| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08949182B2 |
Continuous and asynchronous replication of a consistent dataset
Embodiments of the invention relate to creating and maintaining consistent data sets in a shared pool of configurable computer resources to support disaster recovery support. Data from an application is stored in local data storage and replicated to another data storage. A consistency point of the data is created in both of the data storage, with the consistency point representing an identical data set at a point-in-time. Based upon the created consistency points, a consistent set of application data may be requested to support a read operation for a migrated application. |
| US08949179B2 |
Sharing and synchronizing electronically stored files
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to architectures, methods and systems and structures that facilitate the sharing and synchronization of electronically stored files among and between cloud entities and a number of computers, systems, devices and/or users. One particular exemplary aspect includes the mapping and/or translation of files electronically stored in a cloud file system when synchronized and/or shared with client computer systems. |
| US08949173B2 |
Pay zone prediction
Implementations of pay zone prediction are described. More particularly, apparatus and techniques described herein allow a user to predict pay zones in wells. By accurately predicting pay zones, the user can perforate an existing well at predefined well depths to access hydrocarbon bearing strata while avoiding other undesirable strata (such as water bearing strata). For example, in one possible implementation, well data and syntactic data from a first set of one or more existing wells can be used to create one or more syntactic models. These syntactic models can then be used with water cut and well data from the one or more existing wells to create a pay zone prediction model which can be used with wells outside of the first set of existing wells. |
| US08949168B1 |
Managing a memory of an event-based analysis engine
In one aspect, a method includes determining if a rule in a memory of an event-based analysis engine has been used by the event-based analysis engine within a predetermined period of time and moving the rule to a storage device if the rule in the memory of the event-based analysis engine has not been used by the event-based analysis engine within the predetermined period of time. |
| US08949164B1 |
Event forecasting system
Generally provided herein is a predictive policing system including at least one crime prediction server constructed to process historical crime data using a crime forecasting algorithm to produce a crime forecast assigning at least one geographic region to at least one crime type for use in crime prevention, deterrence, and disruption practices. |
| US08949163B2 |
Adoption simulation with evidential reasoning using agent models in a hierarchical structure
A method and system for an agent-based evidential reasoning decision computer system for determining an adoption rate of a trend is provided. The system includes a plurality of nodes arranged in a tree structure. The plurality of nodes define an evidential reasoning algorithm where lower level nodes receive factors to be considered in the decision and each node assigns a likelihood of an outcome of the received factors, and generates an output to a subsequent higher level node or root of the tree structure. The system also includes a plurality of agent models organized in a hierarchical structure, each agent model comprising a respective set of the plurality of nodes and an output of the agent model, each agent model representing a member of a population, and an aggregator algorithm configured to combine the outputs of the plurality of agent models to generate an output representing an adoption rate. |
| US08949159B2 |
System and method for automatic merging of real and virtual environments
Method and system to coordinate a virtual environment with a real environment, including: coupling a transceiver to a person; determining a position of the transceiver within the real environment by use of a position-determination module; and rendering the virtual environment to a user by use of a virtual environment server that is configured to determine a position of the transceiver. The method and system may further comprises a wormhole server configured to provide communication services between the user and the person. |
| US08949158B2 |
Cost-sensitive alternating decision trees for record linkage
Record Linkage (RL) is the task of identifying two or more records referring to the same entity (e.g., a person, a company, etc.). RL models can be based on Cost Sensitive Alternating Decision Trees (ADTree), an algorithm that uniquely combines boosting and decision trees algorithms to create shorter and easier-to-interpret linking rules. These models can be naturally trained to operate at industrial precision/recall operating points, and the shorter output rules are so clear that it can effectively explain its decisions to non-technical users via score aggregation or visualization. The models significantly outperform other baselines on the desired industrial operating points, and the improved understanding of the model's decisions led to faster debugging and feature development cycles. |
| US08949157B2 |
Estimation of protein-compound interaction and rational design of compound library based on chemical genomic information
A data processing method for an estimation of compound-protein interaction using both chemical substance information, such as a chemical property of the compound, and biological information, such as sequence information of genes to rationally and efficiently screen compounds. First space representing space coordinates of a first chemical substance group and second space representing space coordinates of a second chemical substance group are defined, and the first chemical substance group is characterized by a first characteristic amount and the second chemical substance group is characterized by a second characteristic amount, and map transformation of the coordinates of the first space and the coordinates of the second space results in the solution so as to increase the correlation between the first space and the second space using a multivariable analysis technique or a machine learning method. |
| US08949154B2 |
Content feed user interface with gallery display of same-type items
Additional content items that satisfy predefined criteria with respect to a user-selected content item are identified. The predefined criteria may be that the selected and additional content items have particular characteristics that are the same. Information corresponding to the selected and identified content items is presented to a user. Characteristics based on which additional content items may be identified may include data type, source, and absence of content. The information may be presented in a gallery view, which can be a thumbnails gallery for images or a playlist for digital audio or video. |
| US08949151B2 |
System and method for transferring a timeshare property
The present disclosure provides a computer-executable method for executing a web-based program for producing a title transfer document. The method includes sending an instruction to an electronic device to request a type of transaction to be executed, wherein the type of transaction includes at least a removal of a current owner from the title or changing ownership to a new party. The method also includes receiving a communication from the electronic device in response to the request and executing a plurality of modules for requesting information about the timeshare property, the fees associated with the timeshare property, and at least one party of the transaction. The method further includes receiving input data in response to the executing step, linking the input data with at least one identifier in a document template, and producing the title transfer document upon completion of the linking step. |
| US08949150B2 |
Fraud detection system automatic rule manipulator
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a fraud detection system that automatically converts the currency and value of received transaction data to correspond to the currency in fraud detection rules established by a merchant. The converted transaction data is then analyzed against the fraud detection rules to determine whether the transaction data indicates fraudulent activity. |
| US08949149B2 |
Attribute based inventory usage and stocking
A novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for controlling inventory stocking and usage based on part attributes. A method for controlling inventory stocking and usage based on part attributes that can include establishing a stock footprint, which maps stocking locations to attributes on a part, establishing a usage strategy, which maps a prioritized list of attributes to a part request order type, establishing a usage characteristic set, which maps a set of usage characteristics to the usage strategy, receiving a request order, and, applying the established usage strategy to the received request order based on matching a characteristic set of the received request order with the usage characteristic set of the established usage strategy. |
| US08949147B1 |
Methods and systems for tracking a product or service within a supply
Methods and systems for the efficient tracking of a product or service within the product or service's life cycle within a supply chain. Implementations of the present invention including at least one of a method, a process, a system, an apparatus, a computer-readable medium, and a data stream. The methods and systems of the present invention providing a user with the capability to track an item or order, shipment status, or to check an inventory quantity utilizing any one of a plurality of identification numbers. The methods and systems of the present invention also providing the user with the capability to track an item or order, shipment status, or to check an inventory quantity utilizing a partial identification number. The methods and systems of the present invention further providing for secure access via a globally-distributed computer network, such as the Internet. A graphical user interface is provided that is intuitive and user friendly. |
| US08949144B2 |
POS terminal and POS system using mobile terminal
A point-of-sale (POS) terminal and a POS system, by which the cost spent for the establishment of the POS system is reduced. Ordering, payment and management of sales information can be conducted irrespective of location, thereby maximizing user convenience. The general functions of a POS terminal, such as barcode scanning, near-field communication (NFC), signing, and the like, can be performed based on a variety of functions of a mobile terminal in order to provide an optimum solution in any sales environment. |
| US08949142B1 |
Mobile payments integrated with a booking system
In an embodiment, a data processing method comprises, using a merchant booking computer, associating a reservation record with a location identifier, wherein the reservation record comprises a user identifier; using a service provider computer system, matching a transaction ticket stored in a point-of-sale (POS) computer of a merchant to the location identifier of the reservation record, based upon obtaining one or more POS data values from the POS computer, and obtaining ticket data specifying one or more items in the transaction ticket; based upon the user identifier and a user account that associates the user identifier with a mobile computing device identifier, communicating the ticket data to a mobile computing device; receiving, from the mobile computing device, a request to pay a payment amount based upon the ticket data; requesting a payment gateway computer to initiate a payment transaction in which user payment account data associated with the user account identified as payer and in which a merchant account associated with the merchant is identified as beneficiary. |
| US08949141B2 |
Method for accessing goods or services following an action performed by a viewer of broadcast program content
A method is described for rewarding a viewer of a broadcast program in exchange for the viewer proving his presence at the time that certain program content is being broadcast. The method involves the use of running an application in a television environment, said application displaying a graphic inviting the viewer to intervene in some manner and to subsequently log the viewer's intervention, thereby documenting his viewing activity. The method further allows for the convenient and mobile reporting of the status of a log of the viewer's viewing activity. Finally, the method allows for the convenient and flexible redemption of accrued credit, as documented in the viewing log, against goods and/or services. |
| US08949138B2 |
Managing an insurance product with an insurance value chain
A method of managing an insurance value chain is disclosed. A specification of an insurance policy having a set of attributes is received. Sets of values corresponding to the set of attributes are received. The sets of values are derived from negotiations with stake holders of an insurance value chain. Versions of the insurance policy are generated. Each of the versions of the insurance policy corresponds to a unique one of the sets of values. An aggregation of information regarding the versions of the insurance policy is presented via a user interface of an insurance value chain application. |
| US08949134B2 |
Method and apparatus for recording/replaying application execution with recorded voice recognition utterances
A diagnostic tool for speech recognition applications is provided, which enables a administrator to collect multiple recorded speech sessions. The administrator can then search for various failure points common to one or more of the recorded sessions in order to get a list of all sessions that have the same failure points. The invention allows the administrator to playback the session or replay any portion of the session to see the flow of the application and the recorded utterances. The invention provides the administrator with information about how to maximize the efficiency of the application which enables the administrator to edit the application to avoid future failure points. |
| US08949132B2 |
System and method of providing a spoken dialog interface to a website
Disclosed is a method for training a spoken dialog service component from website data. Spoken dialog service components typically include an automatic speech recognition module, a language understanding module, a dialog management module, a language generation module and a text-to-speech module. The method includes selecting anchor texts within a website based on a term density, weighting those anchor texts based on a percent of salient words to total words, and incorporating the weighted anchor texts into a live spoken dialog interface, the weights determining a level of incorporation into the live spoken dialog interface. |
| US08949131B2 |
System and method of dialog trajectory analysis
The invention comprises computer-readable media, methods and systems for performing a dialog analysis and using that analysis to release an updated spoken dialog system. The method embodiment of the invention comprises receiving data associated with dialogs, extracting turn by turn details of the dialog and generating from the extracted details an empirical call-flow representation of the dialog. The call data may be call-logs and user audio. The empirical call-flow representation may be a finite-state machine with nodes that represent call-states and the arcs between nodes represent user responses. Nodes may also represent sub-dialogs. The call-flow representation is presented graphically to a user for easier analysis and understanding. Significant changes in the dialog can be identified as hot-spots for improvement in the next release of the spoken dialog system. |
| US08949129B2 |
Neural translator
A method and apparatus are provided for processing a set of communicated signals associated with a set of muscles, such as the muscles near the larynx of the person, or any other muscles the person use to achieve a desired response. The method includes the steps of attaching a single integrated sensor, for example, near the throat of the person proximate to the larynx and detecting an electrical signal through the sensor. The method further includes the steps of extracting features from the detected electrical signal and continuously transforming them into speech sounds without the need for further modulation. The method also includes comparing the extracted features to a set of prototype features and selecting a prototype feature of the set of prototype features providing a smallest relative difference. |
| US08949127B2 |
Recognizing the numeric language in natural spoken dialogue
A system and a method are provided. A speech recognition processor receives unconstrained input speech and outputs a string of words. The speech recognition processor is based on a numeric language that represents a subset of a vocabulary. The subset includes a set of words identified as being for interpreting and understanding number strings. A numeric understanding processor contains classes of rules for converting the string of words into a sequence of digits. The speech recognition processor utilizes an acoustic model database. A validation database stores a set of valid sequences of digits. A string validation processor outputs validity information based on a comparison of a sequence of digits output by the numeric understanding processor with valid sequences of digits in the validation database. |
| US08949126B2 |
Creating statistical language models for spoken CAPTCHAs
Methods for creating statistical language models (SLMs) for spoken Completely Automated Turing Tests for Telling Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHAs) are disclosed. In these methods, candidate challenge items including one or more words are automatically selected from a document corpus. Selected ones of the challenge items are articulated by a machine text-to-speech (TTS) system as candidate articulations. Those articulations are ranked based on a human listener score indicating whether a candidate articulation originated from a machine. The SLM is then trained to recognize machine TTS articulations according to those rankings, by using a subset of the plurality of candidate challenge items identified as machine articulations as a seed set. |
| US08949125B1 |
Annotating maps with user-contributed pronunciations
Systems and methods are provided to select a most typical pronunciation of a location name on a map from a plurality of user pronunciations. A server generates a reference speech model based on user pronunciations, compares the user pronunciations with the speech model and selects a pronunciation based on comparison. Alternatively, the server compares the distance between one the user pronunciations and every other user pronunciations and selects a pronunciation based on comparison. The server then annotates the map with the selected pronunciation and provides the audio output of the location name to a user device upon a user's request. |
| US08949114B2 |
Method and arrangement for estimating the quality degradation of a processed signal
An objective quality assessment method for obtaining an improved estimate of a perceptual quality degradation of a processed signal, and an arrangement for executing such a method, is provided, which is executed on a processed signal and an associate reference signal. Both signals are split up into associated frame-pairs after which either all or selected frame-pairs are processed further, by creating a reference residual signal and a processed residual signal for each frame-pair, calculating separate ratios of p-norms on both residual signals, and by calculating and storing a per-frame quality estimate on the basis of the ratios of p-norms for each selected frame-pair. An objective per-signal quality estimate that is proportional to the perceptual quality degradation is then provided by aggregating the calculated per-frame-pair quality estimates. |
| US08949100B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for simulating a mixed signal circuit design
The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for simulating an analog and mixed-signal circuit design having a digital circuit segment connected to an analog circuit segment at a connection point. The method may include inserting a bidirectional interface element at the connection point located between the digital circuit segment and the analog circuit segment. The method may further include splitting the digital circuit segment into a plurality of transistor network models to provide for bidirectional transfer of data between the analog circuit segment and the digital circuit segment. |
| US08949094B2 |
Thermal deflection analysis
An optimization wizard substantially automates the task of calculating thermal deflection analysis of a part. The optimization wizard requests a user to provide a mesh model representing the part and provide part definitions, such as the part's stiffness, expansion coefficient, etc. In addition, the wizard requests the user to provide boundary conditions by modifying normality of any elements in the mesh model and by fixing conditions of one or more nodes in all direction or in a one sliding direction. An initial and a final temperature may also be provided by the user. The optimization wizard receives the user inputs and generates an executable file describing the relationships and effects each input has on the part's deflection under the provided thermal conditions. The executable file is provided to a solver to determine the part's thermal deflection under the provided conditions. |
| US08949093B2 |
Method and system for designing, analysing and specifying a human-machine interface
A method for analyzing and specifying a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) may include providing an HMI designing system, constructing an HMI design that includes objects created from the HMI designing system and associating the objects using events and transitions. Objects may include states and screens of a graphical user interface. The method may receive input from a user and describe a human-machine interface using syntax that is based on the user input. The syntax may include graphical representations of states and transitions between the states. The HMI designing system may include a memory to store representations of the human-machine interface, a processor to receive input from a user and determine graphical representations of states and transitions between states, and a display to display the HMI. |
| US08949092B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding a mesh model, encoded mesh model, and method and apparatus for decoding a mesh model
For most large 3D engineering models, the instance positions of repeating instances of connected components show significant multiple spatial aggregation. The invention uses several KD-trees, each for one cluster of points which are spatially aggregated. The multiple KD-trees generate a relatively short data stream, and thus improve the total compression ratio. A method for encoding points of a 3D mesh model comprises steps of determining that the mesh model comprises repeating instances of a connected component, and determining for each repeating instance at least one reference point, clustering the reference points of the repeating instances into one or more clusters, and encoding the clustered reference points using KD-tree coding, wherein for each cluster a separate KD-tree is generated. |
| US08949091B2 |
Method and system for thermal management by quantitative determination of cooling characteristics of data center
The invention provides a method and system for quantitative determination of cooling characteristics of a data center by calculating thermal influence indices. The invention further provides a method and system for providing effective thermal management in a data center using quantitative determination of cooling characteristics of a data center. |
| US08949089B1 |
System and apparatus for accessing a multiphysics modeling system via a design system user interface
Systems and methods for controlling settings of a design system include receiving, via a communications interface, identifying data associated with a multiphysics modeling system. Instructions are transmitted via the communication interface or another interface. The instructions include model settings related to a multiphysics model at least partially residing in the multiphysics modeling system. Model results are received that are at least partially derived from the transmitted model settings. At least a portion of the received model results are displayed in a graphical user interface associated with the design system. |
| US08949086B2 |
Accurate determination of particle positioned on free surface in particle method
Methods, an apparatus, and a computer program product for determining whether or not a particle belongs to free surface particles, in a calculation process of a particle method in which a continuum subjected to calculation analysis is collectively modeled with a free surface by a plurality of particles. One of the methods includes the steps of: determining whether any other particle exists within a predetermined range with respect to the particle by referencing to identification information stored in a memory, where the other particle belongs to the free surface, and storing in the memory near free surface identification information which is set as near free surface if the other particle belonging to the free surface exists and set as sufficiently inside if the other free surface particle belonging to the free surface does not exist. |
| US08949082B2 |
Healthcare information technology system for predicting or preventing readmissions
Hospital readmissions may be prevented. Readmission is prevented by predicting the probability of a given patient to be readmitted. The probability alone may prevent readmission by educating the patient or medical professional. The probability may be predicted during a patient stay and used to generate a workflow action item to reduce the probability, to warn, to output appropriate instructions, and/or assist in avoiding readmission. The probability may be specific to a hospital, physician group, or other entity, allowing prevention to focus on past readmission causes for the given entity. |
| US08949080B2 |
Methods of designing integrated circuits and systems thereof
A method of designing an integrated circuit includes performing a pre-layout simulation of the integrated circuit. The pre-layout simulation is performed using a netlist generated from a process design kit (PDK) file. The PDK file includes a plurality of device model cards that are assigned to plurality of devices. The plurality of devices include a first device having at least one parasitic diode that is associated with at least one isolation well, the PDK file including information of the at least one parasitic diode. A design layout of the integrated circuit corresponding to a result of the pre-layout simulation is generated. |
| US08949077B2 |
Physiological signal quality classification for ambulatory monitoring
Physiological signal quality classification methods and systems designed to improve ambulatory monitoring. Physiological signals are classified as good, noisy or weak based on signal properties. Once classified, signals are processed differently depending on their classification in order to encourage reliance on reliable physiological data, discourage reliance on unreliable physiological data and induce action to improve signal quality. For example, for a good signal, physiological data may be extracted from the signal and displayed to a person being monitored. For a noisy signal, a noisy signal notification may be displayed to the person in lieu of extracted physiological data. For a weak signal, a weak signal notification may be displayed to the person in lieu of extracted physiological data. Moreover, a noisy or weak signal notification displayed to a person being monitored may be accompanied by a corrective action recommendation, such as “move to quieter environment” for a noisy signal or “check body placement of sensor” for a weak signal. |
| US08949075B2 |
Blind logger dynamic caller
Described is an apparatus and method for remotely controlling the call interval of an environmental instrument for a water quality monitoring apparatus based on environmental data obtained by one or more environmental instruments. |
| US08949069B2 |
Position determination based on propagation delay differences of multiple signals received at multiple sensors
Methods and systems to determine at multi-dimensional coordinates of an object based on propagation delay differences of multiple signals received from the object by each of a plurality of sensors. The signals may include optical signals in a human visible spectrum, which may be amplitude modulated with corresponding frequency tones. An envelope may be detected with respect to each of the sensors, and signals within each envelope may be separated. A phase difference of arrival may be determined for each of the signals, based on a difference in propagation delay times of the signal with respect to multiple sensors. The phase differences of arrival may be converted to corresponding distance differences between a corresponding transmitter and the corresponding sensors. A linear distance and a perpendicular offset distance may be determined from a combination the distance differences, a distance between the corresponding transmitters, and a distance between the corresponding sensors. |
| US08949067B1 |
Device and method for measuring material volume changes
A test cell for determining expansion or contraction of a sample contained therein includes, a test cell body, a reflective surface within the test cell body, the reflective surface moveable responsive to expansion or contraction of the sample, a displacement sensor system exterior of the cell body, the displacement sensor system having a transmitter for transmitting directed electromagnetic radiation and a sensor for sensing electromagnetic radiation, a lens provided in the cell body, the lens constructed to allow electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough. The transmitter, reflective surface, and sensor are constructed and positioned such that directed electromagnetic radiation transmitted from transmitter toward reflective surface is reflected from reflective surface toward the sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the lens is provided in a cell upper plug, with the translating member positioned for linear displacement toward and away from the lens responsive to expansion and contraction of a material sample. |
| US08949065B2 |
Capacitive sensor for thermometer probe
An electronic thermometer includes a probe adapted to be heated by a subject for use in measuring a temperature of the subject. At least one temperature sensor detects a temperature of the probe. A probe sensor detects a condition at the probe. The probe sensor has an idle condition when the probe is not inserted into the subject. A processor is operatively connected to the probe sensor and programmed to monitor a change in the condition of the probe sensor from the idle condition to determine whether the probe has been received in a probe cover and inserted into the subject. |
| US08949062B2 |
Test module, test apparatus, and test method
Provided is a test module comprising a specified pattern detecting section that detects a specified pattern output in response to a specified test pattern from a device under test outputting output patterns in response to test patterns; a timing detecting section that detects a timing at which the specified pattern is detected; and a phase adjusting section that adjusts phases of the output patterns to match phases of expected value patterns, which are expected from the device under test as responses to the test patterns, based on the timing detected by the timing detecting section. |
| US08949061B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a DTV pilot tone in a high noise environment
A DTV pilot tone is detected in a noisy environment by computing a power average of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) output spectra of a received signal, finding a power peak in the averaged outputs, computing an adjustment parameter to center the power peak in a Discrete Fourier Transform bin of the averaged output spectra, applying the adjustment parameter to adjust the received signal, computing a coherent average of FFT output spectra of the adjusted signal, and, testing a power spectrum of the coherent average for the presence of the DTV pilot tone. |
| US08949060B2 |
Inspection method
In order to set an inspection area in an inspection apparatus for inspecting a board, a plurality of measurement areas are set on a board, and then reference data and measurement data of at least one adjacent measurement area that is adjacent to a target measurement area for inspecting a measurement target, among the measurement areas, are acquired. Thereafter, at least one feature object is extracted from the adjacent measurement area. Then, a distortion degree is acquired by comparing reference data and measurement data corresponding to the feature object with each other, and thereafter the distortion degree is compensated for, to set an inspection area in the target measurement area. Thus, a conversion relation between the reference data and the measurement data may be correctly acquired, and an inspection area, in which distortion is compensated for, may be correctly set. |
| US08949055B2 |
Measurement device, particularly energy counter and method for recognition of manipulations
A measurement device, which communicates data to at least one system, and which has the capability of identifying measurement data returned by the system via the data communication as its own, and the capability to rule out manipulation of measurement values without use of a public or non-personal key. The measurement device includes at least an encryption and/or signature encoder that supplies information including a validity and reliability identifier for inspecting the integrity of the data, and compiles said information into a current data set and transfers it to at least said communication interface for transfer, and at least an encryption and/or signature decoder that inspects data sets returned via the communication interface using one or more keys in memory for integrity of data content and identification of the measurement device and, upon successful inspection of this data, supplies said data for further processing, evaluating or displaying. |
| US08949053B2 |
Systems and methods for current and voltage monitoring
A cable for monitoring current and voltage includes a plug, a socket, first and second conductors extending from the plug to the socket, a current and voltage monitoring module, a transceiver, and a housing. The current and voltage monitoring module is coupled to the first and second conductors, and is configured to measure current and voltage usage levels of the conductors. The transceiver is coupled to the current and voltage monitoring module and is configured to receive data related to the current and voltage levels and transmit the data related to the current and voltage levels. The housing is configured to house the current and voltage monitoring module, the transceiver and one of the socket and the plug. |
| US08949051B2 |
Apparatus and method for sub-metering of household devices
An apparatus and method for estimating resource consumption of a household device, e.g., an appliance. The method comprises determining a resource demand profile for a household device for a given time period, the resource demand profile associating, for the given time period, a device state of the household device with a total resource demand for the household. In one embodiment, the apparatus can be incorporated into an energy management system, where the apparatus collects data from each of the appliances in a household as well as from a resource meter. |
| US08949050B2 |
Smartgrid energy-usage-data storage and presentation systems, devices, protocol, and processes including a visualization, and load fingerprinting process
An energy usage data visualization process includes receiving an energy data presentation request from a user, processing the energy data presentation request by the customer portal service module, and retrieving energy usage data associated with the energy data presentation request. The energy usage data is retrieved from a storage device, which is communicatively coupled to the customer portal service module. The service module produces a visual output based upon the presentation request and the retrieved energy usage data. The service module produces the visual output for presentation onto the display of the end user interface, by using an energy data visualization template of a template module application. The template module application is determined by the energy data presentation request, and is stored on the customer portal service module. The customer portal service module has a housing that is separate from the housing of the end user device. |
| US08949049B2 |
System and method for detecting a device requiring power
A system and technique for detecting a device that requires power is implemented with a power detection station. The power detection system includes a detector having an output and a return which are coupled together by the device when the device requires power. The detector includes a word generator for generating test pulses for transmission to the device via the detector output, and a comparator for comparing the detector output with the detector return. The power detection station has a wide variety of applications, including by way of example, a switch or hub. |
| US08949047B2 |
Magnetic sensor device and electronic compass apparatus
A magnetic sensor device is connectable to a data processing device and is a circuitry physically separate from the data processing device. In the magnetic sensor device, a detection unit detects magnetic field and outputs analog magnetic data representing the detected magnetic field. A conversion unit converts the analog magnetic data into digital magnetic data. A buffer memory has a capacity capable of storing a statistical population formed of a given number of the digital magnetic data. A control unit responds to a first trigger for operating the detection unit to successively output the analog magnetic data, then successively receives the digital magnetic data from the conversion unit in correspondence to the analog magnetic data, and accumulates the received digital magnetic data in the buffer memory to thereby form the statistical population. The control unit further responds to a second trigger for providing the data processing device with the statistical population accumulated in the buffer memory and formed of the given number of the digital magnetic data. |
| US08949045B2 |
Method for determining characteristic values, particularly of parameters, of a centrifugal pump aggregate driven by an electric motor and integrated in a system
A method for determining characteristic values of an electrometrically driven centrifugal pump assembly with a speed controller, said assembly being integrated in an installation, includes determining characteristic values by way of electrical variables of the motor and of the pressure produced by the pump, with which one successively runs to at least two different operating points of the pump. Delivery rates are determined in the installation at the run-to operating points, and the characteristic values are determined based on the delivery rates. |
| US08949044B2 |
Control device, control method and program
A control device includes a force detector configured to detect a force in a normal direction and a force in a shearing direction of fingertips of a robot hand device respectively as a normal force and a shearing force, and an object detector configured to calculate a friction coefficient using the normal force and the shearing force detected by the force detector and to detect whether or not a thin-film object having a maximum friction coefficient different from a maximum stationary friction coefficient between the fingertips is grasped between the fingertips on the basis of the calculation result. |
| US08949043B2 |
Surface inspecting apparatus and method for calibrating same
While an illumination optical system is irradiating the surface of a contaminated standard wafer with illumination light, this illumination light is scanned over the surface of the contaminated standard wafer, then detectors of a detection optical system each detect the light scattered from the surface of the contaminated standard wafer, next a predefined reference value in addition to detection results on the scattered light is used to calculate a compensation parameter “Comp” for detection sensitivity correction of photomultiplier tubes of the detectors, and the compensation parameter “Comp” is separated into a time-varying deterioration parameter “P”, an optical characteristics parameter “Opt”, and a sensor characteristics parameter “Lr”, and correspondingly managed. This makes is easy to calibrate the detection sensitivity. |
| US08949042B1 |
AUV pipeline inspection using magnetic tomography
The present invention discloses an autonomous magnetic tomography method (MTM) and device for magnetographic identification and magnetographic analysis of mechanical flaws and defects along structures located deep in the sea or otherwise located underwater and further underground. The invention optimizes the inspection and maintenance processes of extended metallic constructions, e.g., pipelines. The device is based on the inverse magnetostrictive effect (i.e., the Villari effect)—the variation of a material's magnetic susceptibility under applied mechanical stress. The changes in magnetic susceptibility result in distribution of a magnetic field gradient along a structure's surface area, thus providing information about the presence and the value of the magnetic field anomaly at a given and precise location on the structure. The device and method is capable of autonomous and offline operation underwater at depths up to 1,500 meters below sea level. |
| US08949041B2 |
System and method for monitoring health of a fluid seal member
A system and for determining health of a fluid seal member including a fluid seal member; a transducer in force transmitting contact with the fluid seal member to generate an output signal based on an amount of force and/or pressure applied to the transducer; a radio frequency (RF) transponder operably coupled to the transducer to store the output signal of the transducer; a reader within an operable distance from the RF transponder to transmit electromagnetic energy to the RF transponder and receive the output signal of the transducer stored in the RF transponder through a radio frequency communication link; and a processor coupled to the reader, to determine health of the fluid seal member. |
| US08949040B2 |
Methods and apparatus for managing corrosion in buildings
Principles of the invention provide methods and apparatus for providing corrosion management in buildings. In one aspect, an exemplary method includes the step of receiving first data relating corrosion rate to a plurality of environmental conditions. This first data is subsequently utilized to determine a quantitative relationship between corrosion rate and the plurality of environmental conditions. In another step, second data indicative of one or more environmental conditions within a building is received. A corrosion rate in the building is then determined at least in part by applying the determined quantitative relationship to this second data. |
| US08949032B2 |
Multicellular metabolic models and methods
The invention provides a computer readable medium or media, having: (a) a first data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a first cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (b) a second data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a second cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (c) a third data structure relating a plurality of intra-system reactants to a plurality of intra-system reactions between said first and second cells, each of said intra-system reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (d) a constraint set for said plurality of reactions for said first, second and third data structures, and (e) commands for determining at least one flux distribution that minimizes or maximizes an objective function when said constraint set is applied to said first and second data structures, wherein said at least one flux distribution is predictive of a physiological function of said first and second cells. The first, second and third data structures also can include a plurality of data structures. Additionally provided is a method for predicting a physiological function of a multicellular organism. The method includes: (a) providing a first data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a first cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (b) providing a second data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a second cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (c) providing a third data structure relating a plurality of intra-system reactants to a plurality of intra-system reactions between said first and second cells, each of said intra-system reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (d) providing a constraint set for said plurality of reactions for said first, second and third data structures; (e) providing an objective function, and (f) determining at least one flux distribution that minimizes or maximizes an objective function when said constraint set is applied to said first and second data structures, wherein said at least one flux distribution is predictive of a physiological function of said first and second cells. |
| US08949029B2 |
Method for using tracer flowback for estimating influx volumes of fluids from different influx zones
A method of estimating influx profile for well fluids (oil, gas, or water) to petroleum well with influx locations to a production flow, including: arranging tracer sources with tracer materials in levels of the well, arranged downstream and exposed to the fluids in the influx zones, each of the tracer sources having even release rate to the well fluid, inducing a transient in the production rate of the entire production flow by shutting in by a valve topside, changing the local exposure times of the tracer sources to the fluid, collecting samples, downstream at known sampling times, analyzing the samples for concentration and type of tracer material from the possible sources, based on the concentrations and their sampling sequence and the well geometry, calculating influx volumes from flow models. |
| US08949028B1 |
Multi-modal route planning
A route start point and a route end point are specified. Data is retrieved relating to a vehicle type for possible use on the route, and including at least one attribute of each of one or more possible route waypoints, the at least one attribute relating to at least parking availability for the vehicle type. A route is determined between the start point and the end point at least in part by applying the route parameter to the attribute. |
| US08949026B2 |
Navigation server, navigation apparatus, and navigation system
A navigation server (100) evaluates a transition cost δk from a reference line to each kth (k=1˜n) link via one node on the basis of a deviation of a first movement cost c1k per unit length of the kth link from the minimum value of the first movement cost c1k per unit length of all kth links. Furthermore, a second movement cost c2k corresponding to a net movement cost in each link can be evaluated on the basis of the first movement cost c1k in each link and the transition cost from the reference link to each link. When an evaluation result or a road traffic information based on the evaluation result is provided, a navigation apparatus can be make to guide a vehicle (2) according to a proper navigation route in view of real road traffic conditions. |
| US08949023B2 |
Transmission of wireless messages of current vehicle location and estimated arrival time to requestors
A wireless communication device disposed on a moving vehicle. The wireless communication device further includes a geographic location determination processor for determining a geographic location on a city map. The wireless communication device further receives a vehicle location and arrival schedule request for sending a message to a passenger waiting for the vehicle for providing the geographic location on the city map and an estimated arrival time of the vehicle to a passenger waiting for the vehicle. |
| US08949022B1 |
Cloud based activity monitor for human powered vehicle
A device is provided. The device is an electronic device configured to attach to a human-powered vehicle. The electronic device is further configured to perform actions. The actions include producing position coordinates based on global positioning system data and coupling to a network via a wireless connection. The actions include relaying the position coordinates to the network via the wireless connection. In some embodiments the electronic device is integrated with a bicycle. |
| US08949021B2 |
Probe data processing
A method of processing probe trace data to determine a measure of correlation of a probe trace with other probe traces comprises obtaining a map that associates a parameter space with a plurality of pixels, wherein at least one correlation value is assigned to each of the plurality of pixels, and determining a correlation score for a probe trace by mapping the probe trace to at least one pixel of the map and determining the correlation score for the probe trace from at least one correlation value of the at least one pixel to which the probe trace is mapped. |
| US08949017B2 |
Mobile terminal
If identification information is updated periodically, there is such a problem that when another vehicle is receiving driving support based on transmitted identification information of an own vehicle, if the identification information of the own vehicle is updated, the operation of driving support using the identification information becomes unstable because another vehicle can no longer identify the own vehicle.A mobile terminal mounted on a vehicle determines whether or not transmission control of identification information is necessary after determining the possibility of identification information misuse, determining the effect by controlling transmission of identification information, and determining the magnitude of adverse influence on the safe driving support service. |
| US08949016B1 |
Systems and methods for determining whether a driving environment has changed
A autonomous driving computer system determines whether a driving environment has changed. One or more objects and/or object types in the driving environment may be identified as primary objects. The autonomous driving computer system may be configured to detect the primary objects and/or object types, and compare the detected objects and/or object types with the previous known location of the detected object and/or object types. The autonomous driving computer system may obtain several different metrics to facilitate the comparison. A confidence probability obtained from the comparison may indicate the degree of confidence that the autonomous driving computer system has in determining that the driving environment has actually changed. |
| US08949012B2 |
Automated multi-vehicle position, orientation and identification system and method
The present invention provides a system and method for relative localization that provides an orientation signal and a position signal between at least two vehicles. The present invention also provides for vehicle formation, such that there is a leading vehicle and a follower vehicle that maintain a specific formation relative to one another. The orientation, relative position and identity signals are utilized to control that formation. Each vehicle has at least three ultrasonic sensors, at least one ultrasonic source and an optional pair of FM receiver/transmitter. By installing several acoustic sensors whose relative position are known and by measuring the difference in the time of arrival of the same signal from the various sensors on the same vehicle, the difference in time can be converted into a difference of distance and then into relative position of the sensors from the source based on the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA). |
| US08949011B2 |
Helicopter ship board landing system
A system for maneuvering an aircraft for operations in connection with a sea-going vessel, the vessel having a designated area for landings and sling-load operations. Each of the aircraft has a navigation unit (INU) comprising a GPS receiver and an inertial navigation unit. The INU's are updated by data from the GPS receivers and the data from the shipboard unit's GPS receiver and INU are transmitted to the aircraft. The aircraft performs RTK calculations to determine a vector to the shipboard GPS antennas and modifies the vector with data from the INU's. |
| US08949008B2 |
Control module for a vehicle
A control module for a vehicle for increasing fuel efficiency can include a controller configured to receive at least one input signal containing at least one vehicle operating parameter and to generate at least one output signal based upon the vehicle operating parameters. The output signal is configured to modify at least one of the operating characteristics of the vehicle. |
| US08949005B2 |
Control unit of internal combustion engine
A peak signal extracting device extracts a first peak value, being the maximum value of vibration level of a specified frequency in a predetermined crank angle range, and a crank angle; noise level storage device stores a noise vibration level; noise occurrence timing estimation device estimates a crank angle at which noise vibration peak takes place; and noise removing device calculates a second peak value based on the first peak value when a crank angle at which first peak value takes place and a crank angle at which noise peak value estimated to take place are not in coincidence, and calculates a second peak value based on the first peak value and noise peak value when the crank angles are identical. Even if the knocking vibration peak and noise vibration peak are overlapped, presence or absence of occurrence of knocking is determined precisely and a knocking strength is calculated properly. |
| US08949001B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for internal combustion engine
A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is configured to execute an air-fuel ratio control based on an output of an air-fuel ratio detector provided in an exhaust passage through which exhaust gas from a plurality of cylinders flows. The control apparatus includes an abnormal lean deviation detection portion configured to detect whether an abnormal lean deviation is occurring in at least one specific cylinder among the plurality of cylinders, the exhaust gas from the at least one specific cylinder influencing the air-fuel ratio detector more strongly than the exhaust gas from each of a rest of the plurality of cylinders; and an enriching control portion configured to execute an enriching control for the at least one specific cylinder when the abnormal lean deviation detection portion detects that the abnormal lean deviation is occurring in the at least one specific cylinder. |
| US08948997B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine
In the case where a constraint condition related to an internal combustion engine is satisfied when a control amount of each of the control objects 35d, 52 is controlled in accordance with the operation amount determined based on initial target values TPcom and TRegr of respective control objects of an internal combustion engine 10, the control amount of each of the control objects is controlled in accordance with the operation amount determined based on the initial target values. In the case where the constraint condition is not satisfied, the initial target values are repeatedly corrected in accordance with a predetermined rule so as to satisfy the constraint condition, and the control amount of each of the control objects is controlled in accordance with the operation amount determined based on the corrected initial target values. |
| US08948993B2 |
Method and system for controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle
A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle (20) includes sensing an auxiliary mode of the vehicle (20) and comparing a first vehicle operation mode to a predetermined threshold to determine a first incident. The method proceeds by actuating a resistive device (24) in response to the first incident to apply a resistance to an operational input by an occupant of the vehicle (20). The method is characterized by monitoring a precursory auxiliary mode event of the vehicle (20) subsequent to the first incident and prior to a presence of the auxiliary mode, and de-actuating the resistive device (24) in response to the precursory auxiliary mode event to remove the applied resistance. |
| US08948988B2 |
Speed ratio control device of continuously variable transmission for vehicle
Speed change inhibition control for inhibiting change of the speed ratio of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is executed when an input shaft speed of the CVT is lower than a predetermined ABS-operating-time upper-limit input shaft speed. Therefore, the speed ratio of the CVT can be changed to the largest reduction ratio until it is determined that the input shaft speed of the CVT is lower than the predetermined ABS-operating-time upper-limit input shaft speed. Thus, during ABS operation of an ABS control device before the vehicle is stopped, the speed ratio can be returned to the largest reduction ratio in a condition where engine brake force is not excessively applied, and sufficient driving force of the vehicle or starting response is obtained when the vehicle is re-started. |
| US08948986B2 |
Accumulator fluid temperature estimation algorithm
A system includes an accumulator control module that selectively releases automatic transmission fluid from an accumulator. The accumulator control module also receives a plurality of measured characteristics of the accumulator. A temperature estimation module estimates a temperature of the automatic transmission fluid within the accumulator based on at least one of the measured characteristics of the accumulator. An engine start-stop module selectively disables automatic start-stop events of an internal combustion engine based on the estimated temperature of the automatic transmission fluid within the accumulator. |
| US08948982B2 |
Open loop machine motor speed control based on downhill slope determination
A manner of managing operation of a machine is described for preventing damage/wear to movable machine components arising from operation of the machine/parts at excessive speed while the machine is traveling down a steep incline. The managing of the machine operation includes determining a downhill slope value in a machine direction of travel and then establishing a maximum commanded transmission output speed in accordance with the determined downhill slope value. Thereafter a maximum commanded gear ratio is established, for a transmission having a variable gear ratio, based upon the maximum commanded transmission output speed and a current engine speed. A controller compares the maximum commanded variable gear ratio to an operator requested gear ratio, and a target gear ratio is established for the variable gear ratio of the transmission based upon a minimum of the compared commanded variable gear ratio and the operator requested gear ratio. |
| US08948975B2 |
Agriculture combination machines for dispensing compositions
In one embodiment, a combination machine comprising: a towed machine; and a towing machine physically coupled to the towed machine, wherein the towing machine tows the towed machine, wherein the towing machine comprises a machine control system configured to: scan a smart label, the smart label affixed to a container containing a composition to be dispensed by the towed machine; and automatically adjust controls of the towing machine and the towed machine based on the scanned information. |
| US08948973B2 |
Method of controlling a servo motor in an electric vehicular steering system
A method comprising the steps: a manually applied driver steering moment is detected; a requested superposition moment is detected; the driver steering and superposition moments are combined to form an intermediate moment from which an assistance moment is generated by means of a predefined, non-linear amplification function; starting from detected values of the driver steering and superposition moments, a modified superposition moment compensating for friction in the electric steering system at least in part is determined such that the amount of the modified superposition moment is larger than the amount of the superposition moment at least for some pairs of variates comprised of driver steering and superposition moments; the assistance and modified superposition moments are combined to form a motor moment from which a corresponding input signal for a servo motor is established; the servo motor is controlled with the established input signal to provide the motor moment. |
| US08948970B2 |
Electric power steering apparatus
[Problem]An object of the present invention is to provide an electric power steering apparatus that realizes weight saving and downsizing of component parts by counting and controlling the number of times of end hitting and simultaneously calculating a current limit value depending on the number of times of end hitting to limit assist.[Means for solving the problem]The present invention is an electric power steering apparatus that comprises an end hitting detection means that detects end hitting based on the steering torque and a differential steering torque obtained by differentiating the steering torque and outputs an end hitting detection signal, a counting means that counts a number 1 of times of end hitting detected by the end hitting detection means, a storage means that stores and keeps a total number of times of end hitting, and a current limit value calculating means that calculates a current limit value depending on a number 2 of times of end hitting obtained by adding the number 1 of times of end hitting from the counting means and the total number of times of end hitting from the storage means, wherein the current command value is limited based on the current limit value calculated by the current limit value calculating means. |
| US08948968B2 |
Surface vehicle vertical trajectory planning
An active suspension system for a vehicle including elements for developing and executing a trajectory plan responsive to the path on which the vehicle is traveling. The system may include a location system for locating the vehicle, and a system for retrieving a road profile corresponding to the vehicle location. |
| US08948966B2 |
Heat pump system for vehicle and method of controlling the same
Disclosed therein are a heat pump system for a vehicle and a method of controlling the heat pump system, which variably controls only a compressor if the number of revolutions of the compressor is less than the upper limit of the number of the maximum revolutions of the compressor and operates an electric heater only when the number of revolutions of the compressor reaches the upper limit of the number of the maximum revolutions of the compressor in order to satisfy a target discharge temperature in a heat pump mode, thereby preventing that convergence of an air discharge temperature of the interior of the vehicle is deteriorated or becomes unstable when the compressor and the electric heater are variably controlled at the same time in order to satisfy the target discharge temperature. |
| US08948960B2 |
Systems and methods for arbitrating sensor and actuator signals in a multi-channel control system
Systems and methods are provided for arbitrating sensor and actuator signals in various devices. One system includes input/output (I/O) circuitry, redundant computation circuits coupled to the I/O circuitry, and an arbitration circuit coupled between the I/O circuitry and the redundant computation circuits. The I/O circuitry is configured to be coupled to multiple non-redundant systems, and the redundant computation circuits are configured to be coupled to one of multiple system buses. One such device is an aircraft including multiple non-redundant systems and a plurality of system buses that are configured to transmit redundant messages to the non-redundant systems. A method includes receiving notice that redundant control signals have been received by multiple computation circuits, determining the health of each computation circuit, selecting a computation circuit from which to receive a control signal based on its health level, and transmitting the control signal from the selected computation circuit to I/O circuitry. |
| US08948958B1 |
Estimating road lane geometry using lane marker observations
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting the edges of lane lines. Specifically, a vehicle driving on a roadway may use a laser to collect data for the roadway. A computer may process the data received from the laser in order to extract the points which potentially reside on two lane lines defining a lane. The extracted points are used by the computer to determine a model of a left lane edge and a right lane edge for the lane. The model may be used to estimate a centerline between the two lane lines. All or some of the model and centerline estimates, may be used to maneuver a vehicle in real time and also to update or generate map information used to maneuver vehicles. |
| US08948956B2 |
Autonomous mobile body and control method of same
An autonomous mobile body is configured to flexibly avoid obstacles. The mobile body has a movement mechanism configured to translate in a horizontal plane and rotate around a vertical axis, and the distance to an obstacle is derived for each directional angle using an obstacle sensor. A translational potential of the mobile body and a rotational potential of the mobile body for avoiding interference with the obstacle are generated, based on the distance from the autonomous mobile body to the obstacle at each directional angle. An amount of control relating to a translational direction and a translational velocity of the mobile body and an amount of control relating to a rotational direction and an angular velocity of the mobile body are generated based on the generated potentials, and the movement mechanism is driven. |
| US08948951B2 |
Vehicle behavior control apparatus
A vehicle Ve comprises six wheels of front left and right wheels FW1 FW2, middle left and right wheels MW1, MW2, and rear left and right wheels RW1, RW2. Each of in-wheel motors 21-26 is provided/installed in each of the wheels. An electronic control unit 41 calculates a target heave force for controlling a heave behavior, and a target pitching moment My for controlling a pitching behavior, using a state of a movement of a vehicle body Bo obtained from a movement state detecting sensor 43. The unit 41 calculates a driving force and a braking force of the front wheels FW1 FW2 and the rear wheels RW1, RW2, in order to achieve the calculated target heave force and the target pitching moment, and calculates a driving force and a braking force of the middle wheels MW1, MW2 for suppressing a forward-and-backward movement of the vehicle, the movement caused by independently (simultaneously) controlling the behaviors coupling with each other. |
| US08948950B2 |
Drive control apparatus of hybrid vehicle
In a drive control apparatus (1) of a hybrid vehicle, a provisional target engine power calculator (17D) of a controller (17) compares provisional target engine power which is calculated from a target drive power and a target charge/discharge power with a target engine power lower limit value and, when the provisional target engine power is smaller than the target engine power lower limit value, sets the target engine power lower limit value to the provisional target engine power. |
| US08948948B2 |
Generation control apparatus and generation control method
There is provided a generation control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having a second generation mode which controls a generation unit so as to suppress the reduction of a state of charge of a battery, wherein the generation control apparatus activates the generation unit with a high load state in which an electric power that is consumed in the hybrid vehicle over a predetermined period of time becomes larger than a maximum output electric power of the generation unit, while controlling the generation unit to operate in the second generation mode unless the battery reaches the target state of charge and thereafter continues to drive the generation unit until the state of charge of the battery reaches a target state of charge of the battery, when the electric power over the predetermined period of time becomes smaller than the maximum output electric power. |
| US08948944B2 |
Hybrid-type construction machine
A hybrid-type construction machine includes: an engine to drive a variable-volume-type hydraulic pump; a plurality of hydraulic actuators driven by a hydraulic pressure from the variable-volume-type hydraulic pump; and a motor generator driven by an electric power from an electric power accumulator to assist the engine. A maximum output of the variable-volume-type hydraulic pump is equal to or larger than a maximum output of the engine. When operating by setting an output of the variable-volume-type hydraulic pump larger than the maximum output of the engine, the engine is assisted by the motor generator. |
| US08948939B2 |
Navigation assistance method for monitoring navigation performance in linear or angular mode
A method for assisting in the navigation of an aircraft comprises steps of calculating and displaying a linear deviation on a first linear section and an angular deviation on a second angular section. The method comprises a calculation step for converting an angular deviation into an equivalent linear deviation, and, conversely, converting a linear deviation into an equivalent angular deviation. The method comprises a step of graphic representation, called unified monitoring, intended for the crew, of a deviation of the aircraft, on a lateral deviation axis and a vertical deviation axis; each of the deviations, lateral and vertical, being able to be represented on a linear scale, an angular scale or a mixed scale. |
| US08948934B2 |
Methods and systems for vehicle broadband connection to a data network
Methods and systems for communicating data between a vehicle and a ground-based unit are provided. The method includes communicatively coupling the vehicle to the ground-based unit, initiating a Broadband over Power Line (BPL) link between the vehicle and the ground-based unit when power is supplied to the vehicle, and updating data stored in the vehicle with data received from the ground-based unit. |
| US08948931B2 |
Control system for vehicle
A control system for a vehicle, capable of suppressing increase in power consumption and reducing running cost when electric power supplied from power source is consumed by an on-vehicle electric device. The control system 1 for a vehicle V includes an ECU 2. If a predetermined communication state where a portable device 11 is estimated to be in a compartment of the vehicle V is established (if the answer to the question of the step 23 is NO) after a state where a power source position set by a changeover switch 22 is an accessory position has continued for a first predetermined time period (ΔT·TREF), the ECU 2 stops power supply from the power source to the on-vehicle electric device when a second predetermined time period (ΔT·TREF) elapses after the predetermined communication state was established (steps 26, 11, 13). |
| US08948929B2 |
Vehicle management and control for safe driving and collision avoidance
The disclosure is related to a method of managing and controlling vehicles for safe driving. In the method, at least one virtual zone may be defined based on information collected from a plurality of vehicles in motion and related servers in real time. Vehicles may be grouped into at least one vehicle groups according to a predetermined similarity condition based on the collected information. An abnormal driving pattern model may be generated based on a driving pattern of each vehicle in each vehicle group. At least one area of a virtual zone may be designated as a spot when at least one vehicle having a driving pattern matched with the abnormal driving pattern model in the at least one area. Safe driving information may be transmitted to at least one vehicle having driving patterns matched with attributes of the spot among vehicles entering each virtual zone. |
| US08948923B2 |
Interface in a vehicle and method for exchanging data
A method and system provide an interface in a vehicle for connecting to a mobile computing device for exchanging data between the interface and the mobile computing device, the interface being connected to a vehicle data bus for exchanging data with at least one vehicle system. The data exchange between the mobile computing device and the interface occurs according to a first data protocol and the data exchange between the interface and the at least one vehicle system occurs according to a second data protocol that differs from the first data protocol. |
| US08948916B2 |
Sensor relay control device
A sensor relay control device generates feedback data based on sensor data including a plurality of components and being output by an external sensor installed at a portion of a joint of a robot and is connected to a robot control device that executes feedback control of the robot based on the feedback data. The sensor relay control device includes: a generating unit that imports sensor data output by the external sensor and performs coordinate conversion; a synchronizing unit that synchronizes the control data of each axis of the motors with a control cycle of the robot control device; and an outputting unit that outputs the control data of each axis of the motors synchronized with the control cycle of the robot control device to the robot control device as the feedback data. |
| US08948915B2 |
Parallel link robot, parallel link robot system, and method of controlling parallel link robot
A parallel link robot includes a base, three servo motors disposed in the base, three arms, and a robot controller. Each of the three arms includes a first link and a second link that respectively include a first joint and a second joint. Each of the three arms is driven by a corresponding one of the three servo motors. The robot controller determines whether or not any of the first and second joints of the arms is dislocated on the basis of the torques of the three servo motors. |
| US08948914B2 |
System and method for securely transporting an item
A system. The system includes an apparatus and a server. The apparatus is configured for securely transporting an item from a first location to a second location, and includes a mobile robot and a cart. The cart is coupled to the mobile robot and includes at least one secure storage area. The server is communicably connected to the apparatus and includes a module. The module is configured to maintain a chain of custody record for the item. |
| US08948906B2 |
Robotic storage library with queued move instructions and method of queuing such instructions
A robotic tape library which queues two or more move instructions is described. Generally, the robotic system receives a first move instruction which commands a first robot to move a first tape cartridge from a shelf to a first tape drive to be loaded therein. Though the first move has not actually taken place, the library replies to the host computer that the first tape drive has been loaded with the first tape cartridge, at least to an acceptable level of engagement, at which point, the first move instruction is queued. After receiving a second move instruction from the host to move a second tape cartridge from the shelf to a second tape drive, the library reorganizes and physically carries out the move instructions in a preferred order. |
| US08948903B2 |
Machine tool device having a computing unit adapted to distinguish at least two motions
A machine tool device having a monitoring unit for monitoring at least one machine tool monitoring range, the monitoring unit having an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit has a computing unit which is provided to distinguish at least two motions in the machine tool monitoring range. |
| US08948901B2 |
Sewing machine
A sewing machine includes an imaging device, a processor, and a memory configured to store sewing data and computer-readable instructions. The sewing data includes at least first stitch data to form first stitches that indicate a contour of a pattern on a first work cloth, and second stitch data to form second stitches that attach the pattern cut out along the first stitches onto a second work cloth. The computer-readable instructions cause the processor to perform processes comprising causing the imaging device to capture a first image, identifying a position and an angle of a marker in relation to the contour, causing the imaging device to capture a second image, identifying a position and an angle of the contour in relation to the second work cloth, and correcting the second stitch data in accordance with the identified position and angle of the contour in relation to the second work cloth. |
| US08948900B2 |
Component mounting apparatus
A component mounting apparatus includes: an operational sequence supervision unit which is created in compiler language determining an operational sequence specifying a series of sequence operations of suctioning, recognizing and mounting a component; and a second memory unit which stores a custom program, created in interpreter language and specifying an operation different from the series of sequence operations, and custom program designation information that designates execution of the custom program. The operational sequence supervision unit controls a switching process for switching from the series of sequence operations to an interpreter language processing execution routine for executing the custom program, during, or before or after, the series of sequence operations in accordance with the custom program designation information. |
| US08948897B2 |
Generating audio representative of an entity
Within a network-based system, an entity may be identified by an identifier of the entity. An audio generation machine may be configured to generate an audio piece that represents the entity, and the audio generation machine may generate the audio piece based on the identifier of the entity. Hence, the audio piece generated by the audio generation machine may be representative of the entity, and playback of the audio piece may identify the entity, reference the entity, highlight the entity, suggest the entity, or otherwise call the entity to mind (e.g., for one or more listeners of the audio piece). Thus, the generated audio piece may function as an audio-based avatar of the entity (e.g., a representative of the entity within a virtual world). Furthermore, the audio piece may be shared (e.g., in a social networking context or a social shopping context). |
| US08948896B2 |
Audio recorder and player for persons with impaired vision
A sound recorder and player has a main body that is shaped to be held in the palm of either the right or left hand, with finger grips that associate recorder/player functions with each finger of the hand. A principal tactile feature enables the user to identify quickly the orientation of the device with respect to a person's thumb. The device is compact so as to minimize space requirements for carrying it, and it is rounded both for comfort in the hand and to reduce snagging and potential difficulty in removing it from, or putting it into, a pocket or bag. |
| US08948890B2 |
Systems and methods for managing emissions from an engine of a vehicle
Disclosed embodiments include methods of removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, systems for removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, vehicles, methods of managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle, and computer software program products for managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle. |
| US08948884B2 |
Helical core ear implant electrode
A novel electrode array is described for ear implant systems such as cochlear implants (CI) and vestibular implants (VI). The electrode array includes an electrode array core made of a flexible polymer material including an elongated helical portion having multiple helical turns. Electrode wires are embedded within the array core for carrying electrical stimulation signals. At a terminal end of each electrode wire, an electrode stimulation contact is exposed through the array core for applying the electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. An electrode carrier of resilient material encases the electrode array and has an outer surface with contact openings exposing the stimulation contacts. |
| US08948883B2 |
Electrode assemblies and associated fixation members for implantable medical devices
A fixation member of an electrode assembly for an implantable medical device includes a tissue engaging portion extending along a circular path, between a piercing distal tip thereof and a fixed end of the member. The circular path extends around a longitudinal axis of the assembly. A helical structure of the assembly, which includes an electrode surface formed thereon and a piercing distal tip, also extends around the longitudinal axis and is located within a perimeter of the circular path. The tissue engaging portion of the fixation member extends from the distal tip thereof in a direction along the circular path that is the same as that in which the helical structure extends from the distal tip thereof. The electrode assembly may include a pair of the fixation members, wherein each tissue engaging portion may extend approximately one half turn along the circular path. |
| US08948882B2 |
Fixation components for implantable medical devices and associated device construction
A fixation component for a medical electrical lead includes a tubular sidewall that has an outer surface from which a plurality of deformable barb-like projections extend, each projection being in proximity to an aperture that extends through the sidewall. The projections are spaced apart from one another along a length of the component, and each extends from a first end, attached to the sidewall, in proximity to an edge of the corresponding aperture, to a second, free end, spaced apart from the outer surface of the sidewall, when the projection is un-deformed. The outer surface of the sidewall preferably includes reduced diameter end portions, to maintain a relatively low profile, when tubing members overlap thereon to secure the component around a body of the medical electrical lead. The body of the lead may include a conductor coil whose outer surface is directly overlaid by the component. |
| US08948877B2 |
Cochlear implant stimulation with low frequency channel privilege
A system and method for activating stimulation electrodes in cochlear implant electrode is described. A preprocessor filter bank is configured to process an input acoustic audio signal to generate band pass signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. An information extractor is configured to extract stimulation signal information from the band pass signals based on assigning the band pass signals to corresponding electrode stimulation groups that each contain one or more stimulation electrodes, and generates a set of stimulation event signals for each electrode stimulation group that define electrode stimulation timings and amplitudes. A pulse selector is configured to select a set of electrode stimulation signals from the stimulation event signals based on a pulse weighting function that uses channel-specific weighting factors favoring lower frequencies for activating the stimulation electrodes to stimulate neighboring audio nerve tissue. |
| US08948875B2 |
Device for non-invasive, electrical deep-brain stimulation
The invention relates to a device and a method for transcranial, non-invasive, electrical deep-brain stimulation, of the kind used in particular in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and of disturbances of the motor/cognitive functions in the human brain, wherein the device has at least one signal generator for generating an electrical alternating-current signal, an electrode arrangement, which can be placed on the head of a person to be treated and can be connected electrically to the signal generator so as to apply an alternating-current signal, wherein the electrode arrangement can be used to apply at least two alternating-current signals, of which the trajectories cross the region of the brain to be treated, such that their alternating currents are superposed, as a result of which the region of the brain to be treated is stimulated by electrical alternating currents in a targeted manner, whereas adjacent regions of the brain are stimulated only slightly or not at all. |
| US08948871B2 |
Electrical contacts on a medical device patch
A device for conveying power from a location external to a subject to a location within the subject may include a flexible carrier and an adhesive on a first side of the carrier. A coil of electrically conductive material may be associated with the flexible carrier. A mechanical connector may be associated with the carrier opposite the adhesive, wherein the mechanical connector is configured to retain a housing and permit the housing to rotate relative to the flexible carrier. At least one electrical portion may be associated with the carrier in a manner permitting electrical connection to be maintained between the flexible carrier and the housing as the housing is rotated. |
| US08948870B2 |
Energy harvesting mechanism
Embodiments of the invention provide an energy harvesting mechanism comprising a central conductive element and a plurality of transductive elements. Each transductive element is positioned to be in contact with a corresponding peripheral length segment of the central conductive element. Also each transductive element is deformable in a characteristic radial direction to convert its deformation into a corresponding electrical signal. The plurality of transductive elements are arranged so that any one of the plurality of transductive elements is capable of being deformed in the characteristic radial direction to trigger the corresponding electrical signal. Embodiments of the mechanism can be used for harvesting energy from a variety of bio-kinetic events such as a heartbeat, respiration, muscle contraction or other movement. Such embodiments can be used for powering a variety of implanted medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators and various monitoring devices. |
| US08948865B2 |
Methods for treating heart arrhythmia
Methods and apparatus are provided for treatment of heart arrhythmia via renal neuromodulation. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, ablation, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is achieved through application of an electric field. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is achieved through application of neuromodulatory agents, of thermal energy and/or of high intensity focused ultrasound. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. |
| US08948859B2 |
Resuscitation enhancements
A system including a sensor interface coupled to a processor. The sensor interface is configured to receive and process an analog electrocardiogram signal of a subject and provide a digitized electrocardiogram signal sampled over a first time period and a second time period that is subsequent to the first time period. The processor is configured to receive the digitized electrocardiogram signal, to analyze a frequency domain transform of the digitized electrocardiogram signal sampled over the first and second time periods and determine first and second metrics indicative of metabolic state of a myocardium of the subject during the first and second time periods, respectively, to compare the first and second metrics to determine whether the metabolic state of the myocardium of the subject is improving, and to indicate administration of an intervention to the subject in response to a determination that the metabolic state is not improving. |
| US08948858B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying potentially misclassified arrhythmic episodes
An implantable cardiac device is configured to classify cardiac arrhythmias using a plurality of arrhythmia discrimination algorithms. Data is provided that is associated with a plurality of cardiac arrhythmic episodes for which a cardiac electrical therapy was delivered or withheld by the implantable medical device based on the plurality of arrhythmia discrimination algorithms. A metric for each of the arrhythmic episodes is computed. The metric defines a measure by which the implantable cardiac device properly classified the arrhythmia. Potentially misclassified arrhythmic episodes of the plurality of cardiac arrhythmic episodes for which cardiac electrical therapy was inappropriately delivered or withheld are algorithmically identified using the metric. |
| US08948857B2 |
Multi-channel cardiac measurements
An automatic method of determining local activation time (LAT) in multi-channel cardiac electrogram signals including a plurality of cardiac channels, the method comprising: (a) storing the cardiac channel signals; (b) using a ventricular, a reference and a mapping channel to compute first LAT values at a plurality of mapping-channel locations; (c) monitoring the quality of at least one of the ventricular, reference and mapping channels; (d) if the quality of a monitored cardiac channel falls below a standard, replacing the sub-standard channel with another channel of the plurality of channels having an above-standard quality; and (e) computing second LAT values based on the replacement cardiac channel. |
| US08948853B2 |
Cardiac mapping with catheter shape information
A non-contact cardiac mapping method is disclosed that includes: (i) inserting a catheter into a heart cavity having an endocardium surface, the catheter including multiple, spatially distributed electrodes; (ii) measuring signals at the catheter electrodes in response to electrical activity in the heart cavity with the catheter spaced from the endocardium surface; and (iii) determining physiological information at multiple locations of the endocardium surface based on the measured signals and positions of the electrodes with respect to the endocardium surface. Related systems and computer programs are also disclosed. |
| US08948852B2 |
Imaging volumes with arbitrary geometries in non-contact tomography
A method for tomographic imaging of diffuse medium includes directing waves into a diffusive medium, solving a surface-bounded inversion problem by forward field calculations through decomposition of contributions from the multiple reflections from an arbitrary surface within the diffusive medium or outside the diffusive medium into a sum of different orders of reflection up to an arbitrary order, and using contact or non-contact measurements of waves outside said diffusive medium to generate a tomographic image. |
| US08948851B2 |
Method and apparatus for depth-resolved fluorescence, chromophore, and oximetry imaging for lesion identification during surgery
A tomographic fluorescent imaging device for imaging fluorophores in biological tissues has a scanned laser for scanning the tissue and a camera for receiving light from the biological tissue at an angle to the beam at a second wavelength ten or more nanometers greater in wavelength than the wavelength of the laser. Use of both intrinsic and extrinsic fluorophores is described. Images are obtained at each of several positions of the beam. An image processing system receives the series of images, models a path of the beam through the tissue, and determines depth of fluorophore in tissue from intersections of the modeled path of the beam and the path of the received light. The laser is of 600 nm or longer wavelength, to provide penetration of tissue. The imaging device is used during surgery to visualize lesions of various types to ensure complete removal of malignant tumors. An alternative embodiment uses differences in intensity of fluorescent radiation from tissue as observed at different wavelengths to determine depth of fluorophore in tissue. An embodiment operates at multiple wavelengths to construct tomographic images of chromophores, such as hemoglobin, and is capable of dynamic imaging. |
| US08948843B2 |
Probe for an implantable medical device
The invention relates to a probe (10) for an implantable medical device. The probe has a distal end (2) and a proximal end (3), and the probe (10) moreover comprises an electrode (1) at the distal end. The electrode is connected to a wire (5) extending from the electrode to the proximal end of the probe, where the resistivity of the wire is non-uniform along the length of the wire. The wire may have high resistivity at the distal end of the probe and low resistivity wires elsewhere. The high resistivity wires reduce the peak current density in the tissue of an implanted device, and thus prevents destructive heating and/or undesired stimulation of tissue during MRI examination. This highly contributes to MR safety which is a highly desired feature for these implantable electrical stimulation devices. |
| US08948841B2 |
MR-tracking based on magnetic signature selective excitation
The present invention relates to a MR tracking method and device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a magnetic resonance tracking method and device, using a magnetic-susceptible object. A magnetic iso-surface induced by the object is selectively excited with a corresponding frequency offset; the magnetic iso-surface is then projected on three axes of a k-space, from which projections the spatial position of the object is calculated. |
| US08948834B2 |
Signal processing apparatus
The present invention involves a method and an apparatus for analyzing measured signals, including the determination of a measurement of correlation in the measured signals during a calculation of a physiological parameter of a monitored patient. Use of this invention is described in particular detail with respect to blood oximetry measurements. |
| US08948830B2 |
Fast-cycling, conduction-cooled, quasi-isothermal, superconducting fault current limiter
Fault Current Limiters (FCL) provide protection for upstream and/or downstream devices in electric power grids. Conventional FCL require the use of expensive conductors and liquid or gas cryogen handling. Disclosed embodiments describe FCL systems and devices that use lower cost superconductors, require no liquid cryogen, and are fast cycling. These improved FCL can sustain many sequential faults and require less time to clear faults while avoiding the use of liquid cryogen. Disclosed embodiments describe a FCL with a superconductor and cladding cooled to cryogenic temperatures; these are connected in parallel with a second resistor across two nodes in a circuit. According to disclosed embodiments, the resistance of the superconducting components and its sheath in the fault mode are sufficiently high to minimize energy deposition within the cryogenic system, minimizing recovery time. A scheme for intermediate heat storage also is described which allows a useful compromise between conductor length enabled energy minimization and allowable number of sequential faults to enable an overall system design which is affordable, and yet allows conduction cooled (cryogen free) systems which have fast recovery and allows for multiple sequential faults. |
| US08948826B2 |
Electronic device and input interface switching method
The electronic device according to the present invention comprises a display housing 120 having a first display unit 124, an operation housing 150 coupled to said display housing so that said operation housing is movable substantially in parallel to and relative to a surface of said display housing facing said operation housing, said operation housing having a second display unit 160 which displays an operation screen and a touch panel 162 piled on the second display unit so that the operation screen is visible, a position detection unit 156 for detecting a relative position of said display housing and said operation housing, and a control unit for deciding an application displayed on the first display unit in accordance with the relative position detected by said position detection unit, wherein said control unit switches the operation screen displayed on the second display unit in accordance with the application displayed on the first display unit. |
| US08948825B2 |
Portable terminal device
A portable terminal device includes: a converting portion converting one of sound and an electrical signal into the other thereof; and a chassis defining: an opening; a passageway portion communicating the opening and the converting portion with each other; and a retainer portion retaining water that has entered the passageway portion, divaricated from the passageway portion, and the converting portion being arranged within the chassis apart from an axis of the opening. |
| US08948823B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal and a method for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal are provided. In a mobile terminal including a first processor and a second processor, the first processor controls execution of a first operation and displays a screen corresponding to the execution of the first operation on a display module. When a predetermined user command is input, the first processor is deactivated and the second processor performs a control operation for continuously executing the first operation with reference to operation information associated with the first operation and displays a screen corresponding to the continuous execution of the first operation on the display module. The first processor or the second processor is selectively activated according to a user command such that the user can use a phone mode suitable for the environment in which the mobile terminal is used. |
| US08948822B2 |
Coordinating power management functions in a multi-media device
In general, this disclosure relates to techniques for dynamically determining configuration information (e.g., for processing video data) and coordinating execution of power management functions based upon an available amount of power for execution of a multi-media service. One example method includes the following features: obtaining an amount of available power for execution of a service requiring multi-media resources within a multi-media device; determining, based upon the amount of available power, configuration information for execution of one or more power management functions in one or more multi-media resources of the multi-media device; and coordinating the execution of the one or more power management functions in the one or more multi-media resources based upon the configuration information in order to manage power utilization within the multi-media device. |
| US08948820B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a display unit; an input detection unit that detects an input to the display unit, and a lock control unit that sets or releases a locked state for a part or all of functions of the portable electronic device when a predetermined input is detected by the input detection unit, wherein the predetermined input includes inputs, in which a preset screen operation is continuously performed by a predetermined number of times in an area of the display unit. |
| US08948816B2 |
Timing adjustments for small cell distributed antenna systems
A distributed antenna system includes a host unit communicatively coupled to a first service provider interface which receives a first signal from the first service provider interface; and a first remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the host unit, the first remote antenna unit having a first antenna. A base station to which the distributed antenna system is communicatively coupled is configured with a subscriber access timing window having a minimum allowed delay and a maximum allowed delay. The distributed antenna system is configured so that a first total delay between the host unit and the first remote antenna unit is equal to or greater than the minimum allowed delay. The first antenna of the first remote antenna unit is configured to communicate the first signal to a first subscriber unit. |
| US08948815B2 |
Method and system for the configuration of a mobile station baseband circuit for an acoustic accessory
A method and system for the configuration of a mobile station baseband circuit for an acoustic accessory having an identifier, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether the mobile device recognizes the identifier of the acoustic device; and configuring the baseband circuit with a DSP filter response and CODEC acoustic gain parameters for the acoustic device if the mobile device recognizes the identifier of the acoustic device. The system comprising: an identifier for each of the plurality of acoustic devices; a local memory in the mobile station storing a frequency (filter) response and gain parameters for at least one of the plurality of acoustic devices and for mapping them to the identifier; and a digital signal processor to re-shape an acoustic frequency response and adjust an audio gain of a baseband circuit for the mobile station based on the stored frequency response and gain parameters. |
| US08948813B2 |
Cellphone video imaging
A system for forming and transmitting a plurality of video images, at an image transmission rate of at least 1-3 images per sec, from a first cell phone to a second cell phone spaced apart from the first cell phone. A first cell phone user can choose to illuminate and transmit an image of the user or an image of a selected object distinct from the user. |
| US08948809B2 |
Signature based connectivity prediction for portable electronic devices
Methods of predicting future connectivity of a portable electronic device is described along with systems and devices for implementing the methods. The method includes receiving an indication of a plurality of radio scenes detected at the portable electronic device at different reference times. Each of the plurality of radio scenes identifies transmitters and associated signal strength of signals received by the portable electronic device at the respective reference time. One or more connectivity predictions can be retrieved from a corpus of pairs of a composite signature vector and associated connectivity information. Each of the one or more connectivity predictions can be retrieved based on a similarity between the associated respective composite signature vector and a query composite signature vector. A future connectivity prediction of the portable electronic device can be provided based on the one or more retrieved connectivity predictions. |
| US08948803B2 |
Method to optimize the selection and delivery of a shoulder-tap to a cellular mobile station
To select a shoulder-tap method or a set of methods that optimizes the delivery of a shoulder-tap with respect to feasibility, reliability, and cost, in accordance with the present invention. Each shoulder-tap method can be evaluated on its feasibility, reliability and cost. A shoulder-tap method can be selected and used that optimizes reliability and cost with respect to feasibility constraints. |
| US08948801B2 |
Systems and methods for provisioning and allocating a commoditized spectrum object
A provisioning engine provisions spectrum into an allocable spectrum object. The provisioning engine includes an interface configured to receive inputs of available spectrum information and a plurality of provisioning parameters. The plurality of provisioning parameters include at least one signal strength limit, and may include at least first and second signal strength limits that may be boundary strength limit and an allocation strength limit. A controller is configured to execute a spectrum provisioning application that is stored in a memory and, by execution of the spectrum provisioning application, the provisioning engine is configured to generate an allocable spectrum object in accordance with the provisioning parameters. Spectrum encompassed within the spectrum object is allocable by an allocation engine to spectrum users in accordance with the provisioning parameters. An allocation engine in turn allocates spectrum encompassed within the provisioned spectrum object in accordance with the provisioning parameters. |
| US08948800B2 |
Systems, apparatuses, and methods to facilitate coordinated scheduling in wireless communication systems
A system and method of coordinating scheduling in a wireless communication system are described herein. In one aspect, cells receive information regarding one or more precoding matrices from user equipments. The information may include a request from an user equipment that the cell not use a particular precoding matrix for communications. The cell may determine whether restricting usage of the precoding matrix for communication improves overall communication in the wireless communication system by performing pair-wise comparisons of utility based on usage and restriction of the precoding matrix. The cell may further resolve conflicts that arise between several cells based on the granting of restriction of the precoding matrix. |
| US08948795B2 |
System and method for dynamic spam detection
A flexible, extensible, and dynamically configurable anti-spam facility that operates on a general quanta of data (such as for example a Short Message Service message, a Multimedia Message Service message, an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem message, a Wireless Application Protocol stream, an Electronic Mail message, an Instant Messaging exchange, streaming (audio, video, etc.) data, etc.), innovatively analyzes various attributes of same (such as for example originating address and destination address), and—when an instance of spam is identified—performs one or more remediation activities (such as for example updating a blacklist, updating a greylist, dropping a message, issuing an alert, etc.). The facility may optionally leverage the capabilities of a centrally-located Messaging Inter-Carrier Vendor. |
| US08948794B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for facilitating provision of a map resource
Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating provision of a map resource. A method may include causing a request for a plurality of portions of a map to be sent to a map source. The method may further include receiving the requested plurality of portions of the map in a single response message. A corresponding apparatus is also provided. |
| US08948793B1 |
System and method for automated remote messaging to wireless mobile devices
A computerized appointment confirmation system for communication with a mobile device comprising a database comprising data regarding an appointment and a server configured to communicate with an MMS server, the MMS server configured to send an MMS message to the mobile device and receive an MMS response message, receive a communication from the MMS server indicating receipt of the MMS response message by the MMS server, communicate with an SMS server if no MMS response message is received from the mobile device within a predetermined time period, the SMS server configured to send an SMS message to the mobile device and receive an SMS response message, update the database to indicate whether confirmation data was received by the MMS or SMS server from the mobile device, and store in the database data indicating whether an MMS response message or SMS response message was received by the mobile device. |
| US08948791B2 |
Location and time specific mobile participation platform
A mobile participation platform enables a wireless network operator or third party to solicit response data related to a specific time and location specific event by signaling multiple mobile device users that meet predefined qualifications. The qualifications include presence at the specific location at the specific time, and may include other characteristics, such as prior consent to receive solicitations, and particular device type or data collection functionality. The platform locates mobile devices that may qualify for participation, and generates and transmits a solicitation. Mobile devices receiving the solicitation may activate a participation client to acknowledge the solicitation and to contribute by submitting the requested response data, which may include photos, text, sensor data, audio, video and the like. The qualifications are verified, the response data is validated, and anonymity and privacy are maintained by associating the mobile device and other pertinent non-identifying information with an encrypted identifier. |
| US08948790B1 |
Apparatus and method for vehicle interior zone-based prevention of a dangerous user behavior with a mobile communication device
Various embodiments of an apparatus and a method prevent a dangerous user behavior with a mobile communication device by embedding RFID tags in a vehicle's interior space and by interrogating those embedded RFID tags with an integrated RFID tag reader in the mobile communication device. In one embodiment of the invention, the vehicle's interior space is divided into multiple “zones,” at least one of which is defined as a “driving lock” zone. A vehicle interior zone is identifiable with an embedded RFID tag with a particular tag readable range, which only extends to the boundary of that particular zone. Therefore, a mobile communication device with an integrated RFID tag reader can recognize which zone the mobile communication device is currently in by accessing an RFID tag embedded nearby, and then proceed to enable the driving lock on the mobile communication device, if necessary. |
| US08948788B2 |
Motion-controlled views on mobile computing devices
A computer-implemented visual navigation method includes providing from a wireless mobile device, over a public wireless network to a server located remotely from the wireless mobile device, information identifying a geographic location. The method also includes receiving in response, from the server, image data of digital images captured from an location at the geographic location, displaying the image data to a user of the mobile device as an image of an image space around the geographic locations, and panning the image within the image space automatically in response to user motion of the wireless mobile device. |
| US08948784B2 |
Monitoring geospatial context of a mobile device
Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions. |
| US08948783B2 |
User activity tracking system
The present disclosure provides a system for tracking and recording movements of a communication device. The mobile communication device is operable to communicate one or more sensor signals to the system, wherein the sensor signals are indicative of motion associated with activities to which the user exposes the mobile communication device. The system includes a computing hardware that analysis sensor signals to classify them into one or more temporal zones, determines a most likely activity type associated with a given temporal zone, and sends the information regarding most likely activity to the mobile communication device. The user of the mobile communication device provides their confirmation whether the most likely activity type represents a correct analysis, and communicate the confirmation back to the computing hardware for amending parameters and/or algorithms which execute analysis of the sensor signals to improve their accuracy. |
| US08948769B2 |
Method and arrangement for adapting power of reference signals
A method and an arrangement in a radio network node for adapting transmission power of resource elements for demodulation reference signals, referred to as “reference elements” are provided. The radio network node is configured for multiple-input multiple-output transmission, referred to as “MIMO transmission”, to a user equipment. The MIMO transmission comprises at least three layers. Two consecutive subcarriers of a resource block carry at least three reference elements. A first subcarrier of the resource block carries data elements. The radio network node adapts transmission power of said at least three reference elements such that an average transmission power, over said two consecutive subcarriers, of said at least three reference elements is equal to a transmission power, for the first subcarrier, of the data elements for said at least three layers. The radio network node uses the adapted transmission power to transmit, to the user equipment, said at least three reference elements. |
| US08948767B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically modifying cell reselection and/or handover parameters
Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide embodiments of a method and apparatus for dynamically modifying cell reselection parameters and/or handover parameters. One embodiment of the method includes providing a request for a cell reselection parameter or handover parameter in response to a small cell determining that a number of cell reselections or a number of handovers between the small cell and at least one macrocell exceeds at least one threshold. In this embodiment, the cell reselection parameter or handover parameter is stored in the small cell. |
| US08948765B2 |
Method and apparatus for maintaining a virtual active set including a closed subscriber group cell
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided that establishes a virtual active set including a first closed subscriber group (CSG) cell. At least one measured result of each of the first CSG cell and a second CSG cell is measured and the virtual active set is updated by replacing the first CSG cell with the second CSG cell in response to at least one measured result of the second CSG cell having a predefined relationship to the at least one measured result of the first CSG cell for a time to trigger. In regards to updating the virtual active set, the first CSG cell may be replaced with the second CSG cell in response to the at least one measured result of the second CSG cell having a predefined relationship to the at least one measured result of the first CSG cell by at least a predetermined amount for the time to trigger. |
| US08948764B2 |
Methods and arrangements for mobility management
The present invention relates to methods and devices for mobility management in a cellular communications system. A user equipment maintains (21) at least two sets of mobility trigger parameters. Each set of mobility trigger parameters corresponds to a predetermined user equipment speed range. The user equipment determines (22) a speed range that the speed of the user equipment falls into and selects (23), based on the determined speed range, at least one set of mobility trigger parameters to be used for performing mobility-based decisions. If the user equipment is in connected mode a network base station may select a set of mobility trigger parameters to be used for performing handover decisions based on a determined speed range of the user equipment. Advantages are that ping-pong mobility decisions may be avoided and it is sufficient to determine a range for the UE speed, which is less complicated than determining an accurate speed of the UE particularly in idle mode. |
| US08948761B2 |
Prioritizing radio access technologies for measurement
Each entry in a prioritized measurement list defines a unique combination of frequency layer and radio access technology (RAT) for cells. Based on signal strength and/or signal quality of the serving cell, a set of entries for measuring is selected from a neighbor list according to the prioritized measurement list and according to a selection rule. The selection rule provides: for the case the at least signal strength or quality of the serving cell is higher than a respective strength/quality threshold, the selected set is a first set; and for the case the at least signal strength or quality of the serving cell is lower than a respective strength/quality threshold, the selected set is a different second set of the prioritized measurement list that excludes all frequency layers of the prioritized measurement list belonging to the RAT having a highest (or alternatively a lowest) priority. |
| US08948755B2 |
Method, public land mobile network, user equipment, and program
A method for providing public land mobile network access to a User Equipment. A first identity or communication context information relates to the use of the User Equipment according to a first mode of operation, the first mode of operation being defined at least partly by a first configuration information stored in the User Equipment and being associated to a first network access priority. A second identity or communication context information relates to the use of the User Equipment according to a second mode of operation, the second mode of operation being defined at least partly by a second configuration information stored in the User Equipment and being associated to a second network access priority. At least partly during the operation of the User Equipment, the network access of the User Equipment occurs simultaneously using the first mode of operation and using the second mode of operation. |
| US08948754B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing a communication connection
Method and apparatus for establishing a connection between a device (e.g., a mobile device such as a telephone or tablet) and a communication network (e.g., a telephone/data service provider's network). The communication network may adhere to a mobile communication standard such as 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) LTE (Long Term Evolution). When the user device attempts a connection to a default access point name or APN (e.g., via an Attach Request message), and that access point is unavailable, instead of rejecting the request (e.g., with an Attach Reject message) the communication network identifies an access point that is available and returns an Attach Accept message that identifies the available access point. After the connection is established, if the default access point becomes available, the network may subsequently detach the user device from the network, but specify that the device should re-attach (to the default access point). |
| US08948751B2 |
Methods and apparatus for radio resource control
Improved systems and techniques for controlling access to network resources. A base station broadcasts extended access barring (EAB) and access class barring (ACB) information. Upon a determination by a user equipment that the user equipment requires service from the base station, the user equipment determines its EAB category and call type. The user equipment receives the EAB and ACB information broadcast by the base station and determines if it is subject to EAB based on its EAB category. If the user equipment is not subject to EAB, the user equipment determines if its call type is subject to ACB and, if the call type is subject to ACB, applies access class barring based on its call type. |
| US08948750B1 |
LTE roaming APN adaptation
A method for providing roaming profiles to a VPMN includes receiving, at a HPMN, an authentication request to authorize a mobile station in the VPMN. The HPMN transmits, to the VPMN, an authorization answer in response to the authentication request. Once the VPMN determines that the mobile station is authorized to operate in the VPMN, the HPMN receives a visited profile request for the mobile station. The request is transmitted from the VPMN to the HPMN. The HPMN retrieves a home profile for the mobile station in the HPMN. A device in the HPMN modifies, based on an agreement between the VPMN and HPMN and other policies, the home profile to a visited profile. The modification occurs in the same, or in a different, device as the device from which the home profile was retrieved. The visited profile is transmitted to the VPMN in response to the request. |
| US08948748B2 |
SCP guided CAMEL transaction control during MTRR
An SCP of a telecommunications network having a GMSC includes a network interface unit of the SCP that receives a CAMEL transaction from the GMSC. The SCP includes a processing unit, of the SCP, which controls the CAMEL transaction relinquished by the GMSC and decides whether or not to idle the CAMEL transaction during MTRR. A method for guiding a CAMEL transaction by an SCP during MTRR having the steps of receiving at a network interface unit of the SCP a CAMEL transaction from a GMSC. There is the step of deciding by a processing unit of the SCP which controls the CAMEL transaction relinquished by the GMSC whether or not to idle the CAMEL transaction during MTRR. |
| US08948745B2 |
Rogue tower detection in a wireless network
A system associated with a first tower in a wireless network receives, at the first tower, tower lists generated by other towers that are nearby the first tower. The system further authenticates each of the received tower lists, and identifies ones of the nearby towers as rogue towers based on failures to authenticate respective ones of the received additional tower lists. The system also broadcasts a tower black list that lists the identified rogue towers to the nearby towers and to nearby mobile devices. |
| US08948739B2 |
Methods and devices for the transmission of scalable data
ANS method for transmitting data, in which basic data is transmitted while one or several packets are transmitted with data that complements the basic data and increases the quality of the basic data when being decoded by a receiver. The packets contain at least one field with information about how the complementing data of the respective packet increases the quality of the basic data. The field can be read independently of the complementing data of the respective packet. Based on the information, a decision can be made as to whether the packets are to be forwarded or decoded. |
| US08948736B2 |
Method of managing at least one wireless communications interface of a terminal, and a terminal
The management method of the invention comprises: an obtaining step (E10) of obtaining information (CId) representative of the geographical location of the terminal; a searching step (E20) of searching in a database of the terminal for at least one identifier of a wireless communications interface of the terminal that is associated with said information; and if such an associated identifier is found, an automatic activation step (E50) of activating the wireless communications interface corresponding to said at least one identifier. |
| US08948729B2 |
Secure device configuration profiles
A method for configuring a device includes receiving a first configuration profile comprising a first configuration and a first certificate and a second certificate, verifying the first configuration profile with the first certificate, receiving a user input indicating to accept the first configuration profile, configuring the device according to the first configuration, receiving a second configuration profile comprising a second configuration, verifying the second configuration profile with the second certificate and updating the device according to the second configuration, wherein the user is unaware of the updating. |
| US08948725B2 |
Communication system and method
The invention relates to a communication system which comprises at least one user equipment having a plurality of identities associated therewith. The user equipment has means for storing at least one of the identities. Storage means are provided for storing at least one of the plurality of identities and means for receiving identity information from the user equipment, for obtaining from the storage means at least one identity associated with the received identity information and for sending to the user equipment the at least one obtained from the storage means. |
| US08948723B2 |
Wireless data service apparatus and method in broadcast mobile communication system
A system for broadcasting wireless data service in a mobile communication system includes sending a request call for a wireless data service from a mobile terminal to a mobile switching center, identifying whether the terminal is registered in the mobile switching center, transmitting authentication code information indicating that the terminal is registered in the base transceiver station, and releasing the corresponding call in the terminal receiving the authentication code information and receiving the wireless service data. The authentication code information may include a Walsh code and a long code necessary for allowing the terminal to reconstitute the data. Through this case information, the system can broadcast wireless service data throughout an entire region and be assured that only mobile terminals storing compatible code information will be able to access the data. |
| US08948720B1 |
Detecting and handling regional events based on call analysis
A server device may be configured to receive information regarding calls that have been placed; detect, based on the information regarding the calls that have been placed, an occurrence of an event; determine a set of base stations that are associated with the event; and broadcast, via the set of base stations, a message regarding the event. |
| US08948717B2 |
RF peak detection scheme using baseband circuits
A receiver includes an antenna configured to receive a set of RF signals, and a low-noise amplifier (LNA) coupled to the antenna and amplify the set of RF signals to generate a set of amplified signals. The receiver further includes a down-conversion mixer configured to down convert the set of amplified signals to baseband frequencies. The receiver further includes a low-pass filter configured to filter from the set of amplified signals to baseband frequencies an out-of-band signal. The receiver further includes a high-pass filter configured to reverse the filtering of the low-pass filter. The receiver further includes a peak detector configured to determine whether the LNA is operating at saturation; and an automatic-gain controller configured to decrease a gain of the LNA based on the determination of the peak detector. |
| US08948716B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for conversion of radio frequency (RF) signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals
Various embodiments implement apparatuses and methods for conversion of radio frequency (RF) signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals. More particularly, some embodiments are directed toward down conversion of RF signals to IF signals in a multi-band radio receiver, such as a satellite receiver, using a single oscillator for different frequency bands. For example, some of the apparatuses and methods presented are suitable for integration into monolithic RF integrated circuits in low-cost satellite receivers for home entertainment use. |
| US08948713B2 |
Antenna impedance/power amplifier source impedance measurement circuitry and device operation based thereon
A wireless device includes impedance determination and processing circuitry. The impedance determination circuitry determines load impedance at an output of at least one Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier of the wireless device. The processing circuitry couples to the impedance determination circuitry and alters at least one operating parameter of the wireless device based upon the determined load impedance. Alteration of at least one operating parameter of the wireless device may include altering a gain of at least one transmit path component, altering a gain of at least one receive path component, altering tuning settings of at least one transmit path component, altering tuning settings of at least one receive path component, altering a rail voltage setting, altering baseband processing pre-distortion settings, altering baseband processing receive signal processing operations, altering antenna configuration settings, altering antenna tuning parameters, altering antenna diversity settings, and altering Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO) settings. |
| US08948711B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining dielectric access in portable terminal
An apparatus and method determine a dielectric access in a portable terminal. The method includes generating a TX signal of a specific frequency band by performing frequency conversion, modulation, and digital/analog conversion. The method also includes detecting the power of the TX signal and converting the detected power using Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC). The method further includes loading an ADC table defining values for determining the approach/withdrawal of a dielectric to/from the portable terminal, and comparing the power of the TX signal and the ADC table to determine the approach/withdrawal of a dielectric to/from the portable terminal. |
| US08948708B2 |
Partitioned radio-frequency apparatus and associated methods
Radio-frequency (RF) apparatus includes receiver analog circuitry that receives an RF signal and provides at least one digital signal to receiver digital circuitry that functions in cooperation with the receiver analog circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry are partitioned so that interference effects between the receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry tend to be reduced. |
| US08948705B2 |
Multiple-access hybrid OFDM-CDMA system
In one aspect of a multiple-access OFDM-CDMA system, data spreading is performed in the frequency domain by spreading each data stream with a respective spreading code selected from a set of available spreading codes. To support multiple access, system resources may be allocated and de-allocated to users (e.g., spreading codes may be assigned to users as needed, and transmit power may be allocated to users). Variable rate data for each user may be supported via a combination of spreading adjustment and transmit power scaling. Interference control techniques are also provided to improve system performance via power control of the downlink and/or uplink transmissions to achieve the desired level of performance while minimizing interference. A pilot may be transmitted by each transmitter unit to assist the receiver units perform acquisition, timing synchronization, carrier recovery, handoff, channel estimation, coherent data demodulation, and so on. |
| US08948700B2 |
Method and system for compensating for distortion in a transmitter by utilizing a digital predistortion scheme with a feedback mixer configuration
Aspects of a method and system for compensating for distortion in a transmitter by utilizing a digital predistortion scheme with a feedback mixer configuration are presented. Aspects of the system may include an RF transmitter that enables generation of an RF output signal in response to one or more generated input signals. One or more feedback signals may be generated by performing frequency downconversion on the RF output signal within a corresponding one or more feedback mixer circuits. The generated one or more feedback signals may be inserted at a corresponding one or more insertion points in an RF receiver. Each insertion point may be between a receiver mixer circuit and corresponding circuits that generate a baseband signal based on the corresponding one of the feedback signals. |
| US08948694B2 |
Antenna shield for proximity-based communication devices
A shielding article is provided, for shielding a device enabled for proximity-based communications, for example, NFC-enabled devices. The shielding article comprises a shielding component configured to prevent operation of an antenna of the device used for conducting proximity-based communications, without preventing operation of at least one other antenna of the device when the shielding component is aligned with the antenna used for conducting proximity-based communications. The shielding article may be separate from, or included in an accessory or carrying article and may be fixed or detachably coupled thereto. |
| US08948691B2 |
User application initiated telephony
Systems and methods for initiating telephony calls are presented. In one example, a user selection of a desired application item is received at a computing device and a dial number associated with the desired application item is transmitted from the computing device to a wireless headset. The dial number is received at the wireless headset and a call is responsively initiated by transmitting the dial number from the wireless headset to a mobile phone device. |
| US08948687B2 |
System and method for determining and controlling gain margin in an RF repeater
An apparatus for repeating signals includes a receive antenna for capturing a receive signal, processing circuitry for processing the receive signal to form a repeated signal, and a transmit antenna for transmitting the repeated signal. The processing circuitry includes gain circuitry for gain in the repeated signal and decorrelation circuitry configured for modifying the repeated signal with respect to the receive signal to thereby decorrelate the repeated signal from the receive signal. The processing circuitry further comprises circuitry configured for calculating a gain margin for the apparatus utilizing the decorrelated receive and repeated signals. |
| US08948686B2 |
Method for selecting source transmit antenna in cooperative MIMO communication system
Disclosed is a method for selecting a source transmit antenna in a cooperative multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication system including a source node, a relay node and a destination node. The method includes determining a source transmit antenna selection metric such that a source-destination channel, a source-relay channel and a relay-destination channel are related to one another, and selecting a positive integer number of antennas such that the source transmit antenna selection metric is maximized. |
| US08948684B2 |
Methods and systems for selecting internet radio program break content using mobile device location
Methods and systems for selecting content for outputting on a mobile device during a program break in an Internet radio stream using mobile device location information. In one aspect, the methods and systems seamlessly select content for outputting on a mobile device during a program break in an Internet radio stream using mobile device location information and program break markers. In another aspect, the methods and systems select content for outputting on a mobile device during a program break in an Internet radio stream using mobile device trajectory information. |
| US08948683B2 |
Multi-mode phy-level wireless security
A method for communication includes, in a transmitter that transmits one or more data streams to respective target receivers and one or more jamming streams for preventing the data streams from being decoded by eavesdropping receivers, holding a definition of at least first and second transmission modes having respective, different first and second levels of security in preventing the data streams from being decoded by the eavesdropping receivers. One of the first and second transmission modes is selected for transmitting a data stream to a target receiver, by evaluating a selection criterion. The data stream and the jamming streams are transmitted via an antenna array using the selected transmission mode. |
| US08948673B2 |
Fixing-unit roller, fixing unit, and image forming apparatus including an elastic layer
A fixing-unit roller includes: a core bar; and an elastic layer formed on an outer peripheral surface of the core bar. The elastic layer is formed from a porous material that contains a plurality of cells. Cells in a cross section obtained by cutting across the porous material are 0.1 μm or greater and 50 μm or less in size. A ratio of an area occupied by composite cells, which are made of partially-overlapping spherical cells, in a 200-μm square in the cross section to an area of the square is 60% or greater and 70% or less. |
| US08948670B2 |
Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
A fixing apparatus of the present invention includes a fixing rotation member, a rotation drive portion that rotates the fixing rotation member, a cleaning web sheet that cleans a circumferential surface of the fixing rotation member, a cleaning web sheet roller that takes up or feeds out the cleaning web sheet, a swing cam rotationally driven by the rotation drive portion, a rotation transmission portion that transmits a rotation drive force to the cleaning web sheet roller, a one way clutch provided on an input shaft of the rotation transmission portion, and a swing lever connected to the one way clutch and biased so as to be brought into slide contact with the swing cam. |
| US08948664B2 |
Developing device conveying assembly for image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same
A developing device of an image forming apparatus to convey a developing agent, the developing device including a housing having a developing agent accommodating compartment disposed therein, a first rotation member and a second rotation member that are disposed inside the developing agent accommodating compartment, a plurality of developing agent convey members that rotate around the first rotation member and the second rotation member being arranged along a shaft direction of the first rotation member, and at least one torque limiter coupled to between the first rotation member and at least one of the plurality of developing agent convey members, the at least one torque limiter to allow at least one of the plurality of developing agent convey members to perform a relative rotation with respect to the first rotation member when a load is applied to the plurality of developing agent convey members is varied. |
| US08948662B2 |
Two-component developer, developing device, and image forming apparatus
A two-component developer includes toner and a magnetic carrier. The two-component developer is used in a developing device including a circular cylindrical developer transporting member that is disposed so as to be separated by 125 μm to 250 μm from a latent image carrier that rotates. The two-component developer is used so as to satisfy a condition in which a width of a region where a magnetic brush contacts a surface of the latent image carrier is in a range of from 1.0 mm to 2.25 mm, and a condition in which a developer density of the region where the magnetic brush contacts the surface of the latent image carrier is in a range of from 0.75×10−6 to 1.50×10−6 g/m3. |
| US08948661B2 |
Cap configuration for a toner cartridge
Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other. |
| US08948660B2 |
Toner cartridge having engagement features to actuate a developer unit shutter
A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An outlet port is positioned on the front of the housing for transferring toner from the reservoir to the developer unit through an inlet port on the developer unit. A first engagement member projecting from the front of the housing is positioned to provide an initial force to begin to open a shutter on the inlet port of the developer unit as the toner cartridge is inserted in the image forming device. A second engagement member projecting from the front of the housing is spaced toward one of the sides of the housing from the first engagement member and positioned to provide a force to continue to open the shutter on the inlet port of the developer unit as the toner cartridge is inserted further in the image forming device. |
| US08948659B2 |
Shutter for a developer unit for use with an image forming device
A unit for use with a removable toner cartridge of an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An inlet port is positioned to receive toner from the toner cartridge. The inlet port is connected to the reservoir to allow the toner received from the toner cartridge to enter the reservoir. A shutter is slidably movable between a closed position and an open position. A biasing member biases the shutter toward the closed position. The shutter includes a first engagement surface positioned to receive a first engagement member of the toner cartridge to begin to open the shutter as the toner cartridge is inserted in the image forming device. The shutter also includes a second engagement surface positioned to receive a second engagement member of the toner cartridge to move the shutter a remaining distance to the open position. |
| US08948658B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device comprises a first and a second developer conveyance path. A first conveyance member is provided in the first developer conveyance path in a freely rotatable manner and has a helical blade. A developing roller supplies the developer in the first developer conveyance path to a photoconductor drum. A developer collection path guides two-component developer left on a surface of the developing roller from the first developer conveyance path. A developer surface adjustment window comprises a predetermined level for allowing excess developer exceeding the level of the window to be guided from the first developer conveyance path to the developer collection path. |
| US08948657B2 |
Charging device and image forming apparatus
To provide a charging device and an image forming apparatus that can restrict generation of a winding-seam irregularity of a roll brush for a long period. A charging device 2 is configured so that, when first and second charging members 21a and 21b perform charging processing on a rotating photosensitive member 3, a region 40a on a surface of the photosensitive member 3 facing a winding seam 35a, which is a seam of a base cloth 31 serving as a base material of the first charging member 21a, is not superposed on a region 40b on the surface of the photosensitive member 3 facing a winding seam 35b, which is a seam of a base cloth 31 serving as a base material of the second charging member 21b. |
| US08948655B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a separating mechanism configured to move a transfer belt between a first position in which the transfer belt contacts a photoconductor to a second position, a separating shaft configured to rotate to cause the separating mechanism to move from the first position to the second position. The image forming apparatus further includes a lever configured to be removably mounted on a first end of the separating shaft, and an accommodation section configured to accommodate the lever in a body of the image forming apparatus. A second end of the separating shaft prevents the accommodation of the lever in the accommodation section when the lever is removed and when the separating shaft is in the first rotation position. |
| US08948647B2 |
Belt device and image forming apparatus incorporating same having a cleaning device which cleans utilizing different polarities
A belt device incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes an endless belt, multiple belt tension rollers disposed in contact with an inner surface of the endless belt, a rotary cleaning member to contact a belt wound area of the endless belt facing an opposing roller to form a cleaning nip between the rotary cleaning member and the endless belt and rotate the rotary cleaning member in a direction opposite the belt moving direction within the cleaning nip, and a voltage applier. The cleaning nip is formed by offsetting a center of the cleaning nip upstream from a center of the belt wound area of the endless belt in the belt moving direction and by at least contacting the rotary cleaning member in a range from the belt wound area to a tensioned belt area located upstream from the belt wound area in the belt moving direction. |
| US08948646B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, a charging roller being in contact with the photoreceptor to uniformly charge the surface thereof, a developing device forming a toner image on the photoreceptor, and a cleaning device cleaning contaminants on a surface of the charging roller, in which the charging roller has a conductive elastic layer formed around an axis and a direction of polishing marks on the surface of the charging roller is in a circumferential direction. |
| US08948644B2 |
Power supply module and image forming apparatus including same
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, a transfer unit including a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, disposed opposite the image bearing member, a direct current (DC) power source to apply, between the image bearing member and the transfer device, a DC bias to form a first transfer electric field to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium, and a power supply module detachably attachable relative to the image forming apparatus. The power supply module includes an AC-DC superimposed bias power source to apply, between the image bearing member and the transfer device, a superimposed bias in which an alternating voltage is superimposed on a DC voltage to form a second transfer electric field to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium. |
| US08948643B2 |
Method and system for controlling multiple printers in a TISP or TIPP system for increased stability
A method for printer stability enhancement in a multiple printer printing system includes determining a first printer stress state of a first printer in a printing system, wherein the first printer is assigned a first printing role. A second printer stress state of a second printer in the printing system is also determined, wherein the second printer is assigned a second printing role that is different from the first printing role. The first printer stress state is compared to the second printer stress state, and the first printing role is reassigned to the second printer and the second printing role is reassigned to the first printer if the first printer stress state is different than the second printer stress state. A printing system implementing the method is also provided. |
| US08948641B2 |
Fixing device and control method used therein
A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, a temperature detector, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The pressure member presses against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween. The heater is disposed adjacent to the fuser member to heat the fuser member. The temperature detector is directed to at least one of the fuser member, the pressure member, and the heater to detect an operational temperature of the fixing device. The controller is operatively connected to the temperature detector and the heater to control power supply to the heater according to readings of the temperature detector, so as to regulate the detected operational temperature at a setpoint temperature that is variable depending on a print page printed on the recording medium. |
| US08948640B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device: having a heating member, a rotating member, and a temperature sensor; a sheet feeding unit; and a control device configured to perform a sheet feed control: in which the feeding timing is set to a first timing if the temperature gradient of the heating member for a predetermined period is larger than a first threshold value; and in which the feeding timing is set to a second timing later than the first timing if the temperature gradient of the heating member for the predetermined period is equal to or less than the first threshold value, and wherein, in the sheet feed control, the control device changes the first threshold value to a smaller value as the temperature of the heating member at the print-instruction receiving time increase. |
| US08948639B2 |
Fixing device with mechanism capable of detecting pressure exerted between opposed components and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a pressurization member connected to a pressing rotary body to press the pressing rotary body against a fixing rotary body; a depressurization assembly interposed between the pressing rotary body and the pressurization member and movable between a reduced pressure position where the depressurization assembly causes the pressurization member to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body with reduced pressure therebetween and an enhanced pressure position where the depressurization assembly is free from pressure from the pressurization member to cause the pressurization member to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body with enhanced pressure therebetween; a positioner separatably contacting the depressurization assembly to immovably halt the depressurization assembly at the enhanced pressure position; and a position detector separatably contacting the depressurization assembly to detect the position of the depressurization assembly. |
| US08948635B2 |
System for charging a photoreceptor
A system for charging a photoreceptor (3) includes a first corona charging unit (2) a first corona electrode (4), a first shell electrode (6), and a first high voltage power supply (22). The shell electrode is connected through a resistor to ground and the high voltage power supply is connected to the first corona electrode. A second corona charging unit (10) has a second corona electrode (12), and a first grid electrode (14) connected to a second shell electrode (16). A first corona current from the first high voltage power supply to the first corona electrode and a return current from the first shell electrode to ground is sensed and a voltage on the high voltage power supply is adjusted to maintain a constant difference. The first corona charging unit charges the photoreceptor to at least 63% of the desired voltage. |
| US08948630B2 |
Method for detecting surface potential of image bearing member and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus configured to, in a state where a voltage is applied to a charging unit, determine a surface potential of an image bearing member using a first voltage applied when a current value obtained by, after applying a predetermined voltage to a transfer unit, detecting the current value while changing the applied voltage to a positive direction reaches a discharge current value, and a second voltage applied to the transfer unit when a current value obtained by, after applying the predetermined voltage to the transfer unit, detecting the current value while changing the applied voltage to a negative direction reaches the discharge current value. |
| US08948628B2 |
Image forming apparatus calculating power consumption amount
An image forming apparatus includes a first power calculator for calculating a power consumption amount of a driving load unit and a post-processing device based on at least one of measured values of a voltage and a current, which are supplied to the driving load unit and the post-processing device; second and third power calculators for calculating power consumption amounts of a fixing heater driving unit and a controller based on an operating state and an operating time of the image forming apparatus; and a power summing-up unit for calculating a power consumption amount of the image forming apparatus by summing up the power consumption amount calculated by the first power calculator and the power consumption amount predicted by each of the second and third power calculators. |
| US08948627B2 |
Load abnormality detection apparatus performing accurate judgment of cause of abnormality
A load abnormality detection apparatus detects a load abnormality in first and second rotational members acting on each other. An inclination calculation part calculates an inclination of a second control element. A first comparison part compares a first control element with a first threshold value and also with a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value. A second comparison part compares an inclination of change in the second control element with a third threshold value of a negative value and also with a fourth threshold value of a positive value. An abnormality detection part detects a load abnormality in a load applied to the first rotational member and the second rotational member based on results of comparison by the first comparison part and the second comparison part and identifies a cause of the detected load abnormality. |
| US08948622B2 |
Self-monitoring image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section including a developing section, a toner container mountable to and removable from the image forming apparatus, an intermediate hopper for replenishing toner supplied from the toner container to the developing section, a toner remaining amount detection sensor for detecting a remaining amount of the toner in the intermediate hopper, a cover to be opened and closed when the toner container is mounted and removed, an opening/closing detection sensor for detecting an operation of opening and closing the openable and closable cover, and a main control section. During a print job, the main control section continues image formation when the cover is opened and an amount of the toner is less than a predetermined amount. Further, the main control section halts the image formation when the cover is opened and the amount of the toner is the predetermined amount or more. |
| US08948613B2 |
Intensity noise reduction methods and apparatus for interferometric sensing and imaging systems
In part, aspects of the invention relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for intensity and/or pattern line noise reduction in a data collection system such as an optical coherence tomography system that uses an electromagnetic radiation source and interferometric principles. In one embodiment, the noise is intensity noise or line pattern noise and the source is a laser such as a swept laser. One or more attenuators responsive to one or more control signals can be used in conjunction with an analog or digital feedback network in one embodiment. |
| US08948610B2 |
Data signal threshold detection and/or recovery in optical and/or optoelectric receivers and/or transceivers
Methods for receiving a signal and a detection circuit are disclosed. The detection circuit and related methods may be useful for the fast and accurate receiving of data signals. The detection circuit generally comprises a first circuit having a first time constant, a second circuit having (i) a common input with the first circuit and (ii) a second time constant, the second time constant being less than the first time constant, and a switch configured to (i) charge the first circuit with an input signal when the switch is in a first state, and (ii) charge or discharge the second circuit with the input signal when the switch is in a second state, the switch having the second state when the input signal is no longer received at the common input. |
| US08948609B2 |
Pre-distortion techniques for optical modulators to improve constellation point separation
According to a first aspect, techniques are provided to optimize a Mach-Zehnder modulator drive waveform by distorting the outer modulation levels of the waveform, thereby equalizing eye openings of the received optical field, and in particular creating a wider and more defined central eye opening of the received optical field. According to a second aspect, techniques are provided to adjust in-phase (I) modulation levels based on the imperfect performance of a Mach-Zehnder modulator allocated to modulate quadrature-phase (Q) modulation levels, and conversely to adjust the Q modulation levels based on the imperfect performance of an MZ modulator allocated to modulate I modulation levels. |
| US08948606B2 |
Semiconductor optical amplifier
A semiconductor optical amplifier includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer an active layer provided between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, the active layer transmitting an optical signal and a current-injection part that injects current into the active layer via the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, the active layer including a first active layer that includes AlGaInAs, and a second active layer that includes GaInAsP, the second active layer provided closer to an output side than the first active layer, and the first active layer and the second active layer being butt-jointed. |
| US08948605B2 |
Reflective semiconductor optical amplifier for optical networks
The present document relates to passive optical networks (PON). More particularly but not exclusively, it relates to the use of a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) for amplifying signals in a Gigabit PON (GPON) or WDM-PON. An apparatus configured to amplify light at different wavelengths in an optical network is described. The apparatus comprises a first active material configured to amplify light at a first wavelength and a second active material configured to amplify light at a second wavelength. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a first reflector which separates the first and second active materials and which is configured to reflect light at the first wavelength and which is configured to be substantially transparent to light at the second wavelength. In addition, the apparatus comprises a second reflector adjacent the second active material opposite to the first reflector which is configured to reflect light at the second wavelength. |
| US08948604B1 |
Field-tunable devices for optical communication
The present disclosure generally pertains to optical communication apparatuses having field-tunable power characteristics. In one exemplary embodiment, an optical communication apparatus has an optical transmitter. The optical transmitter is coupled to logic that receives a user input indicative of a desired transmit mode for the transmitter, and the logic then dynamically tunes the transmitter's output power according to the selected transmit mode. In addition, the optical communication apparatus may have an optical receiver for receiving optical signals. The sensitivity of the receiver is controlled by a bias voltage that is applied to the receiver by the logic. The logic is configured to receive a user input indicative of a desired receive mode and then to tune the receiver's sensitivity via the bias voltage according to the selected receive mode. Accordingly, both the transmitter and receiver of an optical communication apparatus can be tuned in the field to operate in a desired range, and a field technician can therefore utilize the same optical communication apparatus in any of a variety of applications. |
| US08948602B2 |
Information system including a card and a card reader connected optically
An information system comprises a card and a card reader. The card and the card reader can be coupled by an optical communication module and an optical power transfer module. Operations of the card can be powered by the power transferred from the card reader through the optical power transfer module. In one embodiment, the card and the card reader comprise multiple cells of transmitter/receiver that transmit and receive data in a parallel manner |
| US08948601B2 |
Method and system for indoor wireless optical links
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for indoor wireless optical communication. The system may include a central unit and a plurality of user units. A bi-directional optical communication link may be established over a collimated invisible light beam to enable transmission of wireless communications between a remote communication device and a user unit. The central and user units include an optical transmitter. At least one of the user unit and the central unit comprises a visible light source configured to produce a collimated visible light beam to enable alignment of the user unit and the central unit upon establishment of the bi-directional optical communication link. |
| US08948600B2 |
Transmitter for wireless optical communication system using light source
A transmission apparatus of a wireless light communication system using an illumination light source can maximize a rate of data transmission while maintaining a brightness adjusting function of the illumination light source. The transmission apparatus includes a dimming level input unit which receives a dimming level of the illumination light source as an input, a coder which codes original data and outputs the coded data, a dimming coder which checks the dimming level input to the dimming level input unit, generates a symbol-codeword table corresponding to the dimming level, and dimming-codes the data output from the coder, a line coder which converts the data diming-coded by the dimming coder into pulse signals. |
| US08948597B2 |
Network design apparatus
Based on the demand information etc., an accommodation designing problem and an assignment problem are solved in a conventional method to design a network. It is confirmed whether or not a restriction on the number of wavelengths for each link is observed. When there are links exceeding the restriction of the number of wavelengths, the number of available wavelengths is subtracted from the first link having the largest number of excess wavelengths and the second link farthest from the first link in the links, and the result is set as a wavelength number limited value, thereby performing a network designing process again. |
| US08948596B2 |
Neighborhood node mapping methods and apparatus for ingress mitigation in cable communication systems
A mobile transmitter traverses a drive path in a neighborhood node of a cable communication system and broadcasts a test signal at frequencies falling within an upstream path bandwidth. A navigational device generates a first record of positions of the transmitter along the drive path, and an analyzer monitors the upstream path bandwidth and generates a second record of received signal amplitudes of the transmitted test signal as a function of time. An ingress map is generated showing the drive path and potential points of ingress in the node, and employed to remediate faults particularly in the hardline coaxial cable plant. Iterative generation of maps and corresponding remediation in the node enable improved cable communication systems with reduced noise profiles between 5 MHz and 20 MHz and employing higher modulation order QAM communication channels (e.g., 256-QAM and higher) throughout the upstream path bandwidth to increase upstream capacity. |
| US08948595B2 |
Passive optical network system, optical line terminal, and optical network unit
An optical line terminal includes the transmission rate control table for storing a minimum bandwidth for an emergency status for each of optical network units in addition to a maximum assigned bandwidth in a normal status. When a decrease in a supply power is detected, the optical line terminal calculates a transmission clock rate providing a minimum bandwidth required by each optical network unit with reference to the transmission rate control table. The optical line terminal determines change timing of downstream and upstream transmission clock rates, and change timing of upstream data for time-division multiplexing to instruct each of the optical network units. Both the optical line terminal and the optical network unit change the transmission clock rates with substantial synchronization therebetween. |
| US08948584B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and camera system
A photoelectric conversion device includes a common output line, a sensor cell unit which outputs a signal to the common output line, a transfer circuit unit which is connected to the common output line, holds a signal from the common output line in a transfer capacitor, and transfers the signal, first, second and third memory cell units each of which stores a signal from the common output line in a memory capacitor, inverts and amplifies the signal in the memory capacitor, and outputs the signal to the common output line. |
| US08948581B2 |
Patient infusion media warmer and method of use
A warming unit and method for warming an infusion medium prior to introducing the medium into a patient's body. The apparatus includes an outer casing, inlet and outlet tubes secured to the outer casing, a fluid conduit for transporting the infusion medium through the warming unit, and a heating element disposed proximate to the fluid conduit for warming the infusion medium flowing therethrough. The warming unit can form part of a system, which further includes a controller for controlling various functions of and separate from the warming unit, a reservoir containing the infusion medium, and a power source for powering the warming unit. |
| US08948566B2 |
Digital signage apparatus and method using the same
Disclosed is a digital signage apparatus of allowing the user to intuitively and easily manage content information, and a control method thereof. For this purpose, the digital signage apparatus may include a display unit configured to display content files, and a controller configured to display a first content file selected from the content files on a time cell region of a scheduler displayed on the display unit. |
| US08948564B1 |
Spline lamp with opposing light source orientation
Optical and thermal splines are integrated in the external envelope of a non-planar lamp allowing the optical output of discrete light sources such as LEDs to be distributed for uniform output and the achievement of desired light distributions such as omnidirectional output. Opposing orientation of light sources is utilized to create integrated optical and thermal splines for improved thermal and optical performance. |
| US08948563B2 |
Miniaturized on-line trace analysis
The invention relates to a measuring apparatus comprising an apparatus for forming a liquid optical waveguide having a substrate (1) having an at least partially curved closed microchannel (2) having a low-refractive coating (13), whereby there is formed in the substrate (1) at least one feed line (6) for supplying liquid, and whereby there is provided at least at one end of the closed microchannel (2) an apparatus for coupling light axially into the closed microchannel and/or for coupling light axially out of the closed microchannel (2), further comprising a light source (4), a light detector (5), and a first liquid pump (9) which supplies a sample liquid (7) to the closed microchannel (2) via the at least one feed line (6, 6a). |
| US08948562B2 |
Replication of patterned thin-film structures for use in plasmonics and metamaterials
The present invention provides templating methods for replicating patterned metal films from a template substrate such as for use in plasmonic devices and metamaterials. Advantageously, the template substrate is reusable and can provide plural copies of the structure of the template substrate. Because high-quality substrates that are inherently smooth and flat are available, patterned metal films in accordance with the present invention can advantageously provide surfaces that replicate the surface characteristics of the template substrate both in the patterned regions and in the unpatterned regions. |
| US08948555B1 |
Skew waveguide directional coupler
Embodiments of the invention describe a skew directional coupler for a plurality of waveguides. Said coupler includes a first waveguide on a first plane and a second waveguide on a second plane separate from the first plane. In embodiments of the invention, the first waveguide is disposed on top of the second waveguide to form an overlapping region of a segment of the first waveguide and a segment of the second waveguide, wherein an optical axis of the segment of the first waveguide is horizontally skew to an optical axis of the segment of the second waveguide, and wherein light is to be passively transmitted between the first and second waveguide segments via mode hybridization. |
| US08948553B2 |
Deep-shallow optical radiation filters
An optical coupler for processing radiation is described. The optical coupler comprises a first deep-shallow waveguide and a second deep-shallow waveguide for guiding radiation in a propagation direction. Each of the deep-shallow waveguides is a waveguide comprising a shallow etched portion and an unetched portion having a width substantially constant along the propagation direction. The width of the shallow etched portion is substantially larger than the width of the unetched portion. The shallow etched portion of the first deep-shallow waveguide and the shallow etched portion of the second deep-shallow waveguide are arranged sufficiently close for coupling radiation from the first deep-shallow waveguide to the second deep-shallow waveguide. |
| US08948552B2 |
Light source using laser diodes
A light source includes a base, a first bonding layer, at least two laser diodes, a second bonding layer, a substrate, and a planar waveguide. The laser diodes are fixed to and are electrically connected to the base using the first bonding layer, and each of the laser diodes includes a side surface for emitting light. The substrate is fixed to the base using the second bonding layer. The waveguide is formed on the substrate and includes an output section including an output end and at least two input branches branching off from an end of the output section opposite to the output end. Each of the input branches includes an input end opposite to the output section and aligning with a respective one of the side surfaces of the at least two laser diodes. |
| US08948551B2 |
Reducing loss at intersection in optical waveguides
A core intersection in an optical waveguide formed of a plurality of cores and a clad that surrounds the cores is disclosed, the structure characterized in that the same material as that of the cores is added to two planes, upper and lower planes, of each of core intersection spaces where the plurality of cores intersect (instead of using a clad material). The structure of a core intersection in an optical waveguide formed of a plurality of cores and a clad is disclosed, the structure characterized in that four planes that divide (isolate) each of core intersection spaces where the plurality of cores intersect, that is, four discontinuity spaces between the core intersection space and the cores connected thereto, are filled with the same material as that of the clad (instead of using a core material so that the core intersection space is seamlessly connected to surrounding core intersection spaces). |
| US08948550B2 |
Sensing systems and few-mode optical fiber for use in such systems
A sensing optical fiber comprising: a few-moded multi-segment core, said core comprising one core segment surrounded by another core segment, and at least one cladding surrounding said core; said core having an F factor (μm2) of 100 μm2 to 350 μm2, and is constructed to provide (i) an overlap integral between the fundamental optical guided mode and the fundamental acoustic guided mode of greater than 0.7 and (ii) the overlap integral between the LP11 optical guided mode and the fundamental acoustic guided mode at least 0.45. |
| US08948549B2 |
Polarization rotator assembly including a subwavelength composite portion
A polarization rotator assembly for rotating a polarization mode of an electromagnetic signal is provided. The polarization rotator assembly has a waveguiding structure of co-extensive first and second layers defining, successively, an input portion, a subwavelength composite portion and a polarization rotating portion. The subwavelength composite portion is formed by the first and second layers, where the second layer defines a subwavelength pattern. The polarization rotator portion is geometrically configured to rotate the polarization mode of the electromagnetic signal. |
| US08948544B2 |
Object information derived from object images
Search terms are derived automatically from images captured by a camera equipped cell phone, PDA, or other image capturing device, submitted to a search engine to obtain information of interest, and at least a portion of the resulting information is transmitted back locally to, or nearby, the device that captured the image. |
| US08948534B2 |
MRI Gibbs' ringing filtering with edge-protection
A magnetic resonance image (MRI) data array representing an image is filtered in k-space (Fourier space) domain to produce a low-pass filtered data array, a band-pass filtered data array and a high-pass filtered data array. These filtered k-space arrays are two-dimensionally Fourier-Transformed into the image domain where the magnitude of the band-pass filtered data array is thresholded and feathered to produce a fuzzy continuous valued (“gray-scale”) edge mask data array, and the real part of the high-pass filtered data array may, if desired, be soft-thresholded to produce a soft thresholded sharpening mask data array. The edge mask data array is multiplied with the sharpening mask data array and the result is added to the magnitude of the low-pass filtered data array in the image domain to produce a Gibbs' ringing and noise-filtered image to better represent the underlying anatomy. |
| US08948533B2 |
Increased quality of image objects based on depth in scene
Systems, methods, and software for operating an image processing system are provided herein. In a first example, a method of operating an image processing system is provided. The method includes identifying object pixels associated with an object of interest in a scene, identifying additional pixels to associate with the object of interest, and performing an operation based on a depth of the object in the scene on target pixels comprised of the object pixels and the additional pixels to change a quality of the object of interest. |
| US08948527B2 |
Recording medium having recorded thereon coded information using plus and/or minus rounding of images
Medium having image decoding program effecting: extracting motion vector information, quantized DCT coefficients, and rounding method information; dequantizing quantized DCT coefficients to DCT coefficients; performing inverse DCT conversion on the DCT coefficients to an error image; synthesizing a prediction image of a currently decoded image via motion compensation using motion vector information, rounding method information, and a previously-decoded reference image; and adding the prediction and error images to a decoded image; wherein motion compensation is performed with half-pixel accuracy and uses bilinear interpolation to calculate intensity values of chrominance or luminance where no pixels exist in the reference image, using a positive or negative rounding method; wherein interpolation is performed using a rounding method specified by one-bit rounding method information included in a header section of coded information of the current image; wherein the rounding method specifies one of two values specifying a positive or negative rounding method. |
| US08948514B2 |
Electronic device and method for processing handwritten document
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a recognition module, a modification module, and a display processor. The recognition module recognizes one or more figures from first stroke data corresponding to a plurality of strokes. The modification module modifies, if a plurality of a first kind of first figures are recognized from the first stroke data, second stroke data corresponding to the plurality of the first kind of the first figures to third stroke data corresponding to the first kind of a second figure. The display processor performs processing of displaying a locus corresponding to the third stroke data on a display. |
| US08948509B2 |
Blending with multiple blend modes for image manipulation
In various example embodiments, a system and method are provided for blending a group of layers with multiple blend modes such that additional style layers are applied to the layer group's combined shape, and clipped as if the style layers were applied to a single layer with the combined transparency of the group's layers. In example embodiments, for each of a plurality of layers: a group background is blended behind a group buffer, one of the plurality of layers is blended on top of the group buffer while ignoring a transparency of the group buffer, and the background is factored out from the group buffer. When the blending is complete, a style or effect is applied to the blended layers, and the background is blended behind the group result such that the group result transparency such that the style is clipped to the group result. |
| US08948507B2 |
Image scanning apparatus, image processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
A controller converts the original image data into converted image data representing a first converted image, analyzes the original image data and counts a number of first characters recognized in the original image represented by the original image data, and analyzes the converted image data and count a number of second characters recognized in the converted image represented by the first converted image data. The controller compares the number of first characters with the number of second characters and determine which one of the number of first characters and the number of second characters is greater than the other. The controller outputs the original image data when the controller determines that the number of first characters is greater than the number of second characters, and outputs the converted image data when the controller determines that the number of second characters is greater than the number of first characters. |
| US08948504B2 |
Device and machine readable medium for determining image hue
The present invention provides a device and a machine readable storage medium for determining image hue, which relate to the field of image processing. The device is configured to perform: obtaining color information of a part or all of pixels of an image including hue values, brightness values and saturation values; determining a pixel whose hue value needs to be compared according to the obtained color information, and comparing the pixel, whose hue value needs to be compared, with hue values of preset multiple candidate colors, determining a closest candidate color, and accumulating a weight value of the pixel whose hue value needs to be compared to a weight value of the closest candidate color; and using hue of a candidate color with the highest weight value as hue of the image. The machine readable storage medium can cause a processor to perform the steps above. |
| US08948493B2 |
Method and electronic device for object recognition, and method for acquiring depth information of an object
A method for recognizing an object from two original images, includes the steps of accessing the two original images, reducing resolutions of the two original images so as to generate two resolution-reduced images, respectively, calculating a plurality of shift amounts, each of which is between two corresponding pixels in pixel blocks that have similar content and that are respectively in the two resolution-reduced images and generating a low-level depth image based on the shift amounts, determining an object area of the low-level depth image containing the object therein, and obtaining a sub-image, from one of the original images, corresponding to the object area of the low-level depth image, thereby recognizing the object based on the sub-image. |
| US08948492B2 |
Quality control method for a machine for producing packaging
A quality control method for a machine for processing flat objects for producing packaging: A prepress file for packaging is used to define, in an extremely simple and quick way, masked zones which define which parts of the surface of the object are the parts in which the defects are not to be considered. |
| US08948490B1 |
Apparatus and system for imaging currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same
A first prompt is displayed to insert a deposit slip that includes declared information. The deposit slip is received, transported at a first speed, and imaged. A total declared cash-in amount and a total declared check amount are extracted from image data associated with the deposit slip. The total declared cash-in amount is determined to be a non-zero number. A second prompt is displayed to insert currency bills. The currency bills are received, transported at a second speed, and imaged. Deposit information is generated from image data associated with each of the currency bills. The deposit information at least includes a calculated total cash deposit amount. The deposit information is compared with the declared information to determine if the deposit transaction is balanced. |
| US08948488B2 |
Methods and systems for digitally enhancing an image of a stained material
Methods and systems for digitally enhancing an initial image of a material to which a plurality of stains were previously applied, that generally comprise: unmixing the image into a plurality of individual reconstructed images, each individual image corresponding to one of the stains; estimating a residual image corresponding to the difference between the original image and the reconstructed images; adjusting one or more components of the individual images; mixing the adjusted components using one or more estimated mixing coefficients; and adding the residual image to the mixed adjusted components to generate an enhanced image. |
| US08948485B2 |
Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, ultrasonic image processing apparatus, ultrasonic image processing program, and ultrasonic image generation method
In order to generate a three-dimensional tomographic image in which the visibility of specific tissue that an examiner wants is enhanced, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 of the present invention includes: an offset calculating section 16 which increases or decreases the brightness value of each voxel according to the brightness value of each voxel of a three-dimensional tomographic image volume data. The amount of increase or decrease in the brightness value of each voxel of the offset calculating section is adjustable through a control panel 26, and a tomographic image volume rendering section generates the three-dimensional tomographic image on the basis of a three-dimensional tomographic image volume data in which the brightness value is offset by the offset calculating section. |
| US08948484B2 |
Method and system for automatic view planning for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging acquisition
A method and system for automated view planning for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition is disclosed. The method and system automatically generate a full scan prescription using a single 3D MRI volume. The left ventricle (LV) is segmented in the 3D MRI volume. Cardiac landmarks are detected in the automatically prescribed slices. A full scan prescription, including a short axis stack and 2-chamber, 3-chamber, and 4-chamber views, is automatically generated based on cardiac anchors provided by the segmented left ventricle and the detected cardiac landmarks in the 3D MRI volume. |
| US08948482B2 |
Motion compensation in a three dimensional scan
The present disclosure provides computing device implemented methods, computing device readable media, and systems for motion compensation in a three dimensional scan. Motion compensation can include receiving three-dimensional (3D) scans of a dentition, estimating a motion trajectory from one scan to another, and calculating a corrected scan by compensating for the motion trajectory. Estimating the motion trajectory can include one or more of: registering a scan to another scan and determining whether an amount of movement between the scans is within a registration threshold; determining an optical flow based on local motion between consecutive two-dimensional (2D) images taken during the scan, estimating and improving a motion trajectory of a point in the scan using the optical flow; and estimating an amount of motion of a 3D scanner during the scan as a rigid body transformation based on input from a position tracking device. |
| US08948481B2 |
Signal processing method and apparatus
A signal processing method that includes inputting sample values of a signal and considering the signal to have a plurality of portions. For each portion, a predetermined function is fitted to the sample values of that portion of the signal by calculating values of coefficients for that predetermined function. At least one statistical information function is evaluated for the signal to determine statistical information about the signal and the calculated coefficient values are used so that the form of the statistical information function has been determined for the predetermined function used to fit the signal portion and further includes using the statistical information obtained about the signal to process the signal. |
| US08948474B2 |
Quantification method of the feature of a tumor and an imaging method of the same
A quantification method and an imaging method are disclosed, capable of quantifying the margin feature, the cysts feature, the calcifications feature, the echoic feature and the heterogenesis feature of a tumor, and capable of imaging the margin feature, the cysts feature, the calcifications feature and the heterogenesis feature of a tumor. The quantification method and the imaging method calculate the moving variance of the gray scale of each of the pixel points based on the gradient value of the gray scale of these pixel points. Then, depending on the purpose of the quantification method or the imaging method, the maximum value, the minimum value, the mean value, and the standard deviation of the moving variance of the gray scale of these pixel points are calculated, respectively. At final, with the definition of the threshold value and the imaging rule, the above features of the tumor are quantified or imaged. |
| US08948472B2 |
Automated imaging device and method for registration of anatomical structures
A device and method for capturing images of a specific part of an anatomical structure using a series of images, wherein an image is taken of the anatomical structure and is compared to a database of information is order to determine and optimize the imaging conditions used for taken subsequent images of the specific part. |
| US08948471B2 |
Image registration of multiple medical imaging modalities using a multiple degree-of-freedom-encoded fiducial device
Disclosed is a system and method for registering images from two medical imaging modalities in a six-degree-of-freedom coordinate space, for the purpose of providing real time registered imagery for optimization of medical procedures. The system and method uses fiducial that is visible to the first imager and in a fixed position and orientation relative to the second imager. The first imager may be an X-ray device such as a C-arm fluoroscope, and the second imager may be a Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) device. |
| US08948467B2 |
Ocular and iris processing system and method
A condition based method that selects an appropriate approach among various iris and ocular image recognition algorithms for matching periocular images of a probe and target as a function of quality of images to obtain robust matching even under non-ideal acquisition scenarios. |
| US08948465B2 |
Biometric matching technology
Biometric matching technology, in which a watch list is managed, multiple images of a potential suspect are accessed, and parallel pre-processing of the multiple images is controlled. Based on the pre-processing, an image of the potential suspect to use in matching against the watch list is determined and the determined image is used to search sorted biometric data included in the watch list. A subset of persons from the watch list is identified based on the search and parallel analysis of the determined image of the potential suspect against detailed biometric data associated with the subset of persons in the watch list is controlled. Based on the parallel analysis, it is determined whether the potential suspect matches a person in the watch list and a result is outputted based on the determination. |
| US08948463B2 |
Method for analyzing seismic data
A method for analyzing seismic data by generating a post-migration common image gather in a dip angle domain from measured seismic data; detecting concave features related to reflection events in the common image gather and apexes; filtering out part of the concave features in the common image gather in a vicinity of the detected apexes; applying a hybrid Radon transform to the filtered common image gather to separate residues of the concave features from other image features related to diffraction events; and applying an inverse hybrid Radon transform to an image containing the separated features related to diffraction events to obtain a transformed common image gather in the dip angle domain. |
| US08948461B1 |
Method and system for estimating the three dimensional position of an object in a three dimensional physical space
A method and system for estimating the three dimensional position of an object in a three dimensional physical space. Specifically, the method discloses capturing a plurality of images of a human form within the three dimensional (3D) physical space. Each of the plurality of images is captured from a different viewpoint location of the human form. At least one image capturing device calibrated within the 3D physical space is used to capture the images. A plurality of silhouettes of the human form is extracted from the plurality of images. A plurality of contours of an object of the human form is obtained from the plurality of silhouettes. A location of the object within the 3D physical space is determined from an object model of the object based on the plurality of contours. |
| US08948460B2 |
Image capture and identification system and process
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object. |
| US08948457B2 |
True space tracking of axisymmetric object flight using diameter measurement
Methods and apparatus for determining a trajectory of a axisymmetric object in 3-D physical space using a digital camera which records 2-D image data are described. In particular, based upon i) a characteristic length of the axisymmetric object, ii) a physical position of the camera determined from sensors associated with the camera (e.g., accelerometers) and iii) captured 2-D digital images from the camera including a time at which each image is generated relative to one another, a position, a velocity vector and an acceleration vector can be determined in three dimensional physical space for axisymmetric object objects as a function of time. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus can be applied to determine the trajectories of objects in games which utilize axisymmetric object objects, such as basketball, baseball, bowling, golf, soccer, rugby or football. |
| US08948455B2 |
Travel path estimation apparatus and program
A characteristic point extraction section acquires an image captured by an image capture device and extracts characteristic points from the captured image, a vehicle lane boundary point selection section selects vehicle lane boundary points that indicate vehicle lanes from the extracted characteristic points, a distribution determination section determines the distribution of the vehicle lane boundary points, a system noise setting section sets each system noise based on the distribution of vehicle lane boundary points, and a travel path parameter estimation section stably predicts travel path parameters based on the vehicle lane boundary points, past estimation results, and the system noise that has been set. |
| US08948453B2 |
Device, method and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for detecting object
A method for detecting objects is provided. The method comprises the steps outlined below. An image having pixels is acquired. Image blocks each corresponding to one of the pixels are generated. A specific image block is filtered using N filtering parameters that gradually enhance the blurriness of the specific image block to generate N filtering results. N RMSE values are computed, in which the M-th RMSE value is computed according to the M-th and the (M−1)-th filtering results. A slope of an approximate line is computed according to the RMSE values as the blurriness value of the specific image block. The above steps are repeated to generate the blurriness values of all the pixels. The blurriness value is compared to a threshold value to detect sharp pixels which are parts of a sharp object and further detect an in-focus object. |
| US08948452B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method thereof
In an image included in a moving image, a specific area is registered as a reference area, and a specific hue range of the reference area is set as a first feature amount based on the distribution of hues of pixels in the reference area. When the occupation ratio of pixels having hues included in a second feature amount, obtained by expanding the hue range of the first feature amount in a surrounding area larger than the reference area, is smaller than a predetermined ratio, an area having a high degree of correlation is identified from an image using the second feature amount in the subsequent matching process. When the occupation ratio is equal to or larger than the predetermined ratio, an area having a high degree of correlation is identified from an image using the first feature amount in the subsequent matching process. |
| US08948447B2 |
Scale independent tracking pattern
In one aspect, a computer implemented method of motion capture, the method includes tracking the motion of a dynamic object bearing a pattern configured such that a first portion of the patterns is tracked at a first resolution and a second portion of the pattern is tracked at a second resolution. The method further includes causing data representing the motion to be stored to a computer readable medium. |
| US08948440B2 |
Electro-acoustic transducer
An electro-acoustic transducer includes a frame with an accommodating space defined therein and an opening opened in a top surface thereof, at least one driving unit equipped in the accommodating space of the frame, a diaphragm movably mounted at the opening of the frame, at least one fulcrum settled in the accommodating space of the frame, and at least one lever placed next to the fulcrum to contact with and use the fulcrum as rotation center thereof. The lever connects with the driving unit and the diaphragm at two ends thereof and transmits vibration wave from the driving unit to the diaphragm. The lever has a longer length from the fulcrum to the diaphragm than from the fulcrum to the driving unit for increasing the vibration stroke of the diaphragm during transmitting the vibration wave. |
| US08948438B2 |
Speaker cabinet pole mount and speaker cabinet
A speaker cabinet pole mount includes a socket body and an attachment element. The socket body defines a pole socket comprising a first socket part and a second socket part extending generally from one end of the first socket part. The first socket part has a first diameter and the second socket part having a second, smaller diameter. The second socket part has an internal wall which is provided with at least one coupling element adapted to engage with a threaded pole. The attachment element is coupled to the socket body generally at the other end of the first socket part, the attachment element being adapted for connection to a wall of a speaker cabinet. |
| US08948434B2 |
Microphone
A microphone includes a housing and a microphone capsule positioned within the housing. The microphone is also provided with a vibration damping, non-porous capsule support member supporting the microphone capsule within the housing and electronic circuitry transmitting the signal from the microphone capsule to other equipment. |
| US08948424B2 |
Hearing device and method for operating a hearing device with two-stage transformation
A filter bank with a sufficiently high resolution for amplification and noise reduction and with the lowest possible computational complexity is provided for a hearing device and, in particular, for a hearing aid. Two-stage frequency transformation with little latency is therefore proposed for hearing aids. Some of the processing, for example the amplification, is carried out after high stopband attenuation in the first stage. An increased frequency resolution is achieved in a second stage before the back-transformation in the first stage, which is favorable for noise reduction, for example. |
| US08948423B2 |
Micro speaker
Disclosed herein is a micro speaker capable of having a high-pitched sound speaker unit and a low-pitched sound speaker unit and allowing the respective speaker units to clearly reproduce an inherent sound without interference. The micro speaker for converting an electrical signal into an acoustic signal includes: a high-pitched sound speaker unit disposed in an outer case; and a low-pitched sound speaker unit disposed in the outer case together with the high-pitched sound speaker unit, wherein the high-pitched sound speaker unit and the low-pitched sound speaker unit are disposed in the outer case so that a high-pitched sound vibrating plate of the high-pitched sound speaker unit and a low-pitched sound vibrating plate of the low-pitched sound speaker unit have directions opposite to each other. |
| US08948421B2 |
Ribbon microphone circuit
A ribbon microphone circuit includes a ribbon microphone unit; a step-up transformer; buffer amplifier circuits connected to a secondary winding of the step-up transformer; an external power supply circuit as a power source for driving the buffer amplifier circuits; and a switch circuit including photo-relays having lights that are turned on while the external power source is being supplied and having contacts operating depending on states of the respective lights, wherein signals output from the ribbon microphone unit are sent through the buffer amplifier circuits while the external power source is being supplied, and sent without passing through the buffer amplifier circuits while the external power source is being not supplied. |
| US08948419B2 |
Microphone with backplate having specially shaped through-holes
A MEMS microphone has 1) a backplate with a backplate interior surface and a plurality of through-holes, and 2) a diaphragm spaced from the backplate. The diaphragm is movably coupled with the backplate to form a variable capacitor. At least two of the through-holes have an inner dimensional shape (on the backplate interior surface) with a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions. |
| US08948418B2 |
Noise masking communications apparatus
A communications headset has a microphone boom that is moveable through various distances from the user's mouth, in which movement of the boom operates electrical, mechanical or acoustic mechanisms to adjust the transmit sensitivity of the headset such that the ratio of the amplitude of the output signal of the headset to the amplitude of the sound pressure at the vicinity of the user's mouth is maintained relatively constant, independently of the position of the microphone boom. |
| US08948413B2 |
Audio apparatus
An audio apparatus includes: a connector that supports a multipolar plug including a plurality of plug terminals, the connector having a plurality of connector terminals including an input terminal of an audio collection section and an output terminal that outputs a noise canceling signal; a signal amplification section that amplifies a combined signal generated by combining the noise canceling signal and a reproduction audio signal, the signal amplification section being provided on an audio signal line that connects the input terminal and the output terminal; a detection section that detects whether the multipolar plug is inserted or pulled out by detecting change of voltage of a voltage supply line connected to the audio signal line; and a suppression section that suppresses output from the signal amplification section when the multipolar plug is pulled out but does not suppress the output when the multipolar plug is inserted. |
| US08948410B2 |
Active audio noise cancelling
A noise canceling system comprises a microphone generating a captured signal and a sound transducer radiating a sound canceling audio signal in the audio environment. A feedback path from the microphone to the sound transducer includes a non-adaptive canceling filter and a variable gain and receives the captured signal and generates a drive signal for the sound transducer. A gain detector determines a secondary path gain for at least part of a secondary path of a feedback loop. The secondary path may include the microphone, the sound transducer, and the acoustic path therebetween but does not include the non-adaptive canceling filter or the variable gain. A gain controller adjusts the in of the variable gain in response to the secondary path gain. The system use simple gain estimation and control to efficiently compensate for variations in the secondary path to provide improved stability and noise canceling performance. |
| US08948409B2 |
Audio headset with active noise control of the non-adaptive type for listening to an audio music source and/or for “hands-free” telephony functions
The headset comprises two earpieces each having a transducer for playing back the sound of an audio signal and received in an acoustic cavity defined by a shell having an ear-surrounding cushion. The active noise control comprises, in parallel, a feedforward bandpass filter receiving the signal from an external microphone, a feedback bandpass filter receiving as input an error signal delivered by an internal microphone, and a stabilizer bandpass filter locally increasing the phase of the transfer function of the feedback filter in an instability zone, in particular a waterbed effect zone around 1 kHz. A summing circuit delivers a weighting linear combination of the signal delivered by these filters together with the audio signal to be played back. Control is non-adaptive, with the parameters of the filters being static. |
| US08948408B2 |
Active noise control apparatus for intake system of vehicle
An active noise control apparatus for an intake system of a vehicle may include a filter mounted on a portion of the intake system for blocking foreign materials; and a speaker assembly detachably installed at the portion to which the filter is mounted. |
| US08948407B2 |
Bandlimiting anti-noise in personal audio devices having adaptive noise cancellation (ANC)
A personal audio device, such as a wireless telephone, includes noise canceling circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal from a reference microphone signal and injects the anti-noise signal into the speaker or other transducer output to cause cancellation of ambient audio sounds. An error microphone may also be provided proximate the speaker to measure the output of the transducer in order to control the adaptation of the anti-noise signal and to estimate an electro-acoustical path from the noise canceling circuit through the transducer. A processing circuit that performs the adaptive noise canceling (ANC) function also either adjusts the frequency response of the anti-noise signal with respect to the reference microphone signal, and/or by adjusting the response of the adaptive filter independent of the adaptation provided by the reference microphone signal. |
| US08948401B2 |
Method for filtering of abnormal ONT with same serial number in a GPON system
Disclosed is a method of registering only an authorized optical network terminal among a plurality of optical network terminals with the same serial number, in an optical line terminal, using a public key encryption algorithm, in a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON). According to an exemplary aspect, a GPON system encrypts a physical layer OAM message transmitted/received for serial number registration of an optical network terminal, using a key distributed according to a public key encryption algorithm, and authenticates registration of the optical network terminal using the encrypted physical layer OAM message. Accordingly, it is possible to securely authenticate registration of an authorized optical network terminal and block registration of unauthorized optical network terminals. |
| US08948394B2 |
Method and apparatus for distribution and synchronization of cryptographic context information
Method and apparatus for distribution and synchronization of cryptographic context information is described. An aspect of the invention relates to synchronizing an encryptor and key management logic in a video distribution system. A request message is received from the encryptor. The request message includes authentication data and stream-dependent parameters associated with an internet protocol (IP) packet stream to be encrypted. Authenticity of the encryptor is verified using the authentication data. A cryptographic context for the IP packet stream is generated having the stream-dependent parameters and at least one encryption key. A reply message is sent to the encryptor having the at least one encryption key. Key stream messages having the cryptographic context are distributed towards user devices. The user devices are receiving an encrypted version of the IP packet stream generated by the encryptor. |
| US08948390B2 |
Securely joining a secure wireless communications network
Securely joining a secure wireless communications network is described, for example, where a printer or other device is securely added to a home wireless network. In various embodiments, a temporary wireless network is established between a new joiner device and a second wireless communications device which is already a member of a secure home wireless network. In an example, the temporary wireless network is set up using a secret key known to the new joiner device and the second wireless communications device by virtue of physical proximity. In various examples, the secure, temporary wireless network is used to transfer credentials of the secure home network to the new joiner device which then joins the home network. In an example the temporary wireless network is cancelled once the new joiner device becomes a member of the secure home (or other) wireless network. |
| US08948389B2 |
Wireless network connection method, wireless network apparatus and wireless network access point (AP) applying the method
A wireless network connection method includes the following steps: a wireless network access point (AP) that receives apparatus identification information of a wireless network apparatus through a wireless network. The wireless network AP generates a temporary encryption key according to the apparatus identification information and AP identification information of the wireless network AP. The wireless network AP encrypts a network transmission key according to the temporary encryption key to generate an encrypted key. The AP identification information and the encrypted key are transmitted to the wireless network apparatus. The wireless network apparatus generates the temporary encryption key according to the apparatus identification information and the received AP identification information. The wireless network apparatus decrypts the encrypted key according to the temporary encryption key to generate the network transmission key. The wireless network apparatus establishes a security connection with the wireless network AP according to the network transmission key. |
| US08948388B2 |
Elliptic curve random number generation
An elliptic curve random number generator avoids escrow keys by choosing a point Q on the elliptic curve as verifiably random. An arbitrary string is chosen and a hash of that string computed. The hash is then converted to a field element of the desired field, the field element regarded as the x-coordinate of a point Q on the elliptic curve and the x-coordinate is tested for validity on the desired elliptic curve. If valid, the x-coordinate is decompressed to the point Q, wherein the choice of which is the two points is also derived from the hash value. Intentional use of escrow keys can provide for back up functionality. The relationship between P and Q is used as an escrow key and stored by for a security domain. The administrator logs the output of the generator to reconstruct the random number with the escrow key. |
| US08948385B2 |
Electronic document encrypting system, decrypting system, program and method
An electronic document encrypting system 200, for accomplishing an object of providing a system capable of distributing an electronic document containing important information with a browsing restriction being set and information with none of the browsing restriction being set without removing the important information, includes: an encryption area extracting unit 19 extracting an encryption target area from an electronic document; a digital image generating unit generating a digital image on the basis of the area extracted by the encryption area extracting unit in the electronic document; an encrypting unit 11 encrypting the digital image generated by the digital image generating unit 15 on the basis of an encryption key; and an encrypted electronic document generating unit 12 generating an encrypted electronic document in which when the electronic document is output, in place of the extracted information, an encrypted image encrypted by the encrypting unit 11 is output to an area to which the information extracted by the encryption area extracting unit 19 is to be output. |
| US08948380B2 |
Communication apparatus, control method of communication apparatus, computer program, and storage medium
The security level is enhanced without impairing user operability when executing an automatic communication parameter setting processing. A communication apparatus which configures a network serves as a providing apparatus which provides communication parameters to a receiving apparatus which receives the provided communication parameters. At this time, whether or not an encryption key, which is included in the communication parameters, is generated randomly is determined based on the participation status of the communication apparatus in the network. |
| US08948378B2 |
Method and device for rekeying in a radio network link layer encryption system
Disclosed is a method of rekeying radios for link layer encryption (LLE) in a radio network using a bifurcated crypto period. During a first portion of a first LLE crypto period during which a first LLE key (LEK) is used to LLE encrypt communications between a base station and mobile stations operating within a corresponding coverage area of the base station, a radio network communications device prevents individual ones of the mobile stations from requesting a second LEK to be used during a second LLE crypto period after the first LLE crypto period. During a second portion of the first LLE crypto period, the radio network communications device allows individual ones of the mobile stations to request the second LEK. A mobile station configured to operate in accordance with the bifurcated crypto period, and provide information regarding keys in its possession via an authentication response ISP, is also disclosed. |
| US08948372B1 |
Contextual lead generation in an automated communication link establishment and management system
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for contextual lead generation in an automated communication link establishment and management system. In addition, systems and methods are disclosed for automatically integrating an automated calling system with a customer relationship management system, contact management system, and/or task management system, so that historical information stored concerning past contact activity and automated calling sessions relating to contacts is automatically updated in the customer relationship management system, contact management system, and/or task management system. |
| US08948366B2 |
Data and call routing and forwarding
One or more aspects of the disclosure relate to various functions and processes related to routing of calls originating from other service providers. For example, a method includes receiving a request to route a call or a call session, such as a session initiation request, from a second service provider and proceeding to route the requested call or session through a call routing facility of the first service provider to a requested destination of the call. Routing the call through the call routing facility may include determining a service provider type and/or an origination number type for the call, determining routing information for the call using the type information, and causing routing of the call to a destination of the call based on the routing information. Further aspects of the disclosure relate to various functions and processes related to accessing routing data and/or information from a routing database. |
| US08948363B2 |
Method and system for conference call scheduling via E-mail
A method and system for conference call scheduling using e-mail. The method and system can receive and parse an e-mail received from a conference moderator, containing scheduling and participant information and schedule a conference call with minimal further user intervention. In essence, the method and system can operate as a virtual administrative assistant to identify and collect telephone contact information for each of the proposed conference call participants, using a customizable hierarchy of internal and external sources of contact information. In this manner, the conference moderator does not need know telephone contact information for each conference call participant. |
| US08948355B2 |
System and method for dispatching field technicians based on locations of storage locations
A method is disclosed for determining a technician to dispatch to a customer site requiring a service call. A first plurality of technicians assigned to a customer site requiring a service call is determined. A location of each of the technicians is also determined. A first plurality of distances is determined between each of the technicians and a plurality of locations at which is disposed equipment needed for the service call. A second plurality of distances is determined between each of the technicians and a plurality of service vehicles at which is disposed the equipment needed for the service call. One of the technicians is dispatched to the customer site based on the location of each of the technicians, on the first plurality of distances, and on the second plurality of distances. A system for implementing the method is disclosed. |
| US08948354B2 |
Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
A telecommunication and multimedia management apparatus and method that supports voice and other media communications and that enables users to: (i) participate in multiple conversation modes, including live phone calls, conference calls, instant voice messaging or tactical communications; (ii) review the messages of conversations in either a live mode or a time-shifted mode and to seamlessly transition back and forth between the two modes; (iii) participate in multiple conversations either concurrently or simultaneously; (iv) archive the messages of conversations for later review or processing; and (v) persistently store media either created or received on the communication devices of users. The latter feature enables users to generate or review media when either disconnected from the network or network conditions are poor and to optimize the delivery of media over the network based on network conditions and the intention of the users participating in conversations. |
| US08948353B2 |
Call connection system and method
A method for establishing a communication connection between a first communication device and a second communication device, the method comprising requesting contact information for a second communication device, during a first communication connection established between a first communication device and a third communication device; receiving the contact information from the third communication device, in response to a third party interacting with the third communication device during the first communication connection; and establishing a second communication connection between the first communication device and the second communication device based on the contact information received from the third communication device, wherein the second communication connection is established by way of the first communication device independently initiating communication with the second communication device. |
| US08948348B2 |
Method for testing elevator emergency phones and elevator emergency communication system
A method is provided for testing an elevator emergency phone, which emergency phone is either VoIP compliant and connected to a WAN or is connected with a mobile connection module for operation in a mobile network. In the method, the phone is periodically initiated to be registered in the corresponding communication network. The registration attempt is monitored by a reporting device. The status data of the registration attempt is communicated by the reporting device to a monitoring center, which itself is connected to the communication network, which monitoring center takes necessary action when either a registration attempt is not being executed within a set time period or if the result of at least one registration attempt has been communicated as failed. |
| US08948342B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus and measurement method
An X-ray imaging apparatus which obtains an X-ray image, the apparatus includes: an imaging unit including a plurality of detecting elements adapted to convert X-rays generated by an X-ray generating apparatus which outputs or stops X-rays in accordance with an operation instruction into an image signal; and an obtaining unit adapted to obtain an operation start timing of the X-ray generating apparatus based on an image signal output from the imaging unit and obtain a difference between a timing of an operation instruction to the X-ray generating apparatus and the operation start timing. |
| US08948339B2 |
Radiation tomography apparatus
One object of this invention is to provide a radiation tomography apparatus for acquiring a tomographic image from a plurality of fluoroscopic images. The radiation tomography apparatus can acquire the tomographic image having superior visibility without being influenced by a shadow of a collimator appearing in the fluoroscopic image when radiation is applied only to a portion of an FPD through control of the collimator. In this invention, a boundary between a shadow area where the shadow of the collimator appears in the fluoroscopic image and a non-shadow area is identified, and the shadow area in the fluoroscopic image is complemented by the non-shadow area, etc., whereby a complement image is generated. Then the complement image is used for generating the tomographic image. According to this invention, an extremely dark area where the shadow of the collimator appears is removed and thereafter the tomographic image is generated. As a result, the tomographic image has superior visibility with no blurring due to the shadow of the collimator. |
| US08948329B2 |
Apparatus and methods for timing recovery in a wireless transceiver
Apparatus and methods for use in a wireless communication system are disclosed for recovery of timing tracking in a device, such as a wireless transceiver, after decoding errors occur due to incorrect timing tracking. In particular, the disclosed methods and apparatus recover timing tracking by monitoring a decoded signal in the transceiver for decoding errors occurring during a first frame, determining whether a number of decoding errors is greater than a predetermined amount, reacquiring a first pilot channel at a start of a subsequently received second frame when the number of decoding errors is determined to be greater than the predetermined amount, and resetting timing tracking of the transceiver based on the reacquired first pilot channel. |
| US08948322B2 |
Circuits, systems, and methods for managing automatic gain control in quadrature signal paths of a receiver
A system provides closed-loop gain control in a WCDMA mode and open loop control in an EDGE/GSM mode. Gain control is distributed across analog devices and a digital scaler in a wireless receiver. In the WCDMA mode, a loop filter generates an error signal that is forwarded to analog and digital control paths. The analog control path includes a first adder, a programmable hysteresis element, and a lookup table. The analog control signal is responsive to thresholds, which when used in conjunction with a previous gain value determine a new gain value. The digital control path includes a second adder, a programmable delay element, and a converter. A control word is responsive to a difference of the error signal, a calibration value, and the analog control signal. Blocker detection is provided in the WCDMA mode of operation. A controller sets system parameters using a state machine. |
| US08948319B2 |
Joint demodulation of a desired signal and an interfering signal based on a carrier-to-interference ratio estimate
A technique includes jointly demodulating a desired signal and an interfering signal of a received signal in response to a carrier-to-interference ratio estimate for the received signal being below a threshold level. The jointly demodulating is based on first channel impulse response coefficients associated with the desired signal and second channel impulse response coefficients associated with the interfering signal. The technique includes determining the first channel impulse response coefficients based on a first cross-correlation function between the received signal and a training sequence of the desired signal and determining the second channel impulse response coefficients based on a second cross-correlation function between the received signal and a training sequence of the interfering signal. The second channel impulse response coefficients are determined based on a time difference between a time value of a peak in the first cross-correlation function and a time value of a peak in the second cross-correlation function. |
| US08948316B2 |
Upstream frequency response measurement and characterization
Upstream frequency response measurement and characterization. Signaling is provided between respective communication devices within a communication system. Based upon at least one of these signals, one of the communication devices captures a number of sample sets corresponding thereto at different respective frequencies (e.g., a different respective center frequencies, frequency bands, etc.). Then, spectral analysis is performed with respect to each of the sample sets to generate a respective and corresponding channel response estimate there from. After this number of channel response estimates is determined, they are combined or splice together to generate a full channel response estimate. In implementations including an equalizer, different respective sample sets may correspond to those that have undergone equalization processing and those that have not. |
| US08948306B2 |
Broadband high efficiency amplifier system
Systems and methods are provided for generating a modulated radio frequency (RF) output signal representing a baseband input signal. A digitizer is configured to sample the baseband input signal and produce an N-bit binary digital signal representing a scaled linear function of the signal amplitude. An RF signal source configured to produce an RF carrier signal. N amplifier paths each include at least one amplifier configured to receive the RF carrier signal as an input and provide a corresponding output RF signal. The amplifiers associated with each of the N amplifier paths are active only when a corresponding bit of the digital signal assumes a first value. A power combiner assembly is configured to combine the outputs of the plurality of amplifier paths to deliver the modulated RF output signal. |
| US08948301B2 |
Multi-band radio-frequency digital predistortion
Systems and methods for radio frequency digital predistortion in a multi-band transmitter are disclosed. In one embodiment, the multi-band transmitter includes a digital upconversion system configured to digitally upconvert digital input signals to provide digital radio frequency signals. Each digital input signal and thus each digital radio frequency signal corresponds to a different band of a multi-band transmit signal to be transmitted by the multi-band transmitter. The multi-band transmitter also includes a radio frequency digital predistortion system configured to digitally predistort the digital radio frequency signals to provide predistorted digital radio frequency signals, and a combiner configured to combine the predistorted digital radio frequency signals to provide a multi-band predistorted digital radio frequency signal. |
| US08948300B2 |
Method and device for precoding in wireless communication system
Provided is a method and a device for precoding in a wireless communication system. The method for precoding comprises the following steps: generating a first precoding matrix, W1, for deciding the transmission power of one transmission antenna from a plurality of transmission antennas as the maximum power per antenna; generating a zero forcing (ZF) precoding matrix, Ti, which does not influence the transmission antenna having the power which is decided as the maximum power per antenna, based on the (i−1)th precoding matrix Wi−1 (i=2, 3, . . . ); determining αi, a constant which has the transmission power of one transmission antenna from the rest of the transmission antennas, which do not have the transmission power as the maximum power per antenna, based on the Ti; and generating the ith precoding matrix Wi based on the Ti and the αi. |
| US08948298B2 |
MIMO system and method of generating hierarchical codebook therefor
Disclosed is a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system including a transmitting end and a receiving end, wherein the transmitting end includes: a hierarchical codebook in which at least one base codebook is designated as the upper matrix and a child codebook generated based on a chordal distance between respective codewords configuring the base codebook is designated as the lower matrix; a scheduler configured to receive channel state information from the receiving end and select precoding matrices from the hierarchical codebook based on the channel state information; and a precoder configured to apply the precoding matrices selected in the scheduler to data to be transmitted to the receiving end and transmit the selected precoding matrices through a plurality of antennas. |
| US08948291B2 |
Methods and systems for programmable digital down-conversion
A radio communication apparatus operable over a wide range of frequencies including a signal processing device is provided. The device performs an analog to digital conversion at a predetermined sample rate independent of a selected frequency band within the wide range of frequencies to generate a digital signal, and digitally processes the digital signal to output a data signal at baseband associated with the selected frequency band. |
| US08948290B2 |
Method and arrangement for symbol mapping in communication systems utilizing OFDM-techniques
The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for symbol mapping in wireless communication systems utilizing OFDM transmission technology in combination with advanced coding schemes. In the method according to the present invention, adapted for use in a wireless communication system utilizing OFDM transmission technology, an OFDM grid is defined by at least a first dimension and a second dimensions from the dimensions time, frequency or space. The advanced coding scheme, for example Alamouti coding, outputs symbols that are related via the coding. At least some of the symbols, defining a code related symbol group should experience identical, or at least very similar, radio channels. According to one embodiment of the present invention, symbols from the same code related symbol group is placed as close together in the OFDM grid as possible. |
| US08948284B2 |
Method and apparatus of transmitting PLCP header for sub 1 GHz communication
Method and apparatus of transmitting PLCP header for sub 1 GHz communication is disclosed. A method of transmitting a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header may comprise generating a short training field (STF) sequence over 1 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, transforming the STF sequence to repeated waveform patterns in time domain and transmitting the PLCP header comprising the STF sequence, wherein the STF sequence may be a sequence transformed to repeated waveform patterns in time domain by inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT). |
| US08948280B2 |
Clock determination for a sensor
A method for determining a clock for a sensor signal which has a synchronization signal, which method involves a control unit measuring the period between a first edge and a second edge of the synchronization signal, wherein both edges are either rising or falling, and the control unit taking the period as a basis for determining a clock for sampling data in the sensor signal. |
| US08948277B2 |
Digital retro-directive communication system and method thereof
The present invention relates to a digital retro-directive system and method thereof for receiving incoming signals from a transmitting source by means of at least two antennas and transmitting outgoing signals back, substantially simultaneously, towards said transmitting source through said at least two antennas irrespective of the location of one antenna with respect to another and without calculating phase differences between said outgoing signals. |
| US08948274B2 |
Enabling co-existence among power line communication (PLC) technologies
Systems and methods for enabling co-existence among power line communications (PLC) technologies are described. In some embodiments, a method performed by a PLC device, such as a PLC gateway, may include detecting a communication from foreign PLC device on a PLC network in response to a foreign preamble received by the PLC device, terminating transmissions to the PLC network for a network-specific co-existence Extended Interframe Space (cEIFS) time period in response to the foreign preamble, and resuming transmissions to the PLC network after expiration of the network-specific time period. |
| US08948272B2 |
Joint source-channel decoding with source sequence augmentation
Methods and systems for augmenting a source message by suitably-chosen bits and/or sequences of bits for the purpose of enhancing decoding or synchronization performance. Properties of the source message can be used to select and optimize synchronization sequences, including their length and placement within the source message. Various message attributes, such as message or segment weight, symbol counts, and others, including their combinations, may be encoded into the synchronization sequence to further improve decoding performance in the presence of errors. These methods and systems can be employed for standalone source decoding of noisy bit streams, as well as iterative joint source-channel decoding. They may further be combined with other methods whether or not known in the art, such as CRC and forward error correction, to achieve the desired performance complexity trade-off. |
| US08948269B1 |
Processor implemented systems and methods for optimized video decoding using adaptive thread priority adjustment
Systems and methods are provided for operating a decoder to decode a video frame in a multi-threaded environment. A first buffer ring state is detected based on a status of a first buffer ring, and a second buffer ring state is detected based upon a status of a second buffer ring. An adjustment of priorities of a parser thread, a decoder thread, and a renderer thread is requested based on the first buffer ring state and the second buffer ring state. The first buffer ring is interacted with to receive stream data from the parser, the stream data is decoded to generate frame data, and the second buffer ring is interacted with to provide the frame data to the renderer for display. |
| US08948267B1 |
System and method of video coding using adaptive macroblock processing
An embodiment of the present invention includes a multi-core processor that processes video data. The control core controls a first processing core to process a first set of data blocks of an image frame according to a stairstep pattern. The control core detects, while the first processing core is processing the first set, that a triggering data block has been processed in the first set. The control core controls, while the first processing core is processing the first set, a second processing core to process a second set of data blocks using information from the triggering data block. By processing data blocks in the stairstep pattern, cache hit rate is improved, resulting in improved video decoder performance. |
| US08948266B2 |
Adaptive intra-refresh for digital video encoding
An adaptive Intra-refresh (IR) technique for digital video encoding adjusts IR rate based on video content, or a combination of video content and channel condition. The IR rate may be applied at the frame level or macroblock (MB) level. At the frame level, the IR rate specifies the percentage of MBs to be Intra-coded within the frame. At the MB level, the IR rate defines a statistical probability that a particular MB is to be Intra-coded. The IR rate is adjusted in proportion to a combined metric that weighs estimated channel loss probability, frame-to-frame variation, and texture information. The IR rate can be determined using a close-form solution that requires relatively low implementation complexity. For example, such a close-form does not require iteration or an exhaustive search. In addition, the IR rate can be determined from parameters that are available before motion estimation and compensation are performed. |
| US08948265B2 |
Motion vector derivation method, moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method
A motion vector derivation unit includes a comparison unit for comparing a parameter TR1 for a reference vector with a predetermined value to determine whether it exceeds the predetermined value or not; a switching unit for switching selection between the maximum value of a pre-stored parameter TR and the parameter TR1 according to the comparison result by the comparison unit; a multiplier parameter table (for multipliers); and a multiplier parameter table (for divisors) for associating the parameter TR1 with a value approximate to the inverse value (1/TR1) of this parameter TR1. |
| US08948262B2 |
Method and apparatus for using frame rate up conversion techniques in scalable video coding
A method for encoding a video stream includes partitioning the video stream into a main layer having a plurality of main layer frames, and an interpolated layer having a plurality of interpolated layer frames; interpolating a frame rate up conversion (FRUC) frame; and encoding the plurality of main layer frames in the interpolated layer with the assistance of the main FRUC frame. A video encoder implementing the method is also described. |
| US08948260B2 |
Adaptive GOP structure in video streaming
This system adaptively assigns picture types used for temporal compression to frames of streaming video at the input. Based on threshold testing of two metrics that are measures of distance between the frames at the input, a frame may be assigned to be compressed as an I, P, or B frame or be skipped over by the system without being coded at all. |
| US08948259B2 |
Method and apparatus of deriving intra prediction mode using most probable mode group
Provided is a method that constructs an MPM group including three intra prediction modes, determines the intra prediction mode of the MPM group specified by the prediction mode index as the intra prediction mode of the current prediction unit if the mode group indicator indicates the MPM group, and derives the intra prediction mode of the current prediction unit using the prediction mode index and the three prediction modes of the MPM group if the mode group indicator does not indicate the MPM group. Accordingly, additional bits resulted from increase of a number of intra prediction mode are effectively reduced. Also, an image compression ratio can be improved by generating a prediction block similar to an original block. |
| US08948255B2 |
Moving picture coding method for quantizing a plurality of pictures using a quantization step and a small quantization step having a size smaller than a size of the quantization step
A moving picture coding device according to the present invention includes: a QP deriving unit which derives, based on a moving picture signal, a quantization step and a small quantization step having a size smaller than a size of the quantization step; a small QP position determining unit which determines a position, within a picture, of a first block group to be quantized by using the small quantization step; and a video encoder which quantizes the first block group at the determined position by using the small quantization step and a second block group at a position within the picture other than the position of the first block group by using the quantization step. |
| US08948253B2 |
Networked image/video processing system
A distributed image/video processing system is disclosed herein wherein one or more of digital image/video recorders (e.g., a digital cameras, video recorders, or smart phones, etc.) are in network communication with central network site for transmitting image or video data thereto. The recorders process their image/video data dependent upon an estimate of a measurement of network bandwidth that is available for transmitting image or video data to the central network site. |
| US08948246B2 |
Method and system for spatial prediction in a video encoder
Described herein is a method and system for spatial prediction in a video encoder. The method and system can operate on a set of video elements in parallel. Multiple modes can also be executed for each set of video elements. Modes correspond to a weighted combination of neighboring video elements. The weighted combination can be changed and loaded into a spatial predictor instruction table. |
| US08948243B2 |
Image encoding device, image decoding device, image encoding method, and image decoding method
Disclosed is an image encoding device which is constructed in such a way as to include an encoding mode determining unit 4 for evaluating the degree of efficiency of encoding of a difference image A which is the difference between an image of a macroblock to be encoded, and a prediction image A generated by a motion-compensated prediction unit 2 in a motion prediction mode A, and also evaluating the degree of efficiency of encoding of a difference image B which is the difference between the image of the macroblock to be encoded, and a prediction image B generated by the motion-compensated prediction unit 2 in a motion prediction mode B, and for selecting a difference image having a higher degree of encoding efficiency. |
| US08948241B2 |
Signaling characteristics of an MVC operation point
Source and destination video devices may use data structures that signal details of an operation point for an MPEG-2 (Motion Picture Experts Group) System bitstream. In one example, an apparatus includes a multiplexer that constructs a data structure corresponding to a multiview video coding (MVC) operation point of an MPEG-2 (Motion Picture Experts Group) System standard bitstream, wherein the data structure signals a rendering capability value that describes a rendering capability to be satisfied by a receiving device to use the MVC operation point, a decoding capability value that describes a decoding capability to be satisfied by the receiving device to use the MVC operation point, and a bitrate value that describes a bitrate of the MVC operation point, and that includes the data structure as part of the bitstream, and an output interface that outputs the bitstream comprising the data structure. |
| US08948240B2 |
System and method for terrestrial high-definition television reception
An adaptive receiver is disclosed for optimally receiving and processing signals. The receiver utilizes one or more memory blocks to store groups of incoming symbols. The groups of symbols are processed by a channel estimation subsystem to determine channel characteristics. The receiver determines the appropriate demodulation and decoding strategy to implement based on the determined channel characteristics. The receiver includes a plurality of demodulation and decoding schemes, one of which is selected based on the results of a channel estimation analysis. |
| US08948239B1 |
Methods and apparatus for multi-polarization antenna systems
An apparatus includes a phase delay module that is configured to receive a set of signals from an antenna assembly having a horizontal polarization element and an elliptical polarization element. The horizontal polarization element and the elliptical polarization element are collectively configured to receive the set of signals over a coverage area. The phase delay module is configured to determine (1) a signal strength of a first signal from the set of signals received via the horizontal polarization element and (2) a signal strength of a second signal from the set of signals received via the elliptical polarization element. The phase delay module is configured to send a combined signal including (1) the first signal and (2) the second signal having a phase delay if the signal strength of the first signal is higher than the signal strength of the second signal. |
| US08948238B2 |
Handling complex signal parameters
Apparatus, the apparatus having at least one processor and at least one memory having computer-readable code stored thereon which when executed controls the at least one processor to perform a method comprising: obtaining in-phase and quadrature samples of a received radio signal at least first and second discrete instances in time; processing the samples to provide information relating to the amplitude and/or phase of the received radio signal at the first and second instances in time; using the amplitude and/or phase information of the received radio signal at the first and second instances in time to determine whether interference is present on the received radio signal; forwarding the complex signal parameters for processing if interference is determined not to be present; and discarding the complex signal parameters without forwarding them for processing if interference is determined to be present. |
| US08948231B1 |
Determining timing information in a receiver
A correlation magnitude signal is divided into a plurality of samples at a sequence of intervals over a symbol time, where the correlation signal corresponds to a magnitude of a correlation of a signal received at a receiver device with a known sequence. A sample with a highest magnitude value for the symbol time is selected from the plurality of samples. A symbol-synchronization signal that corresponds to an interval of the sequence of intervals containing the sample with the highest magnitude value is provided to a rake receiver system. |
| US08948229B2 |
Dynamic hopping sequence computation in channel hopping communication networks
In one embodiment, a device in a channel hopping communication network independently maintains a slot counter, and computes a channel identification (ID) based on a function having inputs of i) a unique feature of the device, ii) a current slot of the slot counter, and iii) a set of possible channel IDs. Accordingly, the device configures its radio to receive on the computed channel ID for the respective current slot. In another embodiment, the device may determine, for a neighbor device, a current neighbor slot and unique neighbor feature, and correspondingly computes a neighbor channel ID based on the function using the unique neighbor feature, the current neighbor slot, and the set of possible channel IDs. As such, the device configures its radio to transmit on the computed neighbor channel ID for the respective current neighbor slot. |
| US08948228B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for timing control in electromagnetic radiation sources
In one embodiment, the invention relates to systems, methods and devices for improving the operation of an electromagnetic radiation source or component thereof. In one embodiment, the source is a laser source. A Fourier domain mode locked laser can be used in various embodiments. The sources described herein can be used in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system such as a frequency domain OCT system. In one embodiment, laser coherence length is increased by compensating for dispersion. A frequency shifter can also be used in one embodiment to compensate for a tunable filter induced Doppler shift. |
| US08948227B2 |
Isolated modulator electrodes for low power consumption
A light-emitting device, multi-channel light-emitting device, and method(s) of making the same are disclosed. The light-emitting device can include a substrate; a lower contact layer on or over the substrate comprising a first lower contact in a first region and a plurality of second lower contacts in a second region; a plurality of light-emitting thin film devices on or over the first lower contact in the first region; a plurality of light-modulating thin film devices on or over the plurality of second lower contacts in the second region; a plurality of first upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-emitting thin film devices; a plurality of second upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-modulating thin film devices; and an isolation region between the first and second regions, electrically separating the plurality of first upper contacts and the plurality of second upper contacts. |
| US08948225B2 |
Interband cascade laser amplifier medium
An interband cascade laser amplifier medium (M) having a number of cascades (C) strung together along a transport direction (T) of charge carriers and each having an electron injector region (I), an amplifier region (V) and an electron collector region (K), wherein the amplifier region (V) has a hole quantum film (1) having a first semiconductor material and an electron quantum film (2) having a second semiconductor material, and wherein the electron collector region (K) has at least one collector quantum film (4) having a third semiconductor material and separated by a first barrier layer (3), and the electron injector region (I) has at least one injector quantum film (5) having a fourth semiconductor material and separated by a second barrier layer (3). |
| US08948223B2 |
Laser device
The present invention provides a light source for light circuits on a silicon platform. A vertical laser cavity is formed by a gain region arranged between a first mirror structure and a second mirror structure, both acting as mirrors, by forming a grating region including an active material in a silicon layer in a semiconductor structure or wafer structure. A waveguide for receiving light from the region of the mirrors is formed within or to be connected to the region of the mirrors, and functions as an output coupler for the VCL. Thereby, vertical lasing modes are coupled to lateral in-plane modes of the in-plane waveguide formed in the silicon layer, and light can be provided to e.g. photonic circuits on a SOI or CMOS substrate in the silicon. |
| US08948217B2 |
Optical fiber with multi section core
An optical fiber which includes a core region embedded within a cladding. The core region of the optical fiber further comprises multiple sections, each doped with rare earth ions. |
| US08948215B2 |
High speed and high jitter tolerance dispatcher
A deserializer circuit includes demultiplexer circuitry configured to receive serial data from an input and output a plurality of divided data outputs, and multiplexer circuitry configured to receive a first logic level at a first input of said multiplexer circuitry, and receive a second logic level at a second input of said multiplexer circuitry and receive one of said divided data outputs at a control input of said multiplexer circuitry. The outputs of the multiplexer circuitry produce the received serial data in a parallel form. |
| US08948214B2 |
Jitter buffer
Methods, transmitter, receiver and computer program product for transmitting or receiving data of a real-time communication event, the data being transmitted from the transmitter to a jitter buffer of the receiver. At least one processing parameter describing how data is to be processed for transmission from the transmitter to the jitter buffer in the real-time communication event is determined at the transmitter. Data is processed for transmission from the transmitter to the jitter buffer in accordance with the determined at least one processing parameter. Control information based on the determined at least one processing parameter is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver, wherein the control information is for use by the receiver to control a state of the jitter buffer. The processed data is transmitted from the transmitter to the jitter buffer of the receiver in the real-time communication event. |
| US08948213B2 |
Jitter buffer
Method, transmitter and computer program product for transmitting data of a real-time communication event from the transmitter to a jitter buffer of a receiver. The method comprises jointly determining (i) at least one processing parameter describing how data is to be processed for transmission from the transmitter to the jitter buffer, and (ii) jitter buffer control information for indicating to the receiver how to control a state of the jitter buffer. The jitter buffer control information is transmitted to the receiver. Data is processed for transmission from the transmitter to the jitter buffer in accordance with the determined at least one processing parameter. The processed data is transmitted from the transmitter to the jitter buffer of the receiver. |
| US08948211B2 |
Performance evaluation of a communications network using jitter parameter values
The present invention relates to a method of operating a communications network, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of packets from a network node; determining a first parameter based on the time period between the reception of a packet and the reception of the subsequent packet; determining a second parameter based on the variation of the first parameter; and determining the performance of the communications network in accordance with the ratio of the second parameter to the first parameter. |
| US08948210B2 |
Method, a computer program product, and a carrier for indicating one-way latency in a data network
Disclosed herein is a method, a computer program product, and a carrier for indicating one-way latency in a data network (N) between a first node (A) and a second node (B), wherein the data network (N) lacks continuous clock synchronization, comprising: a pre-synchronisation step, a measuring step, a post-synchronisation step, an interpolation step, and generating a latency profile. The present invention also relates to a computer program product incorporating the method, a carrier comprising the computer program product, and a method for indicating server functionality based on the first aspect. |
| US08948209B2 |
Transmission over an 12C bus
A method and a system of multichannel transmission over a twin-wire bus including a data signal and a synchronization signal, data of a first channel being transmitted by a state coding of the data signal for a time period containing a first state of the synchronization signal, data of a second channel being transmitted by pulse coding outside of said period. |
| US08948208B2 |
Conveying information through phase offset on PSS relative to DL-RS
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate conveying information utilizing a constant phase offset on Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS). In general, the subject innovation can employ a fixed set of beams and phases in which a PSS and a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) can be transmitted with the fixed set of beams and phases. Furthermore, the phase offset for PSS and SSS can be the same such that legacy user equipment is unaffected or aware of such transmissions. |
| US08948206B2 |
Inclusion of quality of service indication in header compression channel
Quality of service information (QoSI) is included with a compressed header of a data packet and can be utilized by nodes supporting the header compression channel to perform QoS enforcements at a sub-flow granularity level. A basic mode of a method comprises (1) processing a packet using a process having a process-associated quality of service requirement to form a processed packet, and (2) including, with a compressed header for the processed packet, the header-included quality of service information which is derived using information indicative of the process-associated quality of service requirement. In another mode the header-included quality of service information is derived both from the process-associated quality of service requirement and quality of service information extracted from the received packet. |
| US08948202B2 |
Method and an apparatus for transmitting messages in home network system
Relating to a home network system and a home entertainment system, a method and an apparatus for transmitting packets in a home network system and a home entertainment system are disclosed. Additionally, a method for identifying devices to which the packets are to be transmitted and an apparatus for supporting the same are also disclosed herein. According to an embodiment, a method for transmitting a packet in a high definition base transmission (hereinafter referred to as HDBaseT) system includes the steps of receiving data from a source device in a transmission adaptor, converting the received data from the transmission adaptor to a downstream packet, in order to transmit the converted downstream packet to a receiving adaptor through an HDBaseT network, and transmitting the converted downstream packet to the receiving adaptor. At this point, the downstream packet may include a hierarchical identifier for identifying HDBaseT entities to which the downstream packet is to be transmitted. |
| US08948199B2 |
Fibre channel processing by a host channel adapter
A method for data storage includes mapping a queue pair (QP) of a channel adapter to a specified Fiber Channel (FC) exchange for communication with a storage device. Upon receiving at the channel adapter from a host computer a storage command directed to the storage device, the storage command is executed by transmitting data packets over a switched network from the channel adapter to the storage device using the specified exchange and performing a remote direct memory access (RDMA) operation on the channel adapter using the mapped QP. |
| US08948194B2 |
Method for receiving multicast control channel change notification and user equipment
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and user terminal for receiving multicast control channel (MCCH) change notifications, which include: obtaining the transmission time of an MCCH change notification; and when the MCCH change notification is not received during one MCCH modification period, receiving, according to the transmission time of the MCCH change notification, the MCCH change notification at least N times, wherein N is the preset reception times of the MCCH change notification. In the present invention, the efficiency of receiving MCCH change notifications by user terminals is improved, and the probability of processing MCCH change notifications falsely due to too many network identifiers in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is reduced. |
| US08948190B2 |
Alternate routing of voice communication in a packet-based network
A method for performing alternate and therefore least cost routing in distributed H.323 Voice over IP (VoIP) networks is provided. With this method, the VoIP network consists of a hierarchy of gatekeeper (GK) functions to provide alternate routing, network element redundancy, and scalability. The alternate routing function is performed by a directory gatekeeper with route selection advancing from a first route to a second route by either of two conditions: (1) there are no resources available to terminate the call in the first zone; and (2) a lack of response to the directory GK request for such resources. |
| US08948185B2 |
Relay node, control method of relay node and network system
A first network device includes: a forwarding controller configured to forward received data; and a fault detector configured to detect occurrence of a failure in a remote second relay node. The forwarding controller includes: a forwarding unit configured to forward the received data; and a modifier configured to modify the received data for detection of the occurrence of a failure in the second relay node. The modifier includes (i) a flag option marker configured to attach a flag to data; (ii) a sequence adding unit configured to add a protocol specific number to a sequence number; and (iii) a sequence subtracting unit configured to subtract the protocol specific number from an acknowledgement number. The fault detector detects the occurrence of a failure in the remote second relay node, based on at least one of the flag and the acknowledgement number. |
| US08948174B2 |
Variable-based forwarding path construction for packet processing within a network device
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for applying, with a network device, subscriber-specific packet processing using an internal processing path that includes service objects that are commonly applied to multiple packet flows associated with multiple subscribers. In one example, a network device control plane creates subscriber records that include, for respective subscribers, one or more variable values that specify service objects as well as an identifier for a packet processing template. A forwarding plane of the network device receives and maps subscriber packets to an associated subscriber record and then processes the packet by executing the packet processing template specified by the subscriber record. When the forwarding plane reaches a variable while executing the specified packet processing template, the forwarding plane reads the associated variable value from the subscriber record to identify and then apply the subscriber-specific service object specified by the variable. |
| US08948168B2 |
Network system
A network system includes lower switches and upper switches connected to the lower switches. Each of the upper switches transmits a first notification frame containing a connected lower switch number information indicative of the number of the lower switches connected to each of the upper switches, to the lower switches connected to each of the upper switches. Each of the lower switches configures a link aggregation group for ports which received the first notification frames each of which contains a maximum value of the connected lower switch number information among the connected lower switch number informations contained in the received first notification frames. |
| US08948167B2 |
System and method for using domains to identify dependent and independent operations
One embodiment of the present invention is a control unit for distributing packets of work to one or more consumer of works. The control unit is configured to assign at least one processing domain from a set of processing domains to each consumer included in the one or more consumers, receive a plurality of packets of work from at least one producer of work, wherein each packet of work is associated with a processing domain from the set of processing domains, and a first packet of work associated with a first processing domain can be processed by the one or more consumers independently of a second packet of work associated with a second processing domain, identify a first consumer that has been assigned the first processing domain, and transmit the first packet of work to the first consumer for processing. |
| US08948159B2 |
Transmitter, receiver, mobile communication system and synchronization channel
A transmitter includes an amplitude adjustment unit multiplying an amplitude adjustment sequence value for adjusting amplitude with a synchronization channel transmitted from a base station for establishing synchronization with a mobile station. |
| US08948155B2 |
Systems and methods for improved digital RF transport in distributed antenna systems
Systems and methods for improved digital RF transport in a DAS are provided. In one embodiment, a transceiver comprises: a receive path circuit including an RF reception interface coupled to an ADC, the ADC receiving a down-converted analog RF spectrum from the RF reception interface and producing a digitized RF spectrum at an input sampling rate; a logic device receiving the digitized RF spectrum and producing a first set of baseband data samples at a first sampling rate, corresponding to a first spectral region of the analog RF spectrum and a second set of baseband data samples at a second sampling rate, corresponding to a second spectral region of the analog RF spectrum. The logic device maps the first set and second sets of baseband data samples to a respective first set and second set of timeslots of a serial data stream transport frame. |
| US08948154B2 |
Method and apparatus for sending and receiving a low-complexity transmission in a wireless communication system
Techniques for supporting data transmission based on a low-complexity transmission scheme are described. In one design, a first user equipment (UE) generates a first transmission for a single subcarrier assigned to the first UE. The first UE sends the first transmission on the single subcarrier concurrently with a SC-FDMA transmission sent on multiple subcarriers by a second UE. In one design, the first UE generates a continuous sinusoidal signal at a frequency corresponding to the single subcarrier. The first UE modulates the continuous sinusoidal signal with data symbols and reference symbols. In one design, the first transmission includes a cyclic prefix followed by a useful portion in each symbol period and has phase discontinuity at symbol boundary. A base station processes a received signal to recover the first transmission sent by the first UE and the SC-FDMA transmission sent by the second UE. |
| US08948152B2 |
Method of performing link adaptation procedure
A method and apparatus for communicating in a wireless local area network are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes a method of communicating in a wireless local area network, the method comprising: receiving, by a mobile station, a first physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) transmitted by an access point (AP) via multi-user multiple input/multiple output (MU MIMO) transmission to a plurality of mobile stations, the first PPDU including a first feedback sequence identifier that includes a specific value identifying the plurality of stations, determining, by the mobile station, that the mobile station belongs to one of the plurality of stations indicated by the first feedback sequence identifier; if it is determined that the mobile station belongs to one of the plurality of stations, estimating a MIMO channel based on the first PPDU; and transmitting, by the mobile station, a second PPDU to the AP. |
| US08948150B1 |
Open loop multiple access for WLAN
In a method for transmitting information in a wireless local area network (WLAN), a plurality of different data streams corresponding to a plurality of different devices are orthogonally multiplexed onto a single symbol stream without using channel state information corresponding to a plurality of channels between a transmitting device and the plurality of different devices. One or more transmit streams are generated using the single symbol stream. |
| US08948142B2 |
Method, device and system for determining resource locations
A method, device and system for determining resource locations are disclosed in the invention, wherein the method includes the following steps: a user equipment (UE) receiving the High-speed Shared Control Channel (HS-SCCH) from a network side equipment; according to said HS-SCCH, the said UE obtaining the time slot on which the High-speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH) is located; according to the time slot on which said HS-DSCH is located, said UE determining the sub-frame on which said HS-DSCH is located; the UE receiving the HS-DSCH from said network-side device in the time-slots, which said HS-DSCH is located on, in the subframe which said HS-DSCH is located on. In the invention, the UE is enabled to determine the sub-frame on which the UE is located, according to the time-slots which are distributed by a base-station and the HS-DSCH is located on; while the HS-DSCH resource of TS0 is distributed to the UE, sufficient time for decoding the HS-SCCH is reserved for the UE, thus, when TS0 is adopted as the HS-DSCH resource in the TD-SCDMA system, the problem that the UE cannot accomplish HS-SCCH decoding and HS DSCH data reception in time is solved. |
| US08948141B2 |
Method and device for maintaining the performance quality of a communication system in the presence of narrow band interference
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving a mitigation strategy for reducing interference caused by at least one narrow band interferer detected in a wide frequency band according to an average wideband power level, an adaptive threshold, or both, creating a message according to the mitigation strategy to transmit to at least one communication device transmitting wireless signals that are associated with the at least one narrow band interferer, and transmitting the mitigation message to the at least one communication device to cause the at least one communication device to adjust operations of a wireless transmitter of the at least one communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08948139B2 |
Parallel wireless communication apparatus, method, and system
An access point in a wireless network communicates with multiple mobile stations simultaneously using spatial-division multiple access. |
| US08948135B2 |
Techniques for establishing a handoff profile using user feedback
Examples are disclosed for user feedback to enable a handoff profile for a dual-mode hybrid mobile device. In some examples communication link handoff logic may be executed by the processor component to receive user feedback during a voice call mediated by a call server, the voice call between a hybrid mobile device and another communication device, the user feedback pertaining to one or more Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication link parameters for the communication link between the hybrid mobile device and the call server. The communication link parameters are correlated with a call quality threshold based on the user feedback and a handoff profile is established for the hybrid mobile device based on the call quality thresholds, the handoff profile operative to establish criteria for switching the VoIP communication link to a communication link over a different network. |
| US08948133B2 |
Techniques for establishing a communication handoff threshold using user feedback
Examples are disclosed for user feedback to enable a handoff profile for a dual-mode hybrid mobile device. In some examples communication link handoff logic may be executed by the processor component to receive user feedback during a test voice call mediated with a call server, the user feedback pertaining to one or more Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication link parameters for the communication link between the hybrid mobile device and the call server. The communication link parameters are correlated with a call quality threshold based on the user feedback and a handoff profile is established for the hybrid mobile device based on the call quality thresholds, the handoff profile operative to establish criteria for switching the VoIP communication link to a communication link over a different network. |
| US08948122B2 |
Method of transmitting data by utilizing resources in hybrid automatic request operations
A method of transmitting at least one sub-packet in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes transmitting at least one sub-packet based on combination of resources from multiple domains, wherein the combination of resources indicate whether to maintain or change the resource arrangement for subsequent transmission. |
| US08948119B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting uplink
Provided are a method and a wireless device for transmitting an uplink. The wireless device transmits a random access preamble to a first serving cell through a first wireless resource, and transmits an uplink channel to a second serving cell through a second wireless resource. The first serving cell belongs to a first timing advance (TA) group, and the second serving cell belongs to a second TA group that differs from the first TA group. All or a portion of the first wireless resource and the second wireless resource overlap. |
| US08948116B2 |
Use of the physical uplink control channel in a 3rd generation partnership project communication system
In a 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, communication system a base station comprises a scheduler allocating communication resource of at least one of a Physical Uplink Shared CHannel, PUSCH, and a Physical Downlink Shared CHannel, PDSCH to a User Equipment (UE). The scheduling may either be a dynamic scheduling wherein a resource allocation for a single frame is provided to the UE or a persistent scheduling wherein a resource allocation for a plurality of frames is provided to the UE. A resource allocator assigns resource of a Physical Uplink Control CHannel, PUCCH, to the UE dependent on whether dynamic scheduling or persistent scheduling is performed by the scheduler for the UE. The UE transmits uplink control data on a physical uplink channel which is selected as the PUCCH or the PUSCH in response to whether persistent scheduling is used for the UE. The invention allows e.g. reduced PUCCH loading. |
| US08948114B2 |
Transmission apparatus and transmission method using a plurality of divided frequency bands in a communication band
A radio communication apparatus capable of alleviating a burden in setting a transmission format and suppressing increases in the scale of the apparatus. In this apparatus, space multiplexing adaptability detection section (108) detects space multiplexing transmission adaptability for divided bands (DB-1 to DB-Nd) obtained by dividing a communication band to which Ns subcarrier signals belong in multicarrier transmission and to which a plurality of subcarrier signals belong, and outputs the detection results (#1 to #Nd). Transmission format setting section (110) sets a transmission format when carrying out radio transmission based on the detection results (#1 to #Nd) from space multiplexing adaptability detection section (108). |
| US08948113B2 |
Dynamic bundling in LTE using explicit signalling
The teachings herein disclose methods (600, 700) and apparatuses (36, 50) for dynamically rescheduling retransmissions from a selected Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest, “HARQ”, process, based on temporarily remapping the selected HARQ process to one or more subframes (12) that are by default scheduled for another HARQ process running synchronously with the first HARQ process. One advantage of dynamic rescheduling is that a retransmission for a given HARQ process can be accelerated in time, as compared to when the retransmission would occur absent the remapping. In another advantageous aspect, in at least some embodiments, the control signalling (20) for dynamic rescheduling is included in the Downlink Control Information, “DCI”, used to send scheduling grants for the HARQ processes, such that dynamic rescheduling uses control signalling (20) that is compatible with existing scheduling grant signalling. |
| US08948111B2 |
Uplink resource management under coordinated multipoint transmission
Management and distribution of PUCCH resources between first and second eNBs in a CoMP system is disclosed, in which the control and data transmission for a given UE is decoupled. The decoupling of the control and data transmissions allows the first eNB to transmit control information while the second eNB or remote radio head (RRH) transmits data. In such systems, the first eNB communicates a dynamic PUCCH parameter to UEs served in a decoupled manner. The dynamic PUCCH parameter allows the UE to determine uplink communications for the dynamic PUCCH region transmitted to the second eNB in such a position that will not overlap or cause interference with the dynamic PUCCH regions reserved by the first eNB. |
| US08948106B2 |
Controlling telecommunications channel switching
A node (26) of a radio access network (24) and method of operating such node controls transitions between radio resource control states for a wireless terminal (30). In an example embodiment and mode the method comprises: (1) upon completion of a data activity, making a prediction of a data transmission parameter; (2) making an assessment regarding probable accuracy of the prediction; and (3) using the assessment to make a determination whether or not to implement a radio resource control state switch (the “state switch”). The data transmission parameter may be a different parameter in respective differing example embodiments. In one example embodiment and mode the data transmission parameter comprises inter-arrival time between bursts of data activity. In another example embodiment and mode the data transmission parameter comprises burst size of a burst of data activity. |
| US08948102B2 |
Channel access method for very high throughput (VHT) wireless local access network system
A channel access method for a very high throughput (VHT) system using a bonding channel having a plurality of subchannels is provided. The method includes receiving training information comprising a training offset value through a subchannel, performing channel estimation on a full channel bandwidth comprising all subchannels when a time corresponding to the training offset value is elapsed after the training information is received, transmitting a request to send (RTS) frame to a destination station through some subchannels selected from the plurality of subchannels by one or a plurality of source stations according to a result of the channel estimation, and transmitting a clear to send (CTS) frame to one source station selected from the plurality of source stations by the destination station in response to the received RTS frame. Accordingly, an effective channel access mechanism is provided for the VHT system, and collision among stations can be avoided. |
| US08948100B2 |
Method and apparatus for operating multi-user collaborative spatial multiplexing in wireless communication system
A method and an apparatus operate multi-user Collaborative Spatial Multiplexing (CSM) in a wireless communication system. A Base Station (BS), performs uplink transmission scheduling on multiple Mobile Stations (MSs). Resources units, which have been allocated to multiple layers spatially discriminated by the uplink transmission scheduling, are permutated by applying different permutation schemes according to layers. Uplink data is received from the scheduled MSs through the permutated resource units. Each MS uses permutation schemes according to the layers allocated in a manner corresponding to the BS. Therefore, when the multi-user CSM is used, self-interferences or interferences between layers are averaged, thereby reducing variable widths of parameters of various kinds and improving the prediction property of a received SINR. As a result, a Packet Error Ratio (PER) performance is improved when data is actually transmitted. |
| US08948099B2 |
Geo-local routing in IMS
In an IP Multimedia setting, a proxy server of a visited network receives a request for a geo-local service from a roaming user agent. The proxy server modifies the received request and forwards the modified request to the user agent's home network. The modification is such that the modified request or a related request message is routed back to the visited network from the user agent's home network, and the geo-local service requested by the roaming user agent is routed to an appropriate IMS entity in the visited network. |
| US08948098B2 |
Frame transmission method using precoding for supporting MU-MIMO, and base station supporting the frame transmission method
Disclosed is a frame transmission method using precoding for supporting MU-MIMO, which facilitates to reduce overhead of a downlink frame in a wireless communication system of FDD method, and a base station supporting that method. The frame transmission method comprises calculating a precoding matrix of a present frame based on channel state information (CSI) of each mobile station and a precoding matrix of a prior frame; precoding a dedicated pilot and downlink data to be transmitted to the mobile station by the use of precoding matrix of the present frame; and transmitting a downlink frame including the precoded dedicated pilot and precoded downlink data to the corresponding mobile station. |
| US08948094B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing downlink transmission in a wireless communication network
A method and apparatus for optimizing downlink transmission in a wireless communication network (100) includes determining (502) a distance of each of a plurality of remote devices (102-114) from a network node (120) and allocating (506) downlink symbols of a frame (300) for the downlink transmission based on the determined distance of each of the plurality of remote devices. Earlier downlink symbols of the frame are allocated to at least one remote device of the plurality of remote devices positioned more distant from the network node in comparison to at least other remote device positioned less distant from the network node. |
| US08948092B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving a control channel in a mobile communication system
A method and apparatus for receiving control information in a mobile communication system. A controller acquires information indicating variable Control Channel Elements (CCEs) allocated for first User Equipments (UEs) among CCEs constituting control channels, acquires information indicating fixed CCEs allocated for second UEs, selects the variable CCEs when a UE receiving the control information is included in the first UEs, and selects the fixed CCEs when the UE is included in the second UEs. A control information receiver receives the control information through the selected CCEs. |
| US08948091B2 |
Push management scheme
Technologies are generally described for a push management scheme for a mobile operating server. In some examples, a method performed under control of a mobile operating server may include receiving from a mobile device a request for generating one or more keep-alive messages, the request including information on a destination push server, generating the keep-alive messages, and transmitting the keep-alive messages to the destination push server. |
| US08948083B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and computer readable recording medium
An apparatus and method for reducing the power consumed by mobile communication terminal having a wireless LAN connection function. When a data communication operation is started, a control unit determines whether a connection to a wireless LAN is available, and if so, detects the battery remaining amount in a battery unit. If the battery remaining amount is equal to or greater than a first threshold, data communication is performed through the wireless LAN connection. When the battery remaining amount is smaller than the first threshold, a screen for recommending connection through cellular communication is displayed on a display unit. When the battery remaining amount becomes smaller than a second threshold, which is smaller than the first threshold, a power source control unit performs a predetermined power saving operation. |
| US08948081B2 |
Device, system and method of multiple-stream wireless communication
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of multiple-stream wireless communication. For example, an apparatus may include a wireless communication unit to perform wireless peer-to-peer (P2P) communication according to a time allocation scheme defining a plurality of scheduled allocations (teeth) for wireless P2P communication within a wireless communication network based on a predefined priority scheme, which assigns a plurality of priorities to a plurality of streams corresponding to a plurality of service types, wherein a tooth may be scheduled for P2P communication between a pair of endpoints of the wireless communication network, and wherein the tooth includes one or more contiguous portions (slices), a slice having a predefined duration allocated for communication of one or more streams having the same priority. |
| US08948079B2 |
Relay node and method for managing interference in a multi-hop network
A method and system of a relay node managing interference in a multi-hop network and a relay node that manages interference is provided. The relay node may determine whether an interference neutralization condition for neutralizing interference among pairs of transmitting nodes and receiving nodes is satisfied, select one of a full interference neutralization and a partial interference neutralization, based on a result of the determination and perform the selected interference neutralization with respect to the pairs of the transmitting nodes and the receiving nodes. |
| US08948074B2 |
Method and device for cooperative relay with multiple relay stations in wireless telecommunication network
The invention provides a method and device for cooperative relay with multiple relay stations in the wireless telecommunication network. To be specific, according to the invention, in single-hop or multi-hop relay telecommunication link, the relay device and other relay devices within the same hop select space diversity or space multiplexing to carry out cooperative relay operation according to the processing indicating information from the base station, thus obtaining space diversity gain and space multiplexing gain. |
| US08948073B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing carrier of multicast and broadcast service
A method of managing carriers in a terminal of a multi-carrier system is provided. The method includes switching from a primary carrier to an MBS carrier for an MBS, receiving MBS-associated data from a base station through the MBS carrier, returning to the primary carrier from the MBS carrier after receiving the MBS-associated data, and communicating with the base station through the primary carrier. |
| US08948072B2 |
Method for providing a plurality of services
A method comprising providing a plurality of services to be transmitted over a common area by a plurality of nodes; and providing information relating to a quantity of data of said plurality of services for all of said services to said plurality of nodes. |
| US08948067B2 |
Wireless controller grids for process control and other systems and related apparatus and method
A system includes a plurality of wireless nodes including multiple controller nodes. Each controller node is configured to execute at least one of multiple control algorithms for controlling at least a portion of a process. Each control algorithm is associated with one or more sensor nodes and/or actuator nodes. At least one wireless node is configured to distribute the control algorithms amongst the controller nodes. At least one wireless node may be configured to redistribute the control algorithms amongst the controller nodes in response to one or more triggering events. A triggering event could include a new controller node being added to the system, and at least one wireless node could be configured to redistribute the control algorithms amongst the controller nodes including the new controller node. Redistribution of control algorithms can change a physical location where at least one control algorithm is executed without interrupting control of the process. |
| US08948062B2 |
Radio base station and radio communication method
RRHs are physically independent from each other, are arranged in different positions, respectively, receive uplink signals from a radio terminal and transmit downlink signals to the radio terminal. A central processing unit receives the uplink signals from the plurality of RRHs and transmits the downlink signals to the plurality of RRHs. A setting unit sets a part or all of the RRHs as RRH(s) in a first group suitable for transmission of the downlink user data based on the uplink or downlink signals received by at least one of the RRHs. A transmission control unit controls the transmission of the downlink user data from the plurality of RRHs based on the setting. |
| US08948060B2 |
Methods and apparatus for timeslot teleconferencing
Methods and apparatus are provided for a timeslot teleconference. A meeting invite is created for a timeslot teleconference on a computer. Timeslots are created for the timeslot teleconference in the meeting invite on the computer. Participants are designated for the timeslots in the meeting invite on the computer, and the timeslots are different time periods during the timeslot teleconference, which can have variable start and end times, as determined by a host. Reach numbers are added for each of the participants in the meeting invite on the computer, and the reach numbers are contact numbers to call the participants for their respective timeslots. The meeting invite is transmitted to participants on the computer. To participate in the timeslot teleconference, the timeslot teleconference is configured for the reach numbers to be called for the participants to correspond to their respective timeslots and/or the participants to call in for their respective timeslots. |
| US08948058B2 |
System and method for improving audio quality during web conferences over low-speed network connections
A method that includes: (1) transmitting, at a first transmit time point, a first probe packet over a network connection to a conferencing server immediately before transmitting a data packet, the first probe packet arriving at the conferencing server at a first receive time point; (2) transmitting, at a second transmit time point, a second probe packet over the network connection to the conferencing server immediately after transmitting the data packet, the second probe packet arriving at the conferencing server at a second receive time point, the first and second probe packets being smaller than the data packet; (3) receiving information encoding a first difference between the first and second transmit time points and a second difference between the first and second receive time points; and (4) based on the first and second differences, modifying a transmission parameter associated with data packets to be transmitted thereafter to the conferencing server. |
| US08948050B2 |
Distribution system, distribution method, and memory medium thereof
The control node, on the basis of the connection information between the distribution nodes and the load information of the distribution nodes, determines a distribution node of the distribution destination to which one of a plurality of distribution nodes subsequently distributes the data, and the data type which is distributed to the distribution node of the distribution destination. The control node distributes node information which specifies the distribution node of the determined distribution destination and type information which specifies the determined data type. The distribution node receives the node information and the type information distributed from the control node. The distribution node, when it receives the data distributed from the other distribution nodes, selects the data of the type specified by the type information from the received data. The distribution node transmits the data of the selected type to the distribution node specified by the node information. |
| US08948048B2 |
Method and apparatus for characterizing infrastructure of a cellular network
A method and apparatus for characterizing an infrastructure of a wireless network are disclosed. For example, the method obtains a first data set from a server log, and obtains a second data set from a plurality of wireless endpoint device. The method characterizes a parameter of the infrastructure of the wireless network using the first data set and the second data set and optimizes a network resource of the wireless network based on the parameter. |
| US08948044B2 |
Weighted-fairness in message rate based congestion control for vehicular systems
A system and method for implementing congestion control for vehicles based at least in part on weighted fair message rates is disclosed. The system comprises a measurement module, a calculation module and a determination module. The measurement module measures a channel busy ratio describing a fraction of time during which a channel is busy. The calculation module calculates a ratio error by comparing the measured channel busy ratio with a target channel busy ratio. The determination module determines a first parameter value for a first vehicle based at least in part on a ratio of weights and determines a message rate for the first vehicle based at least in part on the ratio error and the first parameter value. The message rate describes a speed for transmitting messages from the first vehicle. |
| US08948041B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
To suppress concentration of channel quality information requests and reports in a case of discontinuously transmitting reference signals at specific resources in a time domain, and thereby preventing degradation in throughput. A transmission apparatus transmits an instruction of CSI request distributed for each reception apparatus in a subframe concurrently with or earlier than a reference signal CSI-RS to each of reception apparatuses. Each of the reception apparatuses detects the CSI request from the transmission apparatus and calculates CSI from a channel estimation value of CSI-RS received thereafter. Then, the reception apparatus identifies CSI report subframe of the own apparatus from CSI report interval information of a given time interval notified in advance, the subframe in which the CSI request is detected and transmission timing of CSI-RS, and transmits a feedback signal including CSI report value by using PUSCH at the timing of the CSI report subframe. |
| US08948040B2 |
Method and device for deciding location of terminal in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method for deciding a location of a terminal in a wireless communication system, and provides the method for deciding the location comprising the following steps: receiving reference signals from a plurality of base stations; and transmitting reference signal time difference (RSTD) which is received from the plurality of base stations, wherein the reference signal is mapped according to a predetermined pattern inside a subframe. |
| US08948037B1 |
Checksum trailer in timing protocols
In a method for processing data packets in accordance with a timing protocol, a data packet that includes i) a checksum and ii) a timestamp is received. The timestamp is modified to generate a modified timestamp and a checksum trailer value is determined to maintain correctness of the checksum in the data packet having the modified timestamp. Additionally, at least a portion of a field of the data packet is set to the checksum trailer value, where the field is defined by the timing protocol for use other than a checksum trailer. |
| US08948031B2 |
Multiple-frame offset between neighbor cells to enhance the GERAN signaling performance when power control for signaling is in use
The present patent application comprises means and instructions for improving signaling by increasing a power of at least one signaling channel if errors on the signaling channel occur, comprising tracking quality of the at least one signaling channel, determining whether the at least one signaling channel has an error rate that is above a threshold, and increasing power to the at least one signaling channel if the error rate is above the threshold. |
| US08948024B2 |
Network simulation rack and system
Various exemplary illustrations are provided of systems and methods for simulating a communication network. An exemplary system may include a communication router rack in communication with an external network. The rack may include a structure supporting a plurality of network router cards, each including a plurality of communication ports configured to allow selective communication between communication devices connected to the router cards and the external network. The router rack may further include a switching circuit enclosed by the rack structure that is in physical communication with the plurality of network router cards. The switching circuit may be configured to determine a unique network identifier for each of the plurality of network router cards to the external network. The rack may further include an external communication port configured to be selectively connected to the external network to allow communication between the plurality of network router cards and the external network. |
| US08948020B2 |
Detecting and isolating dropped or out-of-order packets in communication networks
A processor-implemented method for analyzing dropped or out of order data packets that are sent from an initiating device over a communications network is provided. The processor-implemented method may include receiving, by a processor, a predetermined plurality of test data packets from the initiating device over the communications network. At least one of the predetermined plurality of test data packets that are dropped or received out of order may be determined by the processor. A header portion corresponding to the at least one of the predetermined plurality of test data packets that are dropped or received out of order may then be accessed. The accessed header portion is sent, by the processor, to the initiating device, whereby the accessed header portion may include information associated with a device location at which the one or more of the predetermined plurality of test data packets are dropped or received out of order. |
| US08948015B2 |
Method for enabling the efficient operation of arbitrarily interconnected mesh networks
Wireless mesh networks (or “meshes”) are enabled for arbitrary interconnection to each other and may provide varying levels of coverage and redundancy as desired. Interoperability between meshes having differing configurations, internal operations, or both, may be freely intermixed and inter-operated in unrestricted combination. Enhanced explicit inter-bridge control protocols operate using pre-existing control packets. Pre-existing broadcast packet floods are used to learn the best paths across interconnected meshes (termed a “multi-mesh”). Enhanced routing protocols operating within each mesh may optionally examine information limited to the respective mesh when forwarding traffic, thus enabling robust multi-mesh scaling with respect to memory and processing time required by the routing protocols. Communication scalability is improved by enabling frequency diversity across the multi-mesh by configuring meshes within interference range of each other for operation at a plurality of frequencies. Each mesh may operate at a respective non-interfering frequency. |
| US08948012B2 |
System and method for interactive session provision
Systems and methods applicable, for instance, in interactive session provision. One or more nodes and/or other computers might, for example, provide to one or more other nodes and/or other computers the ability to employ certain software for an interactive session. A node and/or other computer providing the ability might, for instance, provide to a node and/or other computer receiving the ability software to be used in the interactive session, and/or one or more appropriate keys. A node and/or other computer that has received the ability might, for example, lose the ability with interactive session termination. |
| US08948011B2 |
Pseudo-relative mode WRED/tail drop mechanism
A buffer memory can be configured to temporarily store data in a number of queues. A processor can be configured to measure a fullness of the buffer memory. The processor can be configured to adjust thresholds and drop profiles based on a measured global resource usage for a weighted random early detection (WRED) technique with less resources than a conventional. |
| US08948009B1 |
Deadline aware network protocol
Systems and techniques for prioritizing network traffic based on a flow deadline are presented. Data bandwidth in a network is detected. In response to congestion in the network, a transmission control protocol (TCP) window size is reduced. The TCP window size is reduced based on time remaining until the flow deadline. In one example, the TCP window size if further reduced based on a degree of congestion in the network. In response to no congestion in the network, the TCP window size is increased by a predetermined amount. |
| US08948001B2 |
Service plane triggered fast reroute protection
Techniques are described for detecting failure or degradation of a service enabling technology function independent from an operational state of a service node hosting the service enabling technology function. For example, a service node may provide one or more service enabling technology functions, and service engineered paths may be traffic-engineered through a network to service node network devices that host a service enabling technology function. A monitor component at the service layer of the service node can detect failure or degradation of one or more service enabling technology functions provided by the service node. The monitor component reports detection of failure or degradation to a fault detection network protocol in a forwarding plane of the service node. The fault detection network protocol communicates with an ingress router of a service engineered path to trigger fast reroute by the ingress of traffic flows to bypass the affected service enabling technology function. |
| US08947998B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting radio signal
In an aspect, a method for transmitting data in a wireless communication system is provided. A wireless device determines a subcarrier and a subcarrier group to which a data sequence is allocated. The wireless device modulates the data sequence by a transmit filter to generate a data stream. A waveform of the transmit filter is determined based on the subcarrier and the subcarrier group. The wireless device generates a transmission signal based on the data stream. The wireless device transmits the transmission signal through the subcarrier. The transmission signal is cyclostationary. |
| US08947997B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for detecting a group delay in a communication system
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a transmission part (500), to a receiver part (600), to a transceiver comprising the transmission and receiver parts, to a radio base station comprising the transceiver, to a method in the transmission part (500) and to a method in a receiver part (600). According to the embodiments of the present invention, the transmission part (500) is configured to generate calibration sequences; process the sequences to determine a resulting calibration signal prior to transmission to a receiver part for enabling the receiver part to detect group delay of the received resulting calibration signal for calibration of the transceiver and/or of the radio base station in a wideband communications system. |
| US08947996B2 |
Offset modulation orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and multi-access transmission method with cyclic prefix (CP)
The present invention provides an Offset Modulation Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and multi-access transmission method with a Cyclic Prefix (CP), including a generating method of the sent signal in the sending terminal and a processing method of the received signal in the receiving terminal, the method includes: in the sending terminal, performing generalized discrete Fourier Transform on real-value digital baseband modulated symbols and obtaining the frequency-domain signal; performing conjugate symmetric extension, frequency-domain filtering, sub-carrier mapping on the frequency-domain signal; performing Inverse Fast Fourier Transform on the frequency-domain signal after sub-carrier mapping; inserting a CP and obtaining the time-domain sent signal; in the receiving terminal, including: removing the CP, performing Fast Fourier Transform on CP removed symbols and obtaining the frequency-domain received signal; and based on multiple user joint frequency-domain equalization performing iterative detection decoding on the frequency-domain received signal. The present invention can obtain the low-signal envelope volatility in the condition of remaining spectrum efficiency, and adopting iterative received signal processing method based on multiple user joint frequency-domain equalization ensures the transmission reliability with low-complexity. |
| US08947995B2 |
Dynamic packet scheduling method, apparatus and computer program
A method and a system for the fractional reuse of frequencies in a wireless network. The method includes the following steps: obtaining at least one PHY based index defining a preferred allocation of a mobile station among at least two frequency reuse zones in a cell of said communication network; and scheduling bursts of packets to transmit to the mobile station, by at least one frequency reuse zone among the at least two frequency reuse zones, in view of transmission requests and the at least one PHY based index. |
| US08947994B2 |
Method and system for combining OFDM and transformed OFDM
Methods and systems are provided that enable an OFDM transmitter to be used for transmitting conventional OFDM or a form of transformed OFDM. A technique is provided for transforming a coded and modulated sequence of samples prior to an IFFT that enables the transformed sequence of samples to be transmitted using conventional OFDM or transformed OFDM. The selection of a transform function for transforming the coded and modulated sequence of samples may be based on optimizing the transform function for particular operating conditions between the transmitter and receiver. In some embodiments of the invention OFDM and time transformed OFDM are multiplexed in time and/or frequency in a transmission frame. In some embodiments of the invention a pilot pattern is provided in which the pilot are sent using OFDM and data is sent using OFDM and/or transformed OFDM. |
| US08947991B2 |
Optical information reproducing apparatus and optical information reproducing method
A method of calculating a reliability effective in a decoding process of hologram. An optical information reproducing apparatus that reproduces information with the use of the holography includes an image acquisition unit that reproduces two-dimensional data from a hologram disc, an image equalization unit that makes the two-dimensional data equal to target data having a target PR characteristic, a soft output decoding unit that decodes output data of the image equalization unit on the basis of the PR characteristic, and outputs a decoded result having a reliability, and an error correction unit that conducts an error correction of the data on the basis of the decoded result. |
| US08947990B2 |
Tape device and method of controlling tape device
A tape device includes a storage unit, a measuring unit, a calculating unit, and an updating unit. The storage unit stores management information in which an identifier of a medium and a data volume further recordable on the medium are in association with each other. The measuring unit measures a data volume written in the medium or a data volume read out of the medium. The calculating unit calculates a data volume recorded in the medium from a total of the data volume measured by the measuring unit, acquires a recorded medium length, and calculates the data volume further recordable on the medium based on the data volume recorded in the medium and the recorded medium length. The updating unit updates the management information stored in the storage unit with the data volume further recordable on the medium which is calculated by the calculating unit. |
| US08947989B2 |
Wobble determining apparatus and method, optical disk device, and computer program
A wobble determining apparatus is provided with: a calculating device for calculating (i) a first time required until reaching a number of revolutions of a motor which allows a predetermined linear velocity, and (ii) a second time required to move an optical head to a position which allows the predetermined linear velocity, on the basis of the number of revolutions of the motor and the position of the optical head; a judging device for judging whether to keep the optical head in accordance with the calculated first time and the calculated second time; and a controlling device for controlling a moving device not to move the optical head if it is judged to keep the optical head, and for controlling the moving device to move the optical head to the position which allows the predetermined linear velocity if it is judged not to keep the optical head. |
| US08947985B1 |
Heat assisted magnetic recording transducers having a recessed pole
A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use and is coupled with a laser that provides energy. The HAMR transducer includes a main pole, at least one additional pole adjacent to the main pole in a down track direction, a waveguide and at least one coil for energizing the main pole. The main pole is configured to write to a region of the media and is recessed from the ABS by a first distance. The additional pole(s) are recessed from the ABS by a second distance greater than the first distance. The waveguide is optically coupled with the laser and directs a portion of the energy toward the ABS at an acute angle from the ABS. A portion of the waveguide resides between the additional pole(s) and the ABS. |
| US08947976B2 |
Harmonic attenuation using multiple sweep rates
A technique includes generating seismic sweep sequences. Each of the seismic sweep sequences has an associated sweep rate. The technique includes varying the sweep rates to reduce harmonic distortion present in a composite seismic measurement produced in response to the sweep sequences. |
| US08947970B2 |
Word line driver circuits and methods for SRAM bit cell with reduced bit line pre-charge voltage
A memory device comprising a plurality of static random access memory (SRAM) bit cells, and a word line driver coupled to provide a word line signal to the bit cells. The word line driver receives a global word line signal that remains active while the word line signal is asserted and subsequently de-asserted, and the word line signal is coupled between a positive supply voltage (VDD) and a supply voltage below ground (VN). |
| US08947967B2 |
Shared integrated sleep mode regulator for SRAM memory
Embodiments are described for a method for regulating sleep mode of a plurality of sub-banks in an SRAM array by isolating all of the sub-banks from a regulator upon access to at least one sub-bank that causes the accessed sub-bank to go to an operating voltage, and isolating the accessed sub-bank from non accessed sub-banks, while maintaining a sleep voltage on a load memory array and each of the sub-banks through the regulator; comparing a voltage on the non accessed sub-banks to a voltage output of the regulator; and providing a sleep voltage level to all of the sub-banks through the regulator when the voltage on the non accessed sub-banks is less than the sleep voltage. |
| US08947963B2 |
Variable pre-charge levels for improved cell stability
Embodiments of a memory device are disclosed that may allow for multiple pre-charge voltages. The memory device may include a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pre-charge circuits. Each of the plurality of data lines may be coupled to a plurality of data storage cells. Each of the plurality of pre-charge circuits may be coupled to a respective data line, and be configured to charge the data line to a first voltage level responsive to a first control signal. Each of the plurality of pre-charge circuits may also be configured to charge the respective data line to a second voltage responsive to a second control signal. |
| US08947961B2 |
Management of non-volatile memory
A method for programming a non-volatile memory including a plurality of blocks, each block including a plurality of sections, each section including at least one page, and each page including a plurality of memory cells. The method includes checking a current section of the plurality of sections against a damaged section table to determine whether the current section is damaged. The damaged section table records information about whether a section in the memory is good or damaged. The method further includes using the current section for programming if the current section is not damaged. |
| US08947960B2 |
Semiconductor storage with a floating detection circuitry and floating detection method thereof
A storage medium including a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of transmission lines, a driving module and a floating detection module is disclosed. The memory cells store data. The transmission lines are coupled to the memory cells. The driving module accesses the memory cells via the transmission lines. The floating detection module includes a reset unit, a plurality of connectors and a detector. The reset unit is coupled to a detection line. Each of the connectors is coupled between one of the transmission lines and the detection line. The detector determines whether a state of at least one of the transmission lines is a floating state according to a level of the detection line. |
| US08947959B2 |
Memory device and compressive test method for the same
A memory device includes a first bank, a second bank, a plurality of interface pads, and a data output unit configured to output compressed data of the first bank through at least one interface pad among the plurality of interface pads and subsequently output compressed data of the second bank through the one interface pad. |
| US08947957B2 |
Built-in self repair for memory
A method for repairing a memory includes running a built-in self-test of the memory to find faulty bits. A first repair result using a redundant row block is calculated. A second repair result using a redundant column block is calculated. The first repair result and the second repair result are compared. A repair method using either the redundant row block or the redundant column block is selected. The memory is repaired by replacing a row block having at least one faulty bit with the redundant row block or replacing a column block having at least one faulty bit with the redundant column block. |
| US08947945B2 |
Memory card for storing and transmitting data
A memory card includes a control chip, a buffer, a NAND gate, and an inverter. The memory card has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A first group of conductive pins is located on the first surface, and connected to the buffer through a first channel. A second group of conductive pins is located on the second surface, and connected to the buffer through a second channel. An order of pins of the first group of conductive pins located on the first surface from left to right is the same as an order of pins of the second group of conductive pins located on the second. The buffer is electrically connected to the control chip. Data can be transmitted between the first group of conductive pins or the second group of conductive pins and the control chip through the buffer. |
| US08947941B2 |
State responsive operations relating to flash memory cells
A non-transitory computer readable medium, a flash controller and a method for state responsive encoding and programming; the method may include encoding an information entity by applying a state responsive encoding process to provide at least one codeword; wherein the state responsive encoding process is responsive to a state of flash memory cells; and programming the at least one codeword to at least one group of flash memory cells by applying a state responsive programming process that is responsive to the state, the state being either an estimated state or an actual state. |
| US08947940B2 |
Structure and method for healing tunnel dielectric of non-volatile memory cells
A semiconductor device comprises an array of memory cells. Each of the memory cells includes a tunnel dielectric, a well region including a first current electrode and a second current electrode, and a control gate. The first and second current electrodes are adjacent one side of the tunnel dielectric and the control gate is adjacent another side of the tunnel dielectric. A controller is coupled to the memory cells. The controller includes logic to determine when to perform a healing process in the tunnel dielectric of the memory cells, and to apply a first voltage to the first current electrode of the memory cells during the healing process to remove trapped electrons and holes from the tunnel dielectric. |
| US08947933B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory apparatus
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory apparatus includes a memory cell array, a row decoder, a controller. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory strings. The memory strings include a first select transistor and a second select transistor, and are connected to each of a plurality of bit lines. The row decoder applies a voltage to the first and second select transistors. The controller detects a defect of the bit lines based on data read from the memory cells. |
| US08947931B1 |
Memory module
A data storage device includes a memory die including a plurality of storage elements arranged in a three dimensional (3D) memory configuration and a controller die coupled to the memory die via a bus including a plurality of electrical contacts between adjacent surfaces of the memory die and the controller die. A method performed at the data storage device includes receiving, at the controller die, data to be stored at the memory die and generating a codeword representing the data. The codeword includes a particular number of bits. The method also includes sending signals from the controller die to the memory die via the plurality of electrical contacts. The plurality of electrical contacts includes at least as many electrical contacts as the particular number of bits of the codeword, and the signals representing the codeword are sent from the controller die to the memory die in parallel. |
| US08947928B2 |
Flash memory device and memory system including the same
A flash memory device includes a memory cell array, a temperature sensing unit, and a control unit. The memory cell array is configured to store a plurality of pieces of configuration data corresponding to respective temperature levels of the flash memory device, the pieces of configuration data indicative of respective operation parameter values of the flash memory device. The temperature sensing unit is configured to measure an ambient temperature of the flash memory device and to generate temperature level data. The a control unit is configured to receive the temperature level data from the temperature sensing unit, to read a piece of configuration data corresponding to the temperature level data from among the plurality of pieces of configuration data stored in the memory cell array, and to set operation parameters of the flash memory device according to an operation parameter value indicated by the read piece of configuration data. |
| US08947927B2 |
Gated diode memory cells
A gated diode memory cell is provided, including one or more transistors, such as field effect transistors (“FETs”), and a gated diode in signal communication with the FETs such that the gate of the gated diode is in signal communication with the source of a first FET, wherein the gate of the gated diode forms one terminal of the storage cell and the source of the gated diode forms another terminal of the storage cell, the drain of the first FET being in signal communication with a bitline (“BL”) and the gate of the first FET being in signal communication with a write wordline (“WLw”), and the source of the gated diode being in signal communication with a read wordline (“WLr”). |
| US08947920B2 |
Memory device
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a memory cell, a sense amplifier, unit structures and a reference signal generator. Each structure includes a first end, a first transistor, a first local line, a variable resistance element, a second transistor, a second local line, and a third transistor coupled in series. The reference signal generator includes first to fourth global lines, and first and second ones of the unit structures. The first unit structure is coupled at the first end to the first global line and coupled at the second end to the third global line. The second unit structure is coupled at the first end to the fourth global line and coupled at the second end to the second global line. |
| US08947919B2 |
High capacity low cost multi-stacked cross-line magnetic memory
One embodiment of the present invention includes a diode-addressable current-induced magnetization switching (CIMS) memory element including a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) and a diode formed on top of the MTJ for addressing the MTJ. |
| US08947916B2 |
Thermally assisted magnetic writing device
A thermally assisted magnetic writing device including a first magnetic layer known as the “reference layer,” a second magnetic layer known as the “storage layer” that presents a variable magnetization direction, a spacer situated between the reference layer and the storage layer and a first antiferromagnetic layer in contact with the storage layer, the first antiferromagnetic layer being able to trap the magnetization direction of the storage layer. The magnetic device also includes a stabilization layer made of a ferromagnetic material, the stabilization layer being in contact with the first antiferromagnetic layer. |
| US08947914B2 |
Magnetic tunneling junction devices, memories, electronic systems, and memory systems, and methods of fabricating the same
Provided is a magnetic tunneling junction device including a fixed magnetic structure; a free magnetic structure; and a tunnel barrier between the fixed magnetic structure and the free magnetic structure, at least one of the fixed magnetic structure and the free magnetic structure including a perpendicular magnetization preserving layer, a magnetic layer between the perpendicular magnetization preserving layer and the tunnel barrier, and a perpendicular magnetization inducing layer between the perpendicular magnetization preserving layer and the magnetic layer. |
| US08947913B1 |
Circuits and methods having programmable impedance elements
Integrated circuit (IC) devices are disclosed that include programmable impedance elements (elements) as data storage element. In some embodiments, IC devices can include latch circuit with one or more elements that establish a function of an associated circuit. In other embodiments, IC devices can include elements arranged in a cross-point array connected to control terminals of access devices. In still other embodiments, a memory device can include a programmable address decoder. Corresponding methods are also disclosed. |
| US08947912B2 |
Memory cell including unidirectional gate conductors and contacts
Memory cells are described with cross-coupled inverters including unidirectional gate conductors. Gate conductors for access transistors may also be aligned with a long axis of the inverter gate conductor. Contacts of one inverter in a cross-coupled pair may be aligned with a long axis of the other inverter's gate conductor. Separately formed rectangular active regions may be orthogonal to the gate conductors across pull up, pull down and access transistors. Separate active regions may be formed such that active regions associated with an access transistor and/or a pull up transistor are noncontiguous with, and narrower than, an active region associated with a pull down transistor of the inverter. The major components of 6T SRAM, and similar, memory cell topologies may be formed essentially from an array of rectangular lines, including unidirectional gate conductors and contacts, and unidirectional rectangular active regions crossing gate conductors of the inverters and access transistors. |
| US08947909B1 |
System and method for creating a bipolar resistive RAM (RRAM)
A resistive memory having a plurality of resistive elements, each having a resistance that changes with respect to a state of the resistive memory element. The resistive memory includes a substrate, a first memory access device formed on the substrate, a first contact formed on the first memory access device, and a first resistive memory element formed on the first contact. The first resistive memory element has a first polarity. The first memory access device provides read and write access to the state of the first resistive memory element. A second memory access device is formed on the substrate, a second contact formed on the second memory access device, and a second resistive memory element formed on the second contact. The second resistive memory element has a second polarity. The second memory access device provides read and write access to the state of the second resistive memory element. |
| US08947908B2 |
Hetero-switching layer in a RRAM device and method
A non-volatile memory device structure includes first electrodes comprising conductive silicon-containing material, a plurality of resistive switching material stacks comprising first resistive switching material and second resistive switching material overlying the first electrode, wherein the first resistive switching material comprises a first resistance switching voltage and the second resistive switching material comprises a second resistance switching voltage less than the first amplitude, second electrodes comprising metal material overlying and electrically coupled to the plurality of resistive switching material stacks, wherein a plurality of memory elements are formed from the first plurality of electrodes, the plurality of resistive switching material stacks, and the second plurality of electrodes. |
| US08947906B2 |
High-efficiency driving stage for phase change non-volatile memory devices
A driving stage for a phase change non-volatile memory device may have an output driving unit which supplies an output driving current during an operation of programming of at least one memory cell. A driving-control unit receives an input current and generates at output a first control signal that controls supply of the output driving current by the output driving unit in such a way that a value of this current has a desired relation with the input current. A level-shifter element, set between the output of the driving-control unit and a control input of the output driving unit, determines a level shift of the voltage of the first control signal so as to supply to the control input of the output driving unit a second control signal, having a voltage value that is increased with respect to, and is a function of, the first control signal. |
| US08947904B2 |
Data holding device and logic operation circuit using the same
A data holding device includes a loop structure unit configured to hold data using a plurality of logic gates connected in a loop shape, a nonvolatile storage unit including a plurality of ferroelectric elements, the nonvolatile storage unit configured to store the data held in the loop structure unit in a nonvolatile manner using hysteresis characteristics of the ferroelectric elements, and a circuit separation unit configured to electrically separate the loop structure unit and the nonvolatile storage unit. The ferroelectric elements of the nonvolatile storage unit are surrounded by a dummy element smaller in width than the ferroelectric elements. |
| US08947898B2 |
Power convertion circuit using high-speed characterisics of switching devices
A power conversion circuit converting DC electric power into AC electric power and sending the AC power to an inductive load, includes a first switching device connected to the DC power supply; a second switching device connected to the DC power supply; a first inductor provided between the first switching device and the inductive load; a second inductor provided between the second switching device and the inductive load; and a clamping diode connected between a first connection point between the first switching device and the first inductor, and a second connection point between the second switching device and the second inductor. When the first and second switching devices are turned off, a current flows through the second diode, clamping diode, first inductor and inductive load to completely flow out a current in the first inductor, and then a current flows through the second diode, second inductor and inductive load. |
| US08947896B2 |
Proportional bias switch driver circuit
A switch bias system is provided that includes a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) switch comprising a base, emitter, and collector; a current sense circuit coupled to the emitter, the current sense circuit configured to sense current flow through the emitter of the BJT switch; and a proportional bias circuit configured to generate a bias current to the base of the BJT switch, the bias current set to a fixed proportion of the sensed current flow through the emitter of the BJT switch. |
| US08947895B2 |
Two-peak current control for flyback voltage converters
A system including a switch configured to supply power to a load. A first comparator is configured to compare a first current through the switch to a first threshold. A second comparator is configured to compare the first current through the switch to a second threshold. The second threshold is greater than the first threshold. A current control module is configured to turn off the switch (i) for a first duration in response to the first current through the switch being greater than or equal to the first threshold and (ii) for a second duration in response to the first current through the switch being greater than or equal to the second threshold. The current control module is configured to adjust the second duration based on a difference between an estimated current through the load and a desired current through the load. |
| US08947890B2 |
Fixing component for detachably coupling an electronic component to an electronic apparatus
A fixing component fixes a detachable component to a housing of an electronic apparatus. The fixing component includes a first operating portion, a first engaging portion and a second operating portion. The first operating portion is configured to receive a movement operation in a first direction and to permit movement in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The first engaging portion is connected to the first operating portion and is configured to release engagement with the detachable component when the first operating portion is moved in the second direction. The second operating portion is connected to the first engaging portion and is configured to receive a movement operation in the second direction. |
| US08947889B2 |
Conformal electromagnetic (EM) detector
A conformal electro-magnetic (EM) detector and a method of applying such a detector are provided herein as well as variations thereof Variations include, but are not limited to, single-element, area detectors; an array of multiple active elements. |
| US08947888B2 |
Substantially rigid interconnection structure for devices
A substantially cable-free board connection assembly may include a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) forming an interconnect plane for a plurality of electronic devices respectively attached to a plurality of plane boards included in the interconnect plane. An insertion direction for substantially all connectors is substantially perpendicular to a face of the interconnect plane. At least a portion of the board connection assembly is mounted to a support structure via a flexible connection. |
| US08947887B2 |
Package assembly and method of tuning a natural resonant frequency of a package
A package assembly comprises an electronic device; a package body; at least a first plurality of leads having a first geometrical shape and a second plurality of leads having a second geometrical shape, protruding from the package body; each of the first plurality of leads being located in corners of the package body; or the first and the second plurality of leads arranged in at least a first row and a second row located in parallel to the first row; each of the rows comprising at least two leads; the first row being transformable into the second row by mirroring the first row along a symmetry plane of the package body; each of the first plurality of leads having the first geometrical shape different from the second geometrical shape. |
| US08947886B2 |
Electronic component
An electronic component includes an electrically conductive carrier. The electrically conductive carrier includes a carrier surface and a semiconductor chip includes a chip surface. One or both of the carrier surface and the chip surface include a non-planar structure. The chip is attached to the carrier with the chip surface facing towards the carrier surface so that a gap is provided between the chip surface and the carrier surface due to the non-planar structure of one or both of the carrier surface and the first chip surface. The electronic component further includes a first galvanically deposited metallic layer situated in the gap. |
| US08947878B2 |
Apparatus with a handle having a release mechanism
An apparatus with a handle having a release mechanism comprises a bracket having a front panel, an extracting module and a driven module. The extracting module is mounted on the bracket and includes a handle, an extracting piece, and a first contact portion. A spring is provided between the front panel and the extracting piece. The driven module is fixed on the bracket and includes a driven piece having a locking portion and a second contact portion. When the handle is not dragged forward, the locking portion is located in a locked position. When handle is dragged forward so that the extracting piece moves towards the front panel and that the first contact portion pushes the second contact portion, the locking portion is moved to an unlocked position. A system containing an apparatus having a handle is also provided. |
| US08947876B2 |
Riser card module and electronic device having the same
A riser card module includes a frame body, a carrier plate connected to the frame body for abutment against first surfaces of positioning plates of fixing brackets of expansion cards, a riser card disposed on the frame body and having a plurality of expansion slots for insertion therein of the expansion cards, respectively, and a limiting unit rotatable relative to the carrier plate about an axial direction which is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the carrier plate for abutment against second surfaces of the positioning plates of the fixing brackets of the expansion cards so as to restrict movement of the expansion cards relative to the riser card. |
| US08947869B2 |
Mounting systems for display devices
Display apparatuses and mounting devices are disclosed. The display apparatuses may include a display panel for displaying visual information and a mounting device coupled with the display panel and movably coupled with a supporting base. The mounting device may comprise a panel-mount interface coupled with the display panel and a receiving device capable of being configured to be at least partially embedded into the supporting base. The panel-mount interface may be coupled with the receiving device through a coupling device comprising a joining piece and at least one of a plurality of receiving holes or at least one sliding groove. The joining piece may be movable among the plurality of the receiving holes or within the at least one sliding groove. |
| US08947866B2 |
Edge armored display cover plate
A display device comprising a display panel and a display cover plate positioned between the display panel and an observer. The display cover plate is housed within a protective frame (edge bracket) that protects edges of the display cover plate from damage. The edge bracket supports the edge portions of the display cover plate that are most likely to have flaws resulting from such operations as cutting and grinding, and minimizes flexing of the display cover plate, particularly at an edge, which could result in the formation of cracks at the flaw site and propagation of those cracks. |
| US08947863B2 |
Electronic device
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a first main unit having a surface thereof provided with a display panel, a second main unit having a surface thereof provided with another display panel, a hinge mechanism coupling the first and second main units, and two operation buttons arranged symmetrical with respect to a center line passing through the respective centers of the first and second main units. |
| US08947862B2 |
Expansion card module
An expansion card module includes a box, a tray, a circuit board, and an interconnection device. The box is disposed in a drive bay on the front of a case of a computer. The tray is movably installed in the box and has a slide mechanism. The tray slides into or out of the box by the slide mechanism. The circuit board is disposed on the tray and has a first expansion slot. An expansion card electrically inserts into the first expansion slot of the circuit board, and the circuit board is electrically connected to the motherboard of computer through the interconnection device. |
| US08947855B2 |
Copolymer electrochemical double layer capacitor
Technologies are generally described for electrochemical capacitor devices. Some example electrochemical capacitor devices may include a composite electrode that includes an electrode substrate coupled to a polymeric electrochemical layer. The polymeric electrochemical layer may include: a conductive polymer electrically coupled to the electrode substrate; a solid state, ionically conductive electrolyte polymer; and non-conducting cross-links that covalently link the conductive polymer and the electrolyte polymer. Various example electrochemical capacitor devices may be constructed by laminating two of the composite electrodes against opposing sides of an ionically conducting separator membrane, and contacting the composite electrodes and the separator membrane with a liquid electrolyte. Some example electrochemical capacitor devices may display favorable performance such as symmetric charge storage, non-Faradic charge storage, and/or similar or greater capacity compared to carbon based systems. |
| US08947854B2 |
Spacer-modified graphene electrode for supercapacitor
A spacer-modified nano graphene platelet electrode, comprising: (a) multiple nano graphene platelets or sheets having an average thickness smaller than 10 nm; and (b) discrete, non-metallic nano-scaled particles that are disposed between two graphene platelets or sheets to serve as a spacer. In such a spacer-modified graphene electrode, large amounts of electrolyte-accessible pores are formed, enabling the formation of large amounts of electric double layer charges in a supercapacitor, which exhibits an exceptionally high specific capacitance. |
| US08947853B2 |
Super capacitor structure and the manufacture thereof
Disclosed is a super capacitor and method of manufacture thereof. This invention relates to a solid state super capacitor comprising a solid state polymer electrolyte and a modified carbonaceous electrode. Said modified carbonaceous electrode comprises a conductive carbonaceous material covered with active ingredients. Said modified carbonaceous electrode and said solid state polymer electrolyte are layered on top of each other to form a sandwich-like structure. Said super capacitor performs much better than known super capacitor comprising liquid or gel-form electrolytes. Said super capacitor has higher conductivity, therefore can be manufactured without a current collector. Since said super capacitor contains solid state polymer electrolyte, the method of manufacturing said super capacitor is more environmentally friendly and has a higher safety level. |
| US08947850B2 |
Multilayer capacitor
A multilayer capacitor that can suppress electrostrictive vibration without material constraint and with applicability to various structures, including general-purpose structures. A multilayer capacitor has: an element body formed of dielectric ceramic; and a plurality of internal electrodes disposed inside the element body such that the internal electrodes are stacked with ceramic layers sandwiched therebetween. The multilayer capacitor is provided with a capacitor area which includes the plurality of internal electrodes and a first suppression area and a second suppression area for reducing electrostriction caused by the plurality of internal electrodes so as to suppress noise. The first suppression area is adjacent to the capacitor area and the thickness of the second suppression area is determined according to the arrangement of the plurality of internal electrodes. |
| US08947848B2 |
Smarter health conscious electroshock device with medical implant detection
An embodiment of the invention includes a device including at least one probe for delivering an electrical shock to a subject when the probe is in physical contact with the subject. A power source is connected to the probe for providing electrical power to the probe upon actuation of a trigger. The device further includes a medical device sensor for detecting signals emitted from a medical device present in the subject. In at least one embodiment, an alarm is connected to the medical device sensor, wherein the alarm provides an audio and/or a visual alert when the medical device sensor detects signals emitted from the medical device. In at least one embodiment, an override mechanism is connected to the medical device sensor, wherein the override mechanism prevents actuation of the trigger when the medical device sensor detects signals emitted from the medical device. |
| US08947844B2 |
Series type surge suppressor and clamping circuit
Various embodiments relate to a degrade-resistant surge suppressor that detects and suppresses surge events. The surge suppressor includes a high impedance high pass filter, one or more series inductors, and one or more capacitor banks. The capacitor bank may include a bridge rectifier circuit having two diodes and two SCRs (Silicon-Controlled Rectifiers), or a diode bridge rectifier fed by a TRIAC (Node for Alternating Current). The surge suppressor may further include a secondary trigger device to ensure proper attenuation of surge events. |
| US08947837B2 |
Overcurrent protection and fault isolation
An overcurrent fault protection method includes detecting an overcurrent fault in a variable frequency electric power generation system having a first main generator connected to a first alternating current bus through a first generator line contactor, a second main generator connected to a second alternating current bus through a second generator line contactor and an auxiliary power generator connected to a plurality of bus tie contactors, through a third generator line contactor, and connected to at least one of the first and second alternating current buses through the plurality of bus tie contactors, in response to detecting the overcurrent fault, locking out one or more of the plurality of bus tie contactors and in response to a continued detection of the overcurrent fault, opening at least one of the first second and third generator line contactors. |
| US08947836B2 |
Test device for buck circuit
A test device includes a transformer, a loop analyzer, and a protection circuit. The protection circuit includes a control unit, a signal acquisition and amplification unit, and an electronic switch. When the loop analyzer outputs a signal, the signal acquisition and amplification unit acquires the signal output from the loop analyzer, amplifies the acquired signal, and outputs the amplified signal to the control unit. The control unit transforms the received signal from analog form to digital form, and compares the digital signal with a reference value. If the digital signal is greater than the reference value, the control unit outputs a control signal to the electronic switch, to turn off the electronic switch. The signal output from the loop analyzer cannot be transmitted to a buck circuit. |
| US08947829B2 |
Tape head system with controllable electrostatic elements
A tape head system includes a read and/or write head having at least one read and/or write element configured to read from and/or write to magnetic tape and at least one electrostatic element arranged adjacent to the read and/or write element; and a controller configured to apply a potential to the at least one electrostatic element. |
| US08947824B1 |
Tape guide roller with serpentine flanges
A tape guide roller is provided for use with a tape drive configured to receive a length of tape. The tape guide roller includes a roller body having an outer surface for receiving the tape thereon, and flanges on opposite ends of the roller body. At least one of the flanges has a portion with a serpentine configuration in cross-section. |
| US08947823B1 |
Method and apparatus for detecting drive head touchdown
A method of detecting head touchdown in a storage device includes monitoring storage device head contact sensor signals, and processing the monitored storage device head contact sensor signals in a digital domain. The processing may occur in a data path of the storage device, such as the read channel of the storage device. The processing may monitor for head touchdown only during other than read operations. Further, during servo read operation, the storage device head contact sensor may continue to generate signals, and the storage device head contact sensor signals may be squelched. Storage device head contact sensor signals also may be squelched during intervals before and after the servo read operation. The processing may includes accumulating a moving sum of squares of the storage device head contact sensor signals, and comparing the moving sum of squares of the storage device head contact sensor signals to a threshold. |
| US08947819B1 |
Disk drive implementing hysteresis for primary shock detector based on a more sensitive secondary shock detector
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and control circuitry comprising a first shock detector and a second shock detector. A first number of shock events is detected based on the first shock detector, and when the first number of shock events exceeds an upper event threshold, a sensitivity of the first shock detector is decreased. After decreasing the sensitivity of the first shock detector, a second number of shock events is detected based on the second shock detector operating at a higher sensitivity than the first shock detector. When the second number of shock events falls below a lower event threshold, the sensitivity of the first shock detector is increased. |
| US08947817B1 |
Storage system with media scratch pad
A system or device that has a storage media and a storage controller configured to non-statically allocate a media scratch pad to one of a plurality of storage locations on the storage media. The plurality of storage locations may be, for example, on a disc surface, or on multiple disc surfaces. |
| US08947816B1 |
Data storage assembly for archive cold storage
A data storage assembly for cold storage. The data storage assembly includes a circuit board and a plurality of hard disk assemblies (HDA). Each HDA includes a platter and a head assembly to read and write data on the platter. The circuit board includes a processor and a memory. The processor acts as a hard disk controller for the plurality of HDAs and controls the platters. The processor further manages which HDAs are active at a time and the memory is shared by the plurality of HDAs. |
| US08947815B2 |
Disk storage apparatus and data storage method
According to one embodiment, a disk storage apparatus includes a disk, a detector, and a controller. The disk includes a first recording area for recording with a first track density, and a second recording area for recording with a second track density lower than the first track density. The detector is configured to detect a variation of an outside environment. The controller is configured to select a nonvolatile memory or the second recording area as a storage destination of write data transferred from a host, based on a content of the variation of the outside environment detected by the detector, and a state of capability or incapability of storage of the nonvolatile memory. |
| US08947812B1 |
Data storage device comprising equalizer filter and inter-track interference filter
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk. A read signal from the head is sampled to generate signal samples, and the signal samples are filtered with an equalizer filter to generate equalized samples. The equalized samples are filtered with an inter-track interference (ITI) filter to generate ITI attenuated samples, and a data sequence is detected based on the ITI attenuated samples. In one embodiment, the ITI filter comprises a transfer function: 1−HPF(ek) and in another embodiment the ITI filter comprises a transfer function: 1−LPF(ek) where ek represents a noise sequence in the equalized samples, HPF represents a high pass filter operating on ek, and LPF represents a low pass filter operating on ek. |
| US08947807B2 |
Independently driven write coils
A writer assembly having two separately driven write coils allows a combined write field generated by the writer assembly to be fine turned and optimized for a particular application. Two preamplifiers may be incorporated into a printed circuit board in order to separately drive the write coils. In other implementations, there may be more than two write coils and corresponding preamplifiers. |
| US08947806B1 |
Cross-talk compensation in array based reader systems
A method of enhancing read performance in array-reader hardware includes generating, by the array-reader hardware, a plurality of signals, according to data read from a magnetic disk, and canceling at least a portion of cross-talk in the plurality of signals to generate a plurality of corrected signals. |
| US08947804B2 |
Systems and methods for combined binary and non-binary data processing
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing system is disclosed that includes a combination data decoder circuit. The combination data decoder circuit includes: a non-binary data decoder circuit and a binary data decoder circuit. |
| US08947800B2 |
Thermally-resilient, broadband optical absorber from UV-to-IR derived from carbon nanostructures and method of making the same
A monolithic optical absorber and methods of making same. The monolithic optical absorber uses an array of mutually aligned carbon nanotubes that are grown using a PECVD growth process and a structure that includes a conductive substrate, a refractory template layer and a nucleation layer. Monolithic optical absorbers made according to the described structure and method exhibit high absorptivity, high site densities (greater than 109 nanotubes/cm2), very low reflectivity (below 1%), and high thermal stability in air (up to at least 400° C.). The PECVD process allows the application of such absorbers in a wide variety of end uses. |
| US08947793B2 |
Inner focus lens system and image pickup apparatus using the same
An inner focus lens system comprises, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit, an aperture stop, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, a third lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power. The first lens unit has at least one negative lens and at least one positive lens, the second lens unit has at least one negative lens and at least one positive lens, the third lens unit has at least one negative lens, and the fourth lens unit has at least one positive lens. When focusing on an object at a short distance from an object at infinity, the third lens unit moves to lengthen a distance to the second lens unit and to shorten a distance to the fourth lens unit. |
| US08947792B2 |
Projection lens and projection-type display apparatus using the lens
To provide a projection lens that is compact, lightweight, low-cost, and readily portable, a first lens having a positive power and at least one surface that is an aspheric surface; a second lens having a negative power and having a concave surface on the magnification side; a third lens having a positive power and having a convex surface on the reduction side; and a fourth lens having a positive power are arranged in order from the magnification side. In addition to arranging the lenses telecentrically on the reduction side, the following formulas are satisfied simultaneously, and images formed on the conjugation surface on the reduction side are enlarged and projected on the conjugation surface on the magnification side: formula (A) 0.8 |
| US08947789B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens has a negative first-lens, a first-cemented-lens of a second-lens and a third-lens, a stop, a positive fourth-lens, and a second-cemented-lens of a fifth-lens and a sixth-lens in this order from an object-side. The first-lens has a plano-concave or meniscus shape with a concave image-side surface. One of the second-lens and the third-lens is a positive lens and the other one is a negative lens. An object-side surface of the fourth-lens is a flat surface or a surface with a curvature radius having an absolute value greater than that of its image-side surface. One of the fifth-lens and the sixth-lens is a positive lens and the other one is a negative lens. |
| US08947788B2 |
Image lens assembly system
An image lens assembly system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, a sixth lens element and a seventh lens element. The first lens element with negative refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element has refractive power. The sixth lens element with refractive power is made of plastic material, wherein at least one surface of the sixth lens element is aspheric. The seventh lens element with refractive power made of plastic material has a concave image-side surface changing from concave in a paraxial region to convex in a peripheral region, and at least one surface thereof is aspheric. |
| US08947786B2 |
Variable magnification optical system and imaging apparatus
A variable magnification optical system includes, in order from the object side, a negative first lens group and a positive second lens group, wherein the interval between these lens groups in the optical axis direction is changed during magnification change. The most image-side lens and the second most image-side lens of the first lens group are a negative single lens with a concave surface facing the object side and a positive single lens, respectively. The second lens group includes, in order from the object side, a positive lens disposed at the most object-side position with at least one surface thereof being an aspherical surface, a first cemented lens formed by a negative lens and a positive lens, and a second cemented lens formed by a negative lens and a positive lens. |
| US08947785B2 |
Endoscope objective lens and endoscope
The endoscope objective lens is configured such that focusing from the farthest object to the nearest object is achieved by moving at least one lens group other than the most object-side lens group along the optical axis. One of the at least one lens group to be moved during focusing is a negative lens group. The one negative lens group that is moved during the focusing consists of a cemented lens that is formed by a positive lens and a negative lens cemented together in this order from the object side. The cemented surface of the cemented lens is oriented such that the concave surface faces the object side. Given conditional expressions are satisfied. |
| US08947780B2 |
Polarization module and image display apparatus
A polarization module includes: a polarizer; a plurality of first quarter-wave plates disposed over the polarizer such that their optical axes are tilted at 45 degrees with respect to the polarization axis of the polarizer; a plurality of second quarter-wave plates disposed over the polarizer such that their optical axes are tilted at 45 degrees with respect to the polarization axis of the polarizer in the direction opposite to the tilting direction of the optical axes of the first quarter-wave plates; and a transparent resin plate disposed over the plurality of first quarter-wave plates and the plurality of second quarter-wave plates and having optical isotropy. |
| US08947779B2 |
Apparatus for displaying a multi-view 3D image
An apparatus for displaying a 3-dimensional (3D) image, which is capable of providing a super multi-view, is provided. The apparatus includes: at least one image projector for projecting light including an image; an active optical element for adjusting a path of at least one light within a range of a predetermined angle; and a relay optical system for transmitting the at least one light to a pupil of a viewer. The apparatus provides a plurality of images in different views to the pupil using a time division method, by using the active optical element for adjusting the path of the at least one light. |
| US08947777B2 |
Multiple petal deployable telescope
An opto-mechanical deployable telescope includes a hub, at least one deployable multiple petal primary mirror mounted to the hub, a deployment assembly, and a deployment engine assembly. The deployment assembly is operable to move the at least one primary mirror between a stowed position and a deployed position. The deployment engine assembly is operable to power the deployment assembly using stored mechanical energy. The deployment assembly includes a kinematic or semi-kinematic interface between the hub and the at least one primary mirror to hold petals of the at least one primary mirror in alignment relative to each other in the deployed position. |
| US08947776B2 |
Suction apparatus, semiconductor device observation device, and semiconductor device observation method
A suction unit 10 includes a main body portion having a first surface 13 on which a semiconductor wafer W is arranged and a second surface 14 opposite to the first surface 13, and in which a through-hole 15 that penetrates through the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 is formed and a light transmitting portion having a light incident surface 16 and a light emitting surface 17, and which is fitted to the through-hole 15. Further, in the first surface 13, a first suction groove 13a for vacuum sucking the semiconductor wafer W to fix the semiconductor device D to the light incident surface 16 is formed, and in the second surface 14, a second suction groove 14a for vacuum sucking the solid immersion lens S to fix the solid immersion lens S to the light emitting surface 17 is formed. |
| US08947771B2 |
Optical amplifying device
The present invention provides an optical amplifying device which can be easily downsized, increased in output, and stabilized. An optical amplifying device 1A includes an optical amplifier 10A and an energy supplier 30. The optical amplifier 10A includes an optical amplifying medium 11 and a transparent medium 12. The energy supplier 30 supplies excitation energy (for example, excitation light) to the optical amplifying medium 11. The optical amplifying medium 11 is supplied with the excitation light to amplify light and output it. To-be-amplified light passes through the transparent medium 12 in the optical amplifying medium 11 a plurality of times. The transparent medium 12 can propagate the to-be-amplified light, for example, zigzag inside. |
| US08947766B2 |
Tunable optical frequency comb generator
An optical device comprising a tunable optical frequency comb generator. The comb generator includes an interferometer, and an optical feed-back loop waveguide. |
| US08947765B2 |
Light-emitting apparatus capable of adjusting a color of a projected light thereof
A light-emitting apparatus includes a light source to emit light, a photonic crystal to pass light of different wavelengths based on the light from the light source, and a projector to project the light passing through the photonic crystal. The photonic crystal may be electrically or mechanically controlled to pass the different wavelengths of light. |
| US08947762B2 |
Fine pixel pitch electrophoretic display
High display duty ratio and fast optical response electrophoretic display technology is presented by using an anti-ferroelectric coupling torque. The invention also consequently enables fine pixel pitch resolution by introducing photo lithography based switching element preparation method. Newly introduced casting film method for optical switching element preparation enables extremely fine size of switching element based on current well-established flat panel display volume manufacturing process. |
| US08947757B2 |
Electrochromic glazing with series connected cells, and production method therefor
An electrochromic glazing containing: a substrate including a layer structure thereon, which contains a first and second electrode layer, between which a first and second electrochemically active layer are situated, which each reversibly incorporate ions, wherein the first active layer contains an electrochromic material and the two active layers are separated from each other by an electrolyte layer, the layer structure being subdivided into series-connected electrochromic cells by a transition zone comprising: a first trench; a second trench; and a third trench between the first and second trenches, wherein the first and second trenches subdivide the first and second electrode layers into first electrode sections electrically insulated from each other and second electrode sections electrically insulated from each other, respectively, and the third trench is filled with an electrically conductive material, by which the first and second electrode sections of the cells adjacent the transition zone are electrically connected. |
| US08947756B2 |
Electrochromic material and electrochromic device including the same
An electrochromic material including a metal-organic framework including a metal, and an organic compound including a functional group, wherein the organic compound forms a coordination complex with the metal. |
| US08947754B2 |
Image processing device displaying a preview image and image processing method and program displaying a preview image
An image processing device includes an image reading part for reading an image of a document and generating image data, a preview image creation part for creating preview image from the image data generated by the image reading part, a display part capable of displaying at least one part of the preview image, an operation input part for receiving input in response to operation made by a user, a display area determination part for determining a part specified in response to operation made through the operation input part as a displaying area of the preview image, and a display control part for extracting an image responsive to the displaying area from the preview image and for displaying the extracted image on the display part. So, a load for user's operation for preview of an image read from a document may be reduced, and page update and others may be executed efficiently by reducing time to preview display. |
| US08947752B2 |
Image reader and sheet conveyer
A sheet conveyer including a first chassis and a second chassis, a conveying unit to convey a sheet in a conveying route between the first chassis and the second chassis, an emitter disposed on one of the first chassis and the second chassis and configured to emit ultrasonic waves toward the conveying route, a receiver disposed on the second chassis and configured to receive the ultrasonic waves and to output detecting signals, which are to be used to determine whether the sheet being conveyed in the conveying route includes multiple sheets, and a power source disposed on the second chassis and configured to supply power to the emitter, and the receiver, is provided. |
| US08947745B2 |
Apparatus and method for scanning and decoding information in an identified location in a document
A imaging scanner identifies first and second locations in a first and second captured image of a document, analyzes each character in the identified locations, and produces a first and second string, each including a character and a confidence value. The device determines that a first measurement of the confidence values in each of the first and second string is beyond a range of a first threshold. The device compares the confidence value for each character in the first string with a corresponding confidence value in the second string, selects a character from one of the first or second string with a higher confidence value; and produces a combined string including the selected characters and the confidence value associated with each selected character. |
| US08947736B2 |
Method for binarizing scanned document images containing gray or light colored text printed with halftone pattern
A method for binarizing a scanned document images containing gray or light colored text printed with halftone patterns. The document image is initially binarized and connected image components are extracted from the initial binary image as text characters. Each text character is classified as either a halftone text character or a non-halftone text character based on an analysis of its topology features. The topology features may be the Euler number of the text character; a text character with a Euler number below −2 is classified as halftone text. The gray-scale document image is then divided into halftone text regions containing only halftone text characters and non-halftone text regions. Each region is binarized using its own pixel value statistics. This eliminates the influence of black text on the threshold values for binarizing halftone text. The binary maps of the regions are combined to generate the final binary map. |
| US08947732B2 |
Print control device and print control method
An inverse image data generating unit that generates inverse image data that indicates a transparent developer amount that indicates an amount of a transparent developer, and a region where the transparent developer amount is used, based on a color plane image data that indicates a color developer amount that indicates an amount of a color developer, and a region where the color developer amount is used; a conversion unit that converts the transparent developer amount of the inverse image data into a transparent developer amount larger than the transparent developer amount by referring to a conversion table; and a transparent developer plane image data generating unit that generates transparent developer plane image data used in image formation of a transparent developer in an image forming apparatus based on the inverse image data indicating a transparent developer amount after the conversion. |
| US08947730B2 |
Colorimetric apparatus and colorimetric method
In an apparatus including an irradiation unit capable of irradiating a sheet selectively with visible light and ultraviolet light, and a measurement unit which measures a spectral reflectance based on light reflected by the sheet, whether to cause the irradiation unit to emit the ultraviolet light when measuring the spectral reflectance of a patch image printed on the sheet is determined based on the spectral reflectance of a reference image of the color of the sheet that has been measured by the measurement unit which measures a spectral reflectance while the ultraviolet light is emitted. |
| US08947729B2 |
Color processing apparatus, color processing method and storage medium
There is provided a color processing apparatus comprising: a calculation unit configured to calculate, for each of a plurality of light sources, a first colorimetric value that is obtained by measuring a color having a spectral reflectance indicated by spectral reflectance information under the light source; a mapping unit configured to obtain, for each of the plurality of light sources, a second colorimetric value by mapping the first colorimetric value of the light source within a gamut under the light source; a color separation unit configured to obtain the output information from a plurality of the second colorimetric values, by adjusting the output information such that an error between a colorimetric value obtained by measuring a color output by the image output apparatus according to the output information under each of the light sources and the second colorimetric value for the light source is minimized. |
| US08947728B2 |
Image forming apparatus which performs calibration for maintaining image quality
A luminance value for a second printing medium that has been obtained by reading a pattern image formed on the second printing medium different from a first printing medium is converted into a corresponding density value on the first printing medium. Calibration for the first printing medium can then be performed using the second printing medium. |
| US08947723B2 |
Output control apparatus, its control method, and computer-readable storage medium for determining an output layout of data to be output
An output control apparatus which performs output control of data displayed on a display unit includes a detection unit configured to detect an output apparatus located near the display unit, an acquisition unit configured to acquire arrangement position information indicating an arrangement position of the output apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine an output layout of the data according to a relationship between the arrangement position of the output apparatus indicated by the arrangement position information and a display position of the data displayed on the display unit, and a control unit configured to perform control to output the data from the output apparatus with the output layout determined by the determination unit. |
| US08947720B2 |
Communication terminal device, communication control method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing communication control program
There is provided a communication terminal device including a memory, a display, a selection operation accepting section, first and second wireless communication sections configured to perform data communication with a printer via first and second wireless communication, and a controller. In a case that the to-be printed file is a file in a particular non-support format, the first wireless communication section transmits the to-be printed file to a conversion device and obtains a to-be printed file, which has been converted to a support file at the conversion device. In a case that the second wireless communication is started and that the converted to-be printed image is not being obtained, a communication counterpart of the first wireless communication is changed to the printer. In a case that the converted to-be printed file is being obtained, the communication counterpart of the first wireless communication is maintained. |
| US08947718B2 |
Data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus includes a display portion, a control portion including a display control portion for causing the display portion to display a preview image of output target data, a touch sensor for receiving, on the display portion, a user operation for performing output setting for the output target data concerning the preview image, an output portion for outputting the output target data based on the output setting, and a control portion for, in a state where the display control portion arranges objects in page unit sequentially to be displayed as the preview image, when the touch sensor receives a predetermined pinch operation for the objects, performing page setting concerning the objects to be operated. |
| US08947715B2 |
Printer for displaying characters, block numbers and block break line
A printer is configured to print on a tape-type print medium. The printer includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that instruct the printer to perform a process including displaying, on a display portion, characters, a block break line, and block numbers in a case where print data include block data and block break data. The block break line is a line segment that indicates a break position between adjacent blocks of a plurality of blocks. Each of the plurality of blocks contains at least one line's worth of characters. The block numbers indicate sequence numbers for the plurality of blocks. The block data is data for the plurality of blocks. The block break data is data that indicate the break position. The plurality of blocks is to be printed in a first direction in which the plurality of blocks are arrayed. |
| US08947714B2 |
Service providing device, printing system control method, and storage medium
The service providing device transmits a registration screen to the information processing device upon receipt of a registration request of an image forming device from the information processing device, transmits a command for causing the information processing device to search the image forming device and to respond to the service providing device with a search result upon receipt of an instruction from the information processing device via a registration instruction unit displayed on a registration screen, registers the image forming device depending on information included in the search result responded according to the command, and initiates communication with the registered image forming device. |
| US08947713B2 |
System, method and server
A system has information processing devices and a server which controls information processing executed by the devices. One of the devices includes a querying part to transmit a query to the server whether the device is permitted to execute the information processing, a notifying part to notify the server of location information indicating a location of the device, and an executing part to execute the information processing in response to an instruction from the server. The server includes a receiving part to receive the query from the device, an identifying part to identify an area in which the device exists according to the information notified by the device which has transmitted the query, and an instructing part to instruct the device which has transmitted the query to execute the information processing based on how many other devices are executing the information processing in the area. |
| US08947707B1 |
Method and apparatus for printing raster page
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method. The method includes allocating, by a host computer, a bandwidth of a communication port to a printer that shares the communication port of the host computer with other peripheral devices, generating, by the host computer, a raster page having a file size smaller than a maximum file size, and transferring, by the host computer, the raster page to the printer at the bandwidth to satisfy a print rate of the printer. |
| US08947706B2 |
Information processing system and method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for using identification information, for first authentication to an information system, with a print service system that performs second authentication
An information processing system includes a setting unit and an identification information extracting unit. The setting unit obtains first identification information that is identification information of a user in an information system that performs first authentication, the identification information being input by the user for user authentication to an image forming apparatus connected to the information system, sends setting information including the first identification information to a print service system that performs second authentication, thereby establishing a logical printer in which the setting information is set in the service system, and sets, as identification information of a person who uses the logical printer, second identification information that is identification information of the user in the service system. The extracting unit receives, from the service system, print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus, and extracts and outputs the first identification information set in the received print data. |
| US08947704B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer-readable recording medium to selectively acquire and transmit registered information
By selecting information about print option processing to be performed on an image based on a user's instruction, the print option can be specified without a necessity of any complicated procedure, so that convenience of a user of a printing apparatus can be improved. |
| US08947700B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium to provide a screen
An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit and a provision unit. The receiving unit receives a display instruction regarding information about data whose printing is reserved from a device. The provision unit provides the device with a screen for displaying a reservation job including a print button for instructing print of data at a time of receiving reservation and a print button for instructing print of data at a time of receiving the display instruction in a case where the display instruction is received by the receiving unit and data at the time of receiving the reservation are different from data at the time of receiving the display instruction. |
| US08947695B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method and computer-readable record medium
An information processing device equipped with a data generating unit which generates print data from original data based on setting information (information on parameters which are selected in regard to multiple setting items, respectively) comprises an object generating unit which generates an object corresponding to possible setting information and a display control unit which makes a display unit display the objects which have been generated by the object generating unit while relatively increasing display level of relevant objects (objects relevant to an application that generated the original data) compared to other objects. |
| US08947694B2 |
Peripheral device control system, printing device, peripheral device control method, and program
An application in an image processing apparatus presents information about ink installed in a peripheral device, such as the shape, color, size, arrangement direction, and a remaining ink level of an ink tank, in a visually realistic manner using accurate graphics. The image processing apparatus acquires ink information about, in particular, a remaining ink level, arrangement direction, and the order of the arrangement of the ink tank, and displays the information about the peripheral device in a user interface of the application using the acquired ink information. |
| US08947693B2 |
Server system, method for printing system, and storage medium
The server system changes a state of a printer object to a shared state to cause a second user different from a first user to be able to use the printer object upon receipt of a sharing instruction with respect to the printer registered on a print service by the first user, and deletes at least printer authentication information within the printer object in a shared state upon receipt of a deletion instruction for deleting the printer registered on the print service. |
| US08947692B2 |
Image forming apparatus, power management apparatus and method of controlling the same
A power management apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a communication unit configured to receive information on a price of power and communicate with image forming apparatuses, and a control unit configured to control image forming apparatuses to operate at a normal mode and/or a power saving mode by comparing the information received on the price of power with information on a standard price of power. A user may conduct a printing at a desired time to minimize inconvenience. A mode of the power management apparatus is determined according to the price of power such that a plurality of image forming apparatuses are operated at a normal mode when the price of power is low, and at least one image forming apparatuses is operated at a normal mode when the price of power is high, thereby reducing cost and enhancing the efficiency in managing the power. |
| US08947691B2 |
Printing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium
A printing apparatus enables specifying a mode shift before execution of a new job to be entered, making it possible to reduce the time period during which a user needs to wait before performing sheet processing. |
| US08947689B2 |
Information processing apparatus having reliable display screen control within printer driver, storage medium, and control method thereof
An information processing apparatus is configured to display a consent screen when a printer driver is to be installed without using an installer even if approval has once been obtained from a user. |
| US08947686B2 |
Printing apparatus and printing method
A printing apparatus includes a controller; and an engine including a first printing unit and a second printing unit. Each of the first and second printing units includes a data management unit configured to manage a piece of image data transferred from an upper level apparatus, one or more output units, and an output control unit configured to output an image based on the piece of image data to one of the one or more output units. The controller is configured to receive control information indicating a printing condition from the upper level apparatus, produce print management tables for the respective pieces of image data, on the basis of the control information, cause the upper level apparatus to transfer the pieces of image data to the data management units on the basis of the print management tables, respectively. |
| US08947685B2 |
Method for selecting interpreters for PDF direct printing
A method implemented in a printer for PDF direct printing. The printer includes a PDF interpreter such as APPE (Adobe PDF Print Engine), and at least one other interpreter also capable of interpreting PDF data, such as a PostScript interpreter. The printer automatically selects either APPE or the PS interpreter or both to interpret a PDF document. If the PDF document is PDF/VT, PDF/X-4 or later, then APPE is selected. If the PDF document is not one of these versions but contains transparency data, APPE is selected to interpret the pages containing transparency data, and the other pages may be interpreted using the PS interpreter. If the PDF document is not one of the above versions and contains no transparency data, the PS interpreter is selected. Other factors such as the busy status of the interpreters may be considered in making the selection. |
| US08947684B2 |
Printing apparatus and processing method therefor
A printing apparatus includes a first processor which is connected to a first memory and converts print data into an image data format based on a page description language, a second processor which is connected to a second memory and performs image processing for print data of the image data format to generate data of a format interpretable by a printing unit, and a communication control unit which externally receives print data and transfers the received print data to either the first memory or second memory based on a descriptor. The second processor determines the format of received print data. When the print data has the page description language format, the first memory is set as the transfer destination in the descriptor. When the print data has the image data format, the second memory is set as the transfer destination in the descriptor. |
| US08947683B2 |
Printing apparatus and method for controlling printing apparatus
A method for controlling a printing apparatus includes holding a plurality of jobs including a cover job having print data for a cover and a content job having print data for content, which are used in bookbinding processing, and performing control for displaying, on a display, a correspondence relationship between the cover job and the content job. |
| US08947672B2 |
Systems and methods for artifact suppression by frequency shifting or cavity length adjustment
Swept source designs that eliminate or significantly reduce artifacts in optical coherence tomography are presented. One embodiment of the present invention is a source design that frequency shifts the coherence revival interference signal to a frequency larger than the A/D detection bandwidth or the post-processing bandwidth. In another embodiment, the introduced frequency shift is large enough to introduce a Doppler shift of the modes of the laser, which causes a blurring of the comb function, and thus eliminates or reduces mode hopping. In another embodiment, adjusting the cavity optical path length prior to data acquisition depending on the given optical layout configuration to reduce or eliminate coherence revival artifacts is described. |
| US08947665B2 |
Measurement method, measurement apparatus, exposure method, and exposure apparatus
To perform high-speed and highly accurate measurement by setting desired measuring conditions for each measuring object. In an alignment sensor of exposure apparatus, in the case of performing position measurement for a plurality of sample shots, measurement is performed by changing the measuring conditions, in response to a measuring axis direction, a mark or a layer whereupon a mark to be measured exists. At that time, for the measuring objects to be measured under the same measuring conditions, for example, a position in a Y axis direction and a position in an X axis direction, measurement is continuously performed. When the measuring condition is changed, a baseline value is remeasured. The changeable measuring conditions are wavelength of measuring light, use and selection of a retarder, NA and σ of an optical system, a light quantity of measuring light, illumination shape, signal processing algorithm, etc. |
| US08947663B2 |
Dual-modulation faraday rotation spectroscopy
A dual-modulation Faraday rotation spectroscopic (FRS) system is disclosed. The FRS system uses an FRS sample cell configured to subject a sample to a low frequency modulated magnetic field. The system includes a polarized laser light source configured to generate a high frequency wavelength-modulated light beam incident on the sample, the high frequency wavelength-modulated light beam being modulated at a higher frequency than the low frequency modulated magnetic field. A polarizer is configured to receive from the sample a transmitted light beam having a modulated polarization having a polarization rotation and translate the modulated polarization of the transmitted light beam into an intensity modulated beam. A photodetector is configured to detect the intensity modulated beam and generate a photodetector signal. A dual demodulator is coupled to the photodetector and is configured to demodulate the photodetector signal. |
| US08947662B1 |
Methods and apparatus for biomedical agent multi-dimension measuring and analysis
This invention, methods and apparatus for biomedical agent multi-dimension measuring and analysis, provide the multi-dimension measuring of the biomedical agents, cells, molecules, any and all explosive and hazardous agents, aerosol, airborne particles, liquid/fluid contaminations/particles, gas particles, etc. in order to recognize the multi-dimension size of the particles, select and sort them by their multi-dimension measurements, and count the particles in each sorted group. An improved apparatus for biomedical agent multi-dimension measuring and analysis comprises at least two light (laser) beam sources and at least two light detection means respectively located in the chamber. Also, the improved apparatus includes the amplifying, processing and control means providing distinguish and imaging of the particles/biomedical agents by their multi-dimensions, thereby, providing more precise agent grouping for analysis and counting. |
| US08947661B2 |
High numerical aperture light scattering instrument for detecting particles in fluid
A device (FIG. 2) that uses light to detect particles in fluid is disclosed. The device incorporates a lens and reflector on a flow cell to increase the numerical aperture of a subsequent light collection system without any increase in spherical aberration. |
| US08947654B2 |
Flow cell assembly for liquid sample analyzer
A flow cell assembly for use in a liquid sample analyzer including a radiation source, a sensing device and a liquid sample source to supply a liquid sample includes an entrance joint member, a liquid core waveguide, a liquid sample feed tube, and an input optical fiber. The entrance joint member includes a waveguide receiving bore and a feed tube receiving bore. The liquid core waveguide is mounted in the waveguide receiving bore and defines a waveguide bore. The liquid sample feed tube is mounted in the feed tube receiving bore such that the liquid sample feed tube is in fluid communication with the waveguide bore to fluidly connect the liquid sample source to the waveguide bore. The input optical fiber is mounted in the entrance joint member to transmit radiation from the radiation source to the waveguide bore, which radiation is transmitted through the waveguide bore and the liquid sample therein to the sensing device. |
| US08947652B2 |
Photoelectric sensor
The disclosure provides a photoelectric sensor that provides useful information to set measurement conditions. The photoelectric sensor includes a light emitting unit having a light emitting element configured to emit detection light toward a detection area, a light receiving unit having a light receiving element configured to receive the detection light from the detection area and to obtain a detection value corresponding to the amount of light received, and a display unit configured to display information about the detection value in the light receiving unit. When the detection value varies across a predetermined threshold, the display unit displays a transit time that is the time from when the detection value crosses the predetermined threshold until when it crosses the predetermined threshold again, and a variation amount of the detection value in the variation. |
| US08947649B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining optical center in camera module
An apparatus and method for determining optical center in camera module are provided, the method for determining optical center in camera module according to an exemplary embodiment comprising receiving a target image from a camera module including a lens; generating an error data, which is a difference between a pixel value of the target image and a pixel value of a Gaussian distribution image; and determining the optical center of the lens based on the error data. |
| US08947648B2 |
Systems and methods for signal processing in optical imaging systems
Systems, devices and methods of producing an image are provided. A electro-magnetic radiation source provides electro-magnetic radiation to a sample and a reference. A detector/interferogram unit produces at least one interferogram that is supplied to a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit extracts phase, magnitude, and/or polarization data from the supplied signals, and produces an image based on at least the extracted data. |
| US08947644B2 |
Using multiple waveforms from a coherent LADAR for target acquisition
In one aspect, a method includes transmitting a tone waveform from a laser detection and ranging (LADAR) sensor, detecting a target using an echo of the tone waveform reflected from the target, determining a radial velocity of the target using the echo of the monotone waveform from the target, transmitting, from the LADAR sensor, linear frequency modulation (FM) chirp signals and determining a range to target using echoes from the linear FM chirp signals. |
| US08947642B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating model parameters of and controlling a lithographic apparatus by measuring a substrate property and using a polynomial model
System and methods estimate model parameters of a lithographic apparatus and control lithographic processing by a lithographic apparatus. An exposure is performed using a lithographic apparatus across a wafer. A set of predetermined wafer measurement locations is obtained. Discrete orthonormal polynomials are generated using the predetermined substrate measurement locations. The overlay errors arising from the exposure are measured at the predetermined locations to obtain overlay measurements. The estimated model parameters of the lithographic apparatus are calculated from the overlay measurements by using the discrete orthogonal polynomials as a basis function to model the overlay across the wafer. Finally, the estimated model parameters are used to control the lithographic apparatus in order to provide corrected overlay across the wafer. |
| US08947638B2 |
Actuation system and lithographic apparatus
Actuation systems and lithographic apparatus which address the issue of uncontrolled return of common mode currents are provided. In an embodiment such systems aim to prevent the occurrence of corona and discharge between high voltage electric cables in low pressure environments. An exemplary actuation system includes comprises an actuator module, a power source and power transmission cables. The actuator module includes an electrical motor and a first plurality of shielded cables configured to connect to the electrical motor at one end. The actuator module is located in a low pressure environment and each shield of the first plurality of cables is grounded. The transmission cables electrically connect the first plurality of cables with power supply, and include an extra cable configured to connect each shield of the first plurality of cables with the first extra cable, via a choke so as to provide a return path for common-mode currents. |
| US08947635B2 |
Illumination optical system, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
According to one embodiment, an illumination optical system is provided with an optical integrator which forms a predetermined light intensity distribution on an illumination pupil plane in an illumination optical path of the illumination optical system with incidence of exposure light from a light source device thereinto; a transmission filter arranged on the reticle side with respect to the optical integrator and in a first adjustment region set including the illumination pupil plane in an optical-axis direction of the illumination optical system, and having a transmittance characteristic varying according to positions of the exposure light incident thereinto; and a movement mechanism which moves the transmission filter along the optical-axis direction in the first adjustment region. |