Document Document Title
US08990044B2 Revolution counter and method for determining the number of revolutions of a shaft
A revolution counter including sensors, which generate position values that define an angular position of a shaft, and a determination unit that receives the position values and generates decision signals therefrom, wherein the decision signals determine counting sectors. The revolution counter includes a counting control unit that receives the counting sectors, and operates the revolution counter in a first mode or a second mode of operation. The counting control unit switches over to the second mode, if after a length of time no change in one of the counting sectors takes place, and switches over to the first mode if a change in one of the counting sectors does take place. The determination unit determines an uncertainty range between each pairing of the counting sectors. The counting control unit does not take the uncertainty ranges into account for the switchover from the second mode to the first mode.
US08990039B2 Calibration system for a pressure-sensitive catheter
A calibration apparatus includes a fixture, which is coupled to accept a probe so that a distal tip of the probe presses against a point in the fixture and produces first measurements indicative of a deformation of the distal tip relative to a distal end of the probe, in response to pressure exerted on the distal tip. A sensing device is coupled to the fixture and is configured to produce second measurements of a mechanical force exerted by the distal tip against the point. A calibration processor is configured to receive the first measurements from the probe, to receive the second measurements from the sensing device and to compute, based on the first and second measurements, one or more calibration coefficients for assessing the pressure as a function of the first measurements.
US08990035B2 Instrument and method for detecting partial electrical discharges
An instrument (1) and a method for detecting partial electric discharges involve acquiring a discharge signal (10), for example picked up by a direct-measuring impedance device (7) through a broadband HF acquisition channel (18), and acquiring the discharge signal (10) in a narrowband LF acquisition channel (180) complying with regulations, using on the LF acquisition channel (180) a trigger controlled in slave mode by a trigger of the broadband HF acquisition channel (18); they also involve acquiring another discharge signal (32) picked up by an indirect-measuring impedance device (8) through a second narrowband LF acquisition channel (180A) and comparing digital signals (34, 34A) generated in the first and second LF acquisition channels (180, 180A), in order to generate a balanced digital signal (36) without components representative of common mode electrical signals present in the measuring circuit.
US08990034B2 Redundancy for improved stack health monitoring reliability
A health monitoring system for a fuel cell stack using current fuel cell architecture to enable the electronic control unit (ECU) to continue to monitor the health of the fuel cell stack despite a component failure. The system uses an embedded measurement module (EMM) connected to a group of fuel cells in the fuel cell stack to monitor the health of that group of fuel cells. The EMM produces a pulse width modulation signal that is sent to the ECU. A total voltage value for the group of fuel cells is embedded into the calibration signal or end of frame sequence. The ECU uses an algorithm to determine a missing voltage of at least one fuel cell in the event of the component failure of that fuel cell by adding up the cumulative value for each fuel cell reporting their voltage and subtracting that value from the total voltage value found in the end of frame sequence.
US08990033B2 Monitoring operational conditions of a cargo ship through use of sensor grid on intermodal containers
A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product monitors operational conditions of a cargo ship. A baseline composite vibration pattern is established from readings generated by multiple smart sensors. Each of the multiple smart sensors is a uniquely-identified smart sensor that has been affixed to one of multiple intermodal shipping containers that have been loaded onto a cargo ship, and each smart sensor includes a vibration sensor for detecting mechanical vibration. Subsequent readings are then taken from the multiple smart sensors to generate a new composite vibration pattern. In response to the new composite vibration pattern being different from the baseline composite vibration pattern, the new composite vibration pattern is matched with a known composite vibration pattern in order to identify a cause of the new composite vibration pattern.
US08990028B2 Fracture prediction method, device, a program arrangement and computer-accessible medium therefor
According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, using a fracture limit stress line obtained by converting a hole expansion ratio into a stress as a criterion for a fracture, the risk of fracture in a material can be evaluated quantitatively by comparing the relationship between data obtained from a numerical analysis using a finite element method and the fracture limit stress line. Thus, when determining a fracture limit in a stretch flange portion in a thin plate in a process including one or more deformation path variations, it is possible to obtain the fracture limit curve easily and efficiently and predict the fracture with high accuracy, and the risk of fracture upon press forming or crash can be evaluated.
US08990027B2 Method and device for monitoring the state of a foundation embedded in the ground
The invention relates to a method for monitoring the state of a foundation supporting a building (I) and embedded in the ground, consisting of using a plurality of sensors (4, 5) arranged on the building to acquire a set of measurements (mi1, mi2) relating to the foundation and/or to the building according to a predetermined acquisition mode; calculating, from said set of measurements, a set of condition indicators (iJ1,iJ2) characteristic of an embedding rigidity of the foundation; and making a comparison between a set of values derived from the set of calculated condition indicators and a set of thresholds.
US08990025B2 Temperature-independent chemical and biological sensors
Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. A sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit and a sensing material disposed over a sensing region. The sensing region comprises at least a portion of the LCR circuit. Temperature-dependent response coefficients of inductance L, capacitance C, and resistance R properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material are at least approximately 5 percent different from one another. The difference in the temperature-dependent response coefficients of the properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material enables the sensor to selectively detect analyte fluids from an analyzed fluid mixture substantially independent of temperature.
US08990023B2 High-throughput automated cellular injection system and method
An automated cell injection system and method are described, which can perform automatic, reliable, and high-throughput cell injection of foreign genetic materials, proteins, and other compounds. The system and method overcome the problems inherent in traditional manual injection that is characterized by poor reproducibility, human fatigue, and low throughput. The present invention is particularly suited for zebrafish embryo injection but can be readily extended to other biological injection applications such as mouse embryo, drosophila embryo, and C. elegans injections, capable of facilitating high-throughput genetic research at both academic and industry levels. A novel vacuum based cell-holding device is also provided.
US08990022B2 Direct velocity seismic sensing
A disclosed direct velocity seismic sensor includes a housing, a proof mass suspended in the housing by a resilient component, and a motion dampener that damps oscillation of the proof mass to a degree that displacement of the proof mass relative to the housing is substantially linearly proportional to a rate of change of seismic displacements of the housing over a frequency range of interest. A described method for constructing a seismic sensor includes using a calculated resonant frequency to determine a damping factor that causes the displacement of the proof mass to be substantially proportional to the rate of change of seismic displacement of the housing. One illustrative disclosed system includes an optical velocity sensor and a detector where a light beam produced by the velocity sensor and a reference beam interfere at the detector, and the detector produces a signal indicative of a velocity experienced by the velocity sensor.
US08990019B2 Methods and apparatus for rapid determination of target depth and transverse resistance
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for determining characteristics of a target region which is embedded in background material below a body of water. In accordance with one embodiment, a resistivity background is determined. In addition, characteristics of an electric dipole due to the target region are determined. A resistance for the target region is then computed using the characteristics of the electric dipole and the resistivity background. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US08990018B2 Method of preparing a swallowable capsule comprising a sensor
A kit includes a swallowable capsule (1, 45) with a potentiometric sensor (3), such as a pH sensor, with an unfilled electrolyte cell (31). The kit further includes a separate container (46) containing a liquid electrolyte. The kit can, e.g., be packed in a blister package. After unpacking the capsule the electrolyte cell (31) is filled with the electrolyte.
US08990017B2 Navigation devices and methods carried out thereon
This invention concerns a method of determining a route using map data comprising a plurality of navigable paths, the map data divided into a plurality of regions. The method comprises using at least one processing apparatus to: receive an origin and a destination on the map data and a selection of one of a plurality of cost functions and determine a route from the origin to the destination using the map data and minimum cost data that identifies minimum cost paths between regions of the map data. The minimum cost data identifies more than one minimum cost path between a pair of the regions if different minimum cost paths exist between the pair of regions for different cost functions and determining a route comprises identifying from the minimum cost paths for the pair of regions comprising the origin and destination, the minimum cost path having a lowest cost for the selected cost function.
US08990015B2 Method for course prediction in driver assistance systems for motor vehicles
In a method for course prediction in driver assistance systems for motor vehicles, a dynamic course hypothesis is created on the basis of vehicle-dynamics data of the vehicle, which method includes the following steps: creating an infrastructure course hypothesis on the basis of data from at least one information source that describe the traffic infrastructure; calculating, on the basis of features of the information source, a weighting factor that describes the reliability of the infrastructure course hypothesis; and fusing the infrastructure course hypothesis with the dynamic course hypothesis, with weighting in accordance with the calculated weighting factor, to produce a definitive course hypothesis.
US08990014B2 Method to scale inertial location data using directional and/or scale confidence constraints
Methods, systems, and computer readable storage media are presented for directional scaling of inertial path data to satisfy ranging constraints. The presented techniques take into account scaling confidence information. In addition to bounding potential scale corrections based on the reliability of the inertial path and the magnetic heading confidence, the techniques bound potential scale parameters based on constraints and solve for directional scale parameters.
US08990011B2 Determining user device's starting location
A user device is equipped with one or more sensors that collect data relating to a movement of a user having the user device. An estimated area within which a starting location of the user device is located is determined based on one or more signals received from adjacent signal sources. A plurality of candidate locations is identified within the estimated area as the potential starting location of the user device. Map information of surrounding area that covers the estimated area is also obtained. One or more candidate locations are filtered out depending on whether they could have experienced the movement based on the map information. When one or more re-starting conditions have met during the movement, a then starting location of the user device needs to be determined.
US08990010B2 System and method for using skyline queries to search for points of interest along a route
A method and system for searching for points of interest along a route is disclosed. A relation that includes records that associate link identifiers, point of interest identifiers, and distances between the links and the points of interest is generated during the compilation process of a first version of a geographic database. The relation is stored in compiled database products. When a compiled database product is being used by a navigation system, for example, navigation application software programs use the relation to accurately and efficiently find points of interest along a computed route. Navigation systems can also use the relation to service skyline queries and responsively generate skyline graphs of points of interest.
US08990007B2 Vehicular navigation device
An identification unit identifies a departure point of a travel locus of a vehicle. The vehicle departs through the departure point from a departure road stored beforehand in map data. The map data has map link information including multiple links. An exit point set unit sets an exit point on a link included in the map link information. The link corresponds to the departure point of the departure road identified by the identification unit. A learning unit learns a new road based on the exit point set by the exit point set unit and the travel locus of the vehicle.
US08990004B2 Navigation system with query mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: preprocessing an intersection from map data into an edge in query data; generating a route having a turn at the intersection; and sending the route for displaying at a device and for maneuvering the turn at the intersection by querying the query data for the edge of the intersection.
US08989998B2 Predicted position and heading/track indicators for navigation display
A visual/graphical air traffic display tool to aid flight crews in determining future heading/track and position of ownship based on current climb rate, bank angle and groundspeed under current meteorological conditions. The tool displays symbols which indicate the predicted future position and heading/track of ownship on a traffic display unit. The tool is also capable of using ownship's predicted position and information received from surrounding traffic to identify a future conflict at ownship's predicted position and then display a future conflict warning on the traffic display unit. In one embodiment, the future conflict warning takes the form of a change in the coloration of the ownship position and heading/track indicator being displayed.
US08989996B1 Method and apparatus generating and/or using estimates of arterial vehicular movement
A roadway information system is disclosed with components generating and using vehicle signatures for vehicles passing near sensor pods located on or near lanes. These components in turn are part of and/or communicate with means and/or processors for generating an/or using Vehicle Movement Estimates based upon the vehicle signatures. The VME are used to create traffic feedback that may be presented to programmable field devices that may present at least some of the traffic feedback to drivers of the vehicles, thereby optimizing the fuel usage and travel time of the roadway.
US08989994B2 System and method for fault diagnosis in fuel injection system
A method for fault diagnosis in a fuel injection system having first and second fuel injectors. The method includes initiating a current flow in the first and second fuel injectors. Further, a rise duration of the current flow to reach a threshold level is measured. The method further includes comparing the rise duration and a preset duration. The fuel injection system is controlled based on the comparison.
US08989992B2 Method and system for estimating pressure in a motor vehicle
Method for estimating the negative pressure in a motor vehicle brake force booster, and a stop/start control device is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention relates to a method for estimating the negative pressure in a motor vehicle brake force booster with reference to the hydraulic pressure in a brake master cylinder. According to the embodiment, the negative pressure is estimated solely on the basis of hydraulic pressure in the brake master cylinder and of the actual engine speed. One embodiment of the invention also relates to a stop/start control device for a motor vehicles.
US08989988B2 Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
Valve stopping control is performed that changes an operating state of an intake valve and an exhaust valve to a closed-valve stopped state when executing a fuel-cut operation. A device is provided that sets an in-cylinder return-time target air-fuel ratio for an initial two return cycles when returning from a fuel-cut operation. The return-time target air-fuel ratio is set so that respective air-fuel ratios of air-fuel mixtures of fuel and air injected into the same cylinder for respective cycles during the initial return cycles each become values that fall within a combustible range, and so that even if a total amount of fuel injected into the same cylinder for the initial return cycles is supplied into the cylinder during an arbitrary single cycle, the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture of the total amount of fuel and air becomes a value that falls within the combustible range.
US08989986B2 Method and device for ascertaining the approach of the lean blow off of a gas turbine engine
A method is provided for determining the approach of the lean blow off (LBO) of a gas turbine engine having at least one combustion chamber into which a fuel is supplied and burnt generating a flame. The method includes determining a value indicative of the gas temperature in recirculation areas adjacent to the flame, and identifying the lean blow off (LBO) approach on the basis of this value. A device for determining the approach of the lean blow off (LBO) is also disclosed.
US08989984B2 Method to shut off adaptive cruise control when the uphill gradient is too steep
A method of controlling an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system of a vehicle. The method including determining a torque of an engine of the vehicle, determining a torque of a transmission of the vehicle, calculating an idle force of the vehicle, obtaining a maximum tolerable gradient, obtaining an actual gradient of a surface the vehicle is on, and turning off the adaptive cruise control when the actual gradient exceeds the maximum tolerable gradient.
US08989983B2 Motorcycle
A vehicle can include an anti-slip device configured to detect front and rear wheel speeds at a time of acceleration, and to compute a slip factor from a speed difference. When the slip factor has exceeded the first threshold, a throttle valve is closed so as to lower an engine output. An informing unit and a preliminarily notifying unit are configured to inform the driver when a slip factor has exceeded or is expected to exceed first and second thresholds.
US08989980B2 Brake device and saddle riding type vehicle
A lean angle detection sensor detects a lean angle of a vehicle. A storage portion stores a second relationship that represents a ratio of a braking force of a front wheel brake to a target braking force for each lean angle and/or a third relationship that represents a relationship with a ratio of the braking force of a rear wheel brake to a target braking force for each lean angle. A ratio setter determines which second relationship to refer to among the second relationships stored in the storage portion based on a detection result input to a detection result input portion and/or determines which third relationship to refer to among the third relationships stored in the storage portion based on a detection result input to a detection result input portion. The ratio setter sets a ratio of the braking force of the front wheel brake and the braking force of the rear wheel brake based on the second relationship and/or the third relationship.
US08989978B2 Method for operating a vehicle powertrain
Methods and systems for controlling a vehicle powertrain that may be automatically stopped and started are presented. In one example, a method adjusts a position of a transmission clutch in response to battery current during engine cranking. The method may reduce clutch wear and improve vehicle launch from a stop.
US08989977B1 Hill rollback speed control
A hill rollback control system and method for controlling a rollback speed of a motor vehicle with wheel brakes. Upon ascertaining that the vehicle is rolling back, the system and method determine, based on a grade angle of the terrain that the vehicle is traveling on and a temperature of a transmission, a target rollback speed for the vehicle. The target rollback speed is lower when the grade of the terrain is above a threshold value. Also, the target rollback speed is lower when the temperature of the transmission is above a threshold value. The actual rollback speed of the vehicle is set and maintained at the target rollback speed by applying the vehicle's wheel brakes.
US08989976B2 Method and apparatus for operating a multi-mode transmission system under dynamic conditions
A method for controlling a multi-mode transmission system employing torque machines under dynamic operating conditions includes calculating a phase shift between a control parameter of one of the torque machines and a response parameter of the multi-mode transmission system under dynamic operating conditions, comparing the calculated phase shift and an expected phase shift, and executing remedial action when the calculated phase shift exceeds a threshold associated with the expected phase shift.
US08989975B2 Smart touch type electronic auto-shift lever
A smart touch type electronic auto-shift lever may include a shift stage controller which is connected to a controller of an electronic auto-transmission of a vehicle and a touch screen which is arranged on a console of a vehicle and is connected to the shift stage controller to display information of a shift pattern received from the shift stage controller and transmit input information produced by a touch to the shift stage controller. The shift stage controller generates the information of the shift pattern including the shift pattern and transmits it to the touch screen, and generates stage shift information allotted to the input information received from the touch screen and transmits it to the controller of the electronic auto-transmission of the vehicle.
US08989973B2 Vehicle and control apparatus for automatic transmission
A control apparatus for an automatic transmission includes a running condition detector and a controller. a plurality of gear change stages include at least one specific gear change stage that has a specific transmission gear ratio, that involves at least one necessary engagement mechanism which needs to be engaged in order to obtain the specific transmission gear ratio, and that involves at least one no-change engagement mechanism which causes no change in the specific transmission gear ratio. Both of the at least one necessary engagement mechanism and the at least one no-change engagement mechanism are engaged during a time period from a timing to begin an operation to change a gear change stage to the specific gear change stage until a timing to complete the operation. The at least one no-change engagement mechanism is released after the timing to complete the operation.
US08989965B2 Electric power steering apparatus
An electric power steering apparatus includes a steering torque detector for detecting a steering torque applied to a steering mechanism, a motor for generating an assist force that assists steering of a steering wheel, a power voltage detector for detecting a power voltage of a power supply, a power voltage monitoring section for determining a power voltage detection value detected by the power voltage detector and a motor drive controller for calculating an assist amount based on the steering torque and controlling drive of the motor through a driving section. Assist control is maintained based on a drive possible characteristic corresponding to a reduction level of the power voltage of FETs when the power voltage monitoring section determines that the power voltage detection value is less than or equal to an assist operation possible power voltage.
US08989962B2 Structure for controlling active mount of vehicle
A structure for controlling an integrated active mount of a vehicle improves driving performance of a vehicle, not reducing noise vibration, by providing a control signal with an inverse phase to the phase of the main excitation force of an engine in accordance with driving conditions through an active mount disposed between the engine and a vehicle body in order to reduce noise vibration of the vehicle.
US08989960B2 Interactive engine
A system includes a unit configured to read information of a vehicle system, a projector configured to display the information on a surface of a vehicle, and a sensor configured to receive gesture input from a user. The information displayed on the surface of the vehicle is manipulatable based on the gesture input.
US08989957B2 Vehicle behavior data storage control system, electronic control unit and data storage device
A vehicle behavior data storage control system is disclosed. The system includes a storage control device and an electronic control unit (ECU). The storage control device determines whether or not an unexpected behavior has occurred based on a behavior data. When the ECU determines that a change in the behavior data is attributed to control performed by the ECU, the ECU transmits a determination result to an in-vehicle network. At a time when the storage control device determines that the unexpected behavior has occurred, the storage control device records the behavior data at this time in the memory. When determining that the unexpected behavior relates to the control performed by the ECU, the storage control device deletes or permits overwriting the behavior data stored in the memory.
US08989950B2 Diagnostic tool with smart camera
A diagnostic tool that includes a smart camera. The smart camera can be used to capture an image of the part that needs to be replaced. The image can also include the bar code that may be attached to the part. The image can be used to search a parts information database for additional parts information such as part number, manuals, pictures, etc. A further search of a parts supplier's database can be conducted using a location of the diagnostic tool to determine the nearest parts supplier that has the part available and the best price.
US08989949B2 Electronic motor vehicle control system of modular design
A modularly constructed electronic motor vehicle control system, includes wheel speed sensor inputs, at least one brake controller, and inertial sensors. The signals from the wheel speed sensors are fed into a chassis base module. The module evaluates the signals and feeds them to an electronic brake controller spatially separated from the chassis base module. The chassis base module and the brake controller are disposed in separate control device housings.
US08989947B2 Sonar system for remote vehicle
A SONAR system for use with a robotic vacuum having SONAR emitters and receivers thereon. The SONAR system comprises a waveguide or horn located in front of the emitters and receivers that can improve the overall target resolution and reduce the number of “dead zones” where targets are not easily resolved.
US08989946B2 System and method for area coverage using sector decomposition
The different illustrative embodiments provide a method for generating an area coverage path plan using sector decomposition. A starting point is identified on a worksite map having a number of landmarks. A first landmark in the number of landmarks is identified. A path is generated around the first landmark until an obstacle is detected. In response to detecting the obstacle, the path is made linear to a next landmark. The path is generated around the next landmark.
US08989935B2 Method and system for engine control
Methods and systems are provided for extending an engine-off period of a hybrid vehicle while reducing engine cold-start emissions. During an engine pull-up to meet operator demand, the engine is held at a higher power for a longer duration to aggressively heat the exhaust catalyst. Subsequently, the engine is pulled up to a lower power and held at the lower power for shorter bursts of time to activate the exhaust catalyst.
US08989933B2 Method for monitoring the conditions of driving systems, battery comprising a module for condition monitoring, and a motor vehicle comprising a corresponding battery
A method for monitoring the conditions of driving systems can be used in particular to control driving systems in hybrid vehicles with particular consideration given to the exhaust emission. The method monitors the conditions of driving systems that comprise an internal combustion engine and an electric motor with an energy source. A first power value for operating the internal combustion engine and a second power value for describing the power that can be provided by the energy source are ascertained, and the first and second power values are compared with each other to monitor the conditions of the driving system. The driving system is controlled dependent on the result of the comparison.
US08989931B2 Method and device for controlling the idle speed in a hybrid vehicle
A method for controlling the idle speed in a hybrid vehicle in which at least two power plants contribute together or separately to driving the hybrid vehicle, and a setpoint value is compared to an actual value for controlling the idle speed, the setpoint rotational speed being set as a function of the comparison by changing at least one intensification factor of the control. To adapt the control dynamics to the actual transmission characteristics of the first of the two power plants, the idle speed control for the at least two power plants is carried out simultaneously, the at least one intensification factor being continuously adapted to the power output of a first of the two power plants.
US08989929B2 Device for reducing the likelihood of damage to a trailing cable
A device for reducing damage to an electric vehicle powered by a trailing cable, the device including an electric sensor for determining the mobile equipment's position relative to a hazard, and an electric controller responsive to the electrical means for operating a motor to change the operation of the electric vehicle to reduce the likelihood of adverse effects to the trailing cable if the electric vehicle's position is near the hazard.
US08989926B2 Railroad signaling and communication system using a fail-safe voltage sensor to verify trackside conditions in safety-critical railroad applications
A method and system for verifying trackside conditions in safety critical railroad applications by reporting the status of trackside signals and switches to a remote train control system. The system comprises at least one sensor for providing trackside conditions electrically connected to a circuit for providing trackside conditions to a railroad, said sensor being powered by voltage applied to the circuit such that the sensor is energized only when said electrical component is engaged. The system and method further comprises a method and system which is failsafe and which enables the control system to independently verify signals from each sensor.
US08989925B2 Method and apparatus for conversion of GPS heading data for use by electronic flight director
An improved Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) module for use with an aircraft, wherein the HSI module is adapted for accepting Bank Angle Commands or waypoint data from the GPS flight module and for using the same to determine a heading error. The HSI module is further adapted for outputting the heading error to the Flight Director module where it can be used to create a Roll Command for output to the Auto-Pilot, whereby the Auto-Pilot can be commanded to follow a turn using the HSI and the Flight Director without requiring an additional module be added to the aircraft to create the heading error for use by the Flight Director. The waypoint data can be of the “flyover” type or the “flyby” type.
US08989923B2 Navigation performance specification
A method of formulating a specification for temporal and vertical required navigation performance is described. The method assesses various flight management guidance systems methods and allows a specification to be set for an airport. The specification may be used to increase aircraft traffic into the airport. The specification sets limits on deviations in time and altitude, for example, on approach into arrivals at the airport. The method comprises: calculating temporal and vertical deviations from a reference trajectory for one or more flight management guidance methods for one or more aircraft types; and comparing the temporal and vertical deviations with operational requirements of the airport. The deviations from a reference trajectory may result from uncertainties affecting trajectory prediction, such as wind and temperature prediction accuracy.
US08989919B2 Server, vehicle control system, and vehicle control method thereof
A vehicle control method of a server is provided. The vehicle control method includes receiving, when a user terminal is connected, user information from the user terminal, searching for vehicle environment information corresponding to the user information, and controlling an environment of a vehicle using the searched vehicle environment information.
US08989912B2 Apparatus and method for collecting and controlling temperature
An apparatus for collecting and controlling a temperature is closed, it comprises a temperature collecting unit (1), a temperature collecting path (2) and a temperature controlling unit (3). The temperature collecting path (2) comprises a fast sensing path (20) and a slow sensing path (22). The fast sensing path (20) is connected to temperature sensing spots of a device and is used for obtaining temperatures of the temperature sensing spots of the device in a first predefined period. The slow sensing path (22) is connected to functional units (5) of the device and is used for obtaining temperatures of the functional units in a second predefined period. The second predefined period is greater than the first predefined period. The temperature collecting unit (1) is used for collecting the temperatures of the temperature sensing spots and the temperatures of the functional units obtained by the temperature collecting path (2); and the temperature controlling unit (3) is used for controlling a temperature of the device according to a difference value between the temperature of the functional unit and the temperature of the temperature sensing spot at the same time. And a method for collecting and controlling a temperature is provided.
US08989911B2 Power consumption management system, and power consumption manager, power consumption management method, power supply manager, and power supply management method, which are used for the power consumption management system
A power consumption management system includes power consumption managers and a power supply manager. Each of the power consumption managers creates changeable power amount information with respect to a planned value of power consumption for each predetermined time range in a preset predetermined period in future, the planned value being related to a load of each piece of equipment in a building as a monitoring target. The power supply manager is connected to each of the power consumption managers through a network, decides a power change request amount for each building based on the created changeable power amount information, and transmits the decided power change request amount to each of the power consumption managers for the purpose of notification.
US08989908B2 Methods and systems for use in controlling irrigation
Some embodiments provide systems and methods of controlling irrigation, comprising: communicating an assumption broadcast from a first irrigation controller to each of a plurality of other irrigation controllers defining assumed states of control elements, wherein the control elements are shared with one or more of the first irrigation controller and the other irrigation controllers; determining whether a reply is received from one or more of the other irrigation controllers in reply to the assumption broadcast; identifying, from the reply, a correction to a state corresponding to a first control element; updating state information corresponding to the first control element in response to the identifying the correction; and communicating a subsequent notification from the first irrigation controller to each of the plurality of other irrigation controllers of the irrigation system, where the subsequent notification comprises the updated state information corresponding to the first control element.
US08989903B2 Methods and systems for indicating a clamping prediction
End effectors with closing mechanisms, and related tools and methods to facilitate clamping, are provided. An example surgical tool comprises a first and second jaw movable between a closed grasped or clamped configuration and an open configuration. The tool further comprises a soft grip mode for grasping the tissue at a first force during which a separation parameter between the jaws is measured, and a therapeutic clamping mode in which the jaws clamp on the body tissue at a force greater than the grasping force. The methods comprise grasping the body tissue between jaw members, measuring the separation parameter between jaws, indicating on a user interface the separation parameter for comparison to a desired separation parameter, and then releasing the body tissue for repositioning or therapeutically clamping the body tissue in response to the separation parameter indication.
US08989902B1 User interface for a tele-operated robotic hand system
Disclosed here is a user interface for a robotic hand. The user interface anchors a user's palm in a relatively stationary position and determines various angles of interest necessary for a user's finger to achieve a specific fingertip location. The user interface additionally conducts a calibration procedure to determine the user's applicable physiological dimensions. The user interface uses the applicable physiological dimensions and the specific fingertip location, and treats the user's finger as a two link three degree-of-freedom serial linkage in order to determine the angles of interest. The user interface communicates the angles of interest to a gripping-type end effector which closely mimics the range of motion and proportions of a human hand. The user interface requires minimal contact with the operator and provides distinct advantages in terms of available dexterity, work space flexibility, and adaptability to different users.
US08989901B2 Transfer system
A transfer system includes a substrate positioning device, robots having a first robot and a second robot; and robot control devices, the robot control devices including a first robot control device to which the first robot and the substrate positioning device are connected and a second robot control device to which the second robot is connected. The first robot control device includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire, from the substrate positioning device, at least an absolute deviation amount between the rotation center of the mounting table and a center position of the substrate positioned, and a transmitting unit configured to transmit correction information relying on the absolute deviation amount acquired by the acquiring unit, to the second robot control device to which the second robot is connected.
US08989899B2 Transfer system
A transfer system according to an embodiment includes a robot and a determination unit. The robot includes robot hands that hold a workpiece in a thin plate shape and that are located at different heights. The determination unit determines the robot hands that hold the workpiece based on a combination of temperature of the workpiece to be held by each of the robot hands.
US08989896B2 High efficiency automated pharmaceutical dispenser
A system, method and corresponding apparatus are provided for packaging, storing, tracking, and dispensing pharmaceuticals in unit doses in a highly efficient manner. In particular, a method of packaging pharmaceuticals within a ribbon having a plurality of adjacent segments each containing a unit dose of a pharmaceutical and having associated data indicia for efficient and uniform transport, tracking, storage and dispensing is provided. Pharmaceuticals are loaded into an automated dispenser that is networked with computers for accepting prescriptions and dispensing pharmaceutical accordingly.
US08989895B2 Substance control system and method for dispensing systems
A computationally implemented system and method that is designed to, but is not limited to: electronically receiving status information regarding a particular ingestible material portion as related to a first engagement of an automated dispensing system with at least one manufacture, the first engagement occurring during a first condition including the at least one manufacture being united with the particular ingestible material portion, the first engagement to facilitate access by the automated dispensing system to the particular ingestible material portion for dispensing of the particular ingestible material portion, the electronically receiving status information to receive status information influenced by whether any disengagements of the automated dispensing system from the at least one manufacture occur during the first condition prior to the first engagement, the at least one manufacture arranged to inhibit access to the particular ingestible material portion prior to any engagements of the automated dispensing system with the at least one manufacture during the first condition and arranged to inhibit access to the particular ingestible material portion by other than the automated dispensing system during engagement of the automated dispensing system with the at least one manufacture during the first condition; and electronically outputting selection information associated with the particular ingestible material portion including information related to the received status information regarding the particular ingestible material portion and associated with ingestible material other than that associated with the particular ingestible material portion subsequent to electronically receiving the status information regarding the particular ingestible material portion. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08989892B2 Apparatus and method for the defined intermediate storage and picking of produced articles of the same type but different size
Apparatus and method for the defined intermediate storage of produced articles of the same type but different size and for the simultaneous composition of consignments of said articles, having the following features: a) a delivery path (3) for the continuous conveying of the produced products into the region of stacking robots (7), b) a multiplicity of transport vehicles (9) for transporting stacking pallets and order-picking pallets (6), c) a multiplicity of storing positions (10) for stacking pallets, d) one or more stacking robots (5) for filling order-picking pallets (6), e) a plurality of induction lines (8) for power supply and control of the transport vehicles (9).
US08989889B2 Identification information setting device and identification information setting method
The present invention provides an identification information setting device and an identification information setting method that can easily set identification information for a transfer chamber. In an embodiment of the present invention, a storage portion (31) stores field identification information that is previously set for each position where a transfer chamber having a transfer robot can be arranged. A reception portion (32) receives, as specification information, information on the position where the transfer chamber is actually arranged and the transfer chamber. The storage portion (31) stores correspondence between the actually arranged transfer chamber and identification information.
US08989886B2 System and method for identifying process bottlenecks
In some embodiments, a method includes defining a sequence of process resources. Each of the process resources is for performing at least one respective task on a work item. The method further includes calculating a resource utilization metric for each of the process resources. The method also includes displaying a representation of at least a portion of the sequence of process resources. The representation includes image elements that each have a dimension that is inversely proportional to the resource utilization metric for the process resource represented by the image element in question.
US08989883B2 Systems and methods for providing access to resources through enhanced audio signals
Systems and methods are provided for using a hidden audio signal. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes registering, at a central database, one or more of an identifier and a destination resource associated with the identifier, and encoding the one or more of the identifier and the destination resource in a hidden audio signal. The method further includes transmitting the hidden audio signal, including the one or more of the identifier and the destination resource, in connection with an acoustic signal, and receiving the acoustic signal at a user device. In addition, the method includes decoding the encoded one or more of the identifier and the destination resource at the user device; and requesting, from the central database, information associated with the one or more of the identifier and the destination resource. Further, the method includes receiving, at the user device, the requested information.
US08989878B2 Methods, circuits, and computer program products for generation following load management
Two water heaters may be installed in series at a customer location, such that an output of a first (or storage) water heater is coupled to the input of a second (or primary) water heater, the output of which provides hot water to the customer location. During normal operation, only the primary water heater may actually heat water for use at the customer location. However, during periods of excess capacity, the electrical service provider may enable the storage water heater to store the excess electrical power that is generated by operating the power plant at higher output (which may be more efficient). Later, during hours of greater demand, the electrical service provider may disable the storage water heater used to store the excess capacity, whereas the primary water heater may operate normally. However, during the time of greater demand, the storage water heaters may provide pre-heated water to the primary water heater, which in-turn, may need to heat the water less or perhaps not at all.
US08989877B2 System and method for controlling a machine
A system for controlling a machine includes a first model, a second model, a controller, and a comparator. During a first cycle, the first model generates a response signal to the controller while the second model generates a predicted parameter signal. During the first cycle, the comparator transmits a feedback signal to the second model if a predetermined threshold is not met. A method for controlling a machine includes transmitting a response signal from a first model to a controller, generating a control signal to the machine, and generating a predicted parameter value in a second model. The method further includes transmitting a feedback signal to the second model if a predetermined threshold is not met.
US08989871B2 Pacing lead in an extended area of a heart cavity, implantable by over the wire technique in the deep coronary network
A pacing lead (20) having a lead body (22) with a central lumen and provided with structure for retaining the lead body to a wall of the coronary network, and a hollow tubular extension (26), bearing an active region of the lead and also traversed by a central lumen (28) communicating with the inner lumen of the lead body, so as to allow implantation by an over the wire technique. The hollow tubular extension has an outside diameter of between 2 and 3 French (0.66 and 1 mm) to allow implantation deep in the coronary sinus network, and it comprises on its outer surface an electrically insulated peripheral conductor, except for denuded areas intended to come into contact with the wall of a target vein and form a network of stimulation electrodes (32, 34) electrically connected together.
US08989867B2 Implantable nerve wrap for nerve stimulation configured for far field radiative powering
A particular implantable device may include an antenna configured to receive a far field radiative signal. The implantable device may also include a voltage rectifier configured to rectify the far field radiative signal received by the antenna to provide a rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may further include a charge storage element operative to receive the rectified voltage signal and to store charge responsive to the rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may also include a stimulation module powered by the charge storage element. The stimulation module may be operative to generate an electrical stimulation signal to stimulate a target nerve of a patient. The implantable medical device may further include a nerve wrap configured to house the voltage rectifier, the charge storage element, and the stimulation module. The nerve wrap may include one or more electrodes operative to deliver the electrical stimulation signal to the target nerve.
US08989865B2 Selective high frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects, and associated systems and methods
Selective high-frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 100 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side effects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.
US08989864B2 Implantable medical device providing stimulation therapy
An electrical stimulation system provides stimulation therapy to a patient. The system includes a neurostimulation lead that contacts patient tissue and couples with an implantable stimulation device, such as an implantable pulse generator, that receives stimulation parameters for providing stimulation therapy to a patient. The implantable stimulation device includes a header with a plurality of connector assemblies that receive an end of the neurostimulation lead, and a case containing a charging coil and a telemetry coil coupled to programming circuitry on a printed circuit board, which is in turn coupled to the connector assemblies via a feedthrough assembly. The telemetry coil receives data from an external programmer and transmits the data to the programming circuitry, which in turn uses the data to communicate to the connector assemblies and the neurostimulation lead to provide stimulation therapy to a patient.
US08989863B2 System and apparatus for increasing regularity and/or phase-locking of neuronal activity relating to an epileptic event
A method, comprising detecting, in at least a first brain region of a patient, an electrical activity relating to an epileptic activity; determining a first regularity index of said electrical activity; and applying at least one first electrical stimulation to at least one neural target of said patient for treating said epileptic event, in response to said first regularity index being within a first range. A non-transitive, computer-readable storage device for storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the method. A medical device system suitable for use in the method.
US08989857B2 Control system and apparatus utilizing signals originating in the periauricular neuromuscular system
Loosing the ability to interact with one's environment can be devastating. The invention enables a person to control the real or virtual action or movement of an output device in from one to three dimensions through the use of at least one electrical sensor implanted beneath the skin or as a part of a headset on either one side or on both sides of the person's head in electrical communication with a vestigial periauricular nerve or muscle. Each sensor communicates through a selected channel to transmit information preferably in digital form to an output device designating an action to be taken or the position of a target location for enabling the output device to perform the action or to move toward or to a target location through real or virtual space. At least one and preferably up to four sensors are located on each side of the head.
US08989850B2 Retractable multi-use cardiac monitor
A retractable multi-use cardiac monitor is provided that includes a memory, and a first side that includes a first housing where a first sensing connector is on the outside of the first housing, and where the first sensing connector is configured to collect electrocardiogram (ECG) data and store ECG data onto the memory. The retractable multi-use cardiac monitor also includes a second housing including a wire retractor and a second sensing connector, where the second sensing connector is on the outside of the second housing, and the wire retractor is configured to extend and retract a wire that connects the second and first sides, and where the second sensing connector is configured to collect ECG data and store ECG data onto the memory. The retractable multi-use cardiac monitor further includes a wireless radio configured to transmit a portion of collected ECG data from the memory to a destination.
US08989848B2 Apparatus and method for non-invasively detecting diseases that affect structural properties in biological tissues
Apparatus and methods for spectroscopic analysis of biological tissues to classify an individual as diabetic or non-diabetic, or to determine the probability, progression or level of a disease or medical condition in an individual.
US08989846B2 Radiation treatment delivery system with outwardly movable radiation treatment head extending from ring gantry
Systems, methods, and related computer program products for image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) are described. For one preferred embodiment, an IGRT apparatus is provided comprising a gantry frame including a ring member, the ring member being rotatable around a substantially horizontal, longitudinally extending central axis, the ring member having first and second horizontally opposing ends. The IGRT apparatus further comprises a radiation treatment head coupled to the ring member by an arm member, the arm member being connected to the ring member at an arm member base. Preferably, the IGRT apparatus is further characterized in that the arm member extends outwardly from the first end of the ring member in a direction away from the second end and is supported only by the arm member base, and the radiation treatment head is dynamically movable in at least a longitudinal direction toward and away from the first end of the ring member.
US08989843B2 Methods and apparatus for estimating the position and orientation of an implant using a mobile device
Methods and apparatus for providing an overlay image of an implant during a surgical procedure using a mobile computing device are provided herein. The implant may include radio-opaque internal markers adjacent to and defining edges of the implant. The method may include: capturing an image of a imaging display device screen; estimating a pose of the implant based on the relationship between the 2-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers and the 3-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers; retrieving or generating a 3-D model image of the implant at the determined pose using the 3-D implant data; and overlaying the 3-D model image onto the image of the implant. The captured image may include the implant and at least two of the radio-opaque internal markers being visible as fiducial markers within the image. The fiducial markers may be 2-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers in a 2-D plane.
US08989838B2 System for treatment of diseased tissue using controlled ultrasonic heating
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for delivering and controlling thermal therapy to a volume of diseased tissue. Specifically, the invention includes using thermal imaging and other inputs to determine an acoustic (ultrasonic) treatment regime employing interstitial ultrasound applicators to deliver a required therapeutic temperature or thermal dose to the affected region in a body or organ. Various aspects of the treatment that can be controlled include individual transducer element operating power and frequency, as well as the rate of cooling and rotation of the entire applicator.
US08989836B2 Electrode array and method of placement
A headset for detecting brain electrical activity may include a flexible substrate having first and second ends each configured to engage an ear of a subject and dimensioned to fit across the forehead of a subject. The headset may also include a plurality of electrodes disposed on the substrate and configured to contact the subject when the headset is positioned on the subject. First and second electrodes may contact top center and lower center regions of the forehead, respectively, third and fourth electrodes may contact front right and front left regions of the forehead, respectively, fifth and sixth electrodes may contact right side and left side regions of the forehead, respectively, and electrodes included within the securing devices may contact the ear regions. The third and fourth electrodes may be moveable in at least a vertical direction relative to the other electrodes.
US08989829B1 Layered superconductor device
A layered superconductor device includes multiple layers of a single crystal superconducting material having intermittent layers of superconducting material dispersed in a pattern with a second material such that each layer of the multiple layers a single crystal superconducting material are interconnected via superconducting material, allowing for a continuous current path, and a thickness of the superconducting material never exceeds a first predetermined thickness.
US08989826B1 Cellular phone case and storage accessory
A cellular phone case accessory device is disclosed. The case is attached to a cell phone and includes an upper section and a lower section sized to correspond with a cellular phone and to receive the phone in one of the sections. The upper section and lower section are attached by a hinge that enables pivotal movement of the upper and lower sections with respect to each other. Situated within the space defined between the upper and lower sections is a pocket or storage compartment where credit cards, cash, ID and other items may be stored safely. A mirror is also disposed between the upper and lower sections and usable when the upper and lower sections are pivotally disposed in an open position. Another embodiment includes a cell phone holding compartment comprised of two portions removably attached to one another for inserting and retaining a cell phone therein.
US08989825B1 Reconfigurable mobile device with keyboard cover and display areas of content and applications
A multifunction cover with touch screen display, icons, and a keyboard is described. A multifunction touch screen enabled mobile device may be configured to be connected to the separate cover, which may be attached to the device and detached from the device. The mobile device may be enabled with a cellular voice and data communication, WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, and Internet Protocol connectivity. The mobile device may be enabled to play videos, capture photos, and stream multimedia content.
US08989824B2 Electronic devices with improved switch assembly constructions
Electronic devices are provided with housings that can have smoother profiles and with switch assembly input components with knobs that can move along tracks in directions at least partially offset from the directions of anticipated resistive forces. The housings can include switch assembly input components with knobs that may move along linear tracks and switch assembly input components with knobs that may move along curved tracks.
US08989821B2 Battery configurations for electronic devices
Electronic devices having improved battery configurations, and more specifically configurations reducing overall space required for a battery and attendant electronics, as well as providing restraining mechanisms to prevent a battery from impacting these electronics.
US08989817B2 Methods and apparatus for using antennas with different polarization and signal transmit powers
Method and apparatus related to implementing and/or utilizing different polarization antennas with different corresponding average transmit power levels are described. Inter-cell interference is mitigated by having different cells with different power relationships between polarizations antennas. For example, a first base station transmits at a high average power level on its vertical polarization antenna and transmits at a low average power level on its horizontal polarization antenna. Concurrently, a second base station, which is adjacent to the first base station, transmits at a low average power level on its vertical polarization antenna and transmits at a high average power level on its horizontal polarization antenna. In some hexagonal deployment schemes a base station has at most two adjacent base stations using the same power level to antenna polarization direction relationship as it is using.
US08989806B2 Network operator-neutral provisioning of mobile devices
Techniques are disclosed for provisioning mobile devices in a network operator-neutral manner in communication networks. For example, a method comprises a mobile device that is operator neutral attaching to a first operator network, and the operator neutral mobile device establishing a provisioning bearer in the first operator network.
US08989805B2 Mobile communication device providing N-way communication through a plurality of communication devices
A device may provide N-Way communication through multiple communication services. The device may receive user data from a user interface and incoming data from a communication interface. The incoming data may be received through a first communication service. The device may combine the user data and incoming data, including through any combination of encoding or decoding processes. The device may also send the combined data using the communication interface, such as through a second communication service. The device may also receive first incoming data through a first communication service and second incoming data through a second communication service. The device may combine the first incoming data and second incoming data for display on a user interface or to send across a third communication service.
US08989804B2 System and method for proximity-based radio management
A multi-modal wireless communication device contains multiple radios for communication with wireless networks utilizing different communication protocols. When a communication link with a first base station using a first communication protocol is broken, and a communication link established with a second base station, the mobile device stores the communication data related to the prior communication link and stores it in association with the current communication link. At some future time, the mobile device may establish a communication link with the second base station. The mobile device can check the stored data to see if there is a an alternative network connection in the proximity of the current connection. If so, the mobile device may activate the radio for communication with first base station and actively attempt to establish a communication link based on the proximity data recalled from storage in the mobile device.
US08989803B2 Method and system of synchronization in dual-beacon wireless networks
A wireless device (320) receives at least one beacon (325) of a first type (“Type-A beacon”), and synchronizes itself based on the timing of the Type-A beacon(s). Whenever the wireless device (320) synchronizes itself to the timing of a second wireless device (310) that is unable to receive Type-A beacons, then the wireless device (320) marks itself as a forced synchronization device and transmits Type-A beacons (325) that indicate that the first wireless device (320) is operating as a forced synchronization device. Whenever the wireless device (320) is marked as a forced synchronization device and receives a Type-A beacon (325) from a third alien wireless device (320) that is also marked as a forced synchronization device, but is synchronized to a fourth wireless devices (310) that is unable to receive Type-A beacons, then at least one of the first and third wireless devices (320) switches to a new channel.
US08989799B2 Methods of reverse link power control
Methods of reverse link power control are provided. In one example embodiment, a signal-to-interference+noise (SINR) is measured for a plurality of mobile stations. A power control adjustment is determined for each of the mobile stations based on the measured SINR for the mobile station and a fixed target SINR, the fixed target SINR being used in the determining step for each mobile station and sending the power control adjustments to the mobile stations. In another example embodiment, one or more signals are transmitted to a base station. A power control adjustment indicator indicating an adjustment to a transmission power level is received. The received power control adjustment is determined based on a measured signal-to-interference+noise ratio (SINR) for the one or more transmitted signals and a fixed target SINR threshold, the fixed target SINR threshold being used for power control adjustment of a plurality of mobile stations.
US08989798B2 Method and apparatus for power control
A power control method is provided, which is applicable to the communication field. The method includes: obtaining power headroom information of an aggregated carrier of a User Equipment (UE), where the aggregated carrier includes at least one component carrier group and at least one first carrier, or includes at least one component carrier group, or includes at least two first carriers, the component carrier group includes at least two second carriers, and the first carrier and the second carrier are single carriers; and adjusting transmit power of the aggregated carrier according to the power headroom information. The method enables reporting of power headroom of an aggregated carrier of the UE in a multi-carrier scenario, so that the base station can control the transmitting power of the UE reliably, and therefore, reliability and throughput of the system are improved.
US08989794B2 Method and apparatus for unplanned deployment of base stations
Methods and apparatuses are provided that include deploying a femto node in a wireless network. The femto node can measure received signal quality upon initialization in a wireless network and/or according to a timing. The femto node can determine whether to communicate in the wireless network based on comparing the received signal quality to a threshold signal quality. The timing can be determined based on various factors to ensure fairness among femto nodes initializing in the wireless network. A centralized entity can be used to determine the timing and/or whether a femto node should communicate.
US08989791B1 Systems and methods of talk group communication
In systems and methods of talk group communication, a group PTT call is established between a originating wireless device and recipient wireless devices. A group identifier of the PTT call group is provided to the recipient wireless devices indicating that the PTT call involves a call group without indicating an identifier of originating wireless device. In an embodiment, when the group PTT call is terminated, a response call request is received based on the group PTT call from one of the plurality of recipients and a bilateral PTT call is established between the one of the plurality of recipients and the originating wireless device. In an embodiment, a response is received based on the group PTT call from one of the plurality of recipients, the group PTT call is terminated, and a bilateral PTT call is established between the one of the plurality of recipients and the originating wireless device.
US08989789B2 Terminal mobility state detection
There are provided measures for terminal mobility state detection. Such measures may exemplarily include acquiring a statistical metric of measurements of a signal strength of a terminal with unknown speed over a predetermined time period, comparing the acquired statistical metric with mobility patterns stored in a database, each of said mobility patterns exhibiting a relationship between previously acquired statistical metrics of signal strength measurements of terminals with a specific terminal speed class, and determining a terminal speed class of the terminal according to a best match between the acquired statistical metric and the mobility patterns on the basis of the comparison. The database may exemplarily be prepared including acquiring a statistical metric of measurements of a signal strength of a terminal with known speed, and applying the acquired statistical metric for creating or updating the mobility pattern with respect to the specific terminal speed class corresponding to the known speed of the terminal.
US08989786B2 System and method for graphical expression during text messaging communications
A system and method are described herein that allow computing device users to convey emotional expressions graphically to other computing device users during a text messaging session. During the text messaging session, users run a text messaging application on their respective computing devices, each storing in memory a library of graphical expressions. A sender transmits a graphical expression by triggering a sensor which causes an expression command to be sent to the recipient. The expression command identifies for the application running on the recipient's computing device the graphical expression to retrieve from the memory of the recipient's computing device. The graphical expression is then displayed on the recipient's computing device using avatars that represent the sender and the recipient.
US08989782B2 System and method to automatically triangulate location based on popularity and density ranking of venues over distance
Methods, systems, and computer program products determine, for a number of individuals having a common interest, locations relevant to that common interest. Each individual possesses a user terminal that has a location and executes a messaging application. During the course of a messaging conversation, the application transmits search parameters to a central server. The search parameters may be entered manually or determined automatically by analyzing the conversation. The server identifies clusters of locations that satisfy the search parameters in addition to satisfying geographic proximity to the participants in the conversation. The server scores the clusters, and transmits to the user terminal data relating thereto, for integrated display in the messaging application. Relevant advertising may be identified and transmitted for contemporaneous display.
US08989781B2 Portable electronic device and power-saving method therefor
A portable electronic device includes a wireless communication module, a processing unit, a display device and a backlight driver. The wireless communication module wirelessly collects location information from at least one remote station. The processing unit executes a positioning application and thereby calculates a position of the portable electronic device based on the collected location information. The display device operates at a bright mode when the calculated position indicates that the portable electronic device is kept being moved. The backlight driver is coupled to the processing unit, and, the processing unit is further configured to control the backlight driver to make the display device leave the bright mode and enter a dim mode when the calculated position indicates that the portable electronic device is not moved for a first predetermined time period.
US08989779B1 Venue-based device control and determination
Methods and systems are provided for venue-based device control and user/position/venue context determinations. Venue corresponds to a geographic region. Venue relevant information is information associated with a venue. A controlled quasi-transient signal comprises a signal, emitted by an entity intrinsic to the venue and not intended to be utilized for operation of the device, coupled with a quasi-transient signal that is coded with the venue relevant information. When a device located in a venue receives a controlled quasi-transient signal, venue-relevant information associated with the venue can be extracted from the controlled quasi-transient signal. Based on the extracted venue relevant information, the device can be controlled in accordance with a control signal generated based on the venue relevant information.
US08989774B2 Method and system of semnatic indoor positioning using significant places as satellites
A method for locating a mobile device inside a building by using a plurality of reference areas in the building as satellites. A scan is obtained by the mobile device at an unknown location in the building. The scan includes a plurality of detected WAPs with a corresponding RSSI for each detected WAP. The method to improve accuracy of a semantic indoor positioning system by generating a vector of distance scores based on the scan for comparison with vectors of survey distance scores corresponding to the reference areas. The method includes arranging the detected WAPs into an ordered list, extracting a set of WAP tuples from the ordered list, retrieving a set of probabilities for each reference area, calculating a distance score for each reference area, generating the vector of distance scores, and comparing the vector of distance scores with each of the vectors of survey distance scores.
US08989773B2 Sharing location information among devices
Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer program products that include, on a first device executing a first instance of a location application, receiving an indication to begin sharing data describing a path traveled by the first device, receiving location data describing the path traveled by the first device, the location data received from a location system of the first device, and the location data including a plurality of locations of the first device, and transmitting the location data in a form usable to enable a user interface of a second instance of a location application executing on a second device to indicate the path traveled by the first device.
US08989772B2 Methods and apparatus for estimating time of arrival information associated with a wireless signal
Methods and apparatus for estimating time of arrival information associated with a wireless signal are disclosed. In an embodiment, a wireless device (102), or any other suitable device or system, determines a channel type based on multiple occurrences of a reference signal (700) (e.g., determine if a channel is delay-spread or non-delay-spread based on a ratio of largest peak to a mean of other peaks). The wireless device (102) then selects a time of arrival generator (800 or 900) based on the channel type (e.g., use delay-spread estimator if ratio is below threshold, and use non-delay-spread estimator if ratio is above threshold). The wireless device then (102) estimates the time of arrival information using the selected time of arrival generator (800 or 900) (e.g., sum peaks from multiple occasions and then estimate for delay-spread or estimate the time of arrival from each occasion and then average for non-delay-spread).
US08989771B2 Space recognition method and system based on environment information
A space recognition system obtains available RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) information for a plurality of fixing devices in the vicinity of a user device in the wireless sensor network environment, collects environment information in a space where the user device is located, and collects environment information in a plurality of spaces in which the fixing devices are respectively located. The system combines the RSSI information and the environment information and performs a recognition function on the combined environment information to recognize the space in which a user having the user device is located.
US08989770B2 Method and apparatus for estimating displacement of a user terminal
An apparatus and method for estimating displacement of a user terminal are provided. The method includes estimating, by the user terminal, a moving state of the user terminal; determining a first moving direction probability index of a user, based on the estimated moving state of the user terminal; and determining a moving state of the user terminal and estimating a moving direction of the user terminal, based on the first moving direction probability index.
US08989768B2 Method of determining a position in a wireless communication system and apparatus thereof
A method of determining a position in a wireless communication system and apparatus thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving system information including information on a reference cell and at least one neighbor cell from a location server, receiving positioning reference signals (PRSs) from the reference cell and the at least one neighbor cell using the system information, measuring reference signal time difference (RSTD) of each of the at least one neighbor cell for the reference cell, and transmitting the at least one measured RSTD to the location server. And, the RSTD is a relative timing difference between two cells. Moreover, the system information includes at least one cell for obtaining a system frame number (SFN) by the UE, as the reference cell or the at least one neighbor cell.
US08989767B2 Wireless communication system with NFC-controlled access and related methods
A wireless communication system may include a wireless access point including a first wireless transceiver and a controller associated therewith and providing wireless communications within a defined space having an entrance, and mobile wireless communications devices, each including a first near field communications (NFC) device and a second wireless transceiver communicating with the first wireless transceiver. The wireless communication system may also include a second NFC device adjacent the entrance of the defined space, and a third NFC device within the defined space. The controller may permit wireless communications of a given mobile wireless communications device with the wireless access point based upon communication of the corresponding first NFC device with the second and third NFC devices.
US08989766B2 Systems and methods for the detection of transmission facilities
A method of detecting a transmitting device within an obstruction rich environment is disclosed. The method may involve detecting the transmitting device with a wireless transmission detection facility; communicating signal information relating to the detected transmitting device from the wireless transmission detection facility to a central unit; determining the location of the transmitting device; displaying information of the detection and location of the transmitting device through a user interface; and providing an action facility for causing actions related to the detected transmitting device.
US08989763B2 Updating position assist data on a mobile computing device
A mobile computing device comprises a memory, a processor and a transceiver. The memory is configured to store at least one type of position assist data. The processor is configured to provide a position fix based on the position assist data. The transceiver is configured for wireless communication. The memory is configured to store updated position assist data for the type of position assist data. The processor is operable in a first operating mode in which the type of position assist data is not updated and operable in a second operating mode in which the type of position assist data is updated in response to at least one triggering event.
US08989761B2 Scheduling data transmissions in a mobile telecommunication network
The invention relates to a method of communicating in a mobile telecommunication network (100; 200), the mobile telecommunication network comprising a plurality of cells (102; 104; 106), wherein resource blocks are used for transmitting data in the mobile telecommunication network, and wherein the method comprises:—dividing (S2) a resource into at least a first plurality of resource blocks and a second plurality of resource blocks, wherein the resource blocks of the first plurality do not overlap with the resource bocks of the second plurality;—assigning (S3) the first plurality of resource blocks to a first group of cells and assigning the second plurality of resource blocks to a second group of cells;—scheduling (S4) first data transmissions in the first group of cells on the first plurality of resource blocks;—scheduling (S5) second data transmissions in the second group of cells on the second plurality of resource blocks;—scheduling (S6) third data transmissions in the first group of cells on the second plurality of resource blocks, when all resource blocks of the first plurality are already used for data transmissions; and—scheduling (S7) fourth data transmissions in the second group of cells on the first plurality of resource blocks, when all resource blocks of the second plurality are already used for data transmissions.
US08989758B1 Systems and methods for dynamically configuring femtocell pilot beacon based on application usage at femtocell
Methods and systems are provided for prioritizing frequencies in femtocell frequency-hopping pilot beacons. The frequency-hopping pilot beacon may prioritize transmission on particular frequencies according to usage of one or more particular applications by mobile devices served by the femtocell. The femtocell and/or femtocell control elements in the macro-network may determine that one or more particular applications are used by mobile devices served by the femtocell, identify one or more frequencies associated with the one or more frequencies, and then cause the femtocell to prioritize transmission on the identified one or more frequencies as compared to other frequencies.
US08989753B2 Method for allocating transmission signals to transmission channels
A method for allocating a transmission signal to a transmission channel which has a transmission bandwidth and a rated center frequency and which is established between a radio transmitter and a radio receiver has the steps: emitting the transmission signal on the radio transmitter end with an actual transmitter frequency; receiving the transmission signal in the radio receiver; determining the frequency of the transmission signal in the radio receiver; and deciding on the allocation of the transmission signal to a transmission channel if the frequency determined by the radio receiver lies in a predetermined frequency range.
US08989751B2 System and method for constructing a carrier to interference matrix based on subscriber calls
A conventional wireless device constantly measures the signal strength of its server base station and the strength of signals from surrounding base stations for handoff purposes. The wireless device transmits this information to its serving base station, which discards the information a short time afterward, following handoff. The present system and method store the formerly discarded information in one of several existing network elements or in a separate computer system. This information is used to generate a carrier to interference ratio, which indicates the level of interference between station pairs, and to also generate a carrier to interference matrix, including identifying potential interference for each station pair. The frequency of occurrences during predetermined desired periods of time and the volume of traffic affected by each level of interference may also be calculated. This provides comprehensive, continuous, real-time information for wireless frequency planning.
US08989750B2 Control circuit, impedance adjusting circuit, impedance automatic adjusting circuit, radio transceiver circuit, control method, impedance adjusting method, impedance automatic adjusting method, and radio transceiving method
There is provided a control circuit (1) including: a cell area (2A) comprising a plurality of cells (2) arranged therein, each of the cells including: a first conductor (3) having at least one capacitance component (C1, C2); a second conductor (4) connected to the first conductor and having an inductance component; and a feed line (5) provided to be in non-contact with the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein a size of each of the cells is smaller than a wavelength of a signal to be influenced by the cells; and at least one feed controller (6) configured to control at least one of permittivity and permeability of the cell area by changing the amount of a power supply provided to the feed line of each of the cells.
US08989749B2 Method and apparatus for a dual-network terminal to perform communication
An apparatus for performing communication by a dual-network terminal is disclosed by the present invention, wherein the dual-network terminal is a dual-network and dual-standby terminal, and the dual-network and dual-standby terminal comprises an application subsystem, a 3G wireless communication subsystem, a 2G wireless communication subsystem and an identification card management module. The identification card management module is connected with an identification card, which stores information used for the 2G network and 3G network to perform identity authentication, and the 3G wireless communication subsystem is connected with the application subsystem and the identification card management module, and the 2G wireless communication subsystem is connected with the application subsystem and the identification card management module. A method for performing communication by a dual-network terminal is also disclosed by the present invention. The invention is beneficial to the design of hardware and structure, thus saving the cost.
US08989746B2 Performing association during handover in wireless access system
A method of associating a mobile station to a base station in a wireless communication system comprises transmitting to a serving base station a scanning request message comprising an association indicator. The method also comprises receiving from the serving base station a scanning response message comprising a rendezvous time associated with a neighboring base station for initiating ranging with the neighboring base station, wherein the serving base station communicates an association notification to the neighboring base station, the association notification comprising the rendezvous time. The method also comprises associating with the neighboring base station by transmitting a ranging request after passing of the rendezvous time determined from a transmission time of the scanning response message from the neighboring base station, wherein the rendezvous time is associated with a time the neighboring base station is expected to provide a non-contention based ranging opportunity for the mobile station.
US08989740B2 Method and apparatus for selecting one of a plurality of networks for an application service based upon performance metrics for the application service
A communication device performs a method for selecting a network for an application service based upon system performance. The method includes obtaining multiple sets of performance metrics. Each of the multiple sets of performance metrics comprises at least one performance metric for a same application service. The method further includes evaluating the multiple sets of performance metrics to select one of the corresponding networks to access the application service on the selected network.
US08989737B2 System and method for establishing a session initiation protocol communication session with a mobile terminal
A system is provided for establishing a communication session with a terminal (i.e., terminating SIP client). The system includes a network node (e.g., SIP proxy) located in a network across which an originating client is capable of communicating. The network node is capable of sending a trigger to the terminal independent of the network. The network node is also capable of receiving a registration message, in response to the trigger, from the terminal across the network. In this regard, the network node is capable of receiving the registration message to thereby identify the terminal across the network such that a communication session is capable of being established with the terminal based upon the identity of the terminal across the network.
US08989734B2 Method and apparatus for wireless network selection
The application relates to wireless network selection. The effect of wireless network selection upon operation time of the mobile device is considered in making the wireless network selection.
US08989730B2 Detection of faulty radio oscillator or faulty mobile timing measurements
Detection of a faulty radio oscillator is provided herein. Also provided herein is detection of faulty mobile timing measurements. Timing measurements, as observed by a mobile device, and an identification of primary scrambling codes associated with the timing measurements are captured. The primary scrambling codes match each timing measurement with a particular radio. The mobile device can also report its location information. Radios for which timing measurements have been received are paired. Based on the paired radios and an associated observed time delay derived from the timing measurements, comparisons can be made between paired radios having at least one common radio. Radios exhibiting an expected timing value can be removed from the analysis in order to isolate a radio that has a faulty radio oscillator.
US08989727B2 System and method for proximity area networking for mobile gaming
Embodiments of the present invention include improved communication system and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a wireless communication method comprising, on a first wireless device, receiving one or more wireless device identifications associated with one or more other wireless devices, and transmitting at least one of the one or more wireless device identifications from the first wireless device to a remote computer system, and on the remote computer system, receiving the at least one wireless device identification, and accessing information associated with the at least one wireless device identification. Embodiments of the present invention may be used for electronic dating, social networking and other communication applications.
US08989726B2 Device call notification extensions
An aspect provides a method, including: detecting an incoming voice call at an information handling device; detecting one or more external notification extension conditions at the information handling device, tracking user-device interactions to build a pattern of user behavior with respect to external conditions; updating the one or more external notification extension conditions based on the pattern of user behavior; and in response to detecting one or more updated external notification extension conditions at the information handling device, extending a notification of the incoming voice call at the information handling device. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US08989721B2 Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to mobile telephony devices
Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a mobile telephony device that is roaming outside of its native service area make use of a mobile roaming termination service. The mobile roaming termination service causes the native mobile telephony service provider that provides service to the mobile telephony device to forward incoming telephony communications directed the native telephone number of the mobile telephony device to a forwarding access number. The mobile roaming termination service receives telephony communications directed to the forwarding access number, and then terminates the telephony communication to the mobile telephony device via any one of multiple different methods. The mobile telephony service provider can be instructed to implement and cancel call forwarding instructions by dialing a special character string on the mobile telephony device.
US08989716B2 Method and apparatus for supporting CSG service in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for supporting a closed subscriber group (CSG) service is provided. The apparatus includes a memory to store CSG subscription information and a processor operatively coupled to the RF unit and memory to implement a radio interface protocol. The processor accesses a base station (BS), transmits the CSG subscription information to the BS, receives an access mode from the BS where the access mode is determined based on the CSG subscription information, and negotiates with the BS with regard to a CSG service if the access mode supports a CSG to which the apparatus belongs.
US08989713B2 Selection of a link in a received message for speaking reply, which is converted into text form for delivery
A link, called an X-Link™ and is placed in a message (SMS, MMS, email etc.) that is sent to a user and displayed on their device (e.g. mobile telephone). When the link is selected by the user, it connects the user's device to a conversion system, enabling the user to speak a reply which is then converted to a text based reply message; the reply message is then sent to the original message sender (and/or another appropriate recipient). This approach enables a text message to be responded to by voice: it is an example of an asymmetric communication. There are many circumstances where this approach is very useful—for example if the message is a SMS and the recipient does not know how to respond using SMS, or is in an environment where it is difficult (perhaps when walking or driving).
US08989712B2 Mobile phone payment process including threshold indicator
System, methods, and apparatus provide account balance alerts for a mobile phone used to initiate a transaction when an account balance is close to a credit limit or close to zero or a minimum balance amount. When a consumer uses an account associated with a mobile phone to make a purchase, the account is checked to see if the purchase would result in an account balance within a predetermined threshold of the credit limit in the case of a credit account, or within a predetermined threshold of zero or a minimum balance, in the case of a debit account. If the threshold has been surpassed an account balance alert is automatically sent to the mobile phone. Since the mobile phone was just used for the transaction, the consumer is timely notified of the approach of the balance to the credit/debit limit and can take corrective action in a timely manner.
US08989710B2 Anonymous customer reference services enabler
Variable subscriber identifiers (V-SubIds) for protecting subscriber privacy are generated and managed. In one aspect, an Anonymous Customer Reference Services (ACRS) component generates a V-SubId, which is a short-lived subscriber identifier that is inserted in a request received from a user equipment during request enrichment. Moreover, a different V-SubId can be inserted in subsequent request from the user equipment and thus, cross-site behavior tracking can be mitigated. In one aspect, the V-SubId can be exchanged for a subscriber identifier (SubId) associated with the user equipment, upon query by trusted systems/applications. Further, the V-SubId can be exchanged for a site-specific Anonymous Customer Reference (ACR) upon query by untrusted systems/applications, if user authorization is received. Moreover, the life cycle of the ACR is managed by the ACRS component, based on subscriber input.
US08989708B2 Network device access ID assignment and management
One or more devices may receive an instruction to generate an index for a customer associated with a base station and may generate the index based on receiving the instruction. The index may include one or more spaces to store a corresponding one or more access identifiers (IDs) used to allow a user device to connect to the base station. The one or more devices may receive an instruction to add an access ID to the index; generate the access ID based on a format of the access ID, a customer type, a customer ID, or a space ID; store the access ID in one of the one or more spaces of the index; and provide the access ID to the user device and the base station. The access ID may permit the user device to connect to the base station to access a network via the base station.
US08989706B2 Automated secure pairing for wireless devices
Systems, methods, and/or techniques (“tools”) are described herein that relate to automated secure pairing for devices, and that relate to parallel downloads of content using devices. The tools for pairing the devices may perform authentication protocols that are based on addresses and on keys. The address-based authentication protocol may operate on address book entries maintained by the devices. The key-based authentication protocol may operate using a key exchange between the devices.
US08989705B1 Secure placement of centralized media controller application in mobile access terminal
A mobile access terminal (MAT) for use in an internet protocol multimedia system (IMS). The mobile access terminal comprises a first region of memory, a device application stored in the first region of memory, a second region of memory that implements a trusted security sector, and a centralized media controller application stored in the trusted security sector. The centralized media controller application is mated and paired with an incident internet protocol multimedia system network and wherein the centralized media controller application authenticates the device application and provides the device application with communications connectivity with the incident internet protocol multimedia system network.
US08989704B2 Invisible mode for mobile phones to facilitate privacy without breaching trust
Systems and methods for providing information security in an unobtrusive manner are presented herein. An authentication component can enable a primary user of a multi-user communications device, based on an authentication process initiated by the primary user, to classify information stored in the multi-user communications device as invisible to other users of the device. The information classified as invisible to the other users can include phone number(s), phone message(s), email address(es), email(s), electronic message(s), call history, email history, and/or personal data. In addition, an information access component can enable the primary user to access the information classified as invisible to the other users of the multi-user communications device upon authentication of the primary user's identity. An operational component can enable other users of the multi-user communications device to operate the device without receiving an indication that information stored in the device was classified as invisible to the other users.
US08989703B2 Methods and systems for electronic device status exchange
Methods, devices and servers for exchanging information about the status of mobile communications are described. In one aspect, a method is implemented on a device status exchange server, which includes: storing a plurality of profiles associated with a plurality of mobile communication devices that are serviced by a wireless service provider having a wireless service provider server which tracks information about the mobile communication devices, the plurality of profiles storing at least some of the information tracked by the wireless service provider server; receiving, from third party servers, subscription requests for notification of an update in information associated with one of the mobile communication devices; registering the received subscription requests; detecting an update to the information stored in one of the profiles based on information received from a server; and in response to detecting the update: updating the profile associated with the mobile communication device associated with the updated information; and notifying the third party servers of the update in accordance with registered subscription requests.
US08989698B2 Supplemental rescue resources
A supplemental rescue resources system can receive an emergency alert message from a mobile device and use data from the message and other sources to determine and select appropriate supplemental rescue resources, which may include may include any person that has volunteered or is otherwise a participant in the system that is not an on-duty emergency responder. The supplemental rescue resources system may select a supplemental rescue resources based on the location of such resources relative to the location of an incident, and/or the qualifications and/or preferences of such resources. The supplemental rescue resources system may direct resources to the incident and notify emergency services providers of the supplemental resources. The supplemental rescue resources system may request and/or receive additional information from supplemental resources, emergency services providers, and/or those reporting incidents and use this information to adjust the notified supplemental resources, update emergency services providers, and/or update affected parties.
US08989695B2 Wireless communication device and method for transmitting emergency data from outside a coverage zone
A wireless communication device is disclosed that is capable of transmitting emergency data to a base station even when the wireless communication device is out of range, or has insufficient battery life, to communicate with the base station using normal transmission means. When the wireless communication device is out of range or has low battery, the wireless communication device can transmit the emergency data to the base station by repeatedly transmitting the emergency data at a coding rate below a standard/minimum coding rate of the modulation scheme designated for use by the base station. The second wireless communication device can detect and decode the emergency data by storing the multiple transmitted iterations of the received signal and performing combining processing on those stored iterations.
US08989693B1 Power line network apparatus, system and method
Various aspects of the instant disclosure are directed towards a method for communicating time-based data in a power line communication system. In accordance with one or more example embodiments, firmware is downloaded to a multitude of endpoints over power distribution lines carrying alternating current (AC) power. Endpoint devices targeted for changes to stored firmware are grouped and the firmware is delivered in chunks to each group. As devices receive a particular chunk of firmware, the device advances to a next stage and provides information indicative of this stage, based upon which subsequent chunks of firmware are communicated. This occurs (e.g., on a daily cycle) until the endpoint has received all firmware for an update, after which the endpoint(s) are re-started using the firmware. Accordingly, such updates can be carried out in a cyclic and verifiable manner.
US08989692B2 High speed, wide frequency-range, digital phase mixer and methods of operation
The present disclosure is directed to a unit phase mixer in combination with an input buffer. The unit phase mixer has a pull-up path for pulling an output terminal up to a first voltage. The pull-up path has a first transistor responsive to a first enable signal and a series connected second transistor responsive to a first clock signal. The unit phase mixer has a pull-down path for pulling the output terminal down to a second voltage. The pull-down path has a third transistor responsive to a second clock signal and a series connected fourth transistor responsive to a second enable signal. The input buffer skews the first and second clock signals by different amounts to enable a break-before-make method of operation so that the first voltage is not connected to the second voltage. The unit phase mixer can be used as a building block in more complex mixers which may include the ability to weight the input clocks as well as providing feed-forward paths for certain of the signals. Because of the rules governing abstract, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
US08989686B2 Local radio mode for AM/FM broadcasts
A vehicle radio includes a memory including normal mode memory locations and local mode memory locations. User preset buttons are each associated with a normal mode memory location, and local preset buttons are each associated with a local mode memory location. A radio controller selectively operates in local mode, wherein the radio controller scans frequencies being received and stores some of the received frequencies as local mode frequencies in the local mode memory locations of the preset memory. In local mode, the controller enables both: selection of any one of the user presets; and selection of any one of the local presets. Optionally, the local memory locations can first be filled by PTY preference, with unfilled locations filled by closest PTY or signal strength. A frequency stored in a local mode memory location can be copied to a normal mode memory location.
US08989684B1 Voltage regulator for providing a regulated voltage to subcircuits of an RF frequency circuit
A voltage regulator for a plurality of radio frequency subcircuits of a radio frequency circuit. A first transistor configured to receive, based on a comparison between a reference voltage signal and a feedback signal, a bias signal corresponding to a desired regulated voltage for the plurality of radio frequency subcircuits, output the bias signal, and generate the feedback signal according to the bias signal as output from the first transistor. A second transistor configured to receive the bias signal as output from the first transistor and provide, based on the bias signal, the desired regulated voltage to a respective first one of the plurality of radio frequency subcircuits. A third transistor is configured to receive the bias signal as output from the first transistor and provide, based on the bias signal, the desired regulated voltage to a respective second one of the plurality of radio frequency subcircuits.
US08989682B2 Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking calibration
Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking calibration are provided. In one embodiment, a method of calibrating an envelope tracker having an envelope shaping table generated at a desired gain compression of a power amplifier is provided. The method includes generating a supply voltage for the power amplifier using the envelope tracker, operating the supply voltage of the power amplifier at a first voltage level associated with substantially no gain compression of the power amplifier, and measuring an output power of the power amplifier at the first voltage level. The method further includes decreasing a voltage level of the supply voltage one or more times and measuring the output power at each voltage level, determining a second voltage level of the power amplifier associated with a gain compression equal to about that of the desired gain compression, and calibrating the envelope tracker based on the determination.
US08989680B2 Determining a state of a receiver on a transmission line
According to one aspect, a method is provided for determining a state of a receiver on a transmission line. The method may comprise, for example, evaluating a first voltage arising at a circuit point between an impedance and a transmission line coupled to the impedance, wherein the impedance is coupled between a transmitter and the receiver, and determining a state of the receiver based on the first voltage. According to further aspects, various apparatuses are provided for performing this and other methods.
US08989677B2 Apparatus and method for switching from reception to transmission
The invention is related to an apparatus comprising: at least one definition unit configured to define signal characterizing parameters of a transmission; and at least one routing unit configured to route the transmission to at least one transmission path based on the signal characterizing parameters, the at least one transmission path arranged to convey the transmission to at least one antenna.
US08989673B2 System for delivering data to users
A system for delivering data to a user includes a beverage container provided with an electronic device having an electronic display, and a portable electronic apparatus such as an electronic mobile phone or an electronic tablet, so that a user operates the portable electronic apparatus to compose data, which are transmitted via ultra-sound to the beverage container and displayed on its electronic display.
US08989670B2 Location aware file sharing between near field communication enabled devices
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for connecting, selecting, and/or transferring data files among near field communication (NFC) enabled devices. An initial communication link may be established. A subsequent communication link may be established through an exchange of data communicated over the initial communication link. A data file may be provided facilitating a retrieval and rendering of a first device icon and a second device icon. The first device icon and the second device icon are utilized to transfer one or more selected files over the subsequent communication link.
US08989667B2 Apparatus and methods for a bandwidth efficient scheduler
Methods and apparatus for scheduling shared time resources. In one embodiment, Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 interfaces with overlapping frequency ranges are managed by an intelligent scheduler entity or process that schedules time slots for human interaction devices based on predictions on which Bluetooth device is active. By reducing the number of time slots reserved for inactive Bluetooth devices, the scheduler can free up time slots for IEEE 802.11 systems without significant perceptible impact on the Bluetooth devices. The freed time slots can increase in IEEE 802.11 performance by providing additional bandwidth (which can be perceptible by the user), thereby increasing user satisfaction and experience.
US08989666B2 Information processing system, information processing apparatus, computer-readable storage medium having stored therein information processing program, and information processing method
A plurality of game apparatuses function as a master, a client, and an audience. The master and the client register each other by performing therebetween an authentication process. The authentication process is not performed between the master and the audience. The audience receives a beacon from the master and registers the master in an own apparatus while the audience is not registered in the master. The master and the client execute a predetermined program, exchanging data by communicating with each other. The audience receives the data exchanged between the master and the client, and executes the predetermined program using the received data, thereby watches a game which is progressed between the master and the client, as a spectator.
US08989661B2 Method and system for optimized architecture for bluetooth streaming audio applications
Methods and systems for processing data are disclosed herein and may include compressing audio information on-chip within a Bluetooth® transceiver chip utilizing an audio codec implemented within the Bluetooth® transceiver chip. The audio codec may be a low complexity sub-band codec (SBC). An audio stream with the audio information may be generated outside the Bluetooth® transceiver chip. The audio stream may be generated via an audio/video distribution transport protocol (AVDTP) external to the Bluetooth® transceiver chip. A data channel may be established by the Bluetooth® transceiver chip between a Bluetooth® enabled device and a peer Bluetooth® device, for communicating the established audio stream to the Bluetooth® transceiver chip for compression. The data channel may be established utilizing a logical link control and adaptation protocol (L2CAP) and/or an advanced audio distribution profile (A2DP).
US08989657B2 Radio frequency access control system and method
An access control system includes a transmitter initiator that has a magnetic flux antenna constructed and arranged to direct magnetic energy in an angular direction, a plurality of RF tone detectors, a microcontroller, and a plurality of RF burst generators. The system includes at least one receiver responder that has a magnetic flux antenna, a plurality of RF tone detectors, a microcontroller, and a RF burst generator. The transmitter initiator's magnetic flux antenna and the receiver responder's magnetic flux antenna define an open-air gap therebetween. The transmitter initiator's magnetic flux antenna has a paramagnetic housing, electromagnetic windings within the paramagnetic housing, and at least one ferromagnetic element disposed within the open air gap. The paramagnetic housing and the ferromagnetic element are constructed and arranged to direct a magnetic field across the open air gap. The system is configured for wireless communication via near-field magnetic induction.
US08989655B2 Method in which user equipment transmits a signal in a distributed antenna system, and user equipment using same
A method in which user equipment transmits a signal in a distributed antenna system in which a plurality of antennas is distributed in a cell, comprises the following steps: receiving uplink antenna information from a base station; controlling uplink power on the basis of the uplink antenna information; and transmitting an uplink signal on the basis of the uplink power control, wherein the uplink antenna information indicates a receiving antenna of the base station that receives the uplink signal.
US08989650B2 Printing medium alignment device with rollers attached and image forming apparatus having the same
A printing medium alignment device and an image forming apparatus having the same, the image forming apparatus includes a printing medium supply unit to supply a printing medium, a printing unit to print an image on the printing medium supplied from the printing medium supply unit, and a printing medium alignment device to align the printing medium fed toward the printing unit. The printing medium alignment device includes: a register roller; an idle roller to form a nip with the register roller, to feed the printing medium to the printing unit; a register to move to a first position to block the printing medium from entering the nip, to align the printing medium, and to move to a second position to allow the printing medium to enter the nip; and a shutter roller mounted in the register shutter. When the register shutter is in the second position, the shutter roller rolls while in contact with the printing medium, to decrease a friction between the printing medium and the register shutter.
US08989647B2 Toner conveying unit for collecting toner and conveying toner to toner storage container
A toner conveying unit includes a first toner conveying passage, a second toner conveying passage, a conveying member, a crank, and a vertical slide member. The first toner conveying passage includes a receiving port and allows toner to fall down from the receiving port. The second toner conveying passage joins a lower portion of the first toner conveying passage. The conveying member is provided in the second toner conveying passage and conveys the toner in a predetermined direction while rotating. The crank is provided in the second toner conveying passage below the first toner conveying passage and is connected to the conveying member. The vertical slide member is connected to the crank, is inserted into the first toner conveying passage, and is formed so as to come into slide contact with an inner wall of the first toner conveying passage.
US08989645B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including an image bearing member and a protective layer forming unit. In an embodiment, the protective layer forming unit includes a protective agent supplying member which rotatably contacts a surface of the image bearing member and an image bearing member protective agent. The image bearing member protective agent includes at least a metal salt of a fatty acid and an inorganic lubricant. The protective agent supplying member includes a core material and a foam layer formed on an outer periphery of the core material and including a plurality of cells. Finally, a drive torque of the image bearing member and a drive torque of the protective agent supplying member satisfy a formula.
US08989643B2 Fixing device with endless belt and image forming apparatus incorporating same
The fixing device includes a nip formation assembly partially pressing against an opposed rotary body via an endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body. The nip formation assembly includes a base pad defining the fixing nip and including a pressure portion, an extension portion, and a curved portion. The pressure portion presses against the opposed rotary body via the endless belt. The extension portion is contiguous to and disposed upstream from the pressure portion in a recording medium conveyance direction. The extension portion does not press against the opposed rotary body via the endless belt. The curved portion is disposed upstream from the extension portion in the recording medium conveyance direction and smoothly blends into the extension portion. The curved portion does not press against the opposed rotary body.
US08989642B2 Fixing device preventable unevenness of heat generation of paper passing region
A fixing device includes a heating member, a pressing member, and an induction heating unit. In this fixing device, (i) a wound width Wc of a center portion of an induction heating coil in a longitudinal direction seen from an axial direction of the heating member, (ii) a wound width Wp in the vicinity of and inside edges of a maximum recording medium passing region of a recoding medium, and (iii) a wound width We of at least one of both edges of the induction heating coil in the longitudinal direction satisfy parameters that the wound width Wc is smaller than the wound width Wp and is larger than or equal to the wound width We.
US08989638B2 Developer carrying device, development device and image forming apparatus
A developer carrying device includes a first developer containing part configured to contain developer, a first rotational member arranged in the first developer containing part, a second developer containing part arranged side by side with the first developer containing part, a second rotational member arranged in the second developer containing part, an opening part formed between the first developer containing part and the second developer containing part, and a restriction part arranged between the first rotational member and the second rotational member.
US08989637B2 Developing device and image forming device
A developing device including a first developer holding member disposed opposite to an image holding member that holds an electrostatic latent image, a second developer holding member, disposed opposite to the image holding member and the first developer holding member, a developer supply mechanism that supplies a developer to a position located further downstream than a development area in a direction of rotation of the second developer holding member and located further upstream than opposite locations of the two developer holding members, a regulation member that regulates the developer supplied by the developer supply mechanism, a developer division unit that divides the developer, supplied from the developer supply mechanism into two parts for the two developer holding members, and a developer carrying unit that holds and carries the developer after division toward the development area in a state where the developer is separated.
US08989634B2 Developer case that suppresses clogging due to developer, developer replenishment unit having the same, and image forming apparatus having the same
A developer case includes a main body, a first transportation portion, a first transportation member, a supply member, a discharge port, and a second transportation portion. The main body contains developer. The first transportation portion has a first region that receives developer from the main body and a second region that extends from the first region in a first direction. The first transportation member transports developer in the first direction. The supply member supplies developer to the first region. Developer is discharged through the discharge port. The second transportation portion has an inlet port communicating with the second region. Developer that has not been discharged through the discharge port is supplied to the second transportation portion through the inlet port. The second transportation portion transports developer in a second direction.
US08989633B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device; a sealing member for unsealably sealing a space containing an initial developer; a first supplying device communicatable with the space to supply the developer into the developing device; a second supplying device for supplying the developer into first supplying device; an unsealing mechanism for unsealing the sealing member; and a controller capable of executing an operation in an unsealing mode in which the unsealing mechanism is operated, after supplying operation of second supplying device, to unseal the sealing member.
US08989632B2 Toner anti-bridging agitator for an image forming device
A removable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having an inner volume forming a toner reservoir and a channel for accumulating toner. An auger advances toner within the channel and has a rotational axis and a flight. An agitator is mounted on an inner surface of the housing and is positioned to extend toward the auger. The agitator has a first segment and a second distal segment connected to the first segment. When the auger rotates, the flight of the auger engages the agitator causing movement of the second distal segment to push toner accumulated in the channel into the auger.
US08989631B2 Image-forming apparatus and method
An image-forming apparatus includes an image unit that forms an image using a white toner and a color toner and a fixing unit that fixes the image to a medium with heat. The toner mass per unit area of the white toner θ (g/m2) in an image of the color toner superimposed on the white toner formed on paper used as the medium satisfies: 0.03+1.31×Rw−0.47×Rc+0.02×Gw−0.07×Gc≦θ≦0.05+1.06×Rw+0.42×Rc−0.02×Gw+0.05×Gc where Rw is the average particle diameter (μm) of the white toner, Rc is the average particle diameter (μm) of the color toner, Gw is the storage modulus (kPa) of the white toner at 120° C., and Gc is the storage modulus (kPa) of the color toner at 120° C.
US08989627B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is movable along a predetermined direction to be removably installed in the chassis through the opening and stores residual toner, a connector, and a feed roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet in the feeding path. The feed roller is arranged in a position to at least partially fall within a vertical range of the waste toner container and to be aligned with the waste toner container along an axial direction of the second feed roller.
US08989626B2 Image forming apparatus having a movement mechanism for reducing interference of an opening and closing member with a transfer body
An image forming apparatus having an apparatus body includes an image carrying body carrying an image, a transfer body which is provided in the apparatus body and to which the image is transferred, a first opening and closing member, a second opening and closing member, and a movement mechanism. The first opening and closing member is rotatable so as to open and close an opening of the apparatus body. The transfer body is detachable from the apparatus body through the opening. The second opening and closing member, which is displaceable relative to the first opening and closing member, together with the first opening and closing member opens and closes the opening in conjunction with opening and closing operations of the first opening and closing member. The movement mechanism causes the second opening and closing member to move in a direction away from the transfer body.
US08989619B2 Image forming apparatus having transfer belt contact and separating mechanism interfering with removable unit
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier removably installed in the apparatus to carry an image; a transfer member contacting with the image carrier to transfer the image onto the transfer member or a recording medium; a contact and separation mechanism causing the transfer member to contact with or separate from the image carrier; and a removable unit removably installed in the apparatus from the same direction as an installation direction of the image carrier to be disposed proximal of the image carrier and the transfer member in the installation direction, and at least partially overlapping the image carrier and the transfer member as viewed in the installation direction. The removable unit interferes with the contact and separation mechanism and is prevented from being installed in the apparatus, when the transfer member is separated from the image carrier by the contact and separation mechanism.
US08989618B2 Cleaning member for image forming apparatus, charging device, unit for image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A cleaning member for an image forming apparatus includes a core member, a foamed elastic layer in which two or more strip-shaped foamed elastic members connected together at one or both of longitudinal end portions are spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core member from one end of the core member to the other end thereof, and an adhesive layer for bonding the core member and the foamed elastic layer together.
US08989617B2 Printer internal climate control
In one example, a climate control system for a printer includes: an air flow path from an intake for receiving warmer, dirtier aft from a printing area of the printer to an exhaust for returning cooler, cleaner air to the printing area of the printer; a first heat exchanger in the flow path for exchanging heat between warmer air coming from the intake and cooler air going to the exhaust; and a second heat exchanger in the flow path for receiving warmer, dirtier air from the first heat exchanger and passing cooler, cleaner air to the first heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger is configured to cool the air to a predetermined dew point temperature corresponding to a desired level of a contaminant in the air.
US08989616B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes first and second image bearing drums; first and second developing devices for forming a toner image on the drums; an intermediary transfer member for carrying images transferred front the drums and secondary transferring the toner image onto a recording material; a heater for heating the recording material; an executing portion for executing a first mode for forming a toner image on the intermediary transfer member from both drums and a second mode for forming a toner image on the intermediary transfer member only from the second drum; a temperature detecting portion; a fan; a controller for controlling the fan based on a detected temperature; a setting portion for setting a temperature at which an air feed amount of the fan is increased in the second mode is lower than a temperature at which the all feed amount is increased in the first mode.
US08989613B2 Power supply device and image forming apparatus
The power supply device includes a transformer, a switching unit for driving a primary side of the transformer, a detection unit for detecting an output corresponding to a current flowing on the primary side, a transmission unit for transmitting an output voltage from a secondary side to the primary side, and a control unit for controlling an operation of the switching unit in accordance with an output from the transmission unit, in which, when a switching frequency for driving the switching unit falls within a predetermined frequency range including a resonant frequency of the transformer, the control unit controls the switching unit so as to shorten a turn-ON time of the switching unit in accordance with an output from the detection unit.
US08989605B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of white reference plates, a plurality of measurement units configured to be arranged in positions opposed to the respective plurality of white reference plates, irradiate the white reference plates with light, and measure reflected light from the white reference plates, and a determination unit configured to determine an abnormality of the plurality of white reference plates by using respective measurement results measured by the plurality of measurement units.
US08989601B2 Driver for multi-stage wave guide modulator and method
A modular hub driver architecture may include a multi-delay block configured to provide an enhanced delay match among N distinct stages of a distributed modulating electro-optical interface core. The electro-optical multi-core modulator driver may include an input impedance matching stage and a pre-conditioning circuit configured to generate a number M, an integer divisor of N, of delayed replicas of an electrical modulating signal. The electro-optical multi-core modulator may include an array of M launch buffers of the replica signals, and an array of M multi-delay blocks, each including delay circuit modules differently cascaded on distinct signal paths, and configured to receive, at respective inputs, the M replica signals and to output N/M differently delayed replicas of the input signals, each driving a correspondent output stage of one on the N electro-optical interface cores.
US08989593B2 Frequency domain clock recovery
Consistent with an aspect of the present disclosure, an optical signal carrying data or information is supplied to photodetector circuitry that generates a corresponding analog signal. The analog signal may be amplified or otherwise processed and supplied to analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuitry, which samples the analog signal to provide a plurality of digital signals or samples. The timing of such sampling is in accordance with a clock signal supplied to the ADC circuitry. A phase detector is provided that detects and adjust the clock signal to have a desired phase based on frequency domain data that is output from a Fast Fourier transform (FFT) circuit that receives the digital samples. Preferably, the phase detector circuit is configured such that it need not receive all the frequency domain data output from the FFT at any given time in order to determine the clock phase. Rather, a subset of such data is supplied to the phase detector circuit, such that the phase detector has a simpler design, operates faster, and is computationally efficient.
US08989592B2 Optical fiber transmission system
An optical fiber transmission system adapted to provide a remote passive identification of components deployed in said transmission system, wherein each component comprises an associated passive optical identification unit adapted to provide identification of a component type of the respective component on the basis of a received optical identification signature carried in an optical identification signal to said component.
US08989589B2 Method and apparatus for testing using a transceiver module
An apparatus in one embodiment includes a transceiver housing operable to be inserted into a port of a host system, the port comprising at least a first channel and a second channel. The transceiver housing may be a compact small form-factor (SFP) pluggable module housing. The apparatus also includes a printed circuit board mounted in the transceiver housing and an electrical interface of the printed circuit board operable to interface with the port of the host system. The electrical interface includes a first transmit pin and a first receive pin configured to interface with the first channel of the port and a second transmit pin and a second receive pin configured to interface with the second channel of the port. A first connector couples the first transmit pin and the second receive pin, and a second connector couples the second transmit pin and the first receive pin.
US08989587B2 Operational state information generation in an optical transceiver
Methods, algorithms, architectures, circuits, and/or systems for determining the status of parameters associated with optical transceiver operation are disclosed. The method can include (a) accessing and/or monitoring parametric data for each of a plurality of parameters that are related to operation of the optical transceiver; (b) storing the parametric data in one or more memories; (c) comparing the parametric data for each of the plurality of parameters against at least one of a corresponding plurality of predetermined thresholds; and (d) generating one or more states indicating whether the parametric data for a unique one of the parameters has crossed one or more of the corresponding plurality of predetermined thresholds. The invention also relates to an optical triplexer, comprising the described optical transceiver.
US08989585B2 Free space optical communications link node, network and method of transmitting traffic
A free space optical communications link node 10 comprising transmitter apparatus 12 comprising a first optical transmitter 14, arranged to transmit high priority traffic on a first upstream optical signal having a first wavelength and at a first optical signal power, and a second optical transmitter 16 arranged to transmit low priority traffic on a second upstream optical signal having a second wavelength, different to the first wavelength, and at a second optical signal power. The node 10 further comprises receiver apparatus 18 comprising a first optical amplifier 20 arranged to receive and amplify a first downstream optical signal having a third wavelength and carrying high priority traffic and a second downstream optical signal having a fourth wavelength, different to the third wavelength, and carrying low priority traffic. The node 10 further comprises traffic handling control apparatus 22 comprises a power monitor 24 arranged to monitor an optical signal power of the first downstream optical signal and a controller 26 arranged to generate and transmit a control signal 28 if said optical signal power is below a first threshold value. The control signal is arranged to cause the second optical signal power to have a value which is unsuitable for transmission.
US08989582B2 Timing interface module with daughter timing reference modules
A timing interface module installs within a rack to increase bandwidth. The timing interface module receives a reference timing signal and outputs the reference timing signal to an optical multiplexer. The optical multiplexer also receives multiple data streams of different formats, and the optical multiplexer synchronizes the multiple data streams to the reference timing signal.
US08989577B2 Methods and systems for implementing time-division duplexing in the physical layer
A physical-layer device includes a first sublayer to receive a first continuous bitstream from a media-independent interface and to provide a second continuous bitstream to the media-independent interface. The physical-layer device also includes a second sublayer to transmit first signals corresponding to the first continuous bitstream onto an external link during a first plurality of time windows and to receive second signals corresponding to the second continuous bitstream from the external link during a second plurality of time windows. The second plurality of time windows is distinct from the first plurality of time windows.
US08989576B2 Device and method for processing an optical signal
A method of processing optical signal (TE) whose power (PE) varies in a random manner in a range of variation of power (ΔPE) around a mean power (PEφ), the processing of the optical signal (TE) generating processing noise (GELECTRONIC), characterized in that the relative variation of power (GE) of at least a temporal part at said optical signal (TE) is optically amplified.
US08989573B2 Sensing apparatus
A sensing apparatus includes: a broadband optical source; a first pseudorandom number generator generating a first pseudorandom number code string to modulate the broadband optical source; at least one sensor reflecting an output of the first pseudorandom number generator at a wavelength corresponding to a center wavelength thereof when the output of the first pseudorandom number generator is inputted; a wavelength-time converter converting an output of the sensor by wavelength-time conversion; a second pseudorandom number generator generating a second pseudorandom number code string which is different in frequency from and is the same in bit length and code string as the first pseudorandom number code string; a mixer mixing an output signal of the wavelength-time converter with an output signal of the second pseudorandom number generator; and an integrator integrating an output of the mixer.
US08989566B2 Heating pump
A heating pump includes a motor, a housing fixed to the motor, an impeller driven by the motor and received in the housing, and a tubular heating member fixed in the housing. The housing includes an intake tube and a discharge port arranged at the periphery of the intake tube. The impeller includes an inlet communicating with the intake tube and a plurality of outlets around the inlet. The outlets communicate with the discharge port via a first passage surrounded by the heating member. A second passage, which communicates with the first passage, is formed between a radially outer surface of the heating member and a radially inner surface of the housing.
US08989565B2 Multistage furnace
The invention provides a compact multistage furnace of which the installation area in a factory is decreased. A multistage furnace is configured by piling up a plurality of furnace units in the vertical direction. Each of the furnace units includes an upper heater and a lower heater layered in the vertical direction and holding a heat insulator therebetween, a support pipe disposed on one end of the upper heater and extending in the horizontal direction, a support pipe disposed on other end of the upper heater and extending in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of work support bars mounted over the support pipes. The back surface of a work supported by the work support bars is opposed to the upper heater and the front surface of the work is opposed to the lower heater of the adjacent furnace unit disposed above.
US08989564B2 Multimedia visual progress indication system
A position indicator is displayed in a vicinity of a visual indicator to a user the visual indicator visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back. The position indicator visually indicates a current playback position within the available amount of program material. In response to receiving a single user command, the position indicator is placed in a new current playback position over the visual indicator. The new current playback position visually represents an end position of the visual indicator.
US08989562B2 Facilitating concurrent recording of multiple television channels
An arrangement for grouping multiple television channels for recording is presented. Television channel usage data indicative of television programs being requested by users of the television receivers may be received. The television channel usage data may provide usage data for television channels being transmitted using a plurality of transponders. The television channel usage data may be analyzed to determine a grouping of television channels. Based on the television channel usage data, a television channel may be reassigned from a first transponder to a second transponder for transmission to the plurality of television receivers such that the grouping of television channels are transmitted using the second transponder.
US08989559B2 Video importance rating based on compressed domain video features
Systems and methods are provided for identifying important video frames and segments in multimedia content such as a segmented compressed domain video. Video frames in a segment are analyzed to determine intensity, contrast, and motion values for the frames and their segments. The values among frames and segments are compared to identify one or more video segments likely to be important to a viewer. The systems and methods may additionally be augmented with audio data other characteristics associated with the video frames and segments analyzed.
US08989556B2 Recording medium, playback device, recording device, and recording method
On a recording medium, a monoscopic video specific section and a stereoscopic video specific section are continuous immediately after an extended data specific section. A shared section includes a continuous, interleaved arrangement having one each of main-view extents, sub-view extents, and extended extents. The stereoscopic video specific section includes a continuous, interleaved arrangement of extents having one each of the main-view extents and the sub-view extents. The monoscopic video specific section includes a continuous arrangement of a copy of the main-view extent arranged in the stereoscopic video specific section. The extended data specific section includes one of the extended extents that is to be used in combination with the copy of the main-view extent arranged in the monoscopic video specific section. The shared section is accessed when stereoscopic video images are played back, when monoscopic video images are played back, and when an extended stream is used. The stereoscopic video specific section is accessed during playback of the stereoscopic video images. The monoscopic video specific section is accessed during playback of the monoscopic video images. The extended data specific section and the monoscopic video specific section are accessed when the extended stream is read, immediately before or after a long jump.
US08989553B2 Video processing system and video processing method
A video processing system includes: a merge server configured to decode a plurality of individual videos provided from video providing units, encode the plurality of individual videos by adjusting an amount of data of each of the individual videos to generate a preliminary video, and provide the preliminary video; a display server configured to receive the preliminary video and configure final videos according to output conditions of a display device; and a control server configured to receive the output conditions from the display server and transfer an output control signal with respect to the preliminary video to the merge server. When a user wants, individual videos provided from the plurality of video providing units can be displayed on a display device without sacrificing resolution and a frame rate, and since videos can be zoomed in/out and panned in real time, operational responsiveness and usage efficiency of the video processing system can be enhanced.
US08989552B2 Multi device audio capture
At a master device are registered one or more other devices associated with one or more audio channels for recording at least one acoustic signal from one or more sound sources. The at least one acoustic signal is recorded using at least one of the master device and one or more other devices, and the at least one recorded acoustic signal is either collected by at least one of the master device and the one or more other devices, or transmitted to another entity by at least one of the master device and the one or more other devices. In the examples the registration assigns audio and/or video channels to different microphones of the different devices. In one embodiment these different recordings are mixed at the master device and in another they are mixed at a web server into a multi-channel audio/sound (or audio-video) file.
US08989551B2 Captioned video playback apparatus and recording medium
Disclosed is a captioned video playback apparatus comprising a storage unit that stores a caption signal defining a plurality of caption lines and a video signal defining a plurality of video images in association with a playback timing; a caption select unit that selects one of the plurality of caption lines defined by the caption signal stored in the storage unit; a caption playback unit that plays back the caption line selected by the caption select unit; a video playback unit that plays back the video signal stored in the storage unit; and a mode changeover unit that changes between a caption view mode for playing back a caption line selected by the caption select unit and a video image corresponding to the caption line using the caption playback unit and the video playback unit, and a normal view mode for playing back a video image using the video playback unit.
US08989550B2 Cable anchoring system for a fiber optic enclosure
A cable sealing and cable anchoring system has a primary sealant assembly that includes a primary volume of sealant that defines primary through-ports. The primary sealant assembly includes a primary actuator for pressurizing the primary volume of sealant. The system also has a secondary cable tube that mounts within one of the primary cable through-ports and a secondary cable sealant assembly that mounts within a first end of the secondary cable tube. The secondary cable sealant assembly includes a secondary sealant volume that defines secondary cable through-ports. The secondary cable sealant assembly also includes a secondary actuator for pressurizing the secondary sealant volume. The system further has a cable anchoring assembly for anchoring a strength member of a secondary cable to the secondary cable tube. The cable anchoring assembly is supported by the secondary cable tube adjacent the second end of the secondary cable tube.
US08989548B2 Connection box for glass fiber cables
The invention relates to a connecting box (1) for glass fiber cables, comprising a housing which is formed from at least two parts and has a lower part and a cover (2), with at least one holder (20) for a coupling (30) for holding glass fiber plugs being arranged within the housing, wherein the holder (20) is in the form of a double frame which comprises two first vertical struts (21) and two second vertical struts (22), with the second struts (22) being arranged closely to a front face (5, 40) of the cover (2) and of the lower part (3), and with the coupling (30) optionally being latchable to the first or the second struts (21, 22).
US08989541B2 Cable and dual inner diameter ferrule device with smooth internal contours and method
A fiber optic ferrule includes a body extending from a first end to a second opposite end, with the body including an axial passage extending between the first and the second ends. The axial passage includes a first diameter portion having a diameter of at least 125 microns, a second diameter portion having a diameter of at least 250 microns and less than a diameter of a buffer, and a smooth and continuous transition between the first and the second diameter portions. The second diameter portion is positioned between the first diameter portion and the second end. The axial passage further defines a tapered shape at the second end extending inward from the second end toward the second diameter portion. In certain embodiments, another smooth and continuous transition can be provided between the taper shape and the second diameter portion. In certain embodiments, the axial passage is smooth and continuous between the first and the second ends of the body. A hub holds the ferrule. A method of assembling a terminated fiber optic cable is also provided.
US08989535B2 Multiple waveguide imaging structure
In embodiments of a multiple waveguide imaging structure, an imaging structure includes a first waveguide for see-through viewing of an environment at a first field of view, and includes a second waveguide for see-through viewing of the environment at a second field of view. The first and second waveguides each include a polarizing beam splitter to reflect light that enters at a first polarization orientation angle in the respective first and second waveguides, and the polarizing beam splitters pass through the light that enters at a second polarization orientation angle. The imaging structure also includes a polarization switch to rotate the polarization of the light through the first and second polarization orientation angles.
US08989533B2 Apparatus and method for generating femtosecond pulses via temporal soliton compression in photonic crystals
Exemplary embodiments of an apparatus, method, and computer readable medium are provided for producing a radiation. For example, a radiation having at least one pulse with a pulse-width of less than approximately 30 picoseconds can be produced using a photonic crystal waveguide arrangement which is (i) specifically structured and sized so as to be placed on an integrated circuit, and (ii) configured to produce the radiation having at least one pulse with a pulse-width of less than approximately 30 picoseconds.
US08989529B2 Printed circuit board for optical waveguides and method of manufacturing same
Disclosed herein is a printed circuit board for an optical waveguide, including: a lower substrate; an insulation layer which has a through-hole and is formed on the lower substrate; an optical waveguide which is formed in the through-hole such that a clearance is present between the optical wave guide and an inner wall of the through-hole; and an adhesive material which is charged in the clearance. The printed circuit board for an optical waveguide is advantageous in that a lower clad material, a core material and an upper clad material are sequentially applied on the lower substrate partially, not entirely, based on the region in which a core is formed, and is then patterned to form an optical waveguide, so that the amounts of the lower and upper clad materials and the core material, which are used to form the optical waveguide, can be greatly decreased.
US08989527B2 Method and system for determining the location of a fiber optic channel along the length of a fiber optic cable
The location of one or more fiber optic channels (16) along the length of a fiber optic cable (12) is determined by: a) arranging an electrical conductor and a magnetic source at a known location adjacent to at least one of the channels (16); b) transmitting an electrical current through the electrical conductor, thereby deforming the electrical conductor by Lorenz forces in the vicinity of the magnetic source; c) conveying the deformation of the electrical conductor to deform an adjacent channel (16); d) transmitting light pulses through the fiber optic cable (12) and using variations in the light pulses back reflected by the deformed channel (16) and the known location of the magnetic source to determine the location of the deformed channel (16).
US08989526B2 Raman amplification in distributed optical fiber sensing systems
A method of providing Raman amplification in an optical fiber sensing system, comprises generating a probe pulse of light and launching the pulse into a sensing optical fiber, generating pump light at a shorter wavelength and modulating it to produce a time-varying intensity profile, and launching the pump light into the sensing fiber. such that the intensity of the launched pump light during launch of the probe pulse is different from the intensity at other times. Raman amplification of backscattered light produced by the probe pulse as it propagates along the fiber is achieved, as is amplification of the probe pulse if the pump power is non-zero during launch of the probe pulse.
US08989522B2 Isolation of components on optical device
The optical device includes an active component on a base. The active component is a light sensor and/or a light modulator. The active component including an active medium that includes a ridge and slab regions. The ridge extends upwards from the base and is positioned between the slab regions. The ridge defines a portion of a waveguide on the base. One or more isolation trenches each extends into the slab regions of the active medium and is at least partially spaced apart from the ridge of the active medium.
US08989521B1 Determination of dance steps based on media content
Methods and systems for determining dance steps based on music and/or other dancers. A wearable computing system may include a head mounted display (HMD). The wearable computing system may receive a media sample including an audio sample associated with a song and/or a video sample associated with one or more dancers performing a dance. The wearable computing system may communicate the media sample to a content analysis server that may include a content identification module. The content identification module may provide information associated with a content of the media sample, such as identification of the song and the dance, to the wearable computing system. The wearable computing system may determine dance steps corresponding to the content of the media sample and may generate a display of the dance steps on the HMD.
US08989519B2 Super resolution from a single signal
A method implementable on a computing device includes exploiting data redundancy to combine high frequency information from at least two different scales of an input signal to generate a super resolution version of said input signal. An alternative method includes exploiting recurrence of data from an input signal in at least two different scales of at least one reference signal to extract and to combine high frequency information from a plurality of scales of said at least one reference signal to generate a super resolution version of said input signal. An alternative method includes generating a super resolution version of a single input video sequence in at least the temporal dimension by exploiting data recurrence within the input video sequence or with respect to an external database of example video sequences. A signal may be an image, a video sequence, an audio signal, etc.
US08989516B2 Image processing method and apparatus
An image processing apparatus is arranged to process a first relatively underexposed and sharp image of a scene, and a second relatively well exposed and blurred image, nominally of the same scene, the first and second images being derived from respective image sources. The apparatus provides a portion of the relatively first underexposed image as an input signal to an adaptive filter; and a corresponding portion of the second relatively well exposed image as a desired signal to the adaptive filter. The adaptive filter produces an output signal from the input signal and the desired signal; and an image generator constructs a first filtered image from the output signal, relatively less blurred than the second image.
US08989515B2 Systems and methods for mobile image capture and processing
In various embodiments, methods, systems, and computer program products for processing digital images captured by a mobile device are disclosed. Myriad features enable and/or facilitate processing of such digital images using a mobile device that would otherwise be technically impossible or impractical, and furthermore address unique challenges presented by images captured using a camera rather than a traditional flat-bed scanner, paper-feed scanner or multifunction peripheral.
US08989514B2 Method and system for image analysis and interpretation
A method is provided that includes identifying a plurality of data sets, each data set is associated with a distribution model and each data set is associated with an image having a first noise level. The method includes partitioning the data sets into a plurality of groups and generating a best representative estimate for each group, the estimate is associated with a second noise level that is less than the first noise level. The method further includes annotating each group and receiving an input data set. The method includes assigning the input data set to a group and annotating the input data set according to that group's annotation.
US08989508B2 Electronic device for signaling a sub-picture buffer parameter
An electronic device for sending a message is described. The electronic device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The electronic device determines whether a picture is allowed to be decoded on a sub-picture level. If the picture is allowed to be decoded on a sub-picture level, the electronic device generates at least one of a buffer size parameter and a buffer scale parameter. The electronic device sends at least one of the buffer size parameter and the buffer scale parameter.
US08989507B2 Bitmap compression for fast searches and updates
Bitmap compression for fast searches and updates is provided. Compressing a bitmap includes receiving a bitmap to compress, and reading the bitmap to determine a value of a bit location for all bits in the bitmap. In one embodiment, a compressed bitmap is created by encoding a variable number of bytes to represent a distance between adjacent 1s in the uncompressed bitmap. In another embodiment, a compressed bitmap is created by representing a distance between adjacent 1s in the uncompressed bitmap using a plurality of bits, and encoding a marker word to indicate the number of bits used to represent the distance.
US08989506B1 Incremental image processing pipeline for matching multiple photos based on image overlap
Systems, methods, and computer storage mediums are provided for matching multiple photographs together. An example method includes receiving a first collection of photographic images. The photographic images in the first collection are clustered into one or more composite sets of photographic images based on a comparison of the metadata associated with each photographic image in the first collection meeting a predetermined similarity threshold. An image overlap is determined between each photographic image within each of the one or composite sets of photographic images. When the image overlap exceeds a predetermined image overlap threshold, a pair of photographic images are matched, for all of the photographic images within each composite set of photographic images to form one or more composite images.
US08989503B2 Identifying scene boundaries using group sparsity analysis
A method for identifying a set of key video frames from a video sequence comprising extracting feature vectors for each video frame and applying a group sparsity algorithm to represent the feature vector for a particular video frame as a group sparse combination of the feature vectors for the other video frames. Weighting coefficients associated with the group sparse combination are analyzed to determine video frame clusters of temporally-contiguous, similar video frames. The video sequence is segmented into scenes by identifying scene boundaries based on the determined video frame clusters.
US08989497B2 Handwritten character input device, remote device, and electronic information terminal
A handwritten character input device includes a correction amount computation unit which performs, when a characteristic value of handwritten characters input to a designated character writing area of a template image by a handwriting input operation of a user does not meet predetermined character writing requirements, a computation process that computes a correction amount of the characteristic value required to meet the character writing requirements; and a corrected handwritten character information output unit which outputs information of after-correction handwritten characters generated based on the correction amount computed by the correction amount computation unit, the characteristic value of the after-correction handwritten characters meeting the character writing requirements.
US08989496B2 Electronic apparatus and handwritten document processing method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a display processor, and a correction calculator. The display processor is configured to display strokes corresponding to coordinates of loci of contact points on a display. The correction calculator is configured to calculate a correction direction and a correction quantity to correct a coordinate, by using a position of a first handwritten character recognizable from the strokes and a position of a second handwritten character recognizable from the strokes.
US08989495B2 Capturing metadata on set using a smart pen
Capturing metadata, including: a data capture device, wherein the data capture device captures notes made by a user and stores the notes as captured data; a data ingest computer, including a connection interface to connect to the data capture device and receive the captured data from the data capture device, and a data conversion component to convert the captured data to formatted data; and a data repository, connected to the data ingest computer, wherein the data repository is connected to a network. Keywords include smart pen and on set metadata acquisition.
US08989491B2 Method and system for preprocessing the region of video containing text
A method and system for preprocessing text containing region of a video The invention provides a method and system for preprocessing the text containing region of video for improving the optical character recognition input.
US08989488B2 Method for establishing an evaluation standard parameter and method for evaluating the quality of a display image
The present invention discloses a method for establishing an evaluation standard parameter and method for evaluating the quality of a display image, wherein, the method comprises: taking pictures to a group of test images having different color shift severity degrees to obtain a sample picture group; selecting a standard picture by human eye; applying the Fourier transform for the brightness of the pictures of the sample picture group; applying convolution to the frequency distribution function and a contrast sensitivity function of human eye in the frequency domain; normalizing to the convolution function to obtain an evaluation parameter; selecting the evaluation parameter of the standard picture from the evaluation parameters of all the pictures of the sample picture group as an evaluation standard parameter. The present invention can obtain more objective and systemic evaluation standard parameter.
US08989483B2 Method and apparatus for inferring the geographic location of captured scene depictions
A method and apparatus for determining a geographic location of a scene in a captured depiction comprising extracting a first set of features from the captured depiction by algorithmically analyzing the captured depiction, matching the extracted features of the captured depiction against a second set of extracted features associated with reference depictions with known geographic locations and when the matching is successful, identifying the geographic location of the scene in the captured depiction based on a known geographic location of a matching reference depiction from the reference depictions.
US08989482B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes an attention region estimation unit that estimates an attention region which is estimated as a user paying attention thereto on a stereoscopic image, a parallax detection unit that detects a parallax of the stereoscopic image and generates a parallax map indicating a parallax of each region of the stereoscopic image, a setting unit that sets conversion characteristics for correcting a parallax of the stereoscopic image based on the attention region and the parallax map, and a parallax conversion unit that corrects the parallax map based on the conversion characteristics.
US08989481B2 Stereo matching device and method for determining concave block and convex block
A stereo matching device used in a stereoscopic display system for determining a concave block and a convex block is provided. The stereo matching device comprises a receiving module for receiving a first and a second view-angle frames, a computation module, a feature extraction module and an estimation module. The computation module generates a disparity map having disparity entries respectively corresponding to blocks of the first view-angle frame. The feature extraction module generates feature maps each having feature entries respectively corresponding to the blocks. The estimation module comprises a reliability computation unit for computing a feature reliability of each of the blocks based on the feature maps and a comparator unit for filtering out unqualified blocks according to at least one reliability threshold to generate a plurality of candidate blocks and further determining the concave block and the convex block.
US08989480B2 Method, computer-readable medium and apparatus estimating disparity of three view images
Provided is a method, computer-readable medium apparatus that may estimate a disparity of three view images. A global matching may be performed to calculate a global path by performing a dynamic programming on the three view images, and a local matching for supplementing an occlusion region of the calculated global path may be performed, and thereby a disparity estimation of the three view images may be performed.
US08989479B2 Region based virtual fourier filter
The present invention includes searching imagery data in order to identify one or more patterned regions on a semiconductor wafer, generating one or more virtual Fourier filter (VFF) working areas, acquiring an initial set of imagery data from the VFF working areas, defining VFF training blocks within the identified patterned regions of the VFF working areas utilizing the initial set of imagery data, wherein each VFF training block is defined to encompass a portion of the identified patterned region displaying a selected repeating pattern, calculating an initial spectrum for each VFF training block utilizing the initial set of imagery data from the VFF training blocks, and generating a VFF for each training block by identifying frequencies of the initial spectrum having maxima in the frequency domain, wherein the VFF is configured to null the magnitude of the initial spectrum at the frequencies identified to display spectral maxima.
US08989476B2 Device for automatically rapidly analyzing biological cells and related method thereof
A method for automatically rapidly analyzing biological cells includes continuously capturing a plurality of image frames of a suspension including a plurality of biological cells according to a predetermined time interval within a predetermined time using a low-magnification optical image amplification device of a image capture device; transmitting each of the plurality of image frames to an operation processing device; the operation processing device utilizing an image identification technology to detect a number of the plurality of biological cells in an image frame and a static data of each biological cell of the plurality of biological cells according to at least one parameter; and the operation processing device generating a dynamic data of each biological cell in the image frame according to the static data of each biological cell in the image frame and the static data of each biological cell of a previous image frame.
US08989475B2 Imaging and evaluating embryos, oocytes, and stem cells
Methods, compositions and kits for determining the developmental potential of one or more embryos or pluripotent cells and/or the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in one or more embryos or pluripotent cells are provided. These methods, compositions and kits find use in identifying embryos and oocytes in vitro that are most useful in treating infertility in humans.
US08989473B2 Medical imaging apparatus and medical image diagnosis apparatus
An X-ray diagnosis apparatus displays X-ray moving images by irradiating a subject with X-rays and detecting X-rays that have penetrated the subject, and includes a selection mechanism and a display. The selection mechanism selects images of high importance from among the X-ray moving images based on working-state information related to the working state of the operator performing surgery on the subject. The display list displays the selected images as thumbnails.
US08989472B2 Method for simulating thoracic 4DCT
Four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT) is simulated by first generating a surface mesh from a single thoracic CT scan. Tetrahedralization is applied to the surface mesh to obtain a first volume mesh. Finite element analysis, using boundary constraints and load definitions, is applied to the first volume mesh to obtain a lung deformation according to an Ogden model. Constrained tetrahedralization, using control points, is applied to the lung deformation to obtain a second volume mesh, which is then deformed using mass-spring-damper simulation to produces the 4DCT.
US08989471B2 Method and system for automatic rib centerline extraction using learning based deformable template matching
A method and system for extracting rib centerlines in a 3D volume, such as a 3D computed tomography (CT) volume, is disclosed. Rib centerline voxels are detected in the 3D volume using a learning based detector. Rib centerlines or the whole rib cage are then extracted by matching a template of rib centerlines for the whole rib cage to the 3D volume based on the detected rib centerline voxels. Each of the extracted rib centerlines are then individually refined using an active contour model.
US08989466B2 Systems and methods for monitoring the amplification and dissociation behavior of DNA molecules
The present invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring the amplification of DNA molecules and the dissociation behavior of the DNA molecules.
US08989463B2 Localization and tracking of cryo-balloon during interventional fluoroscopy imaging
A method for the detection of a balloon catheter within a fluoroscopic image, including: removing noise from a fluoroscopic image; detecting edges of a balloon catheter in the fluoroscopic image, wherein the detected edges include subsets of connected edges; extracting an edge subset from the subsets of connected edges; fitting a model to the extracted edge subset; removing outliers of the extracted edge subset based on the fitting of the model; adding the extracted edge subset without the outlier to a data set; repeating the extracting, fitting, removing and adding steps for the remainder of the subsets of connected edges; and fitting the model to the data set, wherein the data set is indicative of the balloon catheter.
US08989459B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing program product, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a suspected-lesion-region extracting unit that extracts a suspected lesion region from an in-vivo image that is obtained by taking an image of inside of body; a groove determining unit that determines whether the suspected lesion region is a region corresponding to a shadow of a groove that is formed between in-vivo organ walls; and a lesion-region extracting unit that extracts a lesion region using the suspected lesion region and a result of determination by the groove determining unit.
US08989458B2 Image diagnosis support system and image diagnosis support method
There is disclosed an image diagnosis support system which acquires a medical image from a medical image imaging unit, generates object information on the medical image, stores the medical image and the object information in a data storage unit and a database, stores case information for each patient based on the object information in correspondence with a case name and information of the medical image in an information table, collects the case information for each patient read from the information table in correspondence with the case name in accordance with a conference instruction and the medical image read from the data storage unit and the database in accordance with the information of the medical image, respectively, as conference information by a conference information display•feedback section to display the same, and feeds back a conference result based on display contents to the information table.
US08989457B2 Angiographic examination method
An angiographic examination method of an examination object for determining the morphology, histology and/or state of moving walls of vessels is disclosed. A series of angiography images of a section of interest of a vessel is disclosed. A quantitative analysis of the vascular wall of the section of the vessel is provided. The inherent motion of the vascular wall from two consecutive angiography images in each instance is calculated. The difference of the inherent motion of the vascular wall is visualized and/or the morphology and/or histology of the vascular wall is visualized.
US08989454B2 Sales data processing apparatus and computer-readable storage medium
A sales data processing apparatus which registers and processes sales data on a transaction-by-transaction basis. The apparatus includes: an imaging module that images a customer who is waiting for registration; a manipulation determination module that determines whether or not a prescribed one of a series of manipulations for registration of sales data of one transaction was performed; and a generation module that generates customer identification image data based on an image taken by the imaging module if the manipulation determination module determines that the prescribed manipulation was performed.
US08989452B2 Method for authenticating identity of handset user
A method for authenticating the identity of a handset user is provided. The method includes: obtaining, a login account and a password from the user; judging whether the login account and the password are correct; if the login account or the password is incorrect, refusing the user to access an operating system of the handset; if the login account and the password are correct, sending the login account and the password to a cloud server, wherein the login account and the password correspond to a face sample image library of the user stored on the cloud server; acquiring an input face image of the user; sending the input face image to the cloud server; authenticating, by the cloud server, the identity of the user according to the login account, the password and the input face image.
US08989448B2 Moving object detecting device, moving object detecting method, moving object detection program, moving object tracking device, moving object tracking method, and moving object tracking program
A moving object detecting device 1 that detects a moving object by using an image includes a motion degree obtaining portion 11 that obtains a motion degree of a pixel between image frames, a color obtaining portion 13 that obtains the color of the pixel included in the image frame, an evaluation score calculating portion 14 that calculates an evaluation score indicating a motion level of the color on the basis of the motion degree for each color obtained by the color obtaining portion, and a moving object detecting portion 15 that detects the moving object on the basis of the evaluation score for each color.
US08989441B2 Data acquisition method and device for motion recognition, motion recognition system and computer readable storage medium
A data acquisition method and device for motion recognition, a motion recognition system and a computer readable storage medium are disclosed. The data acquisition device for motion recognition comprises: an initial motion recognition module adapted to perform an initial recognition with respect to motion data collected by a sensor and provide motion data describing a predefined range around a motion trigger point to a data storage module for storage; a data storage module adapted to store motion data provided from the initial motion recognition module; and a communications module adapted to forward the motion data stored in the data storage module to a motion computing device for motion recognition. The present invention makes an initial selection to the motion data to be transmitted to the motion computing device under the same sampling rate. Consequently, the present invention reduces pressures on wireless channel transmission and wireless power consumption, and provides high accuracy in motion recognition while providing motion data at the same sampling rate.
US08989440B2 System and method of room decoration for use with a mobile device
The present disclosure includes systems and computer-implemented methods for redesigning rooms in a house using digital image analysis. The analysis includes defining room parameters based on the architectural shape of the room as determined from an analysis of the walls, ceiling, windows, and doors, performing a room size calibration and defining an empty 3D room. Using the analyzed digital image, redesign can progress with selecting types of inner surfaces of the room from a pre-defined collection of architectural shapes, selecting types of furniture in the room, and selecting types of lighting. Then, a 3D model of the redesigned room is generated wherein the architectural shape is in the form of 2D and wherein the 2D image has an associated 3D image. At least one image of the redesigned 3D room may be generated and stored, and may be transmitted to a receiver wherein the corresponding showroom picture is displayed.
US08989433B2 Paper sheet recognition apparatus and paper sheet recognition method
Provided is a paper sheet recognition device for recognizing a fitness and authenticity of paper sheets, by which recognition of types, authenticity, and fitness of paper sheets can be effectively performed even in the case where a large number of features should be evaluated. The paper sheet recognition device is provided with a paper sheet information acquisition unit which acquires paper sheet information which is the information relating to paper sheets, a type recognition unit which recognizes the types of the paper sheets on the basis of the paper sheet information, a fitness recognition unit which recognizes fitness of the paper sheets on the basis of the paper sheet information, and an authenticity recognition unit which recognizes the authenticity of the paper sheets on the basis of the paper sheet information, wherein the fitness recognition process of the paper sheets by the fitness recognition unit and the authenticity recognition process of the paper sheets by the authenticity recognition unit are performed in parallel.
US08989431B1 Ad hoc paper-based networking with mixed media reality
A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques are disclosed. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). The present invention provides a system, method, and computer program product for creating an ad hoc association between users. Captured digital images of paper documents or portions associated with a user are received. Document recognition features are extracted from the captured digital image. An ad hoc association is created between the user and another user associated with an existing document recognition feature similar to the extracted document recognition features.
US08989422B2 Microphone unit and voice input device comprising same
A microphone unit (1) comprises a first vibrating part (14), a second vibrating part (15), and a housing (20) for accommodating the first vibrating part (14) and the second vibrating part (15), the housing being provided with a first sound hole (132), a second sound hole (101), and a third sound hole (133). The housing (20) is provided with a first sound path (41) for transmitting sound pressure inputted from the first sound hole (132) to one surface (142a) of a first diaphragm (142) and to one surface (152a) of a second diaphragm (152), a second sound path (42) for transmitting sound pressure inputted from the second sound hole (101) to the other surface (142b) of the first diaphragm (142), and a third sound path (43) for transmitting sound pressure inputted from the third sound hole (133) to the other surface (152b) of the second diaphragm (152).
US08989421B2 Noise preventing gooseneck microphone
A gooseneck microphone has a configuration capable of preventing both of the occurrence of noise caused by extraneous electromagnetic waves and the occurrence of noise caused by electric discharge when touched. The gooseneck microphone includes a microphone unit having an electrostatic acousto-electric converter and a metal unit casing; a unit holder having a circuit board mounted with an impedance converter electrically connected to an output side of the acousto-electric converter, a cylindrical outer cylinder body, a cylindrical inner cylinder body arranged in the outer cylinder body, and a synthetic resin cover member covering the outer cylinder body; a metal support pipe having flexibility, the unit holder being supported on one end side of the support pipe; and a microphone cable having a two-core shield covering cable and inserted through the support pipe, one end side of the microphone cable being brought into the unit holder.
US08989414B2 Communications system
A communication system comprises a transmitter unit (10, 60) arranged to be carried by or located near a user, and an earpiece including a receiver unit (30, 70), the system operating with a carrier frequency of less than 100 kHz, preferably less than 30 kHz, most preferably in the range 14 to 20 kHz. The system employs vestigial sideband modulation by cutting off part of an upper sideband. The received signal is digitized and then sampled to an envelope-tracking sampled-data root-filter square detector (40) configured as a digital signal processor.
US08989409B2 Image display device and method of controlling the same
An image display device includes: a first audio signal input terminal to which a first audio signal is input from a microphone; and a control section adapted to control power supply from a power supply circuit to the microphone based on type information indicative of whether a type of the microphone to be connected to the first audio signal input terminal is a first type which is requiring power supply or a second type which is not requiring power supply.
US08989407B2 Audio control method and audio control apparatus
A channel conversion part (214) performs channel conversion on audio data of a plurality of channels so that the number of channels thereof is converted to an appropriate number of channels for which an acoustic effect can be verified or perceived by audience according to the volume level of reproduced sound, and audio is output only with a required number of channels. In addition, a frequency control part (215) for controlling the operating frequencies of switching regulators (220-223) of audio amplifiers (224-227) also performs frequency control according to the volume level of sound of each channel which performs an audio output.
US08989406B2 User profile based audio adjustment techniques
Embodiments are directed toward user profile based audio adjustment techniques. The techniques are used to render various audio and/or audio/video content having different audio output parameter values in accordance with a user profile that characterizes a user's desired value and/or range of one or more of the output parameter levels.
US08989405B2 Audio signal correction apparatus, audio signal correction method, and audio signal correction program
A first differential value is acquired between first current data and first previous data in an i number (i being a natural number) of sampling periods before the current data. A second differential value is acquired between second current data and second previous data in a j number (j being a natural number) of sampling periods before the current data. Both first data and both second data are of a first and a second digital audio signal, respectively, having a sound level of a digital stereo audio signal in the left and right channels, respectively. A first and a second correction coefficient are acquired by adding the first and second differential values at a first and a second ratio, respectively. The first signal is corrected by multiplying the first signal by the first correction coefficient. The second signal is corrected by multiplying the second signal by the second correction coefficient.
US08989404B2 Driving of multi-channel speakers
A drive system comprises a splitter (107) which generates a low frequency signal and high frequency signal from an input signal. A first drive circuit (111, 115) is coupled to the splitter (107) and generates a drive signal for an audio driver (105) from the low frequency signal. A second drive circuit (117, 119) is coupled to the splitter (117) and generates a drive signal for a second audio driver (101) from the high frequency signal. The second drive circuit (117, 119) provides a bass frequency extension for the second audio driver (101) by applying low frequency boost to the low frequency signal. A processor (125) determines a driver excursion indication for the second audio driver (101) and a controller (127) performs a combined adjustment of a cross-over frequency for the high and low frequency signals and a characteristic of the low frequency boost based on the driver excursion indication. The invention may provide improved interworking between e.g. a subwoofer and satellite speakers.
US08989403B2 Noise suppression device
A band separating unit 5 carries out a band division of a plurality of power spectra into which an input signal is converted by a time-to-frequency converting unit 2 to combine power spectra into each subband, and a band representative component generating unit 6 defines a power spectrum having a maximum among the plurality of power spectra within each subband as a representative power spectrum. A noise suppression amount generating unit 7 calculates an amount of noise suppression for each subband by using the representative power spectrum and a noise spectrum, and a noise suppressing unit 9 suppresses the amplitudes of the power spectra according to the amount of noise suppression.
US08989393B2 Decoding device and decoding method
A decoding device includes a decoder configured to separate a first signal obtained by performing down-mix on original signals of a plurality of channels, a residual signal representing a component of a difference between the original signals and the first signal, and spatial information representing the relationship among the original signals of the plurality of channels from an input signal which is obtained by multiplexing the first signal, the residual signal, and the spatial information and decode the separated encoded first signal, the encoded residual signal, and the encoded spatial information; a decorrelation signal generation unit configured to generate a decorrelation signal as decorrelation of the first signal decoded by the decoder; a residual signal determination unit configured to determine whether a level of the residual signal decoded by the decoder is equal to or smaller than a predetermined residual threshold value; a second-signal generation unit.
US08989391B2 Secret sharing system, secret sharing apparatus, secret sharing method, secret sorting method and secret sharing program
A secret sharing system according to the present invention includes N secret sharing apparatuses. The secret sharing system according to the present invention includes fragment replacement means and reshare means. The fragment replacement means selects a number, smaller than N, of secret sharing apparatuses, generates a bijection π of {1, . . . , K}→{1, . . . , K} among the selected secret sharing apparatuses and designates a fragment aπ(k)i recorded in a selected secret sharing apparatus as a k-th fragment (i represents an identification number that indicates a selected secret sharing apparatus). The reshare means performs reshare of fragments of a numeric value used as replacements by the fragment replacement means to determine new fragments.
US08989389B2 Method and apparatus for device-to-device key management
Various methods for device-to-device key management are provided. One example method includes receiving a communication mode change command requesting a mode change to device-to-device communications, and generating a local device security key based on a secret key and a base value. The local device security key may be configured for use in device-to-device communications. The example method may also include receiving a security key combination value, and deconstructing the security key combination value using the local device security key to determine a peer device security key. The peer device security key may be configured for use in device-to-device communications. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.
US08989385B2 Data encryption method, data verification method and electronic apparatus
A data encryption method, a data verification method and an electronic apparatus are provided. An encryption key is obtained from original data according to a random sequence so as to transform the original data into replace data by using the encryption key, and the replace data is encrypted to obtain a ciphertext. Accordingly, when verification data is received, if the verification data is not conform with the original data, the verification process will not be successful.
US08989382B2 Method for detecting security error in mobile telecommunications system and device of mobile telecommunications
According to one embodiment, a method of performing a re-establishment procedure in a mobile communication system includes: receiving at least one packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) control plane data unit; performing an integrity check on the at least one PDCP control plane data unit; identifying an integrity check failure with regard to the at least one PDCP control plane data unit; and performing a re-establishment procedure if the integrity check failure is identified to exist with regard to the at least one PDCP control plane data unit.
US08989380B1 Controlling communication of a wireless communication device
In a system and method of controlling a wireless communication module in communication with an electronic device, when a manufacturer certificate, a wireless device credential, and a user credential each meet a respective first, second and third validity criteria, an encryption value is generated, and the encryption value is used to generate a cryptographic hash value. The cryptographic hash value is used to enable a device to communicate with a communication network.
US08989379B2 Network encryption key rotation
Systems and methods for authenticating key rotation communications. Key rotation communications can include a key counter known to both a headend device and a station. Comparison between a local key counter and the key counter included in the key rotation communication can be used to authenticate the key rotation communication.
US08989377B2 Secure video transcoding with applications to adaptive streaming
An apparatus comprising a processor configured to perform at least one transcoding operation on a first encrypted video frame to generate a second encrypted video frame. Also, a method comprising performing at least one transcoding operation on a first encrypted video frame to generate a second encrypted video frame. Also, an apparatus comprising a processor configured to retrieve a first encrypted video frame, wherein the first encrypted video frame is generated by encrypting an original video frame using an encryption key, and perform a transcoding operation on the encrypted video frame without revealing content of the original video frame.
US08989372B2 Cover for mobile terminal
A case for a mobile terminal is provided to which a stylus pen may be stably coupled. The case may include a mobile terminal receiving portion in which a mobile terminal is received, and a stylus pen receiving portion in which a stylus pen is received. The stylus pen may be coupled to a groove provided in the stylus pen receiving portion, at a portion of the case adjacent to the mobile terminal receiving portion at a back side of the mobile terminal, to store the stylus pen together with the mobile terminal.
US08989369B1 Using media server control markup language messages to dynamically interact with a web real-time communication customer care
A customer care system. The system comprises a transformation engine, configured to use SIP/hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) signaling transcoding to invite the operator to the customer care session, map a SIP INFO MSCML payload to an interactive HTML web form, and transmit, to the operator, the HTML web forms transformed from SIP INFO MSCML payloads sent by the application server. The transformation engine is further configured to transmit, to the application server, SIP INFO MSCML payloads transformed from the HTML web forms sent by the operator, and use instructions from the SIP INFO MSCML payloads to script the operator's communication with the caller.
US08989368B1 Method and apparatus of analyzing customer call data and related call information to determine call characteristics
A method and apparatus of processing a customer call is disclosed. The customer call may be initiated for an IVR type system or a live agent. An example method of processing the call may include receiving customer call data and recording the customer call data in a database server. The method may also include performing speech analytics on the recorded customer call data to determine instances of predefined information that occurred during the customer call, and displaying the results of the speech analytics on a user interface. The call analytics may populate a dashboard interface that provides a data analyst with an opportunity to understand the positive and negative portions of the call for future call improvement.
US08989367B2 System and method for monitoring health of deployment states for a contact center
A system and method for monitoring deployment states of a contact center. A processor migrates a state of the contact center from a first deployment state to a second deployment state. The processor records the steps in migrating from the first deployment state to the second deployment state, and stores the recorded steps in association with metadata describing the second deployment state. The processor monitors health of the second state, and takes an action for moving the state of the contact center to a healthy state in response to determining that the second deployment state is unhealthy. The migrating may be based on detecting a condition relating to operation of the contact center. The processor dynamically adjusts at least one hardware or software resource for the contact center based on the detected condition for migrating the state of the contact center from the first to the second deployment state.
US08989362B2 Method, system, and apparatus for overriding a ring back signal
Overriding a ring back signal involves receiving a ring back signal at a communications apparatus from a communication network in response to a user-initiated connection request. The ring back signal is rendered to a user of the communications apparatus, and a user input is received at the communications device to override the ring back signal. An alternate output is rendered to the user in place of the ring back signal.
US08989359B2 Methods and systems for dynamically changing contact information
A system and method for dynamically changing contact information is presented. The system and method includes receiving a contact information change associated with a contact in a first contact list, determining that the contact is also in a second contact list and modifying the second contact list based on the contact information change.
US08989353B2 Grid for radiation imaging and method for producing the same
A conductive substrate (18) and an etching substrate (20) are bonded to each other. An etch mask (25) is formed on the etching substrate (20) using a photolithography technique. On the etching substrate (20), grooves (20a) and X-ray transmitting sections (14b) are formed by dry etching using Bosch process. The grooves (20a) are filled with Au (27) by an electroplating method using the conductive substrate (18) as an electrode. Thus, X-ray absorbing sections (14a) are formed.
US08989351B2 X-ray source with a plurality of electron emitters
The invention relates to an X-ray source (100) with an electron-beam-generator (120) for generating electron beams (B, B′) that converge towards a target (110). Thus the spatial distribution of X-ray focal spots (T, T′) on the target (110) can be made denser than the distribution of electron sources (121), wherein the latter is usually dictated by hardware limitations. The electron-beam-generator (120) may particularly comprise a curved emitter device (140) with a matrix of CNT based electron emitters (141) and an associated electrode device (130).
US08989347B2 Image reconstruction method for differential phase contrast X-ray imaging
A phase retrieval method for differential phase contrast imaging includes receiving data corresponding to a differential phase image generated from a measured signal. The measured signal corresponds to an X-ray signal detected by a detector after passing through a subject located with a grating arrangement between an X-ray source and the detector. The method further includes generating a phase image corresponding to the integration of the differential phase image. Generating the phase image includes performing an iterative total variation regularized integration in the Fourier domain.
US08989346B2 Bone mineral density analysis method, bone mineral density analysis apparatus, and recording medium
From radiation images obtained by driving radiation tube with a plurality of tube voltages, including a normal tube voltage, a density gradient with respect to at least two sections of a reference substance having different radiation transmission characteristics is obtained for each of the plurality of tube voltages prior to obtaining a bone mineral density. If a radiation image captured for obtaining a bone mineral density is determined to have been captured under a tube voltage other than the normal tube voltage, an image signal representing the image and/or a bone mineral density analysis result is corrected so as to correspond to that which should have been obtained if the image had been captured under the normal tube voltage based on the relationship between the density gradient in the image and the density gradient in the radiation image captured under the normal tube voltage.
US08989344B2 System and method for measuring ash content and calorified value of coal
A system and a method for measuring an ash content and a calorific value of a coal are provided. The system comprises: an X ray device, disposed over the coal and configured to emit an X ray to the coal; at least one X ray measuring device, disposed over the coal and configured to measure an energy spectrum of an X ray reflected by the coal; a distance sensor, disposed over the coal and configured to measure a distance between the coal and the at least one X ray measuring device; and a computing device, configured to receive the energy spectrum and the distance from the at least one X ray measuring device and the distance sensor and to compute the ash content and the calorific value of the coal according to the energy spectrum and the distance.
US08989343B2 Image processing device, X-ray CT photographic apparatus, and image processing method
An image processing device acquiring pseudo projection data by calculation when a virtual metallic body having a predetermined X-ray absorption coefficient is set in a photographic region of X-ray CT photography in a pseudo manner based on projection data, and the image processing device reconstructing the pseudo projection data to acquire pseudo CT image data. The image processing device acquires luminance (virtual metallic body luminance) of a virtual metallic body in the pseudo CT image data, and specifies a position of a metal equivalent region having luminance corresponding to the virtual metallic body luminance in normal CT image data. The image processing device acquires correction projection data by performing correction processing to the luminance of the metal equivalent region in the normal projection data, and the image processing device reconstructs the correction projection data to acquire correction CT image data.
US08989338B2 Pressurized water reactor with upper vessel section providing both pressure and flow control
A pressurized water reactor (PWR) includes a vertical cylindrical pressure vessel having a lower portion containing a nuclear reactor core and a vessel head defining an internal pressurizer. A reactor coolant pump (RCP) mounted on the vessel head includes an impeller inside the pressure vessel, a pump motor outside the pressure vessel, and a vertical drive shaft connecting the motor and impeller. The drive shaft does not pass through the internal pressurizer. A central riser may be disposed concentrically inside the pressure vessel, and the RCP impels primary coolant downward into a downcomer annulus between the central ser and the pressure vessel. A steam generator may be disposed in the downcomer annulus and spaced apart from with the impeller by an outlet plenum, A manway may access the outlet plenum so tube plugging can be performed on the steam generator via access through the manway without removing the RCP.
US08989337B2 Method and apparatus for an expanding split bushing pipe plug assembly
A method and apparatus for securely fastening a pipe collar or a bracket to a riser pipe of a boiling water reactor (BWR) jet pump assembly. A pipe plug assembly includes an angled pipe plug that acts as a wedge to expand a bushing assembly as the pipe plug is drawn into the overall pipe plug assembly. Expansion of the bushing assembly allows a tight tolerance to exist between an outer diameter of the pipe plug and an inner diameter of the collar/bracket and riser pipe. Expansion of the bushing assembly allows a straight hole to be match drilled into the collar/bracket and riser pipe, thereby avoiding a more complicated tapered hole to be drilled into the collar/bracket and riser pipe. An ensuing tight fit between the pipe plug assembly, the collar/bracket and the riser pipe mitigates vibration of components and minimizes leakage to acceptable levels for use in the flooded environment of the annulus region where the jet pump assembly exists in the BWR.
US08989336B2 Compact nuclear reactor
A pressurized water nuclear reactor (PWR) includes a once through steam generator (OTSG) disposed in a generally cylindrical pressure vessel and a divider plate spaced apart from the open end of a central riser. A sealing portion of the pressure vessel and the divider plate define an integral pressurizer volume that is separated by the divider plate from the remaining interior volume of the pressure vessel. An internal control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) has all mechanical and electromagnetomotive components including at least a motor and a lead screw disposed inside the pressure vessel. Optionally CRDM units are staggered at two or more different levels such that no two neighboring CRDM units are at the same level. Internal primary coolant pumps have all mechanical and electromagnetomotive components including at least a motor and at least one impeller disposed inside the pressure vessel. Optionally, the pumps and/or CRDM are arranged below the OTSG.
US08989335B2 Techniques for on-demand production of medical radioactive iodine isotopes including I-131
A system for radioisotope production uses fast-neutron-caused fission of depleted or naturally occurring uranium targets in an irradiation chamber. Fast fission can be enhanced by having neutrons encountering the target undergo scattering or reflection to increase each neutron's probability of causing fission (n, f) reactions in U-238. The U-238 can be deployed as one or more layers sandwiched between layers of neutron-reflecting material, or as rods surrounded by neutron-reflecting material. The gaseous fission products can be withdrawn from the irradiation chamber on a continuous basis, and the radioactive iodine isotopes (including I-131) extracted.
US08989334B2 Aneutronic magnetron energy generator
An aneutronic magnetron energy generator that generates microwave energy from a fusion-fission reaction that produces alpha particles in response to a proton colliding with an 11B nucleus. The magnetron energy generator includes a magnetron having an anode resonator including a central chamber and a plurality of radially disposed cavities. A cathode assembly is provided at the center of the chamber and includes a cathode electrode that generates a proton plasma. A series of electrically isolated acceleration rings extend from the cathode electrode and operate to accelerate protons from the proton plasma towards an outer target ring composed of boron eleven (11B). The accelerated protons fuse with the 11B nuclei to generate the alpha particles that then interact with crossed electric and magnetic fields between the target ring and the cavities. The alpha particles resonate with the cavities and generate a current within the resonator that is collected.
US08989333B2 Clock data recovery method and clock data recovery circuit
A clock data recovery method includes: integrating an input data signal over a number of cycles of a sample clock to generate an integrated signal; performing a digital process on the integrated signal to output a first digital signal; interpolating the first digital signal in accordance with phase information to generate interpolation data; outputting phase difference data indicating a difference in phase of the interpolation data from the sample clock; performing a filtering process on the phase difference data to generate the phase information; performing an equalization process on the interpolation data in accordance with output data; and performing a binary decision on results of the equalization process to generate the output data.
US08989331B2 Method and system for advance high performance bus synchronizer
Provided is a method for transferring data from one clock domain within a synchronizer to another domain within the synchronizer. The method includes determining system clock parameters within the synchronizer and analyzing a first domain clock signal based upon the system clock parameters. Next, a second domain clock signal is analyzed based upon the first domain clock signal and the system clock parameters. A determination is made as to when to transfer data from a first clock domain to a second clock domain in accordance with the analysis of the first and second domain clock signals, and an enable signal is provided to affect the data transfer from the first domain to the second clock domain.
US08989330B2 Method and apparatus to detect a synchronization delimiter
A technique includes receiving a datum indicative of a candidate delimiter in a receiver; and processing the datum in a machine to determine whether the datum indicates a synchronization delimiter. The processing includes comparing the candidate delimiter with a reference delimiter to identify at least one error in the candidate delimiter; and basing the determination of whether the datum indicates the synchronization delimiter at least on a bit position of of each error.
US08989324B2 Receiver and receiving method
Embodiments of the present invention provide a receiver and a receiving method. The receiver comprises: a branch forming unit a plurality of signal branches; each of the signal branches comprising a joint processing unit; and the joint processing unit being used to eliminate an inter-carrier interference of the subcarrier signal in a present signal branch and the subcarrier signals in other signal branches adjacent to the present signal branch. With the embodiments of the present invention, the inter-carrier interference may be eliminated and the performance of the system may be improved; and the sampling rate of the analog digital converter may also be lowered.
US08989323B2 Single cable including multiple interconnections between two radio units for cross polarization interference cancellation
An outdoor radio communication system comprises a first radio unit, a second radio unit, and a single cable coupling the first radio unit to the second radio unit. Each radio unit includes a downconverter, a radio processor that is communicatively coupled to the downconverter, and a XPIC module. The cable further includes a first twisted-pair of wires for communicatively coupling the first downconverter to the second XPIC module and a second twisted-pair of wires for communicatively coupling the second downconverter to the first XPIC module. The first XPIC module generates a first reference signal using a signal from the second downconverter to cancel cross-polarization interference in an output signal of the first radio processor. Similarly, the second XPIC module generates a second reference signal using a signal from the first downconverter to cancel cross-polarization interference in an output signal of the second radio processor.
US08989322B2 Data detection and receiver circuit
A method includes a first step of receiving a signal at a first receiver circuit on the basis of a mobile communications standard supporting multiple predefined modulation alphabets wherein the received signal includes first data dedicated to the first receiver circuit and second data dedicated to a second, different receiver circuit, a second step of determining a modulation alphabet of the multiple predefined modulation alphabets during an operation of the first receiver circuit and a third step of detecting data depending on the second data at the first receiver circuit on the basis of the determined modulation alphabet.
US08989313B2 Adaptable receiver detection
Methods and apparatuses for adaptable receiver detection are provided. Embodiments include providing, by receiver detection circuitry at a transmitter coupled to a communication link, a voltage to the communication link; determining, by the receiver detection circuitry, a rise time corresponding to a rising edge change of the voltage on the communication link; determining, by the receiver detection circuitry, a fall time corresponding to a falling edge change of the voltage on the communication link; and determining, by the receiver detection circuitry, whether the rise time and the fall time are consistent with the transmitter being coupled through the communication link to a remote receiver.
US08989308B2 Apparatus and method for single user multiple input multiple output communication employing cyclic shifts
Apparatus and method for communication are provided. The apparatus includes one or more antenna ports; and a processor configured to share a cyclic shift space of reference signals of user equipment utilizing single user multiple input multiple output transmission by applying a cyclic shift increment value between reference signals of different antenna ports or spatial layers of the user equipment transmission.
US08989305B2 Apparatus and method for generating multiband radio frequency signals in maritime wireless communication
Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for generating multiband Radio Frequency (RF) signals in maritime wireless communication. The apparatus includes a baseband conversion unit, a phase compensation unit, a Direct Current (DC) offset compensation unit, and an RF transmission unit. The baseband conversion unit converts RF signals corresponding to a baseband modulation signal having a negative frequency and a baseband modulation signal having a positive frequency into baseband signals, respectively. The phase compensation unit eliminates the images of multiband signals so as to correspond to the baseband signals. The DC offset compensation unit compensates the baseband modulation signals for DC offsets using the multiband signals from which the images have been eliminated. The RF transmission unit generates the RF signals using the signals which have been compensated for the DC offsets, and sends the RF signals via an antenna.
US08989304B2 Method and apparatus for information transmission in a radio communication system
A method of transmitting, by a transmitter, information in a wireless communication system, the method includes generating first and second symbols; generating first and second transmit vectors on the basis of an Alamouti code from the first and second symbols; and transmitting the first transmit vector through a first antenna and transmitting the second transmit vector through a second antenna. The first transmit vector consists of a first transmit symbol and a second transmit symbol. The second transmit vector consists of a third transmit symbol and a fourth transmit symbol. The first, second, third, and fourth transmit symbols are transmitted based on first and second resource indexes. The first symbol is a first modulation symbol for first information, and the second symbol is a second modulation symbol for second information.
US08989303B2 Digital transmitter
An equalizer provided in a digital transmitter compensates for attenuation in a signal channel to a digital receiver. The equalizer generates signal levels as a logical function of bit history to emphasize transition signal levels relative to repeated signal levels. The preferred equalizer includes an FIR transition filter using a look-up table. Parallel circuits including FIR filters and digital-to-analog converters provide a high speed equalizer with lower speed circuitry. The equalizer is particularly suited to in-cabinet and local area network transmissions where feedback circuitry facilitates adaptive training of the equalizer.
US08989301B2 Modulation signals for a satellite navigation system
A method of controlling a power spectrum of a navigation transmission signal in a navigation system is provided. The navigation transmission signal comprising a carrier signal, a navigation ranging signal, a data signal, and at least one subcarrier modulation signal. The method comprising modulating the navigation ranging signal with the at least one subcarrier modulation signal, wherein the at least one subcarrier modulation signal comprises a number, m, of amplitude levels, where m>2, to produce a modulated ranging signal. The amplitude levels having respective magnitudes and durations arranged to influence the power spectrum of the navigation signal in a predetermined manner. Modulating the carrier with the modulated ranging signal and the data signal to generate the navigation signal.
US08989297B1 Data stream interleaving with non-monotonically arranged data rotations for spatially diverse transmission
Systems and techniques relating to processing multiple data streams include, according to an aspect, a method including interleaving data streams to be transmitted over a wireless channel, wherein the interleaving comprises performing a first permutation and a second permutation, and applying data rotations to the data streams in connection with the interleaving, wherein each of the data rotations has a constant rotation value for its corresponding stream index regardless of how many data streams are currently being transmitted, a second rotation value used for a second stream is larger than a first rotation value used for a first stream, a third rotation value used for a third stream is greater than the first rotation value but less than the second rotation value, and a fourth rotation value used for a fourth stream is greater than the second rotation value, and wherein the data rotations are applied after the second permutation.
US08989296B2 Operating method of wireless local area network station
A method of operating a wireless local area network (WLAN) station. The WLAN station receives at least one desired signal and at least one interference signal from an access point (AP) capable of simultaneously transmitting desired signals to multiple WLAN stations. The method includes estimating a channel and generating a channel matrix estimated based on the estimated channel, separating a channel matrix of the desired signal and a channel matrix of the interference signal from the estimated channel matrix, generating the matrix of a virtual channel by combining the separated channel matrixes, and executing a sphere decoding (SD) algorithm using the matrix of the virtual channel.Or, separating a desired signal and an interference signal from the stream signal based on the analysis result, ascertaining a modulation scheme of the interference signal, and setting the ascertained modulation scheme of the interference signal as decreased lattice points.
US08989292B2 Transformation apparatus and method
The present invention provides a transformation apparatus for transforming a long-term wideband channel property feedback. The transformation apparatus comprises: a first transformation unit for constructing an estimation Restimation of a long-term wideband transmit spatial correlation matrix with a long-term wideband beamforming matrix u1 as fed back from a receiver, wherein Restimation=u1u1H, wherein H indicates the conjugate transposition of a matrix; and/or a second transformation unit for directly obtaining a long-term wideband beamforming matrix or a precoding matrix by using a long-term wideband transmit spatial correlation matrix as fed back from a receiver. According to the technical solution of the present invention, a corresponding transformation method and apparatus is also provided.
US08989289B2 Communicating distinct data over a single frequency using multiple linear polarized signals
A method and system for transmitting three distinct electromagnetic signals on a same frequency are provided. One or more transmitting devices transmit a first data signal and an inverse of the first data signal in two orthogonal linear polarities of an antenna maintaining their inverted phase relationship and a same amplitude as propagated. Transmitting devices also transmit a second data signal in a linear polarity with a 45 degree rotation around the transmit axis of the first data signal. Transmitting devices also transmit a third data signal in linear polarity orthogonal to the second data signal and consequently 315 degree rotation around the transmit axis from the first data signal.
US08989288B2 Traffic aware common pilot configuration
The present disclosure relates to a method for common pilot configuration, the method comprising steps of: determining information related to UEs served by a BS; and configuring transmission of at least one common pilot from the BS to the served UEs based on the determined UE related information. In an example 4-branch MIMO system, at most 4 common pilots are configurable to be transmitted, and the at least one common pilot is two common pilots newly introduced into a legacy system.
US08989285B2 Efficient MIMO precoding feedback scheme
Methods and apparatus for efficiently feeding back preceding information in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system. A codebook including a plurality of codebook entries is constructed. A plurality of subsets of codebook entries are defined for the codebook. Each subset includes a plurality of codebook entries. A subset of codebook entries is selected for precoding data in dependence upon a channel condition, and a codebook entry is selected from the subset. Then, a subset index corresponding to the selected subset, and a codebook entry index corresponding to the selected codebook entry within the selected subset, is transmitted as feedback information.
US08989283B1 High speed transceiver based on concatenates of a leech lattice with binary and nonbinary codes
A transceiver architecture can contain an encoder and a decoder for communicating high speed transmissions. The encoder can modulate signal data for being mapped in a constellation that is generated based on concatenations of a leech lattice having binary and non-binary codes. The data can be transmitted at a high speed according to the constellation with an embedded leech lattice configuration in order to generate a coding gain. A decoder operates to decode the received input signal data with a decreased latency or a minimal latency with a high spectral efficiency.
US08989276B2 Video encoder/decoder, method and computer program product
A video encoder/decoder device, method, and computer program product combine to enhance entropy encoding by using different calculation approaches for assessing costs of using different encoding modes for a video encoding. Moreover, frames in a sequence, and/or sub-frames within a frame may have lowest cost coding modes selected using different cost calculation approaches. One exemplary cost calculation is SAD and another is SSD. A net effect is better subjective video quality for a given bitrate, with reduced encoder complexity, especially when recognizing the lesser amount of computational resources required to support SAD as opposed to SSD.
US08989273B2 Image information encoding method and encoder, and image information decoding method and decoder
An image decoding method includes decoding encoded image data to generate a decoded image signal including a luma signal and a chroma signal. The method further includes scaling, when a reference field has a different parity from a current field for motion compensation and when the decoded image signal is in a format in which the number of chroma pixels is vertically different from the number of luma pixels, a chroma motion vector of the chroma signal according to an accuracy for a luma motion vector of the luma signal so that a reference frame will coincide in phase of the chroma signal with a current frame. The method also includes performing motion compensation of the decoded image signal using the scaled chroma motion vector according to the accuracy of the luma motion vector of the luma signal.
US08989266B2 Method and apparatus for encoding video, and method and apparatus for decoding video
Disclosed are a method and a apparatus for encoding a video, and a method and apparatus for decoding a video, in which neighboring pixels used to perform intra prediction on a current block to be encoded are filtered and intra prediction is performed by using the filtered neighboring pixels.
US08989265B2 Method for modeling coding information of video signal for compressing/decompressing coding information
A method for context-modeling coding information of a video signal for compressing or decompressing the coding information is provided. An initial value of a function for probability coding of coding information of a video signal of an enhanced layer is determined based on coding information of a video signal of a base layer.
US08989263B2 Inverse quantizer supporting multiple decoding processes
The present invention provides an apparatus for performing inverse quantization for multiple decoding standards, where the functional operations that comprise the inverse quantizer are modularly implemented and can be selectably performed. Each operation can be represented via a table entry in an associated memory area, with the functional operation being performed via reference to that table entry. Functional operations can be bypassed as needed if inverse quantization does not need to be performed on a set of data. Certain other processing operations can be performed between steps as needed to accommodate different coding standards. Macroblock data can be read from and written back to a common storage area, or a direct path is provided for writing the data directly to a subsequent inverse transform device.
US08989262B2 Motion picture encoding apparatus and method thereof
Provided is a video encoding apparatus, including a signal separator to separate a differential image block into a first domain and a second domain, based on a boundary line included in the differential image block, the differential image block indicating a difference between an original image and a prediction image with respect to the original image, a transform encoder to perform a transform encoding with respect to the first domain using a discrete cosine transform (DCT), a quantization unit to quantize an output of the transform encoding unit in a frequency domain, a space domain quantization unit to quantize the second domain in a space domain, and an entropy encoder to perform an entropy encoding using outputs of the quantization unit and the space domain quantization unit.
US08989261B2 Multi-metric filtering
An encoder can generate a series of codewords to signal to a decoder a mapping of range combinations for two or more metrics. The encoder can generate a first codeword to indicate a current combination being decoded maps to the same filter as the most recently decoded combination that shares the same range for the first metric. The encoder can generate a second codeword to indicate that the current combination maps to the same filter as the most recently decoded combination that shares the same range for the second metric. If the current combination does not map to the same filter as either of these most recently decoded combinations, then the encoder can generate a third codeword that indicates the filter that maps to the current combination.
US08989256B2 Method and apparatus for using segmentation-based coding of prediction information
A method for encoding a video signal having at least one frame with a plurality of blocks includes assigning at least some of the plurality of blocks to a segment, determining at least one prediction element for the segment using a processor, applying the at least one prediction element to a first block and at least some of the other blocks in the segment and encoding the first block and the other blocks in the segment.
US08989249B2 High-speed signaling systems with adaptable pre-emphasis and equalization
A signaling system includes a pre-emphasizing transmitter and an equalizing receiver coupled to one another via a high-speed signal path. The receiver measures the quality of data conveyed from the transmitter. A controller uses this information and other information to adaptively establish appropriate transmit pre-emphasis and receive equalization settings, e.g. to select the lowest power setting for which the signaling system provides some minimum communication bandwidth without exceeding a desired bit-error rate.
US08989247B2 Reducing signal degradation in wireless communications based on time reversal
Techniques, apparatus and systems for providing radio frequency wireless communications based on time reversal of the channel impulse response of an RF pulse in a transmission channel between an RF transmitter and an RF receiver to enhance reception and detection of an RF pulse at the RF receiver against various effects that can adversely affect and complicate the reception and detection of the RF pulse at the RF receiver.
US08989246B2 Method and circuit of clock and data recovery with built in jitter tolerance test
A clock and data recovery circuit with built in jitter tolerance test is disclosed. Imposing jitter on a filter inside a CDR loop to cause phase disturbances to the clock and data recovery circuit, thereby to test the jitter tolerance of the clock and data recovery circuit. Accordingly, IC test cost is significantly reduced by increasing few circuit sizes.
US08989245B2 Mirror signal IQ-imbalance correction
A system and method are provided for calibrating the IQ-imbalance in a low-IF receiver. A Test Signal can be generated in a mirror frequency and conveyed to the receiver. The power of the signal produced in the receiver from the conveyed Test Signal can be measured. In the absence of an IQ-imbalance, the Test Signal can be completely eliminated in the receiver and the corresponding measured power of the produced signal can be minimized. Accordingly, a two dimensional algorithm is described for calibrating a receiver and correcting the IQ-imbalance by adjusting the phase and gain difference between the I and Q channels in the receiver based on the measured power of the signal produced in the receiver.
US08989243B1 Power line device with directional coupler
A power line carrier modem is configured for coupling to AC power lines. The power line carrier modem includes a processor, an output from the processor, a plurality of inputs to the processor, and a directional coupler operatively connected to the output, the plurality of inputs, and the AC power lines. The power line carrier modem may further include a digital-to-analog-converter operatively connected to the output from the processor. The output from the processor may be an output bus. The power line carrier modem further includes an analog-to-digital-converter operatively connected to the plurality of inputs to the processor. The power line carrier modem may be configured to perform Vector Network Analysis functions. The power line carrier modem may be configured to indicate PLC modem transmit frequencies being reflected from the AC power lines or the line coupler. The transmitter functions may be implemented in software by the processor to provide a transmit output on the output line. Receiver functions may also be implemented in software by the processor.
US08989241B2 Wireless communication device with configurable spatial time-frequency coding and methods for use therewith
A communication device includes a transmitter section that select a coding as either space time block coding (STBC), space frequency block coding (SFBC), hybrid space time/frequency block coding (ST/FBC), or a single stream multi-antenna spatial mapping. The transmitter section generates a transmit signal in accordance with the selected coding and transmits the transmit signal to the remote communication device via a plurality of antennas.
US08989237B2 Relay method and relay device
Disclosed is a relay method including: receiving, as input, respective reception signals by two receive antennas, the reception signals each including a reception signal resulting from multiplexing respective transmission signals transmitted by two transmission antennas in a first frequency band; performing frequency conversion on the reception signal received by one of the receive antennas so as to obtain a signal of a third frequency band; and performing frequency multiplexing on the signal having the third frequency band and the reception signal received by the other of the receive antennas.
US08989236B2 Method and apparatus for performing frequency synchronization
A method and apparatus for performing frequency analysis of sub-epoch correlations to estimate an unknown frequency of a received signal is provided. The method includes forming a sequence of correlation values from a plurality of correlations performed over a period less than a repeating period of a code, and analyzing the sequence of correlation values to estimate the frequency that is used to receive a signal comprising the code.
US08989233B2 Method and apparatus for multiplexing frequency hopping in a communication system
Methods and apparatuses are provided for transmitting and receiving data in a wireless communication system. Hopping information including at least a number of sub-bands is received. Resource allocation information is received. A resource for transmitting the data is determined based on the resource allocation information and the hopping information. The data is transmitted using the determined resource. The resource for transmitting the data is determined according to at least one of applying a change of a resource allocation within inter sub-bands and applying a change of the resource allocation within an intra sub-band. A sub-band includes at least one sub-channel, and one sub-channel includes a plurality of sub-carriers.
US08989232B2 Nanoscale coaxial lasers
Methods, structures, devices and systems are disclosed for implementing compact (e.g., nanoscale) coaxial lasers with coaxial cavity geometries which can be used to construct various coaxial cavity lasers that can operate in single mode, at room-temperature, and produce continuous-wave lasing. The described laser systems can also operate at low-temperatures, and provide thresholdless lasing using a spectrally broadband semiconductor gain medium. The cavity of the compact lasers includes a central metal core and a hollow ring surrounding the central metal core, formed within a housing with an open terminal and a closed terminal. The open terminal is positioned to both receive pump light and output laser light, and the closed terminal includes a metal cap that encloses the central metal rod and one side of the hollow ring. The described nano cavities also include a ring-shaped gain medium section, and ring-shaped lower and upper plug sections.
US08989231B2 Surface emitting laser device, surface emitting laser array, optical scanning device, image forming apparatus, and manufacturing method of surface emitting laser device
A disclosed surface emitting laser device includes a light emitting section having a mesa structure where a lower reflection mirror, an oscillation structure, and an upper reflection mirror are laminated on a substrate, the oscillation structure including an active layer, the upper reflection mirror including a current confined structure where an oxide surrounds a current passage region, a first dielectric film that coats the entire surface of an emitting region of the light emitting section, the transparent dielectric including a part where the refractive index is relatively high and a part where the refractive index is relatively low, and a second dielectric film that coats a peripheral part on the upper surface of the mesa structure. Further, the dielectric film includes a lower dielectric film and an upper dielectric film, and the lower dielectric film is coated with the upper dielectric film.
US08989229B2 Superluminescent diode, method of manufacturing the same, and wavelength-tunable external cavity laser including the same
Provided are a high-speed superluminescent diode, a method of manufacturing the same, and a wavelength-tunable external cavity laser including the same. The superluminescent diode includes a substrate having an active region and an optical mode size conversion region, waveguides including an ridge waveguide in the active region and a deep ridge waveguide in the optical mode size conversion region connected to the active waveguide, an electrode disposed on the ridge waveguide; planarizing layers disposed on sides of the ridge waveguide and the deep ridge waveguide on the substrate, and a pad electrically connected to the electrode, the pad being disposed on the planarizing layers outside the active waveguide.
US08989228B2 Laser diode device, method of driving the same, and laser diode apparatus
An ultrashort pulse and ultrahigh power laser diode device capable of outputting pulse laser light having higher peak power with a simple composition and a simple structure is provided. The laser diode device includes: a laminated structure composed of a first compound semiconductor layer containing n-type impurity, an active layer having a quantum well structure, and a second compound semiconductor layer containing p-type impurity; a first electrode electrically connected to the first compound semiconductor layer; and a second electrode electrically connected to the second compound semiconductor layer, wherein the second compound semiconductor layer is provided with an electron barrier layer having a thickness of 1.5*10−8 m or more, and driving is made by a pulse current having a value 10 or more times as large as a threshold current value.
US08989227B1 VCSEL driver maintaining steady operation from temperature effects of VCSEL diode using automatic bias control (ABC) and automatic modulation control (AMC) in optical transceiver
In a VCSEL driver for automatic bias control and automatic modulation control, the VCSEL driver includes: a feedback module configured to receive an output of a VCSEL to provide a bias signal through a feedback loop; an automatic bias control block configured to adjust a bias current by switching on or off a plurality of power sources, which are connected in parallel with each other; an automatic modulation control block configured to connect in parallel a plurality of bias transistors that are connected to each of the plurality of power sources, and to adjust modulation current by switching each of the plurality of bias transistors on or off; and a main driver configured to provide the VCSEL with a drive current including the bias current and the modulation current, which are adjusted by control of each of the control blocks.
US08989226B2 Cooling module for laser, fabricating method thereof, and semiconductor laser fabricated from the module
A cooling module for fabricating a liquid-cooled semiconductor laser, a fabricating method, and a semiconductor laser fabricated from the module are provided, wherein the cooling module for a laser makes use of a liquid cooling plate provided with radiating fins to cool the semiconductor chip. After replacement of the traditional micro-channel structure with the radiating fin structure, the cooling module effectively reduces the resistance to flow of the cooling liquid, remarkably lowers the pressure decrease of the cooling liquid, makes it easier to seal the cooling liquid, provides stronger heat dissipating capability, effectively prolongs the lifetime of the semiconductor laser, and enhances the output power and reliability of the semiconductor laser, alongside the advantages of simple fabrication and low production cost.
US08989219B2 Wireless packet communication method
When a transmission rate of each of lines that transmit data simultaneously between two STAs by using a plurality of radio channels and/or MIMO can be set independently, one data frame is fragmented in accordance with the transmission rates of the respective lines so as to generate a plurality of data packets having the same packet time length and data sizes equal to or smaller than a maximum data size. Those data packets are transmitted simultaneously by using a plurality of radio channels, or one radio channel and MIMO, or a plurality of radio channels and MIMO.
US08989218B2 System, device, method and computer program product for managing devices
A system for managing a communication device having a first function of using a first communication protocol and a second function of using a second communication protocol is provided. The communication device is connected to a network including a first device using the first communication protocol and a second device using the second communication protocol. The system is provided with an inputting system that accepts an input for changing an operation regarding the communication of the communication device from a user, and a judging system that judges whether a trouble would arise in communication, in which the communication device is involved, based on the input inputted by the user through use of the inputting system.
US08989217B2 Adaptive multi-service data framing
When a signal-to-noise ratio affecting radio communication becomes sufficiently low, the data transmission rate is responsively decreased in compensation. The signal-to-noise ratio of the communication link is thereby increased. Data for multiple different services is transmitted in data packets between two radios. By allocating one part, or time slot, of the data packet's payload to one service, and allocating another part, or time slot, of the data packet's payload to another service, communications sessions for multiple services can be maintained concurrently. Services are prioritized relative to each other. In case the signal-to-noise ratio becomes too low, data packet portions that are related to lower-priority services can be omitted from some data packets before those data packets are transmitted. Data remaining in the packet can be sent at a reduced data transmission rate without causing the quality of service for the remaining packets to fall below the minimum required level.
US08989215B2 Method, apparatus, and system for data transmission
The present invention provides a method for locating a data frame. The method mainly includes: allocating a framing state machine to each byte of a data stream within a current clock cycle; respectively starting, by the framing state machines, hunting for data frames from respective corresponding bytes, and obtaining a plurality of data frame hunt results; and selecting one hunt result from the plurality of data frame hunt results according to a data frame hunt result within a previous clock cycle as a data frame hunt result within the current clock cycle.
US08989210B2 Method and bus connection unit for unambiguously waking users of a bus system
A method and a bus connection unit for selectively waking participants of a bus system in an idle state, the participants not in the idle state exchanging messages via the bus using a serial communication protocol, the messages characterized by a leading identifier, the participants not in the idle state deciding based on the identifier whether they receive the message, the messages being evaluated by the participants in the idle state in at least three phases, a number of signal properties, edges and/or edge changes being determined in a first phase, a sequence of time intervals between signal properties, edges and/or edge changes being determined in a second phase, a wake pattern being determined from the serial signal sequence of the message in a third phase, and participants in the idle state leaving the idle state as a function of the items of information determined during the three phases.
US08989207B2 System and method for resource allocation priority in multiple-persona cellular devices
A multiple-persona system and method is described, wherein a UE (user equipment) is able to connect to two different networks simultaneously. In a multiple-persona system, one of the personas may have a higher significance than the other persona. For example, a connection to a work network may be prioritized over connection to a home network. In such a situation, it may be desirable to have applications running on the work network have priority over applications running on the home network. Such a method and system may operate independently of the eNodeB or have the eNodeB actively controlling the priority among the personas. The scheduler in either the eNodeB or the UE may contain anew input for the significance of the persona. The significance of the persona is taken into account when sending data to and from the UE.
US08989205B2 Method and system operable to facilitate signal transport over a network
A method and system operable to implement a multiple range, and optionally one-dimensional, transport scheduling process suitable to facilitate signal transport over a network for a variety of traffic types with different service requirements where two-dimensional mapping across frequency and/or time is required.
US08989203B2 Electronic device, communication control method, and recording medium
Provided is an electronic device capable of performing stable communications between a plurality of electronic devices connected in series. A communication device (121) is inserted and connected to a serial communication channel between a host controller (101) and a communication device (141) at a subsequent stage, and includes a buffer (124) for temporarily accumulating a first data received from the communication device (141) at the subsequent stage. The communication device (121) monitors a communication situation with respect to the host controller (101) and the communication device (141), accumulates the first data in the buffer (124) when a second data to be transmitted from the communication device (121) to the host controller (101) is being transmitted to the host controller (101), and transmits the first data accumulated in the buffer (124) to the host controller (101) in response to the finish of transmission of the second data.
US08989202B2 Pipeline method and system for switching packets
A switching device comprising one or more processors coupled to a media access control (MAC) interface and a memory structure for switching packets rapidly between one or more source devices and one or more destination devices. Packets are pipelined through a series of first processing segments to perform a plurality of first sub-operations involving the initial processing of packets received from source devices to be buffered in the memory structure. Packets are pipelined through a series of second processing segments to perform a plurality of second sub-operations involved in retrieving packets from the memory structure and preparing packets for transmission. Packets are pipelined through a series of third processing segments to perform a plurality of third sub-operations involved in scheduling transmission of packets to the MAC interface for transmission to one or more destination devices.
US08989197B2 Reconfigurable branching unit for submarine optical communication networks
Methods and systems for optical communication in a submarine network are provided. An input signal is received from a terminal at a reconfigurable branching unit (BU), wherein the BU enables bidirectional transmission between any two terminals, and the input signal is demultiplexed into at least one individual waveband or wavelength using at least one demultiplexer. Each demultiplexed waveband is passed through optical switches, with corresponding optical switches for the same demultiplexed waveband provided for transmission in the reverse direction. Independent per-waveband switching is performed using a demultiplexer-switch-multiplexer (DSM) architecture. Each demultiplexed waveband is multiplexed at each output port using at least one multiplexer to combine signals from different sources, and combined signals are transmitted to a destination terminal.
US08989195B2 Protection switching in multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) networks
Protection switching in a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) ring network with a protection label switch path that is shared by multiple working label switch paths may include receiving a packet intended for transmission towards a disconnected adjacent node on a working label switch path, and adding, to the received packet, a protection label and a merge label. The merge label may uniquely identify the working label switch path on which the packet is received. The packet may be transmitted on the protection label switch path.
US08989189B2 Scaling IPv4 in data center networks employing ECMP to reach hosts in a directly connected subnet
Systems and methods are provided for scaling IPv4 networks for large data centers to reach hosts in a directly connected subnet. ToRs may be dynamically selected in a load balanced manner to ensure that any host may deliver packets to any other host in two or less hops.
US08989188B2 Preventing leaks among private virtual local area network ports due to configuration changes in a headless mode
Techniques are provided for hosting a first virtual switch and one or more virtual machines (VMs) configured to be part of a virtual LAN (VLAN). The first virtual switch enables communications among the VMs arranged in one or more private VLANs (PVLANs). The first virtual switch receives a packet from a source VM that is evaluated for source identifier information associated and destination identifier information associated with a destination VM serviced by a second virtual switch for which the packet is destined. An evaluation result is obtained. Based on the evaluation result, the first virtual switch determines whether the source and destination VMs belong to a same PVLAN and drops the packet if the source VM and the destination VM do not belong to the same PVLAN.
US08989186B2 Virtual port grouping for virtual cluster switching
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a port that couples to a server hosting a number of virtual machines. The switch also includes a set of virtual port grouping information and a virtual port grouping mechanism. During operation, the virtual port grouping mechanism determines whether a frame is traveling from a virtual port group to the same virtual port group. If the frame is not traveling to the same virtual port group, the virtual port grouping mechanism prevents the frame from being forwarded.
US08989185B2 Method and apparatus for converting a multicast session to a unicast session
A method and apparatus are described including a data packet having a data packet header, storing the received data packet as shared payload, determining if the received data packet is a first data packet, initializing a sequence starting number responsive to the determination, generating a new data packet header, calculating a sequence number for the received data packet using the sequence starting number, inserting the new sequence number into the new data packet header, unicasting the new data packet header and the shared payload to a plurality of client devices.
US08989183B2 Virtual machine multicast/broadcast in virtual network
The performance of multicast and/or broadcasting between virtual machines over a virtual network. A source hypervisor accesses a network message originated from a source virtual machine, and uses the network message to determine a virtual network address associated with destination virtual machines (after potentially resolving group virtual network addresses). Using each virtual network address, the hypervisor determines a physical network address of the corresponding hypervisor that supports the destination virtual machine, and also determines a unique identifier for the destination virtual machine. The source hypervisor may then dispatch the network message along with the unique identifier to the destination hypervisor over the physical network using the physical network address of the hypervisor. The destination hypervisor passes the network message to the destination virtual machine identified by the unique identifier.
US08989181B2 Method and system for multicasting data packets in an MPLS network
A method for multicasting data packets is provided. The method includes preparing multiple point to point connections between a root node and multiple destination nodes to establish point to multipoint connections. The method also includes receiving, at an intermediate node which is operatively connected to the root node and a plurality of the destination nodes, a data packet from the root node. In addition, the method includes determining whether the received data packet is a multicast data packet and generating a plurality of the data packets by copying the received data packet if the received data packet is a multicast data packet. Furthermore, the method includes forwarding the copied data packets to a plurality of the destination nodes.
US08989178B2 System and method for indicating circuit switched access at IMS registration
In IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) IMS Control Channel Protocol (ICCP) is used between a user equipment (UE) and IMS Control Channel Function (ICCF) and Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) interface (between to ICCF, Call Session Control Function and Application Server) to support the indication of Circuit Switched (CS) access in header information. The indication can be used by an S-CSCF or AS for different purposes such as routing decision, charging, and presence info.
US08989174B2 MBSFN subframe generation and processing for Unicast
Certain aspects of the present disclosure propose methods and apparatus for utilizing unused Multimedia Broadcast over a Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframes for unicast transmissions. The proposed methods include efficient cyclic prefix (CP) and MBSFN frame structure design, and an optimized subframe/carrier bundling window design for hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback in presence of the MBSFN subframes.
US08989172B2 Data routing through local network connected to a base station
A base station routes data between a wireless communication device and a local device through a local network. When a route-local indicator is received from the wireless communication device, the base station routes data through the local network to the local device without routing the data through a cellular network. Accordingly, the physical path of the data includes the base station and the local network and does not include cellular equipment other than the base station.
US08989171B2 Wireless audio transmission system and method
A system and method transmit a data stream from a source to a destination over a communication channel. A transmitter includes devices for processing inputs to assemble data packets for the data stream, and a multiplexer for assembling a data frame to be transmitted over the communication channel, in which each data frame has at least one fixed slot. The multiplexer sets at least one freely allocatable time slot in each data frame. Retransmission control devices connected to the multiplexer retransmit a specific data packet which is not properly received by the destination, using one of the freely allocatable slots.
US08989166B1 Method and system for detection and correction of a WiFi login failure
A method and system for detection and correction of a WiFi login failure for a mobile application is disclosed herein. The present invention provides a set of diagnostic steps that are undertaken automatically on a mobile communication device to identify this condition within an application and generate a browser window inside the application so that the condition can be fixed and the application can continue without having to time-out and exit an application.
US08989165B2 Admission control for QoS-driven wireless LANs
A method and system for a quality of service (QoS) point coordinator (PC) for a basic service set (BSS) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) is disclosed. For example, the PC includes a QoS management entity (QME) and an admission control entity (ACE). The QME receives at least one reservation request message that characterizes one of a QoS session and QoS application (session/application) that can be of a continuous/periodic flow type that is time sensitive, or can be of a discontinuos/bursty flow type that is time tolerant. The reservation request message contains at least one QoS parameter set and requests a resource of a communication channel in the BSS for the QoS session/application.
US08989163B2 Device, system and method of communicating during an association beamforming training (A-BFT) period
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of communicating during an Association-Beamforming-Training (A-BFT). For example, a device may include a wireless communication unit to communicate a beacon frame during a beacon transmission interval (BTI), the beacon frame including a responder address field including a responder address representing one or more client devices, which are allowed to transmit during an A-BFT period following the BTI.
US08989159B2 System and method managing hotspot network access of a plurality of devices
There is provided a system and method for managing hotspot network access for a plurality of devices. There is provided a mobile broadband hotspot comprising a processor configured to detect an occurrence of an event, determine a device from the plurality of devices to receive a notification of the event, determine a policy directed to the device, and execute the policy on the mobile broadband hotspot or on the device. Accordingly, by providing notifications of events to appropriate devices of the network, a better user experience is maintained. Moreover, the mobile broadband hotspot may transmit event notification to specific devices that may be affected by the execution of the policy in order to provide a better user experience for the users of those devices.
US08989158B2 Channel access method for very high throughput (VHT) wireless local access network system and station supporting the channel access method
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a channel access method in a very high throughput (VHT) system using a bonding channel consisting of a plurality of subchannels is provided. Wherein the Method comprises: transmitting a request to send (RTS) frame by one source station or each of a plurality of source stations to a destination station through any subchannel selected from the plurality of subchannels; and in response to the received RTS frame, transmitting a clear to send (CTS) frame by the destination station to one source station selected from the plurality of source stations through the bonding channel.
US08989155B2 Systems and methods for wireless backhaul in distributed-input distributed-output wireless systems
Systems and methods are described for wireless backhaul in a multiple antenna system (MAS) with multi-user (MU) transmissions (“MU-MAS”). For example, a multiuser (MU) multiple antenna system (MAS) of one embodiment comprises: one or more centralized units communicatively coupled to multiple distributed transceiver stations via a network; the network consisting of wireline or wireless links or a combination of both, employed as a backhaul communication channel; the centralized unit transforming the N streams of information into M streams of bits, each stream of bits being a combination of some or all N streams of information; the M streams of bits being sent over the network to the distributed transceiver stations; the distributed transceiver stations simultaneously sending the streams of bits over wireless links to at least one client device such that at least one client device receives at least one of the original N streams of information.
US08989152B1 Systems and methods for symmetrical implementation of inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) in a radio access network (RAN)
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for symmetrical implementation of inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) in a radio access network (RAN) having a first base station serving a first set of access terminals and a second base station serving a second set of access terminals. In an embodiment, a network entity makes both a first determination that each access terminal in the first set is receiving at least a threshold-strong signal from the second base station and a second determination that each access terminal in the second set is receiving at least a threshold-strong signal from the first base station. Responsive to making these determinations in combination, the network entity manages an assignment of reverse-link resource blocks in the RAN such that no reverse-link resource blocks are assigned to both an access terminal in the first set and an access terminal in the second set.
US08989150B2 Apparatus and method for performing a handoff in a wireless communication system
Provided are an apparatus and a method for performing a handoff in a wireless communication system. The method includes executing a downlink fast power control when a Received Signal Strength (RSS) of a serving Base Station (BS) is less than a threshold; calculating a mean of RSSs subject to the downlink fast power control, and comparing the calculated mean with the threshold; and performing the handoff to a neighbor BS when the mean of the RSSs is less than the threshold.
US08989148B2 Method and system for providing an uplink structure and minimizing pilot signal overhead in a wireless communication network
An uplink control structure and pilot signal having minimal signal overhead for providing channel estimation and data demodulation in a wireless communication network are presented. The uplink control structure enables mobile terminals to communicate with base stations to perform various functions including obtaining initial system access, submitting a bandwidth request, triggering a continuation of negotiated service, or providing a proposed allocation re-configuration header. A dedicated random access channel is provided to communicatively couple the base station and mobile terminal allowing the mobile terminal to select a random access signaling identification. A resource request is received at the base station to uplink resource information from the mobile terminal and an initial access information request is received from the mobile terminal to configure the base station connection. Pilot signals with varying density configurations are provided, including low density symbol patterns for multiple contiguous resource blocks and high density symbol patterns for single resource blocks.
US08989146B2 Radio transmitting/receiving apparatus and method, terminal apparatus, base station apparatus and wireless communication system
A terminal apparatus (1) which is a radio transmitting/receiving apparatus receives, from a femto cell base station (home eNB), a pilot channel signal for reception quality measurement and a synchronization channel signal for synchronization. The terminal apparatus (1) has a whitelist stored therein indicative of an accessible femto cell, and determines whether or not a CSG cell of handover destination is accessible based on a PCI of the CSG cell acquired from the synchronization channel and the whitelist. The terminal apparatus (1) then adds the PCI and a CGI to a measurement report for reception quality, and transmits the measurement report to a macro eNB (base station apparatus (2)). In this way, it is possible to suppress wasteful signaling and prevent unnecessary resources from being reserved even when two or more CSG cells that use the same PCI are present in the macro cell.
US08989143B2 Method and apparatus for performing a handover in an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network
A method and an apparatus for performing a handover in an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) sends a measurement report to a source evolved Node B (eNB), and receives a handover command from the source eNB. The WTRU initiates reception and processing of a primary broadcast channel (P-BCH) at the target cell after receiving the handover command. The WTRU then sends a random access preamble to the target eNB, receives a random access response from the target eNB, and sends a handover complete message to the target eNB. The reception and processing of the P-BCH may be initiated immediately after receiving the handover command or after sending the handover complete message. The WTRU may apply default configuration or source cell configuration in the target cell until a target cell SFN and/or P-BCH information are acquired.
US08989142B2 Residential/enterprise network connection management and CSFB scenarios
A method, system and device are provided for managing LIPA and/or SIPTO connection releases when UE moves out of residential/enterprise network coverage in case service continuity is not supported for the LIPA/SIPTO PDN connection(s). To address problems caused by not providing service continuity for LIPA/SIPTO PDN connections, the PDN connection/PDP context created in the HeNB/HNB by the MME/SGSN includes context information related to the UE indicating whether such connection is a LIPA PDN connection PDN connection or not. In addition, each UE may be configured to reconnect or not reconnect to the PDN corresponding to a certain APN or service, depending on how the PDN connection was disconnected by the network.
US08989140B2 System and method for mobility in a multi-point HSDPA communication network
A method and apparatus for wireless communication may provide for mobility in a Multi-Point HSDPA network capable of downlink aggregation. Some aspects of the disclosure provide modified mobility events utilized for altering the Active Set for a UE. Here, the addition of a cell to the Active Set can coincide with making that cell a secondary serving cell. Further, the deletion of a secondary serving cell from the Active Set can coincide with switching off the Multi-Point HSDPA mode. Still further, a modified mobility event for an HSDPA serving cell change can be utilized to swap a primary serving cell and a secondary serving cell.
US08989138B2 Wireless communication systems with femto nodes
Systems and methods for performing a handoff of an access terminal from a macro node to a femto node are disclosed. In one embodiment, the femto node is configured to transmit a predetermined signal for determining signal quality and an identifier that uniquely identifies the femto node to the access terminal. The access terminal is configured to transmit the identifier to the macro node. The femto node is identified as a hand in target based on the transmitted identifier and the macro node is configured to hand in the access terminal to the femto node.
US08989134B2 Allotment of radio resources in a base station of a broadband network
In order for professional mobile terminals for a critical mission of public security to make use of the radio infrastructure of a broadband network, for instance of the LTE type, the downward and upward frames are configured in a base station each in a first area dedicated to mobile terminals of lower priority and a second area dedicated to mobile terminals of critical mission of high priority. In the second area, sub-channels dedicated to a group of terminals of critical mission are allotted by order of priority to this group, to another group of mobile terminals of critical mission and to mobile terminals of lower priority.
US08989129B2 Communication device and SRS transmission control method
Provided are a communication device and an SRS transmission method capable of reducing the possibility of a difference in recognition between the presence or absence of an SRS transmission between a base station and a terminal or of an SRS resource so as to prevent degradation of system throughput. At a terminal (200), a reception processing unit (203) detects control information indicating whether or not to request transmission of a sounding reference signal (SRS), whereupon a transmission signal forming unit (207) transmits an A-SRS by way of control by a transmission control unit (206) on the basis of control information. The transmission control unit (206) determines whether or not to execute SRS transmission on the basis of an “SRS Transmission Execution Rule” and the reception status of trigger information.
US08989124B1 Management of bearers in a cellular wireless communication system
Management of bearers in a communication system. A network may establish for a user equipment device (UE) a first bearer of a first type. Thereafter, upon establishment of a bearer of a second type for the UE, the network may automatically release the first bearer of the first type. In turn, when the UE finishes communication on the bearer of the second type, the network may not only release that bearer of the second type but may automatically establish for the UE a second bearer of the first type.
US08989122B2 Method implemented in a user equipment UE for use in a wireless system
In some implementations, a method implemented in a user equipment UE for use in a wireless system for single carrier frequency division multiple access SC-FDMA, the method including receiving an assignment of a scheduling request resource in the wireless system comprising a plurality of subcarriers. A user ID is encoded. An uplink control channel signal comprising the encoded user ID is transmitted on the plurality of subcarriers of the assigned scheduling request resource.
US08989114B2 Method and apparatus for providing channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) configuration information in a wireless communication system supporting multiple antennas
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS) in a wireless communication system supporting multiple antennas are disclosed. The method includes transmitting, at a base station, information of one or more CSI-RS configurations to a mobile station, wherein the one or more CSI-RS configurations include one CSI-RS configuration for which the mobile station assumes non-zero transmission power for CSI-RS, transmitting, at the base station, information indicating a CSI-RS configuration for which the mobile station assumes zero transmission power for the CSI-RS among the one or more CSI-RS configurations to the mobile station, mapping, at the base station, CSI-RSs to resource elements of a downlink subframe based on the one or more CSI-RS configurations, and transmitting, at the base station, the downlink subframe mapped with the CSI-RSs to the mobile station.
US08989112B2 eICIC carrier aggregation using extension carriers
A first BS transmits a first set of aggregated carriers including a PCC having a first carrier frequency and an SCC having a second carrier frequency. Contemporaneously, a second BS transmits a second set of aggregated carriers including a PCC having the second carrier frequency and an SCC having the first carrier frequency. In one aspect, the first BS transmits on the SCC a subframe having a number of selected symbols of the subframe at a lower power than other symbols of the subframe, the selected symbols aligning at least in part with a number of symbols of a control region of a subframe transmitted by the second BS on the PCC having the second carrier frequency. In another aspect, a UE attached to the second BS receives at least control information on the PCC of the first BS and receives data on the PCC of the second BS.
US08989106B2 Methods and apparatuses for scheduling uplink request spatial division multiple access (RSDMA) messages in an SDMA capable wireless LAN
An apparatus for wireless communications, including a processing system configured to receive requests for a spatial division multiplexed transmission from a plurality of nodes over a multiple access medium; and initiate the spatial division multiplexed transmission based on a metric related to one or more of the nodes, is disclosed. Another apparatus for wireless communications, including a processing system configured to generate data belonging to an access class having contention parameters; and precode at least a portion of the data for transmission over a spatial stream and enter into post backoff following the spatial stream transmission, is also disclosed. Methods for using the apparatuses are also disclosed.
US08989098B2 Graceful degradation for communication services over wired and wireless networks
A method for gracefully extending the range and/or capacity of voice communication systems is disclosed. The method involves the persistent storage of voice media on a communication device. When the usable bit rate on the network is poor and below that necessary for conducting a live conversation, voice media is transmitted and received by the communication device at the available usable bit rate on the network. Although latency may be introduced, the persistent storage of both transmitted and received media of a conversation provides the ability to extend the useful range of wireless networks beyond what is required for live conversations. In addition, the capacity and robustness in not being affected by external interferences for both wired and wireless communications is improved.
US08989095B2 Ban wireless communication control method using selective discovery
The present description relates to a BAN (Body Area Network) wireless communication control method, and more particularly, to a BAN wireless communication control method to which a selective discovery technique is applied. The present invention provides a BAN wireless communication control method, comprising the steps of transmitting a discovery request frame including a selective standard profile, and receiving a discovery response frame from a host that provides at least one of services specified in the selective standard profile.
US08989094B2 Systems and methods for generating and displaying application information on a wireless station
Systems and methods for generating and displaying application information on a wireless station. A wireless station is configured to select icons for display on a wireless station based on a network information string received by the wireless station.
US08989091B2 Dynamic enablement of M2M services over 3GPP access networks
A Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Services Enablement Solution offering M2M services enablement to an M2M entity that supports a 3GPP or a non-3GPP access for connection and service by a 3GPP Evolved Packet Core (EPC). The solution enables an Access Network (AN) to offer a transport connection for the M2M entity over its 3GPP EPC to M2M entity's per-choice M2M Service Provider (SP). The M2M entity's first attach to the AN is forced to be directed to the Access Point Name (APN) of an AN default M2M Network Services Capabilities (N-SC) application. The AN default M2M N-SC application facilitates M2M Service Layer (SL) initial registration of the M2M entity with its per-choice M2M SP. M2M entity's future Regular Attach to the SP network may be directed to the APN of an AN-based regular M2M N-SC application that serves the M2M SP.
US08989090B2 Inter-node communication method and system
Disclosed is a data transmission system having a multi-node wireless network in a geographic area within which a plurality of nodes are positioned, having a plurality of directional antennas fixed to respective nodes of the plurality of nodes, with each node including at least two directional antennas to transmit and receive in respective sectors emanating from each respective node. When yaw of a node exceeds a threshold amount, revised routing information is provided to identify preferred directional antennas for use in future link transmissions.
US08989089B2 Automobile data transmission
A device transmits automobile data to a server in a communication network. The device records the automobile data obtained from a plurality of sensors installed in the automobile. The device transmits a random access preamble on a first plurality of subcarriers of an uplink carrier to a base station, when a pre-defined condition is met. The device encrypts the automobile data using a first encryption key and transmits the encrypted automobile data to a server via a base station. The base station decrypts the automobile data before forwarding it to the server.
US08989086B2 Methods and apparatus to support interference management in multi-tier wireless communication systems
When a subscriber station (SS) encounters interference caused an interfering base station (BS), the interference can be mitigated regardless of whether the interfering base station is a CSG-Closed BS or whether the SS is connected to a serving BS. If the SS is not connected to a serving BS and cannot access the interfering BS, the SS will signal the interfering BS directly to request the interfering BS to perform IM. If the SS is a legal user, and conditions to initiate IM are met, the interfering BS will perform IM until conditions to terminate IM are met. If the SS is connected to a serving BS, the serving BS will request the interfering BS to perform or terminate interference mitigation (IM) on behalf of the SS if certain conditions are satisfied.
US08989077B2 Base station, communication system, mobile terminal, and relay device
A base station including a communication unit for communicating with a mobile terminal via a relay link between the base station and a relay device and an access link between the relay device and the mobile terminal, and a selection unit for selecting an allocation pattern of an uplink of the relay link, a downlink of the relay link, an uplink of the access link, and a downlink of the access link to frequency-time blocks from a plurality of allocation patterns that are different in delay occurring between the base station and the mobile terminal.
US08989070B2 Apparatus and method to efficiently send device trigger messages
With the proliferation of Machine-Type Communication (MTC), an excessive use of device trigger messages in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network can have negative effects on user equipment (UE). These effect can include a shortening of UE battery life and/or excessive signalling caused by the frequent changing from an idle mode to an active mode. An MTC Interworking Function (MTC-IWF) can be configured to determine the status of a UE to which a device trigger message is intended. If the device trigger message is low priority and the UE is in an idle state, the MTC-IWF or Mobile Management Entity (MME)/Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)/Mobile Switching Center (MSC) can buffer the device trigger message.
US08989067B2 Hosting edge applications at the edge of a mobile data network
Mobile network services are performed in a mobile data network in a way that is transparent to most of the existing equipment in the mobile data network. The mobile data network includes a radio access network and a core network. A breakout component in the radio access network breaks out data coming from a basestation, and hosts edge applications, including third party edge applications, that perform one or more mobile network services at the edge of the mobile data network based on the broken out data.
US08989064B2 Wireless controller wire connectable to output devices such as televisions for accessing digital content and for wireless communication with mobile information apparatus
A wireless controller for accessing digital content and connectable externally via a wired connection to output devices, such as televisions, projectors, audio output devices, and printers, is herein disclosed and enabled. The wireless controller may be a box for connecting to a television. To illustrate, connecting the wireless controller to a television makes the television a smart television for accessing digital content via the wireless controller. The wireless controller includes a wireless communication unit that is compatible with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 or Bluetooth for accessing a wireless local area network and may establish wireless connections with mobile information apparatus in its vicinity. Subsequent to establishing the wireless connection, the mobile information apparatus may transmit, stream, or mirror digital content to the output devices over the established wireless connection. The wireless controller may collect authentication, payment, or subscription information for accessing some digital content services.
US08989061B2 Methods and apparatus for initial acquisition in a communication system
A plurality of predetermined amplifier gain states for a low noise amplifier (LNA) are run during initial acquisition in a time division duplex (TDD) system. Acquisition of a received signal is determined based on searching across the plurality of predetermined amplifier gain states. Forcing the amplifier gain into a set of predetermined gain states affords quicker resolution of initial acquisition for setting the gain of the LNA, which in TDD systems is complicated due to an uncertain uplink/downlink timeline that precludes continuous operation of a gain setting algorithm run in the LNA.
US08989059B2 Method for triggering a status report of automatic repeat request
The present invention discloses a method for triggering a status report of automatic repeat request. When a receiver acknowledged mode radio link control entity detects that received radio link control layer PDUs are missing, a timer T1 is set. When the timer T1 is running, new timer is not set even if a new missing radio link control layer PDU is detected. When the timer T1 is running, if the receiver acknowledged mode radio link control entity has received all missing radio link control layer PDUs which are detected before setting T1, the timer T1 is stopped. When the timer T1 times out, the receiver acknowledged mode radio link control entity triggers the status report.
US08989057B2 Selective teleconference interruption
A system and method for controlling a peer-to-peer, unmoderated conference call, which allows a non-talking conferee to send an in-band interrupt request signal which is detected by the conference bridge, which automatically determines which conferee is currently talking, and continuously sends an alert signal to the talking conferee, but prevents transmission of alert signal and interrupt request signal to all other, non-speaking conferees. When the talking conferee quits talking, or acknowledges the interrupt request, or a timeout occurs, alert signal is discontinued, and the request conferee (or another conferee) may speak. Optionally, after a timeout occurs, the voice of the currently speaking conferee is removed from the conference summation, effectively muting the non-yielding conferee.
US08989056B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for utilizing quota usage policy control in a diameter-based communication network
The subject matter described herein includes systems, methods, and computer readable media for utilizing quota usage policy control in a Diameter-based communication network. An exemplary method includes, at a policy server, sending a request for quota usage information associated with a subscriber to an online charging system (OCS) node. The method further includes receiving the quota usage information from the OCS node, generating at least one policy and charging control (PCC) rule for modifying a quality of service (QoS) policy attribute associated with the subscriber based on the quota usage information, and communicating the at least one PCC rule to a Diameter network element.
US08989049B2 System and method for virtual portchannel load balancing in a trill network
An example method includes storing a portion of virtual PortChannel (vPC) information in a TRansparent Interconnect of Lots of Links network environment, deriving, from the portion of vPC information, a physical nickname of an edge switch to which a frame can be forwarded, and rewriting an egress nickname in a TRILL header of the frame with the physical nickname. In example embodiments, the vPC information can include respective vPC virtual nicknames, EtherChannel hash algorithms, hash values, and physical nicknames of edge switches associated with vPCs in the network environment. In some embodiments, the portion of vPC information can be derived from an Interested vPC Type Length Value (TLV) information of an Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS) routing protocol data unit (PDU).
US08989046B1 Inter-domain routing message distribution through wide area broadcast channel
An architecture for distributing routing updates via a broadcast channel is disclosed. A routing fountain (“RF”) is configured to receive routing information updates. The routing information updates include network addressing information, changes to a routing structure of a network, or general information regarding the network. One or more routing fountain subscriber (“RFS”) nodes are configured to send routing information updates to the RF and receive routing information updates from a routing distribution channel (“RDC”). Broadcast equipment is configured to receive routing information updates from the RF and broadcast the received routing information updates to the one or more RFS nodes via the RDC.
US08989043B2 Mobile terminal, base station, cell reception quality measuring method and cell reception quality measuring system
Disclosed is a technique for providing a mobile terminal and the like capable of reducing inter-cell interference between a macro cell and a small cell, suppressing frequent switching of a primary cell in carrier aggregation, and hence reducing an increase in the processing load on a base station and an increase in the power consumption of the terminal. According to the technique, there are included a receiving unit 603 for receiving a message including information for causing a reception quality in a second cell to be measured in tune with timing of a predetermined control channel area of a signal to be transmitted from a first base station in a predetermined frequency band, and a measurement unit 605 for measuring the reception quality in the second cell based on the information received.
US08989039B2 Packet transfer delay measurement system
When measuring a one-way packet transfer delay between first and second measurement devices in a time-asynchronous manner, the first measurement device transmits first packets each containing a first counter value at a time of transmission; and then transmits a second packet containing a second counter value at the time of the transmission. The second measurement device stores the first counter value extracted from each of the first packets, a third counter value at a time of reception, and reception time stamp information; calculates an incremental ratio between the first counter value and the third counter value per unit time; and calculates an expected fourth counter value at the time of the reception based on the second counter value and the incremental ratio, and obtains the transfer delay based on the calculated expected fourth counter value and an actual fourth counter value at the time of the reception.
US08989035B2 Method for power saving for wireless device in discontinuous reception mode
A methodology for determining a periodicity of a neighbor cell search for a cellular mobile device is disclosed. The neighbor cell searches may be conducted during discontinuous reception (DRX) paging cycles. However, instead of performing a neighbor cell search during each DRX paging cycle, the period for performing a neighbor cell search may be adaptively determined. Various metrics may be used in determining the periodicity for neighbor cell searches. In various embodiments, two or more metrics may be utilized in combination to determine the neighbor cell search periodicity.
US08989031B2 System and method providing resilient data transmission via spectral fragments
Systems, methods and apparatus for securely transmitting a data stream by dividing a data stream into a plurality of sub-streams; associating each substream with a respective spectral fragment; encrypting at least some of the sub-streams; and modulating each sub-stream to provide a respective modulated signal adapted for transmission via a respective spectral fragment.
US08989030B2 Threshold value calculation method and radio base station
A threshold calculation apparatus (200) corrects each of ideal E-SINR thresholds in an MCS threshold table in accordance with a reduction in accuracy of the E-SINR due to the use of a first transformation table and a second transformation table, and generates a corrected MCS threshold table. In the case where a wireless base station obtains an E-SINR from a plurality of SINRs using the first transformation table and the second transformation table, the wireless base station determines an MCS corresponding to the E-SINR also based on the corrected MCS threshold table.
US08989029B2 Quality of service in packet networks
Methods and systems for providing quality of service over IP networks are disclosed. In one aspect, a flow label field of a header may be divided into first and second portions. The first portion defines a quality of service. The second portion identifies a message flow. Once the first portion defining the quality of service is established by the sending node, no nodes in the transmission path may change the quality of service value. Each node may route packets based on the quality of service field, or may modify the traffic class field of the header based on the quality of service and then route the packet based on the traffic class field. A service provider can use DSCP within its own administrative domain(s), and end users can set and maintain QoS using the methods described herein, thereby providing a framework for end-to-end QoS using IP packets.
US08989028B2 Roaming control for IMS APN
The embodiments herein relate to a method in a second node (310) in a visited network (300v). The visited network (300v) is visited by a UE (301). The second node (310) receives a message comprising subscription information. The subscription information comprises a parameter indicating that the UE (301) is allowed to use a multimedia service in the home (300h) or the visited network (300v). The second node (310) selects a serving gateway (308) in the visited network (300v). Based on the parameter, the second node (310) selects a visited PDN gateway (305v), in the visited network (300v) when the UE (301) is allowed to use the multimedia service in the visited network (300v). Based on the parameter, the second node (310) selects a home PDN gateway (305h) in the home network (300h) when the UE (301) is allowed to use the multimedia service in the home network (300h).
US08989019B2 Transmission system, managing computer, and logical path construction method
A transmission system that uses resources of a transmission network efficiently to a request of dynamic bandwidth guarantee from a communication network while controlling a load of a managing server, and connects a logical path of the communication network and a logical path of a transmission network. In the transmission system that has multiple transmission nodes each serving as a component of the transmission network, multiple communication nodes each serving as a component of the communication network, and a managing computer, when an available bandwidth of a default path is smaller than a guaranteed bandwidth contained in control information and then when information about the logical path already having been dynamically constructed coincides with a condition, a logical path that uses a route different from a specified default path is dynamically constructed as a logical path in the transmission network.
US08989013B2 Radio station, radio terminal, and synchronization timer control method in radio communication system
A radio station, a radio terminal, and a method for synchronization timer control are provided that can reduce a delay as much as possible until uplink signal resynchronization is done in a case where a plurality of cell groups exist. In a radio communication system having a function of using a plurality of radio resources corresponding to a plurality of cells, respectively, for communication between a radio station (10) and a radio terminal (20), the radio terminal is provided with a plurality of synchronization timers for determining whether or not uplink signals in individual cell groups are in synchronization, wherein the synchronization timers are provided respectively for the plurality of cell groups each including at least one cell, and at the radio terminal (20), uplink-signal transmission on the cells included in a second cell group is controlled depending on a state of a first synchronization timer provided correspondingly for a first cell group including a specific cell and on a state of a second synchronization timer provided correspondingly for the second cell group other than the first cell group, wherein the first synchronization timer and the second synchronization timer are controlled independently.
US08989011B2 Communication over multiple virtual lanes using a shared buffer
A method for communication includes, in a sender node that sends packets to a receiver node over a physical link, making a decision, for a packet that is associated with a respective virtual link selected from among multiple virtual links, whether the receiver node is to buffer the packet in a dedicated buffer assigned to the respective virtual link or in a shared buffer that is shared among the multiple virtual links. The packet is sent, and the decision is signaled, from the sender node to the receiver node.
US08989008B2 Wirespeed TCP packet window field modification for networks having radio segments
The transmission Control Protocol (TCP) may be optimized for a cellular network having a radio segment. A network device may receive state information relating to processing of traffic at a radio interface in a cellular network and receive packets transmitted by user equipment (UE). Based on the state information, the network device may modify a TCP window field of the received packets based on the state information. The network device may forward the modified version of the packets towards a destination indicated by a destination address field of the packets.
US08988998B2 Data processing environment integration control
A system and method for controlling an integration of data processing resources. A first endpoint node is selected, wherein the first endpoint node comprises information for using first data processing resources in a data processing environment. A second endpoint node is selected, wherein the second endpoint node comprises information for using second data processing resources in the data processing environment, wherein the second data processing resources comprise data processing resources provided as a service by a provider of data processing resources. An integration node is selected, wherein the integration node comprises information for establishing connectivity between the first data processing resources and the second data processing resources. Integration of the first data processing resources and the second data processing resources is controlled to process a workload using the first endpoint node, the second endpoint node, and the integration node.
US08988994B2 System and method for creating logical radio link control (RLC) and medium access control (MAC) protocol data units (PDUs) in mobile communication system
A system for creating logical RLC and MAC PDUs in a mobile communication system includes first and second remote network entities that communicate using the LTE link-layer protocol. The first and second remote network entities include first and second layer-2 protocol stacks, respectively. The first layer-2 protocol stack includes first PDCP, RLC and MAC sub-layers and the second layer-2 protocol stack includes second PDCP, RLC and MAC sub-layers. During transmission of data from the first remote network entity to the second remote network entity, the logical RLC and MAC PDUs are created by the first RLC and MAC sub-layers by populating logical RLC and MAC PDU structures.
US08988993B2 Wireless transmission system, wireless communication device and wireless transmission method
A wireless transmission system including antenna pairs, a demodulation functional unit, and a transmission characteristic correction unit. The antenna pairs include transmission and reception antennae. A desired wave arrives at a reception antenna in a wireless signal from one transmission antenna. Meanwhile, the reception antenna receives an unnecessary wave in a wireless signal transmitted from a different transmission antenna. The demodulation functional unit corresponding to each antenna pair demodulates a signal received by the reception antenna. The transmission characteristic correction unit carries out correction calculation based on a transmission characteristic of a transmission space between the transmission and reception antennae based on demodulation signals demodulated by the demodulation functional units to acquire an output signal corresponding to a transmission subject signal.
US08988989B2 Communication node and communication system
Communication node including a transmission equipment which communicates user data with transmission equipment of an adjacent node, and a controller which communicates a message with a controller of the adjacent node and which manages the transmission equipment of its own node, wherein: a controller of the node detects existence or nonexistence of fault of a controller of the adjacent node on the basis of situation of receiving a message sent from the controller of the adjacent node; when the controller of the node detects the fault of the controller of the adjacent node, the controller of the node issues a state reference notice to a transmission equipment of its own node and checks existence or nonexistence of fault alert detection; in a case where the fault alert detection of the transmission equipment of the node does not exist, the controller of the node maintains a path state of the node.
US08988988B2 Communication control method and management apparatus
In a communication control method: information processing apparatuses output frames to a first communication apparatus for communication; when a failure in a link between the first communication apparatus and a first one of the information processing apparatuses is detected, the first one of the information processing apparatuses switches the forwarding direction of frames containing tag information from a direction toward the first communication apparatus to a direction toward a second communication apparatus; the management apparatus searches for a second one of the information processing apparatuses which uses the tag information in common with the first one of the information processing apparatuses; and the second one of the plurality of information processing apparatus switches the forwarding direction of frames containing the tag information used in common with the first one of the information processing apparatuses, from a direction toward the first communication apparatus to a direction toward the second communication apparatus.
US08988987B2 Technology for network communication by a computer system using at least two communication protocols
A network adapter has a first and second virtual local area network (“VLAN”) device configured on each of first and second physical ports of the network adapter. The second VLAN devices are configured as a logically bonded, virtual device.
US08988984B2 Designated forwarder election for VPLS with BGP-based MAC learning
In one embodiment, a network device may participate in an election process to elect one of two or more Provider Edge devices of a Redundancy Group to be a Designated Forwarder for the Redundancy Group, where the Redundancy Group is in a Service Provider network, and where the Redundancy Group serves a Customer Edge device of a customer network. The network device may forward multi-destination traffic to the Customer Edge device according to whether the network device is elected to be the Designated Forwarder for the Redundancy Group. Multi-destination traffic may include multicast traffic, broadcast traffic, or destination unknown unicast traffic.
US08988983B1 Managing failure behavior for computing nodes of provided computer networks
Techniques are described for providing managed computer networks. In some situations, the techniques include managing communications for computing nodes of a managed computer network by using one or more particular computing nodes of the managed computer network that are configured to operate as intermediate destinations to handle at least some communications that are sent by and/or directed to one or more other computing nodes of the managed computer network. In addition, the techniques may include managing the communications in accordance with configured failure behavior specified for one or more computing nodes of the computer network, such as specified failure behavior for a computing node configured to operate as an intermediate destination that indicates how communications that would otherwise be routed via the intermediate destination computing node are to be handled if the intermediate destination computing node fails or is otherwise unavailable (e.g., to block or allow such communications).
US08988981B2 System and method for resilient wireless packet communications
Rapid failure detection and recovery in wireless communication networks is needed in order to meet, among other things, carrier class Ethernet transport channel standards. Thus, resilient wireless packet communications is provided using a hardware-assisted rapid transport channel failure detection algorithm and a Gigabit Ethernet data access card with an engine configured accordingly. In networks with various topologies, this is provided in combination with their existing protocols, such as rapid spanning tree and link aggregation protocols, respectively.
US08988976B2 Composite magnetic recording structure for heat assisted magnetic recording device
The embodiments disclose a patterned composite magnetic layer structure configured to use magnetic materials having differing temperature and magnetization characteristics in a recording device, wherein the patterned composite magnetic layer structure includes magnetic layers, at least one first magnetic material configured to be used in a particular order to reduce a recording temperature and configured to control and regulate coupling and decoupling of the magnetic layers and at least one second magnetic material with differing temperature characteristics is configured to control recording and erasing of data.
US08988973B2 Smart watch and control method for the same
Discussed are a smart watch and a control method for the same, which provide a notification indicating events, which are scheduled to occur later on the basis of a take-off time, if the smart watch is taken off. The smart watch includes a display unit to display content, a communication unit to perform transmission/reception of data, and a sensor unit to detect an input signal with regard to the smart watch and transmit the signal to a processor that serves to control the aforementioned units. The processor detects a take-off signal, indicating separation of the smart watch from a user, in a worn mode, to switch the smart watch to an unworn mode in response to the detected take-off signal, and provides a notification indicating at least one event that is scheduled to occur after detecting the take-off signal in the unworn mode.
US08988965B2 Low-pin-count non-volatile memory interface
A low-pin-count non-volatile (NVM) memory to be provided in an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the low-pin-count non-volatile (NVM) memory can use only one external control signal and one internal clock signal to generate start, stop, device ID, read/program/erase pattern, starting address, and actual read/program/erase cycles. When programming or erasing begins, toggling of the control signal increments/decrements a program or erase address and a pulse width of the control signal determines the actual program or erase time. A data out of the low-pin-count non-volatile (NVM) memory can be multiplexed with the control signal. Since the clock signal can be derived and shared from the system clock of the integrated circuit, the NVM memory need only have one external control pin for I/O transactions to realize a low-pin-count interface.
US08988964B2 Semiconductor memory device and refresh leveraging driving method thereof
A refresh leveraging driving method is provided which includes deciding a unit of word lines to be driven at a refresh leveraging operation to be the same as a redundancy repair row unit setting a lower row address of an input refresh leveraging address corresponding to the decided refresh leveraging row driving unit to a don't care state; and internally generating the don't care lower row address of the refresh leveraging address to drive word lines according to a combined refresh leveraging address.
US08988960B2 Technique for improving static random-access memory sense amplifier voltage differential
A static random-access memory (SRAM) module includes a column select (RSEL) driver coupled to an input/output (I/O) circuit by an RSEL line. The I/O circuit is configured to read bit line signals from a bit cell within the SRAM module. During a read operation, the RSEL driver pulls the RSEL line to zero in order to cause p-type metal-oxide-semiconductors (PMOSs) within the I/O circuit to sample the bit line signals output by the bit cell. In response, an aggressor driver drives the RSEL line to a negative voltage, thereby reducing the resistance of the PMOSs within the I/O circuit.
US08988959B2 Circuit and method for dynamically changing a trip point in a sensing inverter
A circuit and method for dynamically changing trip point voltage in a sensing inverter circuit. In one embodiment, the sensing inverter circuit includes: (1) a base inverter circuit couplable to logic-high and logic-low voltage sources at respective inputs thereof and configured to transition an output thereof from a previous logic-level voltage to a present logic-level voltage based on a logic value of an input voltage received by the base inverter circuit, and (2) a feedback circuit associated with the base inverter circuit and configured to employ the previous logic-level voltage to decouple one of the logic-high and logic-low voltage sources from one of the inputs and thereby shift a trip voltage of the base inverter circuit toward the input voltage.
US08988957B2 Sense amplifier soft-fail detection circuit
A sense amplifier test circuit that may allow for detecting soft failures may include a voltage generator circuit, a sense amplifier, and a detection circuit. The voltage generator may be operable to controllably supply different differential voltages to the sense amplifier, and the detection circuit may be operable to detect an analog voltage on the output of the sense amplifier.
US08988956B2 Programmable memory built in self repair circuit
An integrated circuit chip comprising at least one programmable built-in self-repair (PBISR) for repairing memory is described. The PBISR comprises an interface that receives signals external to the integrated chip. The PBISR further includes a port slave module that programs MBISR registers, program and instruction memory. The PBISR further comprises a programmable transaction engine and a programmable checker. Further, the MBISR comprises an eFUSE cache that implements logic to denote defective elements.
US08988952B2 Semiconductor device having ODT function
Disclosed herein is a device that includes: a data strobe terminal; a data terminal; a first output driver coupled to the data strobe terminal; a second output driver coupled to the data terminal; and a data control circuit configured to enable the first and second output drivers to function as termination resistors in different timings from each other.
US08988950B2 Data loading circuit and semiconductor memory device comprising same
A data loading circuit comprises a non-volatile memory configured to store non-volatile data and output a serial data signal based on the stored non-volatile data in response to a power-up operation, a deserializer configured to receive the serial data signal and output multiple data bits at intervals of a unit period based on the received serial data signal, a load controller configured to generate multiple loading selection signals that are sequentially activated one-by-one at each interval of the unit period, and a loading memory unit configured to sequentially store the data bits at each interval of the unit period in response to the loading selection signals.
US08988947B2 Back bias during program verify of non-volatile storage
Different back bias (or body bias) conditions are applied to a non-volatile storage system during different program verify operations of a programming operation. A back bias may be applied during verify of an intermediate state (e.g., a lower page, middle page). The intermediate state is a state that exists during a program operation, but is not one of the final states. A lower back bias or no back bias is applied during verify of a final state (e.g., an upper page). Thus, a different back bias may be used when verifying an intermediate state than the back bias used when verifying a final state. Using the back bias makes it easier to verify a low VTH, such as a negative VTH. Also, using the back bias is effective at dealing with sense amplifier headroom issues.
US08988943B2 Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof
A semiconductor memory device and a method of operating a semiconductor memory device includes connecting selected even bit lines to selected even cell strings, programming memory cells in the selected even cell strings by using a second program permission voltage higher than a first program permission voltage, connecting selected odd bit lines to selected odd cell strings when programming of the memory cells is finished, and programming memory cells in the selected odd cell strings by using the first program permission voltage.
US08988942B2 Methods for extending the effective voltage window of a memory cell
Methods for operating a non-volatile storage system in which cross-coupling effects are utilized to extend the effective threshold voltage window of a memory cell and to embed additional information within the extended threshold voltage window are described. In some cases, additional information may be embedded within a memory cell storing the highest programming state if the memory cell is in a high boosting environment by splitting the highest programming state into two substates and programming the memory cell to one of the two substates based on the additional information. A memory cell may be in a high boosting environment if its neighboring memory cells are in a high programmed state. Additional information may also be embedded within a memory cell storing the lowest programming state if the memory cell is in a low boosting environment. The additional information may include error correction information.
US08988939B2 Pre-charge during programming for 3D memory using gate-induced drain leakage
In a programming operation of a 3D stacked non-volatile memory device, the channel of an inhibited NAND string is pre-charged by gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) to achieve a high level of boosting which prevents program disturb in inhibited storage elements. In a program-verify iteration, prior to applying a program pulse, the drain-side select gate transistor is reverse biased to generate GIDL, causing the channel to be boosted to a pre-charge level such as 1.5V. Subsequently, when the program pulse is applied to a selected word line and pass voltages are applied to unselected word lines, the channel is boosted higher from the pre-charge level due to capacitive coupling. The pre-charge is effective even for a NAND string that is partially programmed because it does not rely on directly driving the channel from the bit line end.
US08988938B2 Method to reduce program disturbs in non-volatile memory cells
A non-volatile memory and methods of operating the same to reduce disturbs is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes coupling a first positive high voltage to a first global wordline in a first row of an array of memory cells, and coupling a second negative high voltage (VNEG) to a first bitline in a first column of the array to apply a bias to a non-volatile memory transistor in a selected memory cell to program the selected memory cell. A margin voltage having a magnitude less than VNEG is coupled to a second global wordline in a second row of the array, and an inhibit voltage coupled to a second bitline in a second column of the array to reduce a bias applied to a non-volatile memory transistor in an unselected memory cell to reduce program disturb of data programmed in the unselected memory cell due to programming.
US08988933B2 Semiconductor memory device and driving method of the same
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device that can reduce power consumption includes plural memory banks containing nonvolatile plural memory cells. A common data bus is shared by plural memory banks and transmits the data of the memory cells. The plural switches are provided respectively between the electric source and plural memory banks. A controller controls the plural switches. The controller, in the data reading-out action or the data writing-in action, makes at least one of the switches corresponding to at least one of the memory banks accessible in a conduction state, and other switches in a non-conduction state.
US08988932B2 Time processing method and circuit for synchronous SRAM
A timing processing method and a circuit for a synchronous SRAM are provided. The method includes: directly inputting an address signal to a wordline decoder for logic decoding; generating various signals by setting various devices in terms of timing; and performing sensitive amplification on data that is input by a memory cell array and is selected by a bitline, and then outputting the data, that is, generating a data output signal. The circuit for a synchronous SRAM includes: a wordline decoder, a timing generator, a wordline controller, a wordline pulse width generator, a memory cell array, and a sense amplifier.
US08988931B2 Permutational memory cells
Various embodiments comprise apparatuses having at least two resistance change memory (RCM) cells. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes at least two electrical contacts coupled to each of the RCM cells. A memory cell material is disposed between pairs of each of the electrical contacts coupled to each of the RCM cells. The memory cell material is capable of forming a conductive pathway between the electrical contacts with at least a portion of the memory cell material arranged to cross-couple a conductive pathway between select ones of the at least two electrical contacts electrically coupled to each of the at least two RCM cells. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
US08988929B2 Nonvolatile memory device and related operating method
A method is for driving a nonvolatile memory device, where the nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array composed of resistance memory cells. The method includes electrically connecting a clamping circuit, a line resistor and a selected one of the resistance memory cells in series between a sensing node and a ground. The method further includes adjusting at least one of a clamping voltage of the clamping circuit and a resistance of the line resistor according to a relative location of the selected one of the resistance memory cells within the memory cell array, and applying a read current to the sense node and sensing a voltage of the sense node to read a data stored in the selected one of the resistance memory cells.
US08988918B2 High current capable access device for three-dimensional solid-state memory
The present invention generally relates to three-dimensional arrangement of memory cells and methods of addressing those cells. The memory cells can be arranged in a 3D orientation such that macro cells that are in the middle of the 3D arrangement can be addressed without the need for overhead wiring or by utilizing a minimal amount of overhead wiring. An individual macro cell within a memory cell can be addressed by applying three separate currents to the macro cell. A first current is applied to the memory cell directly. A second current is applied to the source electrode of the MESFET, and a third current is applied to the gate electrode of the MESFET to permit the current to travel through the channel of the MESFET to the drain electrode which is coupled to the memory element.
US08988917B2 Bit line resistance compensation
Methods for compensating for variations in bit line resistance in non-volatile memories are described. In some embodiments, use of multiple patterning lithography for forming bit lines may lead to systematic variations in bit line resistance between groups of bit lines within a memory array. For example, in some cases, every fourth bit line of four neighboring (or adjacent) bit lines may be formed differently than the other three bit lines within a group of four neighboring bit lines. In one embodiment, bit line segment swapping may be used between blocks within a memory array in order to mitigate variations in bit line resistance. In another embodiment, each group of adjacent bit line segments may be offset (or staggered) per block such that the local routing necessary to connect bit line segments into bit lines may be simplified.
US08988916B2 Memory structure with reduced number of reflected signals
A memory structure with reduced-reflection signals at least includes a processing unit; a lumped circuit unit, connected to the processing unit; a plurality of memories, connected to the lumped circuit unit; and a reflected signal absorption unit, disposed at one end of the lumped circuit unit. Thereby, with the cooperation of the processing unit with each memory for signal transmission, the reflected signal absorption unit can be used to absorb the reflected signals so as to reduce the number of reflected signals during signal transmission, achieving the effect of stable operation for the memories.
US08988910B2 Alternating-current conversion system having low power consumption bleeder circuit
A low power consumption bleeder circuit is disclosed, and it is coupled to an alternating-current (AC) power source, an input filtering capacitor, and a rectifying filter. The low power consumption bleeder circuit includes a first switch component, a second switch component, and a controller. The first switch component is coupled to a first input terminal of the AC power source and a first connection terminal of the rectifying filter. The second switch component is coupled to a second input terminal of the AC power source and the first connection terminal of the rectifying filter. When the AC power source is detected to be removed, the controller controls at least one of the first switch component and the second switch component to be conductive.
US08988909B2 Power conversion device
A power conversion device includes a main circuit unit (direct-current main circuit) that converts direct-current power into alternating-current power, and a control unit that controls the direct-current main circuit. The direct-current main circuit includes a voltage detector (detector) that detects a capacitor voltage and a discharge circuit that discharges energy accumulated in a capacitor. The control unit includes a detection circuit that estimates a capacitor voltage during a normal operation based on a voltage transmitted from the voltage detector in a state where the main circuit unit is disconnected from a power supply and that detects a sign that a short circuit fault occurs in the capacitor, and a control circuit that outputs a control signal for controlling the discharge circuit to operate when the control circuit receives a detection signal from the detection circuit.
US08988908B2 Capacitive power supply with surge current limitation
A capacitive power supply including: a first capacitive element and a first resistive element in series between a first terminal of a power switch and at least one rectifying element having a second terminal connected to a first electrode of at least one second capacitive element for providing a D.C. voltage; and a bidirectional switch in parallel on the resistor.
US08988907B2 Compensating element connected to a power line through an autotransformer
An apparatus for compensating a power system transmission line (46). The apparatus comprises an autotransformer (40) disposed in series with the transmission line (46). An autotransformer series winding (40A) extends from an input terminal (46) to a neutral terminal (44) and a common winding (40B) extends from an output terminal (54) to the neutral terminal (44). A compensating device (42) is connected between the neutral terminal (44) and ground. Although connected in shunt with the transmission line (46), the compensating device (42) operates as a series-connected compensating device relative to the transmission line (46). The autotransformer (40) can be connected in a buck or a boost configuration with a fixed or moveable winding tap (88). Also, two autotransformers (110, 114) can be connected in a back-to-back configuration with the compensating device (42) connected to either autotransformer (110, 114).
US08988901B2 Switching power supply device
A switching power supply includes a series resonant circuit that includes a resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor connected in series with a primary winding of a converter transformer. By controlling turning on and off of first and second switching elements in a complementary manner, current is supplied to the series resonant circuit. A third switching element connected on the secondary side of the converter transformer is synchronized with the first switching element, and a fourth switching element is synchronized with the second switching element. If a switching frequency is less than a resonant frequency, turning on of the third and fourth switching elements is synchronized with turning on of the first and second switching elements, and turning off of the third and fourth switching elements is controlled, without being synchronized with turning off of the first and second switching elements, after half a resonant period has elapsed.
US08988899B2 Switching regulator device
A switching regulator device including a power conversion transformer for converting an input voltage from a power source at a primary side to a predetermined output voltage and outputting the output voltage to a load circuit connected to a secondary side, a power converter circuit that has a primary-side circuit and a secondary-side circuit insulated from each other, and transmits a load driving control signal input to the primary-side circuit through the secondary-side circuit to the load circuit, and a feedback circuit that performs feedback control on the output voltage on the basis of feedback current generated at the primary side of the power conversion transformer, a part of the feedback current of the feedback circuit being consumed in synchronism with the load driving control signal.
US08988895B2 Interconnection elements with encased interconnects
An interconnection element is disclosed that includes a plurality of drawn metal conductors, a dielectric layer, and opposed surfaces having a plurality of wettable contacts thereon. The conductors may include grains having lengths oriented in a direction between the first and second ends of the conductors. A dielectric layer for insulating the conductors may have first and second opposed surfaces and a thickness less than 1 millimeter between the first and second surface. One or more conductors may be configured to carry a signal to or from a microelectronic element. First and second wettable contacts may be used to bond the interconnection element to at least one of a microelectronic element and a circuit panel. The wettable contacts may match a spatial distribution of element contacts at a face of a microelectronic element or of circuit contacts exposed at a face of component other than the microelectronic element.
US08988884B2 Lightweight audio system for automotive applications and method
A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material molded to provide details to accept audio devices and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips.
US08988883B2 Electro-optic device and electronic device
An electro-optic device includes an electro-optic panel, a first holding member that holds the electro-optic panel, and a second holding member provided with a heat emitting portion on the side opposite to a surface to which the electro-optic panel is adhered. In the electro-optic device, a predetermined gap is provided between the first holding member and the second holding member.
US08988879B2 Modular data center cooling
A datacenter cooling apparatus includes a portable housing having lifting and transporting structures for moving the apparatus, opposed sides in the housing, at least one of the opposed sides defining one or more air passage openings arranged to capture warmed air from rack-mounted electronics, opposed ends in the housing, at least one of the opposed ends defining one or more air passage openings positioned to allow lateral passage of captured air into and out of the housing, and one or more cooling coils associated with the housing to receive and cool the captured warm air, and provide the cooled air for circulation into a datacenter workspace.
US08988876B2 Magnetic attachment unit
A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.
US08988847B2 Method and apparatus for local modification of atmosphere
The invention concerns environmentally compatible methods and apparatuses for local modification of atmosphere, and in particular, for causing precipitation, dissipating fogs and/or clouds, removing air-pollutants in a target area. SUBSTANCE: the method involves applying air ionizers (1a, 1b, 1c) to generate ion flows into atmosphere to form convective flows and/or spatial charges. To control characteristics of the ion flow, it is proposed to use one or multiple air ionizers (1a, 1b, 1c) provided with variable-inclination electrode working cells. EFFECT: wide application of an air ionizer (1) with variable layout (inclination angle) of the electrodes in weather condition modification over a target area.
US08988845B2 Forklift and automated warehouse system
The present invention provides a forklift and a warehouse system. The forklift includes a hoisting apparatus, a fork, and a static electricity eliminating device. The hoisting apparatus is used to maneuver the fork and the static electricity eliminating device which supplies pressurized ionized airflow toward an area located above the fork. By way of forgoing, the accumulated static electricity can he electively drained and grounded. Furthermore, the accumulated static electricity within the warehouse system can be effectively controlled and eliminated.
US08988843B2 Actuator module, system for locking-unlocking a door
The present invention concerns an actuator module (1) comprising an actuating unit (3), said actuating unit comprising a solenoid (31) having a first (31′) and a second (31″) electric terminal, capable, when excited, of generating an electromagnetic field and a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) resistor (32) connected in series with said second electric terminal (31) of said solenoid (31), said actuator module (1) being characterized in that said actuating unit (3) can be controlled by activation signals and protection signals, and in that it comprises a switch circuit (33, 34), connected between said first (31′) and second (31″) electric terminal, said switch circuit (33, 34) allowing the passage of current through said solenoid (31) and said PTC resistor (32) by said activation signals; and preventing the passage of current through said solenoid (31), but allowing the passage of current through said PTC resistor (32), by said protection signals.The present invention also concerns a system for locking-unlocking a door of a household appliance, such as a washing machine and a method for protecting a locking-unlocking system.
US08988841B2 Apparatus and methods for input protection for power converters
Systems and methods in accordance with this invention provide a power converter including an input signal terminal, a first output signal at a first output signal terminal, and a controller. The controller is adapted to switch the first output signal from a first value to a second value, measure a voltage at the input signal terminal as a function of time, set a flag to a first flag value if the measured voltage falls below a predetermined value within a first predetermined time interval after the first output signal has been switched from the first value to the second value, otherwise set the flag to a second flag value, and save the flag in a memory. Numerous other aspects are also provided.
US08988840B2 Overcharge prevention circuit and semiconductor device
Provided is an overcharge prevention circuit for clamping a voltage value of an electric power generation unit in an overcharged state to a constant value, in which the number of elements is small and which does not consume electric power unnecessarily. The overcharge prevention circuit includes: a backflow prevention diode; a clamping transistor having a gate connected to a cathode of the backflow prevention diode, a source connected to an anode thereof, and a drain connected to an overcharge prevention switch. Upon detection of overcharge, a current is discharged via the clamping transistor and the overcharge prevention switch, thereby clamping a potential of the electric power generation unit to around a voltage of an electricity storage unit.
US08988837B2 Power distribution system incorporating ground fault interrupt protection
A power distribution system includes multiple uniform power distribution modules and multiple uniform mating connectors. A portion of the mating connectors are connected to the power distribution modules directly and the remainder are connected to the power distribution modules via a ground fault interrupt adapter.
US08988835B1 Contact recording tunnel magnetoresistive sensor with layer of refractory metal
Various embodiments relate to an apparatus having a sensor with an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, magnetic shields flanking the tunnel magnetoresistive region, and gaps between the active tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The active tunnel magnetoresistive region includes a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a reference layer. At least one of the gaps includes an electrically conductive layer having a refractory material. Other embodiments relate to an apparatus having a sensor with an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, magnetic shields flanking the tunnel magnetoresistive region, and gaps between the tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The active tunnel magnetoresistive region includes a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a reference layer. At least one of the gaps includes an electrically conductive layer having a modified region at a media facing side thereof, the modified region being at least one of nonconductive and mechanically hardened.
US08988834B2 Current perpendicular to plane magnetoresistive sensor employing half metal alloys for improved sensor performance
A magnetoresistive sensor having employing a Mn containing Huesler alloy for improved magnetoresistive performance in a structure that minimizes corrosion and Mn migration. The sensor can be constructed with a pinned layer structure that includes a lamination of layers of Co2MnX and CoFe, where X is Al, Ge or Si. The Co2MnX can be sandwiched between the layers of CoFe to prevent Mn migration into the spacer/barrier layer. The free layer can also be constructed as a lamination of Co2MnX and CoFe layers, and may also be constructed so that the Co2MnX layer is sandwiched between CoFe layers to prevent Mn migration.
US08988833B2 Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive sensor with reduced-width top and bottom electrodes and method for making
A current-perpendicular-to-the plane magnetoresistive sensor has top and bottom electrodes narrower than the sensor trackwidth. The electrodes are formed of one of Cu, Au, Ag and AgSn, which have an ion milling etch rate much higher than the etch rates for the sensor's ferromagnetic materials. Ion milling is performed at a high angle relative to a line orthogonal to the plane of the electrode layers and the layers in the sensor stack. Because of the much higher etch rate of the material of the top and bottom electrode layers, the electrode layers will have side edges that are recessed from the side edges of the free layer. This reduces the surface areas for the top and bottom electrodes, which causes the sense current passing through the sensor's free layer to be confined in a narrower channel, which is equivalent to having a sensor with narrower physical trackwidth.
US08988831B1 Head gimbal assembly and disk device with the same
According to an embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a support plate, a wiring member, a magnetic head and drive members. A gimbal portion of the wiring member includes a thin metallic plate including a tongue portion mounted with a magnetic head, a proximal end portion fixed to the support plate, support projections, and link portions, an insulating layer including first bridge portions extending from the proximal end portion to the tongue portion, and second bridge portions extending from the proximal end portion to middle portions of the first bridges, and a conducive layer including signal wirings extending to the tongue portion through the second and first bridge portions, and reinforcement wiring portions. The drive members are provided at the first bridge portions.
US08988830B1 Air bearing design to mitigate lube waterfall effect
A slider comprises a slider trailing edge; a lubricant blocker having a disk facing surface and a lubricant blocker trailing edge, the lubricant blocker trailing edge having a lateral end trailing a central end; and a lubricant guiding channel recessed from the disk facing surface and extending from the slider trailing edge to the lubricant blocker trailing edge.
US08988829B1 Disk drive with preamplifier for multiple readers in a slider with a common return signal
Disk drive embodiments with common lead connections in the slider, suspension, and preamplifier are described. The arm electronics IC includes a preamplifier with single-ended input from the set of signal traces that include a common signal return lead for the plurality of read transducers (readers) in the slider. Two embodiments of the preamps are described that include a single-ended design and a pseudo-single-ended design. Each embodiment supplies the required bias to each read transducer using an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) that drives a variable current source connected to the transducer. The positive input to the OTA is a DC voltage with the AC signal from the transducer imposed on it. The negative input is a DC reference voltage. Various embodiments of the signal trace configuration on the suspension are described including a single and double layer embodiments.
US08988823B1 Thin-film magnetic head, method of manufacturing the same, head gimbal assembly, and hard disk drive
A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head has a leading shield part opposing the main magnetic pole layer on the substrate side of the main magnetic pole layer, a substrate side shield part comes in contact with the leading shield part. The thin-film coil has a substrate side coil layer disposed between the main magnetic pole layer and the substrate. In the thin-film magnetic head, the spaces to the substrate about a leading lower end face of the leading shield part, a shield upper end face of the substrate side shield part, and coil upper end face of the substrate side coil layer are formed to be equal to each other. Further, a depth of the leading shield part is formed to be small than the depth of the substrate side shield part.
US08988822B2 CoFe/Ni Multilayer film with perpendicular anisotropy for microwave assisted magnetic recording
A spin transfer oscillator with a seed/SIL/spacer/FGL/capping configuration is disclosed with a composite seed layer made of Ta and a metal layer having a fcc(111) or hcp(001) texture to enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in an overlying (A1/A2)X laminated spin injection layer (SIL). Field generation layer (FGL) is made of a high Bs material such FeCo. Alternatively, the STO has a seed/FGL/spacer/SIL/capping configuration. The SIL may include a FeCo layer that is exchanged coupled with the (A1/A2)X laminate (x is 5 to 50) to improve robustness. The FGL may include an (A1/A2)Y laminate (y=5 to 30) exchange coupled with the high Bs layer to enable easier oscillations. A1 may be one of Co, CoFe, or CoFeR where R is a metal, and A2 is one of Ni, NiCo, or NiFe. The STO may be formed between a main pole and trailing shield in a write head.
US08988821B2 Hard disk drive enclosure
A hard disk drive enclosure includes a housing and an operation module attached to the housing. The operation module includes a mounting block attached to the housing, a handle pivotably attached to the mounting block, and a sliding member slidably attached to the handle. When the handle is rotated to a closed position, the handle abuts against the mounting block, and the sliding member is slidable between a first position, in which the sliding member is latched to the mounting block for locking the handle at the closed position, and a second position, in which the sliding member is unlatched from the mounting block and the handle is rotatable away from the closed position to an open position. When the handle is rotated to the open position, a free end of the handle is spaced away from the mounting block.
US08988818B2 Medium processing apparatus, storage apparatus and conveyance apparatus
A medium processing apparatus includes a magazine including a plurality of storage units each of which stores the storage medium, the adjacent storage units being connected by a hinge member so that each of the storage units rotates on a shaft, a curved conveyance path that guides the magazine, a conveying unit that conveys the magazine along the conveyance path, and a medium moving unit that moves the storage medium between the storage unit of the conveyed magazine and the processing unit, and thus space saving is achieved.
US08988816B1 Head amplifier and magnetic disk apparatus
According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic disks, a plurality of heads which execute recording or reading with respect to the magnetic disks, a plurality of sensors provided in each of the heads and output a signal in accordance with a flying height of the heads from the magnetic disks, a writing module which simultaneously writes servo data in the plurality of magnetic disks by using the plurality of heads, and a control module which simultaneously executes a process for detecting a crash of the heads into the magnetic disks for the plurality of heads based on each output signal of the plurality of sensors when the servo data is written.
US08988813B2 Microwave-assisted magnetic recording and reproducing device
A microwave-assisted magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes a microwave power generator, a microwave magnetic field generating element, and a thin film magnetic head that may record a data signal in high density in a magnetic recording medium that has a high coercivity. A magnetic recording medium, a magnetic head that records information in the magnetic recording medium, a microwave power generator provided independently of the magnetic head, and a differential signal supply unit used to supply microwave power generated by the microwave power generator as differential signals to a microwave magnetic field generating element provided at the magnetic head are included.
US08988811B1 Disk drive toggling VCM inductor compensation to reduce acoustic noise
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, and a voice coil motor (VCM) operable to rotate an actuator arm about a pivot to actuate a head radially over the disk. A voice coil voltage is measured across the voice coil, a velocity command of the VCM is set to substantially zero, an inductor compensation circuit is toggled at least once by enabling and disabling the inductor compensation circuit, the inductor compensation circuit is enabled, the velocity command of the VCM is adjusted, and a control signal is generated and applied to the voice coil in order to move the actuator arm, wherein the control signal is generated in response to the adjusted velocity command, the voice coil voltage, and the estimated inductance voltage.
US08988809B1 Disk recording device for writing a radially coherent reference band by measuring relative timing offsets of reference bursts
A disk recording device is disclosed comprising a disk and a head. A first plurality of reference bursts are written along a first radius of the disk, the first plurality of reference bursts comprising a first reference burst. A second plurality of reference bursts are written along a second radius of the disk circumferentially offset from the first radius, the second plurality of reference bursts comprising a second reference burst. A first segment of a reference band is written along a third radius of the disk circumferentially offset from the second radius, and at a first timing offset from the first reference burst. A second timing offset between the first reference burst and the second reference burst is measured, and a second segment of the reference band is written radially coherent with the first segment based on the first timing offset and the second timing offset.
US08988808B1 Write clock rephase for magnetic recording device
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to synchronization for writing to a recording medium. According to an aspect, an apparatus includes: circuitry configured to measure a timing difference based on a servo detect pulse and a write pulse, wherein the servo detect pulse comes from a detection of servo data from a recording medium including pre-defined data positions, and wherein the write pulse comes from a write clock signal used with the recording medium; and circuitry configured to control an adjustment to a phase of the write clock signal based on the timing difference to align the write clock signal with at least a portion of the pre-defined data positions.
US08988806B2 Tape drive buffer utilization
Records or filemarks read from data segments are aggregated into at least one single data segment. The records and the filemarks are reorganized and restructured in the single data segment such that buffer utilization is improved.
US08988805B1 Method for clipping hard drives while preserving full actuator arm movement
A hard disc drive (HDD) of a larger native capacity is clipped to emulate a smaller capacity drive by allocating storage space in tracks in at least both a radially innermost region and radially outermost region of the platter(s). During normal operation, when data is written to or read from the clipped HDD, the actuator arm will move through its entire, normal range of motion, as the read/write heads seek tracks in both the radially inner and outer regions of the platter(s). In some embodiments, storage space is also allocated from tracks in regions interposed between the inner and outer regions. In one embodiment, all tracks on the platter(s) are divided into regions of substantially equal data storage capacity, and the storage space is allocated for the clipped HDD is divided substantially evenly across all the regions.
US08988804B2 Magnetic index mark bias point offset
The embodiments disclose an orientation control bias point coupled to a magnetic index mark and having a bias point offset set at predetermined coordinates configured to substantially prevent concentricity run-out.
US08988797B2 Microscope objective with at least one lens group that can be moved along the optical axis
The present disclosure relates to a family of microscopes, each with at least one lens group that includes at least one lens and a lens mount and moves along the optical axis via a drive system for The drive system includes a rotary motor and transmission elements to convert the rotary motion to linear motion to transmit the translational movement to the lens group, and, simultaneously, to prevent rotations of the lens group about the optical axis. In an embodiment, the rotating output shaft of the motor is connected with a screw spindle that engages with a threaded hole machined into the lens mount, so that the lens group is directly moved in a translational manner. The engagement of the screw spindle with the lens mount both effects the translational movement of the lens group and secures the lens group against rotation about the optical axis.
US08988796B1 Image capturing lens system, imaging device and mobile terminal
An image capturing lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element and a fourth lens element. The first lens element has refractive power. The second lens element with positive refractive power has a convex image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof. The third lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface in a paraxial region thereof and a convex image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof. The fourth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof, wherein both of an object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof are aspheric, and the image-side surface thereof has at least one convex shape in an off-axis region thereof. The image capturing lens system has a total of four lens elements with refractive power.
US08988793B2 Imaging lens
An imaging lens includes a positive first lens; a negative second lens with a meniscus lens shape directing a convex surface thereof to an object side near an optical axis; a positive third lens; a negative fourth lens with a meniscus lens shape directing a concave surface thereof to the object side near the optical axis; a negative fifth lens with a meniscus lens shape directing a convex surface thereof to the object side near the optical axis, arranged in this order from the object side. The imaging lens satisfies the following conditional expressions when the first lens has a focal length f1, the second lens has a focal length f2, the third lens has a focal length f3, the fourth lens has a focal length f4, and the fifth lens has a focal length f5: f1
US08988792B2 Optical system, optical apparatus and method for arranging diffractive optical element
A telephoto lens TL having, in order from an object, a plurality of lenses L1, L2, . . . and a diffractive optical element DOE which has a diffraction grating having a rotationally symmetric shape with respect to the optical axis, wherein the diffractive optical element DOE is disposed on any one of lens surfaces of the plurality of lenses L1, L2, . . . , and conditional expression 0.50
US08988788B2 Zoom lens
A zoom lens includes an external frame, a rotary shaft, an internal frame, a lens group and a spring. The internal frame is connected to the external frame via the rotary shaft, so that the internal frame is rotatable relative to the external frame. The lens group is fixed in the internal frame. The spring comprises a deformation part and two extension parts extended from the deformation part, wherein one extension part is propped against the internal frame and inclined at an acute angle relative to the rotary shaft, and the other extension part is propped against the external frame.
US08988786B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes in order from an object side: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power which does not move for zooming; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power which moves during zooming; a third lens unit having a positive refractive power which moves during zooming; and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power which does not move for zooming, the third lens unit moving to an image side and then to the object side for zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, in which a focal length (f1) of the first lens unit, a focal length (f2) of the second lens unit, a focal length (f3) of the third lens unit, and a lateral magnification (β3w) of the third lens unit at the wide angle end when a ray enters from infinity are appropriately set.
US08988785B2 Zoom lens with high optical performance and image pickup apparatus having the same
A zoom lens comprises a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a rear group including at least two lens units and having a positive refractive power as a whole, in order from an object side to an image side. An interval of each of the lens units changes in a zoom operation, the rear group includes a lens unit R having a positive refractive power at the most image side, the lens unit R includes a lens having a concave surface at the image side and having an aspherical surface shape where a negative refractive power becomes stronger with increasing distance from an optical axis, and focal lengths f1, fR, and fw of the first lens unit, the lens unit R, and a whole system at a wide-angle end, respectively, are appropriately set.
US08988779B2 System and method for combining light beams
An optical system and method for combining multiple beams along a single light path is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of bandpass filters are arranged about the sides of a regular pentagon, the band pass filters being reflective of light wavelengths outside of the bandpass range. A plurality of light sources are positioned such that light from a source passes through an associated bandpass filter, preferably at an angle of about 18°. Light from the first light source passes out of the pentagonal housing after passing through the filter. Light from the other light sources are reflected off of the interior surfaces filters so as to combine with the light from the first light source.
US08988778B2 Color filter array using dichroic filter
A color filter array may include a plurality of pixels and control a pass wavelength band of the plurality of pixels using a dichroic filter that passes light of a specific wavelength range and blocks the rest of wavelengths. The pass wavelength band of the plurality of pixels may be adjusted according to a plurality of thicknesses of the dichroic filter. The dichroic filter may be formed by repeatedly forming a layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and a layer of silicon dioxide (SiO2).
US08988773B2 Optical sighting device
An optical sighting device and a method of providing magnification in the optical sighting device are disclosed. In one example, the optical sighting device comprises a first telescope including a first focal plane, a second telescope, comprising a first variable power lens group, a second variable power lens group, and a second focal plane positioned between the first and second variable power lens groups, and a rotary optical tumbler comprised of a Galilean telescope configured to rotate into and out of a optical path that extends through the first telescope, the Galilean telescope and the second telescope, the rotation being about an axis disposed relative to the optical path.
US08988771B2 Method for evaluating fluorescence results in a microscope image
The invention allows a quantitative evaluation of images acquired by microscope having fewer errors and is applicable in connection with high-resolution methods, particular at a high speed. A microscope image is analyzed in which the intensity distributions of fluorescence events have in each instance a diffraction-dependent extent which corresponds to an extent of a point spread function of the microscope and are arranged so as to be spatially non-overlapping, or at least predominantly spatially non-overlapping, in that at least one counter is initialized for every region to be analyzed in the microscope image, at least one fluorescence event is identified in a region to be analyzed in the microscope image, and the counter corresponding to the relevant region is incremented for each fluorescence event identified in the region. The counting results in a dramatic improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio at a high evaluation speed.
US08988764B2 Display medium driver, non-transitory computer-readable medium, display device, and method of driving display medium
A display medium driver includes a translucent display substrate, a rear substrate that is opposed to the display substrate with a gap interposed therebetween, a dispersion medium enclosed between the substrates, a first particle group dispersed in the dispersion medium so as to migrate by applying a first voltage across the substrates, and a second particle group dispersed in the dispersion medium so as to migrate by applying a second voltage across the substrates, the driver including a setting unit setting a voltage value and a voltage application time of the first voltage with which the first particle group does not migrate at the time of causing the second particle group to migrate depending on a display density of the second particle group and a voltage application unit first applying the first voltage across the substrates and then applying the second voltage across the substrates.
US08988763B2 Predictive electrophoretic display
A predictive electrophoretic display is described. An electrophoretic display may include charged particles, a portion of which are designated as electronic ink, disposed between a conductive display plate and a conductive back plate. Charges may be applied to the conductive plates to migrate the electronic ink to different states. For example, the electronic ink may be positioned in an undisplayed state or in a displayed state. Further, the electronic ink may migrate through multiple intermediate states. In at least some of the intermediate states, the electronic ink may not be visible on the electrophoretic display. However, the electronic ink is configured to migrate to the displayed state faster from the intermediate state than from the undisplayed state. Portions of the electronic ink may be prepared for display on the electrophoretic display by initiating migration of electronic ink that corresponds to predicted future input to the intermediate states.
US08988762B2 Electrophoretic display device and method for manufacturing the same
An electrophoretic display device includes a lower substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes on the lower substrate, having a lower organic layer on the pixel electrodes and the lower substrate, and having partition walls formed on the lower organic layer to surround the pixel electrodes, the pixel electrodes and partition walls defining a plurality of sub-pixels; an upper substrate bonded with the lower substrate, the upper substrate having a common electrode formed thereon with an upper organic layer on the common electrode; and electrophoretic dispersion liquid comprising a plurality of charged particles colored to display colors, the electrophoretic dispersion liquid disposed in the plurality of the sub-pixels defined by the pixel electrodes and the partition walls.
US08988761B2 Display apparatus and method of driving the same
A transflective display apparatus includes a first electrode and a second electrode, which face each other and are separated from one another by a pixel electrode. In addition, a preparation voltage is applied to the first electrode or the second electrode before applying a driving voltage to the pixel electrode.
US08988755B2 Mirror reflective element
A variable reflectance vehicular electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element assembly includes a front substrate and a rear substrate and a perimeter seal disposed therebetween. The front substrate has a first surface and a second surface that has a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat. The rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, with the third surface having a conductive coating disposed thereat. The perimeter seal spaces the front and rear substrates apart and forms an interpane cavity therebetween. The third surface conductive coating includes a plurality of layers, which includes a first layer of nickel chromium. The first layer of nickel chromium is overcoated with a silver or silver alloy layer, and the silver or silver alloy layer is overcoated with a second layer of nickel chromium, and the second layer of nickel chromium is overcoated with a reflective layer.
US08988751B2 Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus including the same
An optical scanning device is disclosed. The optical scanning device comprises an overfilled optical system in which an incoming light beam, formed wider than a width in a rotation direction of a rotating multifaceted mirror's reflective surface, is caused to be incident on the reflective surface and a scanning object's scanning surface is scanned by an outgoing beam reflected by the reflective surface. The incoming beam is incident on the rotating multifaceted mirror's reflective surface, having an angle with respect to a virtual vertical surface that is vertical to the scanning surface and the outgoing beam's scanning direction. A light amount distribution for positions on the scanning surface in the scanning direction is corrected based on a slope of a straight line that expresses a ratio of light amount changes for positions on the scanning surface in the scanning direction when scanning the scanning surface using the outgoing beam.
US08988750B2 Optical scanner, mirror chip, method of manufacturing optical scanner, and image forming apparatus
An optical scanner includes: a movable section which includes a light reflecting member with a light reflecting surface and which is rotatable around the central axis of rotation; four movable beams which extend from the movable section along the light reflecting surface and which are provided at angles of 90° along the circumferential direction of the movable section; a displacement section connected to each movable beam; two driving beams extending from the displacement section along the surface direction of the light reflecting surface so as to be perpendicular to the movable beams; a fixed section connected to each driving beam; an inner frame section formed in the displacement section; a permanent magnet fixed to the inner frame section; and a driving section which drives the displacement section. Each movable beam includes a bending section which deforms the moving beam by bending in a direction perpendicular to the light reflecting surface.
US08988746B2 Image scanning device with improved dew condensation detection and correction
In the aforementioned image scanning apparatus of this embodiment, a condensation detection patch includes pluralities of patch areas with different reflectances arranged adjacently. A data acquiring unit acquires measurement values of the condensation detection patch by an image sensor as condensation detection patch data. A condensation determining unit determines whether condensation occurs or not on the basis of the condensation detection patch data corresponding to one with a low reflectance of two patch areas arranged adjacently in the patch areas.
US08988739B2 Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus comprising: a placing portion on which an original being fed is placed; an original conveying portion which conveys the original placed on the placing portion; an image reading portion which reads an image on the original conveyed by the original conveying portion; an stacking portion which is disposed under the placing portion and on which the original read by the image reading portion is stacked; and an illuminating portion which is disposed above the stacking portion and below the placing portion to illuminate the stacking portion, wherein the illuminating portion is disposed outside an original stacking area, that a maximum-sized original in a width direction orthogonal to an original conveyance direction is stacked, in the width direction.
US08988732B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
In the image processing apparatus, image data is divided into large blocks of a prescribed size and the large blocks are subdivided into small blocks by the dividing unit. The number of isolated points in each large block is then calculated by the large block isolated point calculation unit, and the number of isolated points in each small block is then calculated by the small block isolated point calculation units. It is then determined by the halftone-dot region determination unit whether or not the large block is a halftone-dot region. This determination considers both the number of isolated points in the large block and the number of isolated points in each small block.
US08988724B2 Printing apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium storing program
This invention relates to a printing apparatus and control method thereof. In the printing apparatus and control method thereof, an image is input, and an envelope is conveyed so that the long edge of the envelope serves as the leading end in the conveyance direction. When the envelope is conveyed so that the long edge of the envelope serves as the leading end in the conveyance direction, it is controlled to shift the image by a set offset amount to be used to print an image on an envelope, and print the image on the envelope.
US08988723B2 Printing apparatus for executing print processing based upon print data
Disclosed are a printing apparatus for executing print processing based upon print data and a method of controlling this apparatus. The print data is saved in a first memory area, the print data, which has been saved in the first memory area, is rendered into image data, the rendered image data is stored in a second memory area, and printing is performed using the image data. A determination is made as to whether the image data, which has been stored in the second memory area, is to be saved for the purpose of reprint process.
US08988722B2 Cooperative processing system and method for acquiring device attributes using QR codes and interface connection function
A cooperative processing system includes an operation terminal and a cooperative processing device connected to each other, and is connectable to a plurality of electronic devices. The cooperative processing system causes one of electric devices to function as an input device to cause electronic data to be input therefrom and one of the electric devices to function as an output device to output the electronic data. The cooperative processing system includes an obtaining unit to obtain input device information to specify the input device and output device information to specify the output device, an input control unit to cause the input device to input electronic data through a first interface according to the input device information, and an output control unit to cause the output device to output the electronic data through a second interface according to the output device information in an format appropriate for the output device.
US08988720B2 Display device, image forming apparatus and method of controlling display device
A display device includes a display position that includes a main region and a subregion, an operation portion that receives an input for producing a message and a movement operation for moving the message in the main region to the subregion, a storage portion that stores set data on the message and degree-of-importance data and a determination portion that determines, based on the degree-of-importance data, the degree of importance of the message. The display portion displays, in the subregion, the message on which the movement operation has been performed when the degree of importance is equal to or lower than a first criterion and continuously displays, in the main region, the message on which the movement operation has been performed when the degree of importance is higher than the first criterion.
US08988717B2 Printing apparatus capable of performing paper assignment processing, method of controlling the printing apparatus, and storage medium
A printing apparatus which makes it possible to reduce time and labor required by the operator for paper assignment and suppress occurrence of an operation error during execution of the paper assignment. The printing apparatus is provided with a plurality of paper feeders for containing papers. Information on types of papers to be contained in the respective paper feeders is set as a paper assignment configuration. The printing apparatus selects a specific paper assignment configuration, based on an instruction from the operator, from paper assignment configurations stored in a storage device. The selected specific paper assignment configuration is set as the current paper assignment configuration.
US08988716B1 Customized printer identifier with embedded access rights
A print server may include an access rights manager configured to receive an access request for printer access rights. The print server may also include a customized printer identifier generator configured to generate a customized printer identifier, based on the access request, with the printer access rights associated therewith, and a print job router configured to provide printing in response to receipt of the customized printer identifier and in accordance with the printer access rights.
US08988713B2 Secure printing in a cloud-based print system
The embodiments provide a printing system including an application manager, implemented at a cloud print server, configured to receive a print job including encrypted content to be printed by a designated cloud-aware printer, over a network, from an application associated with a device, a print job router, implemented at the cloud print server, configured to route the print job including the encrypted content, over the network, to the designated cloud-aware printer to be decrypted, and a secure format converter configured to receive the print job including decrypted content from the designated cloud-aware printer, convert the print job from a printer-independent format to a printer-specific format associated with the designated cloud-aware printer, and provide the print job having the printer-specific format to the designated cloud-aware printer for printing.
US08988703B2 Image forming system and program installation method thereof
A program installation method of an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus having a web server is connected to a host device via a network. The method includes storing programs which are used when the image forming apparatus is in use, receiving information about the host device as the web server is driven, determining whether the stored programs are installed at the host device based on analysis information which is a result of analyzing information about the host device, and installing a predetermined program of the stored programs at the host device based on the analysis information. Accordingly, the program for use with the image forming apparatus is easily installed at the host device, and also an optimal program is installed at the host device. Therefore, a wrong program installation can be prevented, and thus errors are prevented during use of the image forming apparatus.
US08988700B2 Print control apparatus that performs continued processing of job when power is restored, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
A print control apparatus which is capable of performing continued processing of a job upon power restoration of the print control apparatus, according to the status of the job before power-off of the apparatus. A job management section cancels jobs in progress according to a power-off instruction. A job analysis section determines the status of each cancelled job. The job management section sets discrimination information for a job to be processed after power restoration of the print control apparatus, according to the determined status of the job. The job analysis section 206 determines discrimination information of each job stored in a storage section upon power restoration of the print control apparatus. The print control apparatus executes continued processing of the job according to a result of determination by the job analysis section.
US08988697B2 Data processing apparatus having an ability to display a status of a printing apparatus
A data processing apparatus, connected to a printing apparatus, that transfers print data to the printing apparatus and performs a status display of the printing apparatus, the data processing apparatus comprising: a first determination unit adapted to determine a processing status of the print data; a second determination unit adapted to determine the presence/absence of a warning status based on a status notified from the print apparatus; and a message display unit adapted to display a warning based on the determination made by the second determination unit, in accordance with the processing status of the print data as determined by the first determination unit.
US08988695B2 Function setting device and image forming apparatus
A function setting device includes a first operator and a second operator. The first operator is operated for selecting one function item from among plural function items forming a first menu and for setting the selected function item and for then selecting one function value from among plural function values of the set function item forming a second menu and for setting the selected function value, the second menu being provided for each function item. One function item is assigned to the second operator. The second operator sets the selection of the assigned function item when the second operator is operated for the first time and selects one function value from among plural function values of the set function item forming the second menu every time the second operator is operated for a subsequent time.
US08988693B2 Information processing system, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program
A disclosed information processing system includes an apparatus and an information processing apparatus including a service information memory unit storing service identification information identifying a service provided for the apparatus and program identification information for identifying a program required to be installed in the apparatus, a correspondence setup unit storing the apparatus identification information for identifying the apparatus and the service identification information upon a receipt of a usage request in which the apparatus identification information and the service identification information are designated, a communication unit requesting installation of a program related to the program identification information stored in the service information memory unit, and a program administrating unit returning the program related to the program identification information designated in the acquisition request, in response to the acquisition request for the program from the apparatus, wherein the program causes the apparatus to send information related to the apparatus.
US08988688B2 Optical sensing devices and methods for detecting samples using the same
Disclosed are optical sensing devices and methods for detecting samples using the same. The optical sensing device comprises a source unit configured to generate a polychromatic light beam containing p-polarized and s-polarized components; an interferometric unit configured to split the light beam into a probe beam passing a first path and a reference beam passing a second path and to recombine the probe beam output from the first path and the reference beam output from the second path; a sensing unit disposed in the first path to introduce a first SPR effect associated with a target sample to the probe beam; and a detection unit configured to detect target sample characteristics by obtaining an intensity spectrum of the recombined light beam. The introduction of a polychromatic light source in the optical sensing device increases the detection dynamic range and the detection sensitivity.
US08988683B2 Food analysis device
A food analysis device includes a variable wavelength interference filter adapted to disperse light reflected by the food into a plurality of lights with respective wavelengths, an imaging section adapted to image the lights with the respective wavelengths obtained by the dispersion to obtain spectral images corresponding respectively to the wavelengths, and a control section adapted to obtain spectrum of each of the pixels from the spectral images corresponding to the respective wavelengths, and then detect a pixel including the absorption spectrum of water, and then detect a plurality of components based on the spectrum of the pixel detected.
US08988682B2 High accuracy imaging colorimeter by special designed pattern closed-loop calibration assisted by spectrograph
This specification describes various embodiments that relate to methods for providing a wideband colorimeter that can include more accurate outputs. In one embodiment, a narrowband instrument, such as a spectrometer or spectrograph, can be used for calibration of a wideband colorimeter, so that more accurate outputs can be provided. In one embodiment, an optical test equipment, which consists of both a wideband colorimeter and a narrowband spectrograph, can be used for providing a more accurately calibrated wideband colorimeter. As an example, a spectra-camera, which is a hybrid system consisting of both a wideband colorimeter and a narrowband spectrograph, can be used for simultaneous testing by both the wideband colorimeter and the narrowband spectrograph. By doing simultaneous testing, accurate calibration of the wideband colorimeter can be achieved. This specification further describes a mathematical model to characterize a wideband three channel colorimeter with a narrowband multiple channel spectrometer.
US08988680B2 Dual polarization with liquid crystal tunable filters
A high passband transmission ratio is obtained by splitting a light beam from an objective lens into two orthogonally-polarized components processed along distinct paths through two independently controllable liquid crystal tunable filters (LCTFs). The filtered portions may be combined at an imaging plane or may be separately processed without recombining. Using two LCTFs, the arrangements discussed herein may ideally achieve 100% transmission in a single passband when two orthogonal components of a single wavelength are tuned, or 50% transmission at two distinct passbands when two orthogonal components from two different wavelengths (one component from each wavelength) are tuned. The dual polarization configuration described herein may be used to improve contrast or detected signal intensity in various microscopy and spectroscopic/chemical imaging applications and to increase the speed of detection.
US08988678B2 Spectrometer
A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable mirror to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.
US08988676B2 Wide view light reflector
This apparatus provides a method to enable a borescope to see inside a bore with a brighter image and a less obstructed view. This removable apparatus is essentially an extended coil spring that grips over the forward end of a borescope shaft by compression. The opposite end of this apparatus is connected in the same manner to an opposing light reflector by constricting over the outside surface of a light reflector. As a borescope enters the bore, it emits light forward that is reflected by the light reflector rearward against the viewing surface inside the bore. This apparatus connects the borescope to an opposing reflective surface with an extended thin wire that is partially in view of the borescope, providing minimal obstruction of the viewing area that is seen by the borescope. This apparatus also provides a minimal increase to the outside diameter of the borescope allowing it to fit inside a smaller bore.
US08988675B2 Reflection type optical sensor and image generation apparatus
A reflection type optical sensor that detect a surface condition of a moving body and that is used for an image generation apparatus which forms images on a recording media includes a light-emitting device which has a plurality of light emitter systems including at least two light-emitting members and a light-emitting optical system having a plurality of light-emitting lenses corresponding to a plurality of the light emitter systems and guiding light emitted from the light emitter systems to the moving body and a light-receiving device which has a light receiver system including at least two light-receiving members and a light-receiving optical system having light-receiving lenses corresponding to the at least two light-receiving members and guiding light reflected by the moving body to the light receiver system. The image generation apparatus has further a surface condition judging device in addition to the reflection type optical sensor.
US08988673B2 Beam scattering laser monitor
New systems for characterizing laser beams, using measurements performed on light which has been Rayleigh scattered from the beam. Different implementations are used for beam profiling, using images of the Rayleigh scattered light, and for laser beam power measurement, using the integrated Rayleigh scattered light. Both of these implementations can be applied to laser beams having high powers, since the measurements do not require insertion of any element into the beam itself, but rather depend on light scattered laterally from the passing beam. The measurements can thus be termed “non contact” measurements, in contrast to prior art methods which require an element inserted into the beam. The systems use Rayleigh scattering from the laser beam passing through ambient air, such that no special scattering chambers or liquids are required for the measurements. Special cancellation algorithms or filters are used to discriminate from light arising from scattering from dust particles.
US08988672B2 Headlamp aiming using high-dynamic range camera
A method of aiming a light source includes using an image-capturing device to capture a light beam pattern from the light source. Here, the light beam pattern is configured to include a plurality of contrast ratios transitioning from a first intensity region to a second intensity region. The method includes processing the contrast ratios of the light beam pattern to obtain corresponding values of the contrast ratios, transitioning from the first intensity region to the second intensity region, where the corresponding values are logarithmic values, which in turn generate a related response curve. Finally, the method provides for using the logarithmic values and the response curve to aim the light source.
US08988664B2 Distance measuring device
Disclosed is a distance measuring device configured to irradiate an object with light and receive reflected light therefrom to measure a distance from the object, including a light source device having at least one light-emitting part, a deflection part being provided rotatably around a predetermined axis line and having plural deflection faces configured to reflect light from the light source device toward the object, a reflection part being provided rotatably around the axis line and integrally with the deflection part and having plural reflection faces being provided to correspond to the plural deflection faces individually and reflecting a portion of light reflected from a corresponding deflection face and reflected from the object, and a light-receiving part having at least one light-receiving element configured to receive light reflected from the reflection part, wherein respective inclination angles of the plural deflection faces with respect to the axis line are mutually different.
US08988659B2 Optoelectronic device for observing and/or aiming at a scene, comprising a rangefinder, and related range-finding method
The invention concerns an opto-electronic device for observing and/or aiming at a scene comprising a target (C), comprising an observation module (1) comprising an image sensor (10) and a stabiliser (11) for a line of sight (100) towards the target (C); and a telemeter (2) comprising a multi-shot pulsed laser (20) for emitting a plurality of outward laser pulses (An) in the direction of the target (C) to be telemetered, and a detector (21) for a plurality of return laser echoes (Rn) reflected by the scene in order to generate an electrical signal for each return laser echo (Rn) in order to effect a measurement of the distance to the target (C), each return laser echo (Rn) corresponding to an outward laser pulse (An); characterised in that it also comprises a sensor (3) of angular movement of the device with respect to the stabilised line of sight (100) in order to determine an angular radius (ρn) of each outward laser pulse (An) with respect to the stabilised line of sight (100); and a selector (4) for processing each electrical signal, corresponding to a return laser echo (Rn), according to the angular radius (ρn) of the corresponding outward laser pulse (An). The invention also concerns a telemetry method implemented on such a device.
US08988656B2 Exposure apparatus, calibration method, and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides an exposure apparatus which exposes a substrate to light, the apparatus comprising a substrate stage, a position measurement unit configured to measure a position of the substrate stage, a structure configured to support the position measurement unit, a force measurement unit configured to measure a force that acts on the structure, a correction unit configured to correct a command for controlling the position of the substrate stage, based on the measurement value obtained by the force measurement unit, and a correction coefficient, and a calculation unit configured to calculate the correction coefficient based on position deviation information between adjacent shot regions in an evaluation substrate including a plurality of shot regions exposed without correction by the correction unit, and the measurement value obtained by the force measurement unit in exposing each shot region.
US08988653B2 Lithographic apparatus, distortion determining method, and patterning device
The invention relates to a lithographic apparatus arranged to transfer a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate, wherein apparatus is operable to measure higher-order distortions and/or image plane deviations of the patterning device, apparatus comprising: a device for transmission image detection; and a processor configured and arranged to model higher-order distortions of the patterning device using signals received from the device for transmission image detection; wherein patterning device has a main imaging field, and a perimeter and apparatus is operable to model higher-order distortions using signals resultant from alignment structures comprised in perimeter and/or in the imaging field.
US08988651B2 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.
US08988650B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus having a first outlet to provide a thermally conditioned fluid with a first flow characteristic to at least part of a sensor beam path, and a second outlet associated with the first outlet and to provide a thermally conditioned fluid with a second flow characteristic, different to the first flow characteristic, adjacent the thermally conditioned fluid from the first outlet.
US08988648B2 Integrated image erector and through-sight information display for telescope or other optical device
Techniques are disclosed for creating optical systems and devices that provide through-sight information while enabling the optical systems and devices to maintain a small, lightweight form factor. According to certain embodiments of the invention, an optical assembly can include a liquid-crystal display (LCD) disposed between the two prism elements of a Schmidt-Pechan prism at a focal plane of the optical assembly. This allows the LCD to be used to display information by blocking light passing through the optical assembly. Additionally, a light-emitting display, such as a backlit LCD, light-emitting diode (LED) display, or organic LED (OLED) display, can be coupled at a surface of one of the two prism elements of the Schmidt-Pechan prism to provide additional information in low-light environments.
US08988645B2 Display devices
A display device includes a panel including pixels defined by data lines and gate lines, a housing chassis covering a sidewall and an edge of the panel, a printed circuit board under the panel, the printed circuit board including circuit elements configured to generate at least one of a data signal, a gate signal, and a control signal, a chip on film connecting the printed circuit board to the panel, the chip on film between the housing chassis and the sidewall of the panel, a driver integrated circuit mounted on the chip on film and configured to respond to the control signal and drive at least one of the data signal and the gate signal applied to the data lines and the gate lines, and a connection unit attaching the chip on film to the housing chassis and dissipating heat generated by the driver integrated circuit to the housing chassis.
US08988644B2 Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display has its common electrode and pixel electrodes formed on a same substrate where the substrate further includes a plurality of common voltage transmitting lines disposed under both of the common electrode and the pixel electrodes and forming a ladder-like network connected to the common electrode at multiple connection locations for providing the common voltage to the common electrode by way of conduction paths having substantially lower resistivity than the common electrode, whereby an RC delay factor of transmitting the common voltage is reduced.
US08988641B2 Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates of which one substrate is provided with a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of common wirings, a first insulation film covering the scanning lines, the common wirings, and the one substrate, a plurality of signal lines provided on the first insulation film, a thin film transistor provided near an intersection part of the scanning lines and the signal lines, a lower electrode formed below the first insulation film and connected to the common wirings, a second insulation film formed on surfaces of the thin film transistor, the signal lines, and the first insulation film, and an upper electrode formed on the second insulation film and having a slit, a display region in which the liquid crystal layer is driven by an electric field, and a non-display region that is formed outside the display region.
US08988636B2 Methods for trimming polarizers in displays
An electronic device is provided with a display such as a liquid crystal display mounted in an electronic device housing. The display has a layer of liquid crystal material sandwiched between an upper display layer such as a color filter layer and a lower display layer such as a thin-film-transistor layer. An upper polarizer is formed on the upper surface of the color filter layer. A lower polarizer is formed on the lower surface of the thin-film-transistor layer. To protect display layers such as a glass color filter layer substrate for the color filter layer from damage during polarizer trimming operations, a coating is deposited on a peripheral edge of the glass color filter layer substrate. The coating may be formed from an elastomeric polymer such as silicone and may remain in place or may be removed following trimming operations.
US08988635B2 Lighting system for transparent liquid crystal display
Exemplary embodiments provide a lighting system for a transparent LCD having opposing vertical edges, the system having a mullion lighting assembly positioned adjacent to each vertical edge of the transparent LCD, each mullion lighting assembly having sidewalls defining a center channel. A plurality of LEDs are positioned along the sidewall of each mullion assembly and on a side of the sidewall that opposes the center channel. The LEDs are preferably placed in conductive thermal communication with the sidewall. A fan is positioned to draw cooling air through the center channel. A lens may be positioned adjacent to the LEDs to collimate the light. Louvers may be used to direct the emitted light away from the LCD, so as to reflect off the goods within a display case or the cavity within the display case. Some embodiments may use a flange to direct the emitted light away from the LCD.
US08988634B2 Optical film and liquid crystal display device comprising the same
An optical film is provided. According to an embodiment, the optical film may include a base material layer, a first layer disposed on the base material layer and having a first oxide and at least one bead, and a second layer disposed on the first layer and having a second oxide and a mineral pigment.
US08988628B2 Coated chassis for liquid crystal display
A coated chassis is disclosed. The chassis can be made from a non-conductive material and can be operable to support a display. A conductive material can be applied to at least a portion of the chassis to form a continuous strip on the chassis frame. The conductive material can further form a closed-loop around the chassis frame. The chassis frame can be included within a device, such as a mobile phone, touchpad, portable computer, portable media player, and the like. The conductive material on the chassis can be coupled to the system ground of the device. Processes for making a coated chassis are also disclosed.
US08988626B2 Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same are provided. A liquid crystal display (LCD) with a touch function includes: a pixel thin film transistor (TFT) in a display area, and a buffer TFT of a gate driver in a non-display area, wherein a lightly-doped drain (LDD) length of the buffer TFT is shorter than a lightly doped drain (LDD) length of the pixel TFT.
US08988625B2 Display device and manufacturing method thereof
The display device includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating film provided over the gate electrode, a semiconductor film provided over the gate insulating film to overlap with the gate electrode, an island-shaped first insulating film provided over the semiconductor film to overlap with the gate electrode, a first conductive film provided over the semiconductor film, a pair of second conductive films which is provided over the semiconductor film and between which the first insulating film is sandwiched, and a second insulating film provided over the first insulating film, the first conductive film, and the pair of second conductive films. In the second insulating film and the semiconductor film, an opening portion which is positioned between the first conductive film and the one or the other of the pair of second conductive films is provided.
US08988624B2 Display pixel having oxide thin-film transistor (TFT) with reduced loading
Disclosed embodiments relate to a thin-film transistor (TFT) for use in a display device. The display device may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel having multiple pixels arranged in rows and column, with each row corresponding to a gate line and each column corresponding to a source line. Each of the pixels includes a pixel electrode and a TFT. The TFT may include a metal oxide semiconductor channel between a source and drain. For each TFT, holes may be formed in the gate line in a region beneath the source and/or the drain. The holes may be formed such that the source and drain only partially overlap the holes. The presence of the holes reduces the area of the gate line, which may reduce parasitic capacitance and improve loading. This may provide improved panel performance, which may reduce the appearance of certain visual artifacts.
US08988619B2 Display device with display panel forming image display and LCD panel having strip-shaped electrodes and light shielding portion
There is provided a technology capable of reducing crosstalk at the time of 3D display in a display device using a liquid crystal lens that forms cylindrical lenses by controlling a voltage applied to a liquid crystal panel. The display device includes a liquid crystal display panel which includes a substrate including a plurality of strip-shaped transparent electrodes and a plurality of strip-shaped light shielding portions overlapping with the electrodes. The display device displays an image by switching a two-dimensional display and a three-dimensional display, and the cylindrical lenses making up a parallax barrier, are formed by controlling a refraction index of a liquid crystal layer.
US08988616B2 Mounting systems for digital media players
Mounting systems can attach a digital media player to a backside surface of a television. Mounting systems can include a tray base and sidewalls that protrude away from the backside surface of the television while the digital media player is located between the sidewalls. Mounting systems can be attached inside of a periphery of the backside surface of the television.
US08988615B2 Display apparatus controlled by motion and motion control method thereof
A display apparatus is provided, which includes a motion recognition unit which recognizes a motion of an object that is located outside the display device, and a control unit which, when the motion of the object is recognized, determines a change amount that varies according to a motion speed or a motion distance of the object, and performs an operation which corresponds to the motion of the object according to the change amount. Accordingly, channel change or page shift can be easily performed.