| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08977761B2 |
System and method for enabling product development
A comprehensive platform for developing digital products. A standardized process is applied to a product development effort and an online portal provides tools to aid the product development, assessment, funding and commercializing products. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between users. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. |
| US08977757B2 |
Method of discovering operator-provided network services using IMS
A method, session managing node and arrangement for providing a network service address of at least one network service of a first operator IMS network to a third party service provider (3PSP) are disclosed, wherein the 3PSP has no business agreement with the first operator. A first application of a mobile station communicates with a second application via a first network, resulting in the setup of an IMS session between the mobile station and the 3PSP. A network service address of at least one network service, provided by the first operator IMS network, is inserted into a SIP message of the IMS session in a session managing node of the first operator IMS network and delivered to the 3PSP, where it is forwarded to the second application. If required, the second application may access the one or more network services via the first network, using the retrieved network address. |
| US08977745B2 |
Methods, communication networks, and computer program products for monitoring, examining, and/or blocking traffic associated with a network element based on whether the network element can be trusted
A communication network is operated by determining whether a network element can be trusted and monitoring traffic associated with the network element based on whether the network element can be trusted. At least some of the monitored traffic may be selected for examination based on the degree of trust for the network element. At least some of the monitored and/or examined traffic is selected to be blocked based on the degree of trust for the network element. |
| US08977740B2 |
Portable terminal receiving remote support, remote support method, program, operator system, operator server, and operator terminal for remote support
When not the target device accessed by an operator terminal but other devices communicatably connected therewith have problems, the setting operation and the status viewing of the device with a problem are enabled through the target device accessed by an operator terminal. The portable terminal detects the electric appliance connected with a local area network connected with the portable terminal, in response to an instruction from the operator terminal. The portable terminal enables the setting operation and the status viewing of the electric appliance from the operator terminal based on the determined model related information, so that the problem of the electric appliance can be solved. |
| US08977736B2 |
Virtual machine migration
A source virtual machine (VM) hosted on a source server is migrated to a destination VM on a destination server without first powering down the source VM. After optional pre-copying of the source VM's memory to the destination VM, the source VM is suspended and its non-memory state is transferred to the destination VM; the destination VM is then resumed from the transferred state. The source VM memory is either paged into the destination VM on demand, or is transferred asynchronously by pre-copying and write-protecting the source VM memory, and then later transferring only the modified pages after the destination VM is resumed. The source and destination servers preferably share common storage, in which the source VM's virtual disk is stored; this avoids the need to transfer the virtual disk contents. |
| US08977734B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting data
In a method for transmitting data of various traffic types an xDSL modem is utilized. Detectors are used to detect the traffic types of the data which are to be transmitted and the detected traffic types are taken as a basis for dynamically adjusting a data transmission rate for the xDSL modem. |
| US08977733B1 |
Configuring host network parameters without powering on a host server
Techniques are provided to adjust network settings for network connectivity resources used by a host server. A network card device, coupled to the host server, receives instructions to adjust network settings associated with the host server. Power is received from the host server at the network card device in order to allow the network card device to configure the network settings while the host server is in a standby mode. The network card device receives commands to adjust the network settings while the host server is in the standby mode. |
| US08977732B2 |
Service usage terminal, service providing terminal, control method of service providing terminal, control method of service providing terminal and service providing system
A communication control section according to the invention receives communication data on a transport layer from a service providing terminal which provides service in a higher layer than the transport layer, and a CPU performs a stopping process of a session layer relating to the service, when the communication data on the transport layer which is received by the communication control section relates to a stop request of the service. The CPU receives a trigger relating to the stop of the service, and the communication control section transmits the communication data on the transport layer including a request to the higher layer relating to the stop request of the service, to the service providing terminal, when the CPU receives the trigger. |
| US08977728B1 |
Maintaining IP tables
Data including a set of one or more resources and one or more associated IP addresses is updated based on monitored DNS responses. A request is received from a client device for a resource identified by an IP address. The IP address is matched to one of the IP addresses in the set of one or more IP addresses. A particular resource associated with the matched IP address is identified. A particular network policy that applies is identified. The identified particular network policy is applied to the received request. |
| US08977726B2 |
Logical networks
An invention is provided for creating logical network abstractions of physical networks, and deploying computer services to physical networks based on a specified logical network. In an embodiment, a physical network is divided into one or more logical networks. Upon receiving an indication to deploy a computer service to a logical network, a mapping from that logical network to a sub-network of the physical network is determined, the service is configured to execute on the sub-network of the physical network, and an indication of this configuration of the service is stored. |
| US08977721B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic prioritization of content listings
A method for presenting content to a client device through a platform server includes detecting a selection of current content at the platform server. An attribute of the current content is identified. Additional content based on the attribute is identified. A representation of the additional content configured to be displayed at the client device is transmitted. A selection of the additional content is detected at the platform server. The attribute is revised based on the selection of the additional content. A representation of revised content configured to be displayed at the client device is transmitted. The revised content is based on revising the attribute. |
| US08977719B1 |
Content oriented copyright display
A server supporting mapping applications serves map data to a client device. The map data includes one or more references to copyright information about a feature or image in the map data. The reference may be used to locate the copyright data when the feature is requested and the copyright information is also served to the client device. Alternatively, copyright information can be associated with a tile that includes some or all of the features. When map data contains copyrighted content, a size threshold of the feature or zoom level can be used to determine if the copyright information is to be displayed. |
| US08977716B2 |
Information processing device, method, and program
The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program for easily acquiring information. A television receiver accesses an application server and acquires an application list therefrom. When an application is selected from the application list, the television receiver again accesses the application server and acquires the selected application therefrom. While executing a process based on the acquired application, the television receiver accesses a content server as needed and acquires content data therefrom. The acquired application and content data are deleted from a storage unit when an end of the process based on the application is designated. The present invention applies to television receivers which acquire data via a network. |
| US08977710B2 |
Remote selection and authorization of collected media transmission
A personal media system implemented as a tuple service allows remote access, selection, authorization, and transmission of personal media stored in a collection on a home network across a network to a guest network. A mobile client device enables browsing/searching for content, shows media players within a domain, finds a media player within a domain for a given media type, gets a media object, and renders a media object on a given media player within a domain. Each gateway has an agent that registers to the server and responds to commands from the server. The server acts as a hub for moving digital content objects between domains, provides media services on behalf of domains (e.g., transcoding, proxy streaming, etc.), provides a web interface to mobile client devices for control over user domains, sends commands to the personal media agents, and creates an accessible set of domains for a user. |
| US08977707B2 |
Delivering offers
A method and system for delivering offers is provided. The method includes enabling for a user via a device, a Web browser and an associated URL. A processor determines a manufacturer and model of the device and that the device is associated with a shared device list. A user agent receives the manufacturer and model of the device and the processor transmits the user agent, the manufacturer and model of the device, and the associated URL. The manufacturer and model of the hardware device is extracted from the user agent and a rules engine is evaluated with respect to the manufacturer and model of the device. Specified content associated with the device is determined based on results of the evaluation. The specified content is transmitted to the Web browser. |
| US08977703B2 |
Clustering without shared storage
One embodiment involves communicatively connecting a master node and a plurality of slave nodes in a cluster without shared storage where each node has a separate repository. Each node in the cluster without shared storage can be configured to exclusively update its repository. The method may include receiving a lock request from a first slave node in the cluster without shared storage. The lock request may be associated with an update request received by the first slave node. The lock request can indicate that the first slave node requires exclusive write access to a data item in the repository of the first slave node. The method includes sending a response to the first slave node granting the lock request based at least in part on data in the repository of the master node. The response may authorize the first slave node to append data to the data item in the repository of the first slave node. |
| US08977701B2 |
Portfolio optimization for media merchandizing
Embodiments are directed towards modifying when to publish content to a channel for distribution based on monitored actions associated with previously published content. A plurality of publishing slots may be determined from a plurality of time slots. Each publishing slot may indicate a time to publish content to the channel. Content may be published to the channel at each of the plurality of publishing slots. User actions associated with the published content may be monitored. The plurality of publishing slots may be ranked based on these monitored actions. At least one of the plurality of publishing slots may be modified to a different time slot based on the rankings of the publishing slots. The publication of content at a publishing slot may be delayed based on a success of other content published at a previous publishing slot being above a threshold. |
| US08977698B2 |
Tagging content within a networking environment based upon recipients receiving the content
A networking environment accessible by a plurality of computing devices is established to facilitate communications between participants associated with the computing devices, where content is generated and shared by participants via the networking environment. An item of content is shared with a group of recipients associated with computing devices via the networking environment, where the shared item of content includes one or more tags associated with the content, and each tag includes an initial weight value associated with the tag. A relevance factor associated with the group is determined, where the relevance factor is based upon information obtained from profiles of recipients from the group, and the initial weight value of each tag associated with the shared item of content is adjusted based at least in part upon the collective relevance factor associated with the group. |
| US08977696B2 |
Declassifying of suspicious messages
Handling a message comprises: classifying an incoming message for a recipient, storing the classified message and providing a notification to the recipient, wherein the notification includes summary information about the classified message and an interface that allows the recipient to operate on the classified message. |
| US08977695B2 |
System and method for message recall in a unified messaging system
A method and system for managing messages in a unified messaging (UM) platform to enable message recall is disclosed. The UM platform deposits a message from a sender into a UM mailbox of a recipient. It is then determined whether the sender of the message is a UM subscriber. If the sender is a UM subscriber, a copy of the message or a link to the message is deposited into a UM mailbox of the sender. The UM platform then provides a message recall option with the copy of the message or the link to the message in the UM mailbox of the sender. If the sender is not a UM subscriber, a recall message including a randomly generated message recall URL is sent to the sender. This allows the sender to select the randomly generated message recall URL to send a message recall request to the UM platform. |
| US08977694B2 |
Methods and apparatus to identify session users with cookie information
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to identify session users with cookie information. An example method includes identifying activity associated with a first cookie having a first type, in response to identifying the first, parsing the first cookie to identify a first panelist, when the first cookie includes an identifier associated with a first panelist, associating current usage activity of the computing device with the first panelist, and when the first cookie includes an identifier unassociated with the first panelist, associating current usage activity of the computing device with a guest. |
| US08977692B1 |
Automated handling of electronic bankruptcy notifications
Automated handling of a notification from a federal court is provided in which its disposition is determined responsively to data contained in the notification, or to data that relates to a matter referred to in the notification. In an illustrative example, an email application identifies an email as a bankruptcy notification. An automated notification handling system enhances the data in the notification email by supplementing the notification email data with related data that is matched from a case management system database, and further follows links in the notification email to download documents that are filed with the court. The documents are copied to storage or appended to the enhanced notification email data. The disposition of the notification is determined by invoking rules responsively to the enhanced notification email data which is then sent, using rules-based routing, to an appropriate destination to be handled, stored or deleted as required. |
| US08977685B2 |
Moderating content in an online forum
Users of social networking system are provided with user interface elements permitting the user to post comments on pages within the social networking system. Pages may be provided for any non-user entity, including for example, pages for businesses, products, concepts, etc. Embodiments provided herein permit page moderators to ban certain content from being displayed on a page. For example, the social networking system may receive a list of proscribed content and block comments containing the proscribed content by reducing the distribution of those comments to other viewing users. However, the social networking system may display the blocked content to the commenting user such that the commenting user is not made aware that his or her comment was blocked, thereby providing fewer incentives to the commenting user to spam the page or attempt to circumvent the social networking system filters. |
| US08977680B2 |
Systems and methods for shared access to gaming accounts
A web server provides a host website to receive user profile and financial information to establish user gaming accounts that are shared by a plurality of on-line gaming venues. Each gaming venue, operated by different entities, provides gaming activities on a respective website. The host website provides a plurality of links to the participating on-line gaming venues and each gaming venue has shared access to the same user gaming account to facilitate user participation. |
| US08977679B2 |
Launching an instance in a virtual computing infrastructure
Launching an instance in cloud computing environment having a plurality of computing nodes is described. At a user's home cloud system, a request is received from the user to launch an instance of an object. At the home cloud system, a designated remote cloud system is determined from a federated plurality of remote cloud systems based on the request. The request is translated into a format suitable for the designated remote cloud system. The translated request is communicated to the designated remote cloud system. The instance of the object is launched at the designated remote cloud. |
| US08977674B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing bookmark information for content stored in a networked media server
A method and apparatus for managing bookmark information of a media server through a network based on the UPnP AV standard is disclosed. If a request for bookmarking a content item is made, a bookmark item is created and the created bookmark item is linked to the content item by adding the ID of the created bookmark item to the property information of the content item and recording the ID of the content item to be bookmarked in the created bookmark item. |
| US08977673B2 |
Information on availability of services provided by publish-subscribe service
A request pertaining to a category of service is received from a client by an enterprise service bus. One or more status updates are received from a publish-subscribe service by the enterprise service bus, the status updates identifying services of the requested category that are available, wherein each service of the requested class publishes a status update to a syndication feed that is associated with at least one of the service or the category of service. Information concerning at least one service from the requested category is sent to the client. |
| US08977670B2 |
Processor pipeline which implements fused and unfused multiply-add instructions
Implementing an unfused multiply-add instruction within a fused multiply-add pipeline. The system may include an aligner having an input for receiving an addition term, a multiplier tree having two inputs for receiving a first value and a second value for multiplication, and a first carry save adder (CSA), wherein the first CSA may receive partial products from the multiplier tree and an aligned addition term from the aligner. The system may include a fused/unfused multiply add (FUMA) block which may receive the first partial product, the second partial product, and the aligned addition term, wherein the first partial product and the second partial product are not truncated. The FUMA block may perform an unfused multiply add operation or a fused multiply add operation using the first partial product, the second partial product, and the aligned addition term, e.g., depending on an opcode or mode bit. |
| US08977650B2 |
Scalable summarization of data graphs
Keyword searching is used to explore and search large Resource Description Framework datasets having unknown or constantly changing structures. A succinct and effective summarization is built from the underlying resource description framework data. Given a keyword query, the summarization lends significant pruning powers to exploratory keyword searches and leads to much better efficiency compared to previous work. The summarization returns exact results and can be updated incrementally and efficiently. |
| US08977649B1 |
Generating suggestions for user groups in social networks
Implementations of the present disclosure include providing a suggested social circle includes generating a list of contacts who, based on first predetermined criteria, are to be considered for potential inclusion in a social circle to be suggested to a particular user and generating an edge and vertex-weighted graph representation that indicates a strength of the particular user's affinity to each of the contacts. A set of vertices in the graph that has a high overall score based on predetermined factors is identified. After determining that the contacts corresponding to the identified set of vertices should be presented as a suggested social circle to the particular user, social circle data corresponding to the suggested social circle is transmitted, to a client device associated with the particular user, to display a representation of the suggested social circle on the client device. |
| US08977645B2 |
Accessing a search interface in a structured presentation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs stored on computer storage media, for accessing a search interface from a structured presentation. One aspect can be embodied in machine-implemented methods that include the actions of displaying a structured presentation on a display device, receiving data characterizing a user interaction with the displayed structured presentation, the data including a specification of a first instance and a first attribute of the structured presentation, and displaying a formerly concealed search interface on the display device in response to receiving the data. |
| US08977644B2 |
Collaborative search results
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing alternative search results for a query. In one aspect, a method includes transmitting a set of one or more search results for a query to a client device for presentation to a user, where each search result refers to a respective resource, receiving from the client device an alternative search result submitted by the user for the query, associating the alternative search result with the query, and storing in a repository the query and the alternative search result, where the alternative search result is transmitted with the set of one or more search results for a new search of the query. |
| US08977643B2 |
Dynamic asset monitoring and management using a continuous event processing platform
The disclosed architecture leverages realtime continuous event processing (CEP) to address using a general input interface framework to import a dynamic set of event types (e.g., assets), and using a declarative, expressive query model to implement monitoring and management tasks on an asset level. This is in contrast to looking separately at single values from static databases and/or realtime streams as is common conventionally. The architecture uses the CEP data model to model assets as realtime event types. Thus, queries can be formulated per asset and not just per single stream. The architecture uses the query capabilities of CEP to formulate asset management and monitoring tasks as standing, declarative queries, and uses the input interface of a CEP platform to correlate data from different data sources with different dynamic properties. |
| US08977642B2 |
Recommending relevant and personalized content accessing keywords for users of a text messaging service based global textsite platform
A method and system for recommending relevant and personalized content retrieving keywords to users of a text messaging service (TMS) based content platform. Embodiments of the invention provide a discovery mechanism for introducing registered keywords identifying published information in the TMS based content platform that may be of interest to the user. In particular, the solution is hybrid in nature combining various sources of recommendations (e.g., based on past usage patterns, emerging trends, expert suggestions, etc.) to select recommended keywords. Based on this keyword discovery/recommendation mechanism, users with a basic phone and without smartphone data plans can discover contents through a TMS based content platform. |
| US08977640B2 |
System for processing complex queries
A method of processing a supply query is described. The method includes receiving a first supply query comprising a first set of attributes. A size of the first set of attributes is compared to a threshold value. A second supply query comprising a second set of attributes is generated when the comparison indicates that the size of the first set of attributes is greater than the threshold value. |
| US08977635B2 |
Device, method of processing data, and computer-readable recording medium
A device includes a memory configured to store a program; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute a process based on the program. The process includes: for input data made of a combination of pieces of unit data and including a plurality of consecutive records each including data of a plurality of items, when a sequence of type information indicating a kind of each piece of the unit data in the input data is divided into partial sequences each having a certain length, analyzing a break position of the records in the input data by determining, as a length of each of the records, the length of each of the partial sequences when sequences of type information in all the partial sequences correspond to each other. |
| US08977625B2 |
Inference indexing
Methods, systems, and media are provided for facilitating generation of an inference index. In embodiments, a canonical entity is referenced. The canonical entity is associated with web documents. One or more queries that, when input, result in a selection of at least one of the web documents are identified. An entity document is generated for the canonical entity. The entity document includes the identified queries and/or associated text from the content of a document or from an entity title that result in the selection of the at least one of the web documents. The entity document and corresponding canonical entity can be combined with additional related entity documents and canonical entities to generate an inference index. |
| US08977623B2 |
Method and system for search engine indexing and searching using the index
Data indexing includes receiving data from a data source; classifying the data into one of a plurality of categories according to a predetermined data classification criteria; establishing a corresponding relationship between the data and an index associated with the data, the index having a preset maximum capacity; and recording the relationship between the data and the index. The index is one of a plurality of indices, and each of the plurality of indices is exclusively written by an index writing device. |
| US08977621B1 |
Search engine optimizer
A search engine optimizer that works independently and in parallel with a browser and search engine supercomputer to gather, analyze, and distill input information interactively. The optimizer reorganizes the input, and provides an optimized version as an output. The optimized version of the input (e.g. output) is sent to the search engine, which responds to the end user with search results. The optimizer recognizes each request as a pattern and stores the pattern in an advanced Glyph format. This permits the optimizer to identify a left and right side human brain checkmate combination required to achieve certitude. |
| US08977620B1 |
Method and system for document classification
A method and system of classifying documents is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of documents from at least one user, wherein each document includes information relating to a customer support issue or sentiment and identifying at least one customer support issue or sentiment contained within each document. The method also includes classifying the documents satisfying a confidence threshold using a classifier, clustering the remainder of the plurality of documents into groups using a clustering engine, the clustering engine applying a word analysis, and outputting a frequency of each identified customer support issue or sentiment, the frequency based on the classifying or the clustering. |
| US08977614B2 |
Associative search engine
This invention relates to an advertisement machine which provides advertisements to a user searching for desired information within a data network. The machine receives, from a user, a search request including a search argument corresponding to the desired information and searches, based upon the received search argument, a first database having data network related information to generate search results. It also correlates the received search argument to a particular advertisement in a second database having advertisement related information. The search results together with the particular advertisement are provided by the machine to the user. |
| US08977613B1 |
Generation of recurring searches
Some embodiments provide a method for generating a recurring search for a research system that identifies documents as relevant to particular categories. The method generates a set of categories to include in the recurring search based on an identified user objective and an initial category by using relationship data that defines several different types of relationships between several different categories. The recurring search identifies documents from a particular period of time identified as relevant to the set of categories. The method identifies an optimal set of filters for removing specific types of documents that are relevant to the set of categories from the recurring search. |
| US08977609B1 |
Providing a search result based on an input including a time specification
Systems and methods for providing a search result are provided. In some aspects, a method includes receiving a query. The method also includes providing a first set of search results responsive to the query. The method also includes receiving a selected search result in the first set of search results. The method also includes determining a time specification based on the selected search result. The method also includes providing a second set of search results responsive to the query and the time specification. |
| US08977605B2 |
Structured match in a directory sponsored search system
A method for processing structured search queries received at an internet search includes receiving at the internet search site a structured search query containing a user's search intent and other pertinent information about the user and the site. The structured search query is constructed as a conforming structured search string. The method further includes parsing the structured search query based on a grammar published for affiliates or partners to construct the structured search query. Still further, the method includes extracting individual breadcrumbs from the structured search query that were used to build the structured search query. This includes decoding the position and meaning of each respective breadcrumb in the structured search query. The method further includes forming match tokens from the identified individual breadcrumbs and combinations of breadcrumbs. Still further the method includes matching listings stored in a search listing database with the formed match token strings, forming a search result list, and ranking elements of the search result list according to strength of match tokens to the original user search intent. |
| US08977600B2 |
System and method for continuous analytics run against a combination of static and real-time data
A system for continuous analytics comprises an in-memory storage and a processor. The processor receives a query that indicates an analytic function to be performed on a combination of static data and real-time data. The processor loads the in-memory storage from a first source external to the processor with data that was stored as the static data. At the same time that the in-memory storage is already loaded with the static data, the processor continuously receives ephemeral real-time data as it is being generated by a second source external to the processor. The processor runs the analytic function from the query against the in-memory storage loaded with the first data and the real-time data that is being continuously received, in combination, to produce a result of the analytic function. The result is stored and time-stamped in the in-memory storage as an analytic cube. |
| US08977598B2 |
Systems and methods for on-line backup and disaster recovery with local copy
Systems and methods are disclosed for rapidly restoring client data set for a computer by storing the client data and one or more pat sets required to revert to one or more version of the client data on a remote server; storing a local copy of the replicated client data on a local data storage device coupled to the computer; receiving a request to revert to a predetermined version of the client data; using the local copy as a seed, receiving a patch set corresponding to a predetermined version; and updating the local copy using the patch set to generated the predetermined version. |
| US08977595B1 |
Message-recovery file log locating and monitoring
A method, system, and medium are provided for monitoring the data volume in a file log associated with a program (e.g., a queue manager) in a failover computing environment. A failover computing environment includes pairs of programs capable of performing the same functions. One program in the pair is the primary program and the other is the backup program. Only one of the two programs is active at any given time. Embodiments of the present invention may identify the file directory for each program installed on a computing device. The location of each file log may be determined by accessing a core-configuration file in the file directory associated with the program. The program only has access to the core-configuration file when the program is active. Once the file log is located, the file usage may be ascertained and compared with a threshold usage. |
| US08977589B2 |
On the fly data binning
A computer-implemented method, a computer-implemented system, and a computer program product for data binning are disclosed. In a first aspect, the computer-implemented method comprises in response to a determination that a data value is greater than an estimated maximum data value, calculating a new bin position for the data value by adding multiples of a bin width to the estimated maximum data value until a bin where the data value belongs is found. |
| US08977587B2 |
Sampling transactions from multi-level log file records
A log file contains operation records, each operation record is of a certain type, and each operation record is associated with a transaction. A plurality of operation records is read from the log file into a record store. Records of the plurality of operation records of each operation record type are sampled at a predefined sampling rate. Operation records in the plurality of operations records are identified that are associated with completed transactions of which the sampled operation records are associated. The identified operation records are then extracted from the record store into a data store. |
| US08977584B2 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for a digital conversation management platform
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A DIGITAL CONVERSATION MANAGEMENT PLATFORM (“DCM-Platform”) transforms digital dialogue from consumers, client demands and, Internet search inputs via DCM-Platform components into tradable digital assets, and client needs based artificial intelligence campaign plan outputs. In one implementation, The DCM-Platform may capture and examine conversations between individuals and artificial intelligence conversation agents. These agents may be viewed as assets. One can measure the value and performance of these agents by assessing their performance and ability to generate revenue from prolonging conversations and/or ability to effect sales through conversations with individuals. |
| US08977579B2 |
Latent factor dependency structure determination
Disclosed is a general learning framework for computer implementation that induces sparsity on the undirected graphical model imposed on the vector of latent factors. A latent factor model SLFA is disclosed as a matrix factorization problem with a special regularization term that encourages collaborative reconstruction. Advantageously, the model may simultaneously learn the lower-dimensional representation for data and model the pairwise relationships between latent factors explicitly. An on-line learning algorithm is disclosed to make the model amenable to large-scale learning problems. Experimental results on two synthetic data and two real-world data sets demonstrate that pairwise relationships and latent factors learned by the model provide a more structured way of exploring high-dimensional data, and the learned representations achieve the state-of-the-art classification performance. |
| US08977572B2 |
Systems and methods for patient-controlled, encrypted, consolidated medical records
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for managing medical information. Certain embodiments provide a system for managing medical information. The system includes a data center for centrally storing patient medical data as unstructured encrypted data. The system also includes a patient interface providing storage and retrieval of patient medical data at the data center. The patient interface communicates with the data center to transmit encrypted patient medical data to the data center. The encrypted patient medical data is encrypted at the patient interface using a patient encryption key assigned to a patient. The patient interface is further configured to receive encrypted patient medical data from the data center and decrypt the patient medical data using the patient encryption key assigned to the patient. |
| US08977570B2 |
System and method including chip-based device processing for transaction
Present embodiments are directed to a server computer. The server computer establishes a first channel of communication to receive payment device data in a first format (e.g., chip type) and establishes a second channel to receive the payment device data in a second format (e.g., legacy type). The server computer receives an authorization request message in the second format from a merchant and generates a new authorization request message in the first format. The server computer then forwards the new authorization request to the issuer for approval. |
| US08977565B2 |
Interprogram communication using messages related to groups of orders
A trading platform and trading method that allows access to additional pools of liquidity is described. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08977562B2 |
System and method for detecting digital media status in a sorter
The present invention provides for automation of the process of ensuring that the contents of the return mailed digital media, comprising a disc enclosed in a sleeve, is correct for redistribution. A camera on a sorting machine is used to scan a first code on a hub of the disc through a sleeve opening. The camera also scans a second code printed on the sleeve. The sorter computer compares the first and second codes to determine whether the first and second codes correspond. If the first and second codes do not correspond, the sorter outsorts the mailed digital media so that the mismatch problem can be corrected. In a further embodiment, the system detects whether there are more or less than a single disk in the mail package. In the preferred embodiment, the mailed digital media is further composed of an envelope that receives and encloses the sleeve. The sorter scanner scans first code is further comprised of scanning the first code through an envelope opening, preferably the same envelope opening used for scanning of the first code. |
| US08977561B2 |
Caching item information in a cloud-based point of sale system
Mechanisms are provided, in a data processing system, for retrieving and utilizing item information to perform a transaction. The mechanisms receive an identification of an item present in a detection field of the item identification system. A determination is made as to whether valid item information for the item is present in a cache of the data processing system in response to detecting the item as being present in the detection field of the item identification system. If valid item information is present in the cache, the valid item information is retrieved from the cache. If valid item information is not present in the cache, the valid item information is retrieved from a remotely located cloud computing system. The transaction is performed based on the valid item information. |
| US08977560B2 |
Cross-browser, cross-machine recoverable user identifiers
Methods and systems to identify a user across multiple browsers and machines are described. In some embodiments, a web request is received at a retrieval service from a browser. The web request may include a request to access a retrieval service website of the retrieval service and may be initiated by a redirection of the browser from a requesting service to the retrieval service. A unique identifier associated with a user logged in to an account of the retrieval service may be determined. The user may be logged in to the account via the browser. A redirect request is sent from the retrieval service to the browser. The redirect may include the unique identifier and may redirect the browser from the retrieval service website to the requesting service. The unique identifier may be used by the requesting service to perform additional functionality specific to the user. |
| US08977559B2 |
Interactive marketing system
An interactive direct response system combines the use of short text message systems transmitted via GSM-SMS enabled cell phones with a database and website to enable advertisers to view in real time customer responses to a direct response campaign. Customers are invited to respond to a defined advertisement on for example a billboard by responding to a single telephone number associated with the website by sending a text message linked to that particular advertisement, i.e. a single word. A computer receives and analysis the responses and sends an acknowledgement message to the customer. |
| US08977558B2 |
Methods, apparatus and systems for facilitating generation and assessment of engineering plans
Electronically generating an engineering plan for installation of equipment, such as cable system equipment, at a work site. First geographic information relating to a first location of the work site is compared with second geographic information representing a second location of an engineer generating the engineering plan (or of a plan generating tool being used by the engineer to generate the plan) to verify that the engineer/tool is sufficiently near to the work site. A digital image of a geographic area including the work site is displayed on the plan generating tool, and user input is acquired from the engineer (e.g., via a user input device associated with the plan generating tool) relating to at least one first position, relative to the displayed digital image, representing a first equipment location of at least a first piece of the equipment to be installed at the work site. A marked-up digital image including at least one first digital representation of the first piece of the equipment placed on the displayed digital image is generated, based at least in part on the user input, and information relating to the marked-up digital image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to generate the engineering plan. |
| US08977556B2 |
Voice detector and a method for suppressing sub-bands in a voice detector
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a voice detector receiving an input signal that is divided into sub-signals that represent a frequency sub-band. The voice detector calculates, for each sub-band, a signal-to-noise (SNR) value based on a corresponding sub-signal for each sub-band and a background signal for each sub-band. The voice detector also calculates a power SNR value for each sub-band, where at least one of the power SNR values is calculated based on a non-linear function. The voice detector forms a single value based on the calculated power SNR values and compares the single value and a given threshold value to make a voice activity decision presented on an output port. |
| US08977553B2 |
Dynamic adjustment of text input system components
Dynamic adjustment of text input system components is provided. An indication of user activity with respect to a text input system of an electronic device is received. One or more activity indicators are determined based on at least the user activity. One or more components of the text input system are identified, each component providing a typing assistance functionality to a user and being associated with a set of parameters. For each of the one or more components, a determination is made whether the component should be adjusted based on the one or more activity indicators, and the component is dynamically adjusted when it is determined that the component should be adjusted based on the one or more activity indicators. Dynamically adjusting the component includes at least one of activating the component, deactivating the component or adjusting the set of parameters associated with the component. |
| US08977551B2 |
Parametric speech synthesis method and system
The present invention provides a parametric speech synthesis method and a parametric speech synthesis system. The method comprises sequentially processing each frame of speech of each phone in a phone sequence of an input text as follows: for a current phone, extracting a corresponding statistic model from a statistic model library and using model parameters of the statistic model that correspond to the current frame of the current phone as rough values of currently predicted speech parameters; according to the rough values and information about a predetermined number of speech frames occurring before the current time point, obtaining smoothed values of the currently predicted speech parameters; according to global mean values and global standard deviation ratios of the speech parameters obtained through statistics, performing global optimization on the smoothed values of the speech parameters to generate necessary speech parameters; and synthesizing the generated speech parameters to obtain a frame of speech synthesized for the current frame of the current phone. With this solution, the capacity of an RAM needed by speech synthesis will not increase with the length of the synthesized speech, and the time length of the synthesized speech is no longer limited by the RAM. |
| US08977547B2 |
Voice recognition system for registration of stable utterances
A voice recognition system includes: a voice input unit 11 for inputting a voice uttered a plurality of times; a registering voice data storage unit 12 for storing voice data uttered the plurality of times and input into the voice input unit 11; an utterance stability verification unit 13 for determining a similarity between the voice data uttered the plurality of times that are read from the registering voice data storage unit 12, and determining that registration of the voice data is acceptable when the similarity is greater than a threshold Tl; and a standard pattern creation unit 14 for creating a standard pattern by using the voice data where the utterance stability verification unit 13 determines that registration is acceptable. |
| US08977544B2 |
Method of quantizing linear predictive coding coefficients, sound encoding method, method of de-quantizing linear predictive coding coefficients, sound decoding method, and recording medium and electronic device therefor
A quantizing method is provided that includes quantizing an input signal by selecting one of a first quantization scheme not using an inter-frame prediction and a second quantization scheme using the inter-frame prediction, in consideration of one or more of a prediction mode, a predictive error and a transmission channel state. |
| US08977542B2 |
Audio encoder and decoder and methods for encoding and decoding an audio signal
The present invention relates to a frequency domain based method of encoding and decoding an audio signal, wherein an adaptive spectral code book is updated with synthesized frequency domain representations of a time domain signal segment. A frequency analysis is performed of a received time domain signal segment in order to obtain a frequency domain representation, and the adaptive spectral code book is searched for a first approximation of the frequency domain representation. A fixed spectral code book is searched for an approximation of the residual frequency representation. A synthesized frequency domain representation may be generated from the two approximations. |
| US08977541B2 |
Speech processing apparatus, speech processing method and program
The present invention relates to a speech processing apparatus, a speech processing method and a program which, when multichannel audio signals are downmixed and coded, prevent delay and an increase in the computation amount upon decoding of the audio signals. An inverse multiplexing unit (101) acquires coded data on which a BC parameter is multiplexed. An uncorrelated frequency-time transform unit (102) performs IMDCT transform and IMDST transform of frequency spectrum coefficients of a monaural signal (XM) obtained from this coded data to generate the monaural signal XM) which is a time domain signal and a signal (XD′) which is substantially uncorrelated with this monaural signal (XM). The stereo synthesis unit (103) generates a stereo signal by synthesizing the monaural signal (XM) and the signal (XD′) using the BC parameter. The present invention is applicable to, for example, a speech processing apparatus which decodes a downmixed and coded stereo signal. |
| US08977537B2 |
Hierarchical models for language modeling
The described implementations relate to natural language processing, and more particularly to training a language prior model using a model structure. The language prior model can be trained using parameterized representations of lexical structures such as training sentences, as well as parameterized representations of lexical units such as words or n-grams. During training, the parameterized representations of the lexical structures and the lexical units can be adjusted using the model structure. When the language prior model is trained, the parameterized representations of the lexical structures can reflect how the lexical units were used in the lexical structures. |
| US08977536B2 |
Method and system for translating information with a higher probability of a correct translation
A system with a nonstatistical translation component integrated with a statistical translation component engine. The same corpus may be used for training the statistical engine and also for determining when to use the statistical engine and when to use the translation component. This training may use probabilistic techniques. Both the statistical engine and the translation components may be capable of translating the same information, however the system determines which component to use based on the training. Retraining can be carried out to add additional components, or when after additional translator training. |
| US08977533B2 |
System and method for detecting unreachable states in a statemate statechart model
The present invention provides a system and method for detecting unreachable states in a large commercial Statemate Statechart model. A system for checking the reachability of any given state in a Statemate Model, the said system comprises: an input means for receiving an Original Statemate Model (OSM), output means for displaying the result to a user, and a processor, wherein the processor is capable of executing the programmed instructions to: transform the OSM into First Statemate Model (FSM) by using translator; transform the OSM into Second Statemate Model (SSM) based on the determined length of the super step such that the set of all initial configurations of the SSM is a superset of all the stable configurations of the OSM by using translator; check the reachability of states of the OSM in the SSM by using bounded model checker (BMC); and send the result to the output means. |
| US08977528B2 |
Bonded rework simulation tool
A method and apparatus may be present for managing rework. A section in a platform having a number of composite materials needing a rework may be identified to form an identified section. A selected rework process to perform the rework of the identified section may be identified. The selected rework process may comprise a process to bond a patch to the identified section. A computer system may perform a simulation of the selected rework process to determine whether the selected rework process provides the rework for the identified section. The simulation may include a thermal analysis. The thermal analysis may take into account a number of structures associated with the identified section. The number of structures associated with the identified section may be located within a distance of the identified section such that the number of structures affect or are affected by bonding of the patch to the identified section. |
| US08977521B2 |
Creating and linking 3D spatial objects with dynamic data, and visualizing said objects in geographic information systems
A method and system of creating and linking 3D spatial objects with dynamic data, and visualizing said objects in geographic information systems (GIS) that includes a front end for a user interface, a database at the back end, and an application layer which processes the data sent between interface and database. A method of generating and uploading Keyhole Markup Language (KML) rings is disclosed. Furthermore, a user specifies a search location, and is shown a view of the available space indicated on the buildings by KML code which is assembled from the database by the system. A method for creating, linking and displaying a three-dimensional spatial object is also disclosed, as well as a method of generating a visual flight between several geographical points, showing the KML structures during the flight. Lastly, a method of showing a cardinal view from a floor of a building in a GIS is disclosed. |
| US08977518B2 |
Device and method for performing a functional test on a control element of a turbo engine
A turbomachine has a first process control element, a second process control element, and a test system for testing the first process control element. The first process control element and the second process control element influence the same process variable. To test the first process control element, the test system changes the process variable by means of the second process control element. This change in the process variable caused by the second process control element is compensated again by means of the first process control element. |
| US08977516B2 |
Encoder system, signal processing method, and transmission signal generation and output device
An encoder system includes: a first single-rotation absolute encoder that outputs a first signal corresponding to an angular position of a first rotatable shaft; a power transmission device that transmits the power of the first shaft to a second rotatable shaft with a predetermined transmission ratio; a second single-rotation absolute encoder that outputs a second signal corresponding to an angular position of the second shaft; and a signal processing section that generates data related to the rotation count of the first shaft based on at least the first signal and the second signal. |
| US08977514B2 |
Thermal activity detection and response
A device may receive thermal event data corresponding to thermal activity. The thermal event data may be received from a sensor device corresponding to a detection zone. The device may determine whether the thermal event data exceeds a detection threshold. The device may create a response to the thermal event data when the thermal event data exceeds the detection threshold. When the thermal event data does not exceed the detection threshold, the device may disregard the thermal event data. |
| US08977506B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting biological features
A computer having a memory stores instructions for receiving data. The data comprises one or more characteristics for each cellular constituent in a plurality of cellular constituents that have been measured in a test organism of a species or a test biological specimen from an organism of the species. The memory further stores instructions for computing a model in a plurality of models, wherein the model is characterized by a model score that represents the likelihood of a biological feature in the test organism or the test biological specimen. Computation of the model comprises determining the model score using one or more characteristics for one or more cellular constituents in the plurality of cellular constituents. The memory also stores instructions for repeating the instructions for computing one or more times, thereby computing the plurality of models. The memory also stores instructions for communicating computed model scores. |
| US08977504B2 |
Substance monitoring and control in human or animal bodies
Apparatus for monitoring a substance in human or animal in real time, the apparatus comprising a sensor providing a time series of measurements of substance level, said measurements being indicative of an inferred level of said substance in a part of said human or animal and a processor which applies an interacting multiple model strategy to a system model to provide a combined estimate of the inferred substance level from the substance level measurements. The substance may be glucose. The apparatus may also be adapted to control said substance using said interacting multiple model strategy to a system model to provide a combined estimate of a dose to be applied. |
| US08977500B2 |
Dielectric spectroscopy for downhole fluid analysis during formation testing
An apparatus for estimating a property of a downhole fluid, the apparatus includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating the Earth; a downhole fluid extraction device disposed at the carrier and configured to extract the downhole fluid; and a dielectric spectrometer disposed at the carrier and configured to transmit electromagnetic energy into the extracted downhole fluid at a plurality of frequencies and to measure a plurality of responses to determine a permittivity of the extracted downhole fluid as a function of frequency; wherein the permittivity is used to estimate the property. |
| US08977497B2 |
Presenting a travel route
Techniques are provided for presenting a route using a route presentation that provides both a context map and one or more detail route maps. Narrative instructions for the route also may be presented. The presentation of the context map and the one or more detail route maps may be interactive. The route presentation also may be user controllable such that a user may control the portions of a route that are printed. The route presentation also may include a re-routing feature that allows a user to request that a new route be identified that avoids a particular maneuver or maneuvers in a route. |
| US08977493B2 |
Self-position measuring terminal
An information processing apparatus including a positioning unit that determines a position of the information processing apparatus based on an external signal; a sensor unit that detects a change in position of the information processing apparatus; and a processing unit that measures, according to a change in position detected at the sensor unit, an amount of displacement of the information processing apparatus from a first time when the positioning unit starts to determine the position of the information processing apparatus to a second time when the positioning unit completes determining the position of the information processing apparatus; and identifies a position of the information processing apparatus at the first time by compensating the position of the information processing apparatus determined by the positioning unit at the second time with the amount of displacement of the information processing apparatus. |
| US08977492B1 |
Temporary, location-dependent clock presentation system, device, and method
Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating a temporary, pop-up, location-dependent clock to the pilot of an aircraft. A clock generator may be configured to retrieve approach procedure data representative of waypoint location such as the location of a final approach fix; receive navigation data representative aircraft location information; determine the passing of the waypoint inbound to the applicable airport; and perform one repetitive clock operation of a plurality of repetitive clock operations upon the passing of the waypoint, wherein an image data set is generated and provided to one or more display units. The image data set could be representative of (1) a pop-up timer displaying a counting down of time from the manually-initialized, estimated time, or (2) a pop-up stopwatch displaying a counting up of time when the estimated time is not manually initialized. |
| US08977482B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating flight-optimizing trajectories
An apparatus for generating flight-optimizing trajectories for a first aircraft includes a receiver capable of receiving second trajectory information associated with at least one second aircraft. The apparatus also includes a traffic aware planner (TAP) module operably connected to the receiver to receive the second trajectory information. The apparatus also includes at least one internal input device on board the first aircraft to receive first trajectory information associated with the first aircraft and a TAP application capable of calculating an optimal trajectory for the first aircraft based at least on the first trajectory information and the second trajectory information. The optimal trajectory at least avoids conflicts between the first trajectory information and the second trajectory information. |
| US08977481B1 |
Unmanned aircraft navigation system
A method and apparatus for assisting in management of a number of unmanned aerial vehicles. Symbols used to display a number of pre-planned routes for the number of unmanned aerial vehicles are identified on a top-down view of the number of pre-planned routes. Flight information with respect to time for the number of unmanned aerial vehicles on a number of timelines is displayed using the symbols identified as being used to display the number of pre-planned routes for the number of unmanned aerial vehicles on the top-down view of the number of pre-planned routes. |
| US08977480B2 |
Detecting location, timetable and travel time estimations for barrier crossing in a digital map
A method for determining barrier crossing information for convoyed objects (22) using historic trajectory data (28). Trajectories (28) having similar geographical and directional properties are bundled so that trajectory density can be measured as a function of position and time (s, t). Visual presentation of the trajectory information can be used to determine certain types of barrier crossing information useful in a digital map. Frequency analysis on a number of trajectory density time series may be performed to determine specific barrier crossing locations (26) through the detection of vehicle bursts. Such frequency analysis may also indicate barrier crossing times and schedules in the case of crossing patterns. |
| US08977479B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining traffic conditions
A system includes a vehicle processor configured to detect one or more brake presses. The processor is also configured to detect one or more accelerator presses. Further, the processor is configured to add values related to the brake presses and accelerator presses to aggregate an index value based on detected brake and acceleration presses. The processor is additionally configured to enact a safety and convenience related measure based on the index value passing at least a first predetermined threshold. |
| US08977478B2 |
Method of setting a control parameter for emissions robustness
A method of verifying a default state of a control parameter in an automobile engine includes checking engine controller performance with the control parameter in both a default state and an alternate state. The results of the tests are then compared to verify which state is the appropriate state for the particular engine being tested. A third engine controller performance check can be made to ensure that the controller and engine perform in a repeatable manner prior to setting the state of the control parameter. |
| US08977472B2 |
Fuel injection control system for direct-injection engine
In an engine of a direct-injection type, a split injection (a fuel injection in an intake stroke and a fuel injection in a compression stroke) is carried out. A compression-stroke injection amount is gradually decreased or increased when the split injection is carried out. Engine rotational speed, which varies by combustion of such injected fuel, is detected for respective fuel injection amounts, which are varied (decreased or increased) as above. Such a fuel injection amount, with which the engine rotational speed becomes maximum, is calculated and set as a basic injection amount for the compression-stroke injection. The fuel injection in the compression stroke is then controlled based on the basic injection amount. |
| US08977471B2 |
Controller for internal combustion engine
A multicylinder engine is provided with a fuel injector for each cylinder. An ECU defines a fuel injection condition of the fuel injector based on an engine driving condition and executes a fuel injection control for each cylinder based on the defined fuel injection condition. The ECU computes an engine speed with respect to each cylinder. While the engine is running, the fuel injection condition is operated in an operation cylinder. A fuel property is determined based on the engine speed of the operation cylinder and an engine speed of a non-operation cylinder. |
| US08977470B2 |
Method and system for sampling intake manifold pressure
An engine system and method for improving sampling of a port throttle pressure sensor. In one example, the port throttle pressure sensor is sampled a plurality of times during a cylinder cycle and different engine operating conditions are determined from selected samples. The system and method may improve engine air-fuel control as well as engine diagnostics. |
| US08977464B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing driving assistance
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for performing driving assistance for a controlled vehicle, involving determining a longitudinal acceleration target value on the basis of a lateral acceleration of the controlled vehicle and one or more setting parameters, and controlling a longitudinal acceleration of the controlled vehicle on the basis of the calculated longitudinal acceleration target value. According to the invention, a lateral acceleration acting, during cornering, on a proceeding vehicle, which moves in the longitudinal direction on the road ahead of the controlled vehicle, is estimated, and the one or more setting parameters for the calculation of the longitudinal acceleration target value are set based on the estimated lateral acceleration acting on the proceeding vehicle during cornering. |
| US08977461B2 |
Vehicle control system
When the operating speed of an accelerator pedal is higher than a given operating speed, a target acceleration as a target output value is multiplied by a gain so that an absolute value of the target acceleration is increased; therefore, a large acceleration requested by the driver can be achieved. The gain by which the target acceleration is multiplied is set to 1 when the target acceleration is about zero, so as to resume a condition where the absolute value of the target acceleration is not increased. Thus, when the control of increasing the absolute value of the target acceleration with the gain is stopped, an elevation change is less likely or unlikely to occur in the actual acceleration. Consequently, a desired acceleration is generated without causing the driver to feel uncomfortable during driving of the vehicle. |
| US08977452B2 |
Controller and control method for vehicle
In a vehicle control, an automatic transmission is shifted using a predetermined shift model, which determines control operation amounts for achieving shift target values, by setting the shift target values on the basis of a torque on an output shaft-side rotating member and a speed variation amount of an input shaft-side rotating member, setting the control operation amounts on the basis of a torque on the input shaft-side rotating member, a torque capacity of an engaged-side engagement device during shifting and a torque capacity of a released-side engagement device during shifting and setting torque shares of a transmission torque between the engaged-side engagement device and the released-side engagement device during shifting when the transmission torque is converted to the torque on the input shaft-side rotating member, and timing at which the torque shares are varied is changed on the basis of a shift pattern. |
| US08977450B2 |
Automatic gear-shifting bicycle with optimal shift timing
An automatic gear-shifting bicycle includes: a bicycle body provided with two cranks, two pedals and a derailleur, a power supply module, a microcomputer, a gear shifting control driver, and a pedal position sensor module installed in the bicycle body corresponding to the cranks and electrically coupled to the microcomputer for enabling the microcomputer to determine the angular position and forward/backward pedaling of the cranks. The microcomputer calculates the optimal shift timing subject to the time point the crank to be moved over the pedaling dead point in the next time, the pedaling speed to be below a predetermined speed value or the cranks are been pedaling backwardly. |
| US08977446B2 |
Driving support device
Provided is a driving support device that allows a driver to confirm the travelling routes of the wheels of a vehicle from an image indicating the circumference of the vehicle.The driving support device includes: an imaging unit which takes a travelling direction image by shooting in the travelling direction of a vehicle; a steering angle detection unit which detects the steering angle of the vehicle; a route image generation unit which predicts travelling routes of wheels provided on the travelling direction side of the vehicle, and generates a route image that indicates the travelling routes of the wheels as seen from the viewpoint of the imaging unit; a superimposed image generation unit which generates a superimposed image by superimposing the route image on the travelling direction image; and an image display unit which displays the superimposed image. |
| US08977445B2 |
System and method for dig detection
A system for determining an operational state of a machine is provided. The system includes an implement position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of a position of an implement. The system further includes a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a pressure of a cylinder of the machine. The system also includes a controller communicably coupled to the implement position sensor and the pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive the position signal and the pressure signal. The controller is further configured to determine a weight of a payload of the machine based on the received signals. Further, the controller is configured to determine a dig status of the machine based, at least in part, on a rate of change of the weight of the payload and the position of the implement. |
| US08977439B2 |
Vehicle imaging system providing multi-stage aiming stability indication
A system is provided for controlling equipment of a controlled vehicle, including: an imaging system including an image sensor configured to acquire images of a scene external of the controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images; and a controller in communication with the imaging system. The controller is configured to receive and analyze the image data, to generate a control signal that is used to control the equipment, and to automatically aim the image sensor. The controller may analyze the image data to determine a stability state for the aim of the image sensor. The control signal may include an aim stability indication. |
| US08977438B2 |
Vehicle steering apparatus, method and non-transitory computer readable medium
According to a relaxation length compensation torque computation section 54 of a vehicle steering apparatus 100, a relaxation length compensation torque is computed based on (1) a front wheel actual steering angular velocity computed from a motor rotation angular velocity input by a front wheel actual steering angular velocity computation section 52, and based on (2) a transfer function that is (a) expressed using a difference between a road surface reaction torque model and a referential reaction torque model and that is (b) determined according to a vehicle velocity input by a vehicle velocity sensor 20. A power steering controller 58 adds the relaxation length compensation torque to an assistance torque, and controls an EPS motor 3 so as to generate the assistance torque to which the relaxation length compensation torque has been added. The relaxation length compensation torque is thereby computed with good precision, enabling high handling performance to be achieved. |
| US08977432B2 |
Vehicular steering control apparatus
An ECU executes steering control in a vehicle including an electronic control power steering apparatus. In the steering control, it is determined that an assist motor is in a power generating state when a motor rotation speed ω which is the rotation speed of the assist motor is greater than an upper limit rotation speed ω1 set according to a motor command voltage Vq that is the driving voltage of the assist motor. When the assist motor is in the power generating state, the ECU interrupts the supply of current to the assist motor by controlling a relay portion of a drive apparatus that drives the assist motor so that it is open, thereby reducing the amount of power that is generated to zero. Also, when returning to an assist possible state, assist torque Tm is changed gradually with zero as the initial value in order to prevent it from changing suddenly. |
| US08977431B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting or modifying programmable parameter in power driven wheelchair
A method and apparatus for setting or modifying a programmable operating parameter associated with a power driven wheelchair is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) operating a user interface device associated with a power driven wheelchair in a programming mode, b) selecting a programmable operating parameter associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device, c) selecting a value for the programmable operating parameter using the user interface device, and d) saving the selected value for the programmable operating parameter in a portion of a storage device associated with the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device. A method and apparatus for selecting one or more programmable parameter sets from a portable storage medium and saving the selected sets to a local storage device associated with a power driven wheelchair and vice versa is also provided. |
| US08977428B2 |
Vehicle drive support device
A GPS and a map information database acquire information regarding an arrow light which displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a particular direction, such as a red arrow light. A display and a loudspeaker supply information to a motorist of a host vehicle based on the information acquired by the GPS and the map information database, or a brake ECU and a brake actuator brake the host vehicle without depending on the manipulation by the motorist based on the information acquired by the GPS and the map information database. As a result, it is possible to correctly support driving even when a red arrow light or the like for prohibiting travel in a right turn direction. |
| US08977416B2 |
Electric vehicle and method for controlling emergency thereof
An electric vehicle includes a sensor unit for measuring a vehicle state, an interface unit for receiving vehicle control setting parameters from a vehicle driver, a main controller for operating and controlling the electric vehicle in response to input data from the sensor unit and the interface unit, and a sub controller for diagnosing the main controller in response to state information and driving information received from the main controller, and performing emergency control of the vehicle when a malfunction occurs in the main controller, instead of the main controller, The sub controller, under the emergency control, controls acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, establishes a limit range of speed and torque of the vehicle, and controls the vehicle to be driven within the limit range. |
| US08977414B2 |
Train control system
A train control system of the present invention includes: an on-board device 1 that is mounted on a train and has an vehicle radio set VRS1 capable of performing wireless communication; fixed radio sets (WRS1 to WRS7, and SRS1) that are disposed along the railroad track R and capable of performing wireless communication by a time division multiple access method with the vehicle radio set VRS1; and a ground device 2 that calculates distance from a train A to a stop point before a preceding train B on the basis of the location information of the train A obtained by the wireless communication between the vehicle radio set VRS1 and the fixed radio set. The on-board device 1 generates a stop pattern on the basis of the distance, and performs a travel control so that the train A travels at a speed equal to or less than the stop pattern. |
| US08977412B2 |
Automatic flight control method for a rotorcraft enabling the rotorcraft to maintain a path by tracking manual flight controls
A method of enabling an autopilot (9) to cause a rotorcraft (1) to follow a path. At least one guide mode (G) relative to at least one progression axis (P, R, V, Y) of the rotorcraft (1) is selected by the rotorcraft pilot. Said selection causes the selected guide mode (G) to be inhibited (19) and causes a path setpoint (C) to be acquired (20) from the pilot of the rotorcraft (1) operating a manual control member (4) for controlling the progression of the rotorcraft (1). The path setpoints (C) relating to other guide modes (G) of the rotorcraft (1) that continue to be engaged are conserved in their initial states and the autopilot (9) adapts the commands relating to the progression axes (P, R, V, Y) relating to these other guide modes (G). |
| US08977406B2 |
Power supply system, power supply control method, power supply control device and program
A power supply system includes: a plurality of power supply devices; a battery device; an abnormal state detection unit that detects a state of a first power supply device is an abnormal state; and a switching control unit that, when it is detected the state of the first power supply device is the abnormal state, switches a state from an electric power input forbidding state in which electric power is not inputted into a second power supply device to an electric power input permitting state in which electric power is inputted into the second power supply device, and switches the state from an electric power supply forbidding state of not supplying the electric power stored by the battery device to the external load to an electric power supply permitting state of supplying the electric power stored by the battery device to the external load. |
| US08977402B2 |
Method and system for operating a wind power plant comprising a number of wind turbine generators
This invention relates to a method and a system for operating a wind power plant (1) connected to a power grid (2), the wind power plant comprising a number of wind turbine generators. The method comprises the steps of: setting up (101) a number of different models, each model emulating an electrical behavior of an electrical system, such as a load or a power generating unit, connected to the power grid; detecting (102) value(s) of a number of power grid parameters; selecting (103) one of the number of models, based on a number of values out of a set comprising the detected power grid parameter value(s) and ambient parameter value(s), or based on an external command signal; in the selected model, calculating (104) electrical output values of the model, based on the detected grid parameter values; calculating (105) electrical reference values for the wind power plant, based on the calculated electrical output values of the model; and calculating (106) electrical reference values for each wind turbine generator based on the calculated electrical reference values for the wind power plant. The method may further comprise controlling (107) the wind turbine generators according to the calculated electrical reference values for each wind turbine generator. |
| US08977401B2 |
Lifetime optimization of a wind turbine generator by controlling the generator temperature
A wind turbine and a method for controlling the temperature of a wind turbine generator are disclosed, the wind turbine comprising a generator, generator temperature control means and means for providing input representative of at least one temperature of the generator to the generator temperature control means, the generator temperature control means including a closed-loop regulation arranged to determine a deviation of the input from at least one desired value, compute the magnitude of at least one control output in dependency of the determined deviation, and feed the control output to at least one controller of the wind turbine in order to reduce the deviation, the controller comprising control means for controlling the operation of the wind turbine in response to the at least one control output by changing one or more operational parameters of the wind turbine, which parameters influence the at least one temperature of the generator. |
| US08977400B1 |
Landscape controller with feature module
A landscape controller includes a housing and a control panel in the housing. The control panel includes a display and at least one manual control that enables a user to enter and/or select a watering schedule. A memory is provided for storing an operational program for carrying out the watering schedule. A processor is connected to the memory and is capable of executing the operational program. A connecting device in the control panel operatively connects at least one feature module to the processor. The controller further includes station control circuitry controlled by the processor that enables the processor to selectively energize a plurality of valves to deliver water to sprinklers in accordance with the watering schedule. |
| US08977399B2 |
Staggered start-up HVAC system, a method for starting an HVAC unit and an HVAC controller configured for the same
An HVAC controller, a method of starting a HVAC unit and a HVAC system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a delay originating signal and (2) a processor configured to automatically generate an offset delay value for the HVAC unit upon receipt of the delay originating signal and delay starting identified components of the HVAC unit based on the offset delay value. |
| US08977398B2 |
Multi-degree of freedom torso support for a robotic agile lift system
A controllable robotic arm system comprises a base unit and a moveable torso coupled to the base unit. The moveable torso is capable of moving in at least one degree of freedom independently of movement of the base unit. At least one robotic slave arm is moveably coupled to the torso. A master control system is operable to control the robotic slave arm and the moveable torso. The master control system includes an input interface by which a user can cause control signals to be communicated to the robotic slave arm and the moveable torso. |
| US08977393B1 |
Methods and systems for charging a robotic device
Methods and systems for robotic device charging are described. Within examples, a robotic device may be any device that has a computing ability and interacts with its surroundings with an actuation capability (e.g., electromechanical capabilities). In some examples, a robotic device may be configured to receive a second device, such as a mobile phone, that may be configured to function as necessary as an accessory or a “brain” of the robotic device. A power source apparatus may be any apparatus able to distribute charge in some form in any method to a device wanting charge, including robotic devices. |
| US08977387B2 |
System and method for overhead cross-system transportation
A system for managing semiconductor production includes a conveyor to convey a wafer carrier to or from an overhead hoist transfer system. The system also includes a cross-system transport apparatus to transfer the wafer carrier between the conveyor and an overhead shuttle system. |
| US08977385B2 |
System and method for tracking a mail item through a document processing system
Processing and tracking of individual mail items processed through a document processing system such as a sorter or inserter utilize a mail item identifier that is unique with respect to each individual mail item. A mail item may have a postal authority approved code representing or containing its associated unique identifier. If not, an identifier is generated and a corresponding postal authority approved code is applied to the mail item. Processing entails associating the unique mail item identifier for each respective mail item with collected metadata for the respective mail item and storing the identifier and associated the metadata. In a sorter example, each mail item is sorted into a postal sort group, and the processing entails identifying the sort group to which each item is sorted and storing the identified sort in association with the unique mail item identifier. |
| US08977384B2 |
Method for crane control and stock management
The invention relates to a method for crane control and stock management, the method includes attaching to the goods to be stored an identifier associated with a code, such as number or name, given to the goods in stock accounting or the like; reading the identifier with a reader, when the goods are being transferred by a crane; transmitting the identifier information from the reader to the memory of the crane control; transferring the goods with the crane to a selected location in the warehouse; and storing the coordinates of the goods to the memory of the crane control so that they are associated with the identifier; and when the goods are removed from the warehouse, reading with the reader from a work order or the like the identifier information associated with the goods; and transmitting the identifier information from the reader to the memory of the crane control; and activating the crane control with the identifier information, whereby the crane moves to the location of the earlier stored goods. |
| US08977383B2 |
Modular storage system
A modular system for storage of cargo units in a designated space. The modular system includes: a plurality of interconnected active cell units, each cell unit including a cell transporting mechanism with at least one active shuttle unit moveable between the plurality of cell units. Each shuttle unit includes a shuttle transporting mechanism adapted to transport at least one pallet of the plurality of pallets to and from one of the plurality of cell units and also to and from at least one shuttle unit. The system also includes a central controller adapted to control the operation of the cell and the shuttle transporting mechanisms, the operation of which is performed in an independent manner via the central controller such that a construction of any arrangement of the cell units is performed to effectively exploit a designated space. |
| US08977380B2 |
Sewing machine, computer-readable medium storing sewing program, and sewing method
The memory stores computer-readable instructions causing the sewing machine to perform operations including: extracting feature points of a design based on a captured image; extracting feature points of a unit design; generating feature points of a symmetrical design; cross-checking the extracted feature points of the design and the generated feature points of the symmetrical design; determining an arrangement of an embroidery pattern with respect to the symmetrical design; and causing a sewing portion to sew the embroidery pattern. |
| US08977378B2 |
Systems and methods of using a hieroglyphic machine interface language for communication with auxiliary robotics in rapid fabrication environments
Disclosed are methods and systems for using hieroglyphs for communication in a rapid fabrication environment. The method includes receiving, by a control system for an articulated robotic arm, one or more images of a fabrication machine build space. The method includes identifying, by the control system, a hieroglyph present in the one or more images and translating the identified hieroglyph into one or more instructions for manipulation of the articulated robotic arm. The method includes causing the articulated robotic arm to carry out the instructions translated from the identified hieroglyph. Accordingly foreign objects are inserted into fabricated objects during an automated rapid fabrication process without extensive redesign of the rapid fabrication machine. In some implementations, an unmodified third-party stereolithographic rapid fabrication machine can be used. |
| US08977373B2 |
Systems and methods for extending physical sensor range using virtual sensors
A control system is disclosed. The control system may have a physical sensor that may output a physical output value, and a virtual sensor network that may output a virtual output value. The control system may also have an electronic control module that may be configured to receive the physical output value from the physical sensor and receive the virtual output value from the virtual sensor. The electronic control module may be further configured to determine a trust level of the physical sensor based on the physical output value, and determine that the trust level of the physical sensor is below a first threshold trust value. The electronic control module may control a machine based on the virtual output value responsive to determining that the trust level of the physical sensor is below the first threshold trust value. |
| US08977368B2 |
Implantable device
An implantable medical device having at least one first and one second longitudinally extended electrical functional conductor to transmit therapeutic signals or diagnostic signals or both. The implantable medical device includes one electrode pole connected to the functional conductor, wherein electrical current is delivered to the surrounded bodily tissue using the electrode pole. Electrical potentials may be sensed in the surrounding tissue using the electrode pole, such that the two electrical functional conductors are inductively coupled for defined resonant frequencies and such that RF energy of a first functional conductor is diverted to the second functional conductor. The RF energy is delivered to the surrounding tissue via the second functional conductor and via an electrode pole connected to the second functional conductor. |
| US08977367B2 |
Stimulation probe
A stimulation probe comprises a lead having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the lead has a plurality of electrodes configured to stimulate tissue. A protective tubing element extends over a portion of the lead proximate the proximal end of the lead. An advanced lead can element includes a switch matrix. The advanced lead can element is coupled to the proximal end of the lead and configured to couple the lead to an implantable pulse generator. |
| US08977364B2 |
External, head-worn electrical stimulator for treating headache conditions
An external, head worn electrical nerve stimulation device, including a power source and a head band configured to fit around a patient's head, the patient's head including a front portion, a rear portion opposite the front portion, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side. The device further includes a plurality of electrical electrodes circumferentially disposed along the head band, wherein the plurality of electrodes contacts each of the front portion, the rear portion, the first lateral side, and the second lateral side. The plurality of electrical electrodes is configured to stimulate, with electrical current, at least one of the greater occipital nerve, the lesser occipital nerve, the supraorbital nerve, the supratrochlear nerve, zygomatotemporal nerve, and the auriculotemporal nerve when the electrodes are energized by the power source. |
| US08977360B2 |
Neurostimulation system with on-effector programmer control
An external control device for use with a programmable implantable medical device coupled to an operative element. The external control device comprises a user interface comprising a control element and a display screen configured for displaying a graphical representation of the operative element. The external control device further comprises control circuitry configured for prompting the display screen to superimpose a graphical programmer control over the graphical representation of the operative element when the control element is actuated, and modifying an operational parameter for the operative element in response to actuation of the graphical programmer control. The external control device further comprises output circuitry configured for transmitting the modified operational parameter to the programmable implantable medical device. |
| US08977355B2 |
EMI filter employing a capacitor and an inductor tank circuit having optimum component values
A bandstop filter having optimum component values is provided for a lead of an active implantable medical device (AIMD). The bandstop filter includes a capacitor in parallel with an inductor. The parallel capacitor and inductor are placed in series with the implantable lead of the AIMD, wherein values of capacitance and inductance are selected such that the bandstop filter is resonant at a selected frequency. The Q of the inductor may be relatively maximized and the Q of the capacitor may be relatively minimized to reduce the overall Q of the bandstop filter to attenuate current flow through the implantable lead along a range of selected frequencies. |
| US08977354B2 |
Interface apparatus for stimulation of biological tissue
An apparatus for interfacing between tissues being stimulated is provided. The apparatus includes an electric source capable of generating an applied electric field across a region of tissue and/or a means for altering at least one electromagnetic characteristic of the region of tissue relative to the applied electric field and an interface component, such interface component creating an interface between the region of tissue and the applied electric field or the means for altering at least one electromagnetic characteristic of the region of tissue. |
| US08977350B2 |
Methods for ectopy rejection for atrial fibrillation detection based on ventricular cycle lengths
A medical device performs a method to classify a cardiac rhythm. Differences between cycle lengths in a first heart chamber are determined during an established time interval. Evidence of ectopy associated with irregular coupling intervals is detected from the signal during the established time interval. A rhythm classification output corresponding to a second heart chamber at the expiration of the established time interval is provided in response to the consecutive cycle length differences and the evidence of ectopy associated with irregular coupling intervals. |
| US08977345B2 |
Monitoring urodynamics by trans-vaginal NIRS
The invention relate to the demonstration herein that it is feasible to use a transvaginal NIRS probe to interrogate functioning urological tissues, such as the urethral sphincter, the bladder detrusor muscle, and pelvic floor musculature, to obtain clinically relevant information. The present invention accordingly provides methods and devices for transvaginal monitoring or imaging of the urological tissues, such as the urethral sphincter and/or the bladder, and/or pelvic floor musculature, using NIRS. |
| US08977342B2 |
Medical intervention device
The invention relates to a device for a medical intervention in or on moving tissue of a living being, said device having a medical instrument provided for the intervention, a position detection system by means of which the position of the medical instrument in the body of the living being can be determined, and at least one acceleration sensor for recording at least one movement of the instrument caused by the moving tissue. The invention also relates to a medical instrument for a medical intervention in or on moving tissue of a living being, said medical instrument having at least one acceleration sensor and a sensor of a position detection system, as well as to an operating method for the device. |
| US08977341B2 |
Measuring device and a magnetic resonance device with the measuring device
A measuring device for a magnetic resonance device is provided. The measuring device has a sensor unit. The sensor unit includes at least one acoustic sensor element for detecting heart sounds of a patient. The sensor unit also includes a resonating body unit. The resonating body unit has a hollow space for filtering interfering signals emitted by the magnetic resonance device from the heart sounds of the patient. |
| US08977339B1 |
Method for assessing stenosis severity through stenosis mapping
A method of assessing stenosis severity for a patient includes obtaining patient information relevant to assessing severity of a stenosis, including anatomical imaging data of the patient. Based on the anatomical imaging data, the existence of any lesions of concerns may be identified. A three dimensional image can be generated of any irregular shaped lesion of concern and a surrounding area from the patient anatomical imaging data. A plurality of comparative two dimensional lesion specific models may be created that have conditions that correspond to the three dimensional model. The comparative two dimensional models may represent vessels having regular shaped lesions with each of the comparative two dimensional models represents a different stenosis severity. The three dimensional model can then be mapped to one of the plurality of comparative two dimensional models. After this mapping, a diagnosis of whether the patient has coronary artery disease may be made. |
| US08977338B2 |
Biological optical measurement apparatus, measurement probe, and biological optical measurement system
A biological optical measurement apparatus includes a connector unit to which a measurement probe is detachably connected, a supply unit configured to supply air to the connector unit, a pipe that connects the connector unit and the supply unit, a pressure detection unit configured to detect a pressure value in the pipe, and an abrasion determination unit configured to determine abrasion of the connector unit based on the pressure value detected by the pressure detection unit under conditions that the measurement probe is connected to the connector unit. |
| US08977337B2 |
Photoacoustic diagnostic apparatus
A photoacoustic diagnostic apparatus having a light source, a probe which receives an acoustic wave generated when light is directed onto an object from a light source and which converts the acoustic wave into an electrical signal, a memory unit which records the electrical signal and a memory control unit which controls whether or not to cause the memory unit to record the electrical signal. The memory control unit controls the memory unit on the basis of a timing at which the probe receives an acoustic wave generated from a portion other than a light absorbing material inside an object. |
| US08977335B2 |
Intracranial sensing and monitoring device with macro and micro electrodes
A cortical sensing device for contact with the surface of the brain is provided that includes a support member, at least one macroelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the support member and at least one microelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the macroelectrode. The support member is substantially thin and made from flexibly-conformable material to accurately and safely place the sensing device upon the brain surface. The microelectrode sensing element is surrounded by the macroelectrode brain-contact surface of the macroelectrode sensing element. The first surface of the support member, the macroelectrode brain-contact surface and the microelectrode brain-contact surface are substantially co-planar to abut the surface of the brain for sensing and monitoring. |
| US08977334B2 |
Catheter systems for measuring electrical properties of tissue and methods of use
Catheter systems for measuring at least one electrical property, e.g., impedance, of cardiac tissue of a living being are disclosed. The system includes a catheter having a tip with a sensing electrode, a guard electrode and an electrical shield. The sensing electrode is arranged to engage the cardiac tissue and is coupled to circuitry for measuring the at least one electrical property of the cardiac tissue, shielding the sensing electrode from bulk blood adjacent the cardiac tissue. The measurement can gated to the cardiac cycle. Additional embodiments include multi-electrode sensor catheter tips for high density mapping. Moreover, such tips may be dynamically configurable, i.e., their electrodes can be variably assigned as sensor electrodes or guard electrodes by associated circuitry. Such multi-electrode configuration and reconfiguration can be gated to the cardiac cycle. |
| US08977331B2 |
Systems and methods for nerve imaging
Systems and methods for imaging are presented. The method includes producing excitation light configured to induce fluorescence in an imaging agent that selectively binds to a target species in a region of interest (ROI) of a subject that also includes a background species. A first and a second spectral region are selected such that a determined difference between fluorescence corresponding to the target and the background species in the first spectral region differs from a corresponding difference in the second spectral region. First and second fluorescence images are generated from the fluorescence corresponding to the first and second spectral regions. Additionally, a fluorescence ratio for the background species in the first and second fluorescence image is determined. The first fluorescence image is then multiplied or divided with the determined ratio to generate an intermediate image that is subtracted from the second fluorescent image to reconstruct a background-subtracted image. |
| US08977326B2 |
Human stimulus activation and deactivation of a screensaver
Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to an electronic device having a human stimulus receptor which, when activated, suspends activation of a screensaver. The screensaver is activated to conserve the power and life of the electronic device. When latently viewing the electronic device, however, the human stimulus receptor is activated. A countdown starts counting down a pre-determined amount of time once the human stimulus receptor is inactive. At the expiration of the countdown, the screensaver is activated. The human stimulus receptor responds to skin conductivity, natural muscular twitch, pulse, skin temperature, and/or eye movement. Only when the electronic device no longer detects any of these human stimuli will the countdown begin. A user may set the predetermined amount of time. |
| US08977324B2 |
Automatic emergency call language provisioning
A computer-implemented method includes receiving coordinates, at a vehicle associated computing system (VACS), corresponding to a vehicle's location. The method also includes using the VACS to compare the coordinates to a predetermined set of geographic borders, wherein the geographic borders determine at least language boundaries. The method further includes using the VACS to determine a local language based at least in part on the coordinate comparison. The method additionally includes using the VACS to transmit an emergency message in at least the determined local language. |
| US08977317B2 |
Method of configuring modules for identifying users of a telecommunication network
A method of configuring modules for identifying users of a telecommunication network able to cover a service area, each identification module including an identification code stored in the identification module, the identification code including: an operator identifier; a user identification number; the method includes assigning a same operator identifier to a plurality of modules for identifying users belonging to a same organization or international mission. |
| US08977316B2 |
Mechanism to backup and restore the configuration of a communication device using a portable security device
The invention relates to a portable security device (SIM) for authenticating a user (USR) of a communication device (MP1, MP2) to a server (SRV), the portable security device (SIM) comprising means for configuring said communication device (MP1, MP2). The portable security device (SIM) further comprises means for filtering the configuration of a first communication device (MP1), creating a backup of the filtered configuration of the communication device (MP1), detecting that the user (USR) changed a first communication device (MP1) for a second communication device (MP2), filtering the backup of the filtered configuration, and restoring the filtered backup of the filtered configuration of the first communication device (MP1) on the second communication device (MP2). The invention also relates to systems comprising a portable security device (SIM) according to the invention, and to a method for a user (USR) to backup the configuration of a first communication device (MP1) and restore it on a second communication device (MP2), with a portable security device (SIM) according to the invention. |
| US08977315B2 |
Method and system for a compact and power efficient local oscillator generation architecture
Certain aspects of a method and system for a compact and power efficient local oscillator generation architecture in multi-standard systems may include selection of an input frequency range of operation at a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) based on a particular wireless band of operation. An image rejection mixer may be enabled to mix a plurality of generated local oscillator signals. An inductive buffer may be enabled to generate an output signal by buffering the mixed plurality of generated local oscillator signals in a single backend stage. An in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component of the generated output signal may be generated by utilizing an RC-CR quadrature network. |
| US08977312B2 |
Method and device for controlling transmission power in uplink transmission
A user equipment in wireless communication system is provided. The user equipment includes an antenna unit including a plurality of antennas, a control unit for grouping the plurality of antennas into a predetermined number of antenna groups and controlling separately transmission power of each of the predetermined number of antenna groups, and a transmitting unit, connected to the control unit, for transmitting at least one of data and control information to a base station via at least one of the predetermined number of antenna groups. |
| US08977309B2 |
Antenna array, network planning system, communication network and method for relaying radio signals with independently configurable beam pattern shapes using a local knowledge
The present disclosure provides an antenna array (1) for relaying radio signals into a cell (10) of a communication network (500). The antenna array (1) comprises a plurality of uplink beam forming vectors (20u) selectable as an uplink beam shape for an uplink relaying and a plurality of downlink beam forming vectors (20d) selectable as a down link beam shape for a down link relaying. The plurality of uplink beam forming vectors (20u) and/or the plurality of the downlink beam forming vectors (20d) may be adjusted at a digital radio interface and forwarded from the digital radio interface to the antenna array (1). An individual one (22u) of the plurality of uplink beam forming vectors (20u) and an individual one (22d) of the plurality of downlink beam forming vectors (20d) are independently selectable using a local knowledge (60) about the cell 10. The present disclosure further provides a communication network (500) comprising a plurality of the antenna arrays (1-1, 1-2, . . . , 1-N) for relaying radio signals into the communication network (500). The communication network (500) further comprises a network playing system (200) adapted to independently select an individual one (22u-1, 22u-2, . . . , 22u-N) of the plurality of uplink beam forming vectors (20u-1, 20u-2, . . . , 20u-N) and an individual one (22d-1, 22d-2, . . . , 22d-N) of the plurality of downlink beam forming vectors (20d-1, 20d-2, . . . , 20d-N) for at least one of the antenna arrays (1-1, 1-2, . . . , 1-N) using a local knowledge (600) about the communication network (500). The present disclosure further provides a method for relaying radio signals into a cell (10) of the communication network (500), a method (2000) for planning the communication network (500), and a method (5000) for relaying radio signals into cells (10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-N) of the communication network (500); all methods (1000, 2000, 5000) using a knowledge (600) about the communications network (500). |
| US08977306B2 |
Permission based text messaging
A user may receive one or more text messages after the user is authorized. The potential user can opt in through a web page in one embodiment. Once the potential user sends an initial request, the user may receive a first text message containing an authorization code on their mobile phone. The user may enter the authorization code back to a web page. Receipt of the authorization code may trigger the phone number of the potential user to be added to a list of authorized text message receivers. One or more text messages may then be sent to authorized phone numbers on the list. |
| US08977297B2 |
Providing navigation guidance by activating a plurality of active elements of an information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus that detects a first location of the information processing apparatus; receives information representing a target location from a target information processing apparatus; detects a target direction from the first location toward the target location; detects an orientation of a casing of the information processing apparatus; calculates an angular difference between the target direction and the orientation of the casing; determines a perceptual strength of each of a plurality of active elements disposed in different locations on or within the casing based on the angular difference; and controls each of the plurality of active elements based on the perceptual strengths. |
| US08977296B1 |
Methods and systems for setting up geo fences and delivering digital media content based on such geo fences
Provided are methods and systems for setting up geo fences and dynamically delivering particular digital media content based on these geo fences. A method may involve providing information corresponding to a specific geographic location and identifying a virtual geographical boundary around that location, for example, by adjusting position of the sliding bar. An interactive map may be used to illustrate location and boundary of the created geo fence and to specify some characteristics of that geo fence right on the map. Multiple common geo fences may be simultaneously created for different locations. Each geo fence may be associated with a token, which is incorporated into each subset of digital media content. Such tokens allow selecting and sending a particular subset to a subscriber device when the device enters a geographic area associated with a certain geo fence. Therefore, a subscriber device receives dynamically updated information based on its location. |
| US08977287B1 |
Method and system for indoor RF mapping
A method for determining a location of a mobile electronic device includes receiving from said device, at a first electronic device, a first RF signal comprising a wireless signal according to a first standard other than a GPS standard. First RF fingerprint data is provided based on the first RF signal. A second RF signal comprising a wireless signal according to a second standard other than a GPS standard is received from said device at a second electronic device. Second RF fingerprint data is provided based on the second RF signal. Device specific RF signal fingerprint data is determined in dependence upon each of the first and second RF fingerprint data. The location of the device is determined using the first RF signal, the device specific RF signal fingerprint data for the first standard, the second wireless signal, and the device specific RF signal fingerprint data for the second standard. |
| US08977281B2 |
Filter arrangement dependent on occupation of an adjacent band
In a method for communication by radio afrequency band that is subdivided into a plurality of subbands is used. Subbands are occupied by radio stations for sending signals. Before sending a signal, a radio station carries out a filtering operation by using a filter function and sends the signal on at least one subband. A parameter of the filter function depends on the occupation of at least one subband adjacent to the at least one subband. |
| US08977280B2 |
Node and method for determining link adaptation parameters
The present invention relates to a method for determining link adaptation parameters for a wireless device. The method is performed in a first radio network node of a wireless communication system. The first radio network node hosts a first cell serving the wireless device. The wireless device is interfered by a second cell. The method comprises predicting (410) a future position of the wireless device. The method also comprises estimating (420) a first radio channel quality value for the wireless device in the predicted future position, based on: pathloss values related to the wireless device in the predicted future position for the first and the second cell respectively; and a transmission power of the second cell. The method further comprises determining (430) link adaptation parameters for the scheduling of the wireless device in the future position using the estimated first radio channel quality value. |
| US08977274B2 |
Geo-location aided sensing
There lies a challenge to develop a technique of accurately and efficiently determining an available communication channel. In accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein, techniques for sensing a primary user of a particular communication channel are performed more efficiently. In some implementations, a geo-location of a communication device is combined with a sensing algorithm in order to more efficiently perform spectrum sensing. In some implementations, a geo-location and an accuracy determination may be used to determine all required sample regions in order to ensure that a primary user is not present in a particular location. |
| US08977273B2 |
Method for selecting a mobile radio area, mobile radio communication device, method for transmitting signals into a mobile radio area, and mobile radio network unit
A method for selecting a mobile radio area includes a mobile radio communication device, which is in a state without having a signaling communication connection and a data communication connection with a mobile radio network unit in a first mobile radio area, leaving the first mobile radio area. The mobile radio communication device enters a second mobile radio area and receives in the mobile radio communication device first signals from the mobile radio network unit of the first mobile radio area and second signals from a mobile radio network unit of the second mobile radio area. Furthermore, the mobile radio communication device stores temporarily first mobile radio resource data about the first mobile radio area for a predetermined time period, wherein the first mobile radio resource data are used for receiving the first signals from the mobile radio network unit of the first mobile radio area and the mobile radio communication device storing at least partially at the same time second mobile radio resource data about the second mobile radio area, wherein the second mobile radio resource data are used for receiving the second signals from the mobile radio network unit of the second mobile radio area. |
| US08977269B2 |
Extending use of a cellular communication capabilities in a wireless device to another device
Extending cellular telecommunication service from a first UE to another device. The first UE may register for cellular telecommunication service with a cellular network using a first cellular service account, using a cellular communication link via a cellular radio. A second device may be discovered and a communication link may be established between the first UE and the second device. The second device may be registered to use cellular telecommunication capability provided by the first UE. Communications between the second device and the cellular network may be conveyed via the communication link between the first UE and the second device and the cellular communication link. Conveying communications between the second device and the cellular network may provide use of the first cellular service account for cellular telecommunication service to the second device. |
| US08977266B2 |
Mobile communication system
A radio base station includes a mobile communication system, a relay node and a radio base station connected via a radio bearer. A mobile station is configured to perform a handover process between a state in which a radio bearer is set with the relay node so as to communicate via the relay node and the radio base station, and a state in which a radio bearer is set with the radio base station so as to communicate via the radio base station. The handover process is configured such that a data signal is transferred via the radio bearer between the relay node and the radio base station. |
| US08977263B2 |
Overall system selection for user equipment with multiple international mobile subscriber identities
Wireless communication in a radio access network may be implemented in a manner where a user equipment (UE) with multiple Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) selects a system based on the system's preference status among the USIMs of the UE. A system that is home to all the UE's USIMs is selected over one that is home to some USIMs but roaming for others. A system that is home to some USIMs but not provisioned for other USIMs is selected over one that is roaming to all USIMs. A system that is roaming to all USIMs is selected over one that is roaming to some USIMs but not provisioned for other USIMs. Ranking of systems may be done independently by USIM or may be done using a combined ranking method that considers other USIMs prior to an individual USIM indicating a system priority. Manual system selection may also be used. |
| US08977262B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for providing closed subscriber group access control
An apparatus for providing closed subscriber group access control may include a processor. The processor may be configured to maintain a non-access register including an identifier of a communication cell associated with a closed subscriber group to which a communication device associated with the non-access register does not have access rights, and enable subsequent communication with another communication cell based on the other communication cell not being identified in the non-access register. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided. |
| US08977260B1 |
Preventing clone device registration in a wireless communication system
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods that prevent clone devices from registering with a wireless communication network. In a particular embodiment, a wireless device exchanges communications with a wireless communication network during an initial period of time. The wireless device transfers an initial location of the wireless device during the initial period of time to an authorization system for the wireless communication network. During a second period of time, the wireless device transfers a registration request indicating a confirmation location and a location of the wireless device during the second period of time to the authorization system. The authorization system processes the registration request to validate the confirmation location based on the initial location. If the confirmation location is validated based on the initial location, then the authorization system allows the wireless device to access the wireless communication network during the second period of time. |
| US08977259B2 |
Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating radio control system operation with an ICS-capable wireless device
An apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating communication operations with a wireless device that is ICS or DTM capable. Signaling protocols and apparatus are provided for operation of the wireless device when an ICS with the wireless device is ongoing, and the device leaves an area that provides for ICS as well as when the ICS can be provided using circuit-switched connections. |
| US08977256B2 |
Apparatus and method for subscribing to international roaming plan for communication device
A computerized method for subscribing an international roaming plan for a communication device, the communication device includes an electronic map. At least one border checkpoint of a predetermined country can be determined on the electronic map. A distance between a current location of the communication device and the location of the at least one border checkpoint is calculated. When the calculated distance is less than a predetermined distance and the current location of the communication device is within the home country, a user may be prompted to select whether to subscribe to an international roaming plan for a particular period of time. A preset message is sent to a predetermined service terminal provided by a telecommunication company to subscribe to the international roaming plan for the communication device when the user makes a selection to subscribe to the international roaming plan for the communication device. |
| US08977255B2 |
Method and system for operating a multi-function portable electronic device using voice-activation
Methods and systems in which a portable electronic device can be voice activated are disclosed. The portable electronic device can be a multi-function electronic device. The voice activation can be robust and context sensitive. The voice activation can also be utilized without any preparatory user action with respect to the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device can also interact with a media system. |
| US08977254B2 |
Method for device configuration, database, mobile communication device and network entity
A method for device configuration is described comprising storing information about whether a mobile communication system comprising a mobile communication device operates correctly when a configuration is applied in a context of a configuration history to the mobile communication device; receiving a request for a configuration to be applied to mobile communication devices; and determining a configuration to be applied to the mobile communication devices based on the stored information. |
| US08977253B2 |
Method for sending auxiliary detection signaling
The present invention discloses a method for sending auxiliary detection signaling, comprising: for each base station in a base station group, that is, a first base station, the other base stations in the base station group except the first base station respectively send auxiliary detection signaling at the carrier frequency of the first base station. The technical solution saves both signaling overhead and power and reduces the complexity of a search carried out by an MS. |
| US08977252B1 |
System and method for automatic detection and recovery of malfunction in mobile devices
System and method for automatic detection and recovery of malfunction in mobile devices are provided. A mobile device is described, that comprises one or more resources operatively coupled to at least one sensor directly or indirectly coupled to a recovery block. The sensor is configured to monitor at least one of the resources for information, possibly indicative of at least one affected resource, and to report, directly or indirectly this information and/or derivative thereof to the recovery block. In addition, the recovery block is configured to initiate at least one recovery-related action in respect of at least one of the resources in case the received information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion. |
| US08977251B2 |
Transferring content to a mobile device
In general, apparatuses, methods and computer program products for transferring content to a mobile device are disclosed. Particularly, a system is disclosed that provides for pushing content from an external apparatus such as an automated teller machine (ATM), smart poster, contactless payment terminal, etc. to a mobile device or allowing the mobile device to pull such content from the external apparatus. The content may include one or more coupons, ads, or offers, images, financial receipts, account-related documentation, a reissued card, a new card, a prepaid card, or the like. |
| US08977247B2 |
Exclusive delivery of content within geographic areas
Application developers can request to have their applications registered for use with a content delivery platform. The operator of the content delivery platform establishes perimeters defining geographic areas, and maintains records reserving particular areas for delivery of content associated with particular sponsors. Registered applications running on mobile devices can request content from the content delivery platform. Based at least in part on the request, the content delivery platform can identify a target location, which may be the location of the mobile device, or some other location indicated in the request. A mobile device can be provided content based on the relationship of the target location to the geographic areas, so that a registered application running on a mobile device with a target location contained within a geographic area assigned to a particular sponsor will receive content related to that sponsor. |
| US08977245B2 |
Agent-based system for call verification
An information-processing apparatus includes a communication unit that receives a telephone call from a telephone number of a calling party. The communication unit transmits a transmission of the telephone number to a search engine when the communication unit receives the telephone call. Further, the communication unit receives a result from the search engine after the transmission of the telephone number. The information-processing apparatus also includes a processing unit that determines whether a communication should be conducted with the calling party, by performing a textual search of the result for a plurality of predetermined words. |
| US08977244B2 |
Extensible phone application
The present invention provides an extensible phone application that uses extensions to interact with other applications executing in a mobile communication device. The extensible phone application is operable to handle wireless communication for the mobile communication device. Another application may interact with the extensible phone application by incorporating an extension. The extensible phone application enables the extension to register with the phone application for receiving a notification associated with an event. In response to the event, the extensible phone application sends the notification to the extension. |
| US08977243B2 |
Electronic business/personal card and method of use thereof
The present invention includes a wireless communication method and device comprising a one-to-one exchange of wireless electronic device identifications or unique profile IDs between a sending and a receiving party who are both registered users of the electronic business/personal card service and further comprising upload of the wireless electronic identifications to a data server computer system wherein said system matches said identifications with those of registered users and said computer system displays information about the user associated with each identification. |
| US08977242B1 |
Method and apparatus for content presentation in association with a telephone call
A method and apparatus are provided for presenting multimedia content to caller and/or a called party in association with a telephone call. Content may be presented pre-ring (before the called party's telephone rings), in-call and/or post-call. Content presented to a party may be related to or selected by another party participating in the call, or may be related to a third party (e.g., an advertiser that paid for the ability to have its content presented). Presented content may be actuable, and allow a caller to change the destination of a call, take advantage of an offer presented to him, redeem a coupon, schedule or queue a subsequent call, etc. To find a desired destination party, a caller may initiate a manual or automatic search of his local contacts (on his telephone) and/or a central or global directory or contact list. |
| US08977241B2 |
Voicemail forwarding functionality for communications networks
A voicemail system includes a memory and a processor. The memory can store data relating to one or more users. An incoming communication can be handled by the voicemail system and provided with functionality based upon a user's preferences, for example. The voicemail system can include functionality to allow a user to convert a voicemail message to a desired format and forward voicemail message, for example as a file, to one or more designated destinations. Methods for forwarding one or messages are also disclosed. |
| US08977237B1 |
Safety notification service
An automated safety notification system is proposed herein in which one or more safe zone access points may be physically deployed to one or more safe zones associated with a disaster area. If a person with a mobile phone or other mobile device enters the safe zone, the safe zone access point may detect the presence of the mobile device and perform certain functions in response to the detection. For example, the safe zone access point may initiate contact of a predetermined plurality of contacts that the person may have already designated before the disaster. The safe zone access point may also be used to initiate an insurance claim. |
| US08977231B2 |
Tracking data usage under a schematized data plan
Embodiments provide a schema for representing data usage plans and data usage statistics. The data usage plan describes threshold values associated with network connections of computing devices of the user. A web service dynamically generates data usage statistics for the computing devices to represent data consumed by the computing devices under the data usage plan. The schema is updated with the data usage statistics and distributed to the computing devices for presentation to the user. |
| US08977230B2 |
Interactive personal surveillance and security (IPSS) systems and methods
Embodiments relating to an interactive personal surveillance and security (IPSS) system are provided for one or more users carrying one or more respective wireless personal communication devices (WCDs) that are capable of capturing and sending surveillance information (e.g., video, images, audio, sensor data, etc.) to one or more remotely located servers (RLSs). From the information, the RLSs can identify and secure dangerous environments, encounters, etc., and log events or take other actions. In some embodiments, the RLS is designed to follow user-definable parameters that establish the level or type of interactivity and that determine when alarms or messages to third parties are needed. |
| US08977224B2 |
Transceiver and noise cancellation method for radio-frequency identification
A transceiver for radio-frequency identification (RFID) is provided. The transceiver includes a transmitter, a receiver and a noise canceller. The transmitter transmits a carrier signal to an antenna. The receiver receives a wireless signal from the antenna. The noise canceller generates a feedback current according to a part of the carrier signal, and feeds the feedback current to an input of the receiver to cancel noises in the wireless signal. Further, the noise canceller adjusts the feedback current according to the signal strength of the noises in the wireless signal. |
| US08977223B1 |
Two stage radio frequency interference cancellation system and method
A radio frequency receiver subject to a large in-band interferor employs active cancellation with coarse and at least one cancellation signals, each with a respective radio frequency combiner, in order to increase the effective dynamic range of the receiver for weak signals of interest. One or both can be digitally synthesized. This is particularly applicable for co-site interference, whereby the interfering transmit signal is directly accessible. A similar system and method may also be applied to external interferors such as those produced by deliberate or unintentional jamming signals, or by strong multipath signals. An adaptive algorithm may be used for dynamic delay and gain matching. In a preferred embodiment, a hybrid technology hybrid temperature system incorporates both superconducting and semiconducting components to achieve enhanced broadband performance. |
| US08977222B2 |
Phase-noise reduction technique using frequency-to-current conversion with baseband integration
A circuit for measurement of a phase noise of an oscillator may include the oscillator to generate a first signal having the same oscillation frequency as an instantaneous oscillation frequency of the oscillator. The circuit may include a first circuit that is configured to generate a second signal from the first signal. An instantaneous amplitude of the second signal may be related to the oscillation frequency of the first signal. A second circuit may be configured to integrate the second signal to generate a third signal. The third signal can be a measure of the phase noise of the oscillator. The third signal can be used to cancel some or all of the phase noise of the oscillator. |
| US08977220B2 |
Delivering content associated with a unique identifier
A preference related to the broadcast of a work, for example a song or advertisement, is obtained from a subscriber. The work is associated with one of a plurality of unique identifiers, and the particular identifier with which the work is associated can be identified in some instances by using information included with the subscriber preference. In response to determining which unique identifier is associated with the work, content associated with that identifier can be delivered to the subscriber according to his preference. |
| US08977218B2 |
Multi-mode wireless transceiver and multi-mode switching method thereof
A multi-mode wireless transceiver and a multi-mode switching method thereof are disclosed to provide at least one wireless transceiving interface capable of dynamically switching between multiple frequency bands. The wireless transceiver comprises: a first RF transceiving circuit for transceiving RF signals of a first frequency band; a second RF transceiving circuit for transceiving RF signals of a second frequency band; a first frequency synthesizer and a second frequency synthesizer for generating a first carrier of the first frequency band and a second carrier of the second frequency band respectively; and a switching circuit for outputting the first carrier to the first RF transceiving circuit, and for determining to output one of the first and second carriers to the second RF transceiving circuit according to a control signal. |
| US08977216B2 |
Limited Q factor tunable front end using tunable circuits and microelectromechanical system (MEMS)
A wireless device is described. The wireless device includes a tunable front end module. The tunable front end module includes a Tx microelectromechanical system bandpass filter. The tunable front end module also includes a first Rx microelectromechanical system bandpass filter. The wireless device also includes a power amplifier. The wireless device further includes a low noise amplifier. |
| US08977215B2 |
Frequency translation device and wireless communication system using the same
A frequency translation device includes a transmit circuit including a first frequency converter configured to convert a signal at a first frequency into a signal at a second frequency. A receive circuit includes a second frequency converter configured to convert a signal at the second frequency into a signal at the first frequency. A detector circuit is configured to determine when the frequency translation device is receiving a signal, and to route the signal to the transmit circuit or to the receive circuit. |
| US08977208B2 |
Reflective beamforming for performing chip-to-chip and other communications
A transmitter front-end for wireless chip-to-chip communication, and for other, longer-range (e.g., several meters or several tens of meters) device-to-device communication is disclosed. The transmitter front-end can include a plurality of reflector power amplifiers implemented on an IC chip and an on-chip or on-package antenna for wireless transmitting a signal to another IC chip or device. The plurality of reflector power amplifiers can reflect the radiation of the on-chip or on-package antenna in a particular pattern such that the effective radiation pattern is reinforced in a desired direction and suppressed in an undesired direction. This helps to reduce the required output power of the transmitter front-end and mitigate interference with other potential wireless chip-to-chip or longer-range communications. |
| US08977207B2 |
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for providing automatic maintenance of a geoposition system
An apparatus for augmenting associations between places and fingerprints may include a processor and memory storing executable computer code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including detecting items of fingerprint data from one or more beacon devices, as the apparatus traverses one or more physical places. The fingerprint data may correspond to generated summaries of radio information corresponding to the physical places. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to detect that the apparatus is stationary in at least one of the physical places for a predetermined time period and determine a location of the apparatus in the physical place based in part on determining fingerprint data, detected from a subset of the beacon devices which are in the physical place, that most accurately resembles canonical fingerprint data corresponding to one of a plurality of physical places. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided. |
| US08977206B2 |
Data transmission device, system and method using the same
A data transmission device connected to a monitor includes a wireless transmission module, a multimedia processing unit and an output interface. The wireless transmission module wirelessly receives a multimedia data transmitted by an electronic apparatus. The multimedia processing unit receives and decompresses and decodes the multimedia data, and the output interface transmits the multimedia data to the monitor for displaying the multimedia data. The display area of the monitor is larger than the display area of the display unit of the electronic apparatus. A user is allowed to watch the multimedia data generated from the electronic apparatus executing a multimedia file on the monitor with a large display area. A data transmission system and method based on the data transmission device is also disclosed. |
| US08977197B2 |
Circuit tuning for device detection in near-field communications
A near-field communications (NFC) device includes an NFC antenna, a matching network coupled to the NFC antenna, and a transmitter coupled to the matching network. The transmitter applies a signal to the matching network and a capacitance of the matching network is varied. A parameter is measured while varying the capacitance of the matching network and while applying the signal. A peak value of the parameter is identified and compared to a threshold. A communication protocol is initiated in response to a determination that the peak value satisfies the threshold. |
| US08977196B2 |
Near field communication antenna device of mobile terminal
A near field communication antenna device of a mobile terminal is provided. The near field communication antenna device includes a window including a display region for transmitting an image displayed by a display and a black mark region formed around the display region, a multi-layer Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB) on which a plurality of layers are laminated on the lower side of the black mark region of the window, and a spiral loop-shaped antenna pattern in which conductive lines are formed on respective layers of the multi-layer FPCB and are connected to each other. Accordingly, a near field communication antenna is not disposed in a separated installation space, an antenna pattern width can be reduced, and performance of the near field communication antenna may be prevented from being degraded when a battery cover is made of metal or has a curved shape. |
| US08977185B2 |
Configuration for an image forming apparatus having an upright recording medium storage unit
An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit. Further, a developer receptacle for storing developer that is supplied to the image forming unit is arranged adjacent to one longitudinal end of the developer carrier. |
| US08977184B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance path configured to guide a recording sheet conveyed from a sheet placement portion, passing through a sheet feeder unit, a nip portion between a photoconductor and transfer member, a fixing device, and a sheet ejection unit in this order; and a re-conveyance path configured to guide the sheet conveyed from the fixing device to an upstream-side path which constitutes part of the conveyance path extending upstream from the photoconductor. The re-conveyance path branches off from the conveyance path at a position downstream from the fixing device and extends to pass through a space between the photoconductor and the exposure device. The re-conveyance path includes a switchback mechanism configured to reverse a traveling direction of a sheet conveyed along the re-conveyance path after passing through the space between the photoconductor and the exposure device and to convey the sheet toward the upstream-side path. |
| US08977181B2 |
Image forming apparatus
According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an image erasing unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit performs an image forming process of forming an image on an image bearing body by a toner and transferring the toner image from the image bearing body onto a recording medium, and a refresh process of forming an image on the image bearing body by a toner and removing the toner image from the image bearing body. The control unit controls the image forming unit such that the image forming unit performs the refresh process together with the erasing process performed by the erasing unit. |
| US08977176B2 |
Fixing apparatus provided with cleaning unit using cleaning fabric
A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image formed on a recording material includes a rotatable member; a cleaning unit for cleaning the rotatable member, the cleaning unit including a cleaning fabric for cleaning the rotatable member, a feeding roller on which the cleaning fabric is wound, and a winding-up roller for winding up the cleaning fabric fed from the feeding roller; and a load applying mechanism for applying a retarding force against a winding-up operation of the winding-up roller such that when a frictional force between the rotatable member and the cleaning fabric which is in a standstill state and which is in contact with the rotatable member which is rotating exceeds the retarding force of the load applying mechanism, the winding-up roller rotates to wind up the cleaning fabric. |
| US08977173B2 |
Fixing apparatus having cover member and image forming apparatus
A fixing apparatus includes a fixing unit configured to heat and fix an unfixed image, which is formed on a recording material, on the recording material, a rotating member provided with a metal shaft and configured to convey the recording material that has passed through the fixing unit, a cover member made of injection-molded resin and configured to cover the shaft of the rotating member from a recording material conveyance path side so that a portion of the rotating member in contact with the recording material is exposed, the cover member including a portion that has a U-shaped cross-section when viewed from one end side of the shaft, and a sheet member configured to cover an opening of the U-shaped portion of the cover member. |
| US08977169B2 |
Toner supply system for image forming apparatus development device
A development device includes a developer introduction port, a developer conveyance portion, a first conveyance ability suppressing portion, and a connecting conveyance portion. The conveyance ability suppressing portion is disposed on a downstream side of the developer introduction port in a first direction in which the developer is conveyed in order to partially suppress a developer conveyance ability of the developer conveyance portion such that a developer accumulation portion is formed in a position opposing the developer introduction port. A first direction downstream side of the first conveyance ability suppressing portion opposes a first connecting passage in a third direction that intersects the first direction. The connecting conveyance portion is joined to the first direction downstream side of the conveyance ability suppressing portion and opposes the first connecting passage in the third direction in order to pass the developer from a first conveyance passage to a second conveyance passage. |
| US08977167B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member provided with a mark; a driving portion for rotationally driving the image bearing member; a first detecting portion for detecting speed information of the image bearing member by detecting the mark moved in a predetermined first distance; a second detecting portion for detecting speed information of the image bearing member by detecting the mark moved in a second distance shorter than the predetermined first distance; a filter circuit for suppressing a high-frequency part of an output from the detecting portion and a low-frequency part of an output from the second detecting portion; a calculating portion for calculating a speed of the image bearing member detected from an output from the filter circuit; and a controller for controlling the driving portion so that the calculated speed of the image bearing member is a set speed. |
| US08977162B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus including the same
A developing device that attaches/detaches to/from a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a first frame that supports a photosensitive member, a second frame that supports a developing roller, and a connecting bracket in which a fixed supporter couples to a side portion of the first frame, a flexible supporter that couples to a side portion of the second frame, and an elastic arm connecting the fixed supporter and the flexible supporter to each other to provide an elastic force that may elastically bias the developing roller toward the photosensitive member, are integrally formed. |
| US08977160B2 |
Overmolded shutter for use in toner containing supply items of an imaging apparatus
An shutter having an overmolded seal for use in controlling the flow of toner through a port in a toner containing supply items for an imaging apparatus. In one form the shutter is overmolded with a seal comprised of a sleeve and one or more integrally molded angled endless ribs projecting outwardly from the sleeve. With the shutter installed in the supply item, the ribs deflect creating an sealing interface with the housing of the supply item to prevent toner leakage between the shutter and the housing of the supply item. |
| US08977145B2 |
Detection device for detecting state of waste toner container and image forming apparatus using such detection device
A detection device for detecting a state of a waste toner container comprises an optical sensor and an actuation member. The optical sensor comprises an emitting unit emitting an optical signal and a receiving unit receiving the optical signal. A space is provided between the emitting and receiving units, and the optical signal travels along an optical path from the emitting unit to the receiving unit. The actuation member is movably disposed between the emitting and receiving units. The actuation member in a first position interrupts the optical path of the optical signal; and the actuation member is moved by the waste toner container to a second position when at least a part of the waste toner container is placed in the space. The actuation member in the second position allows a passage of the optical signal. An image forming apparatus using such a detection device is also provided. |
| US08977141B2 |
Digital signal processing apparatus
A parameter of an adaptive filter is optimized so that inter-symbol interference having an amount corresponding to an inserted fixed filter remains. A digital signal processing apparatus which is included in an optical signal receiver and processes a digital signal converted from an optical signal is provided with: a linear adaptive filter which applies a dynamically controllable linear transfer function to the digital signal; a maximum likelihood sequence decoder which applies a transfer function of a transmission-path model to a plurality of signal sequence candidates to generate a plurality of reference signals, and decodes a reception signal using maximum likelihood sequence estimation which evaluates the differences between an output signal of the linear adaptive filter and the reference signals to estimate the most likely transmission time sequence; a signal regenerator which generates a signal corresponding to decoded data from the maximum likelihood sequence decoder; a feedback distortion adding filter which adds distortion that is equivalent to the transmission-path model used in the maximum likelihood sequence decoder to an output signal of the signal regenerator; and an adaptive equalization filter control block which updates a tap coefficient of the linear adaptive filter in accordance with an LMS algorithm using the difference between a target signal that is an output signal of the feedback distortion adding filter and the digital signal as an error signal. |
| US08977139B2 |
Integrated circuits in optical receivers
A circuit may include a photodiode configured to receive an optical signal and convert the optical signal to a current signal. The circuit may also include a transimpedance amplifier coupled to the photodiode and configured to convert the current signal to a voltage signal. The circuit may also include an equalizer coupled to the transimpedance amplifier and configured to equalize the voltage signal to at least partially compensate for a loss of a high frequency component of the optical signal. The equalizer and the transimpedance amplifier may be housed within a single integrated circuit. |
| US08977135B2 |
Free space optics broadband home network
A system comprises a transmitter including a laser configured to generate a laser beam directed at a spot on a surface, and a laser driver connected to the laser and configured to modulate input data onto the laser beam. The system may further comprise a receiver including an optical detector configured to decode received light into raw data, a signal processor configured to decode the raw data into the original input data, and telescope optics configured to receive light reflected from the spot on the surface, collimate the light and converge the light onto the optical detector. |
| US08977133B2 |
Distributed communications system employing free-space-optical link(S), and related components and methods
Distributed communications systems employing one or more free-space-optics (FSO) links, and related components and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a distributed communications system is provided in which one or more links of a communications path located between a central unit and a remote unit include FSO provided by one or more FSO components. The FSO component(s) can replace optical fiber (or copper) cable assembly and the associated electrical/optical and optical/electrical converter circuitry. Note that FSO and fiber cable links may be used in a mixed fashion depending on the particular requirements of a given installation project for a distributed communications system. Use of such FSO components may allow temporary installations to be effectuated with greater ease and more economically since physical cable is not required for the FSO portion of the communications path. Likewise, installation obstacles associated with physical cable may be eliminated for portion of the communications paths that employ FSO. |
| US08977126B2 |
Unified network management of hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network
Embodiments enable a network operator to use any (and a single) network management system (NMS) that it desires to manage a network having mixed fiber to the home optical network units (ONUs) and coaxial connected cable modems. For example, embodiments enable a cable company operator to use a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) NMS (which the cable company already uses to manage its DOCSIS network) to manage such mixed network, by a simple addition of a DOCSIS Mediation Layer (DML) module between the NMS and the optical line terminal (OLT). On the other hand, embodiments enable a telephone company operator to use a standard EPON (Ethernet Passive Optical Network) OLT NMS with minor OLT and OAM (Operations, Administration, and Maintenance) protocol modifications to manage the same mixed network. |
| US08977120B2 |
Client signal accommodating multiplexing apparatus and method
In an apparatus for accommodating and multiplexing asynchronous client signals in which an idle signal is defined, the transmission side transmits client signals after synchronizing the client signals by inserting or removing, with reference to a specific client signal, an idle signal to/from the same type of another client signal, and in the receiving side, a PLL part is shared by recovering a clock from a client signal and distributing the clock for another client signal. |
| US08977119B2 |
Automatic bias control method and apparatus for optical transmitter
The embodiments provide an automatic bias control method and apparatus for an optical transmitter. The apparatus includes: a detecting unit configured to monitor output optical power of an I/Q modulator of the optical transmitter; a calculating unit configured to calculate bias voltage indicating values of the I modulator, Q modulator and phase modulator of the I/Q modulator according to the output optical power and known modulation data; and an adjusting unit configured to adjust respectively Direct-Current (DC) bias voltages of the I modulator, Q modulator and phase modulator according to the bias voltage indicating values of the I modulator, Q modulator and phase modulator. With the embodiments, known modulation data are used to realize automatic bias control by monitoring the evenness of distribution of the power of output optical signals of the transmitter in the four quadrants of an I/Q plane. |
| US08977117B2 |
Renewable energy hot water heating elements
Provided herein is a supplemental heating element that may be inserted into a tank of a residential or commercial hot water heater. A collar of the supplemental heating element engages a threaded inlet or outlet of the hot water heater and provides a flow path into or out of the hot water heater while the supplement element is suspended within a tank of the hot water heater. |
| US08977115B2 |
Vaporizer with secondary flow path
A vaporizer for generating a vaporized chemical decontaminating agent. The vaporizer includes a primary flow path and a blower for conveying a carrier gas along the primary flow path. A secondary flow path has a first end fluidly connected to the primary flow path at a location upstream of the blower and a second end fluidly connected to the primary flow path at a location downstream of the blower. A heating element is disposed along the secondary flow path. A liquid flow path has a first end fluidly connected to a source of liquid chemical decontaminating agent and a second end fluidly connected to the secondary flow path. The liquid flow path injects the liquid chemical decontaminating agent into the secondary flow path at a location upstream of the heating element. The heating element vaporizes the liquid chemical decontaminating agent to form the vaporized chemical decontaminating agent. |
| US08977110B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing video with embedded media
Methods and apparatus for providing video with embedded media are disclosed. An example method includes dividing an image comprising a number of pixels into a number of portions, each portion including less than all of the pixels of the image, and blending respective ones of the portions with different video frames of a stream of video frames comprising a host presentation, wherein the media reaches a discernibility threshold when the host presentation is played at an accelerated rate. |
| US08977106B2 |
Methods and apparatus for filtering content in a video stream using closed captioning data
Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for skipping and/or filtering content from a video stream using closed captioning data associated with the video stream. The closed captioning data is parsed using metadata to identify portions of the video stream to skip during presentation, and/or to identify portions of the video stream to output to a user. The portions of the video stream that are to be skipped are filtered from the video stream, and the filtered video stream is presented to a user. |
| US08977105B2 |
Personal media system and method of obtaining content playback information of device
A personal media system and method that obtain content playback information of an end device is provided. The personal media system including: an end device reader to, when an end device that collects playback information about content playback is connected, obtain the collected playback information and content information about content stored in the end device; and a mapping unit to map the playback information and the content information, to determine playback information for each content in the end device, and to generate playback information for each content of a user based on the playback information for each content in the end device. |
| US08977094B2 |
Optical fiber
An optical fiber comprising a first core, a second core, a third core, and a cladding, wherein with a refractive index of the cladding as a reference, Δ1 is a maximum value of a relative refractive index difference of the first core, Δ2 is a maximum value of a relative refractive index difference of the second core, Δ3 is a minimum value of a relative refractive index difference of the third core, “a” is a half-value radial width for the relative refractive index difference (Δ1−Δ2) of the first core, “b” is a radius of a second core/third core boundary, and “c” is a radius of a third core/cladding boundary, the expressions 0.30%≦Δ1≦0.45%, −0.05%≦Δ2≦0.05%, −0.6%≦Δ3≦−0.3%, 2.85≦b/a, 10 μm≦b≦15 μm, and 3 μm≦c−b≦5.5 μm are satisfied, and transmission loss for a wavelength of 1550 nm when the optical fiber is wound around a mandrel with a diameter of 10 mm is no greater than 0.2 dB/turn. |
| US08977092B2 |
Multimode optical fiber and system comprising such fiber
One exemplary multimode optical fiber includes a graded index glass core having a diameter in the range of 41 microns to 80 microns, a graded index having an alpha less than 2.04 and a maximum relative refractive index in the range between 0.6% and 1.8%. The cladding includes a depressed-index annular portion. The fiber has an overfilled bandwidth greater than 2.5 GHz-km at at least one wavelength between 1200 nm and 1700 nm. |
| US08977090B2 |
Contoured display
A contoured display that includes a faceplate configured to propagate an image in a collimated manner from an interface surface of the faceplate configured to receive the image from a display device to a display surface of the faceplate. The display surface is contoured to provide a three-dimensional (3D) contoured surface that provides designers with artistic freedom when designing a display shape, and a convenient way to contour a display surface to reduce the effects of glare on the display surface. |
| US08977086B2 |
Tapered waveguide coupler and spectrometer
A method of forming a waveguide, the method comprising the steps of: forming a multilayer stack of light guiding layers; and delaminating the multilayer stack between at least two of the light guiding layers to form a waveguide between the light guiding layers; in which the patterned region has converging sides and the waveguide is tapered, the multilayer stack having increased transmissivity at a region corresponding to a selected thickness of the waveguide. A tapered waveguide is also disclosed, comprising: a multilayer stack of light guiding layers; the multilayer stack defining a channel between at least a first waveguiding layer and a second waveguiding layer; the channel having a diminishing thickness in a first direction; and at least one of the first waveguiding layer and the second waveguiding layer having a region of increased transmissivity adjacent a selected thickness of the core. Methods for the use of the tapered waveguide as an optical coupler or spectrometer are also disclosed. Methods for enhancing the optical resolution of the taper waveguide when operated as a spectrometer are also disclosed. |
| US08977085B2 |
Surface structure modification
A method of forming an optical fiber tip, the method including, roughening at least part of an end portion of the optical fiber; and, etching the roughed end portion to thereby form an optical fiber tip. |
| US08977082B2 |
Optical spectral filter, angular filter and polariser
A filter and fabrication process for a thin film filter that is based on frustrated total internal reflection and multiple waveguide layers, in which the waveguide modes are resonantly coupled. The physics of the design is related to prism coupling of light into planar waveguides, and waveguide coupling between planar waveguides in close proximity. Embodiments include a filter that acts as a bandpass filter and polarizer, a filter that acts as a bandpass filter, polarizer and angle filter (spatial filter), a filter that is widely tunable, and a filter that is widely tunable in both peak transmission wavelength and width. Methods of fabrication are disclosed, and methods to correct for manufacturing errors in thin film deposition are described. The filter embodiments can also be used in reflection as notch filters in wavelength and angle, for a particular polarization component. |
| US08977080B2 |
Compact multiplexer/demultiplexer
The present invention relates to a multiplexer/demultiplexer with a connection for inputting and/or outputting an optical signal which has signal components of different wavelengths, a carrier plate (8) with at least one wavelength-sensitive element (11), a focussing member (13) with at least two focussing elements (14, 14′) as well as a detector or signal-generator plate (1), on which at least two detectors (4) or signal generators are arranged. To achieve this object, it is proposed according to the invention that both carrier plate (8) and focussing member (13) are connected to the detector or signal-generator plate (1). |
| US08977079B2 |
WSS with high port isolation and close spaced ports
By steering wanted diffraction orders within a concentrated angular region and steering all unwanted diffraction orders outside that region, a wavelength selective switch achieves high port isolation and densely spaced ports. N inputs receive an optical signal. Optics spatially separate and direct wavelength channels from the signal. A phased array switching engine comprising cells steers a wanted diffraction order of each spatially separated wavelength channel from each cell at an angle within a concentrated angular region relative to the PASE, and steers all unwanted diffraction orders of spatially separated wavelength channels from cells outside the concentrated angular region. Optics direct each wanted diffraction order to one of N outputs in accordance with the steering of the wanted diffraction orders by the PASE. The concentrated angular region is defined by a largest and smallest steering angle wherein the largest steering angle is a margin less than the smallest steering angle. |
| US08977075B2 |
Method for determining the relative position of a first and a second imaging device and devices therefore
A method for determining the relative position and orientation of a first and a second imaging device by comparing the image of a commonly depicted object in a first and a second image of the first and the second imaging device respectively, wherein the first and the second imaging devices are adapted for providing first and second depth information respectively for the respective images and in which at least the first and the second depth information is used for the determination. Corresponding device are also disclosed. |
| US08977073B2 |
Apparatus and method for blending multiple images
Disclosed is an apparatus to blend a high dynamic range (HDR) image or a plurality of images captured with different exposure settings to multiple images, and a method thereof. A multiple image blender receives a high dynamic range (HDR) image or a plurality of images captured with different exposure settings, and controls setting of one or more areas of interest or setting of one or more gradation levels, and combines and blends the HDR image or the plurality of images captured with different exposure settings corresponding to each area of interest or at each gradation level, and generates at least one multi-exposure image. |
| US08977072B1 |
Method and system for detecting and recognizing text in images
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, system and computer program product for detecting and recognizing text in the images captured by cameras and scanners. First, a series of image-processing techniques is applied to detect text regions in the image. Subsequently, the detected text regions pass through different processing stages that reduce blurring and the negative effects of variable lighting. This results in the creation of multiple images that are versions of the same text region. Some of these multiple versions are sent to a character-recognition system. The resulting texts from each of the versions of the image sent to the character-recognition system are then combined to a single result, wherein the single result is detected text. |
| US08977068B2 |
Transform space difference compression
An invention is disclosed for performing differencing of graphical data in post-transform space for a remote presentation session. Graphical data is transformed from a first representation to a second representation (e.g. with a DWT), and then a difference is taken of the post-transform data and the post-transform data of the frame that preceded the current frame. This difference is then encoded and transmitted to a client, which decodes it, and creates a representation of the graphical data using the delta, and a previously determined representation of the previous frame. By performing differencing in post-transform space, fidelity of the remote presentation session is retained while it may decrease bandwidth. This may occur because the entropy of the delta representation is usually lower than a non-delta representation while the scheme retains the identical data of the final decoded image of the non-delta version of the same compression scheme. |
| US08977066B2 |
Image compression using sub-resolution images
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for image compression and decompression using sub-resolution images are disclosed. Compressing of images includes, determining a plurality of entropy code sets based upon statistically similar regions in the input image, generating one or more sub-resolution images including a first sub-resolution image comprising the plurality of entropy code sets, encoding the input image using the generated one or more sub-resolution images to control one or more compression parameters including an entropy code, and outputting the encoded input image and the generated one or more sub-resolution images as a compressed entropy coded image file. Decompressing of images include, decomposing an image file to access the encoded compressed input image and respective sub-resolution images for each of a plurality of compression parameters, and decoding the encoded compressed input image using the respective sub-resolution images to control each of the plurality of compression parameters. |
| US08977061B2 |
Merging face clusters
A method for merging face clusters includes analyzing a set of digital images, grouping instances of faces within the set of digital images into a set of face clusters, each of the face clusters corresponding to a particular person, and determining a probability that a person associated with a first face cluster from the set of face clusters is the same person associated with a second face cluster of the set of face clusters. The probability is based on both a social similarity between the first face cluster and the second face cluster in addition to a facial similarity between the first face cluster and the second face cluster. |
| US08977059B2 |
Integrating feature extraction via local sequential embedding for automatic handwriting recognition
Integrating features is disclosed, including: determining a value associated with a temporal feature for a point; determining a value associated with a spatial feature associated with the temporal feature; including the value associated with a spatial feature and the value associated with the temporal feature into a feature vector; and using the feature vector to decode for a character. Determining a transform is also disclosed, including: determining, for a point associated with a sequence of points, a set of points including: the point, a first subset of points of the sequence preceding a sequence position associated with the point, and a second subset of points following the sequence position associated with the point; and determining the transform associated with the point based at least in part on the set of points. |
| US08977057B1 |
Detection of diacritics in OCR systems with assignment to the correct text line
A system and method of assigning diacritics in an electronic image using optical character recognition (OCR) is disclosed. In one example, the method comprises analyzing, by a computer system, the electronic image to generate a plurality of bounding blocks associated with text lines within the electronic image. The method further comprises establishing a plurality of bounding boxes for diacritics and base text with the electronic image. The method also comprises determining a distance from a diacritic to a nearest base text character and a nearest text line. The method also comprises evaluating a base box distance and the nearest text line distance to assign the diacritic to a correct text line in the electronic image. |
| US08977055B2 |
Information processing device, object recognition method, program, and terminal device
There is provided an information processing device including a database that stores feature quantities of two or more images, the database being configured such that identification information for identifying an object in each image and an attribute value related to a lighting condition under which the object was imaged are associated with a feature quantity of each image, an acquisition unit configured to acquire an input image captured by an imaging device, and a recognition unit configured to recognize an object in the input image by checking a feature quantity determined from the input image against the feature quantity of each image stored in the database. The feature quantities stored in the database include feature quantities of a plurality of images of an identical object captured under different lighting conditions. |
| US08977054B2 |
Candidate identification by image fingerprinting and model matching
Candidate identification utilizing fingerprint identification is disclosed. The method includes receiving a candidate image comprising a plurality of constituent elements arranged in a content pattern, compensating for rotation variation in the content pattern of the received candidate, analyzing each of the plurality of constituent elements comprising the content pattern of the received candidate image to define a bounded area about each of the plurality of constituent elements, building a candidate fingerprint representative of the content pattern wherein the candidate fingerprint is based on the defined bounded area, comparing the candidate fingerprint to a plurality of fingerprints wherein each of the plurality of fingerprints represents one of a plurality of exemplars, identifying one of the plurality of fingerprints that corresponds to the candidate fingerprint, and evaluating the candidate and one or more identified exemplars to determine the best match there between, wherein the identified exemplar corresponds to the one of the plurality of fingerprints. |
| US08977043B2 |
Method of image depth estimation and apparatus thereof
A method and an apparatus of image depth estimation are provided. The method includes the following steps. First, a hue value of each pixel in an image is calculated by comparing all color components of each pixel in the image. The hue value of each pixel in the image is associated with a corresponding value, wherein the corresponding value is a first numerical value or a second numerical value. Then, according to the corresponding value of each pixel in the image, a depth value of each pixel in the image is calculated, in which the depth value is used to convert the image into a three-dimensional (3D) image to be displayed on a 3D display apparatus. |
| US08977039B2 |
Pulling keys from color segmented images
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for pulling keys from color segmented images. Data indicative of a two dimensional image is stored in a data storage device, the two dimensional image comprising a plurality of pixels. A plurality of color segmented frames are generated based on the two dimensional image, wherein each color segmented frame comprises one or more objects. For each of the color segmented frames, a key is generated based on the one or more objects. A depth map is calculated for the two dimensional image based on the keys, wherein the depth map comprises data indicative of three dimensional information for each pixel of the two dimensional image. |
| US08977037B1 |
Methods and systems of creating a stereoscopic image
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for creating stereoscopic images. A left-eye view image for a stereoscopic image and an imperfect right-eye view image may be received. A smooth optical flow may be generated from the received image representing the left-eye view to the imperfect image representing the right-eye view to produce a first candidate right-eye view. Objects are identified in the imperfect image, and merged into the first candidate right-eye view image to create a right-eye view image. A stereoscopic image is created from the left-eye view image and right-eye view image. |
| US08977035B2 |
System, method and computer program product for detection of defects within inspection images
An analysis system for detection of defects within an inspection image of an inspected object, the inspection image comprising a plurality of pixels, the system including: a computerized segmentation module configured to segmentize the inspection image based on multiple anchor locations and on a mask which defines multiple mask-segments, by assigning each part out of multiple parts of the inspection image to a respective image-segment selected out of a multiple image segments, wherein the multiple image segments correspond to at least one mask-segment of said multiple mask-segments; and a defect detection processor configured to determine a presence of a defect in the inspection image based on the segmentation at least by assessing each pixel out of a plurality of pixels of the inspection image. |
| US08977034B2 |
Pattern shape evaluation method and pattern shape evaluation apparatus
An image of the joint portion of circuit patterns manufactured using a design pattern for double patterning is read out. Target boundary lines and evaluation regions are set on the image. In the evaluation regions, image processing is performed along the directions of the target boundary lines. Furthermore, binarization processing is performed. A decision is made based on an image obtained in this way as to whether the patterns have defects. |
| US08977029B2 |
Method and system for multi-atlas segmentation of brain computed tomography image data
A method and system for multi-atlas segmentation brain structures and vessel territories in a brain computed tomography (CT) image is disclosed. Each of a plurality of atlas images is individually registered to an input brain CT image, resulting in a plurality of warped atlas images. A region of interest is defined based on labeled brain structures in each of the plurality of warped atlas images. For each atlas image, a respective sum of squared difference (SSD) value is calculated between the corresponding warped atlas image and the brain CT image within the region of interest defined for the corresponding warped atlas image. A number of the atlas images are selected based on the SSD values calculated for the atlas images. The brain structures and vessel territories are segmented in the brain CT image using only the selected atlas images. |
| US08977026B2 |
Methods and systems for locating a region of interest in an object
Methods and systems for locating a region of interest in an object are provided. One method includes acquiring planar nuclear medicine (NM) images of a subject from an NM system, wherein the planar NM images include at least one identified region of interest. The method also includes acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) x-ray Computed Tomography (CT) volume image of the subject from an x-ray CT system and locating the region of interest within the 3D CT volume image using the planar NM images. |
| US08977021B2 |
Systems and methods for customizing interactive haptic boundaries
A method for customizing an interactive haptic boundary based on a patient-specific feature comprises identifying a reference feature associated with a virtual implant model. The method also comprises determining an intersection between the identified reference feature and a virtual model associated with an anatomy of the patient. A virtual haptic boundary is generated based on the determined intersection between the identified reference feature associated with the virtual implant model and the virtual model associated with the anatomy of the patient. |
| US08977019B2 |
Methods for microcalcification detection of breast cancer on digital tomosynthesis mammograms
A computer-aided detection system to detect clustered microcalcifications in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is disclosed. The system performs detection in 2D images and a reconstructed 3D volume. The system may include an initial prescreening of potential microcalcifications by using one or more 3D calcification response function (CRF) values modulated by an enhancement method to identify high response locations in the DBT volume as potential signals. Microcalcifications may be enhanced using a Multi-Channel Enhancement method. Locations detected using these methods can be identified and the potential microcalcifications may be extracted. The system may include object segmentation that uses region growing guided by the enhancement-modulated CRF values, gray level voxel values relative to a local background level, or the original DBT voxel values. False positives may be reduced by descriptors of characteristics of microcalcifications. Detected locations of clusters and a cluster significance rating of each cluster may be output and displayed. |
| US08977017B2 |
System and method for support of medical diagnosis
A system and method supporting medical diagnosis made based on evaluation of images of a histopathology sample. The method includes automated generation and evaluation of a digitally-stained image (emulating the effect produced on the sample by a chosen specific dye) based at least on one of data representing an image of the HE-stained sample and empirical testing data representing samples stained with specific dyes. The system is adapted to acquire a multispectral image of the sample, to implement the digital staining of the sample's image, and to evaluate automatically the digitally-stained image contemporaneously with multispectral image acquisition. The system generates an output indicative of need to request a preparation of an actual specimen stained with chosen specific dye for further evaluation, reducing the number of samples prepared in anticipation of such request and reducing time lapsed prior to the evaluation by a histopathologist. |
| US08977012B2 |
Image denoising system and method
A method, computer program product, and computer system for identifying a first portion of a facial image in a first image, wherein the first portion includes noise. A corresponding portion of the facial image is identified in a second image, wherein the corresponding portion includes less noise than the first portion. One or more filter parameters of the first portion are determined based upon, at least in part, the first portion and the corresponding portion. At least a portion of the noise from the first portion is smoothed based upon, at least in part, the one or more filter parameters. At least a portion of face specific details from the corresponding portion is added to the first portion. |
| US08977011B2 |
Face recognition using face tracker classifier data
A method of determining face recognition profiles for a group persons includes determining with a multi-classifier face detector that a face region within a digital image has above a threshold probability of corresponding to a first person of the group, and recording probability scores which are analyzed for each classifier, including determining a mean and variance for each classifier for the first person. The process is repeated for one or more other persons of the group. A sub-set of classifiers is determined which best differentiates between the first person and the one or more other persons. The sub-set of classifiers is stored in association with the first person as a recognition profile. |
| US08977009B2 |
Biometric authentication device, biometric authentication program, and biometric authentication method
A biometric authentication device that authenticates a user using biological features of the user, the biometric authentication device includes: an illumination unit configured to illuminate a target which represents the biological features; an image sensor configured to obtain a first captured image by capturing the target illuminated by the illumination unit, and obtain a second captured image by capturing the target not illuminated by the illumination unit; an acquisition unit configured to acquire from a storage unit a mask which has a target area approximating the shape of the target in the first and second captured images obtained by the image sensor; and a detection unit configured to detect light other than illumination light illuminated by the illumination unit based on the mask acquired by the acquisition unit and at least one of the first and second images. |
| US08977008B2 |
Driver assistance system for vehicle
A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes an imager disposed in the vehicle and viewing forward of the vehicle through the vehicle windshield. The imager has a field of view exterior the vehicle and is operable to capture image data. The imager includes (i) a lens, (ii) a spectral filter and (iii) a CMOS photosensor array of photosensor elements. The system includes a control that may be operable to process captured image data for at least a first application and a second application, with the first application including lane departure warning and the second application selected from the group consisting of (i) headlamp control, (ii) vehicle detection and (iii) rain sensing. The control may be operable to adjust a parameter or setting of the imager. |
| US08977005B2 |
Carried item region extraction device, carried item region extraction method, and computer readable medium
Provided is a carried item region extraction device for accurately extracting a carried item region from an image.This carried item region extraction device has: a string region processing unit for extracting a string region including a string of a carried item from image information; and a carried item region processing unit for extracting a carried item region including a carried item from the image information on the basis of the string region. |
| US08977003B1 |
Detecting objects in a sequence of images
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for object detection. The method includes detecting at least one initial position of an object of a specific type in at least one initial image within an ordered sequence of images stored in a memory. The method further includes detecting at least one subsequent position of the object in at least one subsequent image within the ordered sequence of images. The method further includes estimating one or more intermediate positions of the object in one or more intermediate images within the ordered sequence of images between the initial image and the subsequent image based on the initial position and the subsequent position. |
| US08976996B2 |
Array speaker structure for audio/video device
An array speaker structure for audio/video device includes a slide contact assembly by means of which an array speaker unit is movable out of the audio/video device from a retracted position to an extended position. The slide contact assembly is connected with a connector. By means of operating and 180-degree rotating the connector, the speakers of the array speaker unit can be rotatable to a front side of the audio/video device. Then the array speaker unit is lifted and attached to a lateral side of the audio/video device, whereby the speakers can emit sound from the front side of the audio/video device. |
| US08976994B2 |
Earphone having an acoustic tuning mechanism
An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a body portion acoustically coupled to a tube portion extending from the body portion, the body portion having an acoustic output opening to output sound from a driver positioned therein into an ear canal of a wearer. An acoustic tuning member is positioned within the body portion for acoustically coupling the driver to the tube portion. The acoustic tuning member defines a back volume chamber of the driver and includes an acoustic output port for outputting sound from the back volume chamber of the driver to the tube portion to improve an acoustic performance of the earphone. |
| US08976990B2 |
Diminishing tinnitus loudness by hearing instrument treatment
A listening device comprises an input transducer providing an electric input signal comprising audio and a detector coupled to the input transducer, for determining whether the electric input signal is a broadband signal or not and providing a detection signal in response. The listening device furthermore comprises a controllable filter for filtering the electric input signal being coupled to the detector and the input transducer and for outputting a filtered electric input signal such that a component of the electric input signal in the tinnitus frequency range is dampened, if the detection signal indicates that the electric input signal is a broadband signal, and outputting an unfiltered electric input signal such that a component of the electric input signal in the tinnitus frequency range is not dampened, if the detection signal indicates that the electric input signal is not a broadband signal. |
| US08976989B2 |
Method for operating a hearing apparatus
A method operates a hearing apparatus in which an operating parameter of the hearing apparatus is determined and smoothed by a filter. The smoothing includes, for each input value, to classify the input value in accordance with its association with a plurality of predetermined classes and increase a counter assigned to the respective class which is associated with the input value. The counter with the greatest counter value is determined and the operating parameter value assigned to the counter with the greatest counter value is output as an output variable of the filter. |
| US08976988B2 |
Audio processing device, system, use and method
An audio processing device includes a) an input unit for converting a time domain input signal to a number NI of input frequency bands and b) an output unit for converting a number NO of output frequency bands to a time domain output signal. A signal processing unit processes the input signal in a number NP of processing channels, smaller than the number NI of input frequency bands. A frequency band allocation unit allocates input frequency bands to processing channels. A frequency band redistribution unit redistributes processing channels to output frequency bands, and a control unit dynamically controls the allocation of input frequency bands to processing channels and the redistribution of processing channels to output frequency bands. |
| US08976981B2 |
Circuit, system and method for isolating a transducer from an amplifier in an electronic device
A circuit, device and method for controlling an output signal of an amplifier are provided. The output signal may be controlled through a first stage located before a digital to analog converter and/or a second stage located after it. The first stage boosts the digital signal to match with the full signal range of the converter. For the second stage, the circuit comprises: a first resistor coupled to an output of the amplifier in series, the first resistor having a resistance value Rs; a second resistor coupled to the first resistor in series, the second resistor having a resistance value Rp; and an output terminal for a transducer connected to the electronic device, the output terminal connected in parallel to the second resistor. In the circuit, the resistance values Rs and Rp are related by an inversely proportional relationship. The circuit provides an output signal at the output terminal having a noise floor that varies with an output level of the amplifier and a constant output impedance as seen from the transducer. |
| US08976974B2 |
Sound tuning system
The invention relates to a method for automated tuning of a sound system, the sound system comprising delay lines, equalizing filters, and at least two loudspeakers, the method comprising the steps of reproducing a useful sound signal through the loudspeakers, measuring sound pressure values at least one location, providing a target transfer function for tuning the delay lines and the equalizing filters of the sound system, the target transfer function representing a desired transfer characteristics of the sound system, adjusting the delay of the delay lines, and adjusting amplitude responses of the equalizing filters such, that the actual transfer characteristics of the sound system approximates the target function. |
| US08976969B2 |
Delaying analog sourced audio in a radio simulcast
A method and apparatus is disclosed in which delay is applied to analog-sourced audio in a radio simulcast when the analog signal initially leads the digital signal. A radio receiver is configured to receive a simulcast radio program broadcast with an analog signal and a digital signal. The program content can be extracted from either the analog or digital signals, with the audio source eventually being blended to the digital signal. Audio is initially provided based on the analog signal. If the analog signal is initially leading the digital signal, delay is applied a data stream corresponding to the analog signal relative to a data stream corresponding to the digital signal. Delay applied to the data stream corresponding to the analog signal is increased at a rate that avoids audio artifacts of the output audio. The blend is performed when the data streams are aligned in time. |
| US08976966B2 |
Information processor, information processing method and system
To prevent falsification of an attribute of data, a mechanism is provided, which encrypt document/image data while holding the attribute contained in electronic document data as a plain text and make it extremely difficult to decrypt the document/image data if the attribute is falsified. A transmitter receives a public key set including a plurality of public keys from a receiver, encrypts the document/image data using a common key, selects a public key from the public key set based on an attribute of the data, encrypts the common key using the selected public key, and transmits the data including the encrypted document/image data, the encrypted common key, and the attribute to the receiver. |
| US08976961B2 |
Encryption topology for transporting multiple AV streams over a unified medium
A system architecture allows for the transmission of multiple HDCP encrypted audio/video streams over a single unified cable to multiple receivers using a daisy chain topology. Each individual audio/video stream is first encrypted and then combined into a uniform stream, and the uniform stream is transmitted to each of the receivers. Each receiver contains a decryption engine that operates independently of the engines in the other receivers, therefore allowing each receiver to select to a unique channel and decrypt and display one of the audio/video streams. |
| US08976956B2 |
Speaker phone noise suppression method and apparatus
Systems and methods for removing noise from an audible signal are provided. More particularly, a vibration sensor is used to obtain a vibration signal from an environment including a communication device. The signal from the vibration sensor is combined with a signal from a microphone associated with the communication device, to create a modified audible signal. More particularly, a filtering or subtraction process can be performed with respect to the audible signal, at a time corresponding to an event detected as part of the vibration signal. The resulting modified audible signal can have reduced noise as compared to the original audible signal. |
| US08976953B2 |
Systems and methods of controlling confidential communication in contact handling systems
Methods and apparatus for improving confidentiality of sensitive information received from a customer in a contact handling system including an agent are disclosed. The method can include opening a first connection path between the customer and the contact handling system. The method can include making communication sent by the customer through the first connection path available to the agent. The method can include opening a second connection path between the customer and the contact handling system as the agent and customer communicate over the first connection path. The method can include preventing the agent from accessing communication sent over the second communication path. The method can include receiving sensitive information through the second communication path. |
| US08976952B2 |
Intelligent presence management in a communication routing system
Systems and methods for intelligent presence management in a communication routing system are provided. In exemplary embodiments, an inbound communication may be received for a user. The user's presence status is determined and a profile associated with the user is reviewed. Based on rules contained within the profile, appropriate instructions may be generated for routing the inbound communication in accordance with some embodiments. In other embodiments, instructions may be generated to log the user in or out with the communication routing system. |
| US08976951B1 |
Methods and systems for telephony call-back processing
The present invention provides flexible call processing. In one embodiment, a first call from a calling party intended for a called party is received at a call processing system. The call processing system places a second call to a telephonic device associated with the called party. The calling party and called party communicate via the first and second calls. A determination is made that the first call has been terminated. A call-back instruction is received from the called party while the second call is still in place. At least partly in response to receiving the call-back instruction, a third call is placed to a terminal associated with the calling party. The calling party and the called party can communicate via the second call and the third call. |
| US08976946B2 |
Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus includes a communication portion for communicating with an external device, a transmitter information acquiring portion for acquiring predetermined transmitter information for identifying the transmitter at a time of an incoming call of communication, a storage portion for storing a registered name in association with the transmitter information in advance, a registered name retrieval portion for, retrieving the registered name stored in the storage portion so as to be associated with the acquired transmitter information, a common part extraction portion for, in a case where a plurality of registered names are retrieved with respect to the acquired transmitter information when the registered name is retrieved by the registered name retrieval portion, extracting a common part among the plurality of registered names, and an output portion for outputting the common part of the registered names which is extracted by the common part extraction portion, in a predetermined system. |
| US08976944B2 |
Mass-scale, user-independent, device-independent voice messaging system
A mass-scale, user-independent, device-independent, voice messaging system that converts unstructured voice messages into text for display on a screen is disclosed. The system comprises (i) computer implemented sub-systems and also (ii) a network connection to human operators providing transcription and quality control; the system being adapted to optimize the effectiveness of the human operators by further comprising 3 core sub-systems, namely (i) a pre-processing front end that determines an appropriate conversion strategy; (ii) one or more conversion resources; and (iii) a quality control sub-system. |
| US08976943B2 |
Voice phone-based method and system to authenticate users
Provided is a method and a telephone-based system with voice-verification capabilities that enable a user to safely and securely conduct transactions with his or her online financial transaction program account over the phone in a convenient and user-friendly fashion, without having to depend on an internet connection. |
| US08976941B2 |
Apparatus and method for reporting speech recognition failures
Provided are an apparatus and method for reporting speech recognition failures. The method includes detecting pure speech data from input speech data and outputting the detected pure speech data; checking at least one speech recognition failure for the pure speech data; and ascertaining speech recognition failure reasons from a check-result for the speech recognition failures and outputting the ascertained speech recognition failure reasons. |
| US08976926B2 |
Portable 3-dimensional X-ray imaging system
An x-ray imaging system and method for providing three-dimensional data representing the contents of an object. An x-ray source and x-ray screen are used to acquire multiple x-ray images of the object from different perspectives. The different perspectives are obtained by placing the x-ray source at one end of a moveable arm. These images are processed by back-projecting each perspective image at known distances between the object and the x-ray source, and superimposing the back-projected images at each distance, thereby providing a set of image slices of the object along the z-axis. |
| US08976925B2 |
Method and apparatus of cone beam CT dynamic imaging
A cone-beam scanning system scans along a half circle. The reconstruction uses a weighting function which decreases for rows farther from the scan plane to take the redundancy of the projection data into account. Another embodiment uses a circle plus sparse helical scan geometry. Image data can be taken in real time. |
| US08976924B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus and X-ray detector
An X-ray detector of an X-ray CT apparatus has a collimator, a plurality of scintillators, a light reflector and a plurality of photodiodes. The collimator has a threshold plate with a thickness Wc to eliminate scattered radiation from an X-ray. The plurality of scintillators emit light based on the X-ray. The light reflector is provided in a gap between adjacent scintillators of the plurality of scintillators. The plurality of photodiodes convert the light of each of the plurality of scintillators into the electric signal. The thickness Wc of the threshold plate mounted on the X-ray incident side of the adjacent scintillators, and a thickness Ws of the gap has a relationship shown in a following expression: Wc≧Ws. |
| US08976920B2 |
Nuclear power plant using nanoparticles in emergency systems and related method
A nuclear power plant with an improved cooling system using nanoparticles in solid or fluid form is provided. The nanoparticles are delivered in locations such as the cold leg accumulator and high and low pressure pumps of an emergency core cooling system. Motor driven valves and pressurization can aid in the delivery. Methods for providing the nanoparticles are also provided. |
| US08976902B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving control information in a broadcasting/communication system
A method and an apparatus for encoding, transmitting, and receiving signaling information in a broadcasting/communication system are provided. The method includes generating the signaling information which comprises a plurality of pieces; determining a number of coded blocks to which the signaling information is to be encoded, based on a number of bits of the signaling information and a number of encoder input information bit; segmenting each piece of the signaling information based on the number of the coded blocks; constructing input information bits of each coded block to include segmented parts of each piece of the signaling information; encoding the input information bits to each coded block; and transmitting each coded block. |
| US08976896B2 |
Transmitter linearized in response to derivative signal and method therefor
A transmitter (50) includes a low power nonlinear predistorter (58) that inserts predistortion configured to compensate for a memoryless nonlinearity (146) corresponding to gain droop and another memoryless nonlinearity (148) corresponding to a video signal. When efforts are taken to reduce memory effects, such as configuring a network of components (138) that couple to an HPA (114) to avoid resonance frequencies substantially throughout a video bandwidth (140), high performance linearization at low power results without extending linearization beyond that provided by the memoryless nonlinear predistorter (58). A look-up table (282) has address inputs responsive to a magnitude parameter (152) of a communication signal (54). A pre-distorted communication signal (60) is responsive to the output of the look-up table, a derivative signal (204), and possibly one or more variable bias parameters (85). The look-up table (282) is updated in response to an LMS control loop. |
| US08976894B2 |
Digital broadcasting transmitter, digital broadcasting receiver, and stream configuration and method for processing same
Provided are a digital broadcast transmitter, a digital broadcast receiver, a stream-processing method for the digital broadcasting transmitter, and a stream-processing method for the digital broadcast receiver. The stream-processing method for the digital broadcasting transmitter includes: configuring a stream in which slots including a plurality of blocks are continuously disposed; and encoding and interleaving the stream to be output as a transport stream, wherein the configuring the stream includes, if slots of a block extension mode 00 are continuously placed, connecting known data placed in predetermined locations of adjacent slots to each other in order to generate a long training sequence. |
| US08976893B2 |
Predistortion according to an artificial neural network (ANN)-based model
Embodiments include a method for predistorting an input signal at a predistorter to compensate for distortion introduced by a non-linear electronic device operating on the input signal to produce an output signal. The method entails generating first and second signal samples for each of a plurality of sampling time instances. The first and second signal samples represent the input and output signals, and are spaced at unit-delay intervals. The method further entails calculating, from the first and second signal samples, parameters for an ANN-based model. The ANN-based model includes a tapped delay line configured to dynamically model memory effects of the distortion introduced by the device, or of the response of the predistorter, with a multi-unit delay interval between at least one pair of adjacent delays. The method also includes predistorting the input signal according to the ANN-based model, to produce a predistorted input signal for input to the device. |
| US08976891B2 |
Modulation signals for a satellite navigation system
Techniques for controlling a power spectrum of a navigation transmission signal in a navigation system are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method of controlling a power spectrum of a navigation transmission signal in a navigation system, the navigation transmission signal comprising a carrier signal, a ranging code, a data signal, and at least one stepped subcarrier modulation signal. The method may comprise modulating the canier signal by the at least one stepped subcarrier modulation signal, the data signal, and the ranging code to generate the navigation transmission ranging signal, wherein the at least one stepped subcarrier modulation signal may comprise a number, m, of amplitude levels, where m>2. The amplitude levels may be arranged to constrain the power spectrum of the navigation transmission signal in a predetermined manner. |
| US08976890B2 |
Multilevel amplitude modulation device, multilevel amplitude demodulation device, transmission system including these, multilevel amplitude modulation method, and multilevel amplitude demodulation method
A multilevel amplitude modulation device for generating, from digital data, a multilevel amplitude modulation signal having four or more signal levels and outputting the generated signal, including: an average level calculator that selects one of a plurality of preliminarily prepared different candidates for a code word building method such that average level of a symbol array, obtained by adding a symbol for a code word of digital data to be transmitted to one or more already outputted symbols included in a multilevel amplitude modulation signal already outputted, is most approximate to voltage center of the four or more signal levels, and outputs a selection signal indicating the selected method; a signal converter that forms a codeword of the digital data in accordance with the method indicated by the selection signal; and a multilevel modulator that generates a multilevel amplitude modulation signal using the codeword and outputs the generated signal. |
| US08976889B2 |
Wireless wide area network test method and test system
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a WWAN test method and a test system related to the communication field, which is suitable for the product research and development stage and can derive a quantitative data relationship between a NFS test result and an OTA test result. The WWAN test method comprises: measuring a power value of noises, denoted by D(NFS), received by an antenna of a terminal to be tested in a NFS test manner; measuring a power attenuation value, denoted by D-sense, of a path from a WWAN module to the antenna of the terminal; obtaining an antenna efficiency value, denoted by AE, of the terminal; and obtaining a TIS value of an OTA test result by TIS=D(NFS)+D-sense−AE. The embodiments of the present disclosure can be used in the NFS test. |
| US08976886B2 |
Method and apparatus for jointly performing channel estimation and interference estimation in a wireless communication system
Systems and methods for estimating characteristics of a channel are provided. A transmission of known reference data is received at a receiving device. The reference data is transmitted over the channel that includes one or more desired layers and one or more interfering layers. Characteristics of the channel are determined based on the known reference data, where the determining includes a joint estimation of the one or more desired layers and the one or more interfering layers. The determining includes selecting certain of the layers to be estimated at each of the known reference data and selecting certain of the layers to be estimated over a range of the known reference data. The determining includes solving an equation to jointly estimate the one or more desired layers and the one or more interfering layers based on the selections. The selections reduce a number of unknown values in the equation. |
| US08976883B2 |
Deciding the order of SIC detection by adjusting MCS
Method, receiver and computer program product for processing a signal, wherein the signal is received over a wireless network from a transmitter, the signal comprising a plurality of data streams. A selected one of the data streams is preferentially treated by reporting an adjusted value of a characteristic of the selected data stream to the transmitter and the received signal is decoded using a technique of successively decoding data streams in which the selected data stream is the first data stream to be decoded, a signal corresponding to the selected data stream being removed from the received signal prior to decoding at least one of the unselected data streams in the received signal. |
| US08976877B2 |
Techniques for multi-user MIMO sounding in wireless networks
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a transceiver operable as an access point and capable of communicating in a wireless network, the AP adapted to perform a down link multi user-multiple input multiple output (DL MU-MIMO) transmission and further adapted to transmit a null data packet (NDP) to sound channels between intended recipient wireless stations (STAs), and wherein following a DL MU-MIMO transmission of the NDP, the AP polls each of the STAs in turn for channel state information. |
| US08976872B2 |
Picture-in-picture processing for video telephony
The disclosure is directed to techniques for picture-in-picture (PIP) processing for video telephony (VT). According to the disclosed techniques, a local video communication device transmits PIP information to a remote video communication device. Using the PIP information, the remote video communication device applies preferential encoding to non-PIP regions of video transmitted to the local video communication device. |
| US08976871B2 |
Media extractor tracks for file format track selection
A video coding apparatus may be configured to utilize media extractors in a media extractor track that reference two or more non-consecutive network access layer (NAL) units of a separate track. An example apparatus includes a multiplexer to construct a first track including a video sample comprising NAL units, based on encoded video data, wherein the video sample is included in an access unit, construct a second track including an extractor that identifies at least first one of the NAL units in the video sample of the first track, and wherein the extractor identifies a second NAL unit of the access unit, wherein the first identified NAL unit and the second identified NAL unit are non-consecutive, and include the first track and the second track in a video file conforming at least in part to ISO base media file format. The identified NAL units may be in separate tracks. |
| US08976868B2 |
Motion picture encoding device and motion picture decoding device
When a prediction is made between fields with different parity, the predicative efficiency of a chrominance vector is improved by adaptively switching the generation of a chrominance motion vector depending on a encoding/decoding field parity (top/bottom) and a reference field parity (top/bottom), and the coding efficiency is improved accordingly. |
| US08976865B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing video signal
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing a video signal, which can increase the accuracy of the motion vector prediction through motion vector scaling which takes a difference in the temporal distance between reference pictures into consideration. To this end, the present invention provides a video signal processing method and a video signal processing apparatus using the same, and the method comprises the steps of: scaling at least one neighboring partition motion vector for a motion vector prediction of the current partition; scaling the neighboring partition motion vector, which has been selected, when the reference picture of the neighboring partition motion vector is different from the reference picture of the current partition; acquiring a motion vector prediction value of the current partition using the scaled motion vector; and acquiring a motion vector of the current partition using the motion vector prediction value. |
| US08976855B2 |
Power and area efficient receiver equalization architecture with relaxed DFE timing constraint
An exemplary receiver equalizer includes a first decision feedback equalizer (DFE) sampler coupled to a summer, the first DFE to latch an equalized output of the summer. The first branch includes a second DFE sampler coupled to the first DFE sampler, the second DFE to latch an output of the first DFE sampler. The first branch includes a third DFE sampler coupled to the second DFE sampler, the third DFE to latch an output of the second DFE sampler. The summer coupled to the first, second, and third DFE samplers of the first branch, the summer to integrate the output of said DFE samplers, the received signal, and equalized outputs from one or more other branches, wherein the integrating occurs over a plurality of unit intervals (UIs). |
| US08976852B2 |
Inter symbol interference reduction by applying turbo equalization mode
The present disclosure relates to a receiving node, and to a related method for determining when to apply a turbo equalization mode to compensate for Inter-Symbol Interference in a radio signal received over a radio channel from a transmitting node. The method comprises decoding the received radio signal into a decoded signal, determining a current error level in the decoded signal, predicting a turbo equalization gain based on instantaneous channel information of the radio channel and deciding whether to apply the turbo equalization mode depending on the predicted turbo equalization gain and the determined current error level in the decoded signal. |
| US08976851B2 |
Modulation and equalization in an orthonormal time-frequency shifting communications system
A method which includes receiving a first modulated signal from a first user device, the first modulated signal being generated based upon a time-frequency transformation of first user data. The method further includes receiving a second modulated signal from a second user device, the second modulated signal being generated based upon a time-frequency transformation of second user data. The first modulated signal and the second modulated signal are then processed. |
| US08976846B2 |
Wireless transmission system and wireless transmitter, wireless receiver, wireless transmission method, wireless reception method and wireless communication method used with same
A wireless transmission system includes a wireless HDMI transmitter and a wireless HDMI receiver. The wireless HDMI transmitter includes a carrier oscillator provided for each channel of an HDMI transmission path to output a carrier signal in a millimeter band, an OOK modulator provided for each carrier oscillator to perform on-off keying modulation on a carrier signal outputted by its corresponding carrier oscillator, and an input circuit provided for each channel of the HDMI transmission path to input a digital signal outputted by a source device to the OOK modulator. Radio signals have different planes of polarization from their adjacent channels. |
| US08976845B2 |
Communication system, network element and method for antenna array calibration
A network element for a wireless communication system is locatable to couple at least one base station to an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements. The network element comprises a plurality of independent transceiver circuits coupled to at least one of a plurality of respective antenna elements of the antenna array; and logic arranged to apply at least one complex digital signal to at least one transceiver signal path of a transceiver circuit of the plurality of independent transceiver circuits. A feedback path is arranged to provide feedback of the at least one complex digital signal such that it is capable of facilitating determination of latency mismatch error response between at least two transceiver signal paths. Adjustment means comprises delay logic arranged to receive a complex digital signal and provide a modified representation of the received complex digital signal in response to the latency mismatch error response of the at least two transceiver signal path. |
| US08976843B2 |
Method and systems for OFDM using code division multiplexing
In some embodiments of the invention, OFDM symbols are transmitted as a plurality of clusters. A cluster includes a plurality of OFDM sub-carriers in frequency, over a plurality of OFDM symbol durations in time. Each cluster includes data as well as pilot information as a reference signal for channel estimation. In some embodiments, a plurality of clusters collectively occupy the available sub-carrier set in the frequency domain that is used for transmission. In some embodiments of the invention data and/or pilots are spread within each cluster using code division multiplexing (CDM). In some embodiments pilots and data are separated by distributing data on a particular number of the plurality of OFDM symbol durations and pilots on a remainder of the OFDM symbol durations. CDM spreading can be performed in time and/or frequency directions. |
| US08976839B2 |
Method, device and system for configuring codebook
The present invention discloses a method, device and system for configuring codebooks. The method comprises a transmitting end selecting a code word restricted sub-set and informing a receiving end of the code word restricted sub-set, the code word restricted sub-set containing part or all of code words in a first codebook and/or a second codebook; and the receiving end selecting an optimal pre-coded code word from the code word restricted sub-set and informing the transmitting end of an index of the optimal pre-coded code word. By the present invention, code word restriction is implemented in the case of dual codebooks in the LTE-A system such that the calculation complexity is reduced when the receiving end selects the code word, occurrences of the case where the receiving end selects the code word wrongly are decreased, and the signaling structure in the LTE system can be inherited very well. |
| US08976836B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmission of sounding reference signal in uplink wireless communication systems with multiple antennas and sounding reference signal hopping
A sounding reference signal transmission method which is efficient in an uplink wireless telecommunications system using a multiple antenna technique and sounding reference signal hopping. A terminal using the multiple antenna technique is equipped with a plurality of antennas, and a base station receives the sounding reference signal transmitted from these antennas and estimates the uplink channel state of each antenna. Moreover, the sounding reference signal performs frequency hopping so that the base station determines the channel condition for the entire bandwidth to which data is transmitted in the uplink system. The sounding reference signal is transmitted through an antenna pattern in which the sounding reference signal can be transmitted through the entire data transmission bandwidth of the uplink system for each antenna of the terminal without additional overhead in this environment. |
| US08976835B2 |
System and method for interference triggered frequency hopping
Systems and methods of interference-triggered frequency hopping in a wireless communication system. A master is provided in the wireless communication system in wireless communication with slave nodes each configured to use different preselected communication frequencies to permit frequency hopping. A current channel is selected from among multiple channels in the wireless communication system in which the master and at least some of the slave nodes send and receive wireless communications. Each of the channels uses different ones of the preselected communication frequencies. In the current channel, interference with communications between the master and a selected one of the slave nodes that use the current channel is detected. A new channel is selected only in response to detecting the interference. The system switches from the current channel to the new channel such that communications between the master and the selected slave node use the new channel. |
| US08976832B2 |
Multi-wavelength semiconductor laser device
A multi-wavelength semiconductor laser device includes: first and second device sections monolithically formed on a substrate; and a rear end face film formed together on a rear end face of each of the first and second device sections. The first device section is a light-emitting device section having an oscillation wavelength of λ1. The second device section is a light-emitting device section having an oscillation wavelength of λ2 (λ1<λ2). The rear end face film includes a layer in which N sets (N≧2) of layers each having the combination of a low refractive index layer having a refractive index of n1 and a high refractive index layer having a refractive index of n3 (n1 |
| US08976828B1 |
Driving circuit of a laser diode and driving method of a laser diode
A driving method of a laser diode includes setting a bias current, a modulation current, a first target corresponding to a predetermined average power, and a second target corresponding to a predetermined average modulation power; executing a first adjusting current step group; generating a temporary modulation current according to the modulation current; executing a second adjusting current step group; and executing the first adjusting current step group again. |
| US08976827B2 |
Driving device and light-emitting unit
A driving device includes: a driving circuit configured to provide a drive current; a first detecting circuit; a second detecting circuit configured to detect a first reference current or a physical quantity corresponding thereto, as well as a second reference current or a physical quantity corresponding thereto; a first generating circuit configured to generate an additive voltage as a control voltage at a light-emission time of a light-emitting element, and further to generate a second voltage as a control voltage at a non-light-emission time of the light-emitting element; and a second generating circuit configured to generate a third reference current. The second detecting circuit has a first adder circuit that generates the first reference current by adding the second reference current and the third reference current with each other. |
| US08976825B1 |
Heat sink mount for laser diode
A heat sink mount for a laser diode comprises three main components, a diode ring, a diode bed and a diode container. The diode ring comprises an inner hole that matches a metal stem part of the laser diode. The diode bed comprises a first part and a second part. The diode ring is fitted into the first part of the diode bed. The inner surface of the first part is tightly contacting the outer surface of the diode ring. The diode container comprises a part a and a part b. The diode bed is fitted into the part a of the diode container, via the gripping contact between the thread on the inner surface of the part a and the thread on the outer surface of the second part of diode bed. This heat sink mount has lower costs and higher heat dissipation efficiency. |
| US08976824B2 |
Heat-swap device and method
A TOSA can include: a light emitting element; and one or more heating elements thermally coupled to the light emitting element so as to provide a substantially constant heat generation profile and/or temperature profile across the TOSA during a light emitting element dormant period and a light emitting element firing period. The TOSA can include a controller operably coupled with the one or more heating elements so as to control the substantially constant heat generation profile and/or temperature profile. In one aspect, the one or more heating elements can include one or more dedicated heating elements. In one aspect, the one or more of the dedicated heating elements can include a resistor element or coil. |
| US08976823B2 |
Controllable multi-wavelength laser source
In at least one embodiment a laser system includes a fiber laser source, a polarization controller and a wavelength converter. The relative power distribution between a pump wavelength and a signal wavelength is controllable using the polarization controller. An optional phase compensator is used to control polarization state of the output laser beam. In various embodiments the relative power distribution among multiple wavelengths may be controlled over a range of at least about 100:1. |
| US08976822B2 |
Tunable opto-electronic oscillator having optical resonator filter operating at selected modulation sideband
Opto-electronic oscillator (OEO) devices include an optical resonator filter to block the strong laser light at the laser carrier frequency from entering the optical resonator filter and to select one of the weak modulation sidebands, which is in resonance with the optical resonator filter, to be coupled into the optical resonator filter. The laser light at the laser carrier frequency and other modulation sidebands bypass the optical resonator filter to reach a fast photodetector. The laser light in the selected modulation sideband in the optical resonator filter is then coupled out to mix with the laser light at the laser carrier frequency and other modulation sidebands at the fast photodetector to produce the detector output as the input to the electrical part of the opto-electronic loop to produce the OEO oscillation. |
| US08976821B2 |
Anisotropic beam pumping of a Kerr lens modelocked laser
Apparatus and methods for anisotropic pumping of a Kerr lens modelocked laser. Direct diode laser pumping of an ultrafast Kerr lens modelocked laser oscillator is accomplished. Diode lasers generate severely anisotropic beams, meaning the pump beam has a higher-beam-quality dimension and a lower-beam-quality dimension. By spatially overlap of the pump beam higher-beam-quality dimension and the KLM laser mode, KLM operation is accomplished. Multiple laser diode pump beams are combined in counterpropagating and same-side configurations. |
| US08976819B2 |
Circuit and method for metering electricity
A current detection module generates a first current detection signal of a first current flowing through a first power line and a second current detection signal of a second current flowing through a second power line. A multiplexer periodically switches between the two current detection signals in response to a control signal so as to output the first current detection signal within a first duration of each cycle of the control signal and the second current detection signal within a second duration of each cycle of the control signal. A signal processing module generates an energy accumulation signal according to the output of the multiplexer and a voltage detection signal of the voltage of a phase line. A control module provides the control signal to the multiplexer, and generates an effective value of the second current during the second duration. |
| US08976818B2 |
Communication device, a control device, and a non-transitory computer readable medium
A communication device transmits a first packet to a first device via a network device, and receives a second packet from the first device. A transmission time between the communication device and the first device is calculated using time indicated by the communication device when the communication device transmitted the first packet, time indicated by the first device when the first device received the first packet, time indicated by the first device when the first device transmitted the second packet, time indicated by the communication device when the communication device received the second packet. A size of the first packet is set so that wait time of the first packet at the network device is within predetermined period. The wait time is calculated by assuming that a third packet transmitted from a second device is inputted to the network device before the first packet is inputted to the network device. |
| US08976816B1 |
Self-synchronous scrambler/descrambler and method for operating same
A self-synchronous scrambler/descrambler and method for operating same are disclosed. A self-synchronous scrambler/descrambler comprises an M-bit Scrambler State memory for retaining M previously scrambled/descrambled bits, a SOP/EOP Zero Inserter for receiving replacing certain bytes of the bus word with a value of zero, a Mid-Packet Word Logic for scrambling/descrambling the received bits using the previously scrambled/descrambled bits from the M-bit Scrambler State memory; and a Barrel Shifter for rotating the M-bit Scrambler State memory backwards. The method for scrambling/descrambling bits, comprising receiving a bus word, replacing certain bytes of the bus word, scrambling/descrambling bits of the bus word by exclusive-ORing with previously scrambled/descrambled bits, retaining the scrambled/descrambled bits of the bus word; and rotating the scrambled/descrambled bits of the bus word backwards an amount. |
| US08976815B2 |
Method and apparatus for sharing contents between devices
A method and apparatus for shortening a time for a contents receiving device to reproduce contents provided from a contents providing device. The method includes receiving headers of respective contents in advance from a contents providing device, verifying whether a header of selected contents is already received when the corresponding contents are selected, receiving contents data of the selected contents from the contents providing device when the header of the selected contents is already received, and reproducing the selected contents using the received corresponding header and contents data. |
| US08976813B2 |
Secure quality of service
Methods and apparatus are provided for communicating a flow of packets with a requested quality of service. An exemplary method involves receiving a first packet of a flow, determining a first reference value for the packet flow identification field of the first packet using a key value, and facilitating the requested quality of service for the first packet when the received value of the packet flow identification field of the first packet matches the first reference value. The method continues by receiving a second packet of the flow, determining a second reference value for the packet flow identification field using the key value, and facilitating the requested quality of service for the second packet when the received value of the packet flow identification field of the second packet matches the second reference value. |
| US08976810B2 |
Wireless communication system and method, and wireless access point device
A wireless communication system in which wireless communication can be performed via a wireless communication network, the wireless communication system comprising: a wireless access point device configured to operate by using power supplied via a two-wire cable, to perform wireless communication with wireless field devices via the wireless communication network, and to perform communication via the two-wire cable; and a conversion device connected to the two-wire cable and to a control unit configured to control the wireless field devices, the conversion device being configured to supply power to the wireless access point device via the two-wire cable, and to perform conversions between signals, which are input and output from the control unit, and signals, which are transmitted and received via the two-wire cable. |
| US08976801B2 |
Short packet transmission
Disclosed are various embodiments that provide short packet transmission by a network interface controller (NIC). The NIC may receive a signal indicating that a set of buffer descriptors is available for fetching from a host device. The NIC is configured to fetch the set of buffer descriptors from the host device, the set of buffer descriptors comprising a control flag, the control flag indicating whether the set of buffer descriptors comprises immediate packet data; and the NIC may transmit the immediate packet data as a transmit packet if the control flag indicates that the set of buffer descriptors comprises immediate packet data. |
| US08976799B1 |
Converged computer I/O system and bridging mechanism for peer-to-peer communication
A high-speed I/O interface that allows a number of native I/O formats to be encapsulated into PCIe Vendor Defined Messages (“VDMs”) for transfer over a single physical medium, preferably optical, and is thus referred to as the converged I/O (“CIO”) interface. The devices can be designed to provide synchronization (time value, frequency, and phase) among a network of routers, with signal paths of several meters, thereby providing an accurate time base suitable for exacting audiovisual applications. |
| US08976796B2 |
Bandwidth reuse in multiplexed data stream
A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising promoting the communication of a frame within a synchronization window, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of data types carried in a plurality of timeslots, and wherein each timeslot is assigned to carry one of the data types, identifying an idle timeslot that is assigned to carry a first data type, and inserting a second data type into the idle timeslot. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a data stream comprising a plurality of timeslots, wherein each timeslot is assigned to carry one of a plurality of data types, and determining whether one of the timeslots assigned to carry a first data type contains a second data type. |
| US08976790B2 |
Disjoint data path routing for integrity and availability augmentation
A method comprises transmitting a plurality of copies of a message from each of a first transmission node and a second transmission node, each copy having a respective identification and forwarding each of the plurality of copies of the message among other nodes in the network based, at least in part, on the respective identification of each copy such that each copy of the message traverses a predetermined communication path among the other nodes. A respective first received copy is compared to a respective second received copy at each of the other nodes. The integrity of the respective first and second copies is validated at each of the other nodes if the copies match and the copies traversed disjoint communication paths. |
| US08976789B2 |
Communication transport protocol for distributed information technology architectures
A communication protocol in a layer two (L2) network switch comprises, in response to a service request by a source node, registering the source node for packet communication service. The protocol further comprises forwarding one or more packets from the registered source node to one or more destination nodes. The protocol further comprises receiving packets from one or more destination nodes and forwarding each received packet to a corresponding registered node. |
| US08976786B2 |
Broadcast interactive television system
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to deliver broadcast channels by way of interactive TV (iTV) edge routers using multicast virtual private networks, share a same multicast state for the broadcast channels and share a same multicast delivery tree for the broadcast channels. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08976784B2 |
Method and apparatus for provisioning a scalable communications network
A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining at a first directory server of a first regional call processing system whether a new name authority pointer associated with a telephone number is within a first geographic region of the first regional call processing system, transmitting the new name authority pointer to a first name server of the first regional call processing system for provisioning the name authority pointer to the first name server responsive to determining that the telephone number is located within the first geographic region, and transmitting the new name authority pointer to a second directory server for provisioning the new name authority pointer to a second name server of a second regional call processing system responsive to determining that the telephone number is not located within the first geographic region. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08976783B2 |
Method and apparatus for assuring voice over internet protocol service
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for assuring Voice over Internet Protocol service. In one embodiment, a system for assuring Voice over Internet Protocol service includes a performance management platform for collecting performance management data from a plurality of sources in a Voice over Internet Protocol network, for detecting at least one abnormal event in accordance with the collected performance management data, and for reporting a volume of traffic in the Voice over Internet Protocol network and a trouble ticketing system for generating a ticket identifying a root cause of the abnormal event(s). |
| US08976781B1 |
Apparatus and method for calibrating a component of a transceiver via a calibration circuit operating in different calibration modes
A system including a component of a transceiver, a comparator, a counter, and a calibration circuit. The component receives an input signal comprising packets and based on the input signal, generates output signals to transmit the packets. The comparator compares the output signals to generate a comparison signal. The counter counts cycles of a clock signal to provide a count value. The control device, based on the comparison signal, transitions the counter between incrementing the count value and decrementing the count value. The calibration circuit operates in first and second calibration modes; during the first calibration mode, calibrates the component until the counter transitions a predetermined number of times between incrementing the count value and decrementing the count value; and during the second calibration mode, calibrates the component until (i) the counter transitions between incrementing and decrementing the count value, or (ii) counts a predetermined number of cycles. |
| US08976779B2 |
Method for differential precoding and base station supporting same
Provided is a differential precoding method for reducing inter-user interference and increasing the sum rate. The differential precoding method comprises initializing a precoding matrix with a first (Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI) for a channel between a mobile station and a base station; and updating the precoding matrix with a second PMI for the channel and side information for adaptively updating the precoding matrix according to a change speed of a state of the channel, wherein the side information has a quantized scalar value. |
| US08976778B2 |
Time synchronization using packet-layer and physical-layer protocols
In certain embodiments, a slave clock node in a wireless packet network achieves time synchronization with a master clock node by implementing a packet-layer synchronization procedure, such as the IEEE1588 precision timing protocol (PTP), to set the slave's local time based on the master's time. The slave's local time is then maintained by implementing a physical-layer syntonization procedure, such as synchronous Ethernet, without relying on the packet-layer synchronization procedure. The packet-layer synchronization procedure may be selectively employed to adjust the slave's local time (if needed) after significant periods of time (e.g., substantially greater than one second). Both the packet-layer synchronization procedure and the physical-layer syntonization procedure are traceable to a common reference timescale (e.g., UTC). Depending on the implementation, the packet-layer synchronization procedure can be, but does not have to be, terminated when not being employed to adjust the slave's local time. |
| US08976777B2 |
IP communication device and single-oscillator radio and oscillator control method
The invention relates to the field of radio communication devices and, more specifically, gateways connected firstly to a cellular radio communication network via a packet data communication network, such as an IP network, and secondly to cellular mobile communication terminals. The invention proposes to use the same oscillator to provide both the reference clock of the radio subsystem and the reference clock of the general processor of the device. The fact that the same oscillator is used for these two components also allows embodiments in which some of the functions that have hitherto been devolved to a hardware control component, itself operating by means of a clock derived from the radio oscillator and being involved in the control of said oscillator, can now be devolved to a software component that is executed on the general processor of the gateway. |
| US08976775B2 |
Transmission of an information sequence
A method implemented in a mobile communications system for data transmission is disclosed. The method includes selecting a set of parallel channels, determining transmission rank, and determining a precoding matrix of the transmission rank for the set of parallel channels, wherein the precoding matrix is formed by applying householder transformation to a vector to make a matrix and selecting one or more columns from the matrix. Other methods and apparatuses also are disclosed. |
| US08976774B2 |
Radio link performance prediction in wireless communication terminal
A method for predicting performance of a radio link in a wireless communication terminal including hypothesizing a second codeword including information associated with a hypothesized first codeword, obtaining channel state information from a received signal, and estimating a decoder error rate of the first codeword under a condition that the second codeword may not be decoded correctly, wherein the decoder error rate is estimated using the channel state information. |
| US08976768B2 |
Peer setup of predefined modulation transmission
Described herein are systems and techniques related to maintaining wireless connections between stations (STAs). A message is communicated between the STAs to anticipate modulation type that may be used in transmitting a packet under the Wireless Gigabit alliance (WiGig) specification and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ad standard. The message may be used in disabling or enabling automatic gain control (AGC) at a receiving STA end. |
| US08976761B2 |
High density deployment using transmit or transmit-receive interference suppression with selective channel dimension reduction/attenuation and other parameters
In a wireless local are network, each of multiple access points, in a high density deployment, are configured to suppress co-channel interference. A first access point having a plurality of antennas beamforms a transmission to a wireless client device within a null-space or with the weakest singular eigenmodes of a wireless channel between the first access point and at least one co-channel second access point. Techniques are presented herein for situations in which any given access point has two or more co-channel access points. In addition, an access point may perform receive side suppression with respect to a transmission (made by a co-channel access point to one of its associated wireless client devices) that is received from that co-channel access point. |
| US08976760B2 |
Communication control system and communication control method
To provide a communication control system and a communication control method, in which call connection delay can be reduced even in a case where a resource capable of continuing an established communication bearer in a radio communication system in a transition destination cannot be captured when a mobile station transitions to another radio communication system. An eNB 110 includes a handover control unit 115 configured to determine whether a handover of a PS bearer to a 3G system 20 is performed based on the priority of the PS bearer to the CS bearer when a connection destination of a mobile station 300 being in connection with an LTE system 10 using the PS bearer is switched to the 3G system 20. |
| US08976759B2 |
Multi-user downlink linear MIMO precoding system
A method implemented in a base station used for a downlink multi-user (MU) multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system is disclosed. The method includes receiving an indication of a quantized matrix from each of a plurality of scheduled user equipments, precoding data streams for the plurality of scheduled user equipments, transmitting the precoded data to the plurality of scheduled user equipments. Other methods and some apparatuses for wireless communications also are disclosed. |
| US08976755B2 |
Method of controlling connection between nodes in digital interface
A method of controlling connection between nodes in a digital interface whereby a first node that is a master node determines a second node to be the master and controls a point-to-point connection or a broadcast connection to another node. The first node having the display device determines the second node to be the master in accordance with a user selection, and transmits a connection command of a predetermined format for transmitting a data stream to the second node. The second node determined as the master in accordance with the transmitted connection command of the predetermined format is allocated with a channel and a bandwidth from an isochronous resource manager (IRM), and performs a point-to-point connection between the second node and the first node to transit the data stream. Thus, the transmission/reception, reproduction, and control of the data stream of the program can be smoothly performed. |
| US08976754B2 |
Feedback information relating to a mobile communications system using carrier aggregation
The invention relates to a method for encoding a number of feedback information messages in a mobile radio communications system using carrier aggregation, the method comprising: encoding the number of feedback information messages by a set of codewords, where each feedback information message can be of at least a first kind or a second kind. The method is distinguished by that for at least one feedback information message there is at least one codeword corresponding to information of the first kind and at least one codeword corresponding to information of the second kind, wherein the modulation symbol of one of said at least one codeword corresponding to information of the first kind and the modulation symbol of one of said at least one codeword corresponding to information of the second kind have a maximum distance. The invention also relates to a mobile terminal and radio basestation for a communications system. |
| US08976750B1 |
Delivering precision time protocol frequency and phase synchronization over a network without on-path support
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for precision time protocol (PTP) frequency and phase synchronization to unanchored sites over non on-path supported networks are provided. In embodiments, the method includes continuously measuring one-way delay (OWD) and delay offset from a host site to an anchored site to determine a dynamic corrective offset (DCO). One of a plurality of unanchored sites is identified. In embodiments, the DCO is applied to PTP sync or PTP follow-up messages communicated from the host site to the identified unanchored site. The clocks associated with the unanchored sites are synchronized to the host clock. |
| US08976749B2 |
Method and base station for dynamic adjustment of carrier resource
A method and base station for dynamic adjustment of a carrier resource are disclosed. First, a cell-edge traffic volume of a local cell is detected; then, if the cell-edge traffic volume of the local cell is reduced, an idle primary subcarrier resource in the cell is released as a secondary subcarrier according to a degree of reduction of the cell-edge traffic volume and according to a multiple of a predetermined minimum granularity. With it, when the cell-edge traffic volume of the local cell is changed, the allocation of a primary subcarrier and a secondary subcarrier may be adjusted dynamically, which increases a utilization rate of a spectrum and ensures that carrier resources can be utilized properly and adequately. |
| US08976748B2 |
Mobile station apparatus, base station apparatus, communication system, communication method, integrated circuit, and mobile station apparatus control program
When a mobile station apparatus capable of being connected to a base station apparatus by using a plurality of frequency bands performs an uplink transmission, the mobile station apparatus selects the optimum combination among the combinations of a plurality of frequency bands and uplink transmission methods, and performs the uplink transmission. The mobile station apparatus aggregates a plurality of cells to connect the same to a base station apparatus and requests, from the base station apparatus, an uplink radio resource required to transmit uplink data. The mobile station apparatus selects, based on a first condition, an uplink for making a radio resource request using a random access channel from the plurality of cells, and selects, based on a second condition, either the radio resource request using the random access channel or the transmission of uplink data using an uplink radio resource common to other mobile station apparatuses. |
| US08976744B2 |
Vehicle communication network including wireless communications
A wired and wireless vehicle communication network includes network node modules, switch modules, bridge-routing modules, and a network manager. The network manager is operable to determine a wired packet communication mode and/or a wireless packet communication mode. When the network is in the wireless packet communication mode, the network manager coordinates wireless communication of packets among the network node modules, the switch modules, and the bridge-routing modules based on individual content of the packets and wireless channel mapping. When the network is in the wired packet communication mode, the network manager coordinates wired communication of packets among the network node modules, the switch modules, and the bridge-routing modules based on the individual content of the packets and in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol. |
| US08976740B2 |
System information acquisition in connected mode
A method of wireless communication includes acquiring at least one non-required system information from a cell while in a radio resource control connected state. The non-required system information is system information that is not required in the radio resource control connected state. The method includes transitioning from the radio resource control connected state to a radio resource control idle state on the cell without acquiring the at least one non-required system information. |
| US08976739B2 |
Method for operating radio communication in multi-radio link communications system
An item of network information pertaining to available resources, which are available for transmitting radio communication data in a multi-radio link communications system, is transmitted to network devices and/or subscriber stations by a coordination device. The item of network information assigns the available resources to groups, and the resources of different groups are assigned according to at least one common group feature. |
| US08976730B2 |
Enhanced capabilities and efficient bandwidth utilization for ISSI-based push-to-talk over LTE
For voice traffic over-the-air in LTE, persistent schedule (PS) or semi-persistent (SPS) scheduling would be the preferred method as they minimize signaling messages. In PS or SPS, resources are pre-allocated to the UE 402 at regular intervals (e.g., every 20 milliseconds). At each time slot, the UE will generally transmit an IMBE frames which are encoded in ISSI packet. In ISSI, other data streams are multiplexed with the IMBE frame and thus the packet size varies depending on its position within a super-frame. For PS or SPS, eNodeB must allocated sufficient resources to support the largest packet that. Therefore, there is spare capacity when the packet is not of the largest size. The exemplary embodiments specify ways to use spare capacity to transfer data. |
| US08976728B2 |
Distributed medium access control (DMAC) for mobile ad hoc networks
Message or traffic data is transmitted from a given radio or node for reception by one or more other nodes in a communications network, by arranging the node for transmitting the data according to a selected one of a number of different medium access protocols. The medium access protocol selected for a given message or traffic is determined according to one or more of (a) the size of the traffic, (b) the priority of the traffic, (c) the periodicity of the traffic, and (d) whether the traffic is broadcast or unicast to the other nodes in the network. Each radio includes one or more processor and memory modules configured to output messages or traffic for transmission from the radio according to the selected medium access protocol. By using distributed scheduling and traffic control to protect against hidden nodes, the radios can maintain agile portability in tactical urban environments. |
| US08976726B2 |
Identification, alignment and cross polarization optimization for orthogonal polarized transmission and relay systems
A method of and system for distinguishing polarizations and information about the carrier signals transmitted from a repeating relay comprising encoding, using an encoder, a first data stream and a second data stream at a repeating relay, modulating, using a modulator, the first and second encoded data streams at the repeating relay, spreading, using a spreader, the first modulated data stream such that a first spread waveform results having first spreading characteristics and the second modulated data stream such that a second spread waveform results having second spreading characteristics, wherein the first spreading characteristics and the second spreading characteristics are different and differentiate the first spread waveform from the second spread waveform, and transmitting the first spread waveform as a first spread spectrum carrier signal on a first electromagnetic polarization and the second spread waveform as a second spread spectrum carrier signal on a second EM polarization. |
| US08976725B2 |
Communication system, relay device, communication terminal, and base station
Provided is a communication system including a plurality of base stations, a plurality of communication terminals that communicates with one of the plurality of base stations, and a relay device, the relay device including a selection unit that selects a communication terminal to be relayed from among the plurality of communication terminals on the basis of communication quality information received from each of the plurality of communication terminals, and a relay unit that relays communication between the communication terminal selected by the selection unit and the corresponding base station. |
| US08976721B1 |
Beacon miss prevention in power save modes using timing synchronization function
A clock generator generates a first clock. A receiver transitions, based on the first clock, from a power save mode to an active mode to receive a DTIM beacon from an access point. The DTIM beacon is transmitted at a DTIM beacon interval based on a second clock of the access point. A beacon sensing module determines a number of times the DTIM beacon is missed by the receiver during a predetermined time period subsequent to the receiver transitioning from the power save mode to the active mode. A transmit module transmits a number of requests to the access point during a given DTIM beacon interval. The number of requests is based on the number of times the DTIM beacon is missed. A synchronization module receives information about the second clock from the access point and synchronizes the first clock to the second clock based on the information. |
| US08976718B2 |
Automatic detection apparatus for UL/DL configuration in LTE-TDD signal and the method thereby
This invention relates to an automatic detection apparatus for UL/DL configuration in LTE-TDD signal and the method thereby for automatically detecting the UL/DL configuration number of an LTE-TDD signal without a decoder by using a simple structure. An automatic detection apparatus for UL/DL configuration in LTE-TDD signal comprises: a signal receiving unit for receiving an LTE-TDD RF signal and converting the LTE-TDD RF signal into a LTE-TDD baseband signal; a signal extracting unit for extracting a cell-specific reference signal for each subframe length in one frame length of the LTE-TDD baseband signal received from the signal receiving unit; a signal power measurement unit for measuring the power of the corresponding subframe reference signal according to the cell-specific reference signal received from the signal extracting unit; and an UL/DL configuration determination unit for determining whether the corresponding subframe is a DL subframe or an UL subframe according to the comparison result of the power of the corresponding subframe reference signal measured in the signal power measurement unit with a predetermined reference value, and determining the UL/DL configuration number for the corresponding frame based on the subframe number determined as described above. In the above configuration, it is characterized in that the predetermined reference value is the noise power without any LTE-TDD signal. |
| US08976715B2 |
System and method for operating a packet voice far-end echo cancellation system
A packet voice transceiver adapted to reside at a first end of a communication network and to send an ingress communication signal comprising voice packets to, and receive an egress communication signal comprising voice packets from, a second packet voice transceiver residing at a second end of the communication network. The packet voice transceiver includes a far-end echo canceller that reduces echo that is present in the egress communication signal. The far-end communicates with other functional components of the transceiver system and adapts its behavior based on the activity of the other functional components. |
| US08976712B2 |
Speakerphone and conference bridge which request and perform polling operations
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for improved audio, video, and data conferencing. The present invention provides a conferencing system comprising a plurality of endpoints communicating data including audio data and control data according to a communication protocol. A local conference endpoint may control or be controlled by a remote conference endpoint. Data comprising control signals may be exchanged between the local endpoint and remote endpoint via various communication protocols. In other embodiments, the present invention provides for improved bridge architecture for controlling functions of conference endpoints including controlling functions of the bridge. |
| US08976711B2 |
Simple topology transparent zoning in network communications
An autonomous system (AS) comprising a topology transparent zone (TTZ) comprising a plurality of TTZ nodes, wherein the plurality of TTZ nodes includes an edge node and an internal node, wherein each of the plurality of TTZ nodes is configured to connect to another TTZ node via an internal link, and a plurality of neighboring external nodes connected to the TTZ edge nodes via a plurality of external links, wherein no link state advertisements (LSAs) describing the internal links are distributed to the neighboring external nodes. |
| US08976706B2 |
Load balancing method and system for peer-to-peer networks
System and method for balancing a number of incoming connections of nodes connected to a peer-to-peer network. The method includes receiving at a selecting node information about out-finger candidates. The information includes at least a quantifiable parameter for the out-finger candidates and the out-finger candidates are possible nodes to be connected to the selecting node. The method includes calculating in the selecting node, for each node of the out-finger candidates, a probability value by using a predetermined probability function that uses as input the corresponding quantifiable parameter; and selecting one node from the out-finger candidates to be an out-finger node for the selection node based on the probability value. The probability value is associated with a number of in-finger connections to the selected out-finger node. |
| US08976705B2 |
System and method for providing configuration data in a mesh network
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving packets from a group of nodes configured to operate in a mesh network; referencing geographic information associated with the group of nodes; evaluating a subset of the group of nodes within a particular geographic area; determining a global positioning system (GPS) location and a relative location associated with the subset of the group of nodes; determining configuration data for the subset of the group of the nodes; and communicating the configuration data to the subset of the group of nodes. |
| US08976698B2 |
Methods and apparatus for radio link monitoring in new carrier type (NCT) in a long term evolution (LTE) system
Certain aspects provide methods and apparatus for performing radio link monitoring (RLM) based on channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs). Such RLM may be performed for certain carriers, such as New Carrier Type (NCT) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, for example, in which reference signals conventionally used for RLM (e.g., common reference signals (CRSs) in LTE Rel-8/9/10) are not available in every subframe. Radio link failure (RLF) may be declared based on the RLM. One example method generally includes determining at least one of a first set of CSI-RS resources for use in channel estimation to perform RLM measurements or a second set of CSI-RS resources for use in interference estimation to perform the RLM measurements and performing the RLM measurements based on the one or more determined sets of CSI-RS resources. Certain aspects provide methods and apparatus for performing radio resource management (RRM) based on CSI-RSs. |
| US08976695B2 |
Wireless communications system having selective wireless communications network and related methods
A wireless communications system may include different wireless communications networks, an application server, and an intermediate server configured to communicate with the application server. The wireless communications system may also include a mobile wireless communications device configured to communicate with the intermediate server over each of the different wireless communications networks to determine a selected wireless communications network. The mobile wireless communications device may also be configured to communicate with the application server via the intermediate server over the selected wireless communications network. |
| US08976688B2 |
Grant scheduler for optical network devices
In general, techniques are described for performing grant scheduling in optical networks. An optical line terminal (OLT) comprising a control unit may implement the techniques. The control unit determines an amount of upstream data associated with a category of service that is waiting at a first one of a plurality of ONTs to be transmitted upstream to the OLT and computes a number of GCPs for each of the ONTs based on a determined amount of data associated with the category of service that is waiting to be transmitted upstream to the OLT for each of the ONTs. After computing the number of GCPs, the control unit then grants time slots to the one or more of the ONTs based on the number of GCPs computed for each of the ONTs, wherein the time slots comprise time slots for upstream communication form the ONTs to the OLT. |
| US08976686B2 |
TCM path search method, TCM path creaetion method, path search management system, and path creation management system
A Tandem connection monitoring (TCM) path search method, a TCM path creation method, a path search management system, and a path creation management system are provided. The source end TCM mode and the sink end TCM mode at a single level of each node in an Optical Channel Data Unit-k (ODUk) path are acquired; and a TCM path at the single level between nodes in the ODUk path is calculated according to the source end TCM mode and the sink end TCM mode at the single level of each node that are acquired. TCM level information and the sink end TCM mode of a second node for TCM path creation between a first node and the second node are acquired by specifying the first node and the second node; and a TCM path between the first node and the second node that are specified is created and stored. |
| US08976684B2 |
Intelligent video, data streaming and access to distributed resources in a wireless network
The invention provides a method of operating a network which comprises a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, between a requesting station and potential resource providing stations. The method comprises monitoring, at each station, the activity and/or resources of other stations on the network to establish the availability of resources at the other stations, and transmitting, from a requesting station requiring a specified resource, resource request probe signals identifying the specified resource. The resource may be data, connectivity, memory/storage, or another resource. At each station receiving the resource request probe signals, the availability of the specified resource or a portion thereof is determined, and hence whether said station is a potential resource providing station. If such a potential resource providing station has the specified resource or a portion thereof, response data is transmitted directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, to the requesting station indicating the availability of the specified resource or portion thereof to the requesting station. The requesting station is then given access to the specified resource or portion thereof from at least one resource providing station selected from one or more potential resource providing stations. The invention extends to a network for implementing the method. |
| US08976682B2 |
Connection verification for MPLS label switched paths and pseudowires
In one embodiment, a maintenance intermediate point (MIP) receives a packet traveling along a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) label switched path (LSP) that extends from a first maintenance end point (MEP) to a second MEP. The receiving MIP decrements a time-to-live (TTL) value in a header of the packet. In response the TTL value in the header of the packet equaling a particular value, the receiving MIP examines an associated channel header (ACH) field in an operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM) message stored in a payload of the packet, and determines a particular OAM function to perform based on a code in the ACH field. The receiving MIP performs the particular OAM function. |
| US08976679B2 |
Method and communication network node for improving communication performance
The present solution relates to enabling improved performance for a user equipment UE (205) in a communication network (200). A network node (210) detects (301, 401) that wireless performance between the UE (205) and a base station (201) is poor. Then, it identifies (302,402) a location of the UE (205) where the poor performance is detected, obtains (303,403) an identity associated with the UE (205), obtains (304,404) an address associated with the UE (205) and identifies (305,405) that the location of the UE (205) is residential and that the address corresponds to the location. The node (210) searches (306,406) for a wireline connection (219) located within a distance from the UE (205). The node (210) establishes (307,407) whether the performance for the UE (205) would be improved by providing services from a core network (209) to the UE (205) via the wireline connection (219) using the home base station (215). |
| US08976678B2 |
Multiple line communications for locomotive consist
A method for controlling data communication within a locomotive consist is disclosed. The method may include monitoring an effect of a first interference generated by a first pair of wires on a second pair of wires during a communication. The method may also include monitoring an effect of a second interference generated by the second pair of wires on the first pair of wires during the communication. The method may further include dividing data packets to he sent from the first access point to the second access point such that a first subset of the data packets are designated for the first pair of wires and a second subset of the data packets are designated for the second pair of wires and modifying the first subset of the data packets to reduce the effect of the first interference. |
| US08976675B2 |
Automatic modification of VOIP packet retransmission level based on the psycho-acoustic value of the packet
An exemplary technique disclosed herein is that the transmitter of a VOIP stream can assess the psycho-acoustic importance of each packet, and then use a protocol that supports redundant transmission to retransmit only the packets that are judged to be important for voice quality and intelligibility. Illustratively, a packet containing a plosive might be retransmitted redundantly because of its disproportionate contribution to intelligibility, but a packet that occurs entirely within a long-duration fricative transmitted only once. An exemplary aspect may also support multiple levels of transmission redundancy based on multiple levels of packet importance, with the levels varying based on the relative psycho-acoustic importance of each packet and/or the degree of network congestion. |
| US08976673B2 |
Implementing OSPF in split-architecture networks
A method is implemented in a network element that functions as one of a plurality of controllers for one of a plurality of areas of a split architecture network. The controller provides a control plane for the area of the split architecture network where the controller is remote from a plurality of switches providing a data plane for the area of split architecture network. The controller facilitates optimized routing across the plurality of areas of the split architecture network by providing limited intra-area link cost data to other controllers of other areas of the split architecture network and to traditional routers of a network including the split architecture network. The limited intra-area link cost data provides costs of each possible shortest path traversal of the area of the controller without providing all internal link cost data. |
| US08976666B2 |
Load balancing network adapter
Methods and systems for providing device-specific authentication are described. One example method includes receiving, by an input port of a network adapter within the computer system, a stream of network traffic; dividing, by load balancing logic within the network adapter, the received stream of network traffic into a plurality of substreams; and presenting the plurality of substreams to respective interfaces of the network adapter, each network adapter interface being accessible by an operating system executing on the computer system. |
| US08976665B2 |
System and method for re-routing calls
The disclosed embodiments include a system, computer program product, and method for routing a call over a packet network. A call request may be received from a calling party to call a called party at a network address. At least one potential call path over a packet network may be determined to connect the calling party to the called party at the network address. Network performance information associated with each potential call path may be accessed and a determination may be made that each of the call paths are impaired or congested. In response to determining that each of the call paths are impaired or congested, the call may be routed over a call path other than one of the at least one potential call paths to enable the calling party to communicate with the called party. |
| US08976661B2 |
Network self-protection
A device used in a network is disclosed. The device includes a network monitor to monitor a network state and to collect statistics for flows going through the network, a flow aggregation unit to aggregate flows into clusters and identify flows that can cause a network problem, and an adaptive control unit to adaptively regulate the identified flow according to network feedback. Other methods and systems also are disclosed. |
| US08976660B2 |
Method for transmitting ACK/NACK signals, and base station and user equipment for the method
According to one aspect of the present invention, values which are specifically defined for each user equipment are reflected when resource allocation/mapping of downlink/uplink ACK/NACK channels is performed, so as to vary uplink/downlink ACK/NACK information transmitting resources for each user equipment allocated to the same downlink/uplink resource. According to another aspect of the present invention, nodes for transmitting uplink/downlink ACK/NACK information vary for each user equipment allocated to the same downlink/uplink resource. According to the present invention, even when downlink/uplink signals for a plurality of user equipment are transmitted from the same resource, uplink/downlink ACK/NACK signals of the plurality of user equipment are transmitted from different resources, thereby reducing interferences among ACK/NACK signals of the plurality of user equipment. |
| US08976659B2 |
Intelligent layer-2 forwarding
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a port management module and a notification module. During operation, the port management module identifies a local port selected to be in a blocking state associated with a spanning tree. The notification module constructs a notification message associated with the blocking state. |
| US08976655B2 |
Evaluating a capacity of a cell of a radio access network
A method, a computer readable media and a device, the method is for evaluating a capacity of a cell of a radio access network (RAN), and may include monitoring, by a monitor, (a) downstream traffic that is directed towards the cell and (b) responses from the cell to the downstream traffic, to provide monitoring results; calculating, in response to the monitoring results, round trip time (RTT) statistics; and generating an estimate of the capacity of the cell in response to the RTT statistics. |
| US08976652B2 |
Relay device, method of controlling relay device, and relay system
An L2 switch includes a storage unit, a detection unit, a selection unit, and a notification unit. The storage unit stores a plurality of relay paths connecting a source device and a destination device that receives information from the source device. The detection unit detects occurrence of congestion between the host L2 switch and an adjacent L2 switch in a first path among the plurality of relay paths. The selection unit selects a second path from among the plurality of relay paths in the case where the occurrence of congestion has been detected. The notification unit notifies, through an L2 switch adjacent to the host L2 switch in the second path, an L2 switch adjacent to the source device that the second path is to be used as a detour path. |
| US08976645B2 |
Dynamic protection against failure of a head-end node of one or more TE-LSPS
In one embodiment, a repair label switched path (LSP) is established for a primary LSP having a head-end node. The repair LSP extends from a neighboring upstream node of the head-end node to a downstream neighboring node of the head-end node. When a failure of the head-end node is detected, the neighboring upstream node reroutes traffic onto the repair LSP. The rerouted traffic rejoins the primary LSP at the downstream neighboring node. The neighboring upstream node refreshes state of the primary LSP to maintain the primary LSP after failure of the head-end node. |
| US08976643B2 |
Wireless communication method and transmission apparatus
A wireless communication method for a transmission apparatus that transmits an OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) signal using a communication band, which comprises a plurality of subcarrier groups each including a plurality of subcarriers. The method includes specifying which subcarrier group and how many subcarriers are to be used to transmit the OFDM signal, determining a configuration of a transmission frame, generating the OFDM signal by mapping data symbols according to the determined configuration of the transmission frame, and transmitting the generated OFDM signal. |
| US08976633B1 |
Data storage device calibrating fly height actuator based on laser power for heat assisted magnetic recording
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk, a head comprising a laser configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk, and a fly height actuator (FHA) configured to actuate the head vertically over the disk based on an FHA setting. A write laser power applied to the laser during a write operation is calibrated, a first fly height of the head is measured at a first laser power setting, and a second fly height of the head is measured at a second laser power setting different from the first laser power setting. A FHA write setting is generated based on the calibrated write laser power and the first and second fly height measurements, where the FHA write setting is applied to the FHA during the write operation. |
| US08976626B2 |
Seismic wave emitting device for marine seismic acquisition and method for implementation thereof
The invention concerns a device for emitting seismic waves designed to operate by being towed by a vessel. The device of the invention comprises a support of elongated shape; at least one seismic source connected to the support; means to tow the support while holding it in a substantially vertical position. |
| US08976622B2 |
Methods for controlling towed marine sensor array geometry
A method for towing a streamer array includes moving a vessel along a body of water. Streamers are towed by vessel. A relative position is determined at selected points along each streamer with respect to the vessel. At least one of the streamers is deflected at least one longitudinal position along the streamer in response to the determined positions to maintain the streamers in a selected geometry. The selected geometry is related to one of survey vessel heading, energy source trajectory, previously plotted sensor trajectory and a lateral separation related to distance from the towing vessel. |
| US08976621B2 |
Continuous page read for memory
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to techniques to read memory in a continuous fashion. |
| US08976620B2 |
Apparatus and method to adjust clock duty cycle of memory
An embodiment of the invention provides a memory controller for controlling a memory. The memory controller comprises a pulse width modulation module, a voltage comparator and a duty cycle calibration device. The pulse width modulation module is suitable for receiving a clock signal to generate a first voltage. The voltage comparator is suitable for receiving and comparing a reference voltage with the first voltage to output a comparison signal. The duty cycle calibration device is suitable for adjusting a duty cycle of the clock signal according to the comparison signal. |
| US08976614B2 |
Tracking scheme for memory
A memory has a tracking circuit for a read tracking operation. The memory includes a memory bit cell array, a tracking column, a tracking row, a sense amplifier row coupled to the memory bit cell array and the tracking row, and a sense amplifier enable logic. The memory further includes a tracking bit line coupled to the tracking column and the sense amplifier enable logic, and a tracking word line coupled to the tracking row and the sense amplifier enable logic. The tracking circuit is configured to track a column time delay along the tracking column before a row time delay along the tracking row. |
| US08976610B2 |
Memory device with timing overlap mode
In some examples, a memory device is configured to receive a precharge command and an activate command. The memory device performs a first series of events related to the precharge command in response to receiving the precharge command and a second series of events related to the activate command in response to receiving the activate command. The memory device delays the start of the second series of events until the first series of events completes. |
| US08976609B1 |
Low-test memory stack for non-volatile storage
The various embodiments described herein include systems, methods and/or devices used to packaging non-volatile memory. In one aspect, the method includes, selecting, from a set of non-volatile memory die, a plurality of non-volatile memory die on which predefined die-level and sub-die level tests have been deferred until after packaging, in accordance with predefined criteria and predefined statistical die performance information corresponding to the set of non-volatile memory die. The method further includes packaging the selected plurality of non-volatile memory die into a memory device. After said packaging, the method further includes performing a set of tests on the plurality of non-volatile memory die in the memory device to identify respective units of memory within the non-volatile memory die in the memory device that meet predefined validity criteria, wherein the set of tests performed include the deferred predefined die-level and sub-die level tests. |
| US08976602B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor device
A non-volatile semiconductor device includes first and second selecting transistors; multiple memory cells that are stacked above the substrate; multiple word lines that are connected to control gates of the multiple memory cells; selecting gate lines that are each connected to a gate of one of the selecting transistors; a bit line connected to the first selecting transistor; a source line connected to the second selecting transistor; and a control circuit configured to execute an erasing loop that includes an erase operation and a verifying operation. The control circuit increases an erasing voltage in accordance with the number of times the erasing loop is repeated. |
| US08976598B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory block comprising cell strings each of which includes a plurality of memory cells, a current measurement circuit measure a current flowing through a selected bit line coupled to a selected cell string when a data read operation or a program verification operation is performed, and a logic group configured to change a read voltage, a program verification voltage, or a pass voltage in response to the measured current. |
| US08976593B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor device
A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of global word lines, a voltage pump configured to generate a plurality of voltages, a control unit configured to divide the plurality of global word lines into a first group and a second group in response to an input row address and generate control signals, a first selection unit configured to output at least two different voltages that are to be applied to global word lines of the first group, a second selection unit configured to output a voltage that is to be applied to global word lines of the second group, and a third selection unit configured to apply output voltages of the first selection unit to the global word lines of the first group, and apply an output voltage of the second selection unit to the global word lines of the second group. |
| US08976581B2 |
Non-volatile memory capable of programming cells by hot carrier injection based on a threshold voltage of a control cell
A non-volatile memory system includes a bit line and a plurality of memory cells associated with the bit line and coupled in a serial manner. The system further has a control circuitry in communication with the memory cells, wherein the control circuitry programs a target cell selected from the memory cells by applying a bit line voltage on the bit line in order to promote hot carrier injection into the target cell. The circuit also applies a programming voltage on the target cell under a hot carrier injection mechanism. Moreover, the circuit also applies a control voltage on a control cell, which is adjacent to the target cell when programming the target cell, wherein the control voltage is dependent on the threshold voltage of the control cell and the control voltage is less than the programming voltage. |
| US08976578B2 |
Memory element and memory apparatus
A memory element has a layered configuration, including a memory layer in which a magnetization direction is changed corresponding to information; the magnetization direction being changed by applying a current in a lamination direction of the layered configuration to record the information in the memory layer, a magnetization-fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, an intermediate layer that is formed of a non-magnetic material and is provided between the memory layer and the magnetization-fixed layer, and a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy inducing layer, the memory layer including a first ferromagnetic layer, a first bonding layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, a second bonding layer and a third ferromagnetic layer laminated in the stated order. |
| US08976577B2 |
High density magnetic random access memory
One embodiment of a magnetic memory device comprises a substrate and a plurality of planar memory arrays stacked on the substrate, each memory array includes a plurality of parallel first conductive lines, each first conductive line includes a ferromagnetic cladding, a plurality of parallel second conductive lines overlapping the first conductive lines at a plurality of intersection regions, a plurality of magnetic tunnel junctions, each magnetic tunnel junction has a controllable electrical resistance, is disposed at an intersection region and electrically coupled to one of the first conductive lines at its first end and to one of the second conductive lines at its second end. The electrical resistance of the magnetic tunnel junction is controlled by a joint effect of a spin-polarized current running between the first and second ends and a bias magnetic field applied simultaneously to said each magnetic tunnel junction. Other embodiments are described and shown. |
| US08976572B2 |
DRAM security erase
A memory includes a DRAM array having memory cells, wordlines and bitlines coupled to the memory cells, and sense amplifiers. The memory can be configured to perform a method in which a wordline of the DRAM array is set to an active state. While the wordline is active, signals develop on the respective bitlines according to the flows of charge between the memory cells coupled to the wordline and the respective bitlines. The sense amplifiers connected to the respective bitlines can remain inactive such that the sense amplifiers do not amplify the signals to storable signal levels. Then, when the wordline is set again to the inactive state, insufficient charge remains in the memory cells coupled to the wordline such that the data stored in memory cells coupled to the wordline are erased. These steps can be repeated using each of a remaining number of wordlines of all or a selected range of the DRAM array so as to erase the data stored in all of the DRAM array or a selected range. |
| US08976571B2 |
Method for driving semiconductor device
It is an object to obtain a memory element (DRAM) storing multilevel data easily. The amount of charge accumulated in a capacitor of a memory element (DRAM) is controlled by changing the potential of a wiring (a bit line), which is used for writing data to the memory element (DRAM), in a period in which a transistor included in the memory element (DRAM) is on. Thus, multilevel data stored in the memory element (DRAM) can be obtained without a complex configuration of a semiconductor device including the memory element (DRAM). |
| US08976569B2 |
Mitigation of inoperable low resistance elements in programable crossbar arrays
A programmable crossbar array includes a layer of row conductors and a layer of column conductors with the row conductors crossing over the column conductors to form junctions. Programmable crosspoint devices are sandwiched between a row conductor and a column conductor at a junction. Each programmable crosspoint device includes a data element with a first programming threshold and a control element with a second programming threshold, in which the second programming threshold is greater than the first programming threshold. A method for mitigating shorts in a programmable crossbar array is also provided. |
| US08976567B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes: a first bank group comprising a plurality of first banks; a second bank group comprising a plurality of second banks arranged adjacent to the first bank group; a write operation controller arranged between the first and second bank groups so as to be adjacent to the first and second bank groups, and configured to control write operations of the first and second bank groups; and a read operation controller arranged adjacent to any one of the first and second bank groups and configured to control read operations of the first and second bank groups. |
| US08976564B2 |
Anti-fuse circuit and semiconductor device having the same
A memory device includes an anti-fuse cell array including a plurality of anti-fuse cells. Each anti-fuse cell includes a first cell transistor connected to a common node, a second cell transistor connected to the common node, and an access transistor connected to the common node. The first cell transistor is configured to store data and the second cell transistor is configured to store data when the first cell transistor has defect data. |
| US08976561B2 |
Switch mode power converters using magnetically coupled galvanically isolated lead frame communication
An integrated circuit package for use in a switch mode power converter comprises an encapsulation and a lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having a first conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation. The lead frame also includes a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors. A first control die including a first control circuit is coupled to the first conductor. A second control die including a second control circuit is coupled to the second conductor. One or more control signals are communicated between the first and second control dice through the communication link. |
| US08976558B2 |
Power supply device with smoothing capacitor and falling voltage chopper circuit
According to one embodiment, a power supply device includes a rectifying circuit configured to rectify an alternating-current power supply, a first capacitor configured to smooth a voltage after rectification, and a falling voltage chopper circuit configured to supply electric power to a load. The first capacitor is set to a capacity in which a section where a voltage after smoothing drops to an output voltage to the load is provided in a rectified half period of the alternating-current power supply. The falling voltage chopper circuit includes at least one switching element configured to receive an input of the voltage after smoothing, operate in a section where the voltage after smoothing exceeds the output voltage, and pause in a section of the output voltage and a second capacitor provided on an output side and having a capacity larger than the capacity of the first capacitor. |
| US08976554B2 |
Control for fault-bypass of cascaded multi-level inverter
A cascaded multi-level inverter is controlled in fault bypass operation. Rather than relying on approximations or feedback forms, the reference voltages are generated as an analytic solution. The analytic solution and its implementation are not affected by the output frequency of the inverter and it is able to provide maximum possible balanced line-line voltage to a three-phase motor. In addition, the analytic solution provides exact limits for the allowable operation region of the motor power factor in order to prevent overvoltage conditions of the cell inverter. |
| US08976552B2 |
Power supply with integrated linear high voltage multiplier and capacitors therefor
A high voltage power supply for use in small diameter spaces such as in oil well logging devices includes an AC voltage source which provides an AC voltage to a voltage multiplier circuit that converts the AC voltage to a high DC voltage. A parallel or combination parallel-series multiplication circuit is used, rather than a series multiplication circuit, to reduce the reverse voltage across each semiconductor rectifier in the multiplication circuit. A plurality of parallel capacitors is constructed using an elongate common capacitor electrode with individual capacitors formed from individual capacitor electrodes spaced along and separated from the common electrode by a layer of dielectric material. The layer of dielectric material can be tapered along the common electrode, and additional dielectric material can be positioned between edges of adjacent individual electrodes. A high voltage end individual electrode can be made wider to increase its capacitance. |
| US08976551B2 |
Power converter
A power converter includes an inverter unit that includes a plurality of semiconductor switching elements constituting upper and lower arms and converts DC power into AC power; a gate driving unit that outputs, to the inverter unit, a gate signal used to drive gates of the plurality of semiconductor switching elements; a driving control unit that supplies the gate driving unit with a switching control signal used for the gate driving unit to output the gate signal; a first abnormality detection unit that performs over voltage detection of the DC power and over current detection of the AC power and temperature detection of the upper and lower arms; and a second abnormality detection unit that detects abnormality of the plurality of semiconductor switching elements of the upper arm and lower arms, wherein the driving control unit includes a first protection circuit and a second protection circuit. |
| US08976550B2 |
Power supply having a surge protection circuit
A power supply having a power protection circuit has a rectification circuit and a converter. An input terminal of the rectification circuit is connected with the AC mains. A first voltage dependent resistor is connected with the AC mains. The converter has a transformer. A primary side of the transformer is connected with an output terminal of the rectification circuit, and the secondary side is connected to a power output terminal and a ground terminal. A Y capacitor is connected between the primary side of the transformer and the ground terminal. A surge protection module is connected between the first voltage dependent resistor and the Y capacitor. When a surge occurs between the primary and secondary sides of the transformer, a surge current is shunted by the surge protection module to the ground terminal through the Y capacitor without damaging internal components or circuits inside the power supply. |
| US08976549B2 |
Startup circuit including first and second Schmitt triggers and power converter employing the same
A startup circuit with reduced power dissipation, method of operating the same and a power converter employing the startup circuit. In one embodiment, the startup circuit for a controller includes a charge accumulation circuit having a resistor series-coupled to a capacitor and a first Schmitt trigger having an input coupled to the capacitor. The startup circuit also includes a second Schmitt trigger having an input coupled to an output of the first Schmitt trigger and configured to provide a bias voltage for the controller via the capacitor when an input voltage thereto exceeds a trip voltage. |
| US08976546B2 |
Control integrated circuit of a switch power supply and a switch power supply using the same
A control integrated circuit for controlling a switch power supply, including: a voltage collecting module, configured to collect a feedback voltage based on an output voltage of the switch power supply; an error amplifying module, configured to compare the feedback voltage with a reference voltage and generate an error voltage; a time collecting module, configured to obtain a degaussing time signal based on the feedback voltage; and a constant voltage and current module, configured to collect a peak current feedback signal of a switch transistor, generate a control signal based on the error voltage, the degaussing time signal and the peak current feedback signal, wherein the control signal is for controlling an operating frequency and a duty ratio of the switch transistor, and control the switch transistor according to the control signal. |
| US08976545B2 |
Current resonance power supply for detecting overcurrent based on an output from a current compensation unit
A current resonance power supply includes a current detecting unit detecting a current flowing through a primary side of a transformer and a current compensating unit compensating the current detected by the current detecting unit in accordance with a variation in voltage input into the primary side of the transformer. The current resonance power supply detects overcurrent on the basis of an output from the current compensating unit. |
| US08976540B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal includes a terminal body; and a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly mounted to the terminal body. The PCB assembly includes a first PCB, a first electronic device mounted on the first PCB, a second PCB spaced from the first PCB in a first direction, a second electronic device mounted on the second PCB. The first electronic device is disposed to overlap the second electronic device in the first direction. A first shield can may be mounted on the first PCB so as to cover the first electronic device, and configured to shield Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) between the first electronic device and the outside. A shield block may be disposed at a space between the first and second PCBs, accommodating therein the first and second electronic devices, and shielding EMI between the first electronic device and the outside, and between the second electronic device and the outside. |
| US08976535B2 |
Card key for vehicle and making method of the same
Provided are a vehicle card key and a method of manufacturing the same. The vehicle card key is used to lock/unlock a vehicle door or start an engine in wireless communication with a vehicle. The vehicle card key includes a lower cover, a circuit board stacked on and coupled to a top of the lower cover, and an upper cover coupled to the lower cover as one body to cover an upper side of the circuit board. The lower cover and the upper cover are formed of a thermo-hardening resin. |
| US08976531B2 |
Translating equipment rack system
A method and apparatus for an accessible equipment rack system. A mounting frame having a set of transport elements and a translation mechanism is connected to a translating equipment rack. The translation mechanism moves the translating equipment rack to enable access to said translating equipment rack from an exterior area. |
| US08976528B2 |
Fasteners and dual-thickness thermal stages in electronic devices
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates heat transfer in an electronic device. The system includes a heat pipe configured to conduct heat away from a heat-generating component in the electronic device. The system also includes a thermal stage disposed along a thermal interface between the heat-generating component and the heat pipe, wherein the thermal stage applies a spring force between the heat-generating component and the heat pipe. The thermal stage includes a first thickness to accommodate the heat pipe and a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness to increase a spring force between the heat-generating component and the heat pipe. Finally, the system includes a set of fasteners configured to fasten the thermal stage to a surface within the electronic device and form a thermal gap between the heat pipe and an enclosure of the electronic device. |
| US08976527B2 |
Force and heat spreading PCB for LCD protection and interconnection
The described embodiment relates generally to the manufacture of display assemblies. More particularly the use of alternative back plates for a display assembly is discussed. By using a printed circuit board (PCB) in lieu of a metal backer heat can be evenly spread across the backer by applying a layer of copper configured to normalize a spread of heat across the printed circuit board. The configuration of the copper layer can be configured based on a tested or simulated heat map that accounts for proximate heat producing elements. The PCB can also advantageously act as an interconnection layer between other electrical components disposed within the electronic device. |
| US08976526B2 |
Providing a cooling system for a medium voltage drive system
In an embodiment, a medium voltage drive system includes a transformer, multiple power cubes each coupled to the transformer, and a manifold assembly. Each power cube includes cold plates each coupled to a corresponding switching device of the cube, an inlet port in communication with a first one of the cold plates and an outlet port in communication with a last one of the cold plates. The manifold assembly can support an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit and further support first and second connection members to enable blind mating of each of the first connection members to the inlet port of one of the power cubes and each of the second connection members to the outlet port of one of the power cubes to enable two phase cooling of the plurality of power cubes. |
| US08976524B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device including a first body, a rotating base and a transmission module is provided. The rotating base has a first ventilation opening. The rotating base is pivoted on the first body and suitable for rotating between a using position and a retracted position in relative to the first body. When the rotating base is located at the retracted position, the first ventilation opening is exposed from the first body. When the rotating base is located at the using position, the first ventilation opening is retracted in the first body. The transmission module is connected to the rotating base for outputting a mechanical force to actuate the rotating base. |
| US08976522B2 |
Portable electronic device and docking device thereof
A docking device for connection to a touch display device is provided. The docking device includes a docking body, a pivot unit and a frame. The pivot unit is connected to the docking body. The frame is connected to the pivot unit and pivoted relative to the docking body, wherein the touch display device is detachably disposed on the frame. |
| US08976520B2 |
Removable hard disk drive holder
A removable hard disk drive holder made of a plastic unit enveloping a metallic unit comprises a bracket, a plate and a handle. The bracket has a front panel and two side plates. The two side plates extend toward the same direction perpendicularly from the opposite edge of the front panel. The front panel has a front panel pivot portion arranged over one edge thereof. The plate slidably engages with the front panel and has a latch fastening portion. The handle has a handle pivot portion and the handle fastening portion conforming to the latch fastening portion. The handle pivot portion is arranged over one edge of the handle and pivotally connected to the front panel pivot portion. The removable hard disk drive is structurally firm, light and thin and minimizing associated members. |
| US08976516B2 |
Wireless devices with flexible monitors and keyboards
A portable device (e.g., a wireless device such as a cell phone) is provided with a flexible keyboard and a flexible display screen. Such flexible components may be stored in the housing of the portable device when not in use. The flexible display screen and flexible keyboard may be expanded from the housing when the flexible components are utilized by a user. Non-flexible display and input components may be provided on the exterior of the portable device such that the device may be used, in some form, while the flexible components are stored. In one embodiment, a portion of the flexible display (or flexible keyboard) may be utilized when the flexible display (or flexible keyboard) is stored in said first housing. |
| US08976511B1 |
Protective enclosure for model vehicle
The present invention provides for a protective enclosure comprising a base comprising a first continuous mating surface and at least one conveyance aperture, a cover comprising a second continuous mating surface, wherein the second continuous mating surface is configured to form a seal with the first continuous mating surface, and a clamp, wherein at least a portion of the clamp is coupleable to the base, wherein a mouth of the clamp is configured to be offset from the aperture when the clamp is coupled to the base, wherein the clamp comprises a first sealing layer, and wherein the clamp is configured to seal the aperture against contaminants. The protective enclosure may be configured for use in a remotely controllable model vehicle to protect a control module. |
| US08976501B2 |
Magnetically movable objects over a display of an electronic device
In one implementation, the present disclosure provides a method for imparting motion to a magnetically movable object. The method includes disposing the magnetically movable object over a display of an electronic device. The method further includes imparting motion to the magnetically movable object by adjusting a magnetic field that is produced by a magnetic field source, the magnetic field being applied to the magnetically movable object through the display of the electronic device. The adjusting the magnetic field can be based on a location of the magnetically movable object over the display. Furthermore, the display can be a touch sensitive display and the adjusting the magnetic field can be based on touch input of the touch sensitive display. The imparting motion can include moving the magnetically movable object around the display. |
| US08976495B2 |
Safety relay and safety-related communication system
A safety-related communication system includes a safety relay with signal inputs of an input signal current circuit that connect the safety relay to a control device for monitoring the input signal circuit. The safety relay also includes at least two load outputs of a load current circuit for connecting to a load. Switching elements are connected in parallel and configured to switch the load current circuit on or off based on an activation signal at the input signal current circuit. A diagnostic device monitors faults in the load current circuit and/or the safety relay. A signaling device connected to the signal inputs provides an impedance for the input signal circuit. The impedance is tuned to the control device during a fault-free state and is detunable upon detection of a fault so as to signal the detected fault to the control device via the input signal current circuit. |
| US08976492B1 |
Magnetic head having two domain control layers for stabilizing magnetization of the hard bias layer
In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a lower shield, a read element positioned above the lower shield at a media-facing surface of the magnetic head, the read element having a free layer, an upper shield positioned above the read element, a first domain control layer having a direction of magnetization in a predetermined direction, the first domain control layer being configured to control a direction of magnetization of the free layer toward the predetermined direction, and a second domain control layer configured to have a magnetization in a same direction as the direction of magnetization of the first domain control layer, the second domain control layer being positioned above the first domain control layer, wherein the first domain control layer is a hard magnetic layer, and wherein the second domain control layer is a soft magnetic layer. |
| US08976491B1 |
Disk drive head suspension distal non-op shock limiter with branched arms
A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a load beam extending from a load beam supported end to a load beam distal end, and a laminated flexure supported by the load beam. The laminated flexure includes a structural layer having a head mounting tongue, a conductive layer having a plurality of patterned traces, and a dielectric layer between the structural layer and the conductive layer. The structural layer of the laminated flexure includes a distal limiter that has a first limiter arm and a second limiter arm adjoining at a distal apex. The distal apex is disposed closer to the load beam distal end than is the head mounting tongue. Each of the first and second limiter arms splits into a plurality of branches. |
| US08976489B2 |
Noble metal surrounded magnetic lip and heat sink for heat assisted magnetic recording head
The embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a magnetic head having a magnetic lip. The vertical sides and the bottom of the magnetic lip are covered by one or more conductive layers. In one embodiment, the bottom of the magnetic lip is covered by a first conductive layer and the vertical sides of the magnetic lip are covered by a second conductive layer. The conductive layers are made of a material that would not react with oxygen, thus no oxide films are formed on the vertical sides and the bottom of the magnetic lip during the manufacturing of the magnetic head. |
| US08976488B1 |
Re-enforced motor hub flange
A hub for a disk drive assembly including an upper member formed of a first material; and a lower member formed from a second material that supports and reinforces the upper member. The second material has a rigidity greater than the rigidity of the first material. Additionally, a disk drive assembly may be performed by combining a hub, a disk media mounted to the hub and a clamping mechanism attached to the hub and providing a clamping force to the disk media. |
| US08976487B2 |
Rotating device with reduced thickness and driving unit with improved base strength
A rotating device comprises: a hub on which a magnetic recording disk is to be mounted; a base configured to rotatably support the hub via a bearing; a shaft configured such that it extends along the rotational axis of the hub; and a chassis arranged such that it faces the magnetic recording disk, and configured to have a Young's modulus that is smaller than that of the base. A base hole is provided to the upper face of the chassis that faces the magnetic recording disk such that it extends along the rotational axis. Furthermore, the base is fitted into the base hole, thereby fixedly mounting the base on the chassis. |
| US08976485B1 |
Rotating device
A rotating device includes a retained assembly including a spherical retained member with a spherical encircled face, and an encircling member that includes an annular end face which encircles the spherical retained member and which extends outwardly in a radial direction, a retainer assembly including a retainer member which includes an encircling face encircling the encircled face and which retains thereinside a part of the spherical retained member, and a facing member that faces the encircling member in an axial direction, the retainer assembly supporting the retained assembly in a freely and relatively rotatable manner, and forming a fluid dynamic bearing mechanism, and a thrust dynamic pressure generating groove formed in at least either one of a surface of the encircling member and a surface of the facing member, which surfaces face with each other in the axial direction. |
| US08976475B1 |
Systems and methods for large sector dynamic format insertion
Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for segmenting a data set and recovering the segmented data set. In one case, a system is disclosed that includes: a data transfer preparation circuit, a transfer characteristic determination circuit, and a a format insertion circuit. The data transfer preparation circuit is operable to receive a user data set and to generate an output data set based upon the user data set; the transfer characteristic determination circuit is operable to determine a distance between a first servo data wedge on a storage medium and a second servo data wedge on the storage medium; and the format insertion circuit is operable to dynamically augment the output data set with formatting information at a location selected based at least in part on the distance between the first servo data wedge and the second servo data wedge. |
| US08976472B1 |
Vibration cancellation for data storage
Methods and apparatus for vibration cancellation are disclosed. Vibration data from one or more vibration detectors associated with a storage device is collected. The vibration data represents vibrations experienced by the storage device. In response to the vibration data from the one or more vibration detectors, one or more movements for respective ones of one or more counter-vibration actuators to at least partially cancel of the vibrations experienced by the storage device is calculated. The one or more counter-vibration actuators perform the one or more movements. |
| US08976471B1 |
Systems and methods for two stage tone reduction
Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for tone reduction in relation to data transmission. In one case, a data processing system is disclosed that includes: a two stage tone reduction circuit including a first stage circuit and a second stage circuit; and a polarity change circuit operable to change a polarity of the second stage output to yield a tone reduction output. |
| US08976470B2 |
Tape cleaner drive arrangement for a tape library
A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified. |
| US08976468B2 |
Endoscope objective optical system
Provided is an endoscope objective optical system 1 including, in order from an object side, a first lens 2 composed of a negative single lens, a second lens 3 composed of a positive single lens, an aperture stop 4, a third lens 5 composed of a positive single lens, and a fourth lens 6 composed of a positive combined lens, wherein the third lens 5 has a meniscus shape having a convex surface facing the image side. The endoscope objective optical system (1) satisfies the following conditions: 0.3 |
| US08976465B2 |
Multi-ring optical filter assembly allowing independent adjustment of rotation angle of each lens thereof
The present invention is to provide a multi-ring optical filter assembly, which includes a positioning frame having one end threadedly connected with a front side of a camera lens, a first rotatably connecting frame fixedly provided therein with a first lens (e.g., an ND filter or a polarizer) and provided with a first curved surface adjacent to the other end thereof and extending in an axial direction, an adapter frame provided with a second curved surface adjacent to one end thereof and rotatably connected with the first curved surface, and a second rotatably connecting frame fixedly provided therein with a second lens (e.g., an ND filter or a polarizer) and having one end rotatably connected with the other end of the adapter frame. Thus, the two lenses can be rotated with respect to the camera lens, respectively, for achieving the independent adjustment of the rotation angle of each lens. |
| US08976458B2 |
Inner focus lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
An inner focus lens system comprising a first lens unit and subsequent lens units, wherein an aperture diaphragm is provided, the first lens unit is: fixed with respect to an image surface in focusing; and composed of five or more lens elements including a first positive lens element located closest to the object side and a second positive lens element, the subsequent lens units include at least a first focusing lens unit located closest to the object side and a second focusing lens unit, at least one of the first focusing lens unit and the second focusing lens unit is composed of two or less lens elements, at least one lens element is provided on the image side relative to the aperture diaphragm, and the condition: NF1≦NF2 (NF1, NF2: the number of lens elements constituting the first, second focusing lens unit) is satisfied. |
| US08976455B2 |
Variable-magnification projection optical system and projection display device
A variable-magnification projection optical system substantially consists of a negative first lens group that is disposed at the most enlargement-side position and is fixed during magnification change, a positive last lens group that is disposed at the most reduction-side position and is fixed during magnification change, and a plurality of lens groups that are disposed between the first lens group and last lens group and are moved during magnification change. The most enlargement-side lens group (the second lens group) of the lens groups that are moved during magnification change has a negative refractive power. Predetermined conditional expressions relating to a back focus of the entire system on the reduction side at the wide-angle end, a focal length of the entire system at the wide-angle end, a focal length of the second lens group and a focal length of the last lens group are satisfied. |
| US08976453B2 |
Light reflecting member, light beam extension device, image display device, and optical device
An image display device includes an image generating device, a light guide unit which includes a light guide plate and first and second deflection sections, and a light beam extension device which extends light incident from the image generating device, along a Z direction when an incident direction of light incident on the light guide plate is set to be an X direction and a direction of propagation of light in the light guide plate is set to be a Y direction, and emits the light to the light guide unit, wherein the light beam extension device includes a first reflecting mirror on which light from the image generating device is incident, and a second reflecting mirror which emits light incident from the first reflecting mirror to the light guide unit, and each of the first and second reflecting mirrors has a light reflecting surface having a sawtooth-shaped cross-sectional shape. |
| US08976452B2 |
Virtual image display device
A virtual image display device has a light guide device in which the half mirror layer (the semi-transmissive reflecting film) of the light guide member is formed on the partial area of the first junction surface, and the second junction surface of the light transmitting member is bonded to the first junction surface in at least the exceptional area. Therefore, it is possible to increase the bonding strength of the first junction surface and the second junction surface, namely the strength of the light guide device composed of the light guide member and the light transmitting member combined with each other even in the case in which the attachment force of the half mirror layer (the semi-transmissive reflecting film) with respect to the first junction surface is not sufficiently strong. |
| US08976451B2 |
Lens array module
A lens array module includes an arrayed optical element including a light blocking frame and a lens unit, and a light sensor array unit. The light blocking frame includes a bottom plate with multiple through holes, a surrounding wall, and a partition wall integrally connected to and cooperating with the bottom plate and surrounding walls to define multiple optical channels. The lens unit includes a substrate abutting against the bottom plate and including multiple lens elements that are aligned respectively with the through holes, and a plurality of upper positioning walls integrally connected to the substrate. The light sensor array unit includes multiple light sensing components respectively aligned with the lens elements. |
| US08976447B2 |
Broadband dispersion-free optical filter cavities based on dielectric mirrors with complementary dispersion
A substantially dispersion-free optical filter cavity includes a first multilayer mirror and a second multilayer mirror, wherein each mirror includes layers of a less-refractive material and layers of a more-refractive material, the more-refractive material having a higher index of refraction than the less-refractive material. The mirrors are separated by a spacing, and the thickness of a plurality of the layers in the second multilayer mirror differ from corresponding layers in the first multilayer mirror to provide the cavity with complementary group-delay dispersion across the cavity with a phase difference within, e.g., ±0.015 rad across a range of wavelengths spanning at least, e.g., 50 nm. |
| US08976446B2 |
Efficient extended shift monolithic raman fiber laser
A system and method for producing Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) is disclosed. A single optical fiber or Raman oscillator is optically pumped by a pump laser of sufficient power to generate SRS to generate several Stokes shifts of energy. This generates a multi-wavelength output or a single wavelength with several stokes energy shifts from the pump wavelength. A selective, monolithic-coated Raman fiber oscillator laser is utilized to increase the efficiency of frequency shifting by providing frequency-specific feedback at both facets of a free space coupled optical fiber oscillator. Frequencies that lie several bands away from the primary pump frequency may be efficiently achieved in a fiber oscillator by re-circulating the required stokes-shifted frequencies via selective high-reflection coatings. By re-circulating the intra-band stokes frequencies, the required intensities in each respective frequency will be increased, thereby dropping the respective Raman threshold in the optical fiber. |
| US08976445B1 |
Optical tunable tapped-delay-lines using wavelength conversion and chromatic dispersion based delays
Methods, systems and devices implement optical tapped delay lines. In one aspect, a device includes an optical tapped delay (TDL) including a wavelength conversion element, and a dispersive element, coupled with the wavelength conversion element, to impose a relative delay to an optical signal. The optical TDL can include a nonlinear element to combine signals in a phase coherent manner. The wavelength conversion element can include an optical nonlinear device such as a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) or a highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) with a high nonlinear coefficient and a low dispersion slope to effect four-wave mixing (FWM). The dispersive element can have a low dispersion slope, and the delays effected by the optical TDL can be tunable. |
| US08976443B2 |
System producing true colors using a digital micromirror device projector and method for controlling same
The present invention is directed to a method of utilizing a digital micromirror device (DMD) to spectrally matching a standard or device-independent color. DMD can be fitted on an integrated chip and can provide more than one thousand (1,000) color primary channels for low metameric color matching producing a spectrally matched batch color. This represents a two orders of magnitude improvement in color matching. |
| US08976439B2 |
Mirror assembly for vehicle
An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and a prismatic reflective element. The mirror casing is a unitarily molded mirror casing having at least one attachment surface. The prismatic reflective element includes a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface and a perimeter edge about a periphery of the glass substrate. A mirror reflector is established at the rear surface of the glass substrate. The perimeter edge of said glass substrate has a generally rounded surface disposed between the front surface and the mirror casing. The prismatic reflective element is attached at the attachment surface of the mirror casing. The perimeter edge of the glass substrate is exposed to and is viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle. |
| US08976436B2 |
Controlled diffuse scattering for displays
A display device comprising a pixel, where the pixel includes: (a) a polar fluid that is at least one of colored and black, (b) a non-polar fluid that is at least one of transparent and translucent, (c) a first substrate, (d) a second substrate arranged relative to the first substrate to define a channel occupied by the polar fluid and the non-polar fluid, wherein at least one of the polar fluid and the non-polar fluid is visible, (e) a reflector having a plurality of features, comprising at least one of concavities and projections, that alter an angle of reflected light from a specular reflection to provide the appearance of a diffuse reflection, the display device also including a plurality of electrodes configured to cause repositioning of the polar fluid in the channel to displace at least a first portion of the non-polar fluid and a voltage source. |
| US08976435B2 |
Light quantity adjustment apparatus and image pickup apparatus
A light quantity adjustment apparatus includes a pair of substrates having a light-path aperture; a plurality of diaphragm blades disposed between the pair of substrates; a driving ring that opens and closes the plurality of diaphragm blades; and a driving device. The plurality of diaphragm blades is supported by the substrate via a first guide plate made of a resin film. The substrate and the first guide plate are provided with guide grooves fitted into protrusions formed in the plurality of diaphragm blades to guide the blades. Guide grooves of the substrate are formed of concave grooves. Guide grooves of the first guide plate are formed of through holes. The through holes of the first guide plate have a narrower width than the concave grooves of the substrate to engage in the protrusions of the diaphragm blades and to guide the diaphragm blades in the open and close direction. |
| US08976430B2 |
Document reader
Generation of shading correction data is started before an instruction to start reading of the document is input in a case in which time to generate shading correction data corresponding to a document reading mode is longer than time since the instruction to start reading of the document is received until the document is fed to reach a reading point, and generation of shading correction data is started after an instruction to start reading of the document is input in a case in which time to generate shading correction data corresponding to a document reading mode is shorter than time since the instruction to start reading of the document is received until the document is fed to reach a reading point. |
| US08976426B2 |
Light source driving circuit, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus
A light source driving circuit that drives a light source includes a driving electric current generator that generates a driving electric current including a predetermined electric current, a first auxiliary current, and a second auxiliary current; and a controller that sets values of the first and second auxiliary currents by using first and second lighting pattern signals, wherein each of the first and second lighting pattern signals is for controlling supply of the predetermined electric current to the light source. After setting a first value of the first auxiliary current, a second value of the second auxiliary current is set by using the second lighting pattern signal that defines a time period for stopping supply of the predetermined electric current to be shorter than a time period for stopping the supply of the predetermined electric current that is defined by the first lighting pattern signal. |
| US08976425B2 |
Image scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
According to one embodiment, an image scanning apparatus includes a document table on which an original document is stacked; a substrate; plural first light emitting elements located on one surface of the substrate, the first light emitting elements each emitting light for irradiating the original document on the document table with direct light not reflected by a reflection member; and plural second light emitting elements located on the other surface of the substrate, the second light emitting elements each emitting light for irradiating the original document on the document table with indirect light reflected by the reflection member. The reflection member includes a first reflection member and a second reflection member, and the first reflection member and the second reflection member are located in positions opposed to each other across a reflection optical path of light reflected by the original document on the document table. |
| US08976423B2 |
Optical scanning system and imaging apparatus for using same
A scanning system includes a scanning member having at least one reflective surface and at least one light source for emitting at least one light beam to be incident on the at least one reflective surface of the scanning member during a scanning operation. At least one curved synchronization mirror deflects and focuses at least a portion of the at least one light beam that is deflected by the scanning member to indicate at least one of a start and an end of a scan line operation of the scanning operation. A sensor receives the at least one light beam deflected and focused by the at least one curved synchronization mirror. |
| US08976421B2 |
Document feeding device and image forming device and image forming method
A document feeding device has: a document placement stand on which documents of different sizes can be placed; a conveying section separating, one-by-one, documents of a document stack placed on the document placement stand, and conveying a separated document to a discharging section; a first document width sensing unit sensing a maximum document width of the document stack placed on the document placement stand; a second document width sensing unit sensing a document width of a document separated from the document placement stand by the conveying section; and a controller that, in a case in which a mixed size document mode that permits conveying of documents of different sizes is not set, causes the conveying section to restartably interrupt conveying of the document when the maximum document width sensed by the first document width sensing unit and the document width sensed by the second document width sensing unit differ. |
| US08976419B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method and storage medium for designating image formation on a sheet
In an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof according to this invention, in a case that a received print job designates image formation on a surface of a sheet on which an image has been formed, whether image formation on the sheet based on the print job is possible is determined based on at least image information of the sheet acquired by reading the image of the sheet. If it is determined that image formation on the sheet based on the print job is impossible, the image formation on the sheet is stopped. If it is determined that the image formation on the sheet based on the print job is possible, an image is formed on the sheet in accordance with the image information of the print job. |
| US08976415B2 |
Method for generating relief prints
A method is provided for processing a rasterized relief image, comprising customary color channels for indicating a color of each pixel and a height channel for indicating a height of each pixel into several pass images that are printed using a printer with several colorants including a white colorant. For each pixel a relief part, a white part and a skin part are discriminated in order to combine the demands for height and color variation across the surface of the image. The skin part comprises pixels for which a colorant composition based on the color channels of the rasterized relief image is established. In order to print a color in the skin part that is independent of a height of the pixel and independent of the colorant composition of a neighboring pixels, pass images are composed that include only neighboring pass pixels that do not disturb the color forming of a pass pixel contributing to a skin part. |
| US08976413B2 |
Color processing for converting an input color gamut into an output color gamut in accordance with a set combination of ink droplet diameters
A color processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit, a setting unit, and a color converting unit. The obtaining unit obtains a predetermined corresponding relationship between total amount limit information regarding limitation of a total amount of inks of colors, and a combination in which, among droplet diameters of inks of colors ejectable to satisfy the total amount limit information, droplet diameters of at least two or more inks are made uniform, and the types of droplet diameters of inks of the colors are two or fewer types. The setting unit sets the combination of droplet diameters corresponding to the accepted ink total amount limit information, on the basis of the obtained corresponding relationship. The color converting unit converts a color in an input color gamut reproducible by an input device into a color in an output color gamut in accordance with the set combination of droplet diameters. |
| US08976411B2 |
Image processing in correspondence with each pixel of an image
An image processing device includes a first and a second image processing module including an image processing unit, and a connection module that is connected to the first and second image processing modules, and moves an image data from one image processing module to the other image processing module. At least one of the image processing modules includes a weighted average processing unit that calculates, based on a weighting coefficient included in an attribute value, a weighted average of a pixel value of the input image data and a image processed pixel value, and an output unit which outputs at least one of the image processed pixel value and the weighted-averaged pixel value. |
| US08976410B2 |
Temporarily reducing throughput of a printing system
According to one example, there is provided a method of controlling a printing system. The method comprises: obtaining a print job to print on a substrate; obtaining a value of a factor material to an undesirable condition occurring; determining a quantity of printing fluid to be deposited on a substrate when printing a portion of the print job; determining, based on the obtained value and the determined quantity of printing fluid to be deposited, whether the undesirable condition is likely to occur whilst printing the portion of the print job; and temporarily reducing the throughput of the printing system whilst printing the portion of the print job where it is determined that the undesirable condition is likely to occur whilst printing the portion of the print job. |
| US08976406B2 |
Print control apparatus, control method, and storage medium where program is stored for printing image data on sheet, controlling a binding process for binding a plurality of sheets without staple, and adjusting the printing area of the image data to be printed when performing of the binding process
A print control apparatus performs a print process for printing image data on a sheet, controls a binding process for binding a plurality of sheets without a staple, and adjusts the printing area of the image data to be printed when performance of the binding process is designated. |
| US08976405B2 |
Printing apparatus and control method therefor
A printing apparatus comprising a storage unit having a driving unit, determines whether or not access to the storage device is required with reception of data; determines whether or not a predetermined period of time has elapsed after transition to a first operation state; in a case where the predetermined period of time has elapsed, obtains, as an estimation time, a period of time until next reception of data that requires access to the storage device based on history information; and causes the printing apparatus to transition from the first operation state to a second operation state in a case where the estimation time exceeds a threshold of a period of time decided based on an amount of power consumption for when the driving unit is driven, and maintain the printing apparatus in the first operation state in a case where the estimation time does not exceed the threshold. |
| US08976394B2 |
Printing system and control method using first and second user interfaces
The present invention provides a printing system provided with a printing apparatus and a post-processing apparatus, and a control method thereof, wherein, when an instruction is given to execute an off-line job in which a post-process by the post-processing apparatus is performed without printing by the printing apparatus (S11), a screen for selecting an off-line job using the post-processing apparatus can be displayed by the second user interface of the post-processing apparatus and the off-line job can be selected (S12), and, in response to an instruction to start the off-line job from the first user interface of the printing apparatus (S16), the off-line process is executed (S17 and S18). |
| US08976391B2 |
Information processing device and information processing method for determining a closest image forming device
A mobile terminal is connected to a server and an image forming device that store image forming device information in such a manner that the mobile terminal can communicate with the server and the image forming device. The mobile terminal acquires image forming device information from the selected server and/or image forming device. When the acquired image forming device information includes duplication of an image forming device, an image forming device list is generated by removing the duplication. Information of an image forming device to be used is displayed on a user interface of the mobile terminal. A usable image forming device is selected and presented to a user. |
| US08976384B1 |
Secure, server-less print release
A print release environment includes a client computing device, an imaging device and an active directory. The client stores an imaging job on a local hard disk. The client registers itself with the active directory indicating an existence of the job. Upon a user logging in to the imaging device to retrieve an imaged media corresponding to the imaging job, the imaging device queries the active directory for possible clients. The imaging device contacts client(s) and retrieves a list of jobs available to the user. The user selects their job and the client releases it direct to the imaging device. The client deletes the imaging job upon successful imaging of the media and undoes its registration with the active directory, unless further imaging jobs exist for the user. Encryption techniques are contemplated to secure the data of the imaging job end-to-end from the client to the imaging device. |
| US08976382B2 |
Apparatus for managing output of encoded image-added document, control method thereof, and storage medium
In a digital multifunction peripheral having a function of preventing unauthorized duplication, a situation is prevented in which a document to which encoded images having contradictory contents are added is created. An apparatus having a control unit configured to perform detection processing of an encoded image for a document image and add a different encoded image to a document image form which an encoded image is detected by the detection processing and output the document image, characterized in that the control unit does not perform output of a document image to which the different encoded image is added upon receipt of an instruction not to perform the detection processing from a user. |
| US08976377B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method of image forming apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium
An image forming apparatus including a first power supply state, a second power supply state, and a third power supply state includes a receiving unit configured to receive a job, a determination unit configured to determine whether the image forming apparatus is shifted from the first power supply state to the second power supply state, or from the first power supply state to the third power supply state based on a type of the received job, and a control unit configured to shift the power supply state of the image forming apparatus based on the determination result of the determination unit. |
| US08976374B2 |
Peripheral device control system and method
A method used in first and second information processing apparatuses in communication with an image forming apparatus. The method includes a transfer step of transferring print setting information for controlling the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus to the second information processing apparatus, an acquisition step of acquiring the print setting information transferred in the transfer step from the second information processing apparatus, an input step of inputting the print setting information acquired in the acquisition step into a printer driver in a form that can be identified by the printer driver; and a print control step of controlling a printing operation by using the print setting information inputted in the input step. |
| US08976373B2 |
Image processing apparatus, computer-readable storage medium storing program and image processing method
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus includes a plurality of control sections each of which performs analysis processing of analyzing data of page description language form to generate intermediate language data and rendering processing of generating rendering data based on the intermediate language data generated by the analysis processing, the plurality of control sections capable of performing the analysis processing and the rendering processing parallelly with each other; and a storage section which stores the intermediate language data and the rendering data, and at least any one of the plurality of control sections obtains information with regard to a vacant capacity of the storage section, and at least any one of the control sections discontinues the analysis processing being performed by at least any one control section and performs the rendering processing based on the information with regard to the vacant capacity of the storage section and a predetermined set value. |
| US08976371B2 |
Sheet loading unit having face connecting portion with upper edge and inclined edge
The present disclosure includes a pair of cursor members movable in a width direction, and guide grooves configured to guide the cursor member to move in the width direction. The cursor member includes a cursor base, a cursor rising portion being in contact with or in proximity to an end of the sheet, and a connecting portion. The cursor base has a cursor plane extending in parallel to a sheet loading face with a difference of step with respect to the sheet loading face. An edge in the width direction of the cursor base extends linearly. The connecting portion extends from the sheet loading face side to a reverse side via the guide groove at a portion in the feeding direction of the inside edge of the cursor base. The connecting portion has a face connecting portion which connects the sheet loading face with the cursor plane smoothly. |
| US08976370B2 |
Measuring apparatus, imprint system, measuring method, and device manufacturing method
An measuring apparatus includes: a storage unit configured to store a relationship, regarding an irradiation condition predetermined based on a correlation between a characteristic of each of beams of reflected light obtained from a plurality of patterns different from one another in a thickness of a residual layer in a recessed portion and the thickness of the residual layer of each of the plurality of patterns, between the characteristic of the reflected light from each pattern and the thickness of the residual layer of the pattern; and a processing unit configured to, based on a characteristic of reflected light from a pattern formed on a substrate irradiated with light under the irradiation condition and the relationship stored in the storage unit, obtain a thickness of a residual layer in a recessed portion of the pattern formed on the substrate. |
| US08976368B2 |
Optical grid enhancement for improved motor location
Methods for performing a scheme that results in a refined measurement pattern within an optical grid are provided. Physically adjusting spacing of elements within an optical grid to achieve enhanced resolution is historically unfeasible, as reduction of the spacing causes light sensors of the optical grid to pick up false signals when reading light beams. Technology introduced by the present invention generates a virtual reduced spacing of the elements within the optical grid by using two signals that are slightly different. These slightly different signals can accomplish, at least, quarter-grid spacing resolution within the optical grid. Additionally, the enhanced resolution derived from the virtual reduced spacing is employed to govern movement of a motor. The motor movement is in response to one or more changes of direction such that the motor is operating in its linear range. Advantageously, the virtual reduced spacing allows for substantial movement in a non-linear phase, while only limited movement in a linear phase is necessary to locate accurately a target within the optical grid. |
| US08976364B2 |
Optical gyroscope
A microfabricated optical gyroscope that utilizes a linear array of micron scale optical ring resonators closely spaced to allow evanescent coupling of electromagnetic fields in adjacent resonators. Within each resonator, the optical Sagnac effect produces a phase difference between clockwise and counterclockwise propagating light that is proportional to the inertial rotation rate perpendicular to the plane of the resonator. The disclosure enhances the overall sensitivity to rotations by varying the strengths of the evanescent coupling between resonators and/or the circumferences of the resonators. The size and coupling strengths control the optical interference between resonators. By using periodically alternating coupling strengths and/or linearly chirped resonator circumferences, the gyroscope transmission has extremely narrow transmission resonances with slopes, corresponding to the responsivity to inertial rotations, that are large enough to yield shot noise limited sensitivities sufficient for inertial navigation in a device size less the 1 mm2 in size. |
| US08976362B2 |
System, apparatus and method for emittance control and suppressing stray light
A system, apparatus and method employing carbon nanotubes on substrates such as silicon, titanium, copper, stainless steel and other substrates, where the carbon nanotubes are blacker than existing paints and coatings, thereby providing an exponential increase in stray light suppression depending on the number of bounces of such treated surfaces. Additionally, the present invention is directed to techniques to better absorb and radiate unwanted energies. Further, the alternate substrates offer strength of material for numerous components and in numerous physical applications. The present invention is also directed to techniques for improving the adhesion of the nanotubes to the alternate substrate materials and also extending the wavelength of operation from the near ultraviolet to the far infrared portion of the spectrum (0.2 microns to 120 microns wavelength). |
| US08976358B2 |
Collisional broadening compensation using real or near-real time validation in spectroscopic analyzers
Validation verification data quantifying an intensity of light reaching a detector of a spectrometer from a light source of the spectrometer after the light passes through a validation gas across a known path length can be collected or received. The validation gas can include an amount of an analyte compound and an undisturbed background composition that is representative of a sample gas background composition of a sample gas to be analyzed using a spectrometer. The sample gas background composition can include one or more background components. The validation verification data can be compared with stored calibration data for the spectrometer to calculate a concentration adjustment factor, and sample measurement data collected with the spectrometer can be modified using this adjustment factor to compensate for collisional broadening of a spectral peak of the analyte compound by the background components. Related methods, articles of manufacture, systems, and the like are described. |
| US08976355B2 |
Method of applying a pattern to a substrate, device manufacturing method and lithographic apparatus for use in such methods
A substrate is loaded onto a substrate support of a lithographic apparatus, after which the apparatus measures locations of substrate alignment marks. These measurements define first correction information allowing the apparatus to apply a pattern at one or more desired locations on the substrate. Additional second correction information is used to enhance accuracy of pattern positioning, in particular to correct higher order distortions of a nominal alignment grid. The second correction information may be based on measurements of locations of alignment marks made when applying a previous pattern to the same substrate. The second correction information may alternatively or in addition be based on measurements made on similar substrates that have been patterned prior to the current substrate. |
| US08976349B2 |
Method of manufacturing particle-based image display
A method of manufacturing a particle-based image display having a plurality of imaging cells is disclosed. The method includes filling the plurality of imaging cells with a plurality of first particles, identifying a defect associated with one or more of the imaging cells, and repairing the defect within a unit corresponding to part of the plurality of imaging cells. |
| US08976348B2 |
Wafer inspection system
Wafer inspection method to perform wafer inspection based on photo map information. The wafer inspection method may include: detecting a sample center location on a wafer; compensating the detected sample center location to a compensated center location based on photo map information; and detecting defective dies included in the wafer based on the compensated center location. |
| US08976345B2 |
Fitting tip with relay lens for fiber-optic connector endface inspector
A fitting tip of fiber-optic connector endface inspection microscope for inspecting angled connector endfaces includes a relay lens fixed inside its internal channel and is designed such that when it is received in an intended connector adapter and mounted to the inspection microscope, the normal line to the connector endface forms an acute angle γ with the optical axis of the relay lens; the ray exiting from the relay lens and conjugate to the ray along the normal line is aligned with the optical axis of the inspection microscope; and as a result the connector endface is imaged on an imaging plane within the focusing adjustment range of the inspection microscope. The best image of the connector endface is obtained when the angle γ is half of the inclined angle of the angled connector endface. |
| US08976338B2 |
Range sensor and range image sensor
A photogate electrode has a planar shape of a rectangular shape having first and second long sides opposed to each other and first and second short sides opposed to each other. First and second semiconductor regions are arranged opposite to each other with the photogate electrode in between in a direction in which the first and second long sides are opposed. Third semiconductor regions are arranged opposite to each other with the photogate electrode in between in a direction in which the first and second short sides are opposed. The third semiconductor regions make a potential on the sides of the first and second short sides higher than a potential in a region located between the first and second semiconductor regions in a region immediately below the photogate electrode. |
| US08976337B2 |
Method of measuring mark position and measuring apparatus
A method and an apparatus are provided to measure a position of a mark with a less measurement error caused by a variation in a wafer process condition. The mark is illuminated with light and an image of the mark is formed, via an optical system, in a light receiving surface of a sensor. The image of the mark is sensed and image data thereof is acquired by the sensor. Correction data of a fundamental frequency and a high harmonic of the image data is set based on information associated with a shape of the mark, an imaging magnification of the optical system, and an imaging area of the sensor. The image data is corrected using the correction data, and the position of the mark is calculated using the corrected image data. |
| US08976334B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A liquid supply system for an immersion lithographic apparatus provides a laminar flow of immersion liquid between a final element of the projection system and a substrate. A control system minimizes the chances of overflowing and an extractor includes an array of outlets configured to minimize vibrations. |
| US08976330B2 |
Transparent liquid crystal display panel and transparent liquid crystal display
The present disclosure provides a transparent liquid crystal display panel and a transparent liquid crystal display. The transparent liquid crystal display panel includes a backlight module, a color filter substrate and a TFT array substrate which are cell-assembled. Liquid crystal is filled between the color filter substrate and the TFT array substrate. Each pixel unit of the color filter substrate includes a sub-pixel unit and a transparent pixel unit. A region on the TFT array substrate that corresponds to the transparent pixel unit is transparent. A region between the color filter substrate and the TFT array substrate that corresponds to the transparent pixel unit is provided with a transparent resin spacer. A region in the backlight module that corresponds to the transparent pixel unit is a transparent region. |
| US08976328B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having a thin film transistor (TFT) in each pixel region, a first inorganic protective film on the first substrate including the TFT, color filters on the first inorganic protective film in each pixel region excluding the TFT, a common electrode on the color filters, a second protective film over the entire first inorganic protective film including the common electrode, a pixel electrode on the second inorganic protective film with the pixel electrode connected to a drain electrode of the TFT exposed by selective removal of the first and second inorganic protective films, the pixel electrode forming a fringe field with the common electrode such that the second inorganic protective film is interposed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and a column spacer on the second inorganic protective film with the column spacer covering the TFT. |
| US08976322B2 |
Active matrix organic light-emitting diode display and method of controlling display thereof
An Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) display and a method of controlling a display thereof are provided. The AMOLED display includes an input unit, a controller, a display unit for displaying a low power mode screen, by enabling the controller to turn off an AMOLED and to turn on a cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) in a low power mode, and for displaying a high picture quality mode screen, by enabling the controller to turn on the AMOLED and to turn off the cholesteric LCD in a high picture quality mode. When used in an indoor environment, the AMOLED display can operate in the high picture quality mode, and when used in an outdoor environment or as an e-book reader, the AMOLED display can operate in the low power mode. |
| US08976320B2 |
Backlight module, manufacture method for such backlight module, and liquid crystal display device
A backlight module includes a back frame, a light guide plate disposed in the back frame, a plurality of semiconductor light sources, a plurality of light source circuit boards, and a plurality of attachment members. Part of each of the light source circuit boards is disposed between the back frame and the light guide plate, and the other part of each of the light source circuit boards is exposed outside the side edge of the light guide plate, and each of the semiconductor light sources is disposed on the light source circuit boards which are exposed outside the side edge of the light guide plate. The number of the light source circuit boards, the semiconductor light sources, and the attachment members are all at least two. Besides, an LCD device including the backlight module and a manufacturing method for the backlight module are also disclosed. |
| US08976316B2 |
Lighting device, display device and television receiver
A lighting device configured to produce light in a substantially uniform overall color includes a plurality of light source boards and a plurality of point light sources. The point light sources are mounted on the light source boards. An average color of the point light sources is in an equivalent color range. The equivalent color range is defined by a square with two sides that are opposed sides each having an X-axis coordinate length of 0.015 and two sides that are opposed sides each having a Y-axis coordinate length of 0.015 in the CIE 1931 color space chromaticity diagram. |
| US08976313B2 |
Outdoor display apparatus
Provided is an outdoor display apparatus having an improved configuration to effectively prevent deterioration of a panel included therein. The outdoor display apparatus includes: a casing body having an air inlet and an air outlet; first and second display panel modules in the casing body to display images on front and rear surfaces of the casing body, respectively; transparent members fitted respectively to the front surface and the rear surface of the casing body to protect the first and second display panel modules; an air suction unit to suction the air into the casing body through the inlet and to discharge the air through the outlet; and an air distribution unit to distribute the air discharged from the air suction unit to at least one of the first display panel module and the second display panel module. |
| US08976311B2 |
Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device having the same
A backlight unit adapted to implement enhanced light efficiency and uniform brightness is disclosed. The backlight unit includes a plurality of light sources arranged at fixed intervals, a diffusion plate disposed on the plurality of light sources, prism patterns formed on one surface of the diffusion plate, and micro-lens patterns formed on the other surface of the diffusion plate. The vertex angle of each prism pattern is in a range of about 64°˜76°. |
| US08976306B2 |
Shutter glasses and related 3D display system
The present invention discloses shutter glasses and a 3D display system. The shutter glasses include a first polarizer, a second polarizer, a normally-white LCD panel, and a normally-black LCD panel. A thickness of the normally-white LCD panel is not the same as a thickness of the normally-black LCD panel, and an optical compensation film is installed between the first polarizer and the liquid crystal layer of the normally-black LCD panel and/or between the second polarizer and the liquid crystal layer of the normally-black LCD panel in order to compensate for a dispersion occurred when the liquid crystal layer of the normally-black LCD panel is in a dark mode. In this way, the present invention can not only shorten the response time of the shutter glasses to reduce the power consumption, but also reduce the 3D crosstalk. |
| US08976304B2 |
Display device and television receiver device
A liquid crystal display device 10 of the present invention includes: LEDs 22; LED substrates 24 to which the LEDs 22 are attached; a liquid crystal panel 11 where display is performed using light from the LEDs 22; a light guide plate 16 that is arranged so as to overlap the side of the liquid crystal panel 11 opposite to the display surface, the edge faces of the light guide plate facing the LEDs 22; a chassis 14 arranged on the side of the light guide plate 16 opposite to the liquid crystal panel 11; a frame 13 arranged on the display surface side of the liquid crystal panel 11 and housing the LEDs 22, LED substrates 24, liquid crystal panel 11, and light guide plate 16 between the chassis 14 and the frame itself; and heat dissipating members 18 with heat dissipating characteristics that are respectively arranged abutting the LED substrates 24 and that are held between the frame 13 and the chassis 14. |
| US08976303B2 |
Presenting snapshot of controlled device display on display of remote commander to facilitate control of the controlled device by user who cannot see controlled device
A system includes a controlled device presenting on a device display an image including a native user interface (UI) and a remote commander (RC) communicating with the controlled device to receive the image and present it on an RC display, so that a user may manipulate the RC looking at the RC display to control the controlled device using the native UI even if the user cannot see the display of the controlled device. |
| US08976299B2 |
Scene boundary determination using sparsity-based model
A method for determining a scene boundary location dividing a first scene and a second scene in an input video sequence. The scene boundary location is determined responsive to a merit function value, which is a function of the candidate scene boundary location. The merit function value for a particular candidate scene boundary location is determined by representing the dynamic scene content for the input video frames before and after candidate scene boundary using sparse combinations of a set of basis functions, wherein the sparse combinations of the basis functions are determined by finding a sparse vector of weighting coefficients for each of the basis functions. The weighting coefficients determined for each of the input video frames are combined to determine the merit function value. The candidate scene boundary providing the smallest merit function value is designated to be the scene boundary location. |
| US08976298B2 |
Efficient 2D adaptive noise thresholding for video processing
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for performing video denoising (VDN). An adaptive noise threshold is dynamically determined and used to distinguish between frame to frame differences in pixel values that relate to image motion from those differences that relate to noise. The disclosed techniques enable the noise threshold to be continuously updated, for example as frequently as once per frame, so that the noise threshold may closely track to varying levels of noise in the input video data. The techniques may be implemented in, for example, a video format conversion apparatus. Advantageously, the techniques may be incorporated in programmable logic devices (PLD's) or Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA's) configurable to perform video format conversion, while adding only modest additional computational demands on the apparatus. |
| US08976297B2 |
Windows management in a television environment
Media content is received in a windows management application. The media content is from a set of content including zero or more television signal content and zero or more application content. The media content is incorporated into a television signal containing a window configuration. The television signal is then sent from the windows management application to a television where it is displayed. |
| US08976296B2 |
Broadcasting and communication receiver apparatus
A digital receiver including: a receiver; a decoder; and a display controller, with a display having a first display zone displaying at least a part of the title included in program information and a second display zone displaying an entirety of the title, under control of the display controller; wherein the display controller includes an input data amount calculator calculating an amount of input data for the first display zone inputted from memory, and a comparator to compare the amount calculated with an amount of displayable data, and when the amount of the input data is larger than the amount of the displayable data, a part of the title and a symbol indicative of omission are displayed, and when the first display zone is selected, an entirety of the title in the selected first display zone is displayed in the second display zone. |
| US08976295B2 |
Method of linkage-viewing TV broadcasting program between mobile communication apparatus and digital TV, and mobile communication apparatus and digital TV thereof
A method of linkage-viewing a TV broadcasting program between a mobile communication apparatus and a digital TV, the method includes inputting a TV linkage-viewing command in order to successively view a TV broadcasting program which is being viewed on the mobile communication apparatus, on the digital TV; transmitting data information from the mobile communication apparatus to the digital TV according to the input of the TV linkage viewing command; and selecting a TV channel in the digital TV which is the same as a current channel which is being viewed on the mobile communication apparatus and changing to the selected TV channel based on the data information which the digital TV has received. |
| US08976294B2 |
Multiple-sensor image acquisition system
Each of a first and second image acquisition device includes: a circuit for providing a primary clock signal and a frequency synthesizing circuit capable of generating at least one secondary clock signal from said primary clock signal. The frequency synthesizing circuit in each image acquisition device has a fractional phase-locked loop configuration. A synchronization comparison circuit in each image acquisition device functions to compare sync between an external sync signal and an internal sync signal. An adjustment of the fraction phase lock loop operation is made in response to the sync comparison. |
| US08976290B2 |
Positionable mechanism with an optical image stabilizing unit
A positionable mechanism includes a base unit, a frame unit, an optical image stabilizing (OIS) unit and a positioning unit. The frame unit and the OIS unit are mounted on the base unit. The frame unit is retractable with respect to the base unit between a storage position and a working position, and has a first surface. The OIS unit includes a movable carrier that has a second surface facing the first surface, an optical element that is mounted on the movable carrier, and a driving element that is operable to drive the movable carrier to move with respect to the base unit. The positioning unit is disposed between the first surface and the second surface, and is configured to position the movable carrier with respect to the frame unit when the frame unit is at the storage position. |
| US08976289B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device of an aspect of the invention, when reading, as voltage signals, signal charges output from a first pixel receiving a light on a partial area biased to a predetermined direction from a light axis of a light flux passing an exit pupil of an imaging optical system and a second pixel arranged so as to be adjacent to the first pixel and receiving a light on a partial area biased to an opposite direction to the predetermined direction from the light axis, combines and reads the signal charges of adjacent first-number pixels with respect to the first pixel and the second pixel, and calculates an arithmetic mean of adjacent second-number voltage signals with respect to the combined and read voltage signals of the first pixel and the second pixel. |
| US08976287B1 |
Scanning zoom system
A method and apparatus comprising a sensor array, a primary lens, and a moveable lens array. The sensor array comprises sensors arranged in an array in which the sensors are configured to generate image data. The primary lens is configured to direct light towards the sensor array. The moveable lens array comprises a number of lenses. The moveable lens array is moveable to a plurality of positions between the primary lens and the sensor array. Each lens in the number of lenses is configured to focus the light. |
| US08976285B2 |
Photographing device and methods thereof
A photographing device includes a photographing unit which generates a photographing data by performing photographing with a photographing component, a display unit which displays an image which is photographed in the photographing unit, a sensor unit which senses whether the photographing device rotates, and a control unit which changes a reading order of the photographing component according to a rotation direction and a rotation degree when the photographing device rotates in a recording stand-by mode state, and controls the photographing unit in order to generate the photographing data by maintaining the reading order if the photographing device rotates in a recording mode state. |
| US08976284B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and camera system
A solid-state imaging device and a camera system are provided. The solid-state imaging device capable of performing an intermittent operation includes a pixel unit and a pixel signal readout unit for reading out a pixel signal from the pixel unit in units of a plurality of pixels for each column. The pixel signal readout circuit includes a plurality of comparators and a plurality of counters whose operations are controlled by outputs of the comparators. Each of the comparators includes an initializing switch for determining an operating point for each column at a start of row operation, and is configured so that an initialization signal to be applied to the initializing switch is controlled independently in parallel only a basic unit of the initialization signal used for a horizontal intermittent operation, and the initializing switch is held in an off-state at a start of non-operating row. |
| US08976282B2 |
Solid-state image sensor, method of manufacturing the same and camera
An image sensor includes a semiconductor layer having first and second faces, and a wiring structure arranged on a side of the first face, wherein photoelectric converters are arranged in the semiconductor layer and light is incident on the second face. The wiring structure includes reflection portions having reflection regions and arranged for at least some of the photoelectric converters, absorbing portions arranged around the reflection regions, an insulator portion arranged to surround the absorbing portions, and an interlayer insulating film arranged between the first face and a group of the reflection portions, the light absorbing portions, and the insulator portion, and a reflectance of the light absorbing portions is smaller than a reflectance of the reflection regions, and a light transmittance of the light absorbing portions is smaller than a light transmittance of the insulator portion. |
| US08976281B2 |
Image pickup device and evaluation value generating device
An image pickup device may include an image capturing unit that includes a solid-state image pickup device having a plurality of pixels arrayed in a matrix form, the image capturing unit sequentially outputting a plurality of image capturing signals each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of pixel signals output from the solid-state image pickup device, and an evaluation value generating unit to which the plurality of image capturing signals output from the image capturing unit are sequentially input, the evaluation value generating unit generating an evaluation value based on the input image capturing signals. The evaluation value generating unit may include a horizontal decimation unit, a vertical decimation unit, a vertical evaluation value generating unit, and a horizontal evaluation value generating unit. |
| US08976278B2 |
Digital domain accumulative CMOS-TDI image sensor with low power consumption
The present invention relates to the field of design of analog digital hybrid integrated circuit. The object of the invention is to reduce ADC conversion rate thus further reducing power consumption of the sensor while not reducing line frequency of the CMOS-TDI. To this end, a digital domain accumulative CMOS-TDI image sensor with low power consumption is provided. It includes a pixel array of n+k lines multiplied m columns, a column parallel signal pre-processing circuit, a column parallel successive approximation (SAR) ADC, a column parallel digital domain accumulator, a column parallel divider, a timing control circuit and an output shift register, wherein n+k+1 coarse quantification memory units are provided to the column parallel digital domain accumulator for storage of coarse quantification results; and memory units for storage of n times of fine quantification results are also provided, thus realizing n stages of TDI signal accumulation after accumulation of n times of fine quantification results. The invention is generally used in hybrid integrated circuit design. |
| US08976274B2 |
Apparatus and method for image pickup and correction
An image pickup apparatus and method which reduces fixed pattern noise appearing in multiple exposure shooting and which can obtain a high-quality multiple exposure image. Multiple pieces of exposure image data are obtained by exposing an image pickup device. The multiple pieces of exposure image data are subjected to image processing. The multiple pieces of image processed exposure image data are synthesized to generate synthesized exposure image data. Multiple pieces of dark image data are obtained by shielding the image pickup device from light. Each of the multiple pieces of dark image data is subjected to image processing equivalent to image processing performed on a corresponding one of the multiple pieces of exposure image data. The multiple pieces of image processed dark image data that are synthesized to generate synthesized dark image data. The synthesized exposure image data is corrected on the basis of the synthesized dark image data. |
| US08976273B2 |
Multiplexed read-out architecture for CMOS image sensors
This invention targets improvement in CMOS sensors using a multiplexed read-out architecture in which pixels are output at the pixel VN level instead of the line/reference amplifier level. The pixel signal voltage VN and offset voltage VNS are read sequentially, eliminating the differential structure. Interference rejection, usually achieved by a differential signal, is obtained by using a CDS (Correlated Double Sampler) in the same way as in the prior art. |
| US08976272B2 |
Imaging apparatus which corrects effects of flash
In an imaging apparatus, unevenness in brightness in screen due to flash is eliminated and video with secured continuity as a moving image can be obtained. In the imaging apparatus (1), signals of fields affected by flash among video signals acquired by imaging are treated with adding or adding and averaging to equalize effects of flash which appear unevenly on a screen. |
| US08976271B2 |
Optical system and image pickup apparatus
The optical system capable of performing zooming includes a first lens unit and a second lens unit and satisfies conditions of |(ΔTMyu+ΔTMyl)/(ΔWMyu+ΔWMyl)|<0.67 and 0.75<|(ΔWMyu+ΔWMyl)|/2P<16.0. ΔWMyu represents a lateral aberration amount for a d-line of a 70 percent upper ray reaching an 80 percent image height at a wide-angle side middle focal length, ΔWMyl represents a lateral aberration amount for the d-line of a 70 percent lower ray reaching the 80 percent image height at the wide-angle side middle focal length, ΔTMyu represents a lateral aberration amount for the d-line of the 70 percent upper ray reaching the 80 percent image height at a telephoto side middle focal length, ΔTMyl represents a lateral aberration amount for the d-line of the 70 percent lower ray reaching the 80 percent image height at the telephoto side middle focal length, and P represents a pixel pitch of the image sensor. |
| US08976269B2 |
Compressive sensing based bio-inspired shape feature detection CMOS imager
A CMOS imager integrated circuit using compressive sensing and bio-inspired detection is presented which integrates novel functions and algorithms within a novel hardware architecture enabling efficient on-chip implementation. |
| US08976268B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method for performing image synthesis
An image processing apparatus capable of properly synthesizing a strobe-illuminated image and non-strobe-illuminated images, irrespective of a condition for illuminating a photographic subject. A sensitivity of strobe emission photographing is set to be lower than a sensitivity of non-strobe emission photographing, and a strobe-illuminated image and plural sheets of non-strobe-illuminated images are continuously photographed with the set sensitivities. The strobe-illuminated image is gain-processed with a gain amount, and positional deviations of the plural sheets of non-strobe-illuminated images relative to the strobe-illuminated image are corrected. An averaged image obtained by synthesizing the gain-processed image and the images after the positional deviation correction is synthesized with the strobe-illuminated image, while taking account of amounts of strobe illumination in the strobe-illuminated image, thereby obtaining a synthesized image. |
| US08976266B2 |
Picture locating method and system based on navigation function of mobile terminal
Examples of the present disclosure provide a method and system for locating a picture, based on navigation functions of a mobile terminal. The method includes the follows. During a process of utilizing a photographic device to take a picture, current time information and geographical location information of current track point may be obtained and recorded by a mobile terminal, by using navigation functions carried by the mobile terminal. Picture shooting time carried by the picture taken and the time information obtained by the mobile terminal may be associated with each other, such that geographical location information where the picture is taken may be determined. Time of the photographic device is synchronous with time of the mobile terminal. |
| US08976264B2 |
Color balance in digital photography
A technique for generating a digital photograph comprises blending two related images, each sampled according to a different illumination environment. The two related images are blended according to a blend surface function that includes a height discontinuity separating two different blend weight regions. Color consistency between the two related images is achieved by spatial color correction prior to blending. The technique enables a digital camera to generate a strobe image having an appearance of consistent color despite discordant strobe and ambient scene illumination. |
| US08976263B2 |
Three-dimensional imaging using a single camera
The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth. |
| US08976262B2 |
Methods of connecting network-based cameras to video stations, and corresponding video surveillance systems, video stations, and network-based cameras
Methods of connecting network-based cameras to video station such that the ownership between the network-based camera with the respective connected socket can be locked, such that at any time, each of the at least one socket can lock ownership of only one network-based camera, and receives video from the only one network-based camera with ownership locked by the respective socket. As the socket of the current invention can now engage into “locking” relationship with only one network-based camera with camera-identification tag acceptable to the video station, and preferably with the lock key, the chance of spoofing can be substantially reduced. |
| US08976261B2 |
Object recognition apparatus, object recognition method and object recognition program
There is a need for an object recognition apparatus for identifying multiple objects separately or collectively and a method therefor. An object recognition apparatus is configured to include: an image output section acquiring multiple object images and outputting an image; a detection section detecting the multiple object images in the image; a first identification section identifying the detected multiple object images; and a second identification section identifying the detected multiple object images collectively. |
| US08976260B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus obtains moving image data having a pixel array of a Bayer structure, transmits the obtained moving image data in accordance with a transmission method of transmitting image data having a pixel array different from the Bayer structure and auxiliary data indicating transparency of a plurality of pieces of color data included in the image data by using a plurality of channels, and controls image data of predetermined one of a plurality of colors where the number of pixels corresponding to the predetermined color is larger than that of other color of the plurality of colors, by using a channel for transmitting the auxiliary data. |
| US08976259B2 |
Methods and systems for modified wavelength diversity image compensation
Imaging methods and systems providing wavelength diversity compensation to images distorted by turbulence includes capturing a subject image set in a single image frame, with the images in the set being captured at diverse wavelengths. The compensation includes using an error metric insensitive to variation in object brightness between a region of interest of an image and a corresponding region of interest in a second image in the set that is at a diverse wavelength. |
| US08976258B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image capturing apparatus, and program
An exemplary image processing apparatus generates an interpolation frame to be inserted between a first frame and a second frame of a moving picture contiguous with each other. The image processing apparatus includes: a repetitive pattern detection section configured to detect whether a repetitive pattern is present in at least one of the first and second frames; a motion vector calculation section configured to calculate a motion vector of an object in the first and second frames; and an interpolation frame generation section configured to compare a repetition cycle of the repetitive pattern in a first direction with a magnitude of the motion vector in the first direction so as to generate the interpolation frame through a process performed based on a result of the comparison. |
| US08976256B2 |
Remote sensing of hidden objects
An apparatus and method are provided for creating an indirect image of an object. The apparatus includes a light source and an imaging system. Light emitted from the light source is reflected by a first non-specular surface toward the object. Light reflected by the object is further reflected by a second non-specular surface toward the imaging system. The imaging system is configured to create the indirect image from the reflected light. |
| US08976255B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes a first and a second imaging unit, a clipping unit, an image processing control unit. The first imaging unit is provided on a front face of an apparatus main body. The second imaging unit is provided on a back face of the apparatus main body. The clipping unit clips image data of the second main subject from the second acquired image data. The image processing control unit combines the first acquired image data with the image data of the second main subject clipped by the clipping unit to meet combining conditions determined by the first image data. |
| US08976254B2 |
Temporal aliasing reduction and coding of upsampled video
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for upsampling a video sequence for coding. According to the method, an estimate of camera motion may be obtained from motion sensor data. Video data may be analyzed to detect motion within frames output from a camera that is not induced by the camera motion. When non-camera motion falls within a predetermined operational limit, video upsampling processes may be engaged. In another embodiment, video upsampling may be performed by twice estimating image content for a hypothetical new a frame using two different sources as inputs. A determination may be made whether the two estimates of the frame match each other sufficiently well. If so, the two estimates may be merged to yield a final estimated frame and the new frame may be integrated into a stream of video data. |
| US08976250B2 |
Lens inspection system
A lens testing system may have a test pattern source that generates a test pattern of light. A lens may have a lens surface that reflects the test pattern of light. A digital camera system may capture an image of the reflected test pattern of light. Computing equipment may perform image processing operations to evaluate the captured image of the reflected test pattern. The test pattern may contain a known pattern of test elements such as a rectangular array of spots or test elements of other configurations. During image processing operations, the computing equipment may analyze the reflected version of the spots or other test elements to measure characteristics of the lens such as radius of curvature, whether the lens contains flat regions, pits, or bumps, lens placement in a support structure, and other lens performance data. The computing equipment may compare the measured lens data to predetermined criteria. |
| US08976249B2 |
IR signal capture for images
Technologies and implementations for capturing images from IR signals are generally disclosed. |
| US08976247B1 |
Rear vision system for a vehicle
A camera vision system for a vehicle includes a rear backup video camera operable to capture video images rearward of the vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the vehicle. A display device is operable to display video images captured by the rear backup video camera when the vehicle is shifted into reverse gear and the display continues during short term forward movement of the vehicle. An overlay is displayed with the video images to assist the driver during the rear backup maneuver. The display device is operable to display video images with a display intensity greater than 200 candelas/sq. meter. A control includes an image processor that image processes video images to detect objects that are within the rearward field of view of the rear backup video camera. The image processing by the image processor of captured video images includes use of an edge detection algorithm. |
| US08976246B1 |
Gooseneck or fifth wheel trailer hitch alignment and safety system
The gooseneck or fifth wheel trailer hitch alignment and safety system includes a reverse camera and at least one proximity sensor to provide alignment of a hitch to a hitch ball located inside of a truck bed. The reverse camera is positioned on or around a third brake light, and is aimed at the truck bed so as to provide visualization inside of the truck bed. The proximity sensor(s) detects the presence of a respective hitch located inside of the truck bed, and emits different colored alarms that in concert with the visualization of the reverse camera provide alignment means to a respective driver of said truck. |
| US08976244B2 |
Personal mobile surveillance systems and methods
An exemplary method includes a mobile user device subsystem 1) acquiring, during operation in a normal surveillance mode, a first set of surveillance data, 2) transmitting, during operation in the normal surveillance mode, the first set of surveillance data to a server subsystem, 3) detecting, during operation in the normal surveillance mode, a trigger event, 4) transitioning, in response to the detecting of the trigger event, from operation in the normal surveillance mode to operation in an enhanced surveillance mode, 5) acquiring, during operation in the enhanced surveillance mode, a second set of surveillance data; and 6) transmitting, during operation in the enhanced surveillance mode, the second set of surveillance data to the server subsystem, wherein the second set of surveillance data comprises an enhanced set of data compared to the first set of surveillance data. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. |
| US08976243B2 |
Camera for use in a digital network
The present disclosure relates to a camera for use in a digital network, in particular as a surveillance camera in a working device, including an integrated router having at least two ports for communication with further network components, in particular having a first port for communication with a terminal and having a second port for communication with a further camera. |
| US08976240B2 |
Spatially-varying spectral response calibration data
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with producing spatially varying spectral response calibration data are described. One example method includes controlling a digital camera to capture characteristic data arrays from light sensors in the digital camera in response to the digital camera being exposed to light stimuli from a multi-spectral reference display. The data arrays will be acquired multiple times at multiple locations in multiple stimuli provided from the multi-spectral reference display. The method also includes controlling a calibration logic to manipulate characteristic data arrays to produce spatially varying spectral response calibration data as a function of using characteristic data arrays and known wavelengths of the light in light stimuli. The method may also include providing the spatially varying spectral response calibration data to a downstream consumer (e.g., correction process, quality control process), displaying the data, or storing the data. |
| US08976239B2 |
System and apparatus for color correction in transmission-microscope slides
The present invention concerns a system and method for calibration and adjustment of the pixel color values represented within a digital image of a sample by a transmission microscope. Furthermore the present invention is directed to providing sufficient color information in order to generate a color mapping matrix that allows for the creation of a synthetic image to depict the sample under a desired illumination. The system and method provides a solution that generates a destination-device independent image that is configurable to any calibrated display device. |
| US08976236B2 |
Surgical light and video control system and method of use
A system for illuminating and recording an image of an operative field during a medical procedure is presented. The system includes a first light source assembly, a second light source assembly, and a controller. The first and second light source assemblies include a light source operable to illuminate the operative field, a camera operable to record the image of the operative field, and a sensor operable to detect motion from the light source assemblies. The controller is in communication with the first and second light source assemblies. The controller is configured to send operational commands to the light source assemblies based on feedback from the sensors. One of the operational commands is a recording command. The controller is configured to send the recording command to either the camera in the first or second light source assembly. |
| US08976235B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a controller which generates a control signal based on at least one of a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional stereoscopic image inputted from an outside, a panel including a plurality of pixels, where the plurality of pixels is arranged along a first direction and along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and displays the three-dimensional stereoscopic image having a plurality of viewpoints different from each other in each frame, a lens part including a plurality of lens units, where the plurality of lens units is disposed over the panel overlapping the pixels along the first direction and having a plurality of focal points which shifts in each frame, and a light source which supplies light to the panel. |
| US08976232B2 |
Device and method for adjusting parallax, imaging apparatus, and image reproduction device
A distance determining section increases a convergence point distance by a distance proportionate to an operation of an up key. The distance determining section reduces the convergence point distance by a distance proportionate to an operation of a down key. A target convergence point distance is incremented by 1 m per pressing operation of the up key. The target convergence point distance is decremented by 1 m per pressing operation of the down key. A shift amount setting section converts the target convergence point distance into a shift amount that corresponds to the target convergence point distance. The shift amount is set to an image shifting section. The image shifting section shifts each cut out region by the shift amount from a reference position and cuts out viewpoint images with the cut out regions from original left and right viewpoint images. Thus, the parallax-adjusted viewpoint images are produced. |