components
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for external frit mounted components on a sensor device. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a sensor device comprises securing at least one component stack on a sensor body over at least one opening in the sensor body, wherein the at least one component stack comprises a plurality of components and applying a frit to the plurality of components in the at least one component stack and the sensor body. The method further comprises heating the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the frit melts and cooling the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the at least one component stack is secured to the sensor body. |
| US08854143B2 |
Bias circuit
Proposed is a bias circuit for a transistor in a C class amplifier. The bias circuit comprises: a class AB amplifier bias voltage generating means adapted to generate a bias voltage at an output terminal; and a transistor connected between the output terminal and a first reference voltage, the control terminal of the transistor being connected to a second reference voltage via a switch. Closure of the switch connects the second reference voltage to the control terminal of the transistor to cause a shift in the bias voltage generated by the class AB amplifier bias voltage generating means to achieve a predetermined class C bias voltage at the output terminal. |
| US08854141B2 |
RF amplifier module, integrated circuit device, wireless communication unit and method therefor
A radio frequency (RF) amplifier module has a digitally controllable amplifier to receive a first biased signal, a further biased signal, and a digital control signal including a less significant bit (LSB) component and a more significant bit (MSB) component. The digitally controllable amplifier has an LSB module operating according to the first biased signal and the LSB component, and an MSB module operating according to the further biased signal and the MSB component. The RF amplifier module further has a biasing component to apply a first, operating DC bias voltage to the further biased signal when the digitally controllable amplifier operates in a higher gain mode and the MSB module outputs a load current component, and apply a second, higher DC bias voltage to the further biasing signal when the digitally controllable amplifier operates in a lower gain mode and the MSB module outputs the load current component. |
| US08854139B2 |
Regulated cascode current mirror scheme for transconductance amplifiers
There is described an amplification stage comprising: a current mirror circuit comprising a reference transistor arranged to receive a current associated with an input signal and an output transistor providing a current source for an output signal line; a current sink to the output signal line, under the control of the input signal; circuitry arranged to maintain equality between the drain/collector voltages on the transistors of the current mirror circuit. |
| US08854138B2 |
Buffer amplifier
A buffer amplifier with unity voltage gain, high input impedance, high speed, high current gain, high output power and low offset includes three stages and a DC servo circuit. The first stage of the buffer amplifier contains complementary N-channel and P-channel MOSFET source followers that provide high input impedance to buffer the input signal source. A feedback DC servo signal is provided to correct the subsequent stages so as to maintain the output at virtual DC ground level. The second stage is a driver stage that also contains complementary N-channel and P-channel MOSFET source followers to provide sufficient current to drive the output stage. The last stage is an output stage that contains at least one pair of complementary power MOSFETs or BJTs to deliver high currents to a load. |
| US08854136B2 |
Fully differential operational amplifier with common-mode feedback circuit
A fully differential operational amplifier includes a differential input stage, at least one output stage and a common-mode feedback circuit connected with the input stage. The differential input stage includes a differential pair of transistors and a bias circuit for the differential pair of transistors. A start-up circuit operates to detect an operating condition of the differential pair of transistors of the input stage and in response thereto turn on the bias circuit. |
| US08854127B2 |
DC-DC converter for envelope tracking
Embodiments provide a DC-DC converter (DC-DC=direct current to direct current) for envelope tracking. The DC-DC converter includes a digital control stage and a driving stage. The digital control stage is configured to provide a digital control signal based on digital information describing an amplitude of a digital baseband transmit signal. The driving stage is configured to provide a supply voltage for an RF amplifier (RF=radio frequency) based on the digital control signal. |
| US08854123B1 |
On-package multiprocessor ground-referenced single-ended interconnect
A system of interconnected chips comprising a multi-chip module (MCM) includes a first processor chip, a second processor chip, and an MCM package configured to include the first processor chip, the second processor chip, and an interconnect circuit. The first processor chip is configured to include a first ground-referenced single-ended signaling (GRS) interface circuit. A first set of electrical traces fabricated within the MCM package and configured to couple the first GRS interface circuit to the interconnect circuit. The second processor chip is configured to include a second GRS interface circuit. A second set of electrical traces fabricated within the MCM package and configured to coupled the second GRS interface circuit to the interconnect circuit. |
| US08854121B2 |
Self-calibrating differential current circuit
In one embodiment, a constant-current generator is connected in series with a dependent (e.g., tail) device. A switched capacitor circuit connected to the gate of the dependent device is operated to (i) charge at least one capacitor of the switched capacitor circuit, (ii) use the at least one charged capacitor to adjust the gate voltage of the dependent device to drive the dependent current through the dependent device to be equal to the constant current through the constant-current generator, and (iii) direct the dependent and constant currents through source and sink current nodes. |
| US08854119B2 |
Regulated charge pump circuit
A circuit includes a charge pump, a first level shifter, a second level shifter, a voltage follower and a current mirror. The charge pump is configured to generate a voltage difference between the input node and the output node. The first level shifter is coupled to the charge pump output and configured to apply a first voltage variation to the charge pump output in response to a bias current. The second level shifter is coupled to the input node and configured to apply a second voltage variation to the charge pump input. The voltage follower is configured to equalize outputs from the first and second level shifters and provide a difference current which is multiplied by the current multiplier to generate a charging current applied to the charge pump. |
| US08854117B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first circuit portion; and a second circuit portion. The first circuit portion includes: a first and a second switching elements, and a first and a second diodes. The second circuit portion includes a third and a fourth switching elements, and a third and a fourth diodes. The first switching element is juxtaposed with the second switching element in a first direction, and is juxtaposed with the fourth switching element in a second direction. The third switching element is juxtaposed with the fourth switching element in the first direction, and is juxtaposed with the second switching element in the second direction. A voltage is applied to electrodes of the first and third switching elements. A voltage of a polarity opposite the first voltage is applied to electrodes of the second and fourth switching elements. |
| US08854112B2 |
FET drive circuit and FET module
According to an embodiment, an FET drive circuit includes an FET, a first circuit, a resistor and a third rectifying device. The first circuit includes a first rectifying device, a second rectifying device and a capacitive element sequentially provided in series from a drain to a gate of the FET, the first rectifying device allowing a forward electric current flowing from the drain to the gate, and the second rectifying device having a predetermined breakdown voltage with respect to the electric current from the drain to the gate. The resistor is provided between a power source and a connecting point of the second rectifying device and the capacitive element; and the third rectifying device provided between a source and a gate of the FET. |
| US08854107B2 |
Integrator circuit with inverting integrator and non-inverting integrator
A switched capacitor integrator circuit is disclosed. The switched capacitor integrator circuit comprises an inverting switched capacitor integrator circuit, and a non-inverting switched capacitor integrator circuit connected to the inverting switched capacitor integrator circuit. A sampling capacitor of the inverting switched capacitor integrator circuit is shared by the non-inverting switched capacitor integrator circuit. |
| US08854106B2 |
Level shifting circuit for high voltage applications
A level shifting circuit includes a current mirror that generates a first bias current and a second bias current (proportional to the first bias current with a first ratio). A first level shifter is coupled between a first input node (receiving a first input signal) and a first output node coupled to an input of the current mirror. The first level shifter applies a first voltage variation to the first input signal in response to the first bias current. A second level is coupled between a second input node (receiving a second input signal) and a second output node coupled to an output of the current mirror. The second level shifter applies a second voltage variation (associated with the first voltage variation) to the second input signal in response to the second bias current. |
| US08854103B2 |
Clamping circuit
A clamping circuit includes a clamping element with a control terminal and a load path that is coupled between a first circuit node and a second circuit node. A control circuit is coupled between the first circuit node and the second circuit node and is also coupled to the control terminal of the clamping element. The control circuit includes at least one snap-back unit with two load terminals and is only coupled between the first circuit node and the control terminal of the clamping element. The snap-back unit has an electrical resistance between the two load terminals and is configured to reduce the electrical resistance when a voltage between the two load terminals reaches a given threshold value. |
| US08854102B2 |
Clock generating circuit
A clock generating circuit includes: a counter that counts a number of pulses of an oscillation clock signal existed within one cycle of a reference clock signal; a first time-to-digital converter that generates a plurality of phases of first clock signals by delaying the oscillation clock signal; a second time-to-digital converter that generates a plurality of phases of second clock signals by delaying the oscillation clock signal by a short delay time; a third time-to-digital converter that generates a plurality of phases of third clock signals by delaying the delayed first clock signal; a delay control unit that outputs a delay control signal based on a difference between a cycle of the oscillation clock signal and a target cycle; and an oscillator that generates, based on a cycle of the reference clock signal, the oscillation clock signal whose cycle is 1/m of the cycle of the reference clock signal. |
| US08854098B2 |
System for I-Q phase mismatch detection and correction
System for I-Q phase mismatch detection and correction. An apparatus to correct a phase mismatch between I and Q signals includes a correction circuit configured to continuously compare a reference signal and a phase error signal associated with the I and Q signals to generate an I bias signal and a Q bias signal, a first CMOS buffer configured to receive the I signal and the I bias signal and output a phase adjusted I signal based on the I bias signal, and a second CMOS buffer configured to receive the Q signal and the Q bias signal and output a phase adjusted Q signal based on the Q bias signal. |
| US08854095B2 |
Fast lock acquisition and detection circuit for phase-locked loops
A phase lock loop (PLL) circuit incorporates switched capacitive circuitry and feedback circuitry to reduce the time to achieve a lock condition. During a first mode, the frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is used to adjust the control voltage of the VCO to achieve a coarse lock condition. During a second mode, a reference frequency is used to control a charge pump to more precisely adjust the control voltage to achieve fine lock of the PLL. Because the VCO frequency is significantly higher than the reference frequency, the control voltage is varied at a greater rate during the first mode. In some embodiments, the time to achieve lock may be further reduced by initializing the VCO control voltage to a particular voltage so as to reduce the difference between the control voltage at start-up and the control voltage at the beginning of the first mode during coarse lock. |
| US08854093B2 |
Multi-phase clock generation circuit
A multi-phase clock generation circuit includes a first clock buffer unit configured to invert and buffer a first internal clock and a second internal clock in response to an external clock, and to generate a third internal clock and a fourth internal clock, and a second clock buffer unit configured to invert and buffer the third internal clock and the fourth internal clock in response to the external clock, and to generate the first internal clock and the second internal clock. |
| US08854092B2 |
Constant slope ramp circuits for sampled-data circuits
A circuit includes a level-crossing detector to generate a level-crossing detection signal when an input signal crosses a predetermined voltage level. A first stage set of capacitors is operatively coupled to the level-crossing detector. A ramp circuit is operatively coupled to the set of series-connected capacitors. A second stage set of capacitors is operatively coupled to the first stage set of capacitors and the ramp circuit. The ramp circuit includes a feedback capacitor and a preset switch to provide a linear ramp output. |
| US08854083B2 |
Sensing amplifier using capacitive coupling to realize dynamic reference voltage
A sensing amplifier using capacitive coupling and a dynamic reference voltage, where the sensing amplifier circuit includes a bit line, configured to receive charging and discharging signals; a sensing amplifier, connected to the bit line and configured to receive the bit line and a reference voltage for comparison and configured to enlarge the voltage difference between a high point and a low point; and a reference voltage generator, connected to the sensing amplifier to generate the reference voltage required for the sensing amplifier to compare. The sensing amplifier effectively enhances sensing margin of the sensing amplifier circuit; and in addition, to accelerate the access speed, the sensing amplifier can easily determine the correct stored data and further quickly solve the problems of high-speed storing the data by the storage units. |
| US08854082B2 |
Deglitcher with programmable hysteresis
Disclosed is a deglitcher circuit having a programmable hysteresis. The deglitcher samples a received input signal, wherein the input signal may include one or more glitches. Responsive to a change in state of the sampled input signal, the deglitcher counts the number of samples of the changed state of the input signal. The count value increments with each sampled changed state, and decrements with each sampled original state of the input signal. When the count value reaches a threshold, the state of the output signal is changed. The output signal of the disclosed deglitcher circuit provides an accurate, glitch-free reconstruction of the sampled input signal. Additionally, the disclosed deglitcher circuit reduces the number of memory elements required for a given number of samples of the input signal, thereby allowing for a larger number of samples to be taken without necessarily having to increase the memory elements required by the deglitcher. |
| US08854078B1 |
Dynamic termination-impedance control for bidirectional I/O pins
Circuits, methods, and apparatus for dynamic control of source and termination impedances. One output stage provides a series termination when transmitting and a parallel termination when receiving data. A pull-up device has a nominal impedance of 50 ohms when the output stage pulls a pin from a low voltage to a high voltage, while a pull-down device has a nominal impedance of 50 ohms when the pin is pulled from a high voltage to a low voltage. Both the pull-up and pull-down devices are turned on when receiving data. Due to their non-linear current-voltage characteristics, the pull-up device appears as 50 ohms when the pin voltage is higher than one half the supply voltage, while the pull-down device appears as 50 ohms when the pin voltage is lower than one half the supply voltage. The pull-up and pull-down devices can be calibrated to provide a nominal 50 ohm impedance. |
| US08854071B2 |
Test prod for high-frequency measurement
A test prod for high-frequency measurement having a contact-side end for electrically contacting planar structures and a cable-side end, for connecting to a cable, wherein between the contact-side end and the cable-side end a coplanar conductor structure having at least two conductors is arranged, wherein on the coplanar conductor structure a dielectric is arranged over a predetermined section between the cable-side end and the contact-side end, wherein the test prod is between the dielectric and the contact-side end such that the conductors of the coplanar conductor structure are arranged freely in space and relative to the dielectric in a suspending manner, wherein on one side of the test prod facing towards the planar structure a shielding element is arranged extending into the area of the coplanar conductor structure. |
| US08854066B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting a glowing contact in a power circuit
A method detects a glowing contact in a power circuit. The method applies at least two different resistance values across the power circuit and responsively senses at least two voltages across the power circuit. Each of the at least two voltages correspond to one of the at least two different resistance values. Then, the method determines if a number of changes in the sensed at least two voltages with respect to a number of changes in the at least two different resistance values is linear within a predetermined range or if a change in two of the sensed at least two voltages does not increase with a decrease in two of the at least two different resistance values and, otherwise, responsively generates at least one of a trip signal and an alarm signal corresponding to detecting the glowing contact in the power circuit. |
| US08854061B2 |
Linear sensor
A linear sensor 21 includes an attachment base 22 attached to a metallic edge of a slide door 2 capable of opening and closing a platform 4, a skin cover part 23 which bulges from the attachment base 22 and has a hollow part 24 in the inside, an insulator 25 which has flexibility and also is embedded in the hollow part 24, and a plate-shaped electrode 26 opposed to the attachment base 22, at least a portion of the electrode being embedded in the insulator 25. In the hollow part 24, a gap 27 is disposed between the electrode 26 and the attachment base 22 and also, the electrode 26 is set in a plus pole and the attachment base 22 is set in a minus pole as the grounding, and proximity and/or contact between a foreign body and the skin cover part 23 is detected based on a change in capacitance between the electrode 26 and the grounding minus pole. |
| US08854056B1 |
Capacitance sensing devices and methods
A system can include an input for receiving objects having a flat shape; a capacitance sensing network comprising a plurality of capacitance sensors positioned to be proximate to the received objects; an operations section coupled to the capacitance sensing network and configured to perform predetermined operations on the objects; and a processor section coupled to receive capacitance sense values from the capacitance sensors and configured to determine the presence and features of received objects, prior to the objects being forwarded to the operations section. |
| US08854052B2 |
Sensor assembly and method of measuring the proximity of a machine component to a sensor
A microwave sensor assembly includes a signal processing device for generating at least one microwave signal that includes a pattern of frequencies and at least one probe coupled to the signal processing device. The probe includes an emitter configured to generate an electromagnetic field from the at least one microwave signal, wherein the emitter is detuned when an object is positioned within the electromagnetic field such that a loading signal is reflected from the emitter to the signal processing device. |
| US08854050B2 |
Detection method of low frequency handshaking signal
A detection method of low frequency handshaking signal is described. The method includes the following steps of: (a) performing first impedance calibration when host device is activated for sending a first low frequency signal based on the first impedance calibration and performing a second impedance calibration when a controlled device is activated for sending a second low frequency signal based on the second impedance calibration; (b) transmitting a first high frequency training signal from the host device to the second receiver of the controlled device when the first low frequency signal and the second low frequency signal are in a predetermined condition; and (c) transmitting a second high frequency training signal from the controlled device to the first receiver of the host device wherein the frequency of the first low frequency signal and the second low frequency signal is smaller than the frequency of the first high frequency training signal and the second high frequency training signal. |
| US08854047B2 |
Voltage monitor for monitoring voltage of a battery
A first monitor circuit 50 and a second monitor circuit 60 each having an identical configuration are provided in a voltage monitor. A threshold switching section 41 switches a threshold of each of switching units 51 and 61 provided in the respective monitor circuits 50 and 60 to a same value. Each of comparators 53 and 63 compares the threshold with a reference voltage to output a result of the comparison. A fault detecting section 42 compares the respective outputs from the comparators 53 and 63 with each other to detect a characteristic shift of the threshold of each of the monitor circuits 50 and 60. |
| US08854043B2 |
Method for displaying metal detection information
A method for detecting an electrically conductive target in a soil using a metal detector, including: generating a transmit magnetic field for transmission into the soil based on a transmit signal; receiving a receive magnetic field; providing a receive signal induced by the receive magnetic field; processing the receive signal to produce a processed signal; processing a duration of the receive signal, the duration begins after a time the processed signal exceeds a threshold value and ends after a time the processed signal no longer exceeds the threshold value, to produce more than one estimations indicative of a presence of the electrically conductive target when the target is within an influence of the transmit magnetic field; and presenting graphically the more than one estimations. |
| US08854039B2 |
System and method for quantifying MR data acquired during a UTE sequence
A system and method for quantifying MR data acquired during a UTE sequence include a computer programmed to execute an MR scan comprising an application of an RF pulse, an echo time (TE) period, and an application of a data acquisition gradient pulse, wherein the TE period begins after the RF pulse and ends before the data acquisition gradient pulse. MR data of an imaging object are acquired during application of the data acquisition gradient pulse, and a phase image is reconstructed based on the acquired MR data. The computer is also programmed to calculate a first contribution of phase to the phase image during the application of the RF pulse, to calculate a second contribution of phase to the phase image by the application of the data acquisition gradient pulse, and to generate a frequency map based on the phase image and based on the first and second contributions of phase. |
| US08854037B2 |
Method for compensating for eddy current fields in magnetic resonance images
A method for compensating for eddy current fields in magnetic resonance images acquired using a magnetic resonance apparatus is provided. A global component of the eddy current fields corresponding to a zeroth order and a first order is compensated globally using a change in control parameters of at least one device of the magnetic resonance apparatus that is suitable for compensating for the global components (e.g., a reference oscillator and/or a gradient coil). In order to correct local higher-order eddy current fields in a volume of interest characterized by a prominent point, the residual eddy current fields remaining following compensation of the global component are developed around the point. Correction values for the control parameters are determined from the zeroth- and/or first-order local components of the development and are taken into account in the control of the magnetic resonance apparatus for magnetic resonance image acquisition. |
| US08854035B2 |
Magnetic type rotation detection device and its manufacturing method
A magnetic type rotation detection device may include a magnet body formed with a magnetic pole pair comprised of an “S”-pole and an “N”-pole and provided on a rotation body, a magnetic sensing element facing the magnet body in a rotation center axial line direction of the rotation body, a partition member disposed between the magnet body and the magnetic sensing element, and a ring fixed to a face of the partition member on a side where the magnet body is located. A center of the magnetic sensing element may be located on a center axial line of the ring. The magnet body may be disposed on an inner side of the ring in a non-contact state with the ring. A center of the magnet body may be located on the center axial line of the ring. |
| US08854031B2 |
Clock-detecting circuit
A clock-detecting circuit, containing at least a microprocessor, a clock circuit, and a zero-cross detecting circuit. The clock circuit is connected to the microprocessor. The input end of the zero-cross detecting circuit is connected to the utility power AC input. The output end of the zero-cross detecting circuit is connected to the input end of the microprocessor. The zero-cross detecting circuit operates to detect zero crossing points of the utility power AC input. The microprocessor operates to count the number of oscillation periods of the clock circuit in a time interval between two adjacent zero crossing points of the utility power AC input and to detect clock precision of the microprocessor according to the counted number. The circuit according to the invention features simple structure and low production cost, and is reliable and easy to be implemented. |
| US08854027B2 |
Control circuit and tracking method of maximum power
A control circuit controls a power output module and drives a load device. The control circuit includes a conversion unit, a feed-forward unit, a feedback unit and a control unit. The conversion unit generates a driving signal according to an output signal of the power output module for driving the load device. The feed-forward unit generates a duty cycle reference signal according to the output signal. The feedback unit generates a feedback signal according to the driving signal. The control unit outputs a control signal to control the conversion unit according to the duty cycle reference signal and feedback signal, thereby limiting the output power of the power output module within the maximum power region. A tracking method of the maximum power is also disclosed. |
| US08854026B2 |
Capacitance determination in a switched mode power supply
A method of determining a measure of a total capacitance of one or more capacitive elements connected to an output of a switched mode power supply is described. The method includes generating a voltage control signal to cause an output voltage controller to sweep a voltage at the output of the switched mode power supply from an initial voltage value to a final voltage value. Sample values of a current at the output measured by a current sampler during the sweep of the output voltage are received, and an integrated current value representing a measure of the total capacitance using the received sample values is calculated. |
| US08854024B2 |
Power supply circuit
According to one embodiment, a power supply circuit includes a switching control unit that compares a DA converted value of the high order bit of a digital compensation value calculated from an output voltage of a smoothing circuit with a detection value of a current flowing into the smoothing circuit and controls the switching of a switching element on the basis of a signal obtained by shifting the timing of the comparison result on the basis of the low order bit of the digital compensation value. |
| US08854017B2 |
Method and system for controlling a generator
A method for controlling a generator having a rotor with a plurality of magnets and a first stator winding and a second stator winding, electrically separate from the first stator winding is provided. The rotor rotates around a rotation axis perpendicular to a radial direction relative to the stator windings. The method includes allowing flow of a first electric current through the first stator winding, thereby generating a first radial force having a first magnitude and acting between the first stator winding and the rotor, and allowing flow of a second electric current through the second stator winding, thereby generating a second radial force having a second magnitude and acting between the second stator winding and the rotor, wherein the first magnitude is different from the second magnitude resulting in a net generator generated radial force generated by the first stator winding and the second stator winding at the rotor. |
| US08854016B2 |
Power supply apparatus
A power supply apparatus capable of setting a ripple current to be not more than an acceptable value regardless of an input voltage is obtained. The apparatus calculates switching frequency by a current detected by a current detector so that the switching frequency is set to be low if the current is large and the switching frequency is set to be high if the current is small. The switching frequency is set to be high if the input voltage is high and switching frequency is set to be low if the input voltage is low depending on a voltage inputted to an input terminal; and a switching element is controlled by restricting the switching frequency so that the switching frequency to be set by the current detected by the current detector is not lower than the switching frequency to be set by the input voltage. |
| US08854015B2 |
Current controller and generator system
A current controller for controlling plural stator currents of plural stator windings of an electrical machine, in particular a generator, is provided, wherein the plural windings are separately connectable to a converter. The current controller includes a positive-sequence current controller configured to provide a first voltage command, in particular in a rotating dq+ frame, based on the plural stator currents; a negative-sequence current controller configured to provide a second voltage command, in particular in the dq+ frame, based on the plural stator currents. Further, the current controller includes a summation system for adding the first voltage command and the second voltage command to obtain a summed voltage command based on which the converter is controllable. |
| US08854013B2 |
System for monitoring a battery charger
A method and apparatus comprising a switch and a charging management module. The switch is configured to control an electrical connection between a charging device for a battery and a power source. A current flows from the power source through the charging device to the battery to charge the battery when the electrical connection is present between the charging device and the power source. The charging management module is configured to identify a period of time for charging the battery and to control the switch to electrically connect the charging device for the battery to the power source during the period of time identified for charging the battery. |
| US08854012B2 |
Management of high-voltage lithium-polymer batteries in portable electronic devices
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery corresponding to a high-voltage lithium-polymer battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery. If the cycle number exceeds one or more cycle number thresholds, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery and use of the battery with the portable electronic device. |
| US08854009B2 |
Mobile terminal, method of protecting battery, and battery protection program
A mobile terminal apparatus including a battery, a temperature detection section that detects a temperature of the battery, a voltage detection section that detects a battery voltage of the battery, a discharge section discharges the battery, an illuminance detection section that detects an illuminance on the mobile terminal apparatus, and a control section. The control section determines whether to gradually discharge the battery in accordance with the detected illuminance or to rapidly discharge the battery, and the determination is made on the basis of the temperature detected from the temperature detection section and the battery voltage detected from the voltage detection section. |
| US08854005B2 |
Battery system for secondary battery comprising blended cathode material, and apparatus and method for managing the same
Disclosed is a battery system for a secondary battery including a blended cathode material, and an apparatus and method for managing a secondary battery having a blended cathode material. The blended cathode material includes at least a first cathode material and a second cathode material. The first and second cathode materials have different operating voltage ranges. When the secondary battery comes to an idle state or a no-load state, the battery system detects a voltage relaxation occurring by the transfer of operating ions between the first and second cathode materials. |
| US08854001B2 |
Autonomous robot auto-docking and energy management systems and methods
A method for energy management in a robotic device includes providing a base station for mating with the robotic device, determining a quantity of energy stored in an energy storage unit of the robotic device, and performing a predetermined task based at least in part on the quantity of energy stored. Also disclosed are systems for emitting avoidance signals to prevent inadvertent contact between the robot and the base station, and systems for emitting homing signals to allow the robotic device to accurately dock with the base station. |
| US08853999B2 |
Automated electric vehicle charging system and method
A system and method for charging an electric vehicle includes identifying vehicle information corresponding to the electric vehicle based on an electronic image of the electric vehicle, retrieving from an electronically stored database a location of a charging port on the electric vehicle based on the vehicle information, and robotically moving a charging connector according to the retrieved location to engage the charging port of the electric vehicle to charge a battery. |
| US08853990B2 |
Inverter device of rotating electrical machine, and driving method for rotating electrical machine
An inverter device of a rotating electrical machine drives a multiphase rotating electrical machine having the variable number of rotations using a switching element provided for each phase. An example of the inverter device of the rotating electrical machine includes: a frequency setting unit for determining and setting a carrier frequency of a carrier signal for use in driving the switching element for each phase depending on the state of each phase of the rotating electrical machine for each specified electrical angle obtained by equally dividing a cycle of an electrical angle; and a signal generation unit for generating a drive signal for drive of the switching element of each phase using the carrier signal of the carrier frequency set for each phase by the frequency setting unit. The carrier frequency of each phase is an integral multiple of the phase voltage frequency at the specified electrical angle. |
| US08853989B2 |
Fuel cell system and motor driving method
A motor can be driven while reducing the power loss of the entire system where a plurality of devices that causes power losses exists. The system is provided with an inverter connected to a motor, a first converter that is connected between a fuel cell and the inverter and sets an output voltage of the fuel cell, a second converter that is connected between a power storage device and the inverter and sets an input voltage Vin of the inverter, and a controller that controls the first converter and the second converter. Under the operating condition (torque, number of revolutions) required for the motor, an input voltage of the inverter which minimizes a power loss of at least one of the motor, the first converter, the second converter and the inverter is determined, and the determined input voltage is output as a necessary voltage for the inverter. |
| US08853980B2 |
Soft-switching control circuit for DC motor
A soft switching control circuit for a DC motor is provided. The soft switching control circuit has an absolute value generating circuit, a threshold voltage generating circuit, and a comparing circuit. The absolute value generating circuit outputs an absolute value signal according to a pair of Hall signals from the DC motor. The threshold voltage generating circuit receives a detected state signal and at least an end voltage of a coil of the DC motor for determining a current on the coil at an actual state change time defined by the detected state signal. According to the determination, the threshold voltage generating circuit outputs a threshold voltage with an adjusted voltage level. The comparing circuit compares the absolute value signal and the threshold voltage so as to generate a state change adjusting signal for modifying the actual state change time. |
| US08853978B2 |
Electric motor drive system capture and control apparatus for energy savings
An electric motor drive system capture and control apparatus for energy savings has an alternating current power source electrically connected to a direct current motor. A power rectifier diode rated for the alternating current power source and the direct current motor is electrically connected in a reverse bias mode between the negative supply wire of the direct current motor and a grounded neutral conductor of the alternating current power source. A ground wire is electrically connected to the direct current motor and cross connected to a hot lag wire of the alternating current power source. The direct current motor is voltage matched to the alternating current power source. A transformer is electrically connected to the alternating current power source and the direct current motor. The system may be scaled to work with a power grid or for use in a vehicle. |
| US08853977B1 |
Spherical mechanical energy accumulator to reduce bursts and damage caused by bursts
A mechanical energy accumulator, suitable for being mounted in a vehicle has a spherical housing with three pairs of flywheel assemblies mounted therein. Each of the pair of flywheel assemblies is rotatable in opposite directions about a respective axis. Each of the axes are perpendicular to one another. At least one permanent magnet motor is mounted within the flywheel assemblies. Each of the flywheels of the flywheel assemblies has a double conical flywheel base, a motor-generator suitable for driving the double conical flywheel base, and a flywheel lid covering the motor-generator. The mechanical energy accumulator may be mounted in a shell having an expansion member. The mechanical energy accumulator has a strong side and a weak side due to varying retention strength of windings therearound so as to create a controlled burst. |
| US08853974B2 |
Method for hot connecting a motor to a variable speed drive
A method for connecting a second motor to a variable speed drive in parallel with at least one existing motor under load and controlled by the variable speed drive is provided. The method disconnects the existing motor from the variable speed drive and a state estimator calculates transient state of the existing motor including at least the speed of the existing motor based on a previously established load model. The method then connects the second motor to the variable speed drive and the second motor is operated using a suitable directive until the actual state of the second motor attains the calculated transient state of the existing motor at a given time. Upon attaining the calculated transient state, the existing motor is reconnected to the variable speed drive such that no current spike is generated in the aforementioned process. |
| US08853963B2 |
Low current solution for illuminated switches using DC operated LEDs
A switch circuit utilizes an LED for illumination. A diode is connected in parallel with the LED but in opposite orientation, with the LED anode connected to the diode cathode, and the LED cathode connected to the diode anode, to permit discharging of a power supply capacitor of a ballast of a lamp such as a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb. Undesirable flickering of the CFL are then avoided. |
| US08853949B2 |
LED driver with end-of-life detection circuitry
An LED lighting device includes a DC/DC power converter having output terminals coupled to respective lamp sockets. A controller receives signals from a current sensor and a voltage sensor, and controls the DC/DC power converter to increase/decrease an output voltage based on a sensed output current with respect to a target value. A sensed output voltage is compared to predetermined upper and lower limit values, and the DC/DC power converter is disabled when the output voltage exceeds the predetermined upper limit value or falls below the predetermined lower limit. The controller further measures an accumulated lighting time of the device, and after the accumulated lighting time has exceeded a predetermined switching time, decreases the upper limit value monotonously or in increments as the accumulated lighting time passes. |
| US08853948B2 |
Multi discharging tube plasma reactor
A plasma reactor having multi discharging tubes is disclosed, through which activated gas containing ion, free radical, atom and molecule is generated through plasma discharging, and different process gases are injected into multi discharging tubes in which solid, power and gas, etc., are plasma-treated with the activated gas to perform processes including cleaning process for semiconductor, and a plasma state can be maintained even at low power. |
| US08853947B2 |
Lighting device
A lighting device includes a light emitting diode (LED) lamp, a power generating panel that is disposed at a position where the power generating panel is capable of receiving sunlight and light irradiated by the LED lamp and that is configured to generate electric power by receiving the sunlight and the light irradiated by the LED lamp, a storage battery that is configured to store the electric power generated by the power generating panel and to supply the electric power to the LED lamp, a lamp drive portion that is configured to drive the LED lamp using pulse signals, a remaining amount detection portion, and a control portion that is configured to control, in accordance with the remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detection portion, a pulse width and a period that are used when the lamp drive portion drives the LED lamp. |
| US08853945B2 |
Flexible impedance matching for a microwave generator supplied with pulse current
A method for operating an arrangement of equipment that include a pulse generator for generating electrical pulses, a microwave generator with a break-through voltage, and a transmission element is provided. For transmission of the pulses, the pulse generator is connected to the microwave generator via the transmission element, which in the arrangement of equipment, acts as an impedance varying over time. The voltage characteristic over time or the current characteristic over time of each pulse is defined such that in an operating mode, the impedance of the transmission element is matched to the impedance of the microwave generator when the break-through voltage is reached. |
| US08853944B2 |
System and apparatus for cathodoluminescent lighting
Electron sources for a cathodoluminescent lighting system are disclosed. An electron source is a broad-beam reflecting-type electron gun having a cathode for emitting electrons and a reflector and/or secondary emitter electrode and no grids. An alternative electron gun has a cathode having a heater welded to a disk, the disk having an emissive surface on a side facing a dome-shaped defocusing grid and an anode. A lighting system incorporating the electron sources has an envelope with a transparent face, an anode with a phosphor layer to emit light through the face and a conductor layer. The system also has a power supply for providing from five to thirty thousand volts of power to the light emitting device to draw electrons from cathode to anode and excite a cathodoluminescent phosphor, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed. |
| US08853938B2 |
Inorganic electroluminescent device comprising an insulating layer, method for fabricating the electroluminescent device and electronic device comprising the electroluminescent device
Disclosed is an inorganic electroluminescent device. The inorganic electroluminescent device comprises a hole transport layer, a light-emitting layer, an inorganic electron transport layer and an electron injecting electrode sequentially formed on a hole injecting electrode wherein an insulating layer is formed between the electron injecting electrode and the inorganic electron transport layer.Further disclosed are a method for fabricating the electroluminescent device and an electronic device comprising the electroluminescent device.The inorganic electroluminescent device achieves uniform light emission from the entire light-emitting surface of the device, resulting in an improvement in the reliability and stability of the device. The inorganic electroluminescent device is suitable for use in the manufacture of electronic devices, including display devices, illuminators and backlight units. |
| US08853937B2 |
Wavelength conversion structure, manufacturing method thereof, and light-emitting device comprising the wavelength conversion structure
A wavelength conversion structure comprises a first phosphor layer and a second phosphor layer formed on the first phosphor layer, wherein the first phosphor layer comprises a plurality of first phosphor particles, and the second phosphor layer comprises a plurality of second phosphor particles. The average particle size of the second phosphor particles is not equal to that of the first phosphor particles. |
| US08853936B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device and lighting apparatus
According to one embodiment, an organic electroluminescent device includes a first electrode, a plurality of second electrodes and an organic light-emitting layer. The first electrode includes a first major surface and is optical transparency. The second electrodes extend in a first direction parallel to the first major surface and are separated from each other in a second direction parallel to the first major surface and perpendicular to the first direction. An optical transmittance of the second electrodes is lower than an optical transmittance of the first electrode. A distance along the second direction between a line extending in the first direction and a side surface of each of the second electrodes continuously increases and decreases along the first direction. The side surface is unparallel to the first major surface. The organic light-emitting layer is provided between the first electrode and the second electrodes. |
| US08853935B2 |
Organic EL module including an element substrate and a pole to connect a plurality of terminals
An organic EL module includes an element substrate on which at least one organic EL element is formed, a first terminal provided on the element substrate and is drawn out from the electrode of the at least one organic EL element, a second terminal facing the first terminal and provided on a circuit substrate, and a pole that electrically connects the first terminal with the second terminal through a through-hole of the circuit substrate. |
| US08853926B2 |
Spark plug with firing end having downward extending tines
A spark plug includes a body and a center electrode. The body includes a first end, a second end, an insulating portion and a shell portion. The shell portion includes an exterior threaded section, a nut section below the threaded section, an electrically conductive, axially elongated firing ring above the threaded section and terminating at an upper surface. The center electrode extends through the body and includes a terminal end and a firing end. The firing end extends beyond the second end of the body and includes a plurality of tines. Each tine includes a first section and a second section. The first section extends radially from the firing end. The second section extends axially toward the upper surface of the firing ring and terminates at a tip. The insulating portion electrically isolates the shell portion from the center electrode. |
| US08853924B2 |
Spark ignition device for an internal combustion engine, metal shell therefor and methods of construction thereof
A spark ignition device, metal shell, and methods of construction are provided. The spark ignition device has a ceramic insulator extending along a longitudinal axis and a metal shell. The metal shell extends along the longitudinal axis to a distal end. A center electrode is received in the ceramic insulator and extends along the longitudinal axis. A ground electrode has an attachment end fixed by a weld joint to the distal end of the shell and a free end extending from the distal end to provide a spark gap. The weld joint includes a resistance weld joint and a laser weld joint, which in combination inhibit material expulsion; provide a reliable, strong attachment of the ground electrode to the shell; provide an improved heat transfer path between the ground electrode and the shell, and facilitate repeatable and accurate positioning of the ground electrode to the shell. |
| US08853922B2 |
Scavengers for reducing contaminants in liquid-filled LED bulbs
A liquid-cooled light emitting diode (LED) bulb which includes a base, a shell connected to the base forming an enclosed volume, and a plurality of LEDs attached to the base and disposed within the shell. The LED bulb also includes a volume of thermally-conductive liquid held within the enclosed volume. A scavenger element comprising a scavenger material is attached to the base and is exposed to the thermally-conductive liquid. The scavenger material is configured to capture contaminants in the thermally-conductive liquid. |
| US08853921B2 |
Heat removal design for LED bulbs
An LED bulb having bulb-shaped shell and thermally conductive fluid or gel within the shell. The bulb includes at least one LED within the shell. The bulb includes at least one LED within the shell and a base. The base can be configured to fit within an electrical socket and can include a series of screw threads and a base pin, wherein the screw threads and base pin are dimensioned to be received within a standard electrical socket. Alternatively, the base can be configured to fit within a suitable electric socket. |
| US08853915B2 |
Bonding on silicon substrate having a groove
A method and apparatus for bonding on a silicon substrate are disclosed. An apparatus includes a membrane having a membrane surface, a groove in the membrane surface, a transducer having a transducer surface substantially parallel to the membrane surface, and an adhesive connecting the membrane surface to the transducer surface. The groove can be configured to permit flow of adhesive into and through the groove while minimizing voids or air gaps that could result from incomplete filling of the groove. Multiple grooves can be formed in the membrane surface and can be of uniform depth. |
| US08853907B2 |
Electric motor
A multi-phase electric motor comprises a stator comprising a plurality of wire coils surrounding a non-magnetizable core; a rotor with permanent magnets embedded therein, the rotor being disposed adjacent to the stator, the rotor being mounted on a rotatable drive shaft; a power source; a position sensor operably connected to the rotor; and a control circuit operably connected to the power source, the position sensor, and the wire coils, for controlling distribution of electrical energy to the wire coils. In this motor the control mechanism transfers electrical charge from a first coil to a second coil. |
| US08853904B2 |
Fan and motor thereof
A motor includes a base, a bushing, a bearing structure, a stator structure, a rotor structure and a magnetic element. The base has a supporting platform. The bushing is connected with the base. The bearing structure is disposed in the bushing. The bushing is threaded through the stator structure. The rotor structure has a shaft, and the shaft threads through the bearing structure. The magnetic element corresponds to the shaft and is disposed on the supporting platform, and the magnetic element magnetically interacts with the shaft. A fan equipped with the motor is also disclosed. |
| US08853903B2 |
Low alloy steel material for generator rotor shafts
Disclosed is a low alloy steel material for generator rotor shafts, which has tensile strength of not less than 700 MPa at room temperature. Preferably the low alloy steel material consists of, by mass percent, 0.15 to 0.35% carbon, 0.01 to 0.10% Si, 0.10 to 0.50% Mn, 1.3 to 2.0% Ni, 2.1 to 3.0% Cr, 0.20 to 0.50% Mo, 0.15 to 0.35% Cu, 0.06 to 0.14% V, and the balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities. |
| US08853901B2 |
Motor rotor system having a magnetic ring bracket
A motor rotor system including: an axis of rotation, a rotor iron core mounted on the axis of rotation, a permanent magnet, a magnetic ring bracket, and a magnetic ring. The permanent magnet, the magnetic ring bracket, and the magnetic ring are mounted on the rotor iron core. The magnetic ring is sheathed on the magnetic ring bracket. The magnetic ring bracket is located at one end of the rotor iron core and connected with an end face of the rotor iron core. The motor rotor system has excellent batch-to-batch consistency, simple structure, and convenient installation. It is suitable for large batch production and can be controlled using sine-wave driving control methods with a position sensor. |