Document Document Title
US08862312B2 Diagnosis of a person protection system
A device controls a person protection system of a motor vehicle having a sensor system which, for detecting an object colliding with the motor vehicle, includes a hose arranged along a body section width of the vehicle and closed-off by a pressure sensor on at least one end. In the event of an impact with an object, a pressure change is caused in the hose interior due to deformation of the hose and is detectable as a pressure signal of the pressure sensor by an evaluating unit connected with the pressure sensor. The evaluating unit detects vibrations originating from the motor vehicle during a driving and testing operation and coupled into the hose, which vibrations result in pressure fluctuations in the hose interior which are lower than a pressure fluctuation caused by an impacting object, and evaluates these vibrations for a predefined time period for diagnostic purposes.
US08862310B2 Determining rotorcraft collective adjustment during ground test
A method for evaluating a collective alignment of rotor blades for an aircraft while the aircraft is on the ground is disclosed. The method includes determining an air density altitude, and determining a torque value for each engine of the aircraft, while the aircraft rotor blades are operated at a normal speed and the rotor blades are set to a full down position for ground operations via a collective controller. The method further includes evaluating the collective condition by comparing the torque value to a predetermined flat pitch torque alignment limit for the air density altitude, and providing an indication of the collective condition.
US08862299B2 Branding of electrically propelled vehicles via the generation of specific operating output
The present disclosure is related to a perceptible output control system for a vehicle that can perform a number of different operations that are particularly useful for electric vehicles.
US08862294B2 Method for operating a vehicle having a hybrid drive system as well as a drive system and a vehicle
A method is described for operating a hybrid drive system which has a first drive unit, in particular an internal combustion engine, and a second drive unit, in particular an electric motor, which includes activating the first drive unit and the second drive unit in such a way that the first drive unit and the second drive unit each provide an output variable for the purpose of providing a total output variable; limiting the output variable provided by the first drive unit to a limiting value which is less than a maximum output variable which may be provided by the first drive unit; canceling the limitation if the output variable provided by the second drive unit corresponds to a maximum output variable which may be provided by the second drive unit.
US08862292B2 Control system and method for remotely isolating powered units in a vehicle system
A method includes obtaining motive outputs demanded by a trip plan for a vehicle system having interconnected propulsion-generating vehicles, determining motive output capabilities of the propulsion-generating vehicles, and identifying segments of the trip where the motive output capabilities of the propulsion-generating vehicles exceed motive outputs demanded by the trip plan over the segments. The method further includes selecting one or more of the propulsion-generating vehicles for turning at least one of off or to idle in the one or more segments while one or more remaining propulsion-generating vehicles in the vehicle system remain on. The propulsion-generating vehicles are selected such that a total motive output capability of the one or more remaining propulsion-generating vehicles remains at least as great as the motive outputs demanded by the trip plan over the one or more segments.
US08862291B2 Method and system for identifying a directional heading of a vehicle
A system for verifying a route segment that a vehicle is traveling along includes a magnetic sensor and a control unit. The magnetic sensor generates an output signal based on an orientation of the sensor relative to an external magnetic field. The control unit receives an operator-designated route segment. The operator-designated route segment represents a selected route segment of the route segments that is identified by the operator as being the route segment on which the vehicle is traveling. The control unit identifies a directional heading of the vehicle based on the output signal from the magnetic sensor and determines an actual route segment of the routes segments in the network that the vehicle is actually traveling along based on the directional heading of the vehicle. The control unit verifies that the actual route segment on which the vehicle is actually traveling is the selected route segment.
US08862287B1 Four dimensional trajectory based operation flight plans
The different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprising a computer, first program code stored on the computer, and second program code stored on the computer. The computer is configured to run the first program code to retrieve flight status information during a flight and generate four dimensional flight information. The four dimensional flight information includes a comparison of the flight status information to a flight plan for the flight. The computer is configured to run the second program code to depict the four dimensional flight information in a textual format.
US08862285B2 Aerial display system with floating pixels
A system for performing an aerial display. The system includes a plurality of UAVs each including a propulsion device and a display payload, and the system includes a ground station system with a processor executing a fleet manager module and memory storing a different flight plan and a set of display controls for the UAVs. Then, wherein, during a display time period, the UAVs concurrently execute the flight plans through operation of the propulsion devices and operate the display payloads based on the display controls. The display payloads each include a lighting assembly and a light controller. The output light is one of a two or more colored light streams, and each of the display payloads further may include a light diffuser with the output light being directed onto a surface of the light diffuser. The light diffuser may include a light diffusing screen extending about the lighting assembly.
US08862280B1 Dynamic load curtailment system and method
A system that dynamically learns the optimum energy consumption operating condition for a building and monitors/controls energy consuming equipment to keep the peak demand interval at a minimum. The algorithm employs two separate control schemes, one for HVAC loads and one for non-HVAC loads, and uses historical peak demand measurements in its real-time limiting strategy. The algorithm continuously attempts to reduce peak demand within user configured parameters. When a new peak is inevitable, the algorithm removes and/or introduces loads to limit the new peak magnitude and places the operating conditions within the user configured parameters. The algorithm can examine the previous seven days of metering information to identify a peak demand interval, use real-time load information to predict the demand peak of the upcoming interval, and curtail loads in order to limit the demand peak so as not to set a new peak.
US08862275B2 Intelligent environmental sensor for irrigation systems
The invention provides a regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system which is responsive to user programmed information. It has a control element for issuing watering control signals to an irrigation system, having at least one of (i) a duration programming device for programming a minimum amount of time and a maximum amount of time for the suspension of watering by the irrigation system, and (ii) a user adjustable temperature programming device for programming a minimum allowed temperature for initiating a watering period by the irrigation system. It further has an irrigation system interface for connecting said control element with the irrigation system. It also has a switch for conveying the control signals from the control element to the irrigation system via the irrigation system interface, for either permitting or prohibiting watering by the irrigation system, responsive to the control signals generated by and received from the control element.
US08862273B2 Acoustic noise management through control of electrical device operations
Technologies are generally described for automatically managing noise profile in a predefined area by determining a desired noise profile within the predefined area, monitoring noise levels and/or frequencies within the predefined area, and adjusting operational aspects of one or more noise emitting devices in order to achieve the desired noise profile within the predefined area. A noise management system according to embodiments may be centrally controlled or organized in a distributed manner with control modules on individual noise emitting devices interacting through wired or wireless media. Furthermore, the adjustment of the operations of the noise emitting devices in order to achieve the desired noise profile may be accomplished through computing an acoustic transfer function or measuring actual noise levels/frequencies.
US08862272B2 Reagent preparation apparatus, reagent preparation system, and reagent preparation method
A reagent preparation apparatus for supplying a reagent, prepared by mixing a high concentration reagent and purified water supplied from a purified water production device, to a sample measurement device for measuring a sample using the prepared reagent, the reagent preparation apparatus comprising: a reagent preparation unit for preparing the reagent by mixing the high concentration reagent and the purified water supplied from the purified water production device; and a controller, communicably connected to the purified water production device, for controlling the purified water production device to continue producing the purified water until a predetermined time has elapsed from when the purified water production device starts the production of the purified water.Also, a reagent preparation system and a reagent preparation method.
US08862270B2 Control apparatus, control method, and control program for pneumatic artificial muscle drive mechanism
There is provided a control apparatus for a drive mechanism driven by a pneumatic artificial muscle, the control apparatus including a pressure controller that controls pressure of the pneumatic artificial muscle, a desired pressure calculator that calculates, based on a pneumatic artificial muscle model, a desired pressure of the pneumatic artificial muscle in order to control motion of the drive mechanism, a pneumatic artificial muscle model error estimator that estimates aging variation in a contraction percentage error between the pneumatic artificial muscle and the pneumatic artificial muscle model, a pneumatic artificial muscle model updater that updates the pneumatic artificial muscle model so as to reflect the aging variation based on an estimation result of the pneumatic artificial muscle model error estimator, and a lifetime predictor that predicts a lifetime of the pneumatic artificial muscle based on the estimation result of the pneumatic artificial muscle model error estimator.
US08862263B2 Apparatus for furnishing articles and method for controlling the apparatus
An apparatus and a method for controlling an apparatus for furnishing articles is disclosed. A conveyor unit is used to convey the articles. At least one exchangeable furnishing unit is designed to exchange identification data and/or control information during connection to the apparatus with the apparatus and/or with the conveyor unit. At least one storage area is provided, wherein the storage area stores at least two furnishing units. An automatically controlled feeding and withdrawing unit is used to operatively connect the storage area with the apparatus.
US08862261B1 Method and system for cutting-stock optimization across schedules and batches
A method and system for optimizing cutting of various materials. In some embodiments, an algorithm optimizes cutting by grouping items to be cut, wherein a plurality of cutting-stock pieces are grouped together and aligned such that a single cut simultaneously cuts items from all of the pieces. Some embodiments optimize a combination of reduced labor cost, reduced materials cost (e.g., reducing scrap), and/or reduced time needed to obtain an inventory of pieces cut to specified lengths and shapes (checking the various permutations). Overall optimization of labor and material is achieved by a combination of fewer cuts and reduced waste. Some embodiments include a computer-readable medium having instructions executed by a computer that optimizes placement of cuts to obtain cut-part items, and optionally controls a saw, laser, water-jet cutter or the like. In some embodiments, a human operator making the cuts is instructed by the computer to achieve the optimization.
US08862254B2 Background audio processing
Some embodiments provide a media-editing application for identifying a set of background audio segments of a composite presentation, generating additional background audio segments based on several identified background audio segments, detecting regions of the composite presentation that lack background audio, and inserting generated background audio into the detected regions of the composite presentation.
US08862252B2 Audio user interface for displayless electronic device
This invention is directed to an audio menu provided in an electronic device having no display. The electronic device can further include an input interface having only a single sensing element (e.g., a single button) for controlling audio playback of the device and for accessing and controlling the device audio menu. In response to a particular input detected by the single sensing element, the electronic device can enable an audio menu mode and play back audio clips associated with different menu options. The user can provide selection instructions using the single sensing element during the playback of an audio clip to select the menu option associated with the played back audio clip. In some embodiments, the audio menu can be multi-dimensional (e.g., the device plays back audio clips for sub-options in response to a selection of a menu option). Suitable menu options can include, for example, groupings of audio (e.g., playlists), options to toggle (e.g., a shuffle option), or options associated with particular metadata tags associated with audio available to the device.
US08862251B2 Controller for machine tool and machining-related data processing system provided therewith
A machining-related data processing system has a configuration in which a controller for machine tool comprising an NC device and an assisting device is connected to a data processing device via a telecommunication line. The assisting device has a cooperative-processing instructing section transmitting a cooperative processing signal to the data processing device and thereby remotely operating the data processing device to cause it to perform data processing, and receiving the result of the data processing performed in the data processing device, and the data processing device has an automatic program generation section, a machining simulation section and a cooperative-processing executing section receiving the cooperative processing signal from the controller and causing the automatic program generation section and the machining simulation section to perform data processing related to workpiece machining and corresponding to a data processing request accepted in the controller, and transmitting the data processing result to the controller.
US08862250B2 Integrated expert system for identifying abnormal events in an industrial plant
A computer-implemented integrated expert system for the identification of abnormal events in an industrial plant. The expert system integrates a model-based expert system with a rule-based expert system. The model-based expert system receives data on the operating conditions of a process unit in the industrial plant and calculates one or more results that determine whether the process unit is operating abnormally. The rule-based expert system also receives data on the operating conditions of the process unit and applies its rules to the process data. The rule-based expert system also applies its rules to the one or more results generated by the model-based expert system. The integrated system may also suppress any redundant messages generated by the model-based expert system.
US08862248B2 Control apparatus
A control apparatus capable of improving the control accuracy and stability when controlling a controlled object with a predetermined restraint condition between a plurality of model parameters, or a controlled object having a lag characteristic, using a control target model of a discrete-time system. The control apparatus has an ECU which arranges a control target model including two model parameters such that terms not multiplied by the model parameters and terms multiplied by the same are on different sides of the model, respectively. Assuming the different sides represent a combined signal value and an estimated combined signal value, respectively, the ECU calculates onboard identified values of the model parameters such that an identification error between the signal values is minimized, and calculates an air-fuel ratio correction coefficient using the identified values and a control algorithm derived from the control target model.
US08862247B2 Device for electrostimulation therapy of the human body
The invention relates to a device for the electrostimulation therapy of the human body, comprising several electrodes (1) that contact the body surface and apparatuses (3-5) for applying voltage to the electrodes (1). According to the invention, the electrodes are arranged in a line and the apparatuses are provided to apply voltage to the electrodes (1) consecutively along the line.
US08862243B2 Electrical stimulation of blood vessels
Apparatus (20) is provided, including a bifurcation stent (50) comprising one or more electrodes (32), the stent (50) configured to be placed in a primary passage (52) and a secondary passage (54) of a blood vessel (30), and a control unit (34), configured to drive the electrodes (32) to apply a signal to a wall (36) of the blood vessel (30), and to configure the signal to increase nitric oxide (NO) secretion by the wall (36). Other embodiments are also described.
US08862241B2 System for supplying energy to an implantable medical device
An implanted coil supplies energy or control signals to, or provides information from, a medical device implanted in a human or animal patient. Preferably, the coil is implanted subcutaneously in the patient at a location suitable for easy access to the coil. The implanted coil is wound from a wire that is formed into a plurality of smaller diameter coils connected in series and positioned perpendicular to the larger implanted coil. Preferably, the wire used to form the implanted coil is a helically-shaped wire that is very resilient, and, thus, capable of handling even extreme movements of a patient in whom it is implanted without the risk of breaking.
US08862238B2 System and method for managing pain
A system and method for managing pain, configured to be worn by a patient, comprising an electrode array comprising a first electrode and a second electrode for providing a TENS treatment to the patient; a connector configured to couple at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode to an electronics subsystem; a muscle twitch sensor subsystem configured to detect a muscle twitch profile induced by the electrode array at the patient; and an electronics subsystem comprising a power module configured to power the system, a pulse generator coupled to the electrode array and configured to transmit the TENS treatment, and a control module configured to receive an input, from the muscle twitch sensor subsystem, characterizing the muscle twitch profile, wherein the electronics subsystem is configured to modulate a parameter of the TENS treatment based upon the input, until a threshold is satisfied.
US08862236B2 Method and device to restore and/or improve nervous system functions by modifying specific nervous system pathways
The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for restoring or improving nervous system function of a subject. Provided is a method involving: (i) providing an operant conditioning protocol effective to produce targeted neural plasticity (TNP) in a primary targeted central nervous system (CNS) pathway of a subject; and (ii) administering the operant conditioning protocol to the subject to elicit TNP in the primary targeted CNS pathway and to elicit generalized neural plasticity (GNP) in one or more other CNS pathway. The elicitation of the GNP in the one or more other CNS pathway serves to restore or improve a nervous system function of the subject. Provided is a device comprising a nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component and a controller for operating the nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component in accordance with an operant conditioning protocol.
US08862231B2 Comparison of right-ventricular and left-ventricular contraction using an accelerometer in an artery close to the heart
An implantable medical device includes a multi-axial acceleration sensor and an evaluation unit connected thereto. The evaluation unit is configured to (1) split the accelerometer output signal into at least two signal components, one of which is associated with a right-ventricular contraction and another of which is associated with a left-ventricular contraction; (2) detect events in the signal components, and/or determine signal features therein; and (3) determine at least one characteristic value K by evaluating the signal components, and/or the events and/or signal features therein.
US08862227B2 Defibrillators detecting orientation of electrode connection to adjust energy dosage
Embodiments of the present concept are directed to external defibrillators that include an electrode connection port having multiple connection options, and include a detection device to determine an electrode connection configuration so as to provide an appropriate electrical shock to a patient. The detection device detects the electrode connection configuration of a plug connector for connected electrodes to determine if the plug connector is in an adult orientation or a pediatric orientation. The external defibrillator is configured to a deliver an electrical shock with less energy when the pediatric orientation is detected rather than the adult orientation.
US08862221B2 Monitoring mechanical heart properties
In a method and system for monitoring mechanical properties of a heart in a subject, multiple cardiogenic impedance values reflective of the impedance of the heart in connection with a transition from inhalation to exhalation in the subject are determined. Correspondingly, multiple cardiogenic impedance values reflective of the impedance of the heart in connection with a transition from exhalation to inhalation are determined. The impedance values are collectively processed to form a trend parameter. The value determination and processing is performed over several respiratory cycles spaced apart in time to form a plurality of trend parameters over time. The mechanical properties of the heart are monitored by processing these different trend parameters. The data collection and optionally at least a part of the data processing is performed by an implantable medical device.
US08862213B2 System and method for improved complex fractionated electrogram ablation
A computer-assisted method for quantitative characterization and treatment of ventricular fibrillation includes preprocessing a time series of an atrial fibrillation signal obtained from a patient, segmenting the time series of the AF signal into activation segments by the computer system, obtaining local activation waveforms (LAW) from the activation segments, determining degrees of similarity between the LAWs, and identifying one or more critical regions in the patient's atria if the LAWs have degrees of similarity exceeding a first threshold value.
US08862211B2 Apparatus and method for identifying myocardial ischemia using analysis of high frequency QRS potentials
Detecting cardiac ischemia by detecting local changes in high frequency ECG parameters. Local changes may be, for example, local reduction in RMS of high frequency components, for example, during a stress test.
US08862207B2 Fluoroscopic imaging system
A liquid injector (400) injects a medical liquid into a patient whose fluoroscopic image data is to be picked up and generates injection history data corresponding to the injection, and a control box (500) registers the injection history data in a RIS (100) in association with imaging order data. Accordingly, the RIS (100) also stores the injection history data associated with the imaging order data, and therefore the injection history data can also be confirmed based on the imaging order data.
US08862203B2 Medical device with temperature modulator for use in magnetic resonance imaging
This disclosure employs temperature, magnetism and Curie point transition to construct and use catheters and other medical devices that can be visualized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Accordingly, this disclosure includes, but is not limited to, medical devices, means of constructing medical devices, and methods of imaging medical devices using magnetic resonance and other technologies.
US08862201B2 Multi-modal imaging system and workstation with support for structured hypothesis testing
Investigation of in vivo models of disease requires imaging studies involving single subjects in single imaging sessions, serial imaging of individuals or groups of subjects, and integration of data across diverse and heterogeneous experimental methodologies. Each type of experiment is preferably supported by various feature sets that can be rigorously applied to produce quantitative, reproducible results. Current imaging scanners are not equipped with standardized capability that supports an automated and scientifically rigorous workflow suited to hypothesis testing. An imaging system includes a research workstation at which a user can design, execute, study, and report imaging plans. Flexibility that comes along with a modular design of the system allows the user to customize workflow parameters for more robust hypothesis testing.
US08862199B2 Electrode member and apparatus for measuring biosignal including the electrode member
An electrode member for a body is provided. The electrode member includes a first sheet member having at least one hole formed therein, at least one second sheet member respectively disposed in the at least one hole, at least one metal contact point disposed on the first sheet member, and at least one electrode respectively disposed on the at least one second sheet member.
US08862195B2 Method, system, and apparatus for automatic detection of obstructive sleep apnea from oxygen saturation recordings
Disclosed embodiments include a method for automatic detection of sleep apnea implemented in a medical apparatus, the method comprising (a) extracting a plurality of signal features by analyzing an oxygen saturation signal, (b) performing dimensionality reduction on the plurality of signal features to generate a plurality of signal features in a transformed space; and (c) displaying a sleep apnea diagnosis result based on a statistical classifier that operates on the plurality of signal features in a transformed space.
US08862190B2 Portable electronic device with upper housing and cover plate therefor
A portable electronic device includes a lower housing and an upper housing coupled to the lower housing and slidable relative thereto between closed and open positions. The upper housing includes a cover plate affixed to a rear of the upper housing. The cover plate may conceal at least one electrical connector housed in the upper housing, and may be removable to allow access to at least a portion of the at least one electrical connector. The cover plate may be configured to maintain the lower and upper housings in a generally uniform spaced apart relationship as the upper housing moves between the closed and open positions.
US08862187B2 Method and apparatus for setting and executing function profiles in mobile communication terminal
A method and apparatus for setting and executing a function profile in a mobile communication terminal to manage its battery usage. The method includes determining whether a function profile setting function is set; selecting, if a function profile setting function is set, a specific function and executing the function according to a set function profile. Therefore, each function of the mobile communication terminal can be executed in an optimal function profile which in turn reduces unnecessary power consumption of the mobile communication terminal.
US08862184B2 System and methods for management of mobile field assets via wireless handheld devices
Communication from enterprise servers to handheld devices in the field supports dispatch, data synchronization, logistics and personnel. Bi-directional data delivery from enterprise-based servers over wireless data networks is enabled using wireless capabilities resident in handheld personal computing devices. Real time communications facilitates real-time access to remote programs, assistance and/or information related to the field operations and asset (personnel and inventory) resource management. Management is facilitated for at least one of: construction industry project analysis, HVAC system analysis, project management, equipment readiness inspection, troubleshooting, inventory tracking, inventory ordering, sales (e.g., providing cost estimates to customers), customer invoicing, conducting legal investigations, field data collection, and multi-user remote function coordination.
US08862183B2 Camera including image transfer for coupling to a host device
Embodiments generally relate to a camera. In one embodiment, the camera includes a lens for enabling the camera to capture at least one image. The camera also includes a connector for mounting the camera onto a phone and for enabling the camera to communicate with the phone. The camera also includes a shutter button for triggering the camera to capture the least one image. The camera also activates the phone and puts the phone into a camera mode when the shutter button is pressed.
US08862181B1 Electronic purchase transaction trust infrastructure
A mobile phone comprising a processor, a non-transitory memory, and an application stored in the non-transitory memory. When executed by the processor, the application receives an indicia of a product provided by a peripheral device of the mobile phone, identifies a product based on the indicia, analyzes options for paying electronically for the product, and presents a proposal for paying electronically for the product.
US08862171B2 Method and apparatus for allocating resource of common control channel with dedicated reference signal
A method for allocating resources of a common control channel includes determining a carrier type, allocating, when the carrier is backward compatible, resources for a Physical Control Format Indicator CHannel (PCFICH), and allocating resources for a common control channel with a dedicated reference signal based on a Physical Resource Block allocated for the PCFICH. A UE can receive the common control channel without extra signaling by mapping the common control channel to the frequency resource based on the cell-specific parameter or channel.
US08862165B2 Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a message can be sent in a manner that necessary information is contained in the message according to a configuration of the mobile terminal, a data volume of the message, a recipient of the message and/or the like.The present invention includes a wireless communication unit configured to send a message stipulated to limit a data space to which data can be inputted by a user, a display unit configured to display the message, a memory configured to store at least two user informations previously set, a user input unit configured to input the message, and a control unit controlling one of the at least two user informations to be selected according to a size of an empty space of the data space in sending the message after completion of writing the message, the control unit controlling the selected user information to be sent by being contained in the data space of the message.
US08862161B2 Method and apparatus for efficient idle operation in a dual-SIM CDMA 1X mobile station
Methods and apparatus are provided for selecting identifying numbers associated with a mobile station (MS) having multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs) such that the paging intervals for both identifying numbers are aligned. The MS having multiple SIMs may operate in a network via a particular radio access technology (RAT), such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 1×RTT (1 times Radio Transmission Technology). By having aligned paging intervals, the MS may wake up only once during the paging cycles for the various identifying numbers rather than waking up multiple times, thereby reducing power consumption of the MS during idle mode compared to a conventional MS with multiple SIMs, and thus multiple identifying numbers.
US08862160B2 Method and apparatus for paging terminals in an OFDM system for achieving both fast paging response and low power consumption by utilizing a multi-step paging process
Techniques for paging terminals in a wireless (e.g., OFDMA) communication system to achieve both fast paging response and low power consumption for the terminals are described. A terminal receives paging indicator from a base station. If the paging indicator indicates that the terminal is potentially being paged, then the terminal receives at least one paging message from a paging channel. The terminal determines whether any one of the at least one paging message is for the terminal e.g., based on identification information included in each paging message. If a paging message indicates that the terminal is paged, then the terminal sends an acknowledgement for the paging message. The base station may estimate the timing of the terminal based on the acknowledgement and may send timing adjustment to the terminal. The terminal may adjust its timing based on the timing adjustment and may be able to quickly access the system with no contention.
US08862158B2 Wireless distribution network
A wireless distribution network provides content delivery and data collection to and from portable devices. The network connects a server controlling access to content storage by home nodes, service center nodes and a plurality of wireless nodes. The wireless nodes are disposed at a plurality of locations, such as gas stations (vehicle service stations). The plurality of wireless nodes are connected to the server via the network. Each wireless node is capable of transferring information wirelessly between the node and one of a plurality of portable devices. Each node is capable of detecting and identifying each of the plurality of portable devices. Each node transfers information between the node and the plurality of portable devices based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices. The node also transfers the information between the node and the first computer based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices.
US08862157B2 Method for determining position of user equipment and apparatus for performing same in wireless mobile communication system
The present invention relates to a method for determining position of a user equipment in a wireless mobile communication system. The method comprises receiving a plurality of subframes including reference signals for positioning of the user equipment from a plurality of base stations periodically with a predetermined period of time; and determining position of the user equipment using reference signal time difference (RSTD) between the reference signals for positioning of the user equipment included in the received plurality of subframes, wherein a pattern of the reference signals for positioning of the user equipment is generated by repeating a diagonal mother matrix with dimension of 6×6, the pattern of the reference signals are mapped to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of the subframe, and the reference signals for positioning of the user equipment in a OFDM symbol in which common reference signal (CRS) is transmitted are punctured.
US08862155B2 Apparatus and methods for enabling location-based services within a premises
Apparatus and methods for enabling location identification and related services in a premises. In one embodiment, location identification services are provided via a gateway device using data extracted from a wireless signal. The data is used to estimate a location of a device (based on comparison to previously gathered and/or reference data). In another embodiment, infrared (IR) or other short range wireless signals are broadcast from the client devices to a set-top-box (STB), and the STB or gateway correlates the signals to a location within the premises. A profiling process is used to establish specific locations within a premises, and associate location-specific services therewith. The location-based services include for example (i) loading particular applications and/or content when the user enters a particular location, (ii) providing information and/or advertisement opportunities when the user is near a particular public or business location, and (iii) content delivery optimization among multiple user devices.
US08862152B1 Two-piece system and method for electronic management of offenders based on real-time risk profiles
A computer-implemented method and system for monitoring an offender includes establishing a communications link between a mobile phone and an offender monitoring unit. The mobile phone may receive geocoded signals that provide indoor location information. A communications link may then be established between the mobile phone and a computer server. The geocoded signals may be relayed from the mobile phone to the computer server. The computer server may generate a correlation matrix that tracks status information associated with the offender monitoring unit and provides one or more recommendations on how to manage the offender associated with the offender monitoring unit. The offender monitoring unit may detect if it has been compromised and it may also detect a battery status signal, as well as chemical sensing signals. The offender monitoring unit may relay this status information to the mobile phone, which may then relay this information back to the computer server.
US08862151B2 Methods and apparatus for providing media on mobile devices
Techniques and mechanisms are provided for sending targeted content and data to mobile devices. Location information associated with a device is determined. In some instances, the location information is manually entered. In other instances, the location information is determined automatically from characteristics associated with the device. Location information can be obtained from global positioning system (GPS) data, cell-site triangulation, Internet Protocol (IP) address detection, etc. Content and advertising can be provided in a location relevant manner to the mobile device.
US08862150B2 Location-based services
Provided herein are methods and systems relating to location-based services such as providing a geofencing, outputting location-based information on a mobile device, varying transmissions to and from a mobile device, and providing location-based alerts. More specifically, a method can include receiving a selected location on a mobile device, monitoring a current location of the mobile device, determining when the current location of the mobile device is within the geofence, and initiating an action on the mobile device associated with the geofence and the selected location.
US08862148B2 Selecting a serving gateway
A system and method are provided for enabling a mobile device to establish a local IP access on a packet data network connection on a femto cellular access network. A local server gateway and a macro server gateway are coupled to the femto cellular access network. A mobility management entity is coupled to the femto cellular access network, the local server gateway and the macro server gateway. The mobility management entity obtains a status mode of the mobile device and a location of the mobile device transmitted on the femto cellular access network. The mobility management entity selects one of the local server gateway and the macro server gateway based on the status mode of the mobile device and the location of the mobile device.
US08862144B2 Method for managing a wireless telecommunication network
The invention relates to a method for managing cells (100i, 100j) of a telecommunication network (102), said cells (100i, 100j) being supported by radio base stations (104i, 104j) aimed to provide wireless communication support to mobile terminals ((106i) connected to said communication network (102), each radio base station (104i, 104j) being linked to a core (108) of the telecommunication network through an associated backhaul (105i, 104j), characterized in that it comprises the step of managing dynamically communications resources of the telecommunication base stations by considering a dynamical backhaul quality BQ parameter for each base station (104i, 104j) and comparing different backhaul quality BQ parameters of different base stations (104i, 104j) in order to optimize the communication resources operations of the telecommunication network (102).
US08862143B2 Computation of channel state feedback in systems using common reference signal interference cancellation
When enabled with common reference signal interference cancelation, a user equipment (UE) may still compute a channel state feedback value with consideration of any canceled interfering neighboring signals. When the neighboring cells are determined to be transmitting data during the time for which the channel state feedback value is being computed, the UE is able to derive the channel state feedback value considering those canceled interfering signals. The UE determines whether each neighboring cell is transmitting during the designated time either by obtaining signals that indicate the transmission schedule of the neighboring cells or by detecting the transmission schedule, such as based on the power class of the neighboring cells. If the UE determines that the neighboring cells are transmitting data during this time period, the UE will compute the channel state feedback value including consideration of the canceled interfering signals.
US08862140B2 Methods and apparatus for deployment and control of small cells
Methods and apparatuses are provided for performing power control for a femto node deployed in a wireless network that include adjusting a transmission parameter of the femto node based on one or more radio frequency (RF) environment parameters. An RF environment parameter can be determined for a femto node related to a location in a coverage area. A different RF environment parameter related to other femto nodes at the location in the coverage area can be received from one or more devices, a network listening module, etc. A transmission parameter of the femto node, such as a transmit power, can be adjusted based on the RF environment parameter and the different RF environment parameter.
US08862138B2 Forecasting of dynamic environmental parameters to optimize operation of a wireless communication system
An aspect of the exemplary embodiments of this invention is a method that includes receiving information from a plurality of spatially distributed user devices, where the information includes at least observations of a radio environment of each user device. Based on the received information, the method creates a model of time evolution of a spatio-temporal map for a plurality of spatial locations. The method further includes creating a policy based on the model of time evolution of the spatio-temporal map, and transmitting the policy to the plurality of user devices. A further aspect of exemplary embodiments of this invention is a method that includes generating a probabilistic model based at least on observations of a radio environment of a user device; transmitting the probabilistic model to a network access node of a wireless communication network; receiving information from the network access node; and operating the user device at least in part based on the received information. Also described are apparatus and computer program products that operate in accordance with the methods.
US08862137B2 Method for associating a premier femtocell with user equipment
The present invention provides a method for implementation in user equipment that is configured to communicate with a wireless communication system that includes at least one macro-cell and a plurality of femtocells. The method includes providing a call connection request from the user equipment to one of the plurality of femtocells and receiving information indicating a location of the femtocell and information indicating the femto cell is a premier femtocell associated with the user equipment. The call connection request is received at the user equipment from the premier femtocell in response to providing the call connection request. The method further includes storing the information indicating the location of the premier femtocell in the user equipment.
US08862134B1 Autonomous power adaptation in a heterogeneous cellular environment
Autonomous power adaptation in a heterogeneous cellular environment is disclosed. In some embodiments, autonomous power adaptation for a first small area cellular device in a heterogeneous cellular environment includes collecting received signal strength information for one or more neighboring large area cellular devices and one or more neighboring small area cellular devices; and determining a maximum transmit power for the first small area cellular device that minimizes interference with the one or more neighboring large area cellular devices and the one or more small area cellular devices, in which determining the maximum transmit power for the first small area cellular device that minimizes interference with the one or more neighboring large area cellular devices and the one or more small area cellular devices includes prioritizing the one or more neighboring large area cellular devices over the one or more neighboring small area cellular devices.
US08862131B2 Method and apparatus for handover preparation
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for handover preparation. The method includes: receiving, by a DeNB, a first handover request message sent by an RN; obtaining, by the DeNB, the first target cell identifier, and instructing a base station to which the first target cell belongs to perform handover preparation in the first target cell; receiving, by the DeNB, a second handover request message sent by the RN; and when a base station to which the second target cell belongs is different from the base station to which the first target cell belongs, instructing, by the DeNB, the base station to which the second target cell belongs to perform handover preparation in the second target cell. Embodiments of the present invention further disclose corresponding apparatuses.
US08862123B2 Airborne onboard base transceiver station for mobile communication
The invention refers to a base station (BTS) and a method for a BTS, for a cellular communication system comprising a user equipment (UE) onboard an aircraft, when at a predetermined altitude, and a terrestrial network. The invention is characterised in that the BTS is arranged to be an airborne onboard BTS comprising a screening device generating a first signal (S1) matched to screen a second signal (S2) from the terrestrial network at a predetermined altitude. The onboard BTS also comprises a signal generator generating a third signal (S3) stronger than both the first signal (S1) and the second signal (S2), the onboard BTS arranged to establish a communication link with the UE via the third signal (S3).
US08862122B2 Multi-spot satellite surveillance system and reception device
A system for surveying aircraft present in an area covered by at least one communication satellite, the aircraft transmitting signals conveying surveillance messages. The coverage area consists of multiple spots, the satellite is configured to periodically apply a switching sequence, the sequence consisting of multiple switching phases, a switching phase corresponding to a duration during which the signals transmitted by the aircraft present in at least one spot are processed by the satellite in such a way as to detect surveillance messages, and the sequence is adapted to allow for the detection, during a predetermined period Tup, of at least one surveillance message by aircraft present in the coverage area.
US08862120B2 System and method for speeding call originations to a variety of devices using intelligent predictive techniques for half-call routing
A mobile application gateway configured to interconnect mobile communication devices on a cellular network with an enterprise network is provided. The mobile application gateway includes a voice and data signaling gateway configured to provide routing functionalities, service functionalities and admission control. A gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) is configured to establish a secure data session between one or more of the mobile communication devices and the enterprise network by establishing a GPRS tunneling protocol (GTP) tunnel between a carrier-hosted serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and the GGSN.
US08862119B2 Method and apparatus for telecommunications network performance anomaly events detection and notification
In order to provide an early and more accurate determination of network problems, current NPI OMs are compared with samples of recent historical NPI OMs so that changes in the NPI OM are detected based on current overall network conditions rather than on conditions that may have existed at statistically insignificant earlier operational periods. By constantly adjusting a performance threshold, against which the current NPI OM is compared, by using a smaller and very recent sampling of NPIs (in the case of sudden and abrupt performance-NPI degradation detection) or a larger and greater number of NPIs over a wider time period (in the case of slow and persistent NPI degradation detection) to establish the threshold, detection results are more accurate and meaningful.
US08862118B2 Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for automating testing of devices
An apparatus for facilitating automated testing of one or more communication devices may include a processor and memory storing executable computer code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including capturing one or more recorded sequences of events in which at least one of the events corresponds to a detection of a touch input. The recorded sequences correspond to at least one designated test. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to enable provision of the recorded sequences of events to one or more communication devices. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to facilitate sending of one or more generated commands to at least one of the communication devices instructing the communication device to perform the recorded sequences. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.
US08862113B2 Subscriber identity module activation during active data call
Methods and systems are disclosed that provide refresh procedure to ensure successful subscriber identity module activation during active data and voice calls. A request to update a subscription data on a network application housed on a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) is processed by a mobile equipment (ME) and is forwarded to the UICC smart card. The UICC smart card updates the requested parameters on the network application and probes the ME to read the updated parameters. The ME polls its services to check if the network application can be refreshed. If the network application was not previously activated, the voting mechanism on refresh procedure is skipped and the ME proceeds with refreshing the network application for updating its copy of the subscription information.
US08862109B2 Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to mobile telephony devices via a non-native telephony service provider
Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a mobile telephony device that is roaming outside of its native service area make use of a mobile roaming termination service. The mobile roaming termination service causes the native mobile telephony service provider that provides service to the mobile telephony device to forward incoming telephony communications directed the native telephone number of the mobile telephony device to a forwarding access number. The mobile roaming termination service receives telephony communications directed to the forwarding access number, and then terminates the telephony communication to the mobile telephony device via any one of multiple different methods. The mobile telephony service provider can be instructed to implement and cancel call forwarding instructions by dialing a special character string on the mobile telephony device.
US08862105B2 Management of mobile applications
In particular implementations, a mobile device management system allows network administrators to control the distribution and publication of applications to mobile device users in an enterprise network. A user profile is accessed to determine a user attribute. A catalog of applications is filtered based at least in part on the user attribute and an enterprise application availability policy to determine a set of applications to be returned and provided via an enterprise mobile device application management interface.
US08862104B2 System and method for gesture-based management
A system includes a first mobile device configured to initiate communication with at least one other mobile device. The first mobile device includes a status indicator configured to provide a persistent visual indication to a user of the status of a mute function of the first user device during the active communication. The first mobile device further includes a user interface configured to receive predefined user input and allow the user to toggle between mute and un-mute states based on the user input regardless of whether a display of the device is shut off and/or the user interface is locked.
US08862098B2 Secure remote control of notification operations of communication devices
A network service provider computer remotely overrides and controls user notification settings of a mobile communications device by establishing one or more authentication keys by a server computer for a specific mobile communication device; transmitting the one or more authentication keys to the specific mobile communication device to establish a trusted relationship; responsive to an event or signal requiring overriding of user notification settings, preparing a notification control message including at least one notification control parameter; and transmitting to the specific mobile communications device the notification control message to cause it to implement and override one or more user notification settings according to the at least one notification control parameter.
US08862095B2 Managing mobile nodes in a lawful intercept architecture
In an embodiment, a care-of address associated with a first node coupled to a communications network via an access node is received. The care-of address may be contained in a notification message sent by a home agent associated with the first node or by a binding update message sent by the first agent. The access node is identified using the care-of address. A request to tap communications associated with the first node at the access node is generated and the request is forwarded to the access node to cause communications associated with the first node to be tapped at the access node.
US08862088B2 Adjustable circuit architecture
An amplifier circuitry having adjustable parameters is presented. The present amplifier circuitry includes a feed-back loop, wherein the feedback loop converts (26) a signal to another frequency, filters (20) the signal in the other frequency, and restores (24) the filtered signal back to the original frequency for inputting the signal to an input of the amplifier (22). The feed-back loop implements a band-stop filter (20) having an adjustable stopband causing the amplifier circuitry to have an adjustable band-pass response. A passband of the amplifier circuitry is changed from one operating frequency to another operating frequency by changing frequency conversion parameters of the feedback loop.
US08862084B2 Methods and apparatus for receiver quality test measurements
Radio receiver test methods and apparatus are based on known relationships between the quality of a receiver that is measured based on signals before they enter a receiver decoder and the quality that is measured based on signals after the decoder. Thus, a signal generator can be set to transmit a known signal in a predetermined radio scenario (e.g., channel frequency, amplitude, etc.), and samples can be obtained of the receiver-processed known signal before the receiver's decoder. Tests in radio scenarios where noise is the dominant signal disturbance and/or tests in radio scenarios where receiver distortion is the dominant signal disturbance can be performed.
US08862082B2 Method of modulation and demodulation for nano communication, and receiver using the method
A receiver for nano communication includes a power source including a cathode and an anode; a cathode unit connected to the cathode of the power source, the cathode unit including a nano device configured to receive a wireless signal modulated according to a predetermined modulation scheme, have at least two different resonant frequencies, and resonate based on a frequency of the wireless signal and the at least two different resonant frequencies; and an anode unit connected to the anode of the power source, the anode unit being configured to detect electrons emitted from the nano device, and demodulate a the wireless signal based on a pattern of the detected electrons.
US08862078B2 Communication method and apparatus for multi-standby mode in a communication terminal
A method for communication in a communication terminal having a single communication module and at least two Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards is provided. The method includes performing a first call mode when a call is connected through a first base station in a standby mode by using the communication module and a first SIM card through a first time slot in each frame allocated by the first base station, and performing, when a second call is connected through a second base station while performing the first call mode, a second call mode using the communication module and a second SIM card through a second time slot in each frame allocated by the second base station, the second time slot being spaced apart from the first time slot.
US08862077B2 Gain control using a dynamically configurable transformer
An apparatus includes a dynamically configurable transformer configured to provide a gain to a target signal. The gain is dynamically configurable. The dynamically configurable transformer includes at least one parallel resistive element configured to be dynamically activated in parallel with a load.
US08862075B2 Adaptive transmission feedback
A method, program and apparatus for transmitting from a transmitter to a receiver over a channel using a transmit diversity scheme. The method comprises: receiving power-related information fed back from the receiver to the transmitter; and at the transmitter, using the power-related information to generate channel state information. The method further comprises using the generated channel state information to control for subsequent transmission to the receiver from the multiple transmit antennas of the transmitter.
US08862073B2 Configurable antenna structure
A configurable antenna structure includes a plurality of switches, a plurality of antenna components, and a configuration module. The configuration module is operable to configure the plurality of switches and the plurality of antenna components into a first antenna for receiving a multiple frequency band multiple standard (MFBMS) signal. The configuration module continues processing by identify a signal component of interest of a plurality of signal components of interest within the MFBMS signal. The configuration module continues processing by configuring the plurality of switches and the plurality of antenna components into a second antenna.
US08862072B2 Information handling system tunable antenna for wireless network adaptability
A tuning circuit disposed between an antenna and wireless network interface card selectively adjusts transmissions from the antenna to plural frequency bands, each band associated with wireless signals of a wireless network provider. A direct current bias selectively applies to tuning circuit analog components to adjust the frequency band as desired to support communication for a selected wireless provider.
US08862068B2 Wireless apparatus and interference determination method thereof
A wireless apparatus and an interference determination method thereof are provided. The wireless apparatus determines that the wireless apparatus operates in a first bandwidth mode, and counts a first clear channel assessment (CCA) number associated with a primary channel, a second CCA number associated with a secondary channel, an entire CCA number associated with either the primary channel or the secondary channel, and the false alarm number according to at least one received radio frequency (RF) signal. Afterwards, the wireless apparatus determines that the second CCA number exceeds the summation of the first CCA number and bias number to determine that it is in an interference state, and determines that the interference state belongs to either the first interference type or second interference type according to the radio of the entire CCA number to the FA number.
US08862065B2 Apparatus and method for frequency offset estimation in mobile communication system
A method and apparatus estimate a frequency offset of a receiver in a mobile communication system. A pilot signal and a signal of a control channel are received from a transmitter. Frequency offsets of the pilot signal and frequency offsets of the control channel are estimated, respectively. And the frequency offset of the pilot signal is corrected based on the frequency offset estimation of the control channel.
US08862064B2 Self-testing transceiver architecture and related method
A self-testing transceiver comprises a receiver, and a transmitter including a power amplifier (PA) and a plurality of transmitter pre-PA stages. The plurality of transmitter pre-PA stages are configured to generate a communication signal at a receive frequency of the transceiver and the receiver is configured to process another communication signal at a transmit frequency of the transceiver, thereby enabling transceiver self-testing. A method for use by a transceiver for self-testing comprises generating a first communication signal at a transmit frequency of the transceiver by a transmitter of the transceiver, processing the first communication signal by a receiver of the transceiver, generating a second communication signal at a receive frequency of the transceiver by the transmitter, and processing the second communication signal by the receiver. The described generating and processing of the first and second communication signals resulting in self-testing by the transceiver.
US08862056B2 Wireless communication device, wireless communication method, program, and wireless communication system
There is provided a wireless communication device including a wireless communication unit configured to receive application information, the application information indicating which of a content providing side or a content user side an application of each of one or more second wireless communication devices is, a setting unit configured to set a parameter indicating a priority to operate as a master unit in accordance with, among the wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device(s), a relationship between the number of providing devices whose applications are content providing sides and the number of user devices whose applications are content user sides, and a control unit configured to control a negotiation with at least one of the second wireless communication devices to determine a wireless communication device to operate as a master unit, using the parameter set by the setting unit.
US08862049B2 Installation for emission/reception of satellite signals
An emission/reception installation of satellite signals including a reflector to receive and emit radio signals, a unit integrating an LNB to transform radio signals into electrical signals in a first frequency band, to amplify the electrical signals in the first frequency band and to lower the first frequency band towards a first intermediate frequency band. The unit includes an emitter to amplify electrical signals in a second intermediate band having no common frequency with the first intermediate band, to raise the second intermediate band towards a second frequency band, to transform into radio signals the electrical signals in the second frequency band and to transmit these radio signals towards the reflector. The installation includes a box including a modulator to modulate electrical signals in the second intermediate band, an output to transmit electrical signals in the first intermediate band and a coaxial cable connecting the unit and the box.
US08862045B2 Conveyor and image forming apparatus with the conveyor
A conveyor has a first conveying unit including a pair of first nip roll sets configured to nip and convey the sheet, and a second conveying unit including a second nip roll set configured to nip and convey the sheet from the first conveying unit. The second nip roll set nips the sheet at an inner location than the first nip roll set, and the first nip roll set nips the sheet more strongly than the second nip roll set.
US08862041B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an acquiring section configured to acquire image information about the image, an image forming section that uses liquid developer to form the image on the sheet in response to the image information, a fixing device configured to fix the image onto the sheet, and a controller that carries out control to change operation of the fixing device in response to the image information. The fixing device includes a rubbing mechanism configured to rub the image on the sheet. The rubbing mechanism changes rubbing operation in response to the image information under the control of the controller.
US08862039B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, which is configured to form an image on a sheet, includes an image forming unit configured to form an unfixed toner image on the sheet, and a fixing unit configured to fix the unfixed toner image to the sheet by heating the sheet bearing the unfixed toner image while conveying the sheet by a fixing nip portion. The image forming apparatus can perform a cleaning mode for cleaning the fixing unit by conveying a sheet with an unfixed toner image for cleaning formed thereon by the fixing nip portion. At a time of the cleaning mode, the image forming unit forms the unfixed toner image for cleaning on a sheet surface opposite from a sheet surface where the unfixed toner image is formed at a time of image formation.
US08862038B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, a first media stripper, and a second media stripper. The rotary fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is pressed against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is passed in a media conveyance direction under heat and pressure as the fuser and pressure members rotate together. The first media stripper includes at least one pneumatic nozzle disposed adjacent to the fuser member to direct compressed gas toward the fixing nip along the fuser member for stripping the recording medium from the fuser member. The second media stripper includes at least one contact finger disposed in contact with the pressure member to slide against the pressure member during rotation for stripping the recording medium from the pressure member.
US08862032B2 Toner supply device and image forming apparatus using same
In a transport pipe having a first opening portion through which toner is fed in from a toner hopper and a second opening portion through which the toner is discharged to a development device, a transport screw in which a helical blade is formed on a rotational shaft is rotatably provided. The width of the first opening portion in the direction of the rotational shaft is greater than the pitch (L0) of the blade at the first opening portion, and, at the downstream end of the first opening portion in the transport direction, the pitch of the blade is switched from the pitch (L0) to a pitch (L1) which is narrower than the pitch (L0). In this way, the amount of transport of the toner from the toner hopper to the development device with the transport screw is stabilized.
US08862027B2 Developing cartridge including developing gear cover
A developing cartridge includes: a housing having first and second sidewalls through which respective end portions of a developing roller shaft are rotatably inserted; a developing gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which is fixed to the end portion of the developing roller shaft; a transmission gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which transmits driving force to the developing gear; a first cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the transmission gear; and a second cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the developing gear from an outer side in the axis line direction. The second cover member is formed separately from the first cover member and is arranged side by side with the first cover member outside of the first sidewall.
US08862023B2 Electrophotographic image forming apparatus and supporting member
An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a door for opening and closing an opening. A supporting member supports a plurality of electrophotographic photosensitive members, and is movable between (i) a first position, in which latent images are formable on the electrophotographic photosensitive members, (ii) a second position, in which the supporting member is retracted from the first position, and (iii) a third position outside the main assembly in a state in which the supporting member is supported by the main assembly. The supporting member is disengageable from the main assembly at the third position. A cover member protects an exposed portion of the plurality of electrophotographic photosensitive members exposed from the supporting member. The cover member is capable of covering and uncovering the exposed portion. The cover member is changed from an open state to a closed state by the touch of a handle portion.
US08862021B2 Transportable image forming apparatus
In the state where a handle (2) and a lid (12) are attached to a main body (11), left and right bases (22) of the handle (2) are fitted into recesses (1112, 1113) at coupling portions (111, 112). Left and right shaft supports (91) of the lid (12) are fitted into recesses (1111, 1114). Shaft portions (81) of the left and right bases (22) are fitted from above into a through hole (72) and a through hole (73), respectively, and are supported rotatably about a center axis (200) in the through holes (72, 73). Shafts (93 to 95) of the shaft supports (91, 92) are laterally fitted into through holes (71, 74, 75), respectively, and are supported rotatably about the center axis (200) in the through holes (71, 74, 75). The shaft (94) of the shaft support (92) is laterally fitted into a blind hole (82) of the right base (22).
US08862020B2 Image forming apparatus
Brush rollers rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow while being in contact with an image formation surface to remove toner remaining on the image formation surface from an intermediate transfer belt. The brush rollers each mainly include a rotational shaft and a brush. The brush rollers face the intermediate transfer belt with brush winding directions being opposite from one another. The brush rollers rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow. Thus, seams of the brush rollers can be prevented from being in contact with the same portion on the image formation surface of the intermediate transfer belt.
US08862018B2 Cleaning unit and image forming apparatus using the same
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing drum for carrying a toner image; an intermediary transfer member; a primary transfer device for primary transfer of a toner image from the drum onto the intermediary member; a secondary transfer device for secondary transfer of the toner image from the intermediary member onto a sheet; and a cleaning unit for removing the toner on the intermediary member. The cleaning unit includes a scraping member for removing the toner deposited on the intermediary member, an accommodating portion for the removed toner, a discharging member, provided downstream of the scraping member with respect to a moving direction of the intermediary member, for moving the toner in the accommodating portion to the intermediary member by application of a voltage, and a regulating member contacted to the discharging member to regulate an amount of the toner deposited on the discharging member.
US08862015B2 Image forming apparatus with urging member that establishes electrical connection with a cartridge
A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developer roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer, and a developer supplying roller for supplying the developer to the developing roller. The process cartridge also includes first and second portions-to-be-positioned on ends of the cartridge, and a portion-to-be urged for receiving an elastic force. A developer supplying roller bias contact is provided exposed at an end side of the process cartridge for receiving a supplying roller bias voltage to be supplied to the developer side supplying roller, with the cartridge side developer supplying roller bias facing obliquely downward.
US08862012B2 Image forming apparatus, power supplying method, and computer-readable storage medium
An image forming apparatus includes a first control unit configured to control an image forming unit; a power supply unit configured to supply power from a commercial power source; a switching unit configured to switch a connection state between the power supply unit and the commercial power source from a conduction state to a non-conduction state, or vice versa; a capacitor configured to store therein power used by the switching unit; a second control unit configured to detect a start signal for starting power supply from the power supply unit; and a battery for supplying power to the second control unit. The power supply unit supplies power to the first control unit in the conduction state and stops the power supply in the non-conduction state. When detecting the start signal, the second control unit causes the switching unit to switch the connection state to the conduction state.
US08862010B2 Image forming apparatus
A fixing device to perform a fixing process includes an endless, rotatable belt member; a nip-forming rotary member disposed outside a loop of the belt member; a fixing roller disposed at a backside of the fixing nip inside the loop of the belt member and around which the belt member is rotatably stretched; a heater to heat the belt member at a position different from a position where the belt member is rotatably stretched around the fixing roller; a temperature detector; a memory device to store an operational history of the heater; and a processor operatively connected to the heater to control the heater, before the recording sheet is passed through the fixing nip, to perform a warming-up operation to raise a temperature of the fixing roller at the backside of the fixing nip based on the operational history of the heater stored in the memory device.
US08862008B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus configured to control a fixing temperature of a fixing device that fixes a formed image includes a fixing temperature control unit configured to control, based on a change amount between a toner amount of an N-th page, where N is a natural number, and a toner amount of an (N+1)th page in a print job having a plurality of pages, a fixing temperature for the (N+1)th page, and a toner amount control unit configured to control the toner amount of the (N+1)th page to be less than or equal to a toner amount which can be fixed at the fixing temperature controlled by the fixing temperature control unit.
US08862006B2 Wet-type image forming apparatus that controls the amount of liquid developer based on the rate of change of the electric potential of the liquid developer
A wet-type image forming apparatus forms a toner image on an image carrier using liquid developer containing carrier liquid and toner dispersed therein. The apparatus includes: a developing member carrying the liquid developer to develop a latent image thereby forming the toner image on the image carrier; a charger for charging the liquid developer on the developing member according to a current applied on the charger; a measuring member for measuring a potential of the liquid developer charged by the charger; and a controller for controlling an amount of the liquid developer on the developing member, before the toner image is formed on the image carrier, by setting plural values of the current to be applied on the charger and controlling the amount of the liquid developer based on results of measurement of potentials of the liquid developer charged by the charger with the plural values of the applied current.
US08862001B2 Image forming apparatus with toner image alignment
An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member, a second image bearing member, a developing device for forming a toner image on the basis of an electrostatic latent image formed on the first image bearing member, and an electrostatic latent image forming portion for forming an electrostatic latent image mark on the first image bearing member. In addition, a detecting portion detects a position of the electrostatic latent image mark, and an adjusting portion adjusts, on the basis of a detection result of the position of the electrostatic latent image mark, superposition between the toner image formed on the first image bearing member and the toner image formed on the second image bearing member. An electrostatic latent image which is undetectable by the detecting portion is formed between a formation region of the toner image on the first image bearing member and a formation region of the electrostatic latent image mark on the first image bearing member.
US08862000B2 Image forming apparatus and control program for detecting and correcting positional offset
An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance member; a detection unit which outputs a detection signal according to a mark for image formation condition correction; an image forming unit which forms a print image and the mark; and a change unit which changes at least one of a printing reference position and a mark reference position such that an offset amount between the printing reference position and the mark reference position becomes larger as an angle difference between a sub-scanning direction and a conveyance direction of the conveyance member is larger, wherein the printing reference position is a basis of determining a formation position of the print image in a main scanning direction and the mark reference position is a basis of determining at least one of a formation position and a size of the mark in the main scanning direction.
US08861999B2 Recording-material identifying apparatus and image forming apparatus
By providing a step in a pressing member for pressing a recording material P to a reading surface of an image-pickup unit, surface images in a tight contact area and a non-tight-contact area are picked up. By identifying the type of the recording material P based on the two surface images, the accuracy of identifying the recording material is improved without using a plurality of sensors.
US08861997B2 Rotary driving apparatus, control method therefor, storage medium storing control program therefor, and image forming apparatus
A rotary driving apparatus that is capable of controlling a rotational speed correctly even when an anomaly occurs. A drive unit rotates a rotating member. A rotating body is rotated with the rotating member. A detection unit detects scales formed on the rotating body. A calculation unit calculates rotation information about the rotating member based on the detection result by the detection unit. A control value setting unit sets a control value to a predetermined value when the rotation information falls outside a predetermined range and a count of determinations that the rotation information falls outside the predetermined range is smaller than a predetermined count, and sets the control value based on the rotation information when the rotation information falls outside the predetermined range and the count of determinations is larger than the predetermined count. A control unit controls the drive unit based on the set control value.
US08861995B2 Image forming apparatus and control method for confirming a paper rolling state of a fusing device
An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof in which occurrence or removal of a paper rolling state in a fusing device is judged based on temperature of the fusing device. The apparatus includes a temperature sensor to sense temperature of the fusing device, a memory to store information about occurrence or removal of the paper rolling state, and a controller to judge occurrence or removal of the paper rolling state. The controller detects an initial temperature of the fusing device when the apparatus is turned off and then on in a state in which the information about occurrence of the paper rolling state is stored in the memory, heats the fusing device by applying power thereto for a predetermined time based on the initial temperature, and judges occurrence or removal of the paper rolling state based on temperature of the fusing device detected after power application.
US08861993B2 Image forming apparatus, storage unit controlling method, and storage unit controlling program product
An image forming apparatus includes a control unit that controls each component, a first storage unit that is a non-volatile and rewritable storage unit mounted on the control unit, a toner containing unit that contains toner to be used for an image forming, a second storage unit that is a non-volatile and rewritable storage unit mounted on the toner containing unit, and a detecting unit that detects an amount of the toner remained in the toner containing unit. The control unit stores count information into the second storage unit, the count information is copied from the second storage unit to the first storage unit, when the detecting unit detects that the amount of the toner remained in the toner containing unit is not enough, and the count information is kept on being stored into the first storage unit, until the toner containing unit is replaced with a new one.
US08861992B2 Image forming device with cartridge replacement alert system
An image forming device includes a replaceable cartridge, a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element, and a determining unit. The replaceable cartridge accommodates developer therein and includes an agitator and a developing roller rotatable together with the agitator. The light-emitting element is configured to emit a light toward the replaceable cartridge. The light-receiving element is configured to receive the light emitted by the light-emitting element through the replaceable cartridge to output a signal. The determination value is produced based on the signal. The determining unit is configured to determine whether or not the determination value is greater than a predetermined determination threshold upon the agitator having rotated continuously more than a first prescribed number of times. The determining unit determines that the replaceable cartridge should be replaced with a new one when the determination value is greater than the predetermined determination threshold.
US08861990B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member for bearing a developer image, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member into the developer image and a cleaning blade. In addition, a controller executes a stop operation of the image bearing member in which the image bearing member is, after being temporarily stopped at an end of an image forming operation, rotated in the same direction as that during the image forming operation and then is rotated in a direction opposite to that during the image forming operation, and a predicting portion predicts a remaining usable lifetime of the image bearing member. In the stop operation of the image bearing member after the remaining usable lifetime is below a threshold, the controller controls an amount of rotation in the direction opposite to that during the image forming operation so as to be smaller than the amount of rotation before the remaining usable lifetime is below the threshold.
US08861985B2 Cooling device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A cooling device for an image forming apparatus includes a heat receiver disposed to contact a heated member; a heat releaser to release heat; a coolant circulation passage connecting the heat receiver and the heat releaser in which a coolant circulates between the heat receiver and the heat releaser; a pump configured to convey and circulate the coolant in the coolant circulation passage; a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of a part of the heated portion of the heated member at which a temperature rises; a cooling fan, included in the heat releaser, configured to change a thermal capacity released from the heat releaser based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and a controller to determine presence or absence of a leakage of the liquid or a pump failure by monitoring a control performed by the cooling fan and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
US08861984B2 Compact polarization-insensitive optical receiver
A polarization-insensitive optical receiver for demodulating a phase-modulated input optical signal is provided. The optical receiver includes successively a polarization splitter, a first and second interferometric modules including respective delay lines, and a plurality of detectors. The input optical signal is split into two substantially orthogonally-polarized components, which are launched along respective optical paths into the corresponding interferometric modules where they demodulated and subsequently recombined prior to being detected by the plurality of detectors. Advantageously, the optical receiver allows mitigating undesired discrepancies between the optical paths traveled by the two polarization components by arranging the respective delay lines of the interferometric modules into intertwined spiraling structures. A waveguide assembly including a substrate and a pair of waveguides on the substrate and defining intertwined spiraling structures is also provided, as well as a waveguide coupling assembly for coupling, onto a same detector, two optical signals travelling along two parallel coplanar waveguides.
US08861983B2 Analog radio frequency transport over optical media using continuous optical phase modulation and noncoherent detection
Analog transport of a wideband RF signal is effectively and efficiently provided using a coherent, narrowband optical carrier. The wideband RF signal is phase modulated onto the carrier at a first location. Non-coherent discrimination is applied to the modulated carrier at a second, different location to generate an amplitude modulated optical signal where the amplitude modulation represents the original wideband RF signal. A photo-detector is then used to regenerate a representation of the original wideband RF signal. The method and apparatus of the invention can be applied in systems dedicated to the analog RF transport or in wavelength division multiplexed systems which also provide transport for other analog or digital data.
US08861982B2 Interferometer, demodulator, and optical communication module
When designing a demodulator for a DPSK-modulated signal, it is required that optical phase modulation is performed fast and the demodulator has a long lifetime. To achieve this object, a delay line interferometer inside the demodulator performs adjustment of phase difference between two split lights caused to interfere, using a first optical phase modulation unit such as a Piezo actuator and a second optical phase modulation unit such as a heating element that operates slower in modulation speed than the first optical phase modulation unit and is slower in deterioration speed.
US08861981B2 Optical signal compensation device
Embodiments of the present invention disclose an optical signal compensation device, where, a nonlinear compensation module in the optical signal compensation device adopts a new nonlinear compensation algorithm to perform nonlinear compensation on an optical signal, and during the process of performing the nonlinear compensation, it is no longer required to look up a table. Technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention can effectively increase the processing speed of the nonlinear compensation, thereby reducing the overall processing delay of an optical signal compensation system.
US08861978B2 Method and apparatus providing wave division multiplexing optical communication system with active carrier hopping
A wave division multiplexing (WDM) system is disclosed which accommodates shifts in the resonant frequency of optical modulators by using at least two carriers per optical communications channel and at least two resonant modulator circuits respectively associated with the carriers within each optical modulator. A first resonant modulator circuit resonates with a first carrier and a second resonates with a second carrier when there is a shift in resonance frequency of the at least two resonant optical modulator circuits. A switch circuit controls which carrier is being modulated by its respective resonant modulator circuit.
US08861977B2 Multiplexer and modulation arrangements for multi-carrier optical modems
A number of carriers are selected according to a modulation format and symbol rate to realize a superchannel having fixed capacity, for example. At a receive node, the superchannel is optically demultiplexed from a plurality of other superchannels. The plurality of carriers are then supplied to a photodetector circuit, which receives additional light at one of the optical signal carrier wavelengths from a local oscillator laser. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is provided in the receive node to convert the electrical signals output from the photodetector into digital form. The output from the ADC is then filtered in the electrical domain, such that optical demultiplexing of the carriers is unnecessary.
US08861975B2 Interconnect for a data storage system
The invention provides an interconnect for a data storage system, to enable optical communication between a data storage device and a backplane to which the data storage device is in use to be connected, wherein the interconnect includes an electrical power connection for providing power to a said data storage device; and, an optical engine for generating and receiving optical signals for transmission of data between the data storage device and the backplane.
US08861973B2 Railway monitoring system
A railway monitoring system firstly includes an optical fiber. A first part of the fiber is attachable to one of a pair of tracks of a rail, and a characteristic of the first part of the fiber is variable in correspondence to variance of a characteristic of said one track where the first part of fiber is attached. The system also includes an optical signal emitter connected to the fiber for emitting an optical signal into the fiber, and the fiber generates at least a first altered optical signal, which contains information relating to the variance of the characteristic of the part of the fiber. The system further includes an optical signal analyzer connected to the fiber for receiving and analyzing the first altered optical signal so as to ascertain the variance of said characteristic of said one track based upon the information contained in the first altered optical signal.
US08861968B2 Reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexing device for enabling totally inresistant colorless
The present invention provides a reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexing device for enabling a totally inresistant colorless, wherein a dropping unit is configured to separate multi-wavelength optical signals which are among direction 1˜X and are broadcast inputted in a circuit direction, switch the multi-wavelength optical signals among the direction 1˜X to any corresponding output port through multiple N×N optical switches, and send the optical signals to a corresponding Receiver (RX) after combining the received optical signals by a corresponding K×1 coupler/optical switch; an adding unit is configured to broadcast the optical signals sent by a Transmitter (TX) to the multiple N×N optical switches through N 1×K couplers/optical switches, switch the optical signals to any corresponding output port by each optical switch, and output the corresponding optical signals in the direction 1˜X to the circuit direction after the optical signals are implemented with optical multiplexing; wherein, X is an integer which is greater than or equal to 2, and K and N are both integers. The present invention can enable the totally inresistant colorless in adding and dropping units.
US08861965B2 Optical transmission apparatus
There is provided an optical transmission apparatus including: a transmitter to output an optical signal to be transferred to other optical transmission apparatus; a first dummy light source to generate first dummy light having a wavelength which is not included in an optical signal received from other optical transmission apparatus; a first wavelength-multiplexer to wavelength-multiplex the optical signal received from other optical transmission apparatus, the optical signal output from the transmitter, and an optical signal with a wavelength, of the first dummy light, which is not included in the optical signal received from other optical transmission apparatus and in the optical signal output from the transmitter; and an optical amplifier to amplify an optical signal multiplexed by the first wavelength-multiplexer.
US08861958B2 Broadband optical network apparatus and method
Methods and apparatus for providing enhanced optical networking service and performance which are particularly advantageous in terms of low cost and use of existing infrastructure, access control techniques, and components. In the exemplary embodiment, current widespread deployment and associated low cost of Ethernet-based systems are leveraged through use of an Ethernet CSMA/CD MAC in the optical domain on a passive optical network (PON) system. Additionally, local networking services are optionally provided to the network units on the PON since each local receiver can receive signals from all other users. An improved symmetric coupler arrangement provides the foregoing functionality at low cost. The improved system architecture also allows for fiber failure protection which is readily implemented at low cost and with minimal modification.
US08861957B2 Optical access network
An optical access network comprises L wavelength division multiplexed access sub-networks. Each of the wavelength division multiplexed access sub-networks is arranged to use a set of wavelength channels. M optical line termination apparatus, each receive traffic from a respective operator network and output traffic on the wavelength channels. A wavelength routing apparatus comprises M sets of first ports and L second ports. Each set of first ports connects to a respective one of the optical line termination apparatus and each second port connects to an optical link of a respective one of the wavelength division multiplexed access sub-networks. The wavelength routing apparatus is arranged to route the set of wavelength channels between the sets of first ports and the second ports and to route different wavelength channels of the same wavelength to different ones of the second ports.
US08861952B2 Redundancy and interoperability in multi-channel optoelectronic devices
A multi-channel optoelectronic device is configured to establish a redundant status link with a remote device. The optoelectronic device can transmit N transmit optical signals to the remote device over a plurality of transmit channels and receive N receive optical signals from the remote device over a plurality of receive channels. The optoelectronic device includes one or more spare transmit and receive channels. When used with a remote device having spare transmit and receive channels, each device can establish a status link with the other and use the status link to switch out transmit and/or receive channels to identify and permanently switch out the worst transmit and/or receive channels. Alternately, the device can interoperate with a non-status-link enabled remote device by determining that the remote device is not status-link enabled, transitioning to a low transmit power mode, and transmitting and receiving over a plurality of default transmit and receive channels.
US08861950B2 Imaging apparatus and control method thereof
A determination unit determines a weighting coefficient for a second light metering area corresponding to a focus detection area at which a second defocus amount having an absolute value larger than an absolute value of a first defocus amount is acquired relatively smaller than a weighting coefficient for a first light metering area corresponding to a focus detection area at which a first defocus amount is acquired, and changes a difference between the weighting coefficient for the first light metering area and the weighting coefficient for the second light metering area based on a plurality of defocus amounts including the defocus amount of the focus detection area not corresponding to the first light metering area and the second light metering area.
US08861949B2 Apparatus and method of adjusting automatic focus
An apparatus and method of adjusting an auto focus are provided. The apparatus includes: an imaging pickup device for generating an image signal by capturing light passing through an imaging lens; a shutter for controlling light exposure of the image pickup device; a focus detector that calculates a contrast value from the image signal and detecting a focus from the contrast value; and a release controller for controlling a release operation constituting a photographing operation of a still image, wherein the release controller includes, as driving modes, a first mode that directs a focus lens included in the imaging lens to be driven while driving the shutter, and a second mode that directs the focus lens not to be driven while driving the shutter. Accordingly, a photographing time is reduced.
US08861946B2 Device for driving camera lens module in portable terminal
A camera lens module of a portable terminal includes: an external case; an Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) carrier disposed within the external case; and at least one OIS driver disposed in at least one of corner regions of the external case to correct a hand shaking state of the OIS carrier.
US08861945B2 Apparatus and method for heating a product stream
This disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for heating a product stream, in particular a basic material for the beverage industry, and especially a milk drink or a mixed milk drink. Due to the fact that, in a heating module, a treatment channel is formed between alternating current electrodes in such a way that the product flows from the first electrode to the second electrode substantially in a main flow direction, the electrode spacing and the cross-section of the treatment channel can be dimensioned largely independently from one another and the energy input in the product as well as the flow behavior of the product can be optimized. This promotes uniform heating of the product and helps to avoid undesirable depositions in the treatment channel.
US08861943B2 Liquid heater with temperature control
A liquid heater such as a direct electrical resistance liquid heater having multiple flow channels is provided with a temperature-sensing element in the form of a wire extending across numerous channels, preferably all of the channels, near the downstream ends of the channels. The resistance of the wire represents the average temperature of the liquid passing through all of the channels, and hence the temperature of the mixed liquid exiting from the heater. A bubble suppressing structure is provided in the vicinity of the wire.
US08861940B2 Recording medium, playback device and integrated circuit
A main-view stream and a sub-view stream are recorded on a recording medium. The main-view stream is used for monoscopic video playback. The sub-view stream is used for stereoscopic video playback in combination with the main-view stream are recorded. The main-view stream includes a plurality of main-view pictures, and the sub-view stream includes a plurality of sub-view pictures. The main-view pictures and the sub-view pictures are in one-to-one correspondence. A B picture is not used as a reference picture for compression of any of the sub-view pictures whose corresponding main-view picture is one of an I picture and a P picture.
US08861937B2 Methods and apparatus to access media
Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to share media are disclosed. An example method involves receiving from a mobile device a representation of media content detected at the mobile device. The example method also involves receiving from the mobile device a first user identifier of a first user of the mobile device and a second user identifier of a second user different from the first user. In addition, the media content is identified based on the representation of the media content. The second user is selectively provided with access to the media content based on the second user identifier.
US08861931B2 Method and apparatus for reproducing video using watermark inserting function
A method and apparatus for reproducing a video using a watermark inserting function. The method of inserting a watermark into a video being reproduced, using an on-screen-display (OSD) data mixer included in a video reproduction apparatus, includes determining a watermark pattern indicating information on reproduction of the original video. The watermark pattern is converted into watermark data capable of being recognized by an OSD data mixer and synthesized with the video being reproduced, using the OSD data mixer.
US08861930B2 Content playback apparatus, content playback method and storage medium
A content playback apparatus includes: a display section that displays a plurality of indicators associated with a plurality of pieces of content, and a specifier to be used to specify one of the indicators; a playback section that plays back the piece of content associated with the indicator specified by the specifier; a switch section that switches, in accordance with a user's operation, what the specifier specifies to new the indicator; and a playback control section that controls the playback section such that if the user's operation switches, while the piece of content associated with the indicator specified by the specifier is played, what the specifier specifies to next the indicator and the user's subsequent operation switches, within a predetermined period of time from when the previous switch is completed, what the specifier specifies to subsequent the indicator, the playback section keeps playing back the piece of content.
US08861925B1 Methods and systems for audio-visual synchronization
Audio-visual synchronization using retrieval of visual data through a network to enhance the content presented to the user and to provide the user with a more meaningful and engaging audio-visual experience. An audio player such as an electronic book reader or stereo plays an audio file. The audio file, whether in analog form as played through a speaker or in digital form, is provided to a controller, which scans the audio file to detect a trigger or cue identifying visual data stored in a data store or database that is local or accessible through a network. The controller accesses the data store or database, downloads the pre-determined visual data, and controls the audio player and display such that playing of audio data and display of the retrieved visual data are synchronized with each other.
US08861923B2 Method, system and apparatus for controlling multimedia playing through via bluetooth
A system and method for controlling subtitle switching through Bluetooth are provided. The method includes the following steps: a Bluetooth control device transmits a media control instruction which instructs a Bluetooth multimedia playing device to perform subtitle switching to the Bluetooth multimedia playing device after a Bluetooth connection is established between the Bluetooth control device and the Bluetooth multimedia playing device; the Bluetooth multimedia playing device performs the subtitle switching after receiving the media control instruction, and after switching successfully, it loads the subtitle file which is obtained through switching and plays after combined with a video stream. By adopting the technical scheme of the present invention, it can realize wirelessly and remotely controlling a multimedia player through Bluetooth to load subtitle files freely and switch between a plurality of subtitle files when playing a multimedia video file.
US08861921B2 Photovoltaic device with frequency conversion region
The present invention provides an organic fibrous photovoltaic device with a frequency conversion region comprising a waveguide being arranged normal to the axis of the fiber.
US08861919B2 Fiber optic closure
A component for a closure is disclosed herein. The component includes a collar extending around a central axis. The component also includes a first expansion housing positioned outside the collar in a radial direction relative to the central axis. The first expansion housing has an interior region in communication with an interior of the collar. The first expansion housing also includes a first adapter mounting wall defining a plurality of first adapter mounting openings in which a plurality of first fiber optic adapters are mounted. The first fiber optic adapters include first connector ports adapted for receiving connectors from outside the first expansion housing.
US08861917B2 Opto-electric circuit board including metal-slotted optical waveguide and opto-electric simultaneous communication system
Disclosed are an opto-electric circuit board including a metal-slotted optical waveguide and an opto-electric simultaneous communication system. The opto-electric circuit board includes a lower metal thin film; a dielectric substance formed above the lower metal thin film; an upper metal thin film formed above the dielectric substance; and intermediate metal thin films that form optical waveguides at a predetermined interval on the same plane in the dielectric substance.
US08861913B2 Large core holey fibers
Holey fibers provide optical propagation. In various embodiments, a large core holey fiber comprises a cladding region formed by large holes arranged in few layers. The number of layers or rows of holes about the large core can be used to coarse tune the leakage losses of the fundamental and higher modes of a signal, thereby allowing the non-fundamental modes to be substantially eliminated by leakage over a given length of fiber. Fine tuning of leakage losses can be performed by adjusting the hole dimension and/or spacing to yield a desired operation with a desired leakage loss of the fundamental mode. Resulting holey fibers have a large hole dimension and spacing, and thus a large core, when compared to traditional fibers and conventional fibers that propagate a single mode. Other loss mechanisms, such as bend loss and modal spacing can be utilized for selected modes of operation of holey fibers.
US08861907B2 Methods and apparatus related to a side-fire member having a doped silica component
In one embodiment, an apparatus may include an optical fiber that may have a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber. The surface may define a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the optical fiber and incident on the interface to a direction offset from the longitudinal axis. The apparatus may also include a doped silica cap that may be fused to the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber may be disposed within a cavity defined by the doped silica cap.
US08861904B2 Optofluidic apparatus, method, and application
A reconfigurable optofluidic apparatus includes a microfluidic chip including a microfluidic channel further including an inlet for a liquid core waveguide fluid; a channel pathway for the liquid core waveguide fluid; a plurality of non-core waveguide fluid inlets; a switching chamber having a larger cross sectional area than the channel pathway; and an outlet for the liquid core waveguide fluid and non-core waveguide fluid, further including a plurality of non-liquid core waveguides disposed in the switching chamber. Light input to the apparatus propagates in the liquid core/liquid cladding (liquid) waveguide. The path of the liquid waveguide can be steered in a region of the apparatus over one of the non-liquid core waveguides such that the light is end-fire- or evanescently-coupled into the non-liquid core waveguide and output therefrom or between two of the non-liquid core waveguides and not coupled or output. Associated optofluidic switching methods are disclosed.
US08861901B2 Impact sensor of active hood system
An impact sensor of an active hood system includes a rear member, optical fiber sensors, a front member and membrane switch. Each of the optical fiber sensors is disposed on upper and lower portions of a front of the rear member and senses an impact force delivered from a bumper at the time of a crash with a pedestrian. The front member is disposed at the front of the rear member and has a protrusion part pressing the optical fiber sensors by the impact force delivered from the bumper at the time of the crash with the pedestrian. The membrane switch is disposed between the front member and the optical fiber sensor, divided into a plurality of regions from a left of the front member to a right thereof, and configured to sense a region which is pressed when the pedestrian crashes with the region.
US08861900B2 Probe optical assemblies and probes for optical coherence tomography
Probes optical assemblies and probes for optical coherence tomography (OCT) applications are disclosed. The probe assembly includes an optical fiber, a stub lens and a light-deflecting member arranged in a cooperative optical relationship to define an optical path between the optical fiber end and an image plane that is folded by the light-deflecting member. The optical probe includes a transparent jacket that contains the optical probe assembly.
US08861899B2 Optical fiber current transformer with optical fiber temperature acquisition and temperature compensation
An optical fiber current transformer includes a broadband light source, a depolarizer, a beam splitter, a temperature acquisition unit, a current acquisition unit, a modulation waveform generating unit, a data processing unit and a calculating compensation unit. The broadband light source is connected with the beam splitter by the depolarizer. A first output of the beam splitter is connected with the calculating compensation unit by the temperature acquisition unit. A second output of the beam splitter is connected with the data processing unit by the current acquisition unit. The data processing unit is connected with the calculating compensation unit. The calculating compensation unit is connected with the current acquisition unit by the modulation waveform generating unit. The optical fiber current transformer uses the temperature-current compensation curve in the calculating compensation unit to synchronously process the temperature and current, thereby improving the accuracy of real-time current measurement.
US08861896B2 Method and system for image-based identification
The present invention may provide a method for image-based identification. The method may include providing a digital photo of an unidentified item; transmitting, over a network, the digital photo to an identification service; in response to transmitting the digital photo, receiving, over the network, item information from the identification service, wherein the item information includes textual identification information about the item; and displaying the textual identification information.
US08861895B2 Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus comprises a processing unit for computing displacement amounts between a basis image and each reference image, a processing unit for generating multiple deformed images based on the displacement amounts, the basis image and multiple reference images, a processing unit for setting a threshold of a parameter, a processing unit for selecting image information from the reference image by threshold, a processing unit for generating composed images and weighted images based on the basis image, the displacement amounts and the image information, a processing unit for generating high-resolution grid images by dividing the composed image by the weighted image, a processing unit for generating simplified interpolation images based on high-resolution grid images, a processing unit for generating an image characteristic amount, a display unit for displaying the image characteristic amount and a control unit that controls the necessary processing as necessary.
US08861888B2 Image processing device, imaging device, and image processing method
An image processing device includes: a luminance saturation position detection unit which detects a luminance saturation position to produce a light source image; a flare model production unit which produces a flare model image based on the light source image and optical characteristics data of the optical system; a flare position setting unit which sets, as a flare position, a predetermined image position in the captured image and located near the luminance saturation position and on a side of an optical axis relative to the luminance saturation position; a flare model luminance adjustment unit which produces the estimated flare image by adjusting luminance gain of the flare model image, based on a relationship between a luminance value of the captured image at the flare position and a luminance value of the flare model image at the flare position; and an unnecessary light subtraction unit which subtracts the estimated flare image from the captured image.
US08861886B2 Enhanced visualization for medical images
A method for enhancing a radiographic image. The method includes obtaining image data for the radiographic image, generating conditioned image data by increasing differences between neighboring portions of at least a relatively uniform area of the radiographic image, generating an enhanced image by applying contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization to the conditioned image data, applying interpolation to the enhanced image, and displaying, storing, or transmitting the enhanced image.
US08861885B2 Directional noise filtering
Techniques in accordance with the following disclosure enable digital images to be filtered (smoothed) to reduce noise and, at the same time, preserve the image's underlying structure. In general, image pixels are analyzed to identify those that participate in, or belong to, structure within the image and those that do not. For those pixels determined to be part of the image's structure, the direction of that structure is determined and filtering or smoothing along that direction is provided. Contrast enhancement in a direction perpendicular to the detected edge's direction may also be provided.
US08861880B2 Image processing device and image processing method
A significant digit number encoding unit designates a predetermined number of coefficient data items generated from image data as a set. The maximum number of significant digits that have the greatest absolute value in relation to each set every cycle is obtained and information is encoded regarding the maximum number. An absolute value is extracted for the maximum number of each coefficient data item in a set; and the absolute value is encoded at a cycle different from that of the significant digit number encoding unit. A sign encoding unit encodes a positive or negative sign of each coefficient data item in a set whose absolute value is not 0 at a cycle different from that of the absolute value encoding unit.
US08861873B2 Image clustering a personal clothing model
The disclosure is related to a system and method for learning robust clothing clustering based on a cluster ensemble technique applied to the clothing features of images to improve clustering of images. Different types of clothing features that are complementary to each other are computed to provide extensive description of the clothing in the images. Multiple partitions are computed based on the clothing features to generate a cluster ensemble set. A consensus function is applied to the multiple partitions to generate a final clothing consensus clustering that encompasses the information contained in the multiple partitions. A system and method are disclosed for clustering images based on the clothing of one or more persons in the images.
US08861872B2 Image analysis using coefficient distributions with selective basis feature representation
Distributional information for a set of α vectors is determined using a sparse basis selection approach to representing an input image or video. In some examples, this distributional information is used for a classification task.
US08861863B2 Method and system for analyzing lip conditions using digital images
Systems and methods are provided for analyzing lip conditions using digital images. The method comprises acquiring a white-light image and an ultraviolet (“UV”) image of the lips of a subject, each of the white-light and UV images including a plurality of pixels and each pixel in the UV image corresponding to a respective pixel in the white-light image. The method further comprises identifying lip-pixels in the white-light and UV images, and obtaining results associated with at least one lip condition using information in the lip pixels in the first white light and UV images.
US08861862B2 Character recognition apparatus, character recognition method and program
The character recognition apparatus recognizes characters from a read document original to correct a character string as a character recognition result in a word unit with a space character as a separator. The character recognition apparatus includes a circumscribed rectangle formation portion which forms a circumscribed rectangle for each recognized alphabet character string, a fixed-pitch font determination portion which determines whether or not a font is a fixed-pitch font based on a distance between center lines in a width direction of adjacent circumscribed rectangles, a portion for determining an excess space character which determines, in the case of a fixed-pitch font, that the space character is an excess based on that a width of a space character in the character string is narrower than a predetermined width, and a portion for deleting the space character determined as an excess from the character string.
US08861861B2 System and method for processing receipts and other records of users
A service can perform optical character recognition (OCR) on an image of a record to determine a first set of information items about the record. A second set of information items can be identified that are likely part of the record but not determinable from performing OCR on the image. Another resource can be utilized to determine the second set of information items. A classification for the record can be determined based on first and second sets of information items. The record can be associated with a financial resource of the user based at least in part on the classification.
US08861855B2 Method and apparatus for simplifying electro-optical imaging systems
A method, apparatus and program product are provided for simplifying electro-optical imaging data. Spectral/temporal data is received. The spectral/temporal data is formulated into a vector/matrix. Feature extraction analysis is performed. At least two largest principal components are determined from the feature extraction analysis. A cluster diagram is created from the at least two largest principal components. A distance metric is evaluated from the cluster diagram. And, a largest metric is selected based on the distance metric.
US08861850B2 Digital image color correction
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for performing color correction operations to address memory color artifacts in a manner suited for real-time operations. In general, techniques are disclosed for correcting memory color rendering artifacts in an image without performing color space conversions. In one implementations, hue-saturation-value (HSV) image correction values may be expressed solely in terms of an image's base red-green-blue (RGB) color space values. Once expressed in this manner, color correction may be applied to the image directly—without the need to convert the image's color space into and out of a working color space (e.g., an HSV color space). As no color space conversions are necessary, the disclosed techniques are well-suited to real-time operations.
US08861848B2 Image processor and image processing method
An image processor includes a phase shift section to shift, upon field encoding an image in an interlaced format having different vertical resolutions in a luminance signal and a color difference signal, a phase of the luminance signal in accordance with a type of current field, which is subjected to process, and a vertical resolution ratio of the luminance signal to the color difference signal; a prediction image generation section to generate an intra prediction image of the color difference signal using the luminance signal having the phase shifted by the phase shift section; and an encoding section to encode, using the intra prediction image generated by the prediction image generation section, the image.
US08861845B2 Detecting and correcting redeye in an image
Systems and methods of detecting and correcting redeye in an image are described. In one aspect, pixels of the input image are segmented based on projections of color values of the pixels onto two-dimensional thresholding planes. Candidate redeye pixel areas are identified in the input image based on the segmented pixels of the input image.
US08861844B2 Pre-computing digests for image similarity searching of image-based listings in a network-based publication system
A system and method, which may be an offline method, extracts relevant image features about listing items in a network-based publication system for enabling image similarity searching of such listing items. When a seller lists an item, an image of the item is uploaded and may be sent to a picture processing service, which generates several digests. The digests are compressed data structures each representing a particular image feature such as edge, color, texture, or words. These digests are then stored in a search database, where the digests can be used to retrieve listings by image similarity at scale. A similar process can be performed for a query listing for searching the search database for items similar to the query listing.
US08861841B2 Building a three-dimensional composite scene
The capture and alignment of multiple 3D scenes is disclosed. Three dimensional capture device data from different locations is received thereby allowing for different perspectives of 3D scenes. An algorithm uses the data to determine potential alignments between different 3D scenes via coordinate transformations. Potential alignments are evaluated for quality and subsequently aligned subject to the existence of sufficiently high relative or absolute quality. A global alignment of all or most of the input 3D scenes into a single coordinate frame may be achieved. The presentation of areas around a particular hole or holes takes place thereby allowing the user to capture the requisite 3D scene containing areas within the hole or holes as well as part of the surrounding area using, for example, the 3D capture device. The new 3D captured scene is aligned with existing 3D scenes and/or 3D composite scenes.
US08861839B2 Human tracking system
An image such as a depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. A grid of voxels may then be generated based on the depth image such that the depth image may be downsampled. A background included in the grid of voxels may also be removed to isolate one or more voxels associated with a foreground object such as a human target. A location or position of one or more extremities of the isolated human target may be determined and a model may be adjusted based on the location or position of the one or more extremities.
US08861838B2 Apparatus and method for correcting stereoscopic image using matching information
An apparatus for correcting a stereoscopic image using matching information, includes: a matching information visualizer receiving input of original stereoscopic images and intuitive matching information and visualizing a pair of stereoscopic images based on the intuitive matching information; a correction information processor obtaining a statistical camera parameter based on the intuitive matching information and correcting the received stereoscopic image using the statistical camera parameter; and an error allowable controller providing allowable error information to the correction information processor in consideration of an error allowable degree according to a selected time from the received intuitive matching information and preset human factor guide information, to extract a correlation between stereoscopic images using a stereoscopic image and provided information, thereby helping such that an erroneously photographed image is correctly photographed or correcting the image such that the erroneously photographed image is correctly interpreted, which leads to minimization of visual fatigue.
US08861833B2 Simultaneous three-dimensional geometry and color texture acquisition using single color camera
A system for simultaneous real-time three-dimensional geometry and color texture acquisition. The system includes a system processor for generating at least three phase shifted black and white fringe patterns with a phase shift of 2 π/3, a light projector adapted to project the fringe patterns onto an object, the projector being electrically connected with the system processor, and a color camera for capturing the fringe patterns to generate at least three raw fringe images. The fringe images are used to calculate a black and white texture image which is further converted to a color image by employing a demosaicing algorithm. The fringe images are also used to calculate a wrapped phase map that is further processed to generate a continuous unwrapped phase map by employing a phase unwrapping algorithm and the unwrapped phase map is converted to co-ordinates using calibrated system parameters for point-by-point three-dimensional shape measurement.
US08861831B2 Method for analyzing the quality of a glazing unit
A method for analyzing quality of a glazing unit including: generating a digital image of a test chart produced in reflection by an outer surface of the glazing, the test chart presenting a pattern composed of a plurality of contrasted elements defining between them interface lines; calculating quantities representative of the glazing from the image generated, the calculation being carried out by a processing unit; and comparing the calculated values for the representative values relative to reference values. The representative quantities are representative of a deformation of the image of the test chart produced in reflection by the outer surface of the glazing.
US08861829B2 Method and system for reconstruction of tomographic images
Approaches are described for processing half-scan or full-scan cone beam image data using one or more half-ramp filtering operations. In one embodiment, the half-ramp filtering operations allow extraction and use of missing frequency data so as to generate a reconstructed image that is relatively complete in terms of frequency data and which has suitable temporal resolution. In addition, in certain embodiments, the reconstructed image may have uniform frequency weighting.
US08861826B2 X-ray CT device
A view image of high time resolution acquired in an imaging process of X-ray CT is displayed. In this display, by subtracting a background image obtained by forward projection calculation of a CT image from the view image, background is removed from the view image, and only a focused site is imaged. A transmission image of the focused site showing high display contrast and not easily influenced by a motion artifact can be thereby obtained. Thereby, in an X-ray CT device for diagnostic imaging, degradation of diagnostic ability due to motion artifacts can be prevented.
US08861821B2 Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of the present invention has: an image generator configured to execute transmission/reception of ultrasound waves to chronologically generate ultrasound image data of plural frames; a multiresolution decomposition part configured to hierarchically perform multiresolution decomposition on the ultrasound image data to acquire first-order to nth-order (n represents a natural number of 2 or more) low-band decomposition image data and first-order to nth-order high-band decomposition image data; a feature amount calculator configured to calculate a feature amount based on the acquired low-band decomposition image data; a filtering processor configured to perform a filtering operation on the calculated feature amount; and a multiresolution composition part configured to execute multiresolution composition using the low-band decomposition image data and high-band decomposition image data to generate a composite image. Thus, the apparatus can efficiently reduce change in speckle/noise in the temporal direction and perform a process without a time phase delay.
US08861819B2 Apparatus and method for correcting artifacts of functional image acquired by magnetic resonance imaging
A method of processing data acquired by an MRI apparatus includes: acquiring functional image data of an object; acquiring structural image data of the object; determining motion information of the object based on the structural image data; and correcting the functional image data based on the motion information of the object to generate a corrected functional image of the object.
US08861818B2 Preoperative planning program and operation support jig for hip replacement arthroplasty
According to one embodiment, a preoperative planning method performed by a computer for hip replacement arthroplasty, includes a base jig setting step of setting a three-dimensional image of a base jig having three or more columnar supports which abut on three or more reference points of the pelvis with respect to the three-dimensional image of the pelvis obtained at the image reconstruction step, and a parameter acquisition step of parameterizing and acquiring a direction of an indicator which runs through a predetermined position on the base jig in the three-dimensional image of the base jig set at the base jig setting step and becomes parallel to the installation direction of the joint prostheses determined at the joint prostheses determination step.
US08861817B2 Image processing apparatus, control method thereof, and computer program
The present invention an image processing apparatus, which processes an image of a tomogram obtained by capturing an image of an eye to be examined by a tomography apparatus, comprises, layer candidate detection means for detecting layer candidates of a retina of the eye to be examined from the tomogram, artifact region determination means for determining an artifact region in the tomogram based on image features obtained using the layer candidates, and image correction means for correcting intensities in the artifact region based on a determination result of the artifact region determination means and image features in the region.
US08861806B2 Real-time face tracking with reference images
A method of tracking a face in a reference image stream using a digital image acquisition device includes acquiring a full resolution main image and an image stream of relatively low resolution reference images each including one or more face regions. One or more face regions are identified within two or more of the reference images. A relative movement is determined between the two or more reference images. A size and location are determined of the one or more face regions within each of the two or more reference images. Concentrated face detection is applied to at least a portion of the full resolution main image in a predicted location for candidate face regions having a predicted size as a function of the determined relative movement and the size and location of the one or more face regions within the reference images, to provide a set of candidate face regions for the main image.
US08861803B2 Image recognition apparatus, image recognition method, and program
An image recognition apparatus includes an extraction unit configured to extract a feature quantity for each local area from an input image, a conversion unit configured to convert the feature quantity extracted by the extraction unit into a feature quantity indicating a degree with respect to an attribute for each local area, a verification unit configured to verify the feature quantity converted by the conversion unit against a feature quantity of a registered image, and an identification unit configured to identify whether the input image is identical to the registered image by integrating the verification result for each local area acquired by the verification unit.
US08861800B2 Rapid 3D face reconstruction from a 2D image and methods using such rapid 3D face reconstruction
Creating a 3D face reconstruction model using a single 2D image and a generic facial depth map that provides depth information. In one example, the generic facial depth map is selected based on gender and ethnicity/race. In one embodiment, a set of facial features of the 2D image is mapped to create a facial-feature map, and a 2D mesh is created using the map. The same set of facial features is also mapped onto a generic facial depth map, and a 3D mesh is created therefrom. The 2D image is then warped by transposing depth information from the 3D mesh of the generic facial depth map onto the 2D mesh of the 2D image so as to create a reconstructed 3D model of the face. The reconstructed 3D model can be used, for example, to create one or more synthetic off-angle-pose images of the subject of the original 2D image.
US08861797B2 Calibrating vision systems
Methods, systems, and computer program calibrate a vision system. An image of a human gesture is received that frames a display device. A boundary defined by the human gesture is computed, and gesture area defined by the boundary is also computed. The gesture area is then mapped to pixels in the display device.
US08861796B1 Patent analyzing system
A patent analyzing system for efficiently reviewing and analyzing a patent document (e.g. patent application, published patent document or patent). The patent analyzing system includes identifying the element names within a patent document and modifying patent drawing sheets to include element names and figure descriptions.
US08861795B2 Virtual white lines for delimiting planned excavation sites
Method and apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. At least one marked-up digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the image including at least one indicator to delimit the dig area, is electronically processed by converting the at least one indicator to a plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area. Information relating to a locate request ticket identifying the dig area to be excavated is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored, wherein the locate request ticket includes image data and non-image data associated with the dig area. The image data includes the at least one marked-up digital image of the geographic area surrounding the dig area, and the non-image data includes the plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area.
US08861794B2 Virtual white lines for indicating planned excavation sites on electronic images
Methods and apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. Source data representing one or more input images of a geographic area including the dig area is electronically received at a first user location, which may be remote from the dig area. The source data is processed so as to display at least a portion of the input image(s) on a display device at the first user location. One or more indicators are added to the displayed input image(s), via a user input device associated with the display device, to provide at least one indication of the dig area and thereby generate a marked-up digital image. In one example, the indicator(s) is/are added to the displayed input image(s) without acquiring geographic coordinates corresponding to the indicator(s).
US08861793B1 Depth map generation based on vanishing lines and vanishing points
A method can include detecting a pixel direction and a pixel weight for each of a number of pixels in an image, generating one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) histograms based on the pixel directions and weights, and generating a global 2D histogram based on the generated 1D and 2D histograms. The method can also include generating a final depth map based on the global 2D histogram. The method can also include generating a block histogram statistic based on the pixel directions and pixel weights and checking the block histogram based on the block histogram statistic.
US08861790B2 System and method for guiding a mobile device
A method, apparatus and system for guiding a number of mobile devices. An image of a portion of an environment around a mobile device in the number of mobile devices is received from a sensor system associated with the mobile device. A set of pixels in the image that meets a standard is identified. A centroid for the set of pixels that meets the standard is identified. A number of commands for guiding the mobile device within the environment is generated based on the centroid.
US08861787B2 Environment recognition device and environment recognition method
There are provided an environment, recognition device and an environment recognition method. The environment, recognition device obtains a luminance of a target portion in a detection area; obtains a height of the target portion; derives a white balance correction value, assuming that white balancing is performed to the obtained luminance; derives the corrected luminance by subtracting the white balance correction value and a color correction value based upon a color correction intensity indicating a degree of an influence of environment light from the obtained luminance; and provisionally determines a specific object corresponding to the target portion from the corrected luminance of the target portion based on an association of a luminance range and the specific object retained in a data retaining unit.
US08861781B2 Digital watermark embedding apparatus and method
An apparatus includes: a generator which generates a first pattern including a plurality of pixels having a first value, with an area of the first pattern changing in a constant cycle, and, a phase of cyclical change of the area changing based on a value of a symbol included in an inputted digital watermark information; a generator which generates a second pattern including a plurality of pixels having a second value, with an area of the second pattern changing with a frequency characteristic that is different from the cycle of change of the area; and a unit which superimposes the first and the second pattern into each image area of images in time series constituting an inputted video image to correct a value of each pixel in an image area to which the first or the second pattern is superimposed according to the first and the second value.
US08861779B2 Methods for electronically analysing a dialogue and corresponding systems
The invention relates to a method for electronically evaluating a dialog between at least two persons comprising receiving audio data, analyzing the audio data to determine the reparation of utterances of the at least two persons in the course of the dialog and comparing the results of the analysis with predetermined communication patterns.
US08861777B2 Vibrating element
A vibrating element includes a diaphragm and a voice coil. The diaphragm has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, in which the first surface includes a first conductive region and a second conductive region separated from the first conductive region. The voice coil is disposed at the first surface of the diaphragm, in which two ends of the voice coil are respectively electrically connected to the first conductive region and the second conductive region, and the two ends of the voice coil are located within a region circled by the voice coil on the first surface.
US08861775B2 Stereo system and speakers for a watercraft
A speaker and stereo system for a watercraft are disclosed. The stereo system includes an amplifier sized and adapted to fit within an internal compartment of the watercraft, and having a power input that connects to a battery of the watercraft for power. The amplifier further includes a control input, a signal amplifier, at least two audio outputs connected to the signal amplifier, and an audio input for receiving a digital audio signal from a digital music player to be amplified by the signal amplifier. The speaker for use with the stereo system includes a speaker housing having a flattened bottom, an opening at a front face, and an enclosure that tapers and extends to a substantially pointed terminal end. The speaker further includes a waterproof loudspeaker pivotally connected within the opening of the front face of the speaker housing to face a direction substantially opposite the pointed terminal end, and a mounting mechanism for removably mounting the speaker housing to an outer surface of the watercraft.
US08861772B2 Earphone receiving assembly and portable electronic device having same
An earphone receiving assembly for receiving an earphone includes a main body surrounding an accommodating space for receiving the earphone and defining an opening communicating with the accommodating space, a cover releasably locked in the opening, and a releasing assembly. The releasing assembly includes a fastening member secured to the main body and a rotating member rotatably assembled to the fastening member. The cover is slidably assembled to the rotating member. When the cover is released from being locked within the opening, the rotating member rotates and lifts the cover from the opening to expose the earphone.
US08861761B2 System for hearing assistance device including receiver in the canal
The present subject matter includes a hearing assistance device connection system for a user having an ear canal comprising a housing, electronics disposed in the housing, a cable electrically connected to the receiver and at least one conductive silicone component to electrically connect the electronics to the receiver.
US08861754B2 Moving iron unit for loudspeakers
This invention provides a moving iron unit for loudspeakers, which includes coil, iron core, diaphragm, and magnet, among which, the iron core is disposed in the coil, and the magnet is connected to the diaphragm on a transmission basis. It is characterized in that it also includes vibrating ring, to which the magnet is secured, and which is secured to the inner wall of a shielded cavity through its elastic body disposed radially, and which is connected to the diaphragm on a transmission basis through the transmission rod. Further, the unit comprises two diaphragms, which are disposed symmetrically at two sides of the vibrating ring and connected respectively to the vibrating ring on a transmission basis through a transmission rod. The coil is shaped directly by coiling on the iron core.
US08861753B2 Acoustic transducer, and microphone using the acoustic transducer
An acoustic sensor includes: a semiconductor substrate; a vibrating membrane, formed above the semiconductor substrate, which includes a vibrating electrode; and a fixed membrane, formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, which includes a fixed electrode, the acoustic sensor detecting an acoustic wave according to a change in capacitance between the vibrating electrode and the fixed electrode. The fixed membrane has a plurality of sound hole portions formed therein in order to allow the acoustic wave to reach the vibrating membrane from outside, and the fixed electrode is formed so that a boundary of an edge portion of the fixed electrode does not intersect the sound hole portions.
US08861751B2 Audio processing apparatus
In an audio processing apparatus of the present invention, one or two audio signals selected from a surround rear left audio signal, a left outer audio signal and a left upper audio signal is (are) amplified to be outputted from a speaker terminal(s) corresponding to this (these) channel(s) without necessity to provide amplifiers of all channels. When the surround rear left audio signal is included, a switch S13a is turned ON to supply the surround rear left audio signal amplified by an amplifier 12a to a SP terminal 14a. When the left outer audio signal is included, a switch 13b is turned ON to supply the left outer audio signal amplified by the amplifier 12a to a SP terminal 14b, or a switch 13c is turned ON to supply the left outer audio signal amplified by an amplifier 12b to the SP terminal 14b. When the left upper audio signal is included, a switch 13d is turned ON to supply the left upper audio signal amplified by the amplifier 12b to a SP terminal 14c.
US08861748B2 Amplifier and amplifier control method
Disclosed is a class D amplifier comprising a modulation stage having a first input for receiving an input signal and an output for producing a modulated version of the input signal; a plurality of power stages, each power stage being responsive to said modulation stage and comprising a first switch and a second switch coupled in series between a first voltage source and a second voltage source, each power stage comprising an output node between the first switch and the second switch; and a power stage control circuit for measuring the input signal level and enabling a selected number of the power stages as a function of the measured input signal level. A method for controlling such a class D amplifier is also disclosed.
US08861745B2 Wind noise mitigation
A method of compensating for noise in a receiver having a first receiver unit and a second receiver unit, the method includes receiving a first transmission at the first receiver unit, the first transmission having a first signal component and a first noise component; receiving a second transmission at the second receive unit, the second transmission having a second signal component and a second noise component; determining whether the first noise component and the second noise component are incoherent and; only if it is determined that the first and second noise components are incoherent, processing the first and second transmissions in a first processing path, wherein the first processing path is configured to compensate for incoherent noise.
US08861741B2 Acoustic device, noise control method, noise control program, and recording medium
When the signal level of a signal AOD, to which a cancellation signal CND of ACD is added, is larger than the signal level of ACD, a rate of change calculation part 173 calculates the maximum value (=1) as a rate of change parameter for showing that the degree of noise cancellation should be made highest. When the signal level of AOD, to which CND of ACD is added, is smaller than the signal level of ACD, the rate of change calculation part 173 calculates a change parameter rate to show that the larger the difference between both the signal levels are, the lower the degree of the noise cancellation becomes. A cancellation signal generation part 175 then generates CND and transmits it to an addition part 171 while taking the values of the change parameter rate into consideration. As a result, proper noise control can be easily performed.
US08861740B2 Automatic computer audio input and output control
An automatic arrangement for deactivating a computer's speaker or microphone immediately upon the unplugging of an external headphone, speaker or microphone from the computer. Similar principles can be employed in other contexts where there is a desire to afford different types or levels of audio output to different parties or in different settings.
US08861737B2 Trust establishment from forward link only to non-forward link only devices
A method, apparatus, and/or system are provided for establishing trust between an accessory device and a host device, using a global key known to both the host device and the accessory device, so that content protection for subscriber-based mobile broadcast services is provided. A secure link may be established between the accessory device and the host device so that when the accessory device receives encrypted content via a secured forward link only network, the accessory device may decrypt the content at the forward link only stack. The content is then re-encrypted/re-secured using one or more derived encryption keys and then sent to the host device where it may be decrypted and played back. A global key, unique to the particular device type of the host device, is employed to ultimately derive the session encryption keys used to re-encrypt/re-secure the content conveyed from the accessory device to the host device.
US08861733B2 Method of personalizing a NFC chipset
The invention relates to a method for personalizing a secure processor in a NFC system to execute a secure application, comprising steps of obtaining by a server identification data of a user memorized in a secure storage medium, personalization data corresponding to the user identification data, and identification data of a NFC system of the user, comprising an encryption key of the secure processor, encrypting by the server personalization data using the encryption key, transmitting to the NFC system encrypted personalization data, receiving by the secure processor encrypted personalization data, deciphering personalization data, and memorizing in a secured way personalization data by the secure processor.
US08861730B2 Arranging data ciphering in a wireless telecommunication system
Arranging data ciphering in a telecommunication system comprising at least one wireless terminal, a wireless local area network and a public land mobile network. At least one first ciphering key according to the mobile network is calculated in the mobile network and in the terminal for a terminal identifier using a specific secret key for the identifier. Data transmission between the mobile network and the terminal is carried out through the wireless local area network. A second ciphering key is calculated in the terminal and in the mobile network using said at least one first ciphering key. The second ciphering key is sent from the mobile network to the wireless local area network. The data between the terminal and the network is ciphered using said second ciphering key.
US08861728B2 Integrated circuit tamper detection and response
The present disclosure relates to integrated circuits having tamper detection and response devices and methods for manufacturing such integrated circuits. One integrated circuit having a tamper detection and response device includes at least one photovoltaic cell and at least one memory cell coupled to the at least one photovoltaic cell. When the at least one photovoltaic cell is exposed to radiation, the at least one photovoltaic cell generates a current that causes an alteration to a memory state of the at least one memory cell. Another integrated circuit having a tamper detection and response device includes at least one photovoltaic cell and a reactive material coupled to the at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein a current from the at least one photovoltaic cell triggers an exothermic reaction in the reactive material.
US08861725B2 Random bit stream generator with enhanced backward secrecy
A random bit stream generator includes a plurality of feedback shift registers configured to store a plurality of bit values that represent an internal state of the random bit stream generator. Each feedback shift register includes a register input and a register output. The random bit stream generator further includes a Boolean output function configured to receive the plurality of register outputs from the plurality of feedback registers, to perform a first Boolean combination of the plurality of register outputs, and to provide a corresponding output bit, wherein a plurality of successive output bits forms a random bit stream. A feedback loop is configured to perform a second Boolean combination of the output bit with at least one register feedback bit of at least one of the feedback shift registers, so that the register input of the at least one feedback shift register is a function of the output bit.
US08861722B2 Generating a session key for authentication and secure data transfer
A device for generating a session key which is known to a first communication partner and a second communication partner, for the first communication partner, from secret information which may be determined by the first and second communication partners, includes a first module operable to calculate the session key using a concatenation of at least a part of a random number and a part of the secret information. The device also includes a second module operable to use the session key for communication with the second communication partner.
US08861721B2 System and method for securing scalar multiplication against simple power attacks
The system and method for securing scalar multiplication against simple power attacks (SPAs) delays required point additions in elliptic curve cryptosystem scalar multiplication. A buffer is used to store the points that will be added later until the buffer is full or the last bit of a multiplier k is inspected, Then, the stored points in the buffer are added to the accumulation point. The same procedure is repeated whenever the buffer is full again. This makes the power trace appears as a repeated sequence of consecutive point doubling followed by consecutive point additions. This makes it very difficult for an attacker to know the exact value of the inspected bit during the scalar multiplication process.
US08861716B2 Efficient homomorphic encryption scheme for bilinear forms
In one exemplary embodiment, a computer readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine for performing operations including: receiving information B to be encrypted as a ciphertext C in accordance with an encryption scheme having an encrypt function; and encrypting B in accordance with the encrypt function to obtain C, the scheme utilizes at least one public key A, where B, C, and A are matrices, the encrypt function receives as inputs A and B and outputs C as C→AS+pX+B (mod q), S is a random matrix, X is an error matrix, p is in integer, q is an odd prime number. In other exemplary embodiments, the encryption scheme includes a decrypt function that receives as inputs at least one private key T (a matrix) and C and outputs B as B=T−1·(TCTt mod q)·(Tt)−1 mod p.
US08861715B2 Electronic device
An electronic device includes a housing having an open portion at a part of a surface thereof, a door portion having at the open portion, a first face and a second face to be selectively exposed by rotation thereof, and a cradle having a connector and provided on the first face. The cradle is rotatable between a first attitude and a second attitude around a rotation axis line perpendicularly intersecting the first face.
US08861714B1 Holder for hand-held electronic communication device
The holder for a hand-held electronic communication device is lightweight and comprises a perforated faceplate and a base of ergonomic form symmetrically constructed for ambidextrous, hand-held use, shoulder support, and surface support in both portrait and landscape orientations. The faceplate incorporates two clamping mechanisms, one being operative for fixing its gripping part in selected positions of extension from the faceplate and the other dynamically adjusting to position its gripping part for cooperatively clamping the communication device therebetween. A peripheral gasket on the front of the faceplate cushions and positionally stabilizes the mounted device, and is formed to promote the projection of sound waves from under the mounted device. The base may have holes and/or an internal acoustic baffle to further promote the projection of sound waves from its cavity, and holes in the faceplate and/or the base may enhance aesthetic attributes.
US08861713B2 Clipping based on cepstral distance for acoustic echo canceller
Echo cancellation is provided in a telephone device by calculating a metric value indicative of a similarity between a representation of an incoming signal from a far end talker and a representation of an outgoing signal from a near end talker. A threshold value is derived based on the metric value. A portion of the outgoing signal is removed by using the threshold value to determine an amount to remove from the outgoing signal with continuous, real-time updating of the threshold value.
US08861711B2 Echo cancellation apparatus, conferencing system using the same, and echo cancellation method
An echo cancellation apparatus is connectable to a speaker configured to output speaker signals and a microphone configured to receive a sound from the speaker and including a plurality of microphone elements. The echo cancellation apparatus includes: a generating unit configured to generate a plurality of sensitivity signals having different sensitivity patterns which represent directionality of the microphone, based on a plurality of microphone signals obtained from the respective microphone signals; a delay estimating unit configured to determine a shortest delay time as an estimated delay time, the shortest delay time being a shortest one of delay times between the speaker signals and the microphone signals, the delay times being obtained from the respective sensitivity signals; and an echo suppressing unit configured to suppress echoes of the plurality of microphone signals using the estimated delay time.
US08861708B2 System and method for monitoring a voice in real time
The invention relates to a system and a method for real-time monitoring and analyses of a conversation of an agent by capturing and processing a plurality of features of the speech of the agent during the conversation with the caller. The system and method further provides a monitoring device for detecting a variation in the conversation, detecting location of the caller and suggesting location specific vocabulary. The system and method also provides an alert engine for transmitting an alert in real-time at the agent console.
US08861706B2 Directory assistance service based on context identifier
Methods and systems are disclosed for providing context information pertaining to a request of a directory assistance operator service based on a context identifier. The context identifier permits the directory assistance operator service to obtain context information including a location of the user and a location relevant to a directory listing search. The context identifier also can be used to pass context information or directory listing information across multiple types of user devices that use different types of services including a television service, a mobile service, a landline telephone service, and Internet service, and third party devices to permit enhanced directory assistance services to be provided to the user.
US08861704B2 Systems, methods, and computer programs for transitioning from a phone-only mode to a web conference mode
Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for transitioning from a phone-only mode to a web conference mode. One embodiment is a method for participating in an audio conference comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants via a communication network, at least one of the participants participating in the audio conference in a phone-only mode; and a server in communication with the conferencing system presenting to the phone-only participant, via a user interface on a computing device, a phone-only control menu for enabling the phone-only participant to selectively transition from the phone-only mode to a web conferencing mode.
US08861703B2 System and method for reconnecting a device to a group call
A system and method for reestablishing a voice communications session moderated by a group call server between two or more telephony devices. The method is performed by a processor monitoring the communications session. The method comprises: storing one or more data records representing group call information; detecting disconnection of at least one participating telephony device from the group communications session, and determining that the disconnection was not intentionally initiated; accessing the stored call group information data and causing signals to enable reestablishment of participation by the disconnected device to be sent to the disconnected device; and upon receipt by the group call server from the disconnected device of signals representing a request to reconnect the disconnected device, outputting command signals for reestablishing a communications session between the disconnected device and at least one other device participating in the group communications session.
US08861699B2 Electronic display method and device
The present invention is directed to a display method and an electronic device. The method comprises acquiring a first display instruction; in response to the first display instruction, displaying the second ID identification on the display unit, and displaying M first content identifications simultaneously, wherein, the first content identification is used for characterizing the communication content of the call process of the first ID identification and the second ID identification, and M is a positive integer greater than or equal to one.
US08861691B1 Methods for managing telecommunication service and devices thereof
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and a service management computing device comprises obtaining one or more call detail records associated with one or more customers from one or more data sources. Each of the obtained call detail records is scanned to determine presence of a call drop in each of the obtained call detail records. Next, a customer experience index and an impact value is determined for the one or more call detail records for which the call drop is determined to be present. Based on the determined experience index, one or more actions are performed.
US08861690B2 Method and system for call, facsimile and electronic messaging forwarding
A method and system are provided for forwarding telephone calls, facsimile transmissions and electronic messages to a single forwarding telephone number. The telephone calls, fax transmissions and electronic messages are first forwarded to a central forwarding repository by the forwarding party where the fax transmissions, and messages are converted to audio formats. Forwarded telephone calls and audio formatted versions of the fax transmissions and electronic messages are then forwarded directly to a designated forwarding number. If the forwarding party answers at the forwarding number, she will receive forwarded calls, and the audio formatted versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages will be played to her over her telephone. If the forwarding party does not answer the forwarded call, she subsequently may retrieve saved telephone calls, saved telephone messages and saved audio versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages from the central forwarding repository. The forwarding party may retrieve saved messages as a retrieving party from the central forwarding repository after entry of a personal identification number to authenticate the forwarding (retrieving) party's permission to retrieve saved calls and messages.
US08861689B1 System and method to facilitate communication between users via different modalities
Methods and systems to facilitate communications between users via different modalities. A method includes identifying, by a first user device, a voice call originating from a second user device, and presenting a user interface to a user of the first user device, where the user interface provides an option to respond to the voice call by voice and an option to respond to the voice call in a text form. The method further includes detecting that the user of the first user device has selected the option to respond to the voice call in the text form, and causing a user response to the voice call to be converted into voice data for the second user device.
US08861687B2 Integrated hybird circuit applied to a digital subscriber loop and setting method thereof
An integrated hybrid circuit includes a transmission unit, a transceiver coil, a transceiver circuit, a hybrid matching circuit, and a receiving circuit. The transmission unit generates a pair of upstream signals according to a user transmission signal. The transceiver coil transmits the pair of upstream signals to a central office through a pair of twisted pair, and receiving a pair of downstream signals from the central office through the pair of twisted pair. The hybrid matching circuit receives an adjustment signal to adjust selective impedances. The receiving circuit receives the pair of downstream signals from the central office, and generates the adjustment signal according to downstream and upstream rates and signals from the hybrid matching circuit. The transmission unit adjusts transmission power and bandwidth of the transmission unit and the receiving unit adjusts filter bandwidth of the receiving unit according to the adjustment signal for optimizing upstream and downstream rates.
US08861686B2 X-ray generating apparatus and X-ray imaging system having the same
An X-ray imaging system that generates a large amount of X-rays sufficient for X-ray imaging and collimates X-rays in a direction parallel to each other at high density. The X-ray imaging system includes an X-ray generating apparatus to generate and emit X-rays, a detector to detect the X-rays emitted from the X-ray generating apparatus, and at least one collimator disposed between the X-ray generating apparatus and the detector to prevent dispersion of the X-rays emitted from the X-ray generating apparatus.
US08861685B2 Scattered-radiation collimator and method for producing a scattered radiation collimator
A scattered-radiation collimator is disclosed for radiological radiation with a multiplicity of absorber elements that are arranged one behind the other in a collimation direction and held in a support frame. In at least one embodiment, the support frame includes a holding device for holding the absorber elements on opposite sides across the collimation direction, and at least one strip-like holding element spans the absorber elements in a collimation direction on the radiation entry side and/or the radiation exit side of the scattered-radiation collimator and additionally fixes the absorber elements on the longitudinal edges thereof in a mechanical fashion. In at least one embodiment, the holding elements prevent deformations of long absorber elements caused by centrifugal forces to a large extent. This affords the possibility of implementing scattered-radiation collimators with a large Z-coverage that meet the demand on the absorber elements in respect of dimensional stability and positional accuracy. Moreover, at least one embodiment of the invention relates to a method for producing such a scattered-radiation collimator.
US08861684B2 Forward- and variable-offset hoop for beam scanning
An apparatus for forming a beam of energetic particles and for scanning the beam of particles with respect to an inspected object. The apparatus has a source of energetic particles characterized by an effective beam origin and a rotating hoop having at least one aperture, such that the effective beam origin of the source is closer to the inspected object than the axis of rotation of the rotating hoop. A collimating structure disposed interior to the rotating hoop collimates emission by the source into a fan beam prior to impinging on the rotating hoop. In some embodiments, the effective beam origin may be moved with respect to the axis of rotation of the hoop.
US08861683B2 Monolithic capillary parallel X-ray lens
An X-ray lens is provided. The lens is located behind an X-ray tube and a collimator, the collimator located behind the X-ray tube, such that X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube pass through the collimator and then pass through the X-ray lens, wherein the X-ray lens is a monolithic capillary parallel lens configured to transform a cone emanant beam penetrating the collimator into parallel X-rays.
US08861681B2 Method and system for active resonant voltage switching
Methods and systems for active resonant voltage switching are provided. One active resonant switching system includes a voltage switching system having one or more active resonant modules to provide a switching voltage output. Each of the resonant modules includes a plurality of switching devices configured to operate in open and closed states to produce first and second voltage level outputs from a voltage input. The resonant modules also include a capacitor connected to the switching devices and configured to receive a discharge energy during a resonant operating cycle when switching an output voltage from the first voltage level to the second voltage level, wherein the capacitor is further configured to restore system energy when switching from the second to first voltage level. The resonant modules further include a resonant inductor configured to transfer energy to and from the capacitor.
US08861678B2 Power and communication interface between a digital X-ray detector and an X-ray imaging system
A system for eliminating image artifacts caused by electromagnetic interference (EMI) on a portable digital x-ray detector that is capable of non-contact wireless inductively coupled power transfer and capacitively coupled communication and data transfer. An X-ray imaging system comprising a portable digital X-ray detector inductively and capacitively coupled to a power source and communication device that is coupled to a detector receptacle of the X-ray imaging system when the portable digital X-ray detector is located within the detector receptacle to transfer power from a power supply of the power source and communication device to the portable digital X-ray detector and transfer communication and data between the power source and communication device and the portable digital X-ray detector.
US08861677B2 Apparatus and method for electromagnetic inspection of cannula alignment
A syringe inspection device and method for determining the position of a cannula in a cannula shield attached to a syringe. An electromagnetic radiation emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation having a propagation axis. An electromagnetic radiation detector has an inspection window defined by a beam restrictor. A mount is configured to releasably retain the syringe between the emitter and the detector such that a longitudinal axis of the syringe is substantially coincident with the propagation axis. An image analyzer is operatively coupled to the detector. The image analyzer is configured to produce a syringe rejection signal when the cannula is irradiated and an electromagnetic image in the inspection window has two or less distinctly separate objects based on a contiguity of pixels having substantially like-valued intensity.
US08861674B2 Computed tomography apparatus
The invention relates to a computed tomography apparatus for imaging an object. The computed tomography apparatus comprises a radiation source (2) for generating modulated radiation (4) traversing the object and a detector (6) for generating detection values depending on the radiation (4) after having traversed the object, while the radiation source (2) and the object are moved relative to each other. A weight providing unit (14) provides modulation weights for weighting the detection values depending on the modulation of the radiation (4) and a reconstruction unit (15) reconstructs an image of the object, wherein the detection values are weighted based on the provided modulation weights and an image of the object is reconstructed from the weighted detection values. This can allow to optimize the dose application to the object by modulating the radiation accordingly, wherein the reconstructed images still have a high quality.
US08861665B2 Communication system, communication device, and method for operating communication system
A communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device that performs power line communication with the first communication device via an electric power line, wherein the first communication device transmits an initial packet signal added with an error detection code in each zero crossing period including zero crossing timing while changing transmission timing within the zero crossing period. The second communication device specifies optimum communication timing out of a plurality of pieces of transmission timing within the zero crossing periods based on a result of error detection on each initial packet signal, and transmits an ACK signal including timing information on the optimum communication timing. Then, the first communication device transmits a data packet signal in the optimum communication timing within the zero crossing period, which is specified based on the timing information.
US08861659B2 Data receiving circuit and data receiving method
A data receiving circuit and a data receiving method accurately acquire a data signal corresponding to information data from a high speed high density transmitted signal. An increase or a decrease of the level of one of a amplified data signal and a level converted data signal that is transmitted from one, referred to as one processing stage, of an amplification processing stage and a level converting processing stage, is fed back to a stage preceding the one processing stage. The amplification processing stage supplies, to a first line, an amplified data signal obtained by performing an amplification processing on a received data signal, and the level converting processing stage transmits, via a second line, a level converted data signal obtained by performing a level converting processing on the amplified data signal.
US08861658B1 Signal power estimation for cellular OFDM systems
Signal power of a received signal, which has a plurality of preamble sequences associated with sub-carrier signals received from a plurality of sub-carriers, in a cellular Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing system may be estimated by estimating as power for at least one preamble sequence of a signal received at a selected receive antenna. The preamble sequence is associated with a base station and a set of sub-carriers. A differential received signal developed for one of the set of sub-carriers is correlated with a normalized differential transmit signal for the preamble sequence, and the estimate of the power for the at least one preamble sequence is extracted based on the correlation.
US08861651B2 Process for performing a QR decomposition of a channel matrix in a MIMO wireless communication system, and receiver for doing the same
A process for performing a QR Decomposition of a channel matrix of a wireless communication channel system, said process involving the steps of: performing a full QR Decomposition of one channel matrix for the purpose of deriving a first QR representation of the channel; performing a second iterative QR Decomposition of an adjacent channel matrix, said second iterative QR Decomposition using the results of said first QR representation as well as the difference of the two adjacent channel matrices ΔH. More particularly, the process is characterized in that the iterative QR Decomposition is performed in response to the detection of a high level of workload of the processor.
US08861646B2 Terminal comprising multi-antennas and method of processing received frequency
A wireless communication terminal according to the embodiment includes a communication module including a circuit board having a plurality of pins; a shield case antenna overlapping with one side of the circuit board, electrically connected to a part of the pins and including a signal receiving unit; and a signal processing unit for processing the received signals. An antenna matching unit for matching impedance between the signal processing unit and an antenna unit, a phase shifter for controlling a phase of the received signal and an amplitude regulator for adjusting amplitude of the received signal are provided between the signal processing unit and the antenna unit.
US08861644B2 Devices of IQ mismatch calibration, and methods thereof
The device with IQ mismatch compensation includes a transmitter oscillator, a transmitter module, and a loop-back module. The transmitter module is arranged to up-convert a transmitter signal with the oscillator signal to generate an RF signal. The loop-back module is arranged to down-convert the RF signal with the oscillator signal to determine a transmitter IQ mismatch parameter, and effects of IQ mismatch of the loop-back module are calibrated by inputting a test signal and the oscillator signal before the down-converting of the RF signal. The transmitter module is arranged to reduce effects of IQ mismatch of a transmitter path in the transmitter module according to the transmitter IQ mismatch parameter.
US08861632B2 Method and apparatus for subcarrier and antenna selection in MIMO-OFDM system
A method and apparatus for radio resources control in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system are disclosed. A channel metric is calculated for each of a plurality of transmit antennas. Sub-carriers are allocated to each transmit antenna in accordance with the channel metric of each transmit antenna. Signals are transmitted using the allocated sub-carriers at each antenna. Adaptive modulation and coding and transmit power control of each sub-carrier may be further implemented in accordance with the channel metric. Power control may be implemented per antenna basis or per sub-carrier basis. In performing power control, a subset of transmit antennas may be selected and waterpouring may be applied only to the selected antennas. Waterpouring may be based on SNR instead of channel response.
US08861628B2 Layer mapping method and data transmission method for MIMO system
A method for indicating a combination between a codeword and a layer in a MIMO communication system, a layer mapping method, and a data transmission method using the same are disclosed. A minimum number of codeword-layer mapping combinations from among all available combinations based on the numbers of all codewords and all layers are pre-defined in consideration of a ratio of a codeword to a layer, a reception performance of a receiver, and reduction of combinations, so that a data transmission method using the predefined combinations is implemented. If a specific one codeword is mapped to at least two layers, a diversity gain can be acquired.
US08861625B2 Sideband mitigation communication systems and methods for increasing communication speeds, spectral efficiency and enabling other benefits
Common wave and sideband mitigation communication systems and methods are provided that can be used with both wireless and wired communication links. The systems and methods provided can enable faster data rates, greater immunity to noise, increased bandwidth/spectrum efficiency and/or other benefits. Applications include but are not limited to: cell phones, smartphones (e.g., iPhone, BlackBerry, etc.), wireless Internet, local area networks (e.g., WiFi type applications), wide area networks (e.g., WiMAX type applications), personal digital assistants, computers, Internet service providers and communications satellites.
US08861624B2 Method of transmitting signal in a wireless system
A method of transmitting a signal of a mobile station that performs communication with a plurality of cells in a wireless communication system comprises transmitting a control signal or a data signal through an asynchronous channel to a neighboring cell which is not synchronized with the mobile station, the asynchronous channel including cyclic prefix and guard time.
US08861623B2 Method and apparatus for allocating processing delays in multi-carrier systems
A multi-carrier linear equalization receiver, e.g., a RAKE receiver or chip equalization receiver, is described herein. The multi-carrier receiver distributes processing delays among a plurality of received carriers based on a dispersion determined for each carrier. The receiver initially allocates a minimum number of processing delays sufficient for light dispersion to each carrier. For the dispersive carriers, the receiver allocates one or more additional processing delays. In one embodiment, the additional processing delays are allocated to the dispersive carriers based on SIR.
US08861621B2 Receiver circuit
In a receiver circuit, a binary signal is generated based on a signal level of a received signal that has been received via a transmission line from a driver of a transmitter circuit. Then, a first stable state and a second stable state are detected based on a reference signal whose signal level changes in accordance with the received signal. In the first stable state, the received signal is stable at a first signal level. In the second stable state, the received signal is stable at a second signal level. When the first stable state is detected and the received signal is changed from the first signal level into the second signal level, the generated binary signal is retained at a signal level corresponding to the second signal level, until the second stable state is detected.
US08861618B2 Deblocking filter and display device having the same
A deblocking filter includes a color resolution expansion unit, an edge filtering unit and a color resolution contraction unit. The color resolution expansion unit increases a color resolution of input video data to generate first video data. The edge filtering unit performs a blurring operation on a block edge of the first video data based on block size information to generate second video data. The color resolution contraction unit reduces a color resolution of the second video data to generate output video data, a color resolution of the output video data being the same as the color resolution of the input video data.
US08861615B2 Picture coding and decoding
A picture (1) with multiple slices (2-5) is encoded by determining a hierarchical granularity for the picture (1) defining a hierarchical level for slice border alignments. Address information allowing identification for a respective slice start is determined for at least a portion of the slices (2-5) based on the hierarchical granularity. The pixel values of the slices are encoded to generate coded slice representations (56). These coded slice representations (56) are included together with the address information into a coded picture representation (50) to which information of the hierarchical granularity is associated. The hierarchical granularity provides a flexible way of defining at which coding unit level slice borders can be present in the picture (1).
US08861611B2 Hierarchical packing of syntax elements
A method of operation within an integrated circuit device having a plurality of processing lanes. A first sub-stream of data, having a variable length, is generated in a first one of the processing lanes. A second sub-stream of data, also having a variable length, is generated in a second one of the processing lanes. The first and second sub-streams are then output to form a single bitstream.
US08861610B2 Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding motion vector by obtaining motion vector predictor candidate using co-located block
Provided are methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding a motion vector. The method of encoding a motion vector includes: selecting a mode from among a first mode in which information indicating a motion vector predictor of at least one motion vector predictor is encoded and a second mode in which information indicating generation of a motion vector predictor based on pixels included in a previously encoded area adjacent to a current block is encoded; determining a motion vector predictor of the current block according to the selected mode and encoding information about the motion vector predictor of the current block; and encoding a difference vector between a motion vector of the current block and the motion vector predictor of the current block.
US08861606B2 Image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, and image decoding apparatus
An image coding method includes: deriving a candidate for a motion vector predictor from a co-located motion vector; adding the candidate to a list; selecting the motion vector predictor from the list; and coding a current block and coding a current motion vector, wherein the deriving includes: deriving the candidate by a first derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of a current reference picture and a co-located reference picture is a long-term reference picture; and deriving the candidate by a second derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of the current reference picture and the co-located reference picture is a short-term reference picture.
US08861605B2 Image processing method with motion estimation and image processing arrangement
A method for processing a video image sequence with a number of successive images and an image processing device for processing a video image sequence are described. The method comprises: generation of at least one scaled image sequence (F11, F12) from the video image sequence (F); generation of a motion-compensated scaled image sequence (F40) from the scaled image sequence (F50); generation of a motion-compensated output image sequence (F′) from the scaled image sequence (F40); wherein the generation of the motion-compensated scaled image sequence (F40) comprises the determination of a motion vector field based on at least two images (F11n−1; F11n) of the scaled image sequence (F11, F12) and the interpolation of an image using the at least two images and the motion vector field, and wherein the at least one input scaling factor (S11, S12) is dependent on motion information that is represented by at least one motion vector field that was determined for the temporally preceding images of the at least one scaled image sequence (F11, F12).
US08861603B2 System and method for motion vector collection based on K-means clustering for motion compensated interpolation of digital video
A system and method of collection motion vectors for motion compensated interpolation of digital video are disclosed. For example, one embodiment includes a method of identifying motion vectors for interpolating a portion of a digital video signal. The method comprises identifying a plurality of motion vectors indicative of differences between first and second frames of a digital video signal, assigning each of the plurality of motion vectors to one of a plurality of clusters, selecting at least one motion vector assigned to each of the plurality of clusters, and generating at least a portion of a third frame based on the at least one motion vector selected for each of the plurality of clusters. Other embodiments include a system and device configured to perform the method.
US08861602B2 Motion vector reconstruction in an entropy decoder
Presented herein are system(s), method(s), and apparatus for motion vector reconstruction in an entropy decoder. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is presented a method for decoding a bitstream. The method comprises reconstructing at least one motion vector from the bitstream at a first stage in a pipeline; and entropy decoding the bitstream with the at least one reconstructed motion vector at the first stage.
US08861601B2 Encoder-assisted adaptive video frame interpolation
The disclosure is directed to techniques for encoder-assisted adaptive interpolation of video frames. According to the disclosed techniques, an encoder generates information to assist a decoder in interpolation of a skipped video frame, i.e., an S frame. The information permits the decoder to reduce visual artifacts in the interpolated frame and thereby achieve improved visual quality. The information may include interpolation equation labels that identify selected interpolation equations to be used by the decoder for individual video blocks. As an option, to conserve bandwidth, the equation labels may be transmitted for only selected video blocks that meet a criterion for encoder-assisted interpolation. Other video blocks without equation labels may be interpolated according to a default interpolation technique.
US08861598B2 Video compression using search techniques of long-term reference memory
Particular embodiments generally relate to video compression. In one embodiment, a store of reference frames is provided in memory. The reference frames may be classified based on a plurality of classifiers. The classifiers may correspond to features that are found in the reference frame. A frame to encode is then received. The frame is analyzed to determine features found in the frame. As macroblocks in the frame are encoded, a macroblock is analyzed to determine which feature may be included in the macroblock. The feature is used to determine a classifier, which is used to determine a subset of the reference frames. The subset is then searched to determine a reference frame for the macroblock.
US08861597B2 Distributed channel time allocation for video streaming over wireless networks
A system for transmitting video from a plurality of transmitters to a plurality of receivers over a shared wireless channel includes a plurality of transmitters each receiving a respective video stream to transmit over the shared wireless channel. Distortion-related information is associated with each of the respective video streams and each of the plurality of transmitters having access to the distortion-related information for the respective video stream while not having access to the distortion-related information for other the video streams. Each of the plurality of transmitters using the respective distortion-related information of the respective the video stream to determine how to modify the video stream for transmission based upon a channel time constraint.
US08861596B2 Image encoding device and image encoding method
An image encoding device includes: a first encoding unit for calculating a generated code amount when encoding image data using a fixed quantizing parameter, and block distinction regarding whether a macro block is a block for performing temporal prediction or block for performing spatial prediction regarding a picture for predicting a temporal direction; a code amount control unit for setting the offset amount of a quantizing parameter so as to have great code amount to be assigned to a picture including many images to be referenced according to a percentage between the block for temporal prediction, and the block for spatial prediction based on the results of the block distinction, and determining a quantizing parameter based on the generated code amount calculated at the first encoding unit; and a second encoding unit for encoding the image data using the offset quantizing parameter for realizing a target generated code amount.
US08861589B2 Detection and phase lock of pull-down video
Certain aspects of the invention may comprise a plurality of algorithms and architectures capable of performing 3:2 pull-down cadence detection and reverse 3:2 pull-down of a received video signal. In one embodiment, a method of identifying a pull-down field in a pull-down video stream comprises generating one or more temporally sequential variances, correlating the one or more temporally sequential variances to one or more temporal variance patterns associated with the pull-down video, wherein each of the one or more temporal variance patterns is associated with one or more unique field phases. In one embodiment, a system for identifying a pull-down field in a pull-down video stream comprises a memory, a first circuitry capable of computing a first equation, a second circuitry capable of computing a second equation, a third correlation circuitry, one or more counters, and a fourth circuitry capable of selecting a field phase.
US08861585B2 Method and apparatus for error resilience algorithms in wireless video communication
Methods and apparatuses to encode multimedia data enabling, among others, for example, improved decoded video quality, improved error recovery capabilities and/or improved decoding efficiency are described. A method according to the application includes one or more of the following: initializing a pixel-level reference counter for a current frame, performing a prediction of a next frame referring to the current frame, incrementing the pixel-level reference counter for each pixel of the current frame that is referenced during the prediction of the next frame, readjusting a macroblock bandwidth map of the current frame, repeating the steps of initializing, performing and readjusting for each next frame in a plurality of next frames referring to the current frame, and encoding the current frame based at least in part on the readjusted macroblock bandwidth map of the current frame.
US08861580B2 Method and apparatus for determining one or more channel compensation parameters based on data eye monitoring
Methods and apparatus are provided for determining one or more channel compensation parameters based on data eye monitoring. According to one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for evaluating the quality of a data eye associated with a signal. The received signal is sampled for a plurality of different phases, for example, using at least two latches, and the samples are evaluated to identify when the signal crosses a predefined amplitude value, such as a zero crossing. It is determined whether the points of predefined amplitude crossing satisfy one or more predefined criteria. One or more parameters of one or more channel compensation techniques can optionally be adjusted based on a result of the determining step. One or more parameters of an adjacent transmitter can also be adjusted to reduce near end cross talk based on a result of the determining step.
US08861576B2 Low power radio communication system
A method significantly reduces the average power for radio communication in a communication system, such as a system that has applications requiring low communication latency. The method may use a low power radio communication circuit (e.g., a non-heterodyne receiver) to wait for a communication request, taking advantage of the low power consumption of the radio communication circuit. Subsequent to receiving and validating the communication request, the communication system may switch to a more efficient—but higher power—communication circuit. Thus, effective communication is achieved without making undesirable tradeoffs, such as reduced sensitivity.
US08861575B2 Method and apparatus for equalizing signals
A system and apparatus are disclosed for a method and apparatus for equalizing signals. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an equalizer (100) having a channel estimation calculator (102) for calculating a time domain channel estimation from a baseband signal, an FFT processor (104) for translating the time domain channel estimation to a frequency domain channel estimation, a tap weight calculator (106) for calculating a frequency domain tap weight according to the frequency domain channel estimation, an inverse FFT processor (108) for translating the frequency domain tap weight calculation to a time domain tap weight calculation, and a filter (110) for equalizing the baseband signal according to the time domain tap weight calculation.
US08861573B2 Transceiver capable of dynamically adjusting transmitter clock and related method thereof
A transceiver for dynamically adjusting a transmission clock includes: a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, and a transmission clock tracking unit. The transmitting unit is arranged for transmitting a transmission signal according to the transmission clock. The receiving unit is arranged for receiving a reception signal. The transmission clock tracking unit is coupled to the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, and arranged for dynamically controlling the transmission clock of the transmitting unit according to a reception clock corresponding to the reception signal.
US08861571B2 Methods and apparatuses using filter banks for multi-carrier spread-spectrum signals
A transmitter includes a synthesis filter bank to spread a data symbol to a plurality of frequencies by encoding the data symbol on each frequency, apply a common pulse-shaping filter, and apply gains to the frequencies such that a power level of each frequency is less than a noise level of other communication signals within the spectrum. Each frequency is modulated onto a different evenly spaced subcarrier. A demodulator in a receiver converts a radio frequency input to a spread-spectrum signal in a baseband. A matched filter filters the spread-spectrum signal with a common filter having characteristics matched to the synthesis filter bank in the transmitter by filtering each frequency to generate a sequence of narrow pulses. A carrier recovery unit generates control signals responsive to the sequence of narrow pulses suitable for generating a phase-locked loop between the demodulator, the matched filter, and the carrier recovery unit.
US08861570B2 Methods and apparatuses for beacon transmission
Various methods and apparatuses for beacon transmission in an ad-hoc peer-to-peer network are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus for communication is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a processing system configured to determine device-independent beacon data, determine device-dependent beacon data, and to spread the device-dependent beacon data using one or more spreading codes and a transmitter configured to transmit one or more beacons during a beacon transmission period, wherein each beacon comprises the device-independent beacon data and the spread device-dependent beacon data.
US08861567B2 Method and apparatus for analyzing the spectrum of radio-frequency signals using a fiber optic recirculation loop
An apparatus comprising a fiber optical loop for conducting a first and a second pulse having a corresponding first and second wavelength, a first splitter for separating the first and second light pulses in the optical loop into a first and second light path to introduce a predetermined time delay between the first and second light pulses, a coupler for tapping a replica of the pair of light pulses from the loop, an auto-correlation module, coupled to the coupler, for correlating the replica of the pair of light pulses with each other to produce a set of data points comprising a plurality of multiplied and correlated pair of pulses and a transform module, coupled to the auto-correlation module, for transforming the data points into a channelized frequency spectrum.
US08861566B2 System, apparatus and method for managing message communications in systems employing frequency hopping
Systems, apparatuses and methods for managing message communications in systems employing frequency hopping. One method according to the invention involves transmitting a message via a frequency of a frequency hopping sequence, and determining when the same frequency will reoccur in the frequency hopping sequence. Relevant portions of the device enter a sleep mode, and the device emerges from the sleep mode when the frequency at which the message was transmitted reoccurs in the frequency hopping sequence. The device monitors for a response to the message via the frequency at which the message was transmitted when the frequency reoccurs in the frequency hopping sequence.
US08861559B2 Method to drive semiconductor laser diode
A method or algorithm to control a driving current supplied to a semiconductor laser diode (LD) is disclosed. the method first prepares the look-up-table (LUT) that stores a set of parameters, α and β, for evaluating the modulation current Im by the equation of Im=α×Ib+β, where Ib is determined by the auto-power-control (APC) loop. In a practical operation of the LD, the APC loop determines Ib, while, Im is calculated according to the equation above by reading above two parameters corresponding to the current temperature of the LD from the LUT.
US08861557B2 Wavelength-tunable light source and wavelength variation method
A wavelength-tunable light source includes light sources having differing variable wavelength regions, where light sources having adjacent wavelength regions are distributed to different systems. The light sources are each set such that an end portion of the variable wavelength region of the light source overlaps an end portion of the variable wavelength region of another light source. A control unit selects and drives a first light source of a first system, varies a wavelength of the first light source, selects a second light source that is of a second system among the different systems and that has a wavelength region overlapping the variable wavelength region of the first light source, drives the second light source concurrently with the first light source and subsequently switches to the output light of the second light source, causing wavelength variation and executing continuous wavelength variation over a wide range.
US08861556B2 Tunable Bragg grating and a tunable laser diode using same
A spatially modulated waveguide Bragg grating mirror is suspended over a substrate by plurality of fingers extending laterally away from the waveguide centerline. The positions of the fingers are coordinated with the positions of crests and valleys of amplitude or phase modulation of the Bragg grating, to avoid disturbing the Bragg grating when it is tuned by heating. When the Bragg grating is heated, the heat flows through the fingers creating a quasi-periodic refractive index variation along the Bragg grating due to quasi-periodic temperature variation created by the heat flow from the grating through the supporting fingers. Due to coordination of the positions of supporting fingers with positions of the crests and valleys of modulation, the optical phase coherence is maintained along the Bragg grating, so that the spectral lineshape or filtering property of the Bragg grating is substantially preserved.
US08861551B2 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.
US08861549B2 Multiple compatible OFDM systems with different bandwidths
The technology provides a frame handler, a controller, and a frame structure design for a new radio communications system that provides backward compatibility with an existing or legacy radio communications system with lower signal bandwidth. Data to be transmitted to the new and legacy radio terminals is processed into a frame using a frame format that is compatible with both the new radio access technology system and the legacy radio access technology system so that both types of radio terminals may receive and extract data from the frame intended for each of those radio terminals. The format allows new and legacy radio terminal communications across the different bandwidths employed by the new and legacy systems.
US08861548B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting data in cable network
Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus for transmitting data in a cable network. The transmitter generates upper layer data including multiplexed data of a plurality of subscriber terminals, dividing the upper layer data into a plurality of segment data, performs channel coding on each segment data, extracts information on at least one subscriber terminal included in each segment data to generate subscriber identification signals, inserts the subscriber identification signals into each channel-coded segment data, and modulates and transmits each segment data into which the subscriber identification signals are inserted.
US08861542B2 Control channel transmitting method, base station and terminal
A communication system, that includes a base station and a terminal, whereby the base station includes, a transmitting unit that transmits a control channel to the terminal with use of a control channel format selected from among a plurality of control channel formats, each including modulation scheme information, according to whether Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transmission is applied or not, and wherein the terminal includes, a receiving unit that receives the control channel transmitted from the base station, wherein a number of bits indicating a modulation scheme included in a control channel format to be selected when the MIMO transmission is applied is greater than that included in a control channel format to be selected when the MIMO transmission is not applied.
US08861539B2 Replicating and switching multicast internet packets in routers using crosspoint memory shared by output ports
Multicast traffic is expected to increase in packet networks, and therefore in switches and routers, by including broadcast and multimedia-on-demand services. Combined input-crosspoint buffered (CICB) switches can provide high performance under uniform multicast traffic. However this is often at the expense of N2 crosspoint buffers. An output-based shared-memory crosspoint-buffered (O-SMCB) packet switch is used where the crosspoint buffers are shared by two outputs and use no speedup. An embodiment of the proposed switch provides high performance under admissible uniform and non-uniform multicast traffic models while using 50% of the memory used in CICB switches that has dedicated buffers. Furthermore, the O-SMCB switch provides higher throughput than an existing SMCB switch where the buffers are shared by inputs.
US08861538B2 Throttling for fast data packet transfer operations
A fast send method may be selectively implemented for certain data packets received from an application for transmission through a network interface. When the fast send method is triggered for a data packet, the application requesting transmission of the data packet may be provided a completion notice nearly immediately after the data packet is received. The fast send method may be used for data packets similar to previously-transmitted data packets for which the information in the data packet is already vetted. For example, a data packet with a similar source address, destination address, source port, destination port, application identifier, and/or activity identifier may have already been vetted. Data packets sent through the fast send method may be throttled to prevent one communication stream from blocking out other communication streams. For example, every nth data packet queued for the fast send method may be transmitted by a slow send method.
US08861537B1 Bridge and control proxy for unified communication systems
This disclosure describes a bridge and control proxy for unified communication systems. The bridge transmits and receives data from a unified communication system. In addition, the bridge transmits and receives data from a non-compatible device. The bridge translates the data between the unified communication system and the non-compatible device. The bridge stores selected data such as presence information for later use by the unified communication system and/or the non-compatible device. Further, the bridge uses Web services to discover, promote, and/or advertise non-compatible devices to the unified communication system.
US08861535B2 Multi-tiered paging support using paging priority
Prioritization of data traffic is a common technique for providing enhanced quality of service (QoS), allowing some traffic to reach its destination on an expedited basis without being obstructed or delayed by other lower-priority traffic. A mechanism is disclosed using the bearer architecture of the evolved packet core (EPC) to provide prioritization of traffic from specific packet data networks (PDNs), as well as over specific bearers. The priority information is requested by the mobile management entity (MME), which is commonly overloaded with traffic to and from multiple users and PDNs. In addition, a mechanism is provided for reducing the frequency of unwanted paging notifications for MMEs that are overloaded.
US08861534B2 System and method for providing lifeline telecommunication service
A system for providing lifeline telecommunication service includes a gateway, an analog signal service module, and an integrated access device. The gateway receives telecommunication information from a telecommunication switch and generates data packets for communicating the telecommunication information. The analog signal service module is remotely coupled to the gateway. The analog signal service module may receive the data packets from the gateway and generate a first analog telephone signal for communicating the telecommunication information over a local loop circuit. Coupled to the local loop circuit, the integrated access device may receive the first analog telephone signal from the analog signal service module and communicate the first analog telephone signal to a subscriber line in a first mode of operation. The integrated access device also may receive the data packets from the gateway, process the data packets to generate a second analog telephone signal communicating the telecommunication information, and communicate the second analog telephone signal to the subscriber line in a second mode of operation.
US08861532B2 Apparatus and method for identifying an access network of a networked terminal
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method of identifying an access network. The apparatus including: a packet capturing unit configured to capture a plurality of packets transmitted or received by a server; a flow classifying unit configured to classify each of the captured packets into individual flows with reference to at least one of an origination address, a destination address, and a port number; a round trip time (RTT) calculating unit configured to calculate RTT values from the packets classified into a flow of the individual flows; an access network determining unit configured to determine that an origination address included in a packet classified into the flow is an address accessing the server through a first communication network when the RTT calculated values exceed a reference value; and a storage unit configured to store the address accessing the server through the first communication network.
US08861531B2 Status indicator for communication systems
A variety of techniques and devices for acquiring user status information at a transmitting device to a receiving device, or vice versa, are provided.
US08861530B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting control information in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting a plurality of PUCCHs in a wireless communication system, wherein the method comprises the following steps: checking a resource for a first PUCCH among the plurality of PUCCHs; inferring, from the resource for the first PUCCH, a resource for the remaining one or more second PUCCHs excluding the first PUCCH among the plurality of PUCCHs; and transmitting the plurality of PUCCHs simultaneously via corresponding relevant resources.
US08861528B2 Apparatus and method for resource selection in OFDMA systems
A base station for use in a wireless network that communicates with mobile stations according to the IEEE 802.16m standard. The base station transmits unicast data and E-MBS data in the downlink to mobile stations using physical resource units (PRUs) that are partitioned into a plurality of frequency partitions. The base station transmits E-MBS data using a first set of PRUs in at least a first common frequency partition, wherein the first set of PRUs are also used by at least a second base station to transmit E-MBS data. The base station further transmits unicast data using a second set of PRUs, wherein the second set of PRUs are randomized with respect to PRUs used by the at least a second base station to transmit unicast data.
US08861527B1 Network-assisted routing for topology-aware overlay networks
An overlay network has a hierarchical cluster tree (HCT) structure on an underlying physical network, the HCT structure having clusters of local area networks (LANs) associated with respective sub-spaces of a hash key space. A cluster proxy node (CP) maintains a routing table and channels to both a parent cluster and member LANs, with routing information associating each LAN with a physical-network address (PA) of a corresponding LAN representative node (LR). Nodes sending routing request messages each containing a key value to the CP node, which returns routing response messages each including PA information from the routing table and/or the parent cluster. The PA information in the response for a given request includes a PA of an LR of a request-specific LAN whose sub-space contains the key value in the request message. A node uses the PA information to send a message to the LR node using the physical network.
US08861526B2 Method for transmitting broadcast service, method for receiving the broadcasting service, and apparatus for receiving the broadcasting service
Provided is a method for receiving a broadcast service. The method includes: receiving a first packetized stream; extracting presentation time information from a header of the first packetized stream; extracting trigger information comprising a target service identifier and a trigger action from a payload of the first packetized stream; and performing the trigger action to an object corresponding to the target service identifier at a time indicated by presentation time information.
US08861520B1 Packet cloning for enhanced delivery of communication from a source device to one or more destination devices
Packet cloning logic receives an original stream of packets communicated from a source device. The packet cloning logic generates a plurality of cloned packets for each packet contained in the original stream, wherein the plurality of cloned packets each comprise payload content of a corresponding (or counterpart) packet in the original stream. The packet cloning logic communicates to at least one packet assembly logic, the plurality of cloned packets. The packet assembly logic assembles at least one stream of packets corresponding to the original stream of packets for communication to at least one destination device.
US08861519B2 Data filtering apparatus and data filtering method
Disclosed herein is a data filtering apparatus, including: a plurality of pre-filters configured to extract a designated type of data from input data carrying a plurality of types of data; a plurality of post-filters configured to extract, from the data extracted by the pre-filter designated to be connected, the data that matches a designated data extraction condition; and a filter connection information holding device configured to hold filter connection information for designating at least one of the pre-filters to be connected, in correspondence with each of the post-filters.
US08861518B2 Contents supply system, a method, a service server, a storage means, a relay method, an application server and a cellular phone for multi connected end terminal
Disclosed herein are a system and method for providing content to a plurality of end terminals, a service server, a content relay method, an application server, a content provision method, and a mobile communication terminal. The system includes a plurality of end terminals connected to a mobile communication terminal via a Local Area Network (LAN), and configured to execute content received from an application server, a mobile communication terminal connected to a service server via a mobile communication network, and configured to transfer content between the end terminals and the-service server, the service server connected to the application server, and configured to authenticate the end terminals and the mobile communication terminal and to request content, requested by authenticated end terminals, from the application server, and the terminal application server for providing the content, requested by the end terminals, to the service server.
US08861516B2 Method and system for transforming compressed video traffic to network-aware ethernet traffic with A/V bridging capabilities and A/V bridging extensions
Aspects of a system for transforming compressed video traffic to network-aware Ethernet traffic with A/V bridging capabilities and A/V bridging extensions may include a graphics processing unit (GPU) that may enable encapsulation of compressed video data within a Display Port protocol data unit (PDU). A LAN subsystem may enable encapsulation of the Display Port PDU within an encapsulating PDU. The LAN subsystem may enable determination of a traffic class designation associated with the encapsulating PDU. The LAN subsystem may enable transmission of the encapsulating PDU via a network based on the traffic class designation. The LAN subsystem may also enable the encapsulation of compressed video data within Ethernet frames. A computing device, which receives the Ethernet frames may de-compress the compressed video data and send the uncompressed video data, which may be encapsulated within one or more Display Port mini-packets, to a multimedia monitor.
US08861513B2 Fault tolerant parallel receiver interface with receiver redundancy
A communications parallel bus receiver interface having N+1 data lines and method of operation. The parallel bus interface employs receiver redundancy at the bus level such that there are N+1 receiver devices. One of the N+1 data signals comprising a spare data signal when a failure occurs in a corresponding channel transmitting one of N parallel data signals. An input switching network is configured to receive and couple N+1 parallel data signals along respective paths to corresponding parallel-configured bit receiver devices, and adapted to couple one received data signal to two or three adjacent bit receivers. A calibration device calibrates one of the two or three adjacent bit receivers, and a qualification device qualifies data decisions made during calibration processes performed by the calibration device. The method cycles through N+1 receivers for periodic recalibration of each receiver (one at a time) while N+1 inputs are processed continuously and uninterrupted.
US08861500B2 Method and device for detecting downlink control information
The present invention provides a method and device for detecting downlink control information, which relates to the communication field. The method includes: during cross carrier scheduling, the user equipment (UE) determines a search space for monitoring a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) according to the number of downlink component carriers in a PDCCH Monitoring Set and the number of downlink component carriers in a UE DL Component Carrier Set.
US08861495B2 Method for protecting data in a MU-MIMO based wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method for protecting MU-MIMO (Multi User-Multiple Input Multiple Output) data through a multi-RTS/CTS frame exchange in a MU-MIMO based wireless communication system. The method of the present invention comprises: a process where an indicator for VHT data protection is added to an RTS frame, using the structure of an RTS/CTS frame for an existing legacy terminal during the multi RTS/CTS frame exchange; a process where an access point designates and then transmits the duration period of the RTS frame while transmitting the RTS frame; and a process where wireless terminals up to the (n−1)th terminal designate the duration period of the CTS frame as ‘0’ and send the designated duration period, while only the n-th wireless terminal designates NAV for data protection.
US08861490B2 Transmission device, transmission method, and computer-readable medium
A transmission device transmits data to a certain communication device among multiple communication devices connected over a wireless network in wireless communication capable of using multiple transmission rates. The transmission device includes first transmitting means for transmitting a first packet to the certain communication device during a transmission inhibited period; receiving means for receiving a second packet including information indicating a communication environment at reception of the first packet at the certain communication device from the certain communication device; and second transmitting means for transmitting a third packet to the certain communication device at a transmission rate appropriate for the information that is included in the received second packet and that indicates the communication environment. The data length of the certain data included in the first packet is shorter than that of the data included in the third packet.
US08861489B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting router advertisement and router solicitation messages through access point
A method and apparatus for transmitting a message in a wireless network environment are provided. The method of computing an interval of message transmission in an access point located in a specific subnet, includes determining whether the access point is an edge access point located at a boundary between the specific subnet and a neighboring subnet, and computing an interval of transmission of a router advertisement (RA) message containing information regarding the specific subnet based on the determination result.
US08861485B2 Self-organizing communications network and method for the operation thereof
A radio communication network having at least two base stations. The base stations communicate with mobile stations using time slots. The time slots are divided into transmission slots, during which the base stations transmit messages, and receiving slots, during which the base stations receive messages. The base stations jointly determine an assignment of the time slots as transmission slots and receiving slots.
US08861484B2 Method for transmitting and receiving system information
A method for transmitting and receiving system information, wherein the method for transmitting the system information includes that a sub-frame used to transmit other system information and a sub-frame used to transmit system information 1 are arranged in different time domain. With the present invention, the influence caused by the re-transmission of the system information 1 on the other system information can be reduced.
US08861476B2 Path setting apparatus, path setting method, management apparatus, management system, and storage device
A path setting apparatus sets wireless paths fixed by a wireless network formed by a wireless connection device and a plurality of wireless devices. The path setting apparatus may include an editing unit that edits and sets positions of the wireless connection device and the wireless devices and wireless paths between the wireless connection device and the wireless devices and between the wireless devices, and edits and sets communication timings of the wireless connection device and the wireless devices where the wireless paths are set, based on an input instruction, a storage unit that stores power performance information of the wireless devices, and calculating unit that calculates at least one of transmission delays between the wireless devices and the wireless connection device, transmission delays between the wireless devices, consumption power of the wireless devices, and battery life of batteries used as power supplies of the wireless devices.
US08861475B2 Inter-RAT handover control using sequence numbers
An empty GRE packet along with a sequence number provides in-order delivery of data packets for a session to a UE during inter-RAT handover. In particular, an empty GRE packet sent from a source gateway in a source RAN (Radio Access Network) to a target gateway in a target RAN includes a sequence number to indicate to the target gateway the end of forwarded data packets from the source gateway. The target gateway sends data packets received from the source gateway to the UE until the empty GRE packet with the expected sequence number is received. Upon receipt of the empty GRE packet containing the expected sequence number, the target gateway begins sending data packets received directly from a home network gateway to the UE.
US08861474B2 Prohibiting unnecessary scheduling requests for uplink grants
Uplink transmission scheduling requests (SRs) may be prohibited for a lower priority data flow, logical channel group (e.g., VoIP configured with semi-persistent resource allocation), or other grouping but may still be triggered for higher priority traffic (e.g., data connected to a signaling radio bearer (SRB)). More efficient scheduling is also achieved by allowing an uplink transmission scheduler to distinguish between different priority flows or groups (e.g., LCGs) without a buffer status report (BSR), As a result, when a semi-persistent resource is scheled for the lower priority data, there is less delay for high priority data while eliminating uplink and downlink control signaling, i.e., fewer scheduling requests (SRs) and uplink grants, for the lower priority data.
US08861473B2 Random access method and signalling method for the same
A method for generating an iterative sequence and a signal transmission method using the same are disclosed. As the cell size or the distance between a user equipment (UE) and a Node-B increases, the CP is repeated at least one time while the iterative sequence is generated, the CP length and the ZCZ length are adjusted, so that the sequence timing point can be easily detected, orthogonality between sequences is maintained, and the sequences can be clearly distinguished from each other.
US08861472B2 Selecting between normal and virtual dual layer ACK/NACK
An allocation of downlink resources is received, which are monitored on l layers for data. A resource-specific bit (ACK/NACK) is generated for each of those resources. From a pattern of those resources is selected an algorithm from among a first algorithm that bundles them in a first mode and a second algorithm that bundles them in a second mode. The selected algorithm is used on the generated resource-specific bits that correspond to the downlink resources, bundled according to the selected mode, to generate l reply bits which are then transmitted. At the network side a NACK reply bit is received, based on a pattern of the allocated downlink resources, a first algorithm that bundles them in a first mode or a second algorithm that bundles them in a second mode is selected. A bundling window and layer combination are determined from the selected algorithm, which gives the resource for retransmitting the NACK'd data.
US08861458B2 Method and apparatus for scheduling uplink radio resources in radio communication system
A method and an apparatus for scheduling uplink radio resources in a wireless communication system, and the method comprises: an evolved NodeB (eNB) allocating radio resources to user equipment (UE) according to the uplink channel quality information and the current logical channel information of the UE, determining the control signaling information of the radio resources, and notifying the control signaling information of the radio resources to the UE; Alternatively, after receiving the control signaling information of the radio resources sent by the eNB, the UE selecting corresponding radio resources for the logical channel according to the requirements of quality of service (QoS) of the logical channel and the control signaling information of the radio resources.
US08861450B2 Method for transmitting/receiving a control signal in a mobile communication system
A method for transmission of a downlink control message in a mobile communication system is provided. Said method comprises a step wherein user-specific control information (USCI) on a plurality of user equipment (UE) is arranged to generate a series of control message at a base station and a step wherein said control messages that have been generated are transmitted. The arrangement sequence value of a specific type of USCI within said control message is used as channel allocation information regarding the UE to which said specific USCI is transmitted.
US08861449B2 Transmission method and devices in a communication system with contention-based data transmission
A method is described for data transmission by user equipments adapted to transmit data using resource blocks allocated by a radio network. The radio network is adapted to allocate resource blocks to a dedicated one of the user equipments or to a plurality of the user equipments. The method comprises the step of allocating at least one of the resource blocks that is not allocated to any dedicated user equipment to a first plurality of the user equipments. The allocation is signaled to the user equipments. A first user equipment of said first plurality obtains data for transmission. At least a first part of the data is transmitted by the first user equipment using said at least one resource block. Devices embodying the invention and methods of operating the devices are also described. Contention based data transmission in uplink is enabled without previous scheduling request and scheduling grant.
US08861447B2 Group identification and definition employing look up table (LUT) within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications
Group identification and definition employing look up table (LUT) within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. A LUT provides a very concise representation of the relationship between group IDs and various subsets of wireless communication devices. Each respective group ID can correspond to more than one subset of wireless communication devices, and each when included within corresponding subsets, a given wireless communication device occupies a common, respective location (e.g., first location, second location, etc.) within each of those corresponding subsets. When a received multi-user packet (e.g., OFDMA, MU-MIMO, or combination thereof) is received by and ascertained to be intended for a wireless communication device, then it may be further determined which space time streams of the multi-user packet correspond to that wireless communication device, as determined based on to the location of the wireless communication device within the corresponding subset associated with that particular group ID.
US08861446B2 Methods and apparatuses for channel selection
Various methods and apparatuses for channel selection based on energy levels are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus for communication is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a processing system configured to determine, for each of one or more channels, a plurality of energy levels of a respective plurality of signals received via a respective plurality of beam directions and to select one of the channels based on the determined energy levels and a transceiver configured to communicate over the selected channel.
US08861445B2 Multi-channel single radio communication in home mesh network
An embodiment is a technique to use a single radio for multi-channel wireless communication. A local device having a local channel table operates on a common channel in a multi-channel wireless network having a plurality of network devices to perform management, control, and discovery functions using a single radio. A data session channel is negotiated with a remote device having a remote channel table upon an initiation of a communication session using the local and remote channel tables on the common channel. Data packets are exchanged with the remote device using the data session channel in a data transmission mode.
US08861444B2 Method and system for interactively selecting auxiliary cell
The disclosure provides a method for interactively selecting an auxiliary cell, which includes: a UE selects a master cell and performs data interaction with the master cell to obtain a neighbor cell list; the UE measures coordinated multiple point status information of a cell in the neighbor cell list, and perform evaluation according to a measurement result to generate a candidate list of coordinated multiple point auxiliary cells; when the UE initiates a coordinated multiple point operation service, the UE sends the candidate list to the master cell; the master cell performs an activation strategy on a cell in the candidate list to obtain an auxiliary cell for the coordinated multiple point operation of the UE, and sends an auxiliary cell activation list to the UE; and the UE maintains the auxiliary cell activation list until the coordinated multiple point operation service ends. The disclosure further provides a system for interactively selecting an auxiliary cell. By means of the method and apparatus above, a preferable neighbor cell can be selected as an auxiliary cell through interaction, and service quality and user experience in a coordinated multiple point operation is improved.
US08861441B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting a frame in a wireless ran system
There is provided a method and apparatus for transmitting a frame which is performed by a transmission STA in a WLAN system. The method of transmitting a frame includes generating an MAC Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) to be transmitted to a target station, generating a PLCP Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) by attaching a Physical Layer Convergence Procedure (PLCP) header to the MPDU, and transmitting the PPDU to the target station. The PLCP header comprises a partial Association ID (AID) of the target station.
US08861436B2 Method and apparatus for reducing interference in a mobile communications network
The invention relates to a method for reducing interference between users in a mobile communications network (1) in which uplink transmissions from user equipment, UE (3), to a radio base station, RBS (5A, 5B), can be performed on at least two different carriers (C1, C2). The UE (3) support dynamic switching between CDM and TDM transmission mode and the RBS (5A, 5B) is arranged to dynamically set the mode of transmission for the UE (3). The method comprises the steps of: —identifying (S200) at least a first UE as a high data rate, HDR, UE currently requiring high data transmission rate; dedicating (S201) at least one of said at least two carriers (C1, C2) to said HDR UE for at least a first period of time (T), said at least one carrier (C1, C2) hereinafter being named clean carrier, and—allocating (S202) said at least first HDR UE to said clean carrier (C1, C2) during said at least first period of time (T). This method ensures that no UE operating in CDM mode is transmitting on the same carrier at the same time as the HDR UE.
US08861433B2 Method for accessing a service unavailable through a network cell
In an access device associated with a first network cell, a method for enabling user equipment (UE) to obtain a service unavailable through the first network cell includes receiving a request for the UE to access the service, and identifying, in a message to the UE, a plurality of second network cells providing the service.
US08861431B2 Apparatus and method for mixed signal spread spectrum receiving technique
An apparatus and method for mixed signal spread spectrum receiving and spectrum aggregation in a receiver having at least one antenna respectively receiving at least one signal are provided. The method includes modulating the at least one signal received by the receiver with at least one unique orthogonal pseudorandom (PN) code, downconverting the at least one modulated signal into at least one baseband signal, combining the at least baseband signal into an overlaid baseband signal and filtering the overlaid baseband signal, converting the overlaid baseband signal from an analog signal into a digital baseband signal, splitting the digital baseband signal into a plurality of signal paths each having the entirety of the digital baseband signal, applying one of the at least one unique orthogonal PN code to each of the plurality of signal paths, and multiplexing the plurality of signal paths into a combined digital baseband signal.
US08861429B2 Selective carrier amplification in a wireless repeater
A method in a wireless repeater selects one or more carriers out of all carriers for amplification and transmission. The non-selected carriers may be blocked to mitigate delay spread, uplink noise contribution or other effects on the repeater environment due to multiple repeaters. The carriers may be selected based on signal characteristics, signal usage, and/or other parameters.
US08861427B2 Reduction of interference in relay systems
The present disclosure relates to a method and an access node 112 for reducing interference The access node 112 communicates with a user equipment 111 over a wireless access interface a i in a wireless communication network 100 The method comprises the actions of obtaining (S2) timing information indicative of one or more periods when a relay node 116 communicates with a donor node 112 over a wireless backhaul interface b h i, and identifying (S1) that the user equipment 111 is receiving a signal from the relay node 116 communicating with the donor node 112 over the backhaul interface b h I that is stronger than a predetermined threshold, and in response to identifying that the user equipment 111 is receiving a signal from the relay node 116 that is stronger than a predetermined threshold, prioritising (S3) communication between the access node 112 and the identified user equipment 111 via the access interface a i during the periods when the relay node 116 communicates with the donor node 112 over the backhaul interface b h i.
US08861426B2 Path switching system, path switching method, and mobile terminal
A path switching system is provided, in which when UE has been offloaded from a first PDN-GW to a second PDN-GW, if there is an additional connection of the UE to the first PDN-GW, processing related to the additional connection can be performed on the UE side. The system includes: a control unit for sending a mobile terminal a message including information indicative of having switched relay devices, which relay a packet between the mobile terminal and a communication device, from a first relay device to a second relay device; and the mobile terminal for determining whether there is an added path other than part of a path from the mobile device before movement to the communication device and capable of being managed by the control unit, established between the mobile terminal and the first relay device, and when there is the added path, performing processing on the added path.
US08861425B2 Communication system, communication apparatus, communication method and computer program
By deciding positions of frequencies used via a relay station by a system in advance for assignment of boundary frequencies, frequencies of a central frequency more likely to be affected by the relay station are also mapped by avoiding a signal thereof. Alternatively, an adjacent cell whose central frequency is affected changes depending on a position of the relay station and thus, locations set to be highly likely to interfere with the central frequency of the adjacent cell is reduced by setting a region of the boundary frequencies permitted to the relay station in accordance with the position of the relay station.
US08861423B2 Interference mitigation by overhearing
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments in a wireless network, a station may overhear one or more packets that are not necessarily destined for those stations. The overhearing station may decode the data of the packet, and may utilizes the decoded packet to remove a retransmission of that packet in a subsequent time slot and occurring at the same time as the transmission of a packet destined for that station in the same time slot. Such a retransmission of packets may occur for example in relay systems and/or in hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) systems. The retransmitted packet may be treated as an interference signal in the total received signal, so that the previously received and decoded packet may be subtracted from the total signal, allowing the desired packet to be decoded from the intended signal.
US08861421B2 Mobile status update display
A method for using a wireless receiver may include receiving subscribed messages for a user identified with a user account of a hub, being messages posted by other users of the hub to which the user has subscribed. The method may include automatically processing the messages to determine content for display on a display device, and displaying the content on the display device. The display device may be configured as two separate screens mounted at separate locations on the user's body. The messages may include user status messages, which are messages posted to the hub by the user, and the user status messages and subscription messages may be displayed on separate ones of the two screens. An apparatus for performing the method may include a processor coupled to a memory holding encoded instructions for performing operations of the method.
US08861419B2 Methods for binding and unbinding a MBMS bearer to a communication group in a 3GPP compliant system
A 3GPP compliant system includes a radio access network (RAN) partitioned into a plurality MBMS services areas, wherein each MBMS service area has a plurality of MBMS bearers established a priori for transporting media streams. An infrastructure device: receives a request to transmit a media stream to a communication group, wherein the request to transmit is received after the MBMS bearers were established; determines a MBMS bearer in a MBMS service area to assign to transport the media stream; generates a MBMS connect message that binds the communication group to the assigned MBMS bearer, wherein the MBMS connect message includes an identifier for the communication group and an identifier for the assigned MBMS bearer; and sends the MBMS connect message to members of the communication group.
US08861409B2 Apparatus and method for automatic changing network in mobile communication terminal
A method and apparatus for automatically changing a network in a mobile communication terminal are provided. The method includes determining whether the network needs to change, transmitting location information of the terminal to a server when the network needs to change, receiving network information based on the location information from the server, and setting network connection information of the terminal based on the received network information.
US08861406B2 Transmitter apparatus of mobile device and operation method thereof
In a transmitter apparatus of a mobile device, a radio frequency unit has transmitting terminals for sending wireless signals of different frequency bands. Transmission filters are respectively connected to the transmitting terminals and perform a filtering process for the signal of each frequency band. A first switch has a single output terminal and input terminals respectively connected to the transmission filters, performing a switching operation to connect one of the input terminals and the output terminal in response to a control signal. A power amplifier amplifies the signal transmitted through the output terminal of the first switch. A second switch has a single input terminal connected to the power amplifier, and output terminals corresponding to the transmission filters. The second switch performs a switching operation to connect the input terminal and one of the output terminals in response to the control signal.
US08861405B2 Voice band switching unit
A method of dynamically switching voice channels between sampling rates in a telecommunication system including a plurality of conferenced channels that have a telephony side, a network side, and a conferencing unit therebetween. During conferencing the presence of a switching stimuli is detected, and at least a first affected voice channel affected by the switching stimuli is identified from the plurality of conferenced voice channels. Responsive to the switching stimuli, based on a telephony side sampling rate of the first affected voice channel, a network side sampling rate of the first affected voice channel, and respective sampling rates of other conferenced voice channels, it is determined whether or not to switch a sampling rate for at least the first affected voice channel using a switching criteria. Provided the determining decides to switch, the sampling rate is switched for at least the first affected voice channel.
US08861404B2 Storing access network information for an IMS user in a subscriber profile
IMS networks and methods are disclosed for storing information on the access network of a user in a subscriber profile for the user. When a communication device of a user attempts to register with an IMS network, a P-CSCF receives a register request message from the communication device, and identifies access network information for the user. The P-CSCF then transmits another register request message to an S-CSCF that includes the access network information, and the S-CSCF in turn forwards the access network information to an HSS. The HSS then stores the access network information in the subscriber profile for the user. Nodes in the IMS network that retrieve the subscriber profile may acquire the access network information to provide services based on the access network information.
US08861400B2 Requesting multicast membership information in a distributed switch in response to a miss event
Apparatuses and methods to request multicast membership information in a distributed switch are provided. A particular method may include requesting multicast membership information of a group identified by a multicast destination address in a distributed switch. The distributed switch may include a plurality of distributed switch elements with a plurality of switch forwarding units. The method may generate a miss event indicating that the multicast destination address is unregistered in a switch forwarding unit of a distributed switch element and there is a need for the multicast membership information. The method may also request the multicast membership information of the multicast destination address in response to the miss event. The method may further initiate a query for the multicast membership information of the multicast destination address in response to the request.
US08861399B2 Network node
A network node is arranged to provide an end user of a network terminal in a network with an access link to an external network including at least one external network interface, a control unit, and at least one internal network interface, the network node being arranged to be connected between the network and the external network. The network node is characterized in that the control unit is arranged to deactivate and re-activate the at least one internal network interface towards the network terminal in the network in order to trigger a dynamic host configuration protocol request from the network terminal such that a new Internet Protocol configuration can be established for the network terminal. A method for use in a network node and a computer program product are also disclosed herein.
US08861394B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting control information in radio communication system
A method for transmitting control information using PUCCH format 3 in a radio communication system includes detecting one or more Physical Downlink Control Channels (PDCCHs), receiving one or more Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) signals corresponding to the one or more PDCCHs, and determining a PUCCH resource value nPUCCH(3,p) corresponding to a value of a transmit power control (TPC) field of a PDCCH for a PDSCH signal on a secondary cell (SCell) among a plurality of PUCCH resource values configured by a higher layer for the PUCCH format 3. If a single antenna port transmission mode is configured, the PUCCH resource value nPUCCH(3,p) indicated by the TPC field is mapped to one PUCCH resource for a single antenna port, and, if a multi-antenna port transmission mode is configured, the PUCCH resource value nPUCCH(3,p) indicated by the TPC field is mapped to a plurality of PUCCH resources for multiple antenna ports.
US08861393B2 Protocol link layer
A link is a software abstraction that represents a direct connection between two CoCo nodes. The link layer detects the presence of neighboring devices and establishes links to them. A protocol abstraction layer converts data frames that arrive on network interfaces into packet objects used by the COCO Protocol Suite.
US08861392B2 Pre-coding method in cooperative relay system, communication apparatus, and relay apparatus
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a pre-coding method in a cooperative relay system. The pre-coding method in the cooperative relay system includes: obtaining pre-coding matrixes of local optimal sub-channels to single links of respective relay stations; and obtaining a pre-coding matrix of a synthesized optimal sub-channel according to the pre-coding matrix of each local optimal sub-channel. The embodiments of the present invention also disclose a communication apparatus and a relay apparatus. The present invention is applicable to pre-coding between a transmitter and a relay station in a cooperative relay system.
US08861386B2 Write traffic shaper circuits
In an embodiment, one or more fabric control circuits may be inserted in a communication fabric to control various aspects of the communications by components in the system. The fabric control circuits may be included on the interface of the components to the communication fabric, in some embodiments. In other embodiments that include a hierarchical communication fabric, fabric control circuits may alternatively or additionally be included. The fabric control circuits may be programmable, and thus may provide the ability to tune the communication fabric to meet performance and/or functionality goals.
US08861383B2 Acquiring a signal parameter for a neighboring access point
In an example embodiment, a wireless device is configured to associate with a first access point on a first frequency. The wireless device listens for a predefined frame, which may be sent by neighboring access points or other wireless devices. When the wireless device receives a signal comprising a predefined frame, the wireless device acquires a parameter, such as signal strength, for the signal. The wireless device sends the parameter for the signal to the first access point.
US08861382B2 Overlay network node
There is disclosed a technology which improves scalability in an overlay network system and which efficiently supplies a service with respect to a user, and according to the technology, for example, in a case where a mobile node (110) transmits an update message including a specific flow filtering rule to an HA (120) in order to receive a service concerning functions of multiple interfaces, the HA (120) interprets the flow filtering rule, specifies an HA 160 to transfer a data packet from CNs (180, 190), an HA (150) to transfer a data packet from the CN (190) and an HA (140) to transfer a data packet from a CN (1100), and selectively transmits to each HA a message including information useful for the respective HA.
US08861380B2 Terminal, method, and computer program product for registering user address information
The transferring unit transfers a message received from a PC or a network to a designated destination address. The judging unit judges whether an authentication message including the identification information of the user and a grant message indicating that the user is authenticated are transferred. The identification information acquiring unit acquires the identification information from the transferred authentication message. The SIP message processing unit creates a registration message that includes the address information of the user having the acquired identification information and transmits the created registration message to the SIP server when the grant message is transferred.
US08861377B2 Transmission management system, program, computer readable information recording medium, program providing system, and maintenance system
A transmission management system receives, from a request source terminal which is an addition request source requesting to add a certain transmission terminal as a destination candidate, an addition request for the destination candidate, identification information of the request source terminal and identification information of a request target terminal which is an addition request target of the destination candidate; and informs the request target terminal of an approval request for requesting the request target terminal to approve the addition request, and the identification of the request source terminal. The system receives an addition request response from the request target terminal in response to the addition request. When the addition request response indicates to approve the addition request, the system additionally associates the identification information of the request target terminal with the identification information of the request source terminal as the identification information of the destination terminal.
US08861375B2 Self-healing fibre channel link
A method for verifying the integrity of a communication link is disclosed herein. In selected embodiments, such a method may include detecting, during normal operation of a communication link, a condition indicative of a high failure rate (HFR) on the communication link. The method may further include placing the communication link in an HFR state as a result of the condition. While in HFR state, the method may repeatedly transmit test I/Os over the communication link. The method may then automatically exit HFR state and resume normal operation on the communication link when one or more of the following has occurred: a selected number of test I/Os have been successfully transmitted over the communication link, and a number of test I/Os have been successfully transmitted over the communication link for a selected period of time. A corresponding system, apparatus, and computer program product are also disclosed and claimed herein.
US08861371B2 Service status signaling in Ethernet networks
A method may include receiving, by a first Ethernet interface, a message from a remote second Ethernet interface via an Ethernet operation, administration, or management (OAM) channel. The first Ethernet interface may determine whether the message includes a request for status information regarding an identified higher layer service. The first Ethernet interface may determine, in response to the message, a current status of the identified higher layer service. A response message may be generated to include the current status. The response message is transmitted from the first Ethernet interface to the remote second Ethernet interface via the Ethernet OAM channel.
US08861367B2 Deletion of routes of routing tables of a wireless mesh network
An apparatus and method of supporting peer-to-peer communication of a wireless mesh network is disclosed. The method includes a node within the wireless mesh network maintaining a routing table that indicates a first route to a client device. If the node receives a better route to the client device, the node deletes the first route, and sends a route delete to a next hop device of the first route of the client device.
US08861366B1 Multi-level flow control
Various methods, systems, and apparatuses can be used to control flow in an ethernet environment. In some implementations, methods can include receiving a flow of ethernet frames at a first device via an ethernet switch, determining that a buffer at the first device exceeds a threshold for an incoming flow, generating an initial pause frame operable to pause only a second device, and transmitting the initial pause frame to the ethernet switch.
US08861365B2 Method for increasing wireless networking speed, and a wireless network apparatus
A method for increasing wireless networking speed is for use between an electronic device equipped with a wireless networking device and a wireless network having a group of wireless network base stations. The method includes the steps of: (A) providing the wireless network apparatus with two medium access control (MAC) addresses so as to simulate two wireless network cards; (B) selecting, from among the group of wireless network base stations, two wireless network base stations respectively for the wireless network cards; and (C) making the electronic device simultaneously communicate with the two wireless network base stations using the wireless network cards.
US08861362B2 Data flow control
One aspect provides a method of controlling an information flow in a data transmission system. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a plurality of data packets and generating a modified information flow. Data packets in the modified information flow are spaced with a variable spacing whilst the order of the data packets is maintained. The variable spacing between the data packets is exponentially distributed.
US08861359B2 Network system, control method thereof and controller
A network system includes a server which accommodates a plurality of tenants, at least one network appliance which has a resource shared by the plurality of tenants, a plurality of switches arranged between the at least one network appliance and a network; and a controller which controls the switches. Each switch has a flow table indicating an association of an input source with a transfer destination of packets for each flow, and transfers packets received from the input source to the transfer destination by referring to the flow table. The controller includes an assignment control block which dynamically assigns each of a plurality of tenants to any of the at least one network appliance; a route design block which designs a flow route for each of the tenants; and a switch setting block which sets the flow table for each of switches along the designed route.
US08861358B2 Applying router quality of service on a cable modem interface on a per-service-flow basis
In one embodiment, a router that accesses a cable network through a cable modem receives, from the cable modem, a plurality of service-flow classifications utilized by the cable modem to describe service flows on the cable network. Based on the received service-flow classifications from the cable modem, the router determines traffic destined for the cable network that corresponds to each service-flow on the cable network. The router receives, from the cable modem, an indication of network backpressure for a particular service-flow on the cable network. The indication of network backpressure is received when a threshold of network backpressure has been surpassed for the particular service-flow on the cable network. The router controls particular traffic that corresponds to the particular service-flow on the cable network based on the indication of network backpressure for the particular service-flow on the cable network.
US08861357B2 Method and apparatus for communicating unicast PQoS DFID information
Methods and apparatus for communicating unicast PQoS DFID information in a MoCA network are disclosed. In a transmitting apparatus, values are assigned in a first set of fields of a reservation request element, the first set adapted to indicate a unicast PQoS flow with a DFID value. Values are assigned in a second set of fields of the reservation request element, the second set adapted to represent the DFID value. A message comprising the reservation request element is transmitted to a network coordinator. In a receiving network coordinator, a message comprising a reservation request element is received, the reservation request element comprising a first set of fields and a second set of fields. It is determined whether the first set is indicative of a unicast PQoS flow with a DFID value. The DFID value is determined from the second set if the first set is indicative of a unicast PQoS flow with a DFID value.
US08861354B2 Hierarchies and categories for management and deployment of policies for distributed wireless traffic optimization
Systems and methods for deploying and employing policies for wireless traffic optimization in a wireless network based on hierarchies are disclosed. One embodiment includes deploying a global policy set of the policies for wireless traffic optimization among mobile devices in the wireless network and deploying a first policy set of the policies among a first subset of mobile devices among the mobile devices. In one embodiment, the first subset of mobile devices meet a device-based criteria including one or more of, device type, device platform, or device model and any policy of the first policy set overwrites any policy of the global policy set in case of conflict when deployed on any of the first subset of mobile devices.
US08861351B2 Data bundling and fast dormancy based upon interactivity
Data bundling and fast dormancy can be controlled based on user interaction with a user equipment (UE). Moreover, the subject system provides a balance between saving battery power of the UE and reducing signaling and processing load in a radio resource controller (RRC). Specifically, the system observes user inputs and data flow requests to identify “interactive” and “non-interactive” data flows. On receiving a data flow request, the system determines whether the data flow can be bundled together and transmitted over a single connection with disparate data flows, based on the classification of the data flow. Additionally, on completion of a data flow, the system determines whether a fast dormancy timer can be disabled/delayed to transmit a next data flow over the current connection, based on the classification of the data flow.
US08861348B2 Random access improvement
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there is at least a method and an apparatus to perform operations in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention including identifying an access class of a plurality of access classes to access a wireless network, the identified access class having an access service class of 0; determining a persistence value of the identified access class, wherein the persistence value is determined based on a persistence formula; and using the determined persistence value of the identified access class to enable the access to the wireless network, wherein the determined persistence value of the identified access class is a value other than 1.
US08861347B2 Configurable access control lists using TCAM
A communication apparatus includes a Content-Addressable Memory (CAM) and packet processing circuitry. The packet processing circuitry is configured to store in respective regions of the CAM multiple Access Control Lists (ACLs) that are defined for respective packet types, to classify an input packet to a respective packet type selected from the packet types, to identify a region holding an ACL defined for the selected packet type, and to process the input packet in accordance with the ACL stored in the identified region.
US08861345B2 Border gateway protocol extension for the host joining/leaving a virtual private network
A method for performing an automatic join and leave function for either a host or network using Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) signaling, the method comprising, sending a BGP join request that indicates a request to join a virtual network, receiving a BGP join response that indicates either an acceptance or a rejection of the BGP join request, adding the host to the virtual network when the BGP join response accepts the BGP join request, sending a BGP leave request that indicates a request to leave the virtual network, receiving a BGP leave response that indicates either an acceptance or a rejection of the BGP leave request, and removing the host from the virtual network when the BGP leave response accepts the BGP leave request, wherein the BGP join request comprises a quality of service (QoS) requirement and a bandwidth requirement.
US08861339B2 Packet forwarding function of a mobility switch deployed as routed SMLT (RSMLT) node
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing Routed Split Multi Link Trunking (RSMLT) for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) tunnels is presented. A first and second network switch learn data associated with each other, wherein the first network switch and the second network switch operate concurrently. The first network switch terminates a WLAN Tunnel. The data is synchronized between the first network switch and the second network switch, wherein the data includes MAC Addresses, Internet Protocol (IP) interface addresses, Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) associations, WLAN tunnel assignments and Network switch Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Load sharing of tunnel data packets is performed by the first and the second network switch. Tunnel control packets received by the second network switch are forwarded to the first network switch over an Inter Switch Trunk (IST).
US08861336B2 Systems and methods for integrating route and rank information into call detail records
The present technology is directed to systems and methods for integrating route and rank information into call detail records. The system receives information relating to a communication that is established between a first communication device and a second communication device. The information includes routing information for the established communication that includes at least a route identifier and a rank identifier. The system records the received route identifier and the rank identifier in a call detail record that is generated for the established communication. The route and rank information may be analyzed to for various purposes including troubleshooting and quality improvement.
US08861333B2 Dual port ethernet communication device with bypass function
Provided is a dual port Ethernet communication device which allows data received via any one communication port to be bypassed to other communication port. Since the Ethernet communication device performs such bypass operation itself, the communication data can be kept transferred to other terminal unit even though the terminal unit equipped with the Ethernet communication device does not operate normally due to causes such as a break down. In particular, if it is used in each terminal unit forming a closed loop in a closed loop power system, the communication on the closed loop remains such that the adjacent terminal unit can perform backup interrupt function even though a failure happens in a specific terminal unit forming the closed loop.
US08861332B2 Method and apparatus of recovering backhaul link failure between base station and relay node
A method and apparatus for recovering a backhaul link failure between a base station and a relay node is provided. The relay node receives information on a plurality of relay subframes used for relaying signals between the base station and the relay node. When a backhaul link failure is detected, the relay node determines at least one reserved subframe except the plurality of relay subframes and receives information to recover the backhaul link failure on a control channel in the at least one reserved subframe.
US08861324B1 Damaged tape cartridge detection
A system, according to one embodiment, includes a tape drive configured to detect a telescoping condition of a magnetic recording tape and output an error alert when the telescoping condition is detected. Furthermore, a method, according to another embodiment, includes detecting a telescoping condition of a magnetic recording tape in use in a tape drive, and outputting an error alert when the telescoping condition is detected.
US08861322B2 Optical pickup and optical read/write apparatus
An exemplary optical pickup comprises: a light source with first and second emission points; an optical branching element which branches light emitted from the first emission point into multiple light beams including a first main beam and first sub-beams and which also branches light emitted from the second emission point into multiple light beams including a second main beam and second sub-beams; an optical system which condenses the multiple light beams produced by the optical branching element onto an optical storage medium, thereby making the first and second main beams form a write light beam spot and a read light beam spot, respectively, on a target recording track on the storage medium and making the first and second sub-beams form reference light beam spots and other light beam spots somewhere on the storage medium other than the target recording track.
US08861321B2 Method and apparatus for generating tracking error signal and optical information storage system including the apparatus
Provided are an apparatus and method of generating a tracking error signal, and an optical information storage system including the apparatus. The apparatus includes a bias signal generator for generating a bias signal for canceling a direct current (DC) offset of a push-pull signal using a tracking control signal generated by the tracking controller. Accordingly, an offset generated in a tracking error signal may be canceled or otherwise reduced using the bias single instead of using an additional side beam.
US08861320B2 LENS driving unit and optical pickup including the same
Provided is a lens driving unit for an optical pickup and an optical disc drive that employs the lens driving unit. The lens driving unit includes a lens frame in which an object lens and a plurality of driving coils are installed, and a plurality of suspension wires connected to the driving coils. The lens frame also includes a plurality of winding posts disposed on opposing sides of the lens frame and extending in a direction in which the suspension wires extend. According to various examples, coil ends of the driving coils are wound around the winding posts to electrically connect the driving coils to the suspension wires.
US08861316B2 Write pole for recording head
A write pole structure disclosed herein includes a write pole, a trailing shield, and a high magnetic moment (HMM) material layer on a surface of the trailing shield facing the write pole.
US08861315B2 Radio-controlled wristwatch
A radio-controlled wristwatch that determines whether or not illuminance of light irradiating a solar cell is high, using plural criteria but without directly measuring voltage or current. The wristwatch includes: a solar cell; a control circuit which stops operation under a predetermined condition; and an illuminance detection circuit which indicates illuminance of light irradiating the solar cell being higher than a given threshold value. The wristwatch switches the given threshold value between a first and a second value, larger than the first value, starts the control circuit in a stop state when a signal indicating that the illuminance is higher than the first value is output, receives a satellite signal containing time information from a satellite when a signal indicating that the illuminance is higher than the second value is output, and displays time corresponding to the time information contained in the received satellite signal.
US08861306B2 Interpolating seismic data
A technique includes modeling interpolated seismic measurements as a random process characterized by seismic measurements acquired at a set of sensor locations and an interpolation error. The technique includes determining the interpolated seismic measurements based at least in part on a minimization of the interpolation error.
US08861305B2 Acoustic wave acquiring apparatus and control method thereof
The present invention provides an acoustic wave acquiring apparatus including: a probe configured to receive an acoustic wave from an object through an object holding unit that holds the object; an acoustic matching material holding unit configured to form a space, which holds an acoustic matching material, between the object holding unit and the probe; a scanning unit configured to allow the probe to scan in a first direction on the surface of the object holding unit, and in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a supplying unit configured to supply the acoustic matching material to the space by using a predetermined supply-amount pattern, wherein the supplying unit uses different supply-amount patterns in the case where the probe scans in the first direction and in the case where the probe scans in the second direction.
US08861304B1 Circuitry for generating peak cancelling pulses
Integrated circuits with wireless communications circuitry having peak cancelling circuitry operable to perform crest factor reduction is provided. The peak cancelling circuitry may include a peak detection circuit, a delay circuit, and peak cancellation pulse generation circuitry. The peak cancellation pulse generation circuitry may include multiple pulse generation blocks coupled in a cascade configuration. Each pulse generation block may include a counter for providing memory address signals, a register for latching peak scaling factor information, a pulse memory block for storing a respective sub-pulse, and a multiplier for scaling the stored sub-pulse by the latched peak scaling factor. The pulse memory block may be implemented using single-port memory or dual-port memory. In other suitable arrangements, the peak cancellation pulse generation circuitry may include an allocator circuit and a crossbar switch for selectively coupling the counters and registers to respective pulse memory blocks and multipliers.
US08861300B2 Non-blocking multi-port memory formed from smaller multi-port memories
A multi-port memory may be formed from a plurality of “simpler” memories. In one implementation, the memory includes a write port and a number of memories provided in groups, such that the write port supplies each of a plurality of copies of the data unit to a subset of the memories, each of the subset of memories being provided in a corresponding one of the groups, a number of the copies of the data unit being greater than two. Multiplexers may be implemented, each of which being associated with a corresponding one of the groups of the memories. One of the plurality of multiplexers may be configured to selectively supply one of the copies of the data unit from one of the memories. A read port may receive the one of the copies of the data unit from the one of the multiplexers and output the one of the copies of the data unit.
US08861295B2 Memory circuits, systems, and methods for accessing the memory circuits
A sense amplifier includes a first transistor. The first transistor includes a gate connected to a bit line, and a first source/drain (S/D) electrically coupled with a global bit line. The sense amplifier further includes a second transistor. The second transistor includes a gate connected to a first signal line, and a first S/D coupled to the global bit line, wherein the second transistor is configured to pre-charge the bit line.
US08861289B2 Multiport memory with matching address control
In a multiple port SRAM, a first bit cell is coupled to first and second word lines and a first and second bit line pair. A second bit cell is coupled to the first and second word lines and a third and fourth bit line pair. A first data line pair is coupled to the first bit line pair via first switching logic and to the third bit line pair via second switching logic, and a second data line pair is coupled to the second bit line pair via third switching logic and to the fourth bit line pair via fourth switching logic. If a match exists between at least portions of a first and second access address, a state of the third and forth switching logic is set such that the second bit line pair and the fourth bit line pair remains decoupled from the second data line pair.
US08861278B2 Non-volatile memory device and cache program method of the same
A cache programming method for a non-volatile memory device includes programming data for a current programming operation into a memory cell array, determining whether the current programming operation has been performed to a threshold point of program completion, and receiving a data for a next programming operation when the current programming operation has been performed to the threshold point of program completion.
US08861272B1 System and method for data recovery in a solid state storage device using optimal reference voltage values of a related storage element
Embodiments of solid-state storage system are provided herein include data recovery mechanism to recover data upon detection of a read error (e.g., an uncorrectable ECC error) in a storage element such as a page. In various embodiments, the system is configured to determine optimal reference voltage value(s) by evaluating the reference voltage value(s) of page(s) that are related to the page where the failure occurred. The related page(a) may include a page that is paired with the initial page where the failure occurred (e.g., the paired pages reside in a common memory cell), or a neighboring page that is physically near the page where the initial page, and/or a paired page of the neighboring page. In another embodiment, the system is configured to perform a time-limited search function to attempt to determine optimal reference voltage values through an iterative process that adjusts voltage values in a progression to determine a set of values that can retrieve the data.
US08861270B2 Approximate multi-level cell memory operations
The present technology relaxes the precision (or full data-correctness-guarantees) requirements in memory operations, such as writing or reading, of MLC memories so that an application may write and read a digital data value as an approximate value. Types of MLCs include Flash MLC and MLC Phase Change Memory (PCM) as well as other resistive technologies. Many software applications may not need the accuracy or precision typically used to store and read data values. For example, an application may render an image on a relatively low resolution display and may not need an accurate data value for each pixel. By relaxing the precision or correctness requirements is a memory operation, MLC memories may have increased performance, lifetime, density, and/or energy efficiency.
US08861267B2 Nonvolatile memory device including memory cell array with upper and lower word line groups
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array having multiple memory blocks. Each memory block includes memory cells arranged at intersections of multiple word lines and multiple bit lines. At least one word line of the multiple word lines is included in an upper word line group and at least one other word line of the multiple word lines is included in a lower word line group. The number of data bits stored in memory cells connected to the at least one word line included in the upper word line group is different from the number of data bits stored in memory cells connected to the at least one other word line included in the lower word line group.
US08861263B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell unit including a plurality of memory cells coupled between a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines, and configured to provide a read value in response to an activated word line, a reference value generating unit including a plurality of reference value generating cells coupled between the plurality of word lines and a reference bit line, and configured to provide a single reference value in response to the activated word line, and a sense circuit configured to provide a sense output signal based on the single reference value and the read value.
US08861262B2 Spin-current switchable magnetic memory element and method of fabricating the memory element
A spin-current switchable magnetic memory element includes a plurality of magnetic layers including a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy component, at least one of the plurality of magnetic layers including an alloy of a rare-earth metal and a transition metal, and at least one barrier layer formed adjacent to at least one of the plurality of magnetic layers.
US08861261B2 Semiconductor memory cell and semiconductor device
A technology is a semiconductor cell and a semiconductor device capable of reducing the coupling capacitance between adjacent bit lines by forming a bit line junction region in a separated island shape when forming a buried bit line, thereby improving characteristics of the semiconductor devices. The semiconductor cell includes a transistor including a gate and a gate junction region, a plurality of buried bit lines disposed to intersect the gate, and a plurality of bit line junction regions, each bit line junction region having an island shape formed between the buried bit lines and connected to the buried bit line.
US08861256B2 Data storage in memory array with less than half of cells in any row and column in low-resistance states
A method of storing data in a memory array with less than half of memory elements in any row and column in a low-resistance state. The data are arranged in a first portion of an encoding array. High-resistance values are entered in a second portion. A codeword is selected from a covering code for each row in which too many entries have low-resistance values. The selected codeword is used to reduce the number of low-resistance values in that row. A codeword is selected for each column in which too many entries have low-resistance values and the codeword is used to reduce the number of such values in that column. The process is repeated until no row and no column has too many low-resistance values. The array entries are stored in corresponding memory elements.
US08861246B2 Phase interpolators and push-pull buffers
Interpolator systems are described utilizing one or more push-pull buffers to generate output clock signals that may be provided as inputs to a phase interpolator. The more linear slope on the output of the push-pull buffer may improve the linearity of a phase interpolator using the clock signals output from the push-pull buffers.
US08861245B2 Control circuit board, control system, and copying method
A control circuit board includes a first storage unit configured to store therein predetermined data; a connecting unit configured to be connected to another control circuit board including a second storage unit; a switching unit configured to switch between a first state and a second state, the first state being a state in which data read from the first storage unit is enabled but data read from the second storage unit is disabled, the second state being a state in which data read from the first storage unit is disabled but data read from the second storage unit is enabled; and a storage control unit configured to write or read data to or from the first storage unit in the first state, and perform a copying operation that reads the data from the second storage unit and stores the read data in the first storage unit in the second state.
US08861242B2 Stacked device identification assignment
Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having dice arranged in a stack. The dice include at least a first die and a second die, and a connection coupled to the dice. The connection may be configured to transfer control information to the first die during an assignment of a first identification to the first die and to transfer the control information from the first die to the second die during an assignment of a second identification to the second die.
US08861236B2 Switching power supply with self-optimizing efficiency
A switching power supply is provided that includes: input terminals for the uptake of an input power, output terminals for providing an output power, a circuit disposed between the input and output terminals for transforming the input power and having at least one controllable switch, a control unit for controlling the at least one controllable switch by means of at least one pulse-width modulation signal having variable frequency and variable duty cycle, and having measuring instruments connected to control unit, designed for at least measuring the input current intensity, the input voltage, the output current intensity, and the output voltage, wherein control unit is designed for the purpose of monitoring the efficiency of switching power supply by means of measurement values of the connected measuring instruments, and of optimizing the efficiency by controlling the at least one controllable switch by means of a first digital control loop. Also provided is a method for operating a switching power supply.
US08861229B2 Isolator circuit including a voltage regulator
An apparatus includes a regulator circuit that generates a voltage in response to an input current being supplied to an input terminal and functional circuitry, powered by the voltage generated by the regulator circuit. The functional circuitry, e.g., an oscillator, generates a signal using the generated voltage, the signal indicative that the current is being supplied to the apparatus. The signal can be provided over an isolation link to provide a control signal for controlling a high voltage driver circuit.
US08861226B2 Power filter output architecture of a power supply
A power filter output architecture of a power supply includes a power conversion circuit board, a filter inductor, and a power output port. The power conversion circuit board includes a conversion circuit which converts an input power into at least one converted power, a power output circuit arranged at an edge of the power conversion circuit board, and a ground circuit arranged between the conversion circuit and the power output circuit. The filter inductor includes a first pin which obtains the converted power, an inductor body which receives the converted power and induces it to produce a filtered power, and a second pin which crosses the ground circuit to connect to the power output circuit. The power output port includes a plurality of power output terminals disposed on the power output circuit to obtain the filtered power, and a plurality of ground terminals connected to the ground circuit.
US08861223B2 Electronic device with connecting assemblies
An electronic device includes a housing and at least one connector assembly. The housing includes a bottom wall and a sidewall. The sidewall includes an outer side surface, a top surface and an inner side surface. At least one insertion interface is defined through the outer side surface. One resisting groove is defined on each end wall of the insertion interface. The top surface forms at least one receiving groove communicating with the corresponding insertion interface. Each connector assembly includes a connecting member and a connector. The connecting member includes a main body and two positioning ends protruding from the main body. The main body is received in the receiving groove. Each positioning end passes through the receiving groove and extends into the insertion interface to resist a side wall of one resisting groove. The connector is received in the insertion interface and resists between the two positioning ends.
US08861220B2 Method for generating an electronic system, method for generating a freeform surface having such a system, and electronic system and freeform surfaces having such a system
The invention relates to a method for generating an electronic system for application to freeform surfaces, a method for producing freeform surfaces having an electronic system, and an electronic system and a combination of a freeform surface having at least one such system. According to the invention, an elastic interconnect device having an elastic substrate and an elastic, fanned-out contact structure with contact surfaces comprised of conductor lines is generated first. Then, electronic components are mounted on the interconnect device. Finally, the interconnect device is encapsulated. If a freeform surface with an electronic system is to be generated, the electronic system produced in this way is then mounted on the previously provided freeform surface.
US08861217B2 Systems and methods for providing vias through a modular component
This relates to systems and methods for providing one or more vias through a module of an electrical system. For example, in some embodiments, the module can include one or more passive elements and/or active of the electrical system around which a packaging has been plastic molded. The module can be stacked under another component of the electrical system. Vias can then be provided that extend through the module. The vias can include, for example, electrically conductive pathways. In this manner, the vias can provide electrical pathways for coupling the component stacked on top of the module to other entities of an electronic device including the electrical system. For example, the component can be coupled to other entities such as other components, other modules, printed circuit boards, other electrical systems, or to any other suitable entity.
US08861216B2 Fixing mechanism and related electronic device
A fixing mechanism for fixing an electronic component is disclosed in the present invention. The fixing mechanism includes a first casing, a boss disposed on the first casing. The electronic component is disposed on the boss. The fixing mechanism further includes a resilient component disposed on the boss and located between the first casing and the electronic component, a circuit board putting on the electronic component and fixed on the first casing, and a second casing pressing the circuit board and fixed on the first casing. The circuit board contacts against the electronic component tightly by an assembly of the first casing and the second casing.
US08861215B2 Semiconductor device
A device includes: a wiring board having first and second surfaces opposing each other; and a plurality of memory packages on the first surface. The wiring board includes: a first set of terminals on the first surface; a plurality of second sets of terminals on the first surface; and a plurality of first signal lines. The terminals of the first set receive respective ones of a plurality of first signals supplied from a control device. Each of the second sets is provided for a corresponding one of the memory packages. The terminals of each of the second sets contact the corresponding one of the memory packages. The first signal lines extend from respective ones of the terminals of the first set while coupling respective ones of the terminals of each of the second sets. The first signal lines extend on the first surface without extending in the wiring board.
US08861214B1 High resistivity substrate for integrated passive device (IPD) applications
Substrates for integrated passive devices are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention provide substrates including a glass layer and at least one passive device disposed thereon. According to various embodiments of the present invention, the glass layer may have a thickness adapted to minimize conductive and/or other interactions between the substrate and the at least one passive device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08861210B2 Bucket-style fire resistant enclosure and a method for making the same
A fire resistant enclosure comprising an enclosure base including a base cap and a bucket-style base body is provided. The base body includes a bottom wall with a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a base cavity. The side wall includes an upper peripheral edge that defines an opening in the base cavity. A data storage device positioned within the base cavity. Fire resistant insulation material is positioned within the base cavity to encapsulate the data storage device, wherein the insulation material fills the base cavity to a level below the upper peripheral edge, wherein the base cap is configured to be coupled with the base body to enclose the data storage device within the enclosure base. In another aspect, an enclosure base and an enclosure lid may be provided, wherein each include bucket-style bodies. The enclosure base and lid define a storage compartment for the data storage device.
US08861206B2 Casing for electronic ballast
A casing for electronic ballast, in which a PCB assembly is received, may include: a top wall; a bottom wall opposite to the top wall; two opposite side walls extending integrally between the top wall and bottom wall; and two opposite end walls extending integrally from the top wall, wherein the top wall, bottom wall, side walls and end walls are formed integrally, the top wall, bottom wall and side walls define openings at both ends of the casing in a lengthwise direction of the casing, the end walls are arranged to be pivotable relative to the top wall so as to close the openings formed by the top wall, bottom wall and side walls.
US08861203B2 Adjustable heat sink assembly
An adjustable heat sink assembly includes a thermo-conductive bottom panel having a flat contact face protruded from the bottom wall thereof, elevation-adjustment fasteners mounted in the thermo-conductive bottom panels and fastened to a circuit board and vertically adjusted to keep the flat contact face in positive contact with a heat source at the circuit board, a thermo-conductive top panel, pitch-adjustment fasteners joining the thermo-conductive bottom panel and the thermo-conductive top panel and adjustable to control the distance between the thermo-conductive bottom panel and the thermo-conductive top panel and to keep the thermo-conductive top panel in positive contact with the housing, face panel or radiation fin of the electronic apparatus using the circuit board, and heat pipes connected between the thermo-conductive bottom panel and the thermo-conductive top panel.
US08861200B2 Module for a telecommunications subrack and a telecommunications subrack
A module for a telecommunications subrack as well as a telecommunication subrack are disclosed. The module is a horizontal plug in unit including a power part that includes power filtering functions for securing power feed to a backplane of the subrack as well as to a number of fans also arranged on the module for cooling of the subrack. The module also includes connectors arranged in the rear of the module for connecting the module to the backplane as well as connectors arranged in the front of the module for accommodating power cables. The telecommunications subrack includes a cage configured to accommodate cards, an air intake with filter and two or more removably mounted modules. Each of these modules includes a power part that includes power filtering functions for securing power feed for the subrack, input connectors arranged in the front of the module for accommodating power cables, fans for cooling of the subrack, and output connectors for connecting the module to a backplane of the subrack. The subrack further includes a backplane configured to distribute power and signaling to the cards and having connectors for connecting to the modules.
US08861196B2 Heat dissipation structure and electronic apparatus
A heat dissipation structure includes a circuit board that is disposed inside an outer casing having a chassis formed with air inlet holes, and in which a first electronic component generating heat when driven and a second electronic component not generating heat when driven are mounted on one surface of a base plate, and a heat sink that releases the heat generated in the first electronic component. Here, in the heat sink, a heat dissipation unit positioned facing the base plate, an eaves portion protruding from the heat dissipation unit, and a pair of enclosing portions protruding from ends of the eaves portion in a direction perpendicular to a protruding direction from the heat dissipation unit, and at least one of the air inlet holes is formed in a position facing the eaves portion.
US08861193B1 Hard drive carrier with vibration isolation
A hard drive carrier includes a substrate and an elastomer pad. The substrate includes a pin and an opening. The opening has a perimeter, and the pin is dimensioned to fit inside of a mounting hole of a hard drive. The elastomer pad is molded over or around the pin, or may be place anywhere convenient for dampening vibration in the direction of the pin axis. The elastomer pad spans the opening. The elastomer is attached to the perimeter of the opening, and the elastomer pad has a protruding feature within the perimeter of the opening.
US08861191B1 Apparatus related to a structure of a base portion of a computing device
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a display portion, a base frame coupled to the display portion where the base frame includes a channel defined by a top wall opposite a bottom wall and a side wall coupled to the top wall and to the bottom wall. The side wall can have an outer surface defining at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the base frame. The channel can have a first portion on a first side of the base frame and a second portion on a second side of the base frame opposite the first side of the base frame. The apparatus can include a midplane having a first edge disposed in the first portion of the channel and having a second edge disposed in the second portion of the channel.
US08861189B2 Electronic device
An electronic device comprises a main body, an operating mechanism secured to the main body; and a camera mechanism. The main body defines an opening. The camera mechanism is capable of being received in the opening. The operating mechanism is operable to drive the camera mechanism protruding out of the opening, and allows the camera mechanism to be retracted into and received in the opening.
US08861187B2 Convertible tablet
A computer system and an attached input unit are provided for a user to input data. A computer system may comprise a linking member, a display housing, and an input unit. The linking member may have a first hinge and a second hinge. The display housing may be pivotally attached to the first hinge of the linking member. The input unit may be attached to the second hinge of the linking member.
US08861185B2 Media player and peripheral devices therefore
A media player is provided with a lateral groove across the back of the housing of the media player that receives a user's forefinger and provides an ergonomic grip for the media player. A control button, including thumb operated button zones and a thumb operated slider zone is located on a front face of the housing. When the user grips the media player with their forefinger located in the lateral groove, the user's thumb is naturally adjacent the button zones and slider zone. A docking station for the media player that fits within a cup holder of a motor vehicle is also described.
US08861177B2 Metallized film capacitor and case mold type capacitor including same
A metallized film capacitor includes a dielectric film and two metal vapor-deposition electrodes facing each other across the dielectric film. At least one of the metal vapor-deposition electrodes is made of substantially only aluminum and magnesium. This metallized film capacitor has superior leak current characteristics and moisture resistant performances, and can be used for forming a case mold type capacitor with a small size.
US08861176B2 Ignition coil device
An ignition coil device includes a primary coil, a switching member, a secondary coil and a parallel circuit. The primary coil is to be connected to an external power source. The switching member switches an on state and an off state of electric power supply from the power source to the primary coil. The secondary coil generates a voltage that causes spark discharge at a spark plug as the electric power supply from the power source is switched from the on state to the off state by the switching member. The parallel circuit includes a series coil and a resistor. The series coil is connected in series with a conducting section that electrically connects the secondary coil to the spark plug. The resistor is connected to the conducting section in parallel with the series coil and having a fixed electric resistance value.
US08861174B2 Device and method for quick closing of an electric circuit and a use of the device
A device for quick closing of an electric circuit having a main spark gap with main electrodes and a triggering device. The triggering device has an auxiliary spark gap with auxiliary electrodes for igniting an arc in the main spark gap. The auxiliary electrodes are shielded from the main spark gap by a shielding unit having channel means extending therethrough from an auxiliary spark gap facing side to a main spark gap facing side of the shielding unit. The device further includes a nozzle with a first end being most close to the auxiliary spark gap and a second end most close to the main spark gap. The first end has an inlet opening that is in connection with the channel means and the second end has an outlet opening. The invention also relates to a corresponding method and to a use of the device.
US08861173B2 Mixer, matching device, ignition unit, and plasma generator
A mixer for mixing pulse voltage energy and electromagnetic wave energy in the same transmission line is provided with a first input terminal to which an electromagnetic wave is inputted, a second input terminal to which pulse voltage is inputted, a mixing output terminal from which the pulse voltage and the electromagnetic wave are outputted, a bar-shaped first conductive member of which one end is electrically connected to the second input terminal and the other end is electrically connected to an inner conductor of the mixing output terminal, a cylindrical second conductive member which surrounds the first conductive member with a gap therebetween and is disposed coaxially with the first conductive member and electrically connected to an inner conductor of the first input terminal, and a cylindrical third conductive member which houses the first conductive member and the second conductive member with a gap between the second conductive member and the third conductive member and is disposed coaxially with the first conductive member and the second conductive member and electrically connected to an outer conductor of the first input terminal and an outer conductor of the mixing output terminal.
US08861172B2 Calibration of detonators
A plurality of detonator assemblies in signal communication with a blasting machine, each detonator assembly consisting of a detonator, a storage compartment for storing programmed delay time and/or oscillation count and a countdown oscillator. A transmitter for transmitting a blast rehearsal stop start and stop signal, said signals being separated by said programmed delay time individually selected for each detonator signal. The oscillator counting the total oscillation count corresponding to said delay time. When a detonator assembly receives a FIRE command, the individual countdown oscillators countdowns the total oscillation count associated with its detonator assembly.
US08861166B2 Low voltage modular room ionization system
An ionization system for a predefined area includes a plurality of emitter modules spaced around the area, a system controller for individually addressing and monitoring the emitter modules and communication lines for electrically connecting the plurality of emitter modules with the system controller. Each emitter module has an individual address and including at least one electrical ionizer.
US08861164B2 Integrated overdrive and overvoltage protection device
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include an overcurrent protection device. The apparatus can include an overvoltage protection device coupled to the overcurrent protection device and configured to cause the overcurrent protection device to decrease a current through the overvoltage protection device after a breakdown voltage of the overvoltage protection device increases in response to heat.
US08861160B2 Integrated circuit having ESD protection capability
The present invention provides an integrated circuit having a better ESD protection capability and capable of reducing a circuit layout area. The integrated circuit comprises: an internal circuit, a first pad, and at least a first impedance matching unit. The first impedance matching unit is coupled between the internal circuit and the first pad, and the first impedance matching unit comprises: a first switch unit and a first resistance unit. The first switch unit is coupled to the internal circuit, and the first resistance unit is coupled between the first switch unit and the first pad, wherein the first resistance unit has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is directly electrically connected to the first pad and the second terminal is coupled to the first switch unit.
US08861159B2 Semiconductor device and systems including the same
The semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, an electrostatic discharge layer disposed on the substrate and including a plurality of electrostatic discharge circuits, at least one semiconductor chip stacked on the electrostatic discharge layer, and a plurality of vertical electrical connections which pass through the at least one semiconductor chip and the electrostatic discharge layer to connect the at least one semiconductor chip to the semiconductor substrate. The vertical electrical connections are connected to the electrostatic discharge circuits, respectively.
US08861155B2 High-impedance fault detection and isolation system
A high-impedance system that utilizes asynchronous, line-mounted single-phase current and voltage sensors with rolling data logs and a common clock or other event trigger to synchronize the signals to a common time scale whenever a fault event is detected. The use of asynchronous, single-phase current and voltage angle sensors with rolling data logs, along with a common clock to synchronize the signals to common time scale whenever a fault event is detected, avoids the need for simultaneous three-phase current measurement. Integration of information, triggered by the detection of a loss or sufficient change of current on three or four (with a neutral current) devices, is used to determine the presence and direction of high-impedance faults and then report it, typically to a central control center via SCADA or another communication system, which implements fault isolation.
US08861154B2 Recloser device and method of operation
A device for interrupting the flow of electrical power in an electrical distribution system is provided. The device includes a sensor operably coupled to the electrical distribution system. A switching mechanism is coupled to the electrical distribution system, the switching mechanism movable between an open position and a closed position. A controller operably coupled to the sensor and the switching mechanism, the controller having a processor that is responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on the processor incrementing a first counter in a first mode of operation and a second counter in a second mode of operation. Wherein the processor is further responsive to executable computer instructions for switching from the first mode to the second mode in response to a signal from the sensor.
US08861153B2 Current differential replay apparatus
A current differential relay apparatus includes a ratio-differential-characteristic determining unit determining an operation in a ratio differential characteristic based on an operation level Id and a suppression level Ir, a first-current-range determining unit determining that it is activated when Id>a1Ir+b1 is satisfied, a second-current-range determining unit determining that it is activated when Id>a2Ir+b2 is satisfied with relationships a1≦a2 and b1≧b2 being satisfied where a1, a2, b1 and b2 are real numbers, and an AND operator, a reset unit, and a flip flop which determine that it is an operation in a ratio differential characteristic when both first and second current ranges are activated, and which continue the operation until an operation in the first range is reset.
US08861152B2 Semiconductor device, display device, and electronic apparatus
To prevent an electrostatic damage on a display device formed with a driving circuit. Protective circuits are provided not only at input terminal parts, but also at intermediate parts of a circuit or at the ends of wiring lines. Otherwise, the protective circuits are provided at the ends of the wiring lines and at the places immediately before and after the input terminals, respectively, and then the circuit is interposed therebetween. Further, the protective circuits are provided around a circuit with a large current consumption.
US08861151B2 Overvoltage protection circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit
Disclosed is an overvoltage protection circuit which includes a first terminal through which a first voltage is supplied to an internal circuit; a second terminal through which a second voltage is supplied; a rectifier having an input end connected to the first terminal and having an output end; and first-stage to n-th-stage switching elements which are connected in parallel to one another. The first-stage to n-th-stage switching elements have first to n-th controlling ends, respectively. Each of the switching elements has first and second controlled ends connected to the first terminal and the second terminal, respectively. The rectifier is configured to output a control voltage from the output end thereby to cause the first-stage to n-th-stage switching elements to be turned on, in response to receipt of an overvoltage from the first terminal.
US08861150B2 Battery system
A battery system includes batteries; a voltage detector linking batteries and detecting batteries' voltage; an equalizer linking batteries and fine-tuning their charging/discharging efficiency; a battery protection board on which there is a MCU used to receive signals from the voltage detector for characteristic differences between batteries balanced by the equalizer and batteries with similar charging and discharging efficiency; a digital interface connected between the MCU and an upper-level control system as one interface of signal transmission.
US08861146B2 Electrical wiring device with protective features
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device for use in an electrical distribution system. The device includes a plurality of line terminals configured to terminate the plurality of line conductors and a plurality of load terminals configured to terminate the plurality of load conductors. The protective circuit assembly includes at least one fault detector configured to generate a fault detection signal based on electrical perturbations propagating on at least one of the plurality of line terminals or at least one of the plurality of load terminals. A device integrity evaluation circuit includes a timing circuit coupled to the source of AC power by way of the plurality of load terminals and configured to generate a time measurement. The device integrity evaluation circuit is configured to reset the time measurement if the protective circuit assembly generates the fault detection signal during a predetermined test interval in the properly wired condition. The device integrity evaluation circuit is configured to generate a device integrity fault signal when the time measurement exceeds a predetermined threshold. A circuit interrupter assembly includes movable contacts configured to be latched into a reset state in response to a reset stimulus. The movable contacts are configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the fault detection signal or the device integrity fault signal.
US08861144B2 Triggered arc flash arrester and switchgear system including the same
A triggered arc flash arrester includes an envelope structured to operate at: a pressure less than about 1.33 Pa; or a pressure greater than 0.10857 MPa; a plurality of conductors partially disposed within the envelope; a number of gaps disposed between the plurality of conductors within the envelope; and a shorting structure selected from the group consisting of a triggered gap and a fuse. The shorting structure is operatively associated with the number of gaps. The shorting structure is structured to electrically short the plurality of conductors either together or to ground, in order to create an arc within the envelope which is electrically in parallel to an arc fault causing the arc fault internal to switchgear to be extinguished.
US08861142B2 Suspension board with circuit and producing method thereof
A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting board, a first insulating layer laminated on a top surface of the metal supporting board, a second insulating layer laminated on a back surface of the metal supporting board, a first conductive pattern laminated on the surface of the first insulating layer and including a first terminal connected to the magnetic head, and a second conductive pattern laminated on the surface of the second insulating layer and including a second terminal. In a slider mounting region, the slider is mounted on the surface and an electronic element mounting space is formed. Respective end edges of the first and second insulating layers are spaced apart from and located at positions inwardly protruded in the electronic element mounting space from an end edge of the metal supporting board, and the second terminal is disposed to face the electronic element mounting space.
US08861137B1 Perpendicular magnetic recording write head with main pole formed on a metallic amorphous underlayer
A perpendicular magnetic recording write head has a main pole that is typically CoFe electroplated into a generally trapezoidal shaped alumina trench. A metallic side gap layer is deposited into the alumina trench to adjust the trench width to the desired main pole dimension. A nonmagnetic metallic amorphous underlayer, preferably an amorphous NiTa alloy or an amorphous NiNb alloy, is then deposited on the side gap layer. A pole seed layer, such as a NiCr/CoFe bilayer, is deposited into the trench onto the metallic amorphous underlayer prior to electroplating the CoFe main pole. The metallic amorphous underlayer serves to reset the growth between the side gap layer and the NiCr/CoFe pole seed layer. The metallic amorphous underlayer does not insulate the electroplating CoFe layer from the metallic side gap layer, which allows for better current conduction normal to the layers, resulting in a main pole with improved magnetic properties.
US08861136B2 Spin conduction element and magnetic sensor and magnetic head using spin conduction
A spin conduction element includes a main channel layer having a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, a fourth electrode, a fifth electrode, and a sixth electrode, and extending in a first direction. Spins are injected into the main channel layer from a second ferromagnetic layer constituting the second electrode and a fourth ferromagnetic layer constituting the fourth electrode, and a spin current is detected as a voltage in a third ferromagnetic layer constituting the third electrode.
US08861130B1 Spindle motor and recording disk driving device including the same
There is provided a spindle motor including: a sleeve fixedly installed on the base member and having a circulation hole formed therein; a shaft rotatably inserted into a shaft hole of the sleeve; a rotor hub fixedly installed on an upper end portion of the shaft; and a thrust member installed in an installation groove of the sleeve and forming a connection part while being installed in the installation groove, the connection part being connected to the circulation hole, wherein the connection part is formed by the sleeve and the rotor hub and connects a sealing part in which a liquid-vapor interface is disposed and the circulation hole to each other, and an upper and lower radial dynamic grooves allowing a lubricating fluid to move from a lower end portion of the shaft toward the upper end portion thereof during rotation of the shaft.
US08861127B2 Magnetic storage device with dynamic humidity control system to mitigate water vapor transients
Approaches for desiccant device within an enclosure protecting sensitive electronic equipment. Electronic equipment, such as a hard-disk drive (HDD), may comprise a desiccant device that possesses a water vapor permeability rate that matches or is substantially similar to the water vapor permeability rate of the enclosure. In this way, desiccant devices may prevent the desiccant material enclosed within from releasing large amounts of humidity into the interior of the electronic equipment.
US08861126B1 Disk drive detecting when head is on ramp
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk surface, the head comprising a temperature sensitive (TS) fly height sensor. The disk drive further comprises a ramp for parking the head, and control circuitry configured to process a fly height signal generated by the TS fly height sensor, wherein the fly height signal represents a fly height of the head over the disk, and detect whether the head is on the ramp in response to the fly height signal.
US08861123B1 Disk drive servoing on first disk surface while erasing second disk surface
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a first head actuated over a first disk surface comprising servo information, a second head actuated over a second disk surface, and a voice coil motor (VCM) operable to actuate the first and second heads radially over the respective disk surfaces. The first disk surface and the second disk surface are rotated, and the servo information is read from the first disk surface using the first head to generate a read signal. The read signal is processed to generate a control signal applied to the VCM to move the second head radially over the second disk surface while applying an erase signal to the second head in order to erase at least part of the second disk surface.
US08861118B1 Disk drive with servo system providing time-syncing for gapless sectors
Disk drives with servo systems are described that include a servo ID pattern (SID) with a SAM field, as well as, one or more Integrated Servo sequences designed to provide a redundant sync mark function. The write-to-read gaps are omitted before selected servo sector SIDs. For example, write-to-read gaps can be omitted before alternating servo sector SIDs. When in write-mode that allows writing an extended user data sector without a write-to-read gap, the servo system delays the servo gate assertion with respect to the following SID to accommodate the absence of the write-to-read gap, which means that the SAM field cannot be read, but the Integrated Servo sequence(s) can be read and detected by the digital filters. Embodiments of the invention include sync mark timing for each SID (not just every other SID) even when writing extended user data sectors by using the Integrated Servo sequences to provide a sync timing function.
US08861117B2 Data intersector gaps for data sector format
A data format that allows for format-efficient data storage, particularly on bit-patterned media. The data format uses an intersector gap that is dimensioned relative to a physical dimension of a transducer. Further described is a data storage medium comprising transducer overhead, such as an intersector gap, interleaved with fragment overhead. Also described is a storage medium comprising intersector gaps that each include a write splice and extra symbols.
US08861114B1 Method and system for compensating for adjacent tracks during reading of data
A method for reading a current track of data from a storage device includes using a first read head to read the current track of data and at least a first portion of at least one adjacent track of data, using at least a second read head to read at least a portion of the current track of data and at least a second portion of the at least one adjacent track of data, and decoding the data read from the current track, including processing signals from the first read head and the at least a second read head, to at least partly remove, from the signal from the first read head, contributions from the first portion of the at least one adjacent track of data. The decoding may include deriving expressions relating contributions from the current and adjacent tracks, and solving the expressions using least-mean-square analysis.
US08861108B1 Magnetic disk drive and method for correcting defective location detected using head disk interference sensor
According to one embodiment, a first defect detector executes a first scan test. The first scan test includes detecting a defect on a disk using a head disk interference sensor by scanning the disk using a head. The first scan test further includes identifying a range of cylinders indicated by servo data read by a read element when the defect is detected, as a first detected location of the detected defect. A compensator corrects the first detected location to a second detected location based on a position difference. The second detected location corresponds to a position of the head disk interference sensor at a time of detection of the defect.
US08861106B2 Variable monochromatic uniform calibration source
Systems for generating uniform monochromatic electromagnetic radiation that include an electromagnetic radiation source and a bandpass filter assembly to filter electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electromagnetic radiation source. The systems also include an optical integrating sphere to receive the filtered electromagnetic radiation and to uniformly scatter the filtered electromagnetic radiation within the optical integrating sphere, wherein the optical integrating sphere comprises an output to emit the uniformly scattered, filtered electromagnetic radiation.
US08861102B2 Lithographic apparatus and thermal optical manipulator control method
A control method is provided for controlling a heating of a thermal optical element, the thermal optical element having a matrix of heater elements. The method includes stabilizing a nominal temperature of the thermal optical element with a feedback loop to control the heating of heater elements; providing a desired temperature profile of the thermal optical element by a set point signal; determining a feedforward control of the heater elements from the set point signal; and forwardly feeding an output of the feedforward control into the feedback loop.
US08861093B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having negative refractive power, a second lens unit having positive refractive power, and a third lens unit having positive refractive power. A distance between every adjacent ones of the first to third lens units varies during zooming. The second lens unit includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a positive lens and a cemented lens in which a positive lens and a negative lens are cemented. A focal length (f2) of the second lens unit, a focal length (fT) of the entire zoom lens at a telephoto end, and an average refractive index (Npave) of materials of the positive lenses included in the entire zoom lens are appropriately set.
US08861089B2 Capturing and processing of images using monolithic camera array with heterogeneous imagers
Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. Lens stack arrays in accordance with many embodiments of the invention include lens elements formed on substrates separated by spacers, where the lens elements, substrates and spacers are configured to form a plurality of optical channels, at least one aperture located within each optical channel, at least one spectral filter located within each optical channel, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light, and light blocking materials located within the lens stack array to optically isolate the optical channels.
US08861087B2 Multi-layer photonic structures having omni-directional reflectivity and coatings incorporating the same
A multi-layer photonic structure may include alternating layers of high index material and low index material having a form [H(LH)N] where, H is a layer of high index material, L is a layer of low index material and N is a number of pairs of layers of high index material and layers of low index material. N may be an integer ≧1. The low index dielectric material may have an index of refraction nL from about 1.3 to about 2.5. The high index dielectric material may have an index of refraction nH from about 1.8 to about 3.5, wherein nH>nL and the multi-layer photonic structure comprises a reflectivity band of greater than about 200 nm for light having angles of incidence from about 0 degrees to about 80 degrees relative to the multi-layer photonic structure. The multi-layer photonic structure may be incorporated into a paint or coating system thereby forming an omni-directional reflective paint or coating.
US08861086B2 Compact spectrometer including a diffractive optical element with dual dispersion and focusing functionality
Embodiments of the invention provide a device called a “G-Fresnel” device that performs the functions of both a linear grating and a Fresnel lens. We have fabricated the G-Fresnel device by using PDMS based soft lithography. Three-dimensional surface profilometry has been performed to examine the device quality. We have also conducted optical characterizations to confirm its dual focusing and dispersing properties. The G-Fresnel device can be useful for the development of miniature optical spectrometers as well as emerging optofluidic applications. Embodiments of compact spectrometers using diffractive optical elements are also provided. Theoretical simulation shows that a spectral resolution of approximately 1 nm can be potentially achieved with a millimeter-sized G-Fresnel. A proof-of-concept G-Fresnel-based spectrometer with subnanometer spectral resolution is experimentally demonstrated.
US08861082B2 Method and apparatus for combining laser array light sources
An apparatus for providing a light beam has a solid-state laser to emit a polarized input laser light beam that has a first aspect ratio of etendue R1. First and second cylindrical lenses collimate the light along orthogonal directions. An edge of a bisecting reflective surface splits the laser light beam into a first portion directed along a first beam path and a second portion along a second beam path, wherein the first and second beam paths each contain emitted light from the solid-state laser. One or more folding reflective surfaces are disposed along the first or second or both beam paths. A polarization rotator rotates polarization of the light along the second beam path. A polarization combiner combines light from the first and second beam paths to form an output beam, wherein the output beam has a second aspect ratio of etendue R2 not equal to R1.
US08861081B2 Collimating optical device and system
There is provided a light-guide, compact collimating optical device, including a light-guide having a light-waves entrance surface, a light-waves exit surface and a plurality of external surfaces, a light-waves reflecting surface carried by the light-guide at one of the external surfaces, two retardation plates carried by light-guides on a portion of the external surfaces, a light-waves polarizing beamsplitter disposed at an angle to one of the light-waves entrance or exit surfaces, and a light-waves collimating component covering a portion of one of the retardation plates. A system including the optical device and a substrate, is also provided.
US08861071B2 Method and device for compensating for color shift as a function of angle of view
In one embodiment of the invention, a display is provided and includes a plurality of interferometric display elements. The display further includes at least one diffuser. Optical properties of the diffuser are selected to reduce color shift of the display when viewed from at least one angle.
US08861065B2 Electronic paper active substrate and method of forming the same and electronic paper display panel
Embodiments of the invention disclose an electronic paper active substrate and a method of forming the same and an electronic paper display panel. The electronic paper active substrate comprises: a base substrate, a gate electrode, a first common electrode, a second common electrode, a gate insulating layer, an active layer, source-drain electrodes, a passivation layer, a resin passivation layer, and a pixel electrode layer. The gate electrode and the first common electrode are arranged on the base substrate, and the gate is provided with the gate insulating layer, the active layer, the source-drain electrodes, the passivation layer, the resin passivation layer, and the pixel electrode layer sequentially arranged thereon; the first common electrode is provided with the gate insulating layer, the source-drain electrodes, the passivation layer, the second common electrode, the resin passivation layer, and the pixel electrode layer sequentially arranged thereon; and the first and second common electrodes are electrically connected to each other.
US08861061B1 Lens assemblies, indexing assemblies therefor, and methods of indexing same
A lens assembly generally includes an ophthalmic contact lens, a rotating collar configured for rotation around at least a portion of an outer surface of the lens, and an indexing assembly configured to provide tactile feedback to a user in the form of increased resistance to relative rotation of the lens and the collar at uniformly spaced indexing positions.
US08861059B2 Method and apparatus for controlling mirror motion in light scanning arrangements
A method and apparatus of driving a motor in a light scanning arrangement. The method includes the following steps: (1) driving a drive coil with a drive signal to oscillate a scan mirror and a light beam reflected from the scan mirror; (2) generating a feedback signal having zero crossings during oscillation of the scan mirror by a feedback coil in proximity to the drive coil; (3) integrating the feedback signal to generate an integrated feedback signal; and (4) processing the integrated feedback signal to generate a periodic drive signal that has the same time period as the feedback signal.
US08861058B2 Scanning projector with non-rectangular display
A scanning beam projection system includes a scanning mirror having a fast-scan axis and a slow-scan axis. Movement on the fast-scan axis is controlled by a fast-scan scanning mirror control system. The control system receives position information describing angular displacement of the mirror. A fast-scan drive signal is generated that causes the scanning mirror to oscillate at a resonant frequency with a varying amplitude.
US08861056B2 Volume hologram transfer foil, volume hologram laminate, and production method thereof
A major object of the present invention is to provide a volume hologram transfer foil that gives a volume hologram laminate higher in antiforgery function.The present invention achieves the object by providing a volume hologram transfer foil comprising: a substrate, a volume hologram layer carrying a recorded volume hologram that is formed on the substrate, and an image forming layer carrying a formed image and a heat seal layer containing a thermoplastic resin that are formed on the volume hologram layer, and comprising no reflective layer having a function to reflect light.
US08861055B2 Security device
A security device having a lenticular device that includes an array of lenticular focusing elements located over a corresponding array of sets of image strips such that at different viewing directions, a corresponding image strip from each set is viewed via respective ones of the lenticular focusing elements wherein the image strips are defined at least in part by a relief structure.
US08861053B2 Method and apparatus for automated generation of a white ink separation out of CMYK data or RGB print data
Techniques are provided that include an algorithm and a computing device using such algorithm to compute a white ink separation channel from the CMYK or RGB data from a print pipeline as an input. This input originally corresponds to print data on a media with standard whiteness, e.g. standard whiteness corresponding to a diffuser used by the Comission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) 1964 media whiteness formula. In an example implementation, the white ink channel computed by the computing device using such algorithm may be printed as a pre-coat on a colorimetrically different media which does not comply with definitions and formulae of CIE's whiteness and tint.
US08861051B1 Roller assembly
A roller assembly includes a roller shaft, a roller base and at least one roller. The roller shaft defines at least one clipping slot. The roller shaft passes rearward through the roller base to rotatably mount the roller base to the roller shaft. An inside of the roller base extends forward to form an elastic arm. A free end of the elastic arm projects beyond a front surface of the roller base. The free end of the elastic arm defines a hook portion hooked in the clipping slot to restrain the roller base on the roller shaft. The roller is set around the roller base. When the roller assembly is disassembled, press down upon the free end of the elastic arm to make the hook portion project out of the clipping slot, so that the roller base together with the rollers is disassembled from the roller shaft.
US08861047B2 Document size detector
A document size detector sets an amount of light to be emitted from a light source for document size detection in accordance with the amount of disturbance light detected by the CCD, switches on the light source so as to make the light source emit the set amount of light, and detects the size of a document placed on a platen. Therefore, erroneous detection of a document size is prevented and glare that a user is subjected to when the size of a document placed on the platen is detected is reduced.
US08861046B2 Multi-functional device having scanner module and image scanning apparatus employing the scanner module
A multi-functional device comprising an image forming apparatus to form a printing image and a scanner module to scan an image. The scanner module includes an illuminator to illuminate a light to a document mount, a sensor unit to read an image information of an object placed on the document mount, and an imaging lens to focus the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit. The illuminator includes a light source to emit light, a light guiding unit and changes a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source to illuminate the document mount, and a guide holder which comprises an installation part where the light guiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light source holder is mounted to provide the light source at least one side of the light guiding unit.
US08861040B2 Image-reading device and computer-readable storage medium configured to determine document edge from plurality of candidate edge points
An image-reading device may include a conveyor, a reading unit, and a control device. The control device may be configured to extract feature points from an area between a first edge and a line, obtain the density of the extracted feature points, and compare the density to a threshold. The control device may be further configured to identify the first edge as a document leading edge or a document trailing edge based on the comparison result.
US08861039B2 Image forming apparatus and method of sending email therein
An image forming apparatus and a method of sending email therein. The method includes generating a scan image by scanning a document to be sent to an email address via an email; generating a job ID mapped to information included in the email and the generated scan image; sending the email including the job ID and the generated scan image via a mail server; and when the email is returned, resending the email by reading out the scan image and the information included in the email mapped to the job ID according to a user inputting the job ID included in the returned email.
US08861034B2 Method and apparatus for generating multi-bit depth halftone amplitude-modulation dots
The present application discloses a method and an apparatus for generating multi-bit depth halftone amplitude-modulation dots. The method may comprise: scanning an input image to obtain a value of a current pixel Pxy, where x represents a lateral position index of the current pixel, and y represents a vertical position index of the current pixel; obtaining gj from a preset multi-bit depth threshold matrix G by starting with i=0, and determining if Pxy
US08861020B2 Image reading apparatus, control method of image reading apparatus, and storage medium
There is provided a method for properly placing a document on a reference position of a document positioning plate. The method for controlling an image reading apparatus for reading a document placed on a document positioning plate includes acquiring an image of an image-readable region including the document positioning plate; detecting a document to be read in a vicinity of a reference position for reading the document which is placed on the document positioning plate, and controlling a display unit to display an image of a first region of the document positioning plate in a case where the document is not detected, and controlling the display unit to display an image of a second region in the vicinity of the reference position in a magnification that is greater than a magnification for displaying the image of the first region in a case where the document is detected.
US08861017B2 Web widget fir formatting web content
A method for formatting website content for printing includes providing a web widget to a user's computer. Content from a website viewable on the user's computer can be analyzed and extracted via an application server engaged by the web widget. The extracted content can be transformed into a desired format on the application server.
US08861016B2 Method of adding value to print data, a value-adding device, and a recording medium
Various kinds of value can be easily added to print data output from an existing application without modifying the existing application program. A value-adding method executes a process of adding value to print data output from an application on a computer that has one or more communication ports and executes a specific process by means of an application, and includes a data acquisition step of acquiring the print data at the operating system kernel layer before the print data is received at the communication port, and a data processing step that applies at the application layer a process of adding and/or deleting print content in the print data based on previously registered information, and outputs the data after processing to the specified communication port.
US08861013B2 Image forming apparatus
A CPU perform the steps of: (a) causing a compression/decompression processor to decompress the compressed data of one of three bands in the data area except for the first block in the band, and storing decompressed bitmap data in the data area; (b) rasterizing each of the intermediate data blocks in the band and synthesizing the rasterized data and the decompressed bitmap data in the band; and (c) causing the compression/decompression processor to compress the synthesized bitmap data and storing the compressed data in the data area. The CPU performs the steps (a) to (c) in different respective tasks in parallel, and performs the steps (a) to (c) along the order of (a), (b), (c) for each of the intermediate code blocks in each of the bands while using the 1st to the 3rd bitmap data area in turn for each of the steps (a) to (c).
US08861012B2 Control apparatus, image forming system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
A control apparatus includes an output unit, a transmission unit, an output-history generating unit, a transmission-history generating unit, a checking unit, and a determination-information generating unit. The output unit acquires image formation information items, and performs output processes of outputting the information items to a storage unit. The transmission unit acquires the information items, and performs transmission processes of transmitting the information items to the image forming unit. The output-history generating unit generates output histories in which an order in which unit processes constituting the output processes have been performed is recorded. The transmission-history generating unit generates transmission histories in which an order in which unit processes constituting the transmission processes have been performed is recorded. The checking unit checks whether the orders match. The determination-information generating unit generates a determination information item to be used in determination of a unit process.
US08861010B2 Notifying a print client of an end of an image process on print data
Disclosed is a data processing apparatus including an application execution unit that transmits job data; a print-request-source notification unit invoked by the application execution unit to report print-request-source information specifying a print request source; a virtual printer driver that is invoked upon receiving the job data, extracts job information specifying print settings from the job data, generates a work space for image conversion, and generates drawing data of a higher image format from the job data in the work space; and a transmission processing unit that is generated as a private instance for the job data, selects a printer driver corresponding to output-destination printer information associated with a client or a user of the client, instructs the selected printer driver to print the drawing data, and displays transmission destination information and/or print information determined for the job data on the print request source.
US08861008B2 Bidirectional communication technique between an information processing apparatus and an image processing apparatus
A print processing system includes a bidirectional communication part that carries out bidirectional communication with an information processing apparatus and an image processing apparatus; a command generation part that generates, based on a request received by the bidirectional communication part from the information processing apparatus, a request command to be transmitted to the image processing apparatus, depending on a print protocol of the image processing apparatus; and a response conversion part that converts a response that corresponds to the request command and has been received by the bidirectional communication part from the image processing apparatus, into a response that is to be transmitted to the information processing apparatus, and has a form that does not depend on print protocols.
US08861007B2 Computer language translation filter
Provided herein are devices, systems, methods and various means, including those related to translating command and other types of computer instructions being transmitted to a destination processor from a language that is non-native to the destination processor to a language that is native to the destination processor. Some embodiments discussed herein can include a processing filter that is configured to identify whether incoming instructions are formatted in a translatable non-native language of the destination processor and, if so, process the non-native commands into native commands. The processed, native commands can then be relayed to the destination processor by some embodiments discussed herein. The processing filter can be implemented in a manner that is portable and independent of any specific framework and/or programming language. For example, the processing functionality (including the identification and translation features discussed herein) can be implemented in the same device as the destination processor and/or at a system remote from the destination device (e.g., at a remote host system).
US08861002B2 Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus registers a message using a microblogging function in a Web server. When the image forming apparatus confirms a comment to the registered message, it analyzes the comment and converts it into control information for executing processing by the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus generates an analysis result comment for confirming whether or not the analysis result is correct, and registers the analysis result comment in the Web server. When a comment of the user to the registered analysis result comment is affirmative, processing in accordance with the control information is executed.
US08861001B2 Output control system, output control method, and output control apparatus for determining whether to store or transmit target data based on use state
An output control apparatus includes a state information storage unit configured to store therein state information in which apparatus identification information about an output apparatus and a use state of the output apparatus are associated; a use state management unit configured to store the state information for the use state received from the output apparatus in the state information storage unit; a designation of the output apparatus, and a request to output the target data to the designated output apparatus; an output control unit configured to determine whether to store the target data in a data storage unit or transmit the target data to the designated output apparatus based on the use state of the designated output apparatus; and a data transmitting unit configured to transmit the target data and the request to the designated output apparatus when the target data is to be transmitted to the designated output apparatus.
US08860998B2 Apparatus and methods for transferring printer driver preferences
A system is provided for supporting multiple platforms with common personal preferences for printer drivers. The set preferences for the printer driver are therefore reusable and may be moved from one driver to another. The system involves the provision of a common format for printer driver preferences. When a new printer is brought to a system or a user moves to a station that uses a different printer, the preferences are readily moved to that location. Further, an MIS department may provide a corporate wide printer preference solution, for example for printing a particular page or printing in a particular style. The preferences may not be identical for each printer due to differences in the capabilities of various platforms. The printer preferences overwrite a default value in printers with preferences, to the extent that each printer has the options available. To the extent that these options are not available, the printer reverts to its default setting.
US08860992B2 Cellular telephone protocol adaptive printing
A cellular telephone protocol adaptive printing system includes a mobile device protocol logic configured to transmit a print job from a cellular telephone to an image forming device, pursuant to a print data transmission protocol; and a content transforming logic configured to process a print item into the print job pursuant to the print data transmission protocol supported by the mobile device protocol logic.
US08860989B2 Scanner with exception preview
A scanning system is described providing an exception correction capability during multi-page scanning operations. A sensing system is used to sense exception conditions during a multi-page scanning operation. In response to detecting an exception, at least one scanned page associated with the exception condition is displayed on an image display and a user interface system is used to provide a plurality of user-selectable corrective actions associated with the exception condition. One or more corrective operations are then performed in response to a user selecting a particular corrective action.
US08860987B2 Driver program
A non-transitory computer readable medium stores a driver program for an image forming apparatus. The driver program causes the computer to perform the steps of: (a) causing a display device of the computer to display a driver screen that transmits a job request to the image forming apparatus in accordance with a user operation of a user; and (b) if a predetermined user interface element in the driver screen is operated, causing the image forming apparatus to transmit user setting information on the user to the computer and causing the display device of the computer to display a user setting information page that includes the user setting information.
US08860984B2 Workflow generation in a print shop environment
Systems and methods are provided for generating workflows for incoming print data. The system generates a workflow for a print job based upon rules defined for the print shop. The system receives a print job for a customer. The system also stores rules, defined for customers, that describe logical relationships of activities at a print shop. Different combinations of the rules may be used to generate different workflows of print shop activities. The system identifies rules defined for the customer, identifies activities available at the print shop, and generates a workflow for the print job based on the rules defined for the customer, the available activities, and a job ticket of the print job, wherein the workflow comprises an ordered set of activities. The system also directs the resources of the print shop to perform the activities of the workflow.
US08860983B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus is used in a network environment including a plurality of printing apparatuses and a plurality of client devices which form printing data for realizing a printing processing in the plurality of printing apparatuses. Regarding an association between printing apparatus and driver constituting a selection unit at the time of distributing drivers corresponding to the printing apparatuses, from the information processing apparatus to the client devices, it is possible to prepare and select associations of [N:1], [1:N], and [N:N]. As a result, it is possible to mitigate erroneous association selection and to achieve further simplification in procedures at the time of selection, which leads to a reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO).
US08860981B2 Systems and methods for print job scheduling
Methods disclosed facilitate the scheduling of print jobs. In some embodiments, the retrieval of remote files that are targets of print requests can be deferred. Print requests may be specified using JDF and/or JMF. A print queue holds entries corresponding to the remote target files and each queue entry is also associated with location information for its corresponding remote target file. When the queue entry is processed the location information associated with the queue entry is used to retrieve the remote target file for printing.
US08860980B2 Administrator terminal connected to image forming apparatus and client, image forming system including the same, and remote installing method for driver thereof
An administrator terminal connected to an image forming apparatus and a client, an image forming system including the same, and a method to remotely an install a driver. The method to remotely an install a driver in an administrator terminal connecting with at least one image forming apparatus and at least one client includes searching for at least one image forming apparatus connected to the administrator terminal, selecting at least one client sharing and using the searched image forming apparatus, selecting an image forming apparatus server according to a network connection type of the image forming apparatus, and installing the driver of the image forming apparatus on the at least one selected client through the selected image forming apparatus server. Thus, at least one client is selected among clients where the driver is installed, and the driver is simultaneously installed according to the selected clients, thereby saving time and cost and providing a convenience to a user.
US08860979B2 Deletion of unwanted reply messages in e-mail printing
Methods and systems receive an instruction to print an accumulation e-mail message through a graphic user interface of a computerized device. The accumulation e-mail comprises an original e-mail message and one or more reply e-mail messages made to the original e-mail message. The methods and systems automatically identify boundaries between the e-mail messages within the accumulation e-mail using the computerized device; automatically truncate the original e-mail message and one or more of the reply e-mail messages from the accumulation e-mail message to create a modified accumulation e-mail message using the computerized device; and automatically print the modified accumulation e-mail message using a printing device.
US08860977B2 Information transmission system and method with multiple user authentication
An information transmission system includes a first image processing device and a second image processing device. The first image processing device includes a memory for storing information associated with each user. In the information transmission system, an authentication unit authenticates a user. A receiving unit receives an instruction for identifying information to be transmitted to the second image processing device, from information associated with the user authenticated by the authentication unit. A transmission unit transmits the information identified by the instruction received by the receiving unit, from the first image processing device to the second image processing device. The authentication unit authenticates a second user with a first user having been authenticated. The receiving unit receives an instruction for identifying the information from information associated with the first user authenticated and information associated with the second user authenticated.
US08860974B2 Print control apparatus and print control program
A print control apparatus includes a communication unit which communicates with a server, a print instruction acceptance unit which accepts a print instruction to make a printing apparatus execute printing, a judgment unit which judges whether or not the printing apparatus is a registered printing apparatus, a permission unit which permits the printing apparatus to execute printing based on the print instruction when the printing apparatus has been judged to be the registered printing apparatus, a restriction unit which inhibits the printing apparatus from executing printing based on the print instruction when the printing apparatus has not been judged to be the registered printing apparatus, and a notification unit which makes a notification for prompting a user to register the printing apparatus on the server as the registered printing apparatus when the printing apparatus has not been judged to be the registered printing apparatus.
US08860972B2 Printing from a handheld device via a remote server
Systems and methods are provided though which a transaction, e.g., in a multi-tier, distributed application may be initiated from a portable or hand-held device, such as a smartphone. A computer system or systems, possibly remote from the device, may approve the transaction, complete it, or both, and the remote computer system or systems may cause a document to be printed, e.g., by a printer physically proximate to the device.Aspects of the invention are illustrated by embodiments in which a drug prescription may be created electronically using a hand-held device. In such an embodiment, the prescription may be transmitted to one or more remote computer systems, such as an application server, for processing. If specified, the remote computer systems may cause a prescription to be printed, e.g., at a printer near the prescriber's location. The prescriber may sign the printed prescription and give it to a patient or pharmacy.
US08860971B2 Printing device and printing method of printing device
The printing device has a data generating section (controller section) which conducts image processing with a plurality of processors to generate dot data for printing from image data; and a printing section that conducts printing to a printing medium based on the dot data sent from the data generating section. The data generating section has a first processing mode that conducts processing to first image data that is a part of image data using N processors, and a second processing mode that conducts processing to second image data that is a part of image data using M processors, with N and M representing the number of the processors. N and M are natural numbers which are different from each other. The first processing mode and the second processing mode are determined depending on complexity of the image data.
US08860969B2 Intermediation server and communication device
An intermediation server may receive one notification from a communication device. The one notification may include a plurality of identification information for identifying a plurality of target data to be communicated between the communication device and a specific server. The intermediation server may prepare a plurality of demand-creation data corresponding to the plurality of target data, and supply the plurality of demand-creation data to the communication device. Each of the plurality of demand-creation data may be necessary for the communication device to create one communication demand, and include timing information related to a timing at which the demand-creation data has been prepared. The intermediation server may prepare first demand-creation data, and then prepare second demand-creation data under a condition that the communication device has created a first communication demand by using the first demand-creation data and has sent the first communication demand to the specific server.
US08860965B2 Information processing apparatus and information processing method
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having an information processing program readable by a computer in an information processing apparatus including a connection unit connected to a relay device that a target device is wirelessly connected to, the information processing program causes the computer to perform operations including: storing device specification information for specifying the target device and relay device identification information for identifying the relay device in a storage unit so as to be associated with each other; displaying a plurality of the device specification information stored in the storage unit; accepting the device specification information from the plurality of the displayed device specification information through an input unit; and connecting the connection unit to the relay device identified by the relay device identification information stored in the storage unit so as to be associated with the designated device specification information.
US08860960B2 Systems and methods for adding information to an N-Up print
Systems and methods of adding information to an N-Up output document. The systems and methods include a user interface of a printer driver that can prompt a user to enter information about an accessed original document to be printed as N-Up. The entered information relates to specific page images, N-Up pages, as well as to the N-Up document itself. A printer can print an N-Up output document with both the page images and the associated entered information. The entered information is displayed either in proximity to the respective components, or in a list which provides a reference for a viewer.
US08860958B2 Sheet conveyer devices, image reading apparatuses, and image forming apparatuses
A sheet conveyer device, including a roller to convey a sheet by rotating in a normal direction and a holder rotatably arranged on a roller shaft, is provided. The holder includes a roller gear system arranged on the roller shaft and having a roller driving gear to drive the roller, a shutter rotatably arranged on a shutter shaft to restrict access of the sheet to the roller, a shutter gear system to connect a path between the roller gear system and the shutter, a one-way clutch to disconnect the path between the roller gear system and the shutter when the roller rotates in the normal direction, and a torque limiter to allow the roller to rotate in a reverse direction. The holder rotates about the roller shaft in the same reverse direction as the roller when the roller rotates in the reverse direction.
US08860956B2 Spectrometry employing extinction coefficient modulation
A method for decomposing design shapes in a design level into a plurality of target design levels is provided. Design shapes including first-type edges and second-type edges having different directions is provided for a design level. Inner vertices are identified and paired up. Vertices are classified into first-type vertices and second-type vertices. First mask level shapes are generated so as to touch the first-type vertices, and second mask level shapes are generated so as to tough the second-type vertices. Cut mask level shapes are generated to touch each first-type edges that are not over a second-type edge and to touch each second-type edges that are not over a first-type edge. Suitable edges are sized outward to ensure overlap among the various shapes. The design shapes are thus decomposed into first mask level shapes, the second mask level shapes, and the cut mask level shapes.
US08860955B2 Arrangements and methods for determining positions and offsets
A method for determining positions and offsets in a plasma processing system, the plasma processing system including at least a chuck and an upper electrode is provided. The method including moving a traversing assembly along a first plurality of paths to generate a first plurality of data sets, the traversing assembly including at least a light source, the light source providing a light beam, moving the traversing assembly along each path of the first plurality of paths causing the light beam to traverse the chuck and resulting in one or more data sets of the first plurality of data sets. The method also including receiving the first plurality of data sets and analyzing the first plurality of data sets to identify a first set of at least three discontinuities, wherein the first set of at least three discontinuities are related to three or more reflected light signals generated when the light beam encounters an edge of the chuck. The method also including determining a center of the chuck using coordinate data associated with the first set of at least three discontinuities.
US08860952B2 Optical thread profiler
An apparatus configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of a threaded surface (e.g., an internally threaded surface) of an object is provided. The apparatus uses optical triangulation to perform non-contact characterization of the threaded surface. The apparatus can be used to characterize various aspects of the threaded surface, including generating the measurements required to produce a longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the threaded surface.
US08860949B2 Interferometer
An interferometer measures a displacement of an object to be measured by observing a fluctuation in intensity of interfering light generated by dividing light emitted from a light source into two light beams and overlaying the two light beams. The interferometer includes: a light-receiving unit including a light-receiving area including a plurality of partial areas and configured to detect the interfering light in each of the plurality of partial areas; and a processing unit configured to calculate a value of an index indicating uniformity of a phase distribution of the interfering light in the light-receiving area by using a detection result in each of the partial areas.
US08860945B2 Systems and methods for endoscopic angle-resolved low coherence interferometry
Fourier domain a/LCI (faLCI) system and method which enables in vivo data acquisition at rapid rates using a single scan. Angle-resolved and depth resolved spectra information is obtained with one scan. The reference arm can remain fixed with respect to the sample due to only one scan required. A reference signal and a reflected sample signal are cross-correlated and dispersed at a multitude of reflected angles off of the sample, thereby representing reflections from a multitude of points on the sample at the same time in parallel. Information about all depths of the sample at each of the multitude of different points on the sample can be obtained with one scan on the order of approximately 40 milliseconds. From the spatial, cross-correlated reference signal, structural (size) information can also be obtained using techniques that allow size information of scatterers to be obtained from angle-resolved data.
US08860944B2 System and assessment of reflective objects along a roadway
A system for the assessment of reflective surfaces disposed along a roadway repeatedly illuminates an area along the roadway that includes at least one reflective surface using a light source. Multiple light intensity values are measured over a field of view which includes at least a portion of the area illuminated by the light source. A computer processing system is used to identifying a portion of the light intensity values associated with a reflective surface and analyze the portion of the light intensity values to determine assessment for that reflective surface. In one embodiment, a virtual nighttime drive through along a roadway is simulated using a plurality of intensity values to simulate reflections from each reflective surface disposed along the roadway during the virtual drive through.
US08860943B2 High sensitivity plasmonic structures for use in surface plasmon resonance sensors and method of fabrication thereof
There is disclosed a method for fabricating a plasmonic structure for use in a surface plasmon resonance sensor, comprising: coating a surface of an optically clear substrate with a monolayer of microspheres forming a sphere mask; etching the sphere mask to produce an array of microholes; depositing an adsorption layer on the etched sphere mask and the surface of the optically clear substrate; depositing a metallic film on the adsorption layer; and removing the sphere mask. This is also disclosed a plasmonic structure for use in a surface plasmon resonance sensor, comprising: an adsorption layer; and a metallic film deposited on the adsorption layer; wherein the adsorption layer and the metallic film comprises an array of microholes.
US08860935B2 High Q-factor conical optical microresonator and utilization in the location characterization of optical fibers
A conically tapered optical fiber with a small half-angle γ (e.g., less than 10−2) has been found able to support whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonances and can therefore be used to form a high-Q cavity. This finding has led to the ability to measure angstrom-level variations in the radius of an optical fiber by viewing the resonance spectrum at various locations where a sensor contacts an optical fiber being measured. An evaluation process is proposed where a microfiber sensor is brought into contact with a target fiber and the created WGM resonance is measured so that location radius variation can be characterized. The sensor is then removed from the target fiber and re-positioned to contact the fiber to another location to repeat the evaluation.
US08860931B2 Chromatic range sensor including measurement reliability characterization
A method of categorizing the reliability of measurement data in a chromatic range sensor (e.g., an optical pen) which uses chromatically dispersed light to measure the distance to a surface. In one embodiment, the system performs a number of predetermined reliability checks which determine the reliability categories for the sets of measurement data. The reliability categories may be stored as metadata with the respective workpiece height measurements that are determined from the associated measurement data. The reliability categories may be reported to the user (e.g., as graphical reliability category indicators that accompany a graphical display of the measurement data). With these reliability categories, the user may make informed decisions regarding the measurement data (e.g., deciding to filter out data that is associated with certain reliability categories, making adjustments to the setup to achieve improved measurements, etc.).
US08860930B2 Three dimensional surface mapping system using optical flow
A method and system for 3D surface mapping system using a plurality of image sensors, each image sensor associated with an optical flow processor, each image sensor sharing a substantially coaxial optical path from the scene to a beam splitter and having substantially non-coaxial optical paths between the beam splitter and the image sensor such that the optical magnification of each optical path varies differently with the distance between the system and the surface of interest. The ratio of detected optical flows combined with the parameters of the two optical paths and the baseline between the image sensors is used to compute the Z-distance from the optical center of the image sensors to the surface.
US08860929B2 High precise laser rangefinder
A laser rangefinder includes a scanning laser emitter emitting a narrow laser beam, a controller in communication with the scanning laser emitter and configured to control the scanning laser emitter to emit the laser beam to scan a preset range in a preset manner, a laser detector positioned adjacent to the scanning laser emitter and configured to capture an image of a spot formed by the laser beam reflected off an object; and a processor in communication with the controller and the laser detector. The processor is configured to obtain an angle that the laser beam is tilted and process the image to obtain position coordinates of the spot in the image. The processor is further configured to calculate a distance from the laser rangefinder to the object based upon the angle and the position coordinates of the spot.
US08860925B2 Movable body drive method and movable body drive system, pattern formation method and apparatus, exposure method and apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A controller inclines a movable body with respect to an XY plane at an angle α in a periodic direction of a grating, based on a measurement value of an interferometer which measures an angle of inclination of the movable body to the XY plane, and based on a measurement value of an encoder system and information of angle α before and after the inclination, and computes an Abbe offset quantity of the grating surface with respect to a reference surface (e.g., an image plane of a projection optical system) which serves as a reference for position control of the movable body in the XY plane. Then, the controller drives the movable body, based on positional information of the movable body in the XY plane measured by the encoder system and a measurement error of the encoder system corresponding to an angle of inclination of the movable body to the XY plane due to the Abbe offset quantity of the grating surface.
US08860923B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
Liquid is supplied to a space between the projection system and the substrate by an inlet. In an embodiment, an overflow region removes liquid above a given level. The overflow region may be arranged above the inlet and thus the liquid may be constantly refreshed and the pressure in the liquid may remain substantially constant.
US08860922B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
Liquid is supplied to a space between the projection system of a lithographic apparatus and a substrate. A flow of gas towards a vacuum inlet prevents the humid gas from escaping to other parts of the lithographic apparatus. This may help to protect intricate parts of the lithographic apparatus from being damaged by the presence of humid gas.
US08860920B2 Liquid-crystal display device and manufacturing method therefor
A method of producing a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes: a step of providing a liquid crystal panel (110); a step of, through light irradiation while applying a voltage to a mixture via a check terminal (174) and a check line (172) on a rear substrate (130), forming from the mixture a liquid crystal layer (140) containing a liquid crystal compound and an alignment sustaining layer (150, 160) resulting through polymerization of a photopolymerizable compound; and a step of, after forming the liquid crystal layer (140) and the alignment sustaining layer (150, 160), applying a voltage across the liquid crystal layer (140) from the check terminal (172) to check the liquid crystal panel (110).
US08860917B2 LCD panel and method for forming the same
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and method for forming the same. In the LCD panel, the TFT includes a source and a drain formed by a transparent conducting layer, and a gate formed by a metal layer. The source is electrically connected with a data line through a via hole over the data line. The source connects to the drain via an active layer. Whatever the number of data lines are, each pixel corresponds to an associated via hole, so the number of via holes does not increase, and not reduce the aperture ratio. Therefore, the present invention is very proper to a design using more data lines and working in a high frequency. Moreover, the matrix circuitry of LCD of the present invention is well applied in a display which not only increases a density of data lines to raise the frame rate, but also maintains the aperture ratio and brightness.
US08860913B2 Liquid crystal display device, method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device, composition for forming photopolymer film, and composition for forming liquid crystal layer
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device producing less image sticking. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises: a pair of substrates; and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, wherein at least one of the substrates comprises an alignment film and a photopolymer film on the alignment film, the photopolymer film comprises polymers constituted by a photopolymerizable monomer, the photopolymerizable monomer includes two or more polymerizable functional groups, the polymerizable functional groups are bonded to each other through two or more aromatic rings, the aromatic rings include at least one naphthalene ring, and a bond between the naphthalene ring and another aromatic ring has a rotational degree of freedom.
US08860912B2 Liquid crystal display device
There is provided a liquid crystal display device capable of preventing a decrease in voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in ion density (ID) and resolving the problem of display defects such as white spots, alignment unevenness, image sticking, and the like. The liquid crystal display device prevents a decrease in voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in ion density (ID) and suppressing the occurrence of display defects such as image sticking and the like. The liquid crystal display device is thus useful for a VA-mode or PSVA-mode liquid crystal display device for active matrix driving. The application of the device includes liquid crystal display devices such as liquid crystal TVs, monitors, cellular phones, and smart phones.
US08860911B2 Image display device
An image display device, includes a light and an array substrate having a plurality of sub-pixel areas and corresponding to a plurality of color filters. A liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules, wherein the liquid crystal molecules corresponding to different color filters have different derangements, and a light transmittance per unit area in the peripheral region of the array substrate is equal to or less than a light transmittance per unit area in the display region of the array substrate.
US08860909B2 Transparent display device
Disclosed is a transparent display device in which the total refection efficiency of a light guide plate supplying light to a liquid crystal display panel is enhanced thereby enhancing luminance in the image mode, and the transparent display device may include a liquid crystal display panel; a light source disposed at one side of a lower portion of the liquid crystal display panel to emit light; a first polarizing plate for polarizing the light emitted from the light source; a light guide plate disposed at a lower portion of the liquid crystal display panel to totally reflect the light polarized to an axis by the first polarizing plate to a lateral surface thereof and supply to the liquid crystal display panel, and transmit natural light entered from a lower direction therethrough; a plurality of air layers formed inside the light guide plate to totally reflect incident light; and a second polarizing plate disposed at an upper portion of the liquid crystal display panel to control the amount of polarized light transmitting the liquid crystal display panel.
US08860905B2 Liquid crystal display with light emitting diode backlight assembly and liquid crystal display thereof
A light emitting diode (“LED”) backlight assembly. The LED backlight assembly has a bottom container which has a bottom plate and a side edge surrounding the bottom plate, a plurality of light emitting diode printed circuit boards (“LED-PCBs”) on the bottom plate, and a connector which is closely located to edge located LEDs. The connector of the LED-PCB is closely located to an LED driving board, which is disposed at a lateral space of a lateral part of the bottom container to limit a vertical thickness of the backlight light assembly.
US08860900B2 Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate including pixels, each having a transmissive area and a reflective area, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates. Each of the pixels includes first and second thin film transistors which output a data signal in response to a first gate signal, a transmissive pixel electrode disposed in the transmissive area and electrically connected to the first thin film transistor to charge a first pixel voltage based on the data signal, a reflective pixel electrode disposed in the reflective area and electrically connected to the second thin film transistor to charge a second pixel voltage based on the data signal, and a voltage controller which controls the first pixel voltage and the second pixel voltage in response to a second gate signal, which is generated after the first gate signal.
US08860899B2 Active matrix liquid crystal display device
A metal interconnection is located in the same layer as a source line and connected to the drain of a thin-film transistor. An interlayer insulating film is constituted of at least lower and upper insulating layers and formed between a conductive coating and the source line. According to one aspect of the invention, an auxiliary capacitor is formed by the metal interconnection and the conductive coating serving as both electrodes and at least the lower insulating layer serving as a dielectric. The auxiliary capacitor is formed in a region of the interlayer insulating film in which the upper insulating layer has been removed by etching.
US08860898B2 Array substrate and liquid crystal display
An array substrate is provided and it comprises a base substrate and data lines and gate lines that crossed with one another to define pixel units on the base substrate. Each pixel unit comprises a pixel electrode and a thin film transistor (TFT) switch, and the TFT switch comprises a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode and an active layer. A gate insulation layer is provided between the gate electrode and the active layer, and the gate insulation layer comprises a nontransparent insulation layer.
US08860896B2 Phase modulator for modulating light interacting with the phase modulator
A phase modulator for the modulation of the phase of circular polarised light which interacts with the phase modulator. The phase modulator has a first and a second substrate, an electrode arrangement and a liquid crystal layer with liquid crystal molecules. The first substrate is disposed adjacent to the second substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the two substrates. The first substrate has a first surface, and the second substrate has a second surface. The liquid crystal molecules situated next to the first surface are oriented substantially parallel to the first surface. The liquid crystal molecules situated next to the second surface are oriented substantially perpendicular to the second surface. An in-plane component of the liquid crystal molecule orientation can be set within an angular range of about 180°, e.g. between 90° and +90° related to a specifiable central orientation.
US08860887B2 Communication system, transmitter, receiver, communication method, program, and communication cable
The present invention relates to a communication system, a transmitter, a receiver, a communication method, a program, and a communication cable for providing high-speed bidirectional communication while maintaining compatibility. When an HDMI® source performs bidirectional IP communication with an HDMI® sink using a CEC line and a signal line, a switching control unit controls a switch so that, when data is transmitted, the switch selects a constituent signal forming a differential signal output from a converting unit and, when data is transmitted, the switch selects a constituent signal forming a differential signal output from a receiver. When bidirectional communication is performed using only the CEC line, the switching control unit controls the switch so that the CEC signal output from the HDMI® source or the receiver is selected. The present invention is applicable to, for example, HDMI®.
US08860886B2 Display apparatus, video signal transmission method for display apparatus, transmitting apparatus, and transmission method of video signal
Provided is a display apparatus including a first signal receiving unit that receives a non-compressed video signal from an external device via a first transmission path through a plurality of channels by means of a differential signal, an image display unit that displays images by processing the video signal received by the first signal receiving unit, a second signal receiving unit that receives a compressed video signal of a same video source as the non-compressed video signal by using a bi-directional communication path configured by predetermined lines of the first transmission path, and a signal transmitting unit that transmits a compressed video signal corresponding to the compressed video signal received by the second signal receiving unit to another external device different from the external device.
US08860885B2 Display apparatus and control method thereof
The display apparatus includes a video receiver which receives a video signal from an external source; a video processor which processes the video signal received in the video receiver to be displayable on a display unit; and a noise processor which determines frequency position information of an interference signal component from a frequency domain of sync sections extracted from the video signal with regard to the interference signal component mixed in a predetermined frequency band of the video signal and causing noise in a display image displayed on the display unit, and compensates the display image based on the determined frequency position information.
US08860881B2 Cable for two-way digital signaling and electrical signage system employing the same
A digital signage system includes at least one set of differential transmission lines, a transmitter, at least one receiver, and at least one digital signage device. Each set of differential transmission lines includes four pairs of differential transmitting lines. The transmitter converts image and/or audio signal into first to third pairs of differential signals for output to the first to third pairs of differential transmission lines, and receives remote-captured video and/or audio signal via the fourth pair of differential transmission lines. The receiver receives the first to third pairs of differential signal from the first to third pairs of differential transmission lines, and extracts the video and/or audio signal to be displayed on the digital signage device. The receiver receives and processes a remote-captured video and/or audio signal from a remote capture device, and transmits such signal back to the transmitter via the fourth pair of differential transmission lines.
US08860880B2 Offset interpolation of a sequence of images to obtain a new image
Apparatus for interpolating images generates motion vectors having a vector confidence value and has a motion compensated interpolation to use the motion vectors to interpolate a new image from two input images at a position determined by a phase control signal. The vector confidence values are used to generate an interpolation confidence measure. The phase control signal is then modified to offset the position at which the new image is interpolated toward the position of the closer of the two input images, if said interpolation confidence measure reduces.
US08860878B2 Camera module, and manufacturing device and method for the same
A camera module includes an imaging sensor, a power feed electrode, a first conductive member, and a first sealing member. The imaging sensor includes a light-receiving surface receiving light gathered by a lens. The power feed electrode is formed to a surface including the light receiving-surface of the imaging sensor, and the power feed electrode is configured to make a power feed. The first conductive member is configured to electrically connect the power feed electrode and a drive electrode. The drive electrode is provided to a drive section configured to drive the lens in accordance with the power feed. The first sealing member is formed by sealing the first conductive member.
US08860877B2 Short-range light source device for image pick-up apparatus and image pick-up apparatus provided with same
The present invention discloses a short-range light source device for use with an image pick-up apparatus and the image pick-up apparatus provided with the same. The short-range light source device comprises a fixing base, multiple protective cap units, multiple light source units and multiple driving units. The fixing base constitutes a light receiving pathway corresponding to the lens of the image pick-up apparatus. Upon being driven by the driving units, the protective cap units are pivotally rotated in relation to the fixing base between a protective shielding position and an open position in a synchronous manner. Each of the light source units has a light exit face which is shielded and protected when the protective cap units are located at the shielding position and exposed when the protective cap units are located at the open position.
US08860871B2 Imaging device and computer readable medium having a focusing control function
An imaging device includes a capturing lens; an imaging element in which a pair of horizontal light receiving units receiving a pair of split light of a horizontal direction and a pair of vertical light receiving units receiving a pair of split light of a vertical direction are two-dimensionally arranged; a movement unit that moves the imaging lens in the optical axis direction; a specifying unit that specifies one of the pair horizontal light receiving units or the pair vertical light receiving units, of which the calculated absolute value of the signal amount difference is smaller; and a control unit that performs correlation computation based on the signal amount of the plural photoelectric conversion elements aligned in a direction of the specified one of the pair of horizontal light receiving units or the pair of vertical light receiving units and controls the movement unit based on the correlation computation.
US08860867B2 Display device and display method
The present invention provides a display apparatus and a display method for realizing control for display operations by a user precisely reflecting the user's status, i.e., the user's intentions, visual state and physical conditions. Worn as an eyeglass-like or head-mount wearable unit for example, the display apparatus of the present invention enables the user to recognize visibly various images on the display unit positioned in front of the user's eyes thereby providing the picked up images, reproduced images, and received images. As control for various display operations such as switching between the display state and the see-through state, display operation mode and selecting sources, the display apparatus of the present invention acquires information about either behavior or physical status of the user, and determines either intention or status of the user in accordance with the acquired information, thereby controlling the display operation appropriately on the basis of the determination result.
US08860866B2 Imaging apparatus capable of detecting and displaying information with respect to an incline thereof
An imaging apparatus including an incline detection device configured to detect an incline of the imaging apparatus, an image display device configured to display an image based on the image information, an incline computation device configured to compute an incline information that corresponds to a magnitude of the incline, an information storage device configured to store the incline information that is computed by the incline computation device, and a display processing device configured to display the image and an incline guide display corresponding to the incline information upon a screen of the image display device. The display processing device is configured to change a display format of the incline guide display in accordance with the magnitude of the incline.
US08860860B2 Photoelectric-conversion device, focus detection apparatus, and image-pickup system for performing an operation to monitor an amount of light
A photoelectric-conversion device that allows for both of widening the dynamic range and performing an operation to monitor the amount of received light is achieved. A sensor-cell unit that can operate in low-sensitivity mode and high-sensitivity mode, a transfer unit transferring a signal outputted from a unit pixel, and a monitoring unit monitoring a signal transmitted from the sensor-cell unit, the signal being output from the transfer unit, are provided.
US08860857B2 System and method for a high performance color filter mosaic array
A method of implementing high-performance color filter mosaic arrays (CFA) using luminance pixels. The introduction of luminance pixels greatly improves the accuracy of the image acquisition process for a given pixel and image sensor size.
US08860856B2 Multiplexed imaging
An imaging method comprises acquiring image data in which image components are spatially modulated at distinct spatial frequencies, transforming the image data into the Fourier domain and separating the image components in the Fourier domain. The image components may be transformed into the spatial domain. The image components may comprise different colors. In some embodiments saturated pixels are reconstructed by performing an optimization based on differences between image copies in the Fourier domain. Imaging apparatus may perform the imaging methods.
US08860853B2 Image signal correcting device, image device, image signal correcting method, and program with color mixing correction
An image signal correcting device (15) has at least a color mixing corrector (151) that receives an image signal arising from photoelectric conversion by a color imaging element (12), and corrects a color mixing component included in this image signal, and a storage unit (153) that stores a color mixing correction coefficient set in advance for each of a plurality of areas segmented in matching with the imaging plane of the imaging element (12). The color mixing corrector (151) approximates the color mixing correction coefficient read out from the storage unit (153) by interpolation to acquire a color mixing rate at the necessary pixel position in color mixing correction, and corrects the color mixing component by using the acquired color mixing rate.
US08860848B2 Image processing apparatus and method
When a blurring process is performed for an image, noise is reduced according to the characteristics of a blurring process filter in a target region of the blurring process. Accordingly, a difference occurs in noise amount with a non-target region of the blurring process. In view of such situations, an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention adds noise to the blurring target region. Accordingly, the difference in noise amount can be reduced, and a blurring-emphasized image with a natural texture can be created. Furthermore, the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention determines the noise amount according to the blurring amount by the blurring process filter while considering that, the larger the blurring amount is, the more greatly the noise is reduced by the blurring process, and adds the noise.
US08860847B2 Computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon image generation program, capturing apparatus, capturing system, and image generation method for creating an image
In an exemplary capturing apparatus, a first captured image captured by a capturing section is acquired. Then, it is determined whether or not a face image is included in the first captured image. When it is determined that a face image is included, any one type of image processing is selected from a plurality of types of image processing including a type of image processing using the face image, and the selected type of image processing is performed on the first captured image.
US08860840B2 Light source estimation device, light source estimation method, light source estimation program, and imaging apparatus
A light source estimation device includes: a light-source-estimation area setting section configured to detect a background in an image and to set a light-source-estimation area on the basis of a result of the background detection; and a light source estimation section configured to estimate a type of a light source when the image is captured on the basis of the light-source-estimation area.
US08860838B2 Automatic illuminant estimation and white balance adjustment based on color gamut unions
A system for estimating an illuminant of a scene that was captured by an input image includes a control system that generates an input gamut that includes the input colors for the input image. Further, the control system compares the input gamut to an illuminant database that includes separate information from a gamut of observable colors for a plurality of possible illuminants to estimate the possible illuminant. Each illuminant can be represented by a separate illuminant gamut. Moreover, each gamut can be organized as a matrix. Additionally, the control system can combine the input gamut with each of the illuminant gamuts to generate a separate union gamut for each of the possible illuminants. The control system can compare the union gamut and the corresponding illuminant gamut for each possible illuminant to estimate the illuminant. After estimating the possible illuminant, the control system performs color correction on the input image.
US08860836B2 Device and method for compressing an image for an image sensor
A device for compressing an image for an image sensor, including a module for analog decorrelation of an image for providing low-frequency coefficients and high-frequency coefficients from the image, an analog-digital coefficient converter, and a module for a differentiated analog amplification of the low-frequency coefficients and of the high-frequency coefficients, provided by the analog decorrelation module to provide modified coefficients to the converter.
US08860835B2 Decreasing image acquisition time for compressive imaging devices
Mechanisms for increasing the rate of acquisition of compressed/encoded image representations are disclosed. An imaging system may deliver subsets of a modulated light stream onto respective light sensing devices. The light sensing devices may be sampled in parallel. Samples from each light sensing device may be used to construct a respective sub-image of a final image. The parallelism allows compressed images to be acquired at a higher rate. The number of light sensing devices and/or the number of pixels per image may be selected to achieve a target image acquisition rate. In another embodiment, spatial portions of the incident light stream are separated and delivered to separate light modulators. In yet another embodiment, the incident light stream is split into a plurality of beams, each of which retains the image present in the incident light stream and is delivered to a separate light modulator.