| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| US08988612B2 |
Receiver, reception method, transmitter, transmission method, program and broadcasting system
Disclosed herein is a receiver for receiving transmitted AV content, the receiver including an extraction section adapted to extract trigger information, transmitted together with the AV content, about control over an application program to be executed in response to the AV content, and a control section adapted to control the acquisition, registration or activation of the application program, the firing of an event in the active application program, or the suspension or termination of the active application program according to one of the following commands indicated by the extracted trigger information, namely, Pre-cache, Register, Execute, Inject_event, Suspend or Terminate. |
| US08988608B2 |
Digital broadcast receiver and method for processing caption thereof
A digital cable broadcast receiver and a method for automatically processing caption data of various standards and types, is disclosed. The digital broadcast receiver includes: a demultiplexer for dividing a received broadcast stream into video data, audio data, supplementary information; a controller for determining whether caption data included in the video data is digital caption data or analog caption data on the basis of caption information included in the supplementary information, and outputting a control signal according to a result of the determining; a digital caption decoder for extracting and decoding digital caption data from the video data according to the control signal; and an analog caption decoder for extracting and decoding analog caption data from the video data according to the control signal. |
| US08988606B2 |
Digital broadcast receiver and method for processing caption thereof
A digital cable broadcast receiver and a method for automatically processing caption data of various standards and types, is disclosed. The digital broadcast receiver includes: a demultiplexer for dividing a received broadcast stream into video data, audio data, supplementary information; a controller for determining whether caption data included in the video data is digital caption data or analog caption data on the basis of caption information included in the supplementary information, and outputting a control signal according to a result of the determining; a digital caption decoder for extracting and decoding digital caption data from the video data according to the control signal; and an analog caption decoder for extracting and decoding analog caption data from the video data according to the control signal. |
| US08988605B2 |
Display apparatus and control method thereof
Disclosed are a display apparatus and a method of controlling the display apparatus, the display apparatus including: a signal receiver which receives a signal containing video data for displaying a series of frames; a first data extractor which extracts first caption data from the signal; a data acquirer which acquires second caption data from the extracted first caption data; a second data extractor which extracts the video data from the signal; a buffering section which buffers the extracted video data; a synchronizer which synchronizes the acquired second caption data with frames corresponding to relevant caption data among frames of the buffered video data; and a display which displays the frame synchronized with the second caption data. |
| US08988602B2 |
Camera voice coil motor with resilient stop
A camera module includes a body having recesses in a first datum surface. A filleted edge may join the recesses to the first datum surface. An image sensor is coupled to the body at a known distance from the first datum surface. A movable lens mechanism includes a fixed portion and a movable portion. The fixed portion is coupled to the body. The movable portion includes a lens assembly and protrusions arranged to fit within the recesses in the first datum surface and to define a second datum surface. A resilient stop plate covers the recesses in the first datum surface with an elastic sheet material. A spring may hold the protrusions in contact with the resilient stop plate when the movable lens mechanism is unpowered. The resilient stop plate may include a rigid support plate coupled to the body by heat staking. The elastic sheet material may be viscoelastic. |
| US08988594B2 |
Lens barrel, imaging pickup device, and camera
A lens barrel comprises a first zoom/focus lens group and a second zoom/focus lens group configured to respectively vary a focal distance and imaging distance by moving in an optical axis, a first actuator configured to drive the first zoom/focus lens group, a second actuator configured to drive the second zoom/focus lens group, and a drive controller configured to independently control the first actuator and the second actuator. The drive controller is configured to wobble the first zoom/focus lens group by reciprocating only the first zoom/focus lens group out of the first and second zoom/focus lens groups in a optical axis direction. |
| US08988583B2 |
Image-pickup apparatus and image-pickup system having light emitting member
An image-pickup apparatus is operable in a first mirror driving mode where a motor rotates a mirror cam member in a first direction so as to move a mirror at a first speed and is operable in a second mirror driving mode where the motor rotates the mirror cam member in as second direction so as to move the mirror at a second speed slower than the first speed. When start of taking an image is instructed, a light emitting member starts a pre-flush operation before the mirror cam member starts to rotate in a case where the image-pickup apparatus operates in the first mirror driving mode, and the light emitting member starts the pre-flash operation after the mirror cam member starts to rotate in a case where the image-pickup apparatus operates in the second mirror driving mode. |
| US08988582B2 |
Multi-channel image sensors
An image sensor includes a pixel array and an image sensor objective optical element. The element is formed by a lenslet array. Each lenslet in the array directs incoming radiation onto a different specific pixel or sub-array of pixels in the pixel array. The lenslets in the array are shaped such that fields of view of next-but-one neighboring ones of the lenslets (i.e., two lenslets spaced from each other by another lenslet) do not overlap until a certain object distance away from the lenslet array. |
| US08988581B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and control method thereof
An image pickup apparatus capable of highly efficiently realizing optical corrections of various aberrations while reducing the load imposed on a central processing unit (CPU). A plurality of optical correction units apply optical correction processes to a plurality of aberrations in an optical system. A time period assigned for the optical correction processes and a time period required for the optical correction processes are acquired. Priorities of the plurality of optical correction units are decided if the time period required for the optical correction processes is longer than the time period assigned for the optical correction processes. The plurality of optical correction units execute the optical correction processes according to the decided priorities. |
| US08988579B2 |
Imaging apparatus
The present invention provides an imaging apparatus configured such that it is possible to check a long exposure subject image through a finder eye piece before actual imaging of long exposure imaging so as to recognize a subtle change in the tilt of the imaging apparatus caused when the apparatus gradually tilts over a long time period. In the imaging apparatus of the present invention, exposure control unit 60 controls an exposure time of a live view image, which is acquired by the imaging device 20, such that the exposure time is the same as that in the actual imaging, whereby it is possible to check the live view image from an eyepiece lens 52 of a finder. |
| US08988576B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and digital camera
A solid-state imaging device comprises first pixels and second pixels. The first pixel has a first PD and a first photoelectric conversion film. The second pixel has a second PD and a second photoelectric conversion film. The first PD and the second PD are formed in a surface layer of a semiconductor substrate. The first photoelectric conversion film is formed over the first PD, in a position shifted in a rightward direction relative to the center of the first PD. The second photoelectric conversion film is formed over the second PD, in a position shifted in a leftward direction relative to the center of the second PD. The first photoelectric conversion film photoelectrically converts incident light incident on a right area of the first PD. The second photoelectric conversion film photoelectrically converts incident light incident on a left area of the second PD. |
| US08988568B2 |
Biasing scheme for large format CMOS active pixel sensors
An image sensor includes circuitry compensating for voltage drops in a VSS line. The image sensor includes a plurality of photoreceptors arranged in a pixel array having a number of column lines, and read-out circuitry on the column lines. The read-out circuitry provides substantially equal currents on each column line so as to compensate for voltage drops in the VSS line and provide more accurate pixel signals. The image sensor also includes circuitry for filtering noise from a voltage supply line, and for providing hard and/or soft reset operations. |
| US08988567B2 |
Multiple image high dynamic range imaging from a single sensor array
A single array of pixels is used to obtain a plurality of different images at different levels of admitted exposure light from a common source level of exposure light. More particularly, first and second matrices of light-admitting elements are deployed in a single camera and disposed relative to focal lens light in front of corresponding first and second matrices of light-sensitive image sensors that are arrayed in a singular focal plane array in the camera and react equally to equal levels of color image information. The respective matrices of light-admitting elements transmit color image information from exposed focal lens light at different levels of brightness to their corresponding matrices of light-sensitive image sensors, wherein first and second images are acquired at the respective different levels of brightness from the respective matrices of the image sensors, and pixel data from the images combined to produce an HDR image. |
| US08988566B2 |
Lens array for partitioned image sensor having color filters
An apparatus includes an image sensor including N image sensor regions arranged thereon. N lens structures are included in a lens array disposed proximate to the image sensor. Each one of the N lens structures is arranged to focus a single image onto a respective one of the N image sensor regions. The N lens structures include a first lens structure having a red color filter, a second lens structure having a green color filter, and a third lens structure having a blue color filter. Each one of the N lens structures includes a glass wafer and a lens formed on the glass wafer. Each one of the red color filter, the green color filter, and the blue color filter is one of coated on the glass wafer underneath the lens and coated over the lens on the glass wafer. |
| US08988565B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus, including imaging optical system having a lens group and an aperture stop, and a solid-state image sensor which includes a photoelectric conversion layer made of an organic material and a color filter layer with color filters of two or more colors and a separation wall. The photoelectric conversion layer has a thickness of 0.1 82 m to 1 μm, each of the color filters has a refractive index of 1.5 to 1.8, the separation wall has a width of 0.05 μm to 0.2 μm and a refractive index of 1.22 to 1.34, and the lens group and the solid-state image sensor are disposed such that the relationship between a pixel pitch D (μm) of the sensor and a maximum angle α (°) of a principal ray incident on the sensor is 45≧α≧25.D−20 where D≦2.6 μm. |
| US08988563B2 |
Dual parallel processing of frames of raw image data
Systems, methods, and devices for dual processing of raw image data by main image processing and alternative image processing capabilities of an electronic device are provided. According to an embodiment, alternative image processing may analyze a first copy of a frame of raw image data before a second copy of the frame of raw image data is processed by main image processing. Thereafter, the main image processing may process the second copy of the frame of raw image. The main image processing may be calibrated based at least in part on the analysis of the first copy of the frame of raw image data. |
| US08988559B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a flash unit, an image sensor and a computing unit. The image sensor captures at least one first image and a second image, and captures a third image with the flash unit. The computing unit mixes the first images and the second image to form a mixed image. Besides, the computing unit integrates the mixed image and the third image to form an integrated image. |
| US08988553B2 |
Imaging apparatus capable of checking a remaining capacity for recording a moving image when a moving image of a predetermined number of frames is shot in one shot of moving image shooting
In a frame recording mode for shooting a moving image including the predetermined number of frames in one shot or an interval recording mode, if a time length available for recording a moving image becomes less than predetermined time, not the recordable time but the number of times capable of shooting a moving image including the predetermined number of frames is displayed as information about a remaining capacity of a recording medium. |
| US08988552B2 |
Image formats and related methods and apparatuses
Image data may be color graded, distributed and viewed on target displays. Mappings that preserve mid-range points and mid-range contrast may be applied to view the image data for color grading and to prepare the image data for display on a target display. The image data may be expanded to exploit the dynamic range of the target display without affecting mid-tone values. |
| US08988550B2 |
Image-pickup apparatus and method of controlling the same
An image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup element including a plurality of image-pickup pixels configured to photoelectrically convert light from an image-pickup lens and to generate an image of an object, and a plurality of focus detection pixels each configured to receive light which has passed through an area of a part of an exit pupil of the image-pickup lens, a flicker correction value generator configured to generate a flicker correction value for correcting a flicker in an image signal output from the image-pickup pixels, and a flicker corrector configured to correct a flicker in a focus detection signal output from the focus detection pixels based on the flicker correction value. |
| US08988549B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method therefor
An image processing apparatus is provided that allows accurate white balance gains to be obtained by accurately estimating the illuminant colors of various objects in an image. The white balance gains are obtained based on values of white pixels that have been extracted from an input image and have colors included in an extraction range, and the white balance gains are obtained based on specular reflection components included in the input image, are mixed in accordance with a mix ratio. The mix ratio is determined in accordance with, for example, a degree of reliability of extraction of the white pixels. |
| US08988548B2 |
Image composition apparatus and storage medium storing a program
An image composition apparatus 1 is provided with an information acquisition section 53, an image adjustment section 54 and a synthesis section 56. The information acquisition section 53 acquires numerical values relating to brightness of image regions with a particular hue in corrected exposure image data among plural sets of image data that are sequentially captured with the exposure duration being varied. The synthesis section 56 performs pixel addition of the plural sets of image data by changing a degree of addition of the plural sets of image data, based on the numerical values thus acquired, and generates composite image data with a widened dynamic range. |
| US08988546B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, image capturing device, and program
An image processing device for generating a composite image using multi-viewpoint image data before color interpolation captured by a camera array image capturing device, includes a unit configured to acquire information of a pixel value and a pixel position in the multi-viewpoint image data, a pixel position determination unit configured to determine the pixel position in the composite image in the pixel position of each pixel of the multi-viewpoint image data in accordance with an arbitrary focus position based on optical parameters at the time of the image capturing, a color derivation unit configured to derive the color of each pixel of the multi-viewpoint image data, and a pixel value calculation unit configured to calculate the pixel value of each pixel of the composite image using the determined pixel position in the composite image and the pixel value of the multi-viewpoint image data corresponding to the derived pixel color. |
| US08988541B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus has a live view mode, and includes a computer configured to adjust an aperture value of an image pickup optical system so as to maintain constant a depth of field when a zoom position of the image pickup optical system is changed. In response to a signal indicative of an increase of the zoom position, the computer in the live view mode is configured to output a signal used to increase the aperture value and a signal used to increase a gain of the image pickup element, and to make the display unit display the image data with a changed zoom position, a changed aperture value, and a changed gain. In response to an instruction to obtain a still image, the computer is configured to obtain the still image with the changed zoom position, the changed aperture value, and the changed gain. |
| US08988538B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and lens apparatus
An image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths and each configured to form an optical image of an object, and a plurality of image sensors having image pickup areas each corresponding to one of the plurality of imaging optical systems and each configured to photoelectrically convert the optical image formed by a corresponding one of the imaging optical systems. The image pickup apparatus is configured to simultaneously capture a plurality of images by controlling the plurality of imaging optical systems and the plurality of image sensors. Each imaging optical system includes a focus lens unit configured to move in focusing and a fixed lens unit that is fixed in the focusing. The image pickup apparatus further includes a focus driver configured to move a plurality of focus lens units by equal moving amounts. |
| US08988533B2 |
Image recording apparatus, image pickup apparatus, image management system, image analysis information management method, and program for managing an image and analysis information on the image
An image management apparatus may include an input image setting information acquiring unit configured to, when image analysis information on an input image is set, acquire setting information as input image setting information, an available setting information acquiring unit configured to acquire setting information as available setting information, an update necessity determining unit configured to determine whether or not an update of the image analysis information is necessary, on the basis of a difference between the input image setting information and the available setting information, and an image analysis information setting unit configured to, when it is determined that an update of the image analysis information is necessary, perform image analysis on the input image using the second image analysis processing unit so as to set new image analysis information. |
| US08988529B2 |
Target tracking apparatus, image tracking apparatus, methods of controlling operation of same, and digital camera
A detection area is decided in a case where a target has gone out-of-frame. If a target is being imaged by a camera continuously, it is determined whether the target has gone out-of-frame. If the target has gone out-of-frame, then the magnitude and direction of motion of the camera are detected. If camera motion is large, it can be concluded that the camera user is imaging the target while tracking it. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the target will again be imaged at the center of the imaging zone. An area defined as a region in which the target will be detected is set at the center of the imaging zone. If camera motion is small in a case where the target goes out-of-frame, it can be concluded that the user is waiting for the target to re-enter the imaging zone and therefore the edge of the imaging zone is set as the detection area. |
| US08988527B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring a three-dimensional spatial area
A spatial area is monitored by means of at least a first and a second image recording unit that have a common viewing area. At least one virtual protection zone is defined within the common viewing area. A first and a second image of the spatial area are recorded by means of the first and a second image recording unit. The images are compared with one another in order to identify mutually disjoint image regions in the images. An alarm signal is generated when a disjoint image region covers the virtual protection zone. |
| US08988526B2 |
Device having a camera unit for recording images of the outer area of a motor vehicle
The invention relates to a device comprising a camera unit (10), which is used to record images of the outer area of a motor vehicle, comprising a camera (11), which is accommodated in a housing (12) of the camera unit (10) so as to be movable between a retracted position and an image recording position. According to the invention, at least one first slotted guide (15) is provided for guiding the motion of the camera (11) between the retracted position and the image recording position, wherein at least one sliding element (21) is arranged on the camera (11), which sliding element is guided in the slotted guide (15) to guide the motion of the camera (11) between the retracted position and the image recording position. |
| US08988523B1 |
Single-camera multi-mirror imaging method and apparatus for whole-surface inspection of rotating objects
The single-camera multi-mirror imaging method and apparatus is an inspection system configured to examine a whole surface of a rotating object, preferably a spheroidal object such as a fruit or vegetable. The system includes a plurality of mirrors that direct an image of the inspected object into a digital line scan camera with an associated processor. The processor produces an image of the inspected object showing any detected surface defects and selected contamination on the outer surface of the object. |
| US08988519B2 |
Automatic magnification of data on display screen based on eye characteristics of user
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an image of a user's eye at a device having a screen and a camera operable to input the image, processing the image to identify one or more characteristics of the user's eye for use in determining if the user is having difficulty viewing data displayed on the screen, and magnifying the data displayed on the screen if the user is having difficulty viewing the data. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed. |
| US08988510B2 |
3D image display device
A three-dimensional (3D) image display device includes a liquid crystal display panel alternately displaying a left eye image and a right eye image every unit frame period, a data driving circuit, a gate driving circuit, a timing controller that divides the unit frame period into first and second sub-frame periods, repeatedly supply the same frame data to the data driving circuit during the first and second sub-frame periods, and control operations of the data and gate driving circuits using a frame frequency higher than an input frame frequency, backlight light sources generating light to be provided to the liquid crystal display panel, and a light source driving circuit that sequentially turns on the backlight light sources when liquid crystals of the liquid crystal display panel are kept in a saturation state. |
| US08988508B2 |
Wide angle field of view active illumination imaging system
An embodiment of the invention provides an active illumination imaging system comprising a first camera and a second camera, each having an optical axis and a field of view (FOV) characterized by a view angle in a plane that contains the optical axis and wherein the optical axes of the cameras intersect at an intersection region common to their FOVs at an angle substantially equal to half a sum of their view angles. |
| US08988506B2 |
Transcoder supporting selective delivery of 2D, stereoscopic 3D, and multi-view 3D content from source video
Transcoders are provided for transcoding three-dimensional content to two-dimensional content, and for transcoding three-dimensional content of a first type to three-dimensional content of another type. Transcoding of content may be performed due to user preference, display device capability, bandwidth constraints, user payment/subscription constraints, device loading, and/or for other reason. Transcoders may be implemented in a content communication network in a media source, a display device, and/or in any device/node in between. |
| US08988504B2 |
Imaging systems with integrated stereo imagers
An imaging system may include an integrated stereo imager that includes first and second imager arrays on a single integrated circuit. Image readout circuitry may be located between the first and second imager arrays and a horizontal electronic rolling shutter may be used to read image data out of the arrays. The layout of the arrays and image readout circuitry on the integrated circuit may help to reduce the size of the integrated circuit while maximizing the baseline separation between the arrays. Memory buffer circuitry may be used to convert image data from the arrays into raster-scan compliant image data. The raster-scan compliant image data may be provided to a host system. |
| US08988500B2 |
Information processing apparatus, stereoscopic display method, and program
An apparatus and method provide logic for processing information. In one implementation, an apparatus may include a determination unit configured to determine a first spatial position of a portion of an operating tool disposed within a threshold distance of a surface of the determination unit. The first spatial position may be determined relative to the determination unit surface in a depth direction. The apparatus may also include a control unit configured to define a first size of a stereoscopic image, based on at least the first spatial position, and generate a signal to display the stereoscopic image at the first stereoscopic image size. |
| US08988496B2 |
Image processing apparatus
There is provided an image processing apparatus in which images that can be comfortably viewed by a viewer with less eyestrain can be displayed on a display device. In the image processing apparatus of the present invention in which a three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional image can be simultaneously displayed on a multi-screen, if the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image are simultaneously displayed on a display device, the three-dimensional image is converted into two dimensions, and is output to be displayed on the same screen in the same dimensions. Alternatively, in the image processing apparatus in which a three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional image can be simultaneously displayed on a multi-screen, if the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image are simultaneously displayed on a display device, the two-dimensional image is converted into three dimensions, and is output to be displayed on the same screen in the same dimensions. |
| US08988495B2 |
Image display apparatus, method for controlling the image display apparatus, and image display system
A method for controlling an image display apparatus includes determining a type of a video signal included in an input signal, determining whether three-dimensional (3D) format information is included in the input signal, if the video signal is a 3D video signal, requesting 3D format information about the video signal to a server that stores 3D format information, if the input signal does not include the 3D format information about the video signal, and processing, upon receipt of 3D format information from the server in response to the 3D format information request, the video signal according to the 3D format information and displaying a 3D image based on the processed video signal. |
| US08988494B2 |
Storage medium encoded with display control program, display, display system, and display control method
A display control program executed on a computer of a display having a first display portion capable of providing stereoscopic display and a second display portion configured to provide two-dimensional display is provided. The display control program includes object display instructions for controlling the first display portion and the second display portion such that a plurality of objects are displayed at respective arrangement positions set by arrangement position setting instructions and an object group is displayed across the first display portion and the second display portion. The object display instructions include instructions for determining on which of the first and second display portions objects included in the object group are to be displayed, and for providing stereoscopic display of an object determined to be displayed on the first display portion and providing two-dimensional display of an object determined to be displayed on the second display portion. |
| US08988491B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method of transmitting encoded image data, and recording medium storing control program
A communication terminal or system is provided with a processor that calculates a transmission data size that is suitable to a detected state of a network, and analyzes contents of image data for transmission to determine an image parameter that should be prioritized. The communication terminal or system encodes the image data for transmission into encoded image data, based on the calculated transmission data size and the image parameter that should be prioritized. |
| US08988490B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and server
An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a generation unit and a first transmission unit. The generation unit generates parameter information that shows states of a user. The first transmission unit transmits the generated parameter information through a network to an information processing apparatus of a communication partner capable of generating an image that reflects the state of the user on the basis of the parameter information. |
| US08988487B2 |
Cloud video exchanging conference device
The present invention discloses a cloud video exchanging conference device. The cloud video conference device includes at least one multi-point control unit, corresponding to at least one representative number, connecting to the Internet via at least one Internet Protocol address; a backend management module, for corresponding the at least one representative number to the at least one Internet Protocol address; and at least one video conference operating module, for obtaining a corresponding specific Internet Protocol address among the at least one Internet Protocol address via the backend management module according to a specific representative number among the at least one representative number, to connect to a corresponding specific multi-point control unit among the at least one multi-point control unit for video exchanging conference. |
| US08988486B2 |
Adaptive video communication channel
A videoconference system includes a plurality of computers associated with the system to collectively send and receive video data streams. A video encoding program is stored in a memory and is executable by at least a first computer. When executed, the executing computer encodes video data using one or more encoding parameters. A decode information set request monitoring program is stored in a memory and is executable by at least the first computer, causing the first computer to perform the steps of monitoring the network for receipt of a decode information set request message and responding to the received request message by querying the received message for an ID and, if the ID of the received message corresponds to a video data stream generated from the first computer, communicating the corresponding decode information set including the encoding parameters to at least a computer that transmitted the message. |
| US08988485B2 |
Dynamic wireless configuration for video conference environments
Systems, methods, and software for facilitating wireless conference environments are disclosed. In an implementation, a media system obtains environment information comprising a physical characteristic of a conference environment in which to host a least a portion of a video conference. The media system also obtains schedule information comprising a schedule for a portion of a surrounding environment associated with the conference environment. The media system identifies a configuration in accordance with which to wirelessly exchange video with another media system or system s engaged in the video conference. The configuration is based at least in part on the physical characteristic of the conference environment and the schedule for the portion of the surrounding environment. |
| US08988484B2 |
Video processing apparatus and control method thereof
According to one embodiment, a video processing apparatus includes an input module configured to be able to perform input operation in order to register, to a server, information including a video of a face of a first person and information including a video of a face of a second person with whom the videoconferencing is conducted, in such a manner that the information including the video of the face of the first person and the information including the video of the face of the second person with whom the videoconferencing is conducted are registered in tandem. |
| US08988483B2 |
Mobile conferencing system
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a remote video conferencing system which is specifically suited for use in a medical environment. The video conferencing system comprises an elongate, primary support structure such as a pole which is outfitted with castors or similar structures to allow for the selective positioning thereof in any prescribed location within an operating room. Attached to an upper region of the pole is at least one remote controlled video camera which preferably includes a laser pointer operatively coupled thereto. During a surgical procedure, the remotely located manufacturer's representative or other medical professional is able to use the internet to remotely control the video camera, and hence the laser pointer coupled thereto. |
| US08988478B2 |
Terminal and method for prompting service failure in the video telephone service
A terminal and a method for prompting service failure in the video telephone service are disclosed, and the terminal comprises a processing module, a storing module and a setting module which are connected orderly. Said terminal sets and stores the corresponding relationship between different failure prompt information and prompting modes according to the user's command, and when the terminal receives a video telephone call request and the called user performs the failure prompting operation, the terminal generates a call failure prompt message according to the preset failure prompt information and the prompting mode corresponding to said failure prompt information and sends it to the calling user. After the calling user terminal receives said call failure prompt message, it analyzes and acquires the failure prompt information and the corresponding prompting mode, and displays and/or plays the failure prompt information to the calling user according to the prompting mode. |
| US08988476B2 |
Exposure device and image forming apparatus having a light source positioning member and an elastically deformable board
An exposure device includes a board on which a light source for emitting a light beam is mounted and on which a circuit is disposed, a housing that contains an optical system for guiding the light beam, a positioning member that positions the light source relative to the housing in an optical axis direction by contacting a reference portion disposed around the light source, and a deformable portion disposed in a region of the board that is different from a region on which the circuit is disposed. The deformable portion urges the reference portion toward the positioning member by being elastically deformed when the board is attached to the housing. |
| US08988472B2 |
Scan driving device and driving method thereof
A scan driving device and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The scan driving device includes a plurality of scan driving blocks, and each of the plurality of scan driving blocks includes a first transistor configured to transfer a clock signal inputted to a first clock signal input terminal to a first node according to a first input signal inputted to a first input signal input terminal; a second transistor configured to transfer a first power source voltage to a second node according to a voltage of the first node; and a third transistor configured to transfer the clock signal inputted to the first clock signal input terminal to an output terminal connected to a scan line according to the voltage of the fourth node. The scan driving blocks may also include a plurality of capacitor configured to store and/or change voltage at a plurality of nodes. |
| US08988471B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic dwelling time for tuning display to reduce or eliminate mura artifact
Systems and methods for calibrating an electronic display to reduce or eliminate a mura artifact are provided. The mura artifact may be due to differential behavior of common voltage layers (VCOMs) in the electronic display. One method for reducing or eliminating the mura artifact may involve turning on an electronic display and programming pixels the electronic display to a uniform gray level. An initial luminance value may be determined and, after waiting a period of time, a subsequent luminance of the pixels may be measured. When a difference between the subsequent luminance and initial luminance is within a threshold, the mura artifact may be understood to have settled and the electronic display may be calibrated. |
| US08988462B2 |
Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic image display method
In order to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic image display method for appropriately displaying a three-dimensional elastic image, a three-dimensional blood flow image, and a three-dimensional tomographic image such that the images can be separately recognized, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes projected image creation units that create a plurality of projected images from the plurality of types of volume data and a projected image combination unit that creates a composite projected image by combining the plurality of projected images on the basis of a predetermined combination rate, and the display unit displays the composite projected image. |
| US08988461B1 |
3D drawing and painting system with a 3D scalar field
Rendering 3D paintings can be done by compositing strokes embedded in space. Users input strokes and other image elements using an input device that specifies a 2D view of the element, and the system provides the 3D position of the element based on rules and processes, some of which allow for user input of high level parameters, thereby allowing for intuitive and quick entry of 3D elements, and a 3D scalar field. The artist can treat the full 3D space as a canvas. Strokes painted in a 2D viewport window are embedded in 3D space in a way that gives creative freedom to the artist while maintaining an acceptable level of controllability. The canvas need not be tied to any particular object already in a scene, but the canvas can be dependent on, or a function of, another object. An implicit canvas can be defined by the 3D scalar field. |
| US08988460B2 |
Displaying nodes visually offset from associated components
A display apparatus configured to move a drag object on a screen in accordance with an operation of a pointer. The display apparatus can include a detection unit configured to detect a target object on the screen, the target object being a destination of the drag object, and a display control unit configured to display the drag object in a position closer to the target object than a display position of the pointer moved in accordance with an operation performed by a user. |
| US08988457B2 |
Multi image-output display mode apparatus and method
In one embodiment, there is provided an electronic device. The electronic device includes: a first generator configured to generate a first image display mode in which image processing including at least one of an effect processing and a transition processing is applied to one or more still images based on image features of the still images; a second generator configured to generate a second image display mode in which one or more still images are switched over successively; and a switching module configured to output any one of the first and second image display modes and switch between the first image display mode and the second image display mode. |
| US08988455B2 |
Storage medium having game program stored thereon and game apparatus
A reference character is generated by combining part objects prepared for each site. At least one candidate character object is generated by changing at least one part object among the part objects used in the reference character object. The reference character object and the candidate character object are displayed by a display device, and an input for selection from a user is accepted. Next, a site for which different part objects are used between the selected character object and the reference character object is determined. A new character object is generated by changing the part object used for the determined site with priority. The selected character object is displayed as the reference character, and the newly generated character is displayed as the candidate character. |
| US08988454B2 |
Method for processing a digital video stream and corresponding device
A digital video stream of color images intended to be displayed on a matrix screen is formed of macropixels having at least four subpixels each. During processing, the color components of each image are transformed into an RGB format based on a polygonal representation of the color components and designed for the display of images using at least four colors by activating the four subpixels. The color components of the image are adapted in the course of the transformation. |
| US08988447B2 |
Texturing 3-dimensional computer graphic images
A method and apparatus are provided to generate automatically a mip-map chain of texture images from a portion of texture image data such that it may be used in texturing a computer graphic image. A portion of the texture image data is stored temporarily and is filtered to generate at least one lower level of mip-map data from the texture data. This lower level of mip-map texture image data is then stored for use in texturing. Preferably these are stored on a tile-by-tile basis where a tile is a rectangular area of the image being displayed. |
| US08988444B2 |
System and method for configuring graphics register data and recording medium
A system and method for configuring graphics register data and a recording medium are applied in a mobile device to store graphics operation data for displaying a picture. The system includes a plurality of register modules and an operation module. The operation module obtains unstored data from the graphics operation data, judges whether a register module already stored with data and having a configuration space sufficient for configuring the unstored data exists among all the plurality of register modules, so as to determine whether to store the unstored data into the register module already stored with data or a register module without storing-data, and when no register module without storing data exists and the configuration space of each register module already stored with data is insufficient for storing the unstored data, divides and stores the unstored data into a part of the plurality of register modules already stored with data. |
| US08988438B2 |
Motion capture apparatus and method
Provided are an apparatus and a method of effectively creating real-time movements of a three dimensional virtual character by use of a small number of sensors. More specifically, the motion capture method, which maps movements of a human body into a skeleton model to generate movements of a three-dimensional (3D) virtual character, includes measuring a distance between a portion of a human body to which a measurement sensor is positioned and a reference position and rotation angles of the portion, and estimating relative rotation angles and position coordinates of each portion of the human body by use of the measured distance and rotation angles. |
| US08988436B2 |
Training system and methods for dynamically injecting expression information into an animated facial mesh
A system and method for modifying facial animations to include expression and microexpression information is disclosed. Particularly, a system and method for applying actor-generated expression data to a facial animation, either in realtime or in storage is disclosed. Present embodiments may also be incorporated into a larger training program, designed to train users to recognize various expressions and microexpressions. |
| US08988435B1 |
Deforming a skin representation using muscle geometries
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are disclosed for animations that simulate skin deformation relative to a muscle. Displacement of a skin representation in response to deformation of a muscle representation and sliding of the skin representation over the deformed muscle representation can be determined quickly and interactively by monitoring changes in position and scale of defining ring elements of the muscle representation's geometry. The determined in displacements can be constrained to prevent portions of the displaced skin representation from sinking into the underlying muscle representation's geometry. |
| US08988433B2 |
Systems and methods for primitive intersection in ray tracing
Aspects include systems, methods, and media for implementing methods relating to increasing consistency of results during intersection testing. In an example, vertexes define edges of primitives composing a scene (e.g., triangles defining a mesh for a surface of an object in a 3-D scene). An edge can be shared between two primitives. Intersection testing algorithms can use tests involving edges to determine whether or not the ray intersects a primitive defined by those edges. In one approach, a precedence among the vertexes defining a particular edge is enforced for such intersection testing. The precedence causes an intersection tester to always test a given edge in the same orientation, regardless of which primitive defined (at least in part) by that edge is being intersection tested. |
| US08988430B2 |
Single pass hogel rendering
A system and method are provided for rendering a hogel in a single rendering pass. Data representative of a geometric shape having multiple vertices are processed to determine if the geometric shape has at least one vertex on a first side and at least one vertex on a second side of a hologram plane. When the geometric shape has at least one vertex on the first side of a hologram plane and at least one vertex on the second side of the hologram plane, the geometric shape is simultaneously duplicated, in a geometry shader, on the first side of the hologram plane and on the second side of the hologram plane. |
| US08988429B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating depth information
An apparatus for generating depth information includes: a receiver which receives a two-dimensional (2D) image signal including a plurality of frames; a user input unit; a user interface (UI) generator which generates a tool UI to input guide information for generating depth information; a display unit which displays a frame for which depth information is generated among the plurality of frames, and the generated tool UI; and a depth information generator which generates depth information corresponding to the guide information input by the user input unit through the tool UI. |
| US08988428B2 |
Representing a moving object in a three-dimensional coordinate system
A method for representing a moving object as it moves along a path in a three-dimensional coordinate system. A processor determines a direction of an animated motion of a three-dimensional object moving along a path from a starting location to a second location. The processor draws pairs of vectors from the starting location by performing a series of mathematical functions, where the tips of each pair of vectors identify two points of a three-dimensional mesh, and where the mathematical functions are functions of the starting location, of the location of a point on the object when the object is at the second location, and of the direction of motion of the object along the path. The processor further adjusts characteristics of the mesh and determines, as a function of the adjusted mesh, a characteristic of the animated object, such as its orientation in space, at the second location. |
| US08988425B2 |
Image display control system, image display control method, and image display control program
An image display control system and method are provided. The image display control system includes a feature information acquiring unit that acquires feature information indicating a three-dimensional shape and a position of a feature. The image display system also includes a birds-eye view data creating unit that creates a birds-eye view and a panoramic view data creating unit that creates a panoramic view. The birds-eye view shows scenery to be acquired when viewing in a travel direction of a navigation terminal downward from a view position that is set at an upper point above a current position of the navigation terminal and the panoramic view shows scenery to be acquired when viewing a predetermined directional area including the travel direction of the navigation terminal at the current position. The image display control system also includes an image display control unit that displays the panoramic view above the birds-eye view. |
| US08988423B2 |
Electronic album generating apparatus, stereoscopic image pasting apparatus, and methods and programs for controlling operation of same
Viewing of stereoscopic images is facilitated for every page of an electronic album. A page constituting an electronic album is selected. A stereoscopic image is then selected and the selected stereoscopic image is pasted in an image compositing area. An amount of parallax has been defined for the image compositing area, and the amount of parallax of the image compositing area in which the stereoscopic image has been pasted is read. The amount of parallax of the stereoscopic image is changed to that of the image compositing area. |
| US08988418B1 |
System and method for parametric display of modular aesthetic designs
A system and method for the aesthetic design of a modular assemblage, comprising means for providing a client graphic user interface for receiving an input for defining parameters of the modular assemblage, and for presenting an image of the defined modular assemblage; communicating a code to a server representing the defined parameters; at the server, in dependence on the communicated code, defining a set of graphic elements corresponding to the defined modular assemblage; communicating the graphic elements from the server to the client; and displaying, at the client, the graphic elements received from the server to represent the defined modular assemblage. |
| US08988416B2 |
Power reduction technique for digital display panel with point to point intra panel interface
A system and method are disclosed to control the power consumption of column drivers in a display system. A video input signal is received which has an active video period and a vertical blanking period between frames. A timing controller transmits a first video frame to a column driver. The timing controller transmits a column driver disable command during a vertical blanking period. Prior to the subsequent active video period, the timing controller transmits a column driver enable command. The timing controller proceeds to transmit a second video frame to the column driver. In one embodiment, the timing controller determines whether to disable and enable the column driver based on a refresh rate, the refresh rate calculated by the timing controller from the video input signal. |
| US08988410B2 |
Display device and method of operating the same
A display panel includes a display pixel displaying an image in response to a common voltage and a data voltage and a sensing pixel outputting a feedback voltage in response to the common voltage and a reference voltage; and a driving circuit unit supplying the data voltage and the reference voltage to the display pixel and the sensing pixel, respectively. The driving circuit unit includes a common voltage estimating part comparing the reference voltage and the feedback voltage to generate a counter signal having a counter value that is stepwise varied according to the comparing of the reference voltage and the feedback voltage; and a common voltage adjusting part stepwise varying the common voltage supplied to the display panel in response to the counter value. |
| US08988409B2 |
Methods and devices for voltage reduction for active matrix displays using variability of pixel device capacitance
Methods and devices for reducing the voltage required to update an array of display elements having variable capacitance are described herein. In one implementation, the method includes driving a display element to a first state using a reset drive line. The method further includes driving the display element to a second state using a column drive line. The capacitance of the display element is higher in the first state than in the second state. |
| US08988408B2 |
Variable-bias power supply
A responsive, low-power display panel power supply is provided. In one embodiment, such a display panel power supply may include a regulator whose responsiveness varies depending on the bias current it consumes, and a current source that provides a variable bias current. The regulator may provide the display panel a supply voltage and a supply current based on a reference voltage and a bias current. Various events taking place in the display panel, such as toggling at COM lines, source lines, and/or gate lines may cause parasitic capacitances within the display panel to draw more or less supply current. To ensure the regulator remains suitably responsive to such changes in supply current, while reducing the total power consumed by the power supply, the current source may provide a higher bias current to the regulator at least while the supply current is changing than at certain other times. |
| US08988406B2 |
Scan driver and organic light emitting display using the scan driver
A scan driver is coupled to a plurality of scan lines and includes a plurality of stages. Each of the stages is configured to sequentially receives clock signals that are phase delayed by two horizontal cycles or more from three of a plurality of clock lines, and output a scan signal having a pulse width of two horizontal cycles or more to a corresponding scan line. The scan signals are overlapped with each other by one horizontal cycle or more. |
| US08988404B2 |
Display device and method of compensating for data charge deviation thereof
A display device includes a display panel including data lines, a source driver positioned at one side of the display panel, and a timing controller which sequentially stores digital video data in a plurality of line memories, starts to generate an output data enable signal in conformity with a first writing start timing of a last line memory of the line memories, adjusts a pulse width of the output data enable signal of each horizontal pixel line based on a previously determined charge time graph, reads out the digital video data from the line memories in synchronization with rising edges of the output data enable signal, and generates a source output enable signal having the same pulse width each time each line memory finishes reading out the data. |
| US08988403B2 |
Display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A display device includes a display panel, a driving circuit, and a connection terminal. The display panel includes a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area and an electrode terminal disposed in the non-display area and extended in a direction. The driving circuit includes a signal terminal extended in the same direction as the electrode terminal and disposed adjacent to the electrode terminal. The connection terminal is disposed on the electrode terminal and the signal terminal to electrically connect the electrode terminal and the signal terminal. |
| US08988397B2 |
Display control apparatus for controlling display responsive to touch input, display control method, and storage medium
A display control apparatus which can prevent calibration caused by a user's erroneous operation in normal use, and correct for a coordinate deviation beyond the scope of assumption. Transformation of touch input is performed to obtain detected coordinates using a transformation coefficient. When the detected coordinates are obtained inside a first range defined in advance, the detected coordinates are obtained as calibration coordinates. When the detected coordinates are obtained outside the first range, the relationship between the previous detected coordinates and the present detected coordinates is obtained, and whether or not the relationship satisfies a specific condition determined in advance is determined. When the number of times the specific condition is satisfied reaches a predetermined number of times, a plurality of detected coordinates obtained outside the first range are obtained as calibration coordinates. A calibration process is performed to update the transformation coefficient based on the calibration coordinates. |
| US08988392B2 |
Optical touch control systems
An optical touch control system is disclosed. A reflector surrounds a monitor. At least one image detection module is adjacent to the monitor and includes an image sensor, a reflective mirror, and a light source. The image sensor is electrically connected to an image processor. The reflective mirror is disposed on the image sensor and inclines to the image sensor by a predetermined angle. The light source outputs light onto the monitor. The reflective mirror reflects the light reflected by the reflector to the image sensor, identifying a touch control operation. |
| US08988391B2 |
Optical navigation devices
An imaging device may have an imaging surface and a sensor. The imaging surface may be illuminated by a first source and reflect at least some of the illumination to the sensor to detect an image. The imaging device may have a predetermined width and an optical path passing therethrough. The imaging device may be illuminated by a second source, and the illumination of the second source may be directed to one or more predetermined regions on or near the imaging surface to produce an optical effect associated with the imaging surface. |
| US08988390B1 |
Frequency agile touch processing
A touch input device configured to maintain system performance despite a changing master clock frequency is provided. The touch input device includes one or more agile clocking dynamic scaling engines that can detect changes in the frequency of the master clock and can scale parameters of the touch controller associated with touch detection such that time domain to maintain uniform system performance. |
| US08988385B2 |
Apparatus for driving touch panel and display apparatus comprising the same
Disclosed are a touch panel driving apparatus and a display device including the same, which lead to the enhancement of sensing sensitivity. The touch panel driving apparatus includes a touch control unit and a touch sensing unit. The touch sensing unit is connected to the receiving lines, and generates the digital touch information on the basis of change of a capacitance between two transmitting lines and one receiving line or generates the digital touch information on the basis of change of a capacitance of each of the receiving lines to supply the digital touch information to the touch control unit, according to the sensing control signal. |
| US08988384B2 |
Force sensor interface for touch controller
A force sensor interface in a touch controller of a touch sensitive device is disclosed. The force sensor interface can couple to touch circuitry to integrate one or more force sensors with touch sensors of the device. The force sensor interface can include one portion to transmit stimulation signals generated by the touch circuitry to the force sensors to drive the sensors. The interface can also include another portion to receive force signals, indicative of a force applied to the device, from the force sensors for processing by the touch circuitry. The device can use the touch circuitry to concurrently and seamlessly operate both the force sensors and the touch sensors. |
| US08988382B2 |
Flat surface touch device for introducing visual effect
An electrode and an isolation layer of a touch device are the same color, so that a user of the touch device perceives a good visual effect without having to employ expensive optical adhesive and decorative films in the touch device. The front bezel design used in conventional touch devices can thus be abandoned. Further, simpler fabrication, higher yield rate, and lower cost are also achieved. |
| US08988376B2 |
Charge compensation for capacitive touch sensor nodes
In one embodiment, a method comprises generating a first charge at a capacitor system having a magnitude based on the magnitude of a second charge present at a capacitive node of a touch sensor in the absence of a touch with respect to the capacitive node. The method further includes generating a third charge at the capacitive node of the touch sensor in the presence of a touch with respect to the capacitive node. The first charge and the third charge are summed to cancel out at least a portion of the third charge. The method further includes integrating, by an integrator, the sum of the first charge and the third charge to generate an output voltage. |
| US08988374B2 |
Interactive-type display window device
An interactive-type display window device comprises a receiving unit, a light-pervious panel, at least one sensor, at least a lighting module, and a processing unit. The receiving unit is provided with at least one display shelf for placing display commodities thereon. The light-pervious panel is provided on a front surface of the receiving unit and can be a transparent display panel with a touch control area. Each sensor is a photo sensor or a proximity sensor. Each lighting module is provided within the receiving unit for emitting light onto the display commodities. The processing unit is used for controlling the lighting module according to the sensor's detection results or the consumers' preference. Thereby, it is able to adjust the luminous intensity, luminous chromaticity, luminous color temperature, luminous frequency spectrum, and/or the rotation of the lighting module in order to achieve the desired luminous design. |
| US08988369B1 |
Restricted carousel with built-in gesture customization
A method, computer program product, and system are provided for defining a touch gesture on a touch sensing device. The method can include receiving a touch gesture at the touch sensing device, determining that the touch gesture is not associated with any operations, and providing an indication of one or more operations the touch sensing device can perform in response to the touch gesture. The method can also include receiving a selection of an operation, and associating the touch gesture with the selected operation. |
| US08988366B2 |
Multi-touch integrated desktop environment
A technique for integrating a multi-touch surface into a desktop environment is disclosed. One or more multi-touch display devices are placed on the horizontal surface surrounding or beneath a keyboard or mouse. At least one region on the multi-touch surface is defined to display one or more user interface tools on the multi-touch surface. The one or more user interface tools displayed via the multi-touch surface may control or display information associated with desktop applications displayed via a primary display device. |
| US08988365B2 |
Input precision method for minimizing erroneous entries stemming from instability of a mobile device using an accelerometer and apparatus to detect a shake and apparatus and computer program thereof
A method of correcting an error in user input is described. The method includes monitoring for an occurrence of a shake in a user equipment, detecting a shake, comparing the detected shake with a threshold value, evaluating characters within a pre-determined distance of a character entered by the user during the shake, selecting a replacement character from the evaluated characters and replacing the entered character with the replacement character. |
| US08988363B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method for controlling display, and computer-readable recording medium
An information processing apparatus includes: an operation display unit that displays a display screen and detects detection information that changes in accordance with a user operation performed on the display screen; an operation determination unit that determines, in accordance with the detection information, whether an operation has been performed on an operation target displayed on the display screen; a selection unit that selects an image to be displayed, in accordance with a determination result from the operation determination unit; an area-where-arrangement-is-not-to-be-performed setting unit that sets an area where arrangement is not to be performed, in accordance with the determination result from the operation determination unit and the detection information; and an arrangement processing unit that arranges the image to be displayed, in an area where arrangement can be performed, in accordance with the selected image to be displayed and the set area where arrangement is not to be performed. |
| US08988351B2 |
Input device, and electronic apparatus provided with same
An input device includes a substrate, a key top, a magnet, magnetic sensors, and electromagnetic converters. The substrate includes first and second surfaces. The key top is arranged on a first surface side, slides from a reference position in directions parallel to the substrate, and moves in a perpendicular direction. The magnet is fixed on a substrate side, and moves together with the key top. The magnetic sensors are fixed on the second surface, are respectively arranged apart in different directions parallel to the substrate, and detect a position of the magnet. The electromagnetic converters are fixed on the second surface, are respectively arranged apart in different directions parallel to the substrate, are arranged at positions different from the magnetic sensors, and generate magnetic force in a direction in which the magnet is away from the substrate in the perpendicular direction, in accordance with a supply of electrical power. |
| US08988350B2 |
Method and system of user authentication with bioresponse data
In one exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes the step of providing an image to a user. The image is provided with a computer display, An eye-tracking data is obtained from the user when the user views the image. The eye-tracking data is obtained with an eye-tracking system. A user attribute is determined based on the eye-tracking data. The user is enabled to access a digital resource when the user attribute is associated with a permission to access the digital resource. The user attribute can be a personhood state. The digital resource can be a web page document. An instruction can be provided to the user regarding a pattern of viewing the image. The pattern of viewing the image can include instructing the user to gaze on a specified sequence of image elements. |
| US08988347B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image displaying method, and image displaying program
An image processing apparatus includes an instructed-position detecting unit configured to receive an instruction operation by a user on a display screen of a display device and detect and output a position where the instruction operation is performed; a storing unit configured to store multiple image data items each including information corresponding to a search key; a search-key display controlling unit configured to cause at least one search key to be selectively displayed on the display screen of the display device; a searching unit configured to, if the search key displayed on the display screen is instructed by the search-key display controlling unit through the instructed-position detecting unit, search the storing unit for the image data corresponding to the search key to extract the image data; and a display controlling unit configured to collectively display images corresponding to the image data in a certain part on the display screen. |
| US08988340B2 |
Controlling color and white temperature in an LCD display modulating supply current frequency
A display system, having an emissive body, emitting light in a way that is color temperature controllable. The light emission can be from zones. The emissive body can be a FIPEL type device with a first transparent conductive coating over a light emitting substrate. The zones are each separately controllable for color temperature. |
| US08988339B2 |
Stereoscopic image displaying system and method
A stereoscopic image displaying system and method are disclosed. The system comprises a display panel for periodically displaying a left-eye image and a right-eye image; a backlight plate that is divided into a plurality of regional light sources from top to bottom; a backlight controller for providing control signals to turn on the regional light sources, wherein in one image frame displaying period, the time points for turning on the respective regional light sources are different from each other, and turn-on durations are different from each other as well; and a pair of shutter glasses comprising a left-piece eyeglass and a right-piece eyeglass that are periodically and alternatively turned on and of for respectively receiving the left-eye image and the right-eye image. The stereoscopic display system can improve brightness performance of a liquid crystal display panel during displaying stereoscopic images, also minimize the occurrence of ghost images and crosstalk. |
| US08988338B2 |
Image display device having a plurality of image correction modes for a plurality of image areas and image display method
In an image display device which performs area-active drive, backlight sources are emitted with appropriate luminances while inhibiting increase in power consumption and inhibiting reduction of image quality. An emission luminance calculation section divides an input image into a plurality of areas, and obtains luminances upon emission (first emission luminances) of LEDs in the areas. A plurality of correction modes are prepared as methods for correcting the first emission luminances, and a correction mode that is applied to an emission luminance correction process (selected correction mode) is stored to a correction mode storage section. For any LED units whose flag data stored in a correction-enabled map has the value of 1, an emission luminance correction section corrects their first emission luminances to obtain second emission luminances in accordance with the selected correction mode, with reference to correction value data stored in correction value tables. |
| US08988337B2 |
Driving method of liquid crystal display device
Disclosed is a field-sequential liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels each of which is arranged to sequentially transmit light obtained by mixing at least two lights in addition to lights of three primary colors generated by a plurality of light sources. |
| US08988333B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus, and driving device and driving method of liquid crystal display element
A look-up table unit converts input video signal data of N bits into (M+F+D) bit data by performing inverse gamma correction and linear interpolation. An error diffusion unit converts the (M+F+D) bit data into (M+F) bit data by error diffusion processing. A frame rate control unit converts the (M+F) bit data into M bit data by frame rate control. A sub-frame data conversion unit, by using a gradation driving table and the M bit data, generates sub-frame data in which all sub-frames include a step-bit pulse respectively, and in which the number of sub-frames to be in a drive state every time the drive gradation increases by one, is increased one by one. |
| US08988327B2 |
Display device having shared column lines
A display device having at least a plurality of pixel circuits, connected to signal lines to which data signals in accordance with luminance information are supplied, arranged in a matrix, wherein pixel circuits of odd number columns and even number columns adjacent sandwiching an axis in a column direction parallel to an arrangement direction of the signal lines have a mirror type circuit arrangement symmetric about the axis of the column direction, and there are lines different from the signal lines between signal lines of adjacent pixel circuits. |
| US08988321B2 |
Organic light emitting display device including a plurality of scan driving circuits for driving scan signals corresponding to image signals and black image signals and method of driving the same
A light emitting display is configured to reduce or prevent motion blur by shortening a time that a black frame is displayed between image frames. One embodiment includes display region, a data driver, a scan driver, and a controller. The display region displays frames of images according to a data signal and a scan signal. The data driver transmits data for displaying first frames and second (black) frames between the first frames. The scan driver includes first and second scan driving circuits for transmitting scan signals, and a switch unit for selectively coupling the first and second scan driving circuits. The scan driver transmits scan signals sequentially during the first frames and transmits scan signals to at least two of the scan lines concurrently by driving the first and second scan driving circuits in parallel during the second frames. The controller transmits a driving control signal to control the switch. |
| US08988310B2 |
System and method for highly directional electronic identification and communication and combat identification system employing the same
An antenna for directional electronic communication and a directional communication system are provided. In one embodiment, the antenna includes: (1) a protective shell, (2) a Luneberg lens located within the protective shell and (3) multiple radio frequency signal conveyors located proximate a portion of the Luneberg lens and configured with the Luneberg lens to transmit radio frequency signals within a defined region or receive radio frequency signals that originate within the defined region. |
| US08988309B2 |
Radar sensor for motor vehicles
A radar sensor for motor vehicles, having a source of radar radiation and a lens, which is situated in front of the source, is made of a material that refracts radar radiation and has a convex surface on at least one side, wherein the convex surface has a greater curvature in elevation than in azimuth. |
| US08988299B2 |
Integrated antenna for RFIC package applications
A chip package includes a plurality of layers including conductive planes connected by vias. The layers include a first portion having an antenna formed therein and a parallel-plate mode suppression mechanism to suppress parallel-plate mode excitation of the antenna. The parallel-plate mode suppression mechanism includes a reflector offset from an antenna ground plane and first grounded vias. A second portion has an interface for connecting to an integrated circuit device wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated by the parallel-plate mode suppression mechanism. |
| US08988292B2 |
Antenna device and electronic device including antenna device
According to one embodiment, a first antenna element is formed from a folded monopole element having one end connected to a feeding terminal, and the other end connected to a first ground terminal, with a stub being provided between a forward portion and a backward portion formed by folding a middle portion. A second antenna element is formed from a monopole element having one end connected to the feeding terminal directly or indirectly through part of the first antenna element. A third antenna element is formed from a parasitic element having one end connected to a second ground terminal provided at a position opposite to the first ground terminal through the feeding terminal, and the other end open, with at least part of the parasitic element being placed parallel to the second antenna element so as to be configured to be capacitively coupled to the second antenna element. |
| US08988290B2 |
Apparatus and method of providing an apparatus
An apparatus and method of providing an apparatus, the apparatus including a conductive cover portion defining at least a portion of an external surface of the apparatus; a feed element configured to capacitively couple radio circuitry to the conductive cover portion at a feed point; a ground plane galvanically connected to the conductive cover portion at a ground point; wherein the feed point and the ground point are separated along a length of the conductive cover portion and configure the conductive cover portion to resonate at a first resonant frequency so as to be operable as an antenna in a first frequency band and wherein the first resonant frequency of the conductive cover portion is controlled by the separation between the feed point and the ground point. |
| US08988287B2 |
Apparatus having mushroom structures
An apparatus having multiple mushroom structures is disclosed. Each of the multiple mushroom structures includes: a ground plate; a patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of a distance to the ground plate, wherein a distance between a ground plate and a patch in a certain mushroom structure is different from a distance between a ground plate and a patch in a different mushroom structure. |
| US08988286B2 |
Multi-band antenna for portable terminal with radiators on opposite surfaces of substrate
A multi-band built-in antenna of a portable terminal is provided. The antenna includes a first antenna radiator on a front surface of a substrate (e.g., a main board), and a second antenna radiator on an opposite surface of the substrate. The substrate has ground surfaces on both sides separated from a non-ground area on which the radiators are disposed. The first radiator may be in the form of a Planar Inverted F Antenna (PIFA), with a first end branched off into two parts, one part used for power feeding and the other part electrically coupled to the ground surface. The first radiator has a portion that extends from the first end to an opposite end. The second radiator is continuous from the opposite end of the first radiator through a via (hole) in the main board. |
| US08988284B2 |
System and method for tracking lost subjects
A system and method for monitoring and tracking the position of a subject comprises, in an exemplary embodiment, a transponder configured for being co-located with the subject and a means for enabling communication between the transponder and a remote GPS-enabled receiver, such as a cell phone or the like, for selectively triangulating the position of the transponder. In the exemplary embodiment, the means for enabling such communication is software that is installed in and executed by the receiver. The software allows the receiver to triangulate the geographic position of the transponder by fixing a first reference point based on the location of the GPS-enabled receiver, fixing a second reference point based on the location of a network broadcast site through which the receiver and transponder communicate, and calculating the location of the transponder based on the angular position of the transponder relative to the network broadcast site. |
| US08988281B2 |
Reversing radar sensor component
A reversing radar Sensor Component presented by the invention includes a sensor, a damping rubber ring sleeved on a peripheral portion of the sensor, a base cover for receiving a front portion of the sensor and damping rubber ring therein, and a top cover capable of being mounted with the base cover and having an opening defined therein for exposing the front portion of the sensor therefrom. Both the base cover and top cover have several walls formed thereon. Several grooves are defined in the wall of the top cover. A buffer rubber ring is disposed between the wall of the top cover and wall of the base cover. The buffer rubber ring has plural protruding posts corresponding to the grooves. The buffer rubber ring and circular rubber sleeve and damping rubber ring form together double damping construction which increases the protection of the sensor from vibration. |
| US08988279B2 |
Antenna sidelobe reduction using phase only control
A method for reducing sidelobe interference in a radar or communication system. The method includes selecting a desired amplitude weight (WD) to be applied to radar or communication antenna elements and determining phase weights for the radar or communication system elements such that each pair of adjacent, phase weighted elements provides the desired amplitude weight when summed. |
| US08988277B2 |
Dual monopulse/interferometer radar AESA aperture
A dual monopulse/interferometer antenna and radar system. In one example, the antenna includes an active electronically steered monopulse array, and is configurable into an interferometer mode which uses a subset of the array elements of each quadrant of the monopulse array. In one example, the RF feed network that combines signals received from each element in the array to produce monopulse return signals is modified in the interferometer mode to couple out the subset of array elements to produce return signals that are analyzed using interferometric processing. |
| US08988274B2 |
Cylindrical polarimetric phased array radar
A radar data acquisition system including a polarimetric phased array antenna and a radar control and processing system. The polarimetric phased array antenna includes a support system, an array of panels and a switching network. One or more of the panels include a dual pole antenna for at least one of transmitting and receiving a dual polarization electromagnetic beam. The switching network communicates with the panels such that at least one of power, radar and control signals are sent to and received from one or more selected panels. The radar control and processing system communicates with the switching network for forming electromagnetic signals directed to one or more selected panels such that the selected panels form a dual polarization electromagnetic beam, and for reading signals sensed by one or more selected panels and for decoding the signals into an electronic radar output. |
| US08988273B2 |
System and method for detecting concealed explosives and weapons
A method for detecting hidden explosives or weapons, including transmitting a signal in different polarization channels towards an object, the next stage includes collecting back scattered energy in different polarization channels from the object, the next stage includes determining parameters that are dependent upon the transmitted signal polarization channels and the backscattered energy polarization channels, and providing an indication if there are hidden explosives or weapons in the object based on the parameters. |
| US08988268B2 |
Analog-digital converter and analog-digital conversion method
According to the present invention, a successive approximation type analog-digital converter includes: a comparator outputting a result of comparing an analog signal and a reference voltage; a register storing a digital value corresponding to the result of comparison and outputting a digital signal; a detection unit detecting whether the comparator is in a stable state or not for each bit; and a bit determination unit storing, if the comparator is not stable, as a bit value of a bit which is one bit lower-order than a corresponding detection bit, a value obtained by inverting a final determined bit value of the detection bit in the register instead of the comparison result of the comparator. |
| US08988265B2 |
Comparison circuits
A comparison circuit is provided and includes first and second comparators and a first time-to-digital comparator. The first comparator with a first offset voltage receives an input signal and generates a first comparison signal and a first inverse comparison signal. The second comparator receives the input signal and generates a second comparison signal and a second inverse comparison signal. The first offset voltage is larger than the second offset voltage. The first time-to-digital comparator receives the first comparison signal and the second inverse comparison signal and generates first and second determination signals according to the first comparison signal and the second inverse comparison signal. The first and second determination signals indicate whether a voltage of the input signal is larger than a first middle voltage. The first middle voltage is equal to a half of the sum of the first offset voltage and the second offset voltage. |
| US08988263B2 |
Successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having optimized filter
A system such as a mechanically tuned radio can have a signal path to receive and process an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal and to provide the processed signal to a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert the processed signal to a digital signal and to digitally demodulate the digital signal to obtain an audio signal, where this first ADC is separate from an auxiliary ADC not part of the signal path. |
| US08988259B2 |
Voltage generator, switch and data converter circuits
A data converter can include a resistor network, a switch network connected to the resistor network and having a plurality of switch circuits, each with an NMOS and a PMOS switch transistor, and a voltage generator to generate a drive voltage for driving a gate of at least one of the NMOS or PMOS switch transistors of at least one of the switch circuits. The voltage generator can include first and second pairs of transistors, each pair having connected control terminals and being connected to a second NMOS or PMOS transistor, a first or second resistor, and the other pair of transistors. The first and second resistors can have substantially equal resistance values. A ratio of width-to-length ratios of the second NMOS to PMOS transistors can be substantially equal to such a ratio of the switch circuit NMOS to PMOS transistors. |
| US08988257B2 |
Data compression utilizing variable and limited length codes
According to one embodiment, method for decoding encoded data comprises a hardware module including circuitry to process a data stream. The data stream includes one or more encoded symbols each including a code assigned to a corresponding symbol. A set of least frequently occurring symbols are assigned a common code to encode those symbols within the data stream. Data blocks are generated each containing a data stream portion. One or more encoded symbols within each data block are identified by comparing data block portions to maximum code values for corresponding code lengths to determine a code length for each data block portion. A starting location for the identified encoded symbols within each data block is determined based on the determined code lengths. |
| US08988256B2 |
Coding method, decoding method, coder, and decoder
A coding method, a decoding method, a coder, and a decoder are disclosed herein. A coding method includes: obtaining the pulse distribution, on a track, of the pulses to be encoded on the track; determining a distribution identifier for identifying the pulse distribution according to the pulse distribution; and generating a coding index that includes the distribution identifier. A decoding method includes: receiving a coding index; obtaining a distribution identifier from the coding index, wherein the distribution identifier is configured to identify the pulse distribution, on a track, of the pulses to be encoded on the track; determining the pulse distribution, on a track, of all the pulses to be encoded on the track according to the distribution identifier; and reconstructing the pulse order on the track according to the pulse distribution. |
| US08988255B2 |
Apparatus and method for coding data based on phasor disparity
A method for managing information includes receiving bits of data, determining phasors for bits at only one frequency of a transmission spectrum, combining the phasors of bits that form a phasor having a spectral energy that lies within a predetermined range, and forming a codeword from the bits of the combined phasors. |
| US08988254B2 |
Ultra-low power wakeup circuit device
An ultra-low power wakeup circuit device includes a keyboard, a key scan circuit, a storage unit, and a comparator unit. The key scan circuit sequentially outputs scanning signals from the first scan line to N-th scan line for acquiring N key scan data. The key scan circuit performs an XOR operation on the N key scan data to generate a current key scan data. The storage unit is connected to the key scan circuit for receiving the current key scan data and storing the current key scan data as a previous key scan data. The comparator unit is connected to the key scan circuit and the storage unit for comparing the current key scan data with the previous key scan data. When the current key scan data is different from the previous key scan data, the comparator unit generates a wakeup signal. |
| US08988253B2 |
Recovery of balloon materials
Methods and systems involving an incentivized recovery of balloon materials are disclosed herein. An example system may be configured to: (a) determine a landing location of a balloon, where the balloon has been configured to operate as a node in a balloon network; (b) detect a removal event corresponding to the balloon ceasing to operate as a node in the balloon network and descending to the landing location; and (c) in response to detecting the removal event, initiate a transmission of a recovery-assistance signal that is comprised of (i) location data corresponding to the landing location of the balloon and (ii) an indication of an incentive to recover the balloon. |
| US08988252B2 |
Traffic event monitoring
Information on a traffic event, such as a traffic accident, may be provided to a vehicle equipped with a system for performing a wireless data communication with a traffic event center. The system can determine automatically if the vehicle approaches the traffic event by receiving corresponding information in a wireless data transmission, or by a determination based on the vehicle's current position and a location of the traffic event received in a wireless data transmission. If it is determined by the system that the vehicle has approached a traffic event, the system can automatically acquire image data of the vehicle environment, and transmit the acquired image data to the traffic event center. |
| US08988250B2 |
Parking assistant and parking assisting method
When a parking assistant assists a driver in carrying out parking operation, the parking assistant takes image of vehicle surroundings to generate vehicle surroundings images, converts coordinates of vehicle surroundings images to generate overhead view image, and sets a parking target area in the overhead view image. On the overhead view image, the parking assistant superposes a parking target area image which denotes the parking target area. The parking assistant generates the parking target area image when a first certain portion where a solid object is present is superposed with the parking target area. The parking target area image is generated in a second certain portion other than the superposed first certain portion. The generating operation is implemented even when another vehicle included in the overhead view image falls in the set parking target area image. The parking assistant displays the overhead view image and the parking target area image. |
| US08988247B1 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same
Provided is a mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit that is configured to communicate with an air conditioner, a camera that captures an image of at least one photographic subject, a display unit to which the image that includes at least one graphic object corresponding to the at least one photographic subject, respectively, is output, and a controller that, if the at least one photographic subject is the air conditioner, outputs state information on the air conditioner, which includes operation information relating to a wind that is output from the air conditioner, to the vicinity of the graphic object corresponding to the air conditioner. |
| US08988243B2 |
System and method for transmitting messages related to operations of electronic devices
A system and method are provided for transmitting messages related to operations of electronic devices. A management apparatus is notified of an event that occurred in a specific one of a plurality of electronic devices. The management apparatus determines one or more target devices in response to notification of the event that occurred in the specific electronic device. An event message corresponding to the event that occurred in the specific electronic device is created. The management apparatus transmits the event message to the one or more target devices. The one or more target devices output the received event message. |
| US08988241B2 |
Portable apparatus
Interaction between a portable apparatus and a personal exercise area is disclosed. A method comprises: transferring wirelessly information between a personal exercise area and a portable apparatus; detecting proximity of the portable apparatus to the personal exercise area by utilizing the transferred information; and configuring the portable apparatus in relation to an exercise performed within the personal exercise area by a user of the portable apparatus. |
| US08988238B2 |
Change detection system using frequency analysis and method
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring operating machinery, acquiring data regarding characteristic behavior of the machinery being monitored, and processing of the data to determine and indicate when significant deviations from normal operating conditions are occurring that represent maintenance initiating or failure mode events. The method includes learning what normal operating conditions are for a machine of interest by acquiring data during observed normal operation, then calculating detection threshold values based on the acquired data. Finally, real-time monitoring of the machinery of interest during operation is employed, with alarms triggered upon occurrence of a previously-defined number of occurrences of behavior exceeding parameters associated with normal operation behavior. |
| US08988235B2 |
Force indicating attachment strap for an orthotic
An improved orthotic has a strap that secures the orthotic to a wearer, and comprises a tension indicator coupled to the strap. The tension indicator includes a first element disposed to produce a tactile signal when a tension in the strap reaches a threshold that is less than a permanent deformation threshold. |
| US08988234B2 |
Alarm system
An alarm system for alarming whenever there is a power leakage from an electronic device, includes a voltage decreasing circuit, a switch circuit and an alarm circuit. The voltage decreasing circuit receives a first voltage from a live wire output terminal and outputs a second voltage. The switch circuit outputs a control signal when the power leakage is detected. The switch circuit is electrically connected to a connection port. The connection port is electrically connected to the live wire output terminal and a neutral wire output terminal. The alarm circuit receives the control signal and alarms. If there is power leakage from the electronic device, the first voltage from the live wire input terminal flows into the ground wire input terminal via the electronic device; the switch circuit turns on and the alarm circuit is closed to alarm. |
| US08988233B2 |
Point of sale terminal having enhanced security
A data entry device including a housing formed of at least two portions, data entry circuitry located within the housing, at least one case-open switch assembly operative to sense when the housing is opened and tamper indication circuitry operative to receive an input from the at least one case-open switch assembly and to provide an output indication of possible tampering with the data entry circuitry located within the housing. The at least one case-open switch assembly includes an arrangement of electrical contacts arranged on a base surface and a resiliently deformable conductive element, which defines a short circuit between at least some of the arrangement of electrical contacts only when the housing is closed. |
| US08988230B2 |
Device and method for smart, non-habituating, automatic bird deterrent system
A bird deterrent system includes (i) measurement of bird habituation to activation of deterrent devices and (ii) reduction of habituation through increased selectivity in activating deterrents only for birds posing a threat to or threatened by a protected area, and in particular, those within threat altitudes. The bird deterrent system further provides (iii) analytical data in support of safety management systems, risk management, etc., and (iv) integrated, wide-area radar coverage with multiple virtual intrusion zones providing multiple lines of defense around and over very large protected areas. |
| US08988221B2 |
Integrated security system with parallel processing architecture
An integrated security system that includes a security coprocessor coupled to a conventional security system panel and an interactive security system. The integrated security system enables conventional security system features as well as the consumer-oriented interactive features and functions of an interactive security system without sacrificing reliability or the significant burden and cost associated with frequent software updates associated with conventional security systems. The integrated security system also minimizes or eliminates the need for new battery backup circuitry or larger batteries. |
| US08988217B2 |
Method and system for wireless configuration, control, and status reporting of devices in a fire alarm system
A method and system for configured one or more fire alarm system devices in a fire alarm system are disclosed. The fire alarm system includes the fire alarm system devices, a fire alarm panel, and a wireless handheld device. The fire alarm system devices communicate with the fire alarm panel via a first communications interface (such as a wired communications interface), and the wireless handheld device communicates with the fire alarm panel via a second communications interface (such as a wireless communications interface). In operation, the fire alarm control panel receives an indication from one of the fire alarm system devices of a user input. In response, the fire alarm panel sends a communication (such as a form) to the wireless handheld device. In response to the communication, the wireless handheld device sends a response to the fire alarm control panel (such as including information in the form). The fire alarm panel may then update its memory with the information sent from the wireless handheld device in order to control the operation of the fire alarm system device. |
| US08988213B2 |
Safety device, closing device and evaluation unit
A safety device for safeguarding a movable, guided movement element against undesired collisions with an object situated on a movement path of the movement element, said device comprising at least two sensors for detecting the object and the movement element and for outputting signals depending on the detection, and also having an evaluation unit for evaluating signals of the sensors and for generating a switch-off signal on the basis of the evaluation. For improved recognition of a risk of collision, the evaluation unit is designed to acquire from the at least two sensors a currently detected state vector from a set of state vectors which unambiguously comprise all possible combinations of the signals of the sensors, and to generate the switch-off signal in the case of predetermined state vectors. |
| US08988211B2 |
Vehicle including seat belt
A vehicle includes a vehicle side device having a vehicle side transmitting-receiving section performing wireless communicating with a seat belt side and a control section (determination section) determining an installation state, based on a signal from the seat belt side; and a seat belt side device having a seat belt side transmitting-receiving section performing wireless communicating with the vehicle side, a first switching unit of which switches the state according to detaching and installing of the seat belt and an output unit which outputs a detaching-installing signal to the seat belt side transmitting-receiving section in response to the state of the first switching unit. A power is fed to the seat belt side transmitting-receiving section and the output unit, and the signal is output and transmitted by the signal form the vehicle side transmitting-receiving section. |
| US08988210B2 |
Automatically communicating reminder messages to a telematics-equipped vehicle
A method of automatically communicating reminder messages to a telematics-equipped vehicle includes the following steps: (a) establishing a reminder message and defining playback instructions for playing the reminder message; (b) generating a trigger based on the defined playback instructions; (c) setting the trigger; (d) monitoring for the occurrence of one or more conditions that satisfy the trigger; and (e) determining that the one or more conditions have occurred and, if so, then; (f) accessing the reminder message associated with the trigger; and (g) communicating the reminder message. |
| US08988208B2 |
Tire temperature emergency warning heat indicator/transmitter with cooling solution
A system and method for operating a tire temperature warning system with an optional cooling solution is disclosed. |
| US08988203B2 |
Vehicle presence notification apparatus
A vehicle presence notification apparatus includes a speaker and a disconnection determination section. The speaker generates a notification sound to outside a vehicle when a driving condition to notify of presence of the vehicle is satisfied. The disconnection determination section determines a disconnection state of the speaker based on an electromotive force generated by the speaker at a time when a vehicle horn mounted in the vehicle is activated. |
| US08988200B2 |
Printed label-to-RFID tag data translation apparatus and method
An apparatus and a method for translating, transcribing, and/or converting a printed label on a surface of an RFID tag into electronic data, which are writable to a non-volatile storage inside the RFID tag, are disclosed. In one example, the apparatus comprises an image reader for scanning a printed label on the surface of an RFID tag, a UHF antenna module, a UHF tag access module for reading from or writing into the RFID tag, and a computer interface to display various parameters and control the apparatus. A tag-holding plate containing batches of RFID tags can be brought to an access range of the image reader using a conveyor belt or another moving mechanism. Once positioned within the access range, the apparatus can read and translate a printed label on a RFID tag and write the converted electronic data into a non-volatile storage inside the RFID tag. |
| US08988199B1 |
RFID tag parameter estimation using read difficulty factor
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system uses read difficulty factors (RDFs) to improve tag-parameter estimation. During inventory, a reader can obtain a tag's item identifier (II), determine a read metric such as a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), retrieve an RDF associated with the II, and adjust the RSSI using the RDF to more accurately estimate a tag parameter such as distance from the reader antenna. The system can then use the estimated distance to categorize the tag. |
| US08988192B2 |
Remote control biometric user authentication
A remote control device for providing individualized access control. The remote control device includes an interface for accepting input from a user and forwarding a signal corresponding the to the input from the user to a conditional access device, a biometric scanner, coupled to the remote device, for reading a biometric characteristic of a user and a processor, coupled to the interface, for generating a signal associated with the reading of the biometric characteristic of the user that is transmitted to the conditional access device for analysis to determine a function corresponding to the input from the user to execute. |
| US08988188B2 |
System and method for managing entrance and exit using driver face identification within vehicle
The present invention provides a system and method for managing entrance and exit of a vehicle from a facility via a driver facial identification operation within a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention includes a vehicle configured to recognize driver's face within vehicle by performing a driver identification operation, and then configured to send driver information via a wireless communication to a vehicle access control center in response to a positive identification of the driver's face. The vehicle access control center in the present invention then performs a verification of the driver information upon receiving the driver information from the vehicle, and controls an opening and closing of a gate for vehicle access according to of the verification of the driver information. |
| US08988184B2 |
Pressure transducer utilizing non-lead containing frit
A piezoresistive sensor device and a method for making a piezoresistive device are disclosed. The sensor device comprises a silicon wafer having piezoresistive elements and contacts in electrical communication with the elements. The sensor device further comprises a contact glass coupled to the silicon wafer and having apertures aligned with the contacts. The sensor device also comprises a non-conductive frit for mounting the contact glass to a header glass, and a conductive non-lead glass frit disposed in the apertures and in electrical communication with the contacts. The method for making a piezoresistive sensor device, comprises bonding a contact glass to a silicon wafer such that apertures in the glass line up with contacts on the wafer, and filling the apertures with a non-lead glass frit such that the frit is in electrical communication with the contacts. The use of a lead free glass frit prevents catastrophic failure of the piezoresistive sensor and associated transducer in ultra high temperature applications. |
| US08988181B2 |
Common mode filter with multi-spiral layer structure and method of manufacturing the same
A common mode filter includes a first coil, a second coil, a first insulating layer separating the first coil from the second coil, a third coil serially connected with the first coil, a second insulating layer separating the second coil from the third coil, a fourth coil serially connected with the second coil, and a third insulating layer separating the third coil from the fourth coil. The second coil is between the first and third coils, and the third coil is between the second and fourth coils. At least one of the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer and the third insulating layer may include magnetic material. |
| US08988179B2 |
Transformer
A transformer includes a core inducing a magnetic field and including an upper core and a lower core; a first insulating part in an inner side of the core; a secondary winding part in an upper portion of the insulating part, a part of the secondary winding part being exposed out of the core; a second insulating part in an upper portion of the secondary winding part to insulate the second winding part; a primary winding part in an upper portion of the second insulating part; and a film between the upper core and the lower core. |
| US08988177B1 |
Magnetic core having flux paths with substantially equivalent reluctance
Magnetic cores are described that include a first magnetic material with a first magnetic permeability, forming at least part of a body of the magnetic core, and a second magnetic material that has a second magnetic permeability positioned in a corner region of the body of the magnetic core. The second magnetic material is disposed within the body such that a plurality of magnetic flux paths of different overall lengths traverses the corner region. The plurality of potential magnetic flux paths have a corresponding plurality of effective magnetic reluctances, with different paths of the plurality of magnetic flux paths having different associated first lengths of a first plurality of lengths and different associated second lengths of a second plurality of lengths such that the corresponding plurality of magnetic reluctances of the plurality of magnetic flux paths are substantially equivalent through the different overall lengths. |
| US08988176B2 |
Superconducting electromagnet device, cooling method therefor, and magnetic resonance imaging device
A superconducting magnet device is configured to include: a refrigerant circulation flowpath in which a refrigerant (R) circulates; a refrigerator for cooling vapor of the refrigerant (R) in the refrigerant circulation flowpath; a superconducting coil cooled by the circulating refrigerant (R); a protective resistor thermally contacting the superconducting coil and having an internal space (S); a high-boiling-point refrigerant supply section for supplying a high-boiling-point refrigerant having a higher boiling point than the refrigerant (R) and frozen by the refrigerant (R) to the internal space (S) in the protective resistor; and a vacuum insulating container for at least accommodating the refrigerant circulation flowpath, the superconducting coil, and the protective resistor. |
| US08988174B1 |
Tripping mechanisms for two-pole circuit breakers
A two-pole circuit breaker is provided that includes an electronic pole disposed between a first mechanical pole and a second mechanical pole. The first mechanical pole includes a first armature, and the second mechanical pole includes a second armature. The first and second armatures each are adapted to rotate in a first plane. The electronic pole includes a trip mechanism having a first trip arm disposed adjacent the first armature and a second trip arm disposed adjacent the second armature. The first trip arm and the second trip arm are each adapted to rotate in a second plane substantially orthogonal to the first plane. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US08988170B2 |
Elastic wave filter device and communication apparatus equipped with the same
An elastic wave filter device has a center frequency of a reception frequency band. A plurality of parallel arms are connected to a portion of a series arm on a second signal terminal side of a portion in which a first series-arm resonator is provided. Series-arm resonators among the plurality of series-arm resonators other than the first series-arm resonator include a series-arm resonator having a resonant frequency higher than the resonant frequency of the first series-arm resonator. The resonant frequency of the first series-arm resonator is equal to the reception frequency band. |
| US08988169B2 |
Radio frequency devices with enhanced ground structure
Tunable radio frequency (RF) devices, such as phase shifters and filters, are formed by depositing thin film layers on a substrate and patterning the thin film layers by various lithography techniques. A thin film metal layer is patterned to form a plurality of capacitors and inductors, leaving at least two grounding regions that lie closely adjacent the capacitors and inductors. As patterned portions of the grounding regions are electrically isolated from each other. Performance of the devices are improved by electrically bridging the differential potential grounding regions. |
| US08988168B2 |
Ground noise inductive filter
An alternating current (AC) power device includes an AC circuit having input nodes, output nodes and a ground node. The AC circuit is configured to receive an input electrical signal at the input nodes and generate an output electrical signal at the output nodes. The AC power device also includes an inductor coupled to the ground node of the AC circuit. The ground node is configured to be coupled to a ground plane at a ground potential. The AC circuit is configured to be coupled to a load at the output nodes. The inductor is configured to be connected in series between the ground node of the AC circuit and the load to attenuate radio frequency components present at the ground node. |
| US08988167B2 |
RF signal blocking device
An RF signal blocking device includes a capacitor unit and an inductor unit defining an LC resonance circuit. The capacitor unit and inductor unit are set such that a cutoff frequency in the LC resonance circuit after disconnection by fusing of a second inductor including a fuse wire, among first and second inductors of the inductor unit, fluctuates within a prescribed frequency band. The RF signal blocking device reliably blocks an RF signal in a prescribed frequency band after an abnormality of fusing in the second inductor including a fuse wire occurs due to an input of an RF signal having an RF power value greater than or equal to a predetermined level. |
| US08988166B2 |
Structure and compact modeling of variable transmission lines
A novel and useful fabricated variable transmission line that is tuned digitally is presented. Digital tuning of the variable transmission line enables the compensation of process variation in both the active and passive devices of the RF design. Along with several embodiments of the variable transmission line, the present invention also provides a method of compact modeling of the variable transmission line. The variable transmission line structure and compact modeling enables circuit level simulation using a parametric device that in one embodiment can be included as an integral part of a silicon foundry design kit. |
| US08988165B2 |
Delay line phase shifter with selectable phase shift
A phase shifter with selectable phase shift and comprises a switchable phase shifting element that includes a first and second signal path coupled between an input and an output and providing a, respective, first and second phase shift for a signal coupled through the respective signal paths; a switch circuit for selecting between the first and second signal paths where the first and second signal paths and the switch circuit are configured to equalize the insertion loss for the first and second signal path, the phase shifter further including control circuit for controlling the switch circuit. |
| US08988162B2 |
Filter and duplexer
A filter includes: a coupled multi-mode acoustic wave filter connected between an input terminal and an output terminal; a first inductor connected between the coupled multi-mode acoustic wave filter and a ground terminal; an acoustic wave resonator, one end of which is connected between the input terminal or the output terminal and the coupled multi-mode acoustic wave filter; and a second inductor connected between another end of the acoustic wave resonator and the ground terminal. |
| US08988160B2 |
Data transmission system and semiconductor circuit
A data transmission system is provided in which it is possible to perform both of suppressing the degrading of the slew rate and suppressing the ringing even if load capacitance of an input buffer is changed.The data transmission system transmitting data from an output buffer to the input buffer through a trace is provided with first RC parallel circuits connected in series to the trace on a first Printed Circuit Board (PCB) on which the output buffer is mounted, and second RC parallel circuits connected in series to the trace on a second Printed Circuit Board (PCB) on which the input buffer is mounted, and which can be connected and separated to and from the first Printed Circuit Board (PCB). |
| US08988157B2 |
Oscillation circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit including the same
An oscillation circuit includes an RS flip-flop for generating output signals based on a set signal and a reset signal, an electric-charge charge/discharge unit which has first and second capacitors and charges or discharges the first and second capacitors complementarily based on the output signals, a first comparator which compares a first voltage according to electric charge accumulated in the first capacitor and a first reference voltage and outputs the set signal, a second comparator which compares a second voltage according to electric charge accumulated in the second capacitor and the first reference voltage and outputs the reset signal, and a control unit for controlling a timing at which respective voltage levels of the first reference voltage and the first voltage match and a timing at which respective voltage levels of the first reference voltage and the second voltage match according to a frequency of the output signals. |
| US08988156B2 |
Low EMI wide frequency range oscillator with automatic digital amplitude control
An oscillator/amplifier has a gain controlled amplifier that maintains a desired oscillation waveform amplitude for all possible oscillation frequencies of operation. A peak detector produces a direct current (DC) voltage proportional to the oscillation waveform, and a voltage reference generator provides a reference voltage that is compared against the DC voltage from the peak detector. When the DC voltage is less than the reference voltage the gain of the amplifier is increased, and when the DC voltage is equal to or greater than the reference voltage the gain of the amplifier is decreased. A programmable voltage reference generator may also be used to provide for selection of different oscillation waveform amplitudes. A digital control loop controls the oscillation waveform amplitude over the entire possible frequency range of operation. Various frequency determining elements, e.g., crystal, piezoelectric resonator, inductor-capacitor tuned circuit, resistor-capacitor network, etc., may be used in combination with the oscillator/amplifier. |
| US08988154B2 |
Voltage-to-current converter and voltage controlled oscillator having voltage-to-current converter
A voltage controlled oscillator includes a voltage-to-current converter and a current controlled oscillator, where the voltage-to-current converter is used for converting an input voltage to generate an output current, and the current controlled oscillator is used for generating an output frequency signal according to the output current. In addition, the voltage-to-current converter includes an input terminal, a resistor, a current mirror and a current generating circuit, where the input terminal is for receiving the input voltage; the resistor is coupled to the input terminal; the current mirror is coupled to the resistor, and is used for mirroring a reference current to generate a mirrored current, where the reference current is formed according to at least a current flowing through the resistor; and the current generating circuit is coupled to the current mirror, and is used for generating the output current according to at least the mirrored current. |
| US08988149B2 |
Amplifier circuit and method of amplifying a signal in an amplifier circuit
An amplifier circuit, comprising: an input, for receiving an input signal to be amplified; a power amplifier, for amplifying the input signal; a switched power supply, having a switching frequency, for providing at least one supply voltage to the power amplifier; and a dither block, for dithering the switching frequency of the switched power supply. The dither block is controlled based on the input signal. Another aspect of the invention involves using first and second switches, each having different capacitances and resistances, and using the first or second switch depending on the input signal or volume signal. Another aspect of the invention involves controlling a bias signal provided to one or more components in the signal path based on the input signal or volume signal. |
| US08988146B1 |
Voltage amplifier for capacitive sensing devices using very high impedance
According to some embodiments, a switch having an “on” state and an “off” state is exhibiting a low impedance in the “on” state, and a very high impedance in the “off” state. The switch comprises three series MOS transistors, the first transistor having its drain connected to the input. The switch also comprises additional circuitry which reduces, in the “off” state, the leakage current of the MOS transistor connected to the input of the switch by connecting its source and bulk to an electrical node replicating the voltage of the input node. According to some embodiments, the said switch is used in a voltage amplifier for capacitive sensing devices, such as MEMS gyroscopes and MEMS microphones; the voltage amplifier uses an operational amplifier used in a trans-capacitance configuration, with the feedback path comprising the said switch and a capacitor, wherein the said switch is connected to the input of, the voltage amplifier. According to some embodiments, the said switch is used in an integrated circuit which processes the voltage across a sensing device. |
| US08988143B2 |
Switchable current source circuit and method
A switchable current source in which a reference voltage value to be used in driving the gate of an output transistor is sampled and stored. The reference voltage is derived using a reference current source which feeds a current sensing transistor. The current sensing transistor is turned off when the output transistor is turned off, so that the reference current source then does not consume power. A large reference current Iref can then be used for a short time. |
| US08988141B2 |
On-chip port current control arrangement
A port current control arrangement, constituted of: a current source arranged to generate a reference current or a predetermined value; an on-chip reference resistor, the generated reference current arranged to produce a reference voltage across the on-chip reference resistor; an on-chip sense resistor, a port current arranged to flow through the on-chip sense resistor and produce a sense voltage across the on-chip sense resistor, wherein the resistance of the on-chip sense resistor exhibits a predetermined relationship with the resistance of the first on-chip reference resistor; and a current control circuit, a first input of the current control circuit arranged to receive the produced reference voltage and a second input of the current control circuit arranged to receive the sense voltage, wherein the current control circuit is arranged to limit the port current to a value responsive to the received reference voltage and the received sense voltage. |
| US08988136B2 |
Hybrid charge pump and method for operating the same, power management IC comprising the pump
A hybrid charge pump including a hybrid circuit configured to snub an over shoot or under shoot present in an input pulse in a snubbing operation if a level of the pulse is a first level, store the pulse in a charging operation if the level of the pulse is a second level different from the first level, and generate a negative voltage from the stored pulse in a negative voltage generation operation. |
| US08988134B2 |
System and method for operating low power circuits at high temperatures
A system includes first circuitry including first elements for operating in a low power mode; second circuitry including second elements for operating in a high-temperature mode; and one or more switching elements for selecting between the low power mode and the high temperature mode. |
| US08988133B2 |
Nested composite switch
There are disclosed herein various implementations of nested composite switches. In one implementation, a nested composite switch includes a normally ON primary transistor coupled to a composite switch. The composite switch includes a low voltage (LV) transistor cascoded with an intermediate transistor having a breakdown voltage greater than the LV transistor and less than the normally ON primary transistor. In one implementation, the normally on primary transistor may be a group III-V transistor and the LV transistor may be an LV group IV transistor. |
| US08988126B2 |
Apparatus and method for latency control in high frequency synchronous semiconductor device
An apparatus for controlling a latency in a synchronous semiconductor device. The apparatus includes a first counting block for counting a cycle of a first clock signal to thereby generate a first binary code; a second counting block for counting a cycle of a second clock signal to thereby generate a second binary code. The second clock signal is obtained by delaying the first clock signal by a predetermined delay amount, A code comparison block stores the second binary code in response to a command and compares the first binary code with the second binary code to thereby generate a latency control signal. |
| US08988125B1 |
Circuits for and methods of routing signals in an integrated circuit
A circuit for routing signals in an integrated circuit is disclosed. The circuit comprises a path having a plurality of registers coupled in series and including a source register, a destination register and at least one intermediate register; a clock generator generating a clock signal; and a delay element coupled to receive the clock signal and generate a delayed clock signal, wherein the delayed clock signal is coupled to a clock input of the at least one intermediate register. A method of routing signals in an integrated circuit is also disclosed. |
| US08988121B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a reference signal for a fractional-N frequency synthesizer
A frequency synthesizing system includes a clock generator to generate a reference clock signal, a frequency doubler to generate a frequency-doubled clock signal in response to rising edges and falling edges of the reference clock signal, a frequency multiplier to generate a frequency-multiplied clock signal in response to either rising edges or falling edges of the frequency-doubled clock signal, and a fractional-N synthesizer coupled to the frequency multiplier to generate an output clock signal in response to the frequency-multiplied clock signal. |
| US08988119B2 |
System, a method and a computer program product for electronic sub-integer frequency division
An electronic sub-integer frequency divider circuit, including: a phase rotator circuit, a clock circuitry, a pulse generator which is configured to: (a) receive a plurality of signals having a period TP and of different phases; (b) based on a control command, to process a second clock signal and one or more of the plurality of signals, to produce a second signal which includes S pulses in each period TP; and (c) process the second signal and a first clock signal to produce a regulating signal by which the phase rotator circuit is controlled; and an output interface configured to provide a sub-integer output signal whose frequency is responsive to the regulating signal. |
| US08988118B1 |
Apparatus and method for driving a transistor
Disclosed is a high-swing voltage-mode transmitter or line driver. The transmitter can operate over a wide range of supply voltages. Increasing the available output swing merely involves increasing the supply voltage; the circuit adapts to maintain the desired output impedance. This allows for a tradeoff between output amplitude and power consumption. Another advantage of the proposed architecture is that it compensates for process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) and mismatch variations so as to keep rise and fall times matched. This feature reduces common-mode noise and hence EMI in systems in which the transmitter is used. |
| US08988111B2 |
Cascoded comparator with dynamic biasing for column parallel single slope ADCs
Aspects of the invention may include receiving a first input signal and a second input signal via respective first and second input transistors. A biasing signal, generated by a cascode bias generator, tracks the first input signal, where the biasing signal has a fixed offset with respect to the first input signal. The biasing signal may be applied to the first and second cascode transistors that may be cascoded to the first and second input transistors, respectively. |
| US08988108B2 |
Coarse gating of clock tree elements
Methods relating to distribution of a clock signal to logic devices of an integrated circuit. The method includes controlling, by a logic element, the distribution of a clock signal by a clock gater and distributing the clock signal by the clock gater to at least one first logic device, wherein the logic element allows the first clock gater to distribute the clock signal only when at least one first logic device requires the clock signal. An integrated circuit configured to perform such a method. Fabrication of such an integrated circuit. |
| US08988105B2 |
Semiconductor device having diode-built-in IGBT and semiconductor device having diode-built-in DMOS
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a diode-built-in insulated-gate bipolar transistor having an insulated-gate bipolar transistor and a diode, which are disposed in the substrate, wherein the insulated-gate bipolar transistor includes a gate, and is driven with a driving signal input into the gate; and a feedback unit for detecting current passing through the diode. The driving signal is input from an external unit into the feedback unit. The feedback unit passes the driving signal to the gate of the insulated-gate bipolar transistor when the feedback unit detects no current through the diode, and the feedback unit stops passing the driving signal to the gate of the insulated-gate bipolar transistor when the feedback unit detects the current through the diode. |
| US08988103B2 |
Capacitively coupled logic gate
An electronic logic circuit uses areal capacitive coupling devices coupled together to process a set of data inputs. Each areal capacitive coupling device can be configured such that a floating gate potential of such device can be altered to at least a first state or a second state in response to receiving an input signal from the set of data inputs, which is coupled electrically to the floating gate. A majority function logic circuit (and other similar circuits) can be interconnected this way using far fewer gates than with a conventional CMOS implementation. Selective logic gates can also be enabled or disabled by configuring them effectively as memory devices. |
| US08988102B2 |
On-die termination
Local on-die termination controllers for effecting termination of a high-speed signaling links simultaneously engage on-die termination structures within multiple integrated-circuit memory devices disposed on the same memory module, and/or within the same integrated-circuit package, and coupled to the high-speed signaling link. A termination control bus is coupled to memory devices on a module, and provides for peer-to-peer communication of termination control signals. |
| US08988100B2 |
Driver calibration methods and circuits
Described are amplifiers that facilitate high-speed communication with calibrated drive strength and termination impedance. Drivers and termination elements can be divided into a number N of parallel portions, one or more of which can be disabled and updated without interfering with signal (e.g., clock or data) transmission. Some embodiments identify inactive elements by examining incoming signals. |
| US08988099B2 |
On-line time domain reflectometer system
A number of TDR systems and testing methods are provided that improve the quality and accuracy of information collected when propagating a signal along a length of cable in order to pinpoint specific anomalies. One or more of the TDR systems includes, for example, a computing device, a pulse generator, and at least one capacitive test sensor. The at least one capacitive test sensor transmits/receives pulses to/from a power system component, such as an insulated power cable, in a capacitive manner. |
| US08988098B2 |
Systems and methods for modular testing of chargers
A system and method for testing a charger. A power-end of a charger is received in a power port of a charger tester. An adapter module is received in an adapter port, the adapter module being connected to an adapter-end of the charger. The charger tester is automatically activated to power the charger through the power port in response to the adapter module being received by the adapter port. Performance characteristics of the charger are measured. The performance characteristics of the charger are displayed to a user to indicate functionality of the charger. |
| US08988095B2 |
Socket and electronic device test apparatus
A socket which enables occurrence of contact defects to be suppressed is provided. A socket 11 to which a test carrier 20, which has: a base film 32 on which bumps 324 are formed for contact with electrode pads 51 of a die 50; and external terminals 312 which are electrically connected to the bumps 324, is electrically connected comprises: contactors 125 which contact external terminals 312; and an elastic member 131 which pushes against bump-forming portions 32a and bump-surrounding portions 32b on the base film 32. The elastic member 131 has: a first elastic layer 132; and a second elastic layer 133 which is more flexible than the first elastic layer 132, and a second elastic layer 133 is laid over the first elastic layer 132 and contacts the base film 32. |
| US08988094B2 |
Test contact arrangement
The invention relates to a test contact arrangement (15) for testing semiconductor components, comprising at least one test contact (10) which is arranged in a test contact frame (13) and is designed in the type of a cantilever arm and which has a fastening base (12) and a contact arm (30) which is provided with a contact tip (11) and which is connected to the fastening base, wherein the fastening base is inserted with a fastening projection (16) thereof into a frame opening (14) of the test contact frame in such a manner that a lower edge (17) of the fastening projection is essentially aligned flush with a lower side (18) of the test contact frame. |
| US08988093B2 |
Bumped semiconductor wafer or die level electrical interconnect
A probe assembly that acts as a temporary interconnect between terminals on an IC device and a test station. The probe assembly includes a plurality of stud bumps arranged on a first surface of a substrate in a configuration corresponding to the terminal on the IC device. The stud bumps include a shape adapted to temporarily couple with the terminals on the IC device. A plurality of conductive traces on the substrate electrically couple the stud bumps with the test station. |
| US08988092B2 |
Probing apparatus for semiconductor devices
A probing apparatus for semiconductor devices provides a primary circuit board and a signal-adapting board positioned on the primary circuit board. The primary circuit board includes an inner area having a plurality of first contacts and an outer area having a plurality of first terminals and second terminals, and the first contacts are electrically connected to the first terminals via first conductive members in the primary circuit board. The signal-adapting board includes a plurality of second contacts electrically connected to the first contacts via second conductive members in the signal-adapting board. |
| US08988090B2 |
Electrically conductive kelvin contacts for microcircuit tester
Terminals (2, 502) of a device under test (DUT) are connected to corresponding contact pads or leads by a series of electrically conductive contacts. Each terminal testing connects with both a “force” contact and a “sense” contact. In one embodiment, the sense contact (770) partially or completely laterally surrounds the force contact (700). In order to increase the contact surface, the force contact, in a spring pin (700) configuration contacts the device under test terminal at that portion of the lead which is curved or angled, rather than orthogonal to the pin. |
| US08988088B2 |
Liquid immersion sensor
Disclosed is a liquid immersion sensor comprising a substrate (10) carrying a conductive sensing element (20) and a corrosive agent (30) for corroding the conductive sensing element, said corrosive agent being immobilized in the vicinity of the conductive sensing element and being soluble in said liquid. |
| US08988087B2 |
Touchscreen testing
Touchscreen testing techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a conductor is placed proximal to a touchscreen device and the touchscreen device is tested by simulating a touch of a user by placing the conductor in a grounded state and lack of a touch by the user by placing the conductor in an ungrounded state. |
| US08988083B2 |
Conductivity sensor
A conductivity sensor, comprising an electrode structure of four concentric electrodes, which are arranged on an end face of a support body. The electrodes are electrically insulated from one another. The electrodes have an equal, constant area in order to claim a space requirement as small as possible for the electrode structure. |
| US08988082B2 |
Biomass monitor probes and bioreactors incorporating such probes
A bioreactor includes a plastic enclosure for containing a biological medium, the enclosure being integrally formed to have one or more elongate port extensions projecting outwardly from the enclosure and communicating from the exterior to the interior of the enclosure. A biomass impendence monitor probe is provided for use in conjunction with the bioreactor. The probe is pushed into one or more of the elongate ports in order to have an electrode arrangement positioned internally of the container. The probe has an elongate housing having an outer surface extending along and contiguous with the elongate inner surface of the port extension. The housing extends from the electrode end of the probe to a remote end. The housing is provided with an electrical connector connected to the electrode arrangement. |
| US08988081B2 |
Determining propagation delay
Techniques for obtaining a propagation delay through first and second transmission lines having substantially equal propagation delays may include: providing a first signal to the first transmission line; providing a second signal to the second transmission line; detecting an incident edge of the first signal on the first transmission line; detecting a reflected edge of the second signal on the second transmission line; and determining the propagation delay based on times of detection of the incident edge and detection of the reflected edge. |
| US08988080B2 |
Capacitive measurement system with increased robustness against electro-magnetic interference
A method for capacitive sensing comprises the steps of tagging a transmitting signal by modulating a sub-carrier on said signal using state of the art modulation techniques; demodulating said subcarrier out of useful/received signal to prove validity of said signal. |
| US08988078B2 |
Voltage monitoring system and voltage monitoring module
In a voltage monitoring system, a voltage monitoring module includes an adjusting current control circuit to generate an adjusting current so that the operating current consumed by the voltage monitoring modules reaches a specified value corresponding to a first operation current setting command, and stops generating the adjusting current according to an operating current switching command; and an operating current measurement circuit to measure the operating current according to the operating current measuring command following the operating current switching command; and in which a module control circuit sends a second operation current setting command based on the operating current that was measured, and the adjusting current control circuit generates an adjusting current so that the operating current reaches a specified value corresponding to the second operating current setting command. |
| US08988076B2 |
Integrated NMR transceiver array
The present disclosure relates to an integrated nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) transceiver array, the array including a plurality of integrated NMR transceiver circuits disposed on a single chip. At least one of the plurality of integrated NMR transceiver circuits includes a transmitter that receives and outputs a radio frequency (RF) pulse train and a receiver that receives an NMR signal. |
| US08988075B2 |
Method for suppressing and/or eliminating noise signals in magnetic resonance imaging and a magnetic resonance apparatus therefor
A method is disclosed for suppressing and/or eliminating noise signals during magnetic resonance imaging by way of a magnetic resonance sequence including an ultra-short echo time. In at least one embodiment, the method includes a recording step for recording magnetic resonance signals of an object to be examined, especially a partial region of a patient, by way of the magnetic resonance sequence, wherein in a noise signal determination step at least one item of information about at least one noise signal of a noise element, especially of a magnetic resonance antenna element, is made available. |
| US08988064B2 |
Current detection circuit and transformer current measuring system
A current detection circuit and a transformer current measurement system are offered, in which when elements and circuit, which cannot operate originally unless a transformer with small excitation inductance is used, are connected to a primary side of the transformer, even if the transformer, whose excitation inductance is large, is used, transformer current (primary current and secondary current) can be measured without deteriorating operations of the elements and circuit.[Means for solving] A current detector CT (current transformer) is in series connected to a primary winding 111 of a transformer 11, and an inductor La is in parallel connected to to a series connection of the current detector CT and the primary winding 111. And, secondary current I2 of the transformer 11 is measured based on a value of primary current IT detected by the current detector CT. |
| US08988059B2 |
Dynamic switch scaling for switched-mode power converters
Techniques for optimizing the trade-off between minimizing switching losses and minimizing conduction losses in a buck converter. In an aspect, each of a high-side switch and a low-side switch may be implemented as a plurality of parallel-coupled transistors, each transistor having an independently controllable gate voltage, allowing adjustment of the effective transistor size. In response to the target voltage of the buck converter corresponding to a relatively high voltage range, more high-side switch transistors and fewer low-side switch transistors may be selected. Similarly, in response to the target voltage corresponding to a relatively low voltage range, more low-side switch transistors and fewer high-side switch transistors may be selected. In an aspect, the techniques may be applied during a pulse-frequency modulation mode. |