| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08996365B2 |
Howling canceller
A howling canceller which suppresses occurrence of howling even when an open loop gain exceeds “1” in the whole reproduction band. In the howling canceller, an adaptive filter (107) operates a digital received voice signal with a tap coefficient to generate a pseudo echo; a subtractor (108) subtracts the pseudo echo from a digital transmitted voice signal to generate a residual signal; and an amplitude limiting circuit (110) limits the absolute value of the amplitude of the digital received voice signal to be equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold which ensures that all of a D/A converter (101), a power amplifier (102), a speaker (103), a microphone (104), a microphone amplifier (105), and an A/D converter (106) operate in a linear operation area, and outputs the amplitude-limited digital received voice signal to the D/A converter (101) and the adaptive filter (107). |
| US08996361B2 |
Method and device for determining a decoding mode of in-band signaling
In the field of communications, a method and a device for determining a decoding mode of in-band signaling are provided, which improve accuracy of in-band signaling decoding. The method includes: calculating a probability of each decoding mode of in-band signaling of a received signal at a predetermined moment by using a posterior probability algorithm; and from the calculated probabilities of the decoding modes, selecting a decoding mode having a maximum probability value as a decoding mode of the in-band signaling of the received signal at the predetermined moment. The method and the device are mainly used in a process for determining a decoding mode of in-band signaling in a speech frame transmission process. |
| US08996356B1 |
Techniques for predictive input method editors
A computer-implemented method technique is presented. The technique can include receiving, at a computing device comprising one or more processors, a first input from a user, the first input including one or more first characters in a first language. The technique can provide for suggestion of potential transliterations to a second language of potential words beginning with the one or more first characters. The technique can present the potential transliterations in either an off-the-spot input configuration or an inline input configuration. The user can then select one of the potential transliterations. The technique can also provide the one or more first characters as an additional or partial word as a potential selection for the user. In this manner, the user can also select the exact one or more first characters that were input to the computing device. |
| US08996353B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-user multi-lingual communications
Various embodiments described herein facilitate multi-lingual communications. The systems and methods of some embodiments enable multi-lingual communications through different modes of communication including, for example, Internet-based chat, e-mail, text-based mobile phone communications, postings to online forums, postings to online social media services, and the like. Certain embodiments implement communication systems and methods that translate text between two or more languages. Users of the systems and methods may be incentivized to submit corrections for inaccurate or erroneous translations, and may receive a reward for these submissions. Systems and methods for assessing the accuracy of translations are described. |
| US08996351B2 |
Cloud-based translation service for multi-function peripheral
Techniques are provided for translating a document that was scanned by a multi-function peripheral (MFP). A server within a computing cloud receives an MFP identifier and processed scan data that results from optical character recognition and/or natural language translation having been performed on scan data produced by the MFP. In response to the receipt of the processed scan data at the server, the server selects a set of rules that is mapped to a context to which the MFP identifier is mapped. Corrected processed scan data is generated by applying the set of rules to the processed scan data that was received by the server. Manual corrections made to the corrected processed scan data may be used to update the set of rules so that those corrections are also made to other processed scan data produced by MFPs having identifiers mapped to the same context. |
| US08996347B2 |
Digital wire harness assembly system
An electronic wire harness assembly system having a transparent pegboard with a rear mounted digital display such as an LCD or plasma display is controlled by a proprietary software program running on a personal computer. The digital display provides peg location illumination, wire run path location illumination, connector shape illumination and location illumination, as well as cable tie location illumination. The operator is visually assisted with notes and videos displayed under the pegboard at the appropriate locations. The pegboard grid is registered to the digital display with simple mouse pointer clicks. |
| US08996341B2 |
Generating and evaluating expert networks
A system comprises a modeling component, a routing component, a simulator component and a configuration component. The modeling component is operative to obtain at least one model of at least one collaborative network. The routing component is operative to model at least one routing pattern for one or more nodes of a given collaborative network. The simulator component is operative to simulate one or more virtual network topologies of the given collaborative network using the at least one model and the at least one routing pattern. The configuration component is operative to configure one or more given virtual network topologies on the given collaborative network. The collaborative network comprises a plurality of nodes and one or more edges between pairs of the plurality of nodes. The modeling component, routing component, simulator component and configuration component are executed by at least one processing device. |
| US08996337B1 |
Hierarchical position-based dynamics
A physics simulation engine simulates the motion of one or more particles that represent virtual objects in a virtual graphics scene. Each particle is assigned to a level in a particle hierarchy that has at least two levels. The physics simulation engine collapses constraints associated with particles assigned to a first level of the particle hierarchy to generate hierarchical constraints associated with particles assigned to the second level of the particle hierarchy. The physics simulation engine updates the position of each particle assigned to the second level of the particle hierarchy by enforcing constraints associated with the particle. The physics simulation engine then updates the position of each particle assigned to the first level of the particle hierarchy based on the positions of the particles assigned to the second level of the particle hierarchy. |
| US08996335B2 |
Systems and methods for energy efficient machine condition monitoring of fans, motors, pumps, compressors and other equipment
Methods and systems to achieve highly efficient rotational machine integrity determinations in which at least one sensor (106) senses indicia (105) such as time-varying rotational indicia from a rotational motive apparatus (103) and a processor (108) may provide many different functions including but not limited to operational function energy apportioning decisional processing, data compression, intelligent hierarchical data ranking, differential data processing, or the like perhaps to generate information (109) such as a rotational integrity abridgment transmissor to which an abridgment transmissor electromagnetic signal (112) may be created and perhaps even transmitted from a rotational motive apparatus to facilitate a machine integrity determination. |
| US08996332B2 |
Program setting adjustments based on activity identification
An electronic device monitors accelerations using an inertial sensor. The electronic device identifies a current motion state based on the accelerations. The electronic device determines an application that subscribes to a motion state identification service and notifies the application of the current motion state. |
| US08996329B2 |
Sensor node and control method thereof
A sensor node for accurately guaranteeing a lifetime of a USN sensor node, and a control method thereof are provided. The sensor node control method includes receiving an operation time of a sensor node from a user; based on the input operation time, calculating a sensing rate which is the number of sensings of the sensor node per unit time; and according to the calculated sensing rate, controlling a sensing operation of the sensing node. |
| US08996328B2 |
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to test safety instrumented system solenoids
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to test safety instrumented system (SIS) solenoids are disclosed. A disclosed valve position control apparatus includes a relay to control a state of a solenoid and a valve positioner including a transmitter to transmit a solenoid test signal to the relay, electrical contacts to communicatively couple the solenoid test signal to the relay via one or more wires, and a solenoid tester to generate the solenoid test signal and to monitor a response of the solenoid when the solenoid test signal is transmitted to the relay to verify an operation of the solenoid. |
| US08996324B2 |
Battery-state monitoring apparatus
A battery-state monitoring apparatus includes: a secondary battery 200 supplying an electric power to portable equipment 300; and an operation processing part 50 that can detect a battery state of the secondary battery 200 in a detection mode to detect the battery state of the secondary battery 200, the operation processing part using the secondary battery 200 as a power source, wherein the battery-state monitoring apparatus includes a start-up current detecting part 31 detecting a start-up of the portable equipment 300, and wherein the operation processing part 50 waits for a detection of the battery state in a standby mode in which power consumption is smaller than the detection mode until the start-up is detected by the start-up current detecting part 31, and, on the other hand, the operation processing part 50 detects, by intermittently performing a temporary return from the standby mode to the detection mode, the battery state of the secondary battery in a return period during which the return is made. |
| US08996323B1 |
System and method for assessing power distribution systems
A method of assessing an electrical power distribution system includes establishing a baseline signature for one or more points in the power distribution system and assessing the power distribution system using the baseline signatures. Establishing the baseline signatures includes injecting one or more input signals (for example, a tone) at one or more injection points in the power distribution system, sensing one or more output signals at one or more sensing points in the power distribution system, and establishing a baseline signature for one or more of the points based on one or more of the output signals. |
| US08996319B2 |
Integrated phased array transducer, system and methodology for structural health monitoring of aerospace structures
The invention provides an integrated Phased Array (PhA) structural radar transducer, permanently bonded to a structure, that can provide reliable electromechanical connection with corresponding miniaturized electronic SHM device installed above it. The integrated PhA transducer consists of a set of aligned piezo-electric discs with wrap around electrodes for transceiving of elastic ultrasonic waves, plurality of electrical traces and contact pads, several layers of a flexible printed circuit board, electromagnetic shielding between channels and overall, one electromechanical multi-pinned connector and all that integrated into one small unit easy for surface installation by bonding and final application on real structures. The integrated PhA transducer, as a key component of SHM (Phased Array Monitoring for Enhanced Life Assessment) system, has two principal tasks to reliably transceive elastic waves and serve as a reliable sole carrier or support for associated sophisticated SHM electronic device attached above. |
| US08996318B2 |
Using oligonucleotide microarrays to analyze genomic differences for the prediction of heterosis
A novel method for prediction of the degree of heterotic phenotypes in plants is disclosed. Structural variation analyzes of the genome are used to predict the degree of a heterotic phenotype in plants. In some examples, copy number variation is used to predict the degree of heterotic phenotype. In some methods copy number variation is detected using competitive genomic hybridization arrays. Further, methods for optimizing the arrays are disclosed, together with kits for producing such arrays, as well as hybrid plants selected for development based on the predicted results. |
| US08996317B2 |
Sample analyzer, computer program product for a sample analyzer and method for analyzing a sample
A sample analyzer comprising: a measuring unit, which comprises a signal output section for outputting a signal representing a characteristic of a measurement specimen prepared by mixing a sample with a reagent, and a signal adjusting section for adjusting the signal outputted from the signal output section, the measuring unit outputting a detection signal based on the signal adjusted by the signal adjusting section; and a result producing unit for producing an analysis result based on the detection signal outputted from the measuring unit and storing the analysis result therein is disclosed. A computer program product for the sample analyzer and a method for analyzing a sample using such a sample analyzer is also disclosed. |
| US08996315B2 |
Method and system of determining a value indicative of gas saturation of a formation
Determining a value indicative of gas saturation of a formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: obtaining an inelastic count rate and a capture count rate of a gamma detector for a particular borehole depth; removing at least a portion of the chlorine response from the capture count rate, thereby creating a modified capture count rate; calculating a ratio of an inelastic count rate to the modified capture count rate for the particular borehole depth; determining a value indicative of gas saturation based on the ratio; and producing a plot of the value indicative of gas saturation as a function of borehole depth for a formation that the borehole at least partially penetrates. |
| US08996314B2 |
System and method for personal stress analysis
There is shown and described a computer implemented system and method for analyzing an individual's personal stress level and providing a stress-score representing the individual's personal stress level. A plurality of parameters are received into a memory from at least one computing device and each of the parameters respectively represents a factor of the individual's life that contributes to a level of stress for the individual. The received parameter data is processed by executing code in a processor that configures the processor to normalize the parameter data by assigning, for each of the received parameters, a respective parameter score that represents a relative value of the parameter. The individual's stress-score is calculated as a function of the normalized parameter data, the stress-score is automatically transmitted to the at least one computing device, using code executing in the processor and free of human intervention. |
| US08996311B1 |
Navigation system with rapid GNSS and inertial initialization
A navigation system for use with moving vehicles includes target points proximate to a rendezvous site located on a first moving vehicle. One or more transmitters associated with the target points broadcast time-tagged target point positioning information. A navigation unit on a second moving vehicle utilizes a camera with known properties to capture images that include the target points. The navigation unit processes the image that corresponds in time to the positioning information, to determine the relative position and orientation of the rendezvous site at the second vehicle. The navigation unit utilizes the relative position and orientation and an absolute position and orientation of the rendezvous site calculated from the target position information and calculates an absolute position and orientation corresponding to the second vehicle. The navigation unit then initializes its component inertial subsystem using a local position and orientation that are based on the calculated absolute position and orientation of the second vehicle. |
| US08996310B1 |
Vehicle heading validation using inertial measurement unit
A navigation system repeatedly determines a GNSS heading for the vehicle based on GNSS data received from the GNSS receiver, and repeatedly determines an inertial heading for the vehicle based on data received from an inertial measurement unit. The navigation system repeatedly sets the inertial heading to a verified GNSS heading and then provides the set inertial heading as input to a recursive feedback algorithm. The recursive feedback algorithm receives additional inputs indicating the vehicle's angular displacement or acceleration and outputs an updated inertial heading. The navigation system compares the subsequently determined GNSS headings with the updated inertial heading. If the two headings are different, the navigation system sets the GNSS heading to the updated inertial or 180 degree reverse of the GNSS heading. |
| US08996307B2 |
Navigation system and methods regarding disputed territories
Systems, devices, features, and methods for operations corresponding to disputed territories are disclosed. For example, one method comprises providing different data records corresponding to geographic features in dispute between multiple geographic entities. The different data records may be used to display different views of a disputed area as recognized by the respective geographic entities. |
| US08996306B2 |
Route search device and method, information providing device and method, and route search system
A route search device including a database in which map information and facility information are stored, a reference location information obtaining unit that obtains reference location information as location information of a given point from an outside of the route search device, a location information obtaining unit that obtains location information of a desired facility from the outside, a corresponding location information obtaining unit that obtains corresponding location information as location information of a point corresponding to the given point, from the database, a location correction factor calculating unit that calculates a location correction factor, a location correction factor storage unit that stores the location correction factor, a location information correcting unit that corrects the location information of the desired facility, using the location correction factor, and a route searching unit that makes a search for a route to the desired facility, based on the corrected location information. |
| US08996299B2 |
Geographic coordinates coding software product
A software product for easy-to-use naming, coding, and sharing of locations, including those with no addresses. |
| US08996298B2 |
Noise pattern acquisition device and position detection apparatus provided therewith
A noise pattern acquisition device includes: a geomagnetic sensor; a coordinate estimation unit configured to estimate current position coordinates; and a geomagnetic noise pattern management unit configured to, when an abnormality occurs in a magnetic field strength detected by the geomagnetic sensor during movement of the noise pattern acquisition device, store in a geomagnetic noise pattern storage unit a geomagnetic noise pattern which is a pattern representing a time-series change of the magnetic field strength detected by the geomagnetic sensor. This makes it possible to not only acquire a geomagnetic noise pattern but also detect a proper position with a simple structure and process at reduced cost. |
| US08996292B2 |
Apparatus and method generating a grid map
An apparatus and method generating a grid map are provided. The grid map generating apparatus generates a grid map while turning 360 degrees at a dynamically adjustable rotational velocity. The dynamically adjustable rotational velocity allows grid points to have equal intervals on the grid map. The grid map generating apparatus generates a grid map while making a complete turn, and generates a grid map corresponding to a non-linear section while making another turn. |
| US08996287B2 |
Calculating speed and travel times with travel delays
Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for forecasting travel delays corresponding to streets, street segments, geographic areas, geofenced areas, and/or user-specified criteria. And from the forecasted travel delays, speed and travel times that take into account such travel delays can be determined. |
| US08996281B2 |
Catalyst light-off for turbocharged internal combustion engine having dedicated EGR cylinder(s)
A method of decreasing the light-off time of a catalytic exhaust aftertreatment device, using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in a turbocharged internal combustion engine. The engine has at least one “dedicated EGR cylinder”, whose entire exhaust is recirculated back to all the engine cylinders. The dedicated EGR cylinder(s) may be operated to produce a differently compositioned exhaust gas than the other cylinders. During light-off, EGR gas is optimized for heat, diverted from the EGR loop and routed to a point directly upstream the aftertreatment device. |
| US08996279B2 |
Method and system for optimizing fuel delivery to a fuel injected engine operating in power mode
A method and system are provided for optimizing fuel delivery to an internal combustion engine. The method and system have particular applicability to an engine having a base or OEM engine control unit (ECU) which outputs fuel injector control signals. In accordance with the method, when the engine is operating in one or more modes, such as a Power Mode, the amount of fuel delivered to the engine is modified, such as by changing the duration of the fuel injector control signals with a secondary ECU. The control signals are modified based on engine speed, and thus in direct relation to engine performance. |
| US08996278B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine
In a control device for an internal combustion engine, which includes control unit that has a processor with a plurality of cores and that computes various tasks associated with operation of the internal combustion engine, the control unit includes a selecting unit, that selects at least one core used in the computation from among the plurality of cores, a computing unit that distributes the tasks to the at least one core selected by the selecting unit to perform computation, and an acquisition unit that acquires an engine, rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, and, when the engine rotational speed acquired by the acquisition unit is higher than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the selecting unit increases the number of the cores selected as compared with when the acquired engine rotational speed is lower than the predetermined threshold. |
| US08996273B2 |
Anticipatory cruise control
An anticipatory cruise control configured to automatically adjust travel speed responsively to upcoming changes in road conditions in a safe and comfortable manner. |
| US08996272B2 |
Cruise control system and method thereof
Provided is a cruise control system and method. A vehicle cruise control system collects state information of components inside and outside a vehicle, state information of a road on which the vehicle is provided, and drive pattern information of a driver of the vehicle, analyzes a mileage amount and an exhaust gas emission amount of the vehicle based on the collected state information of the components, the road state information, and the drive pattern information, calculates a cruise control speed based on the analysis result, and controls the vehicle to run at the cruise control speed. |
| US08996271B2 |
Vehicle brake control device and method
A brake control method. During ABS control, a control sequence, other than the conventional control sequence, based on the slip ratio and so forth resulting from the measurement value of a wheel speed sensor, and a minimum amount of pressure increase or a minimum amount of pressure decrease is ensured. In another embodiment, a control sequence independent from a control sequence based on the measurement value of a wheel speed sensor, sets allowable ranges relating to amounts of change in the pressure of a wheel cylinder, monitors the actual pressure value with a pressure sensor at the time of brake control, and, at a time when the pressure inside the wheel cylinder has deviated from these allowable ranges, drives an actuator such as an electromagnetic valve and controls in such a way that the pressure inside the wheel cylinder falls within an allowable range. |
| US08996270B2 |
Method for operating a parking brake in a vehicle
A method for operating a parking brake having an electromechanical braking device, which includes an electric brake motor, the electromechanical braking device being re-applied in order to generate a clamping force again in the case of a fault of the release process of the electromotive braking device. |
| US08996269B2 |
Vehicle speed control apparatus, vehicle speed control system comprising the same and vehicle speed control method
Disclosed is a vehicle speed control apparatus including: a speed limit information recognition unit recognizing a location and a speed limit of a speed limit point located in front of a vehicle; a storage unit stored with deceleration characteristic values including at least one driving characteristic; a deceleration characteristic select unit selecting the deceleration characteristic values corresponding to the location and the speed limit of the recognized speed limit point among the deceleration characteristic values stored in the storage unit; and a targeted acceleration calculation unit calculating a targeted acceleration necessary for a vehicle speed control up to the speed limit point based on the selected deceleration characteristic values. By this configuration, it is possible to precisely control the vehicle speed up to the speed limit point at an optimal speed. |
| US08996267B2 |
Driving force control device for four-wheel-drive vehicle
A driving force control device for a four-wheel-drive vehicle performs, by controlling the driving force that is allocated to the rear wheels by a front and rear torque allocation clutch that is arranged between a propeller shaft and a rear diff, the control of setting front wheels as primary drive wheels and rear wheels as auxiliary drive wheels. A control is performed to disable the allocation of driving force to the rear wheels by disengaging the front and rear torque allocation clutch, when the state that the difference in wheel speed between the left and right rear wheels is equal to or more than 80 km continues for 0.1 sec or longer in the state that the vehicle body speed is equal to or less than 120 km. |
| US08996264B2 |
Control device for continuously variable transmission and control method for continuously variable transmission
A control device for continuously variable transmission includes an operating state detection means for detecting an operating state of a vehicle including a vehicle speed and an accelerator pedal opening, a control means for controlling a speed ratio of a continuously variable transmission based on the operating state, an acceleration request determination means for determining the presence or absence of an acceleration request of a driver based on the accelerator pedal opening, and a speed ratio setting means for setting a speed reduction ratio controlled by the control means to be smaller with an increase in an acceleration start vehicle speed if the accelerator pedal opening is equal during acceleration. The control means updates the acceleration start vehicle speed to a vehicle speed at the time of a determination after determining that the accelerator pedal opening has been increased during acceleration. |
| US08996259B2 |
Forklift engine control device
An engine control device for a forklift that suppresses an increase in fuel consumption amount and noise by limiting an engine rotation speed when the forklift is driven without the need to increase the engine speed according to the accelerator operation even when the accelerator is depressed hard. Determining means in a controller determines whether all of the following conditions are satisfied: a neutral position of the traveling direction instructing means; a lift raising switch and first, second and third attachment switches are turned off. When all of the above conditions are satisfied, it is determined whether the forklift is driven in any of a plurality of states. An engine control means generates and outputs a control command to obtain the engine speed based on the accelerator pedal depression with the upper limit value of the engine speed set as an upper limit value of the engine speed. |
| US08996253B2 |
Movable carriage
A movable carriage having front wheels and rear wheels includes, a detection unit detecting a direction caused by the operator pushing or pulling a grip unit, a rear-wheel steering angle changing unit changing a steering angle to cause a phase of the rear wheel to be the same as or opposite to the phase of the front wheel according to whether an angle between the detected direction and a center axis of the movable carriage is a predetermined angle or smaller, and a front-wheel steering angle changing unit changing a steering angle to cause a phase of the front wheel to be the same as or opposite to the detected direction according to whether the detected direction is a direction in which the movable carriage is pushed or pulled, when the angle between the detected direction and the center axis of the carriage exceeds the predetermined angle. |
| US08996252B2 |
Electric power steering apparatus
An ECU includes two drive circuits corresponding to the motor coils of two systems independent of each other, and a microcomputer that outputs control signals of two independent systems to the drive circuits. The microcomputer includes a first control signal output portion that outputs the control signal to the drive circuit of the first system by executing an electric current control so as to generate a motor torque that corresponds to the assist force. The microcomputer further includes a second control signal output portion that outputs the control signal to the drive circuit of the second system by executing a position control on the basis of a steering angle command value that is input from a superior ECU via an in-vehicle network so as to change the steering angle of the steering road wheels. |
| US08996247B2 |
Audio/video electronic equipment, such as a multimedia car radio, installable in an automotive vehicle
The equipment comprises a digital processor implementing an operating system requiring a previous boot before the equipment is in an operational state. A start module is operable, when the device is initially in a power-off state, for: producing a triggering signal upon detection (32) of a vibration by a sensor incorporated in the equipment, and activating (34) the processing means so as to initiate the boot of the operating system, but without activating the lighting means of a front display of the equipment, and finally activating these lighting means upon reception (36) of a vehicle start signal. |
| US08996246B2 |
Haptic feedback apparatus for vehicle and method using the same
Disclosed herein are a haptic feedback method and apparatus for a vehicle. The haptic feedback apparatus an accelerator pedal sensor unit, a control unit, and an output unit. The accelerator pedal sensor unit measures the angle of a vehicle accelerator pedal. The control unit determines whether the haptic feedback is required, using the measured angle of the vehicle accelerator pedal. The output unit deliver the haptic feedback to a user depending on the results of the determination. |
| US08996243B2 |
Track brake with at least one vertically-movable braking element and method for determining the respective position thereof
A track brake includes at least one vertically movable, more particularly lowerable, braking element and an inclination sensor disposed in such a manner that a respective position of the at least one vertically movable braking element can be determined on the basis of at least one measurement value of the inclination sensor. A method for determining the position of at least one vertically movable, more particularly lowerable, braking element of a track brake is also provided. |
| US08996241B2 |
Vehicle battery diagnosis system
A vehicle battery diagnosis system diagnoses the state of degradation of a battery of a vehicle equipped with the battery as a motive power source. The system includes: an information accumulation portion that accumulates degradation information regarding the battery; an information processing portion that reads information from the information accumulation portion, and that creates a plurality of types of screen information that are different from each other in display format, for a plurality of information recipients; a display portion that displays a screen that corresponds to at least one of the types of screen information created by the information processing portion. |
| US08996240B2 |
Vehicle event recorders with integrated web server
Vehicle event recorders are arranged with integrated web servers to provide a simple user interface and control mechanism which may be address with commonly available hardware and software. A vehicle event recorder of these inventions couples to a network having a workstation node. The workstation having either of the many available web browsers can be used to view, address, control, perform data transfer, et cetera, by way of data exchange in accordance with simple IP protocols. A vehicle equipped with these systems returns to a household to make a network connection. A local server is used to see all exposed system controls as provided by predefined web pages provided by a web server integrated as part of the vehicle event recorder unit. |
| US08996239B2 |
Abradeable sensor system for tire wear monitoring
A tread wear indicator is affixed to a respective tire tread element. The indicator is constructed as a plurality of radially stacked sensor elements operatively configured and located to sequentially sacrificially abrade and change in electrical resistance responsive to a progressive tread wear of the respective tread element. The sensor elements are connected by circuitry that communicates a data signal from the sensor elements to a data processor indicative of a change in cumulative resistivity of the sensor elements. The data processor receives the data signal from the sensor elements and determines a radial wear level of the tread element based on the data signal. Multiple tread wear indicators may be mounted to respective tread lugs across the tread to derive a tread wear status based upon the tread wear profiles of the respective lugs. |
| US08996231B2 |
Test system
An administrating device that administrates a plurality of units for test used for a test of a mobile object such as a vehicle or a constituting component of the mobile object comprises a recognizing part that recognizes an assembly of one or more units for test as a group for test and an assembly of one or more group for test as a device for test, and an administrating body part that conducts a predetermined batch operation command or a predetermined batch setting for a unit for test that belongs to the designated one or more groups for test and/or that conducts a predetermined batch operation command or a predetermined batch setting on a unit for test that belongs to the designated one or more device for test. |
| US08996230B2 |
Method and apparatus for translating vehicle diagnostic trouble codes
A method and apparatus for translating diagnostic trouble codes which are generated in response to faults in the performance of motor vehicles are characterized by the use of a diagnostic code translator which receives diagnostic trouble codes and other information relating to the operating parameters of the vehicle at the time of a fault and analyzes the information to generate messages relating to the fault. The messages are transmitted to the vehicle driver so that corrective action may be taken. |
| US08996229B2 |
Construction equipment information-management system and method using a communications
The present disclosure relates to a system and a method for information management of a construction machinery using a communication terminal mounted on the construction machinery. To this end, the information management system of the construction machinery of the present disclosure includes: a control server managing information of the construction machinery; a memory unit storing driving information of the construction machinery when the construction machinery is in a starting off state; and a communication terminal reading the corresponding information from the memory unit and transmitting the information to the control server when receiving a request for predetermined information from the control server. |
| US08996220B2 |
Torque control device
A torque control device for use in a hybrid vehicle equipped with a generator driven by an internal combustion engine has a command value calculator that calculates an engine torque command value and a rotation speed command value of the generator based on a target generation power of the generator set in accordance with a running state of the hybrid vehicle, a generator torque command value calculator that calculates a generator torque command value to cause a rotation speed calculation value to match the rotation speed command value, a generator controller that controls the generator based on the generator torque command value, a rotation speed detector that detects a rotation speed detection value of the generator, and a pulsation removal filter. |
| US08996219B2 |
System and method for controlling low-voltage DC/DC converter (LDC) of hybrid electric vehicle
A method and system for controlling a low-voltage DC/DC converter (LDC) of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes performing a trial starting comprising steps of: trying ignition start, performing an immobilizer authentication process, and turning on a main relay of a high-voltage battery. The LDC is controlled after the trial starting, so that an operating voltage is applied from the LDC to an electric load including various kinds of controllers, thereby allowing starting of the HEV. |
| US08996214B2 |
Hybrid working vehicle
A hybrid working vehicle comprises an engine, a drive wheel, a power take-off (PTO) shaft, and a power transmission system for transmitting power from the engine to the drive wheel and the PTO shaft. The power transmission system is bifurcated at a bifurcating point into a traveling drive train for driving the drive wheel and a PTO drive train for driving the PTO shaft. A continuously variable transmission is provided on the traveling drive train, and a motor generator is provided on the power transmission system between the engine and the bifurcating point. The motor generator functions as a generator by power of the engine and functions as an electric motor for driving the power transmission system. The hybrid working vehicle includes a controller for controlling an output rotary speed of the motor generator functioning as the electric motor. |
| US08996213B2 |
Charge control system for electric motor vehicle
A charge control system for charging a battery in an electric motor vehicle includes a travel history database, a route information acquisition unit, a power consumption estimation unit, and a charge control unit. The travel history database stores data of actual travel history from a plurality of electric motor vehicles. The route information acquisition unit determines a planned travel route toward a destination specified by a user, and the power consumption estimation unit calculates an estimated power amount of the battery for the travel of the electric motor vehicle along the planned travel route. The charge control unit controls a charge of the battery based on the estimated power amount. The estimated power amount is based on data in the travel history database from a same-type vehicle as the electric motor vehicle and a same travel route as the planned travel route. |
| US08996212B2 |
Apparatus, method and article for providing vehicle diagnostic data
A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collects, charges and distributes portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Vehicle diagnostic data of a vehicle using the portable electrical energy storage device is stored on a diagnostic data storage system of the portable electrical energy storage device during use of a respective portable electrical energy storage device by a respective vehicle. Once the user places the portable electrical energy storage device in the collection, charging and distribution machine, or comes within wireless communications range of a collection, charging and distribution machine, a connection is established between the collection, charging and distribution machine and the portable electrical energy storage device. The collection, charging and distribution machine then reads vehicle diagnostic data stored on the diagnostic data storage system of the portable electrical energy storage device and provides information regarding the diagnostic data. |
| US08996211B2 |
Method and device for controlling micro-hybrid system with regenerative braking for motor vehicle
A method for controlling regenerative braking of an automobile micro-hybrid system is disclosed. The system includes at least a rotary electrical machine and an electrochemical battery. The method includes a step, when the electrochemical battery has a first predetermined energy state, which corresponds to an initial optimum charging state, of commanding a reduction of the first energy state, to a second energy state corresponding to an intermediate charging state, so as to make a charging capacity available in the electrochemical battery during a subsequent opportunity for recovery of electrical energy during, for example, a braking phase of the vehicle. |
| US08996210B2 |
Integrated vessel monitoring and control system
A vessel monitoring and control system. Data indicative of operational conditions for vessel systems is transmitted from the vessel to one or more remote sites and commands are received from the one or more remote sites for controlling the vessel systems. Multiple transmitting and receiving components are available on the vessel for communicating with a variety of different communications systems at the remote sites. |
| US08996209B2 |
Method for operating a railway section and corresponding railway section
A method for operating a railway section that includes section elements, which are each actuated by a processor that is reliable in terms of signaling and cyclically carries out a test routine. A railway section is configured for carrying out the method. In order to save energy and cost, the processor is operated selectively in active mode or sleep mode. From the sleep mode the processor is switched to the active mode for the duration of the test routine by way of a timer logic element that is reliable in terms of signaling. |
| US08996206B2 |
Aircraft power plant, an aircraft, and a method of piloting said aircraft
An aircraft power plant (2) having at least two engines (3, 4), each co-operating with respective control means (5) including respective memories (6), each memory (6) containing information for causing said engine (3, 4) to operate with a plurality of distinct utilization envelopes at iso-damage. Said power plant (2) includes determination means (10) for determining a first utilization envelope (101) for application during a takeoff stage of flight and a second utilization envelope (102) for application during a cruising stage of flight following the takeoff stage of flight, and a third utilization envelope (103) for application during a landing stage of flight following the cruising stage of flight. |
| US08996204B2 |
Systems and methods for adjusting target approach speed
Systems and methods for adjusting target approach speed for use in a “Too Fast” approach to landing condition. An exemplary system stores predefined maximum wind setting and a predefined reference speed and a pilot set bug speed value. A processing device sets a target speed equal to the bug speed, if the bug speed is less than the reference speed plus a value associated with a predefined maximum wind setting, and sets the target speed equal to the reference speed plus the max wind added value, if the manual bug speed is not less than the reference speed plus the max wind added value. An output device outputs an alert if the received aircraft speed is greater than the set target speed plus a predefined error value when the received aircraft location is within a threshold value of a touchdown point. |
| US08996196B2 |
Information provision device and information provision method
In order to suppress charge amount shortage in a predetermined area, an information provision device has an acquisition means that acquires travelling information of an electric vehicle on which a secondary battery 204 is mounted; a charge output estimation means that estimates, on the basis of the travelling information, a charge output value of a charging device which is provided in a predetermined area; a judgment means that judges, on the basis of the estimated charge output value, whether there is a risk that shortage of a charge amount will occur in the predetermined area; and an information provision means that provides recommendation information concerning charge of the vehicle to the electric vehicle according to a judgment result of the judgment means. |
| US08996195B2 |
Systems and methods for derivative-free adaptive control
An adaptive control system is disclosed. The control system can control uncertain dynamic systems. The control system can employ one or more derivative-free adaptive control architectures. The control system can further employ one or more derivative-free weight update laws. The derivative-free weight update laws can comprise a time-varying estimate of an ideal vector of weights. The control system of the present invention can therefore quickly stabilize systems that undergo sudden changes in dynamics, caused by, for example, sudden changes in weight. Embodiments of the present invention can also provide a less complex control system than existing adaptive control systems. The control system can control aircraft and other dynamic systems, such as, for example, those with non-minimum phase dynamics. |
| US08996194B2 |
Vehicle mount computer with configurable ignition switch behavior
A vehicle mount computer having a configurable behavior controlled by a vehicle's ignition switch. A user can configure the computer to perform an action, switch modes, or execute a software application in response to the ignition switch being pressed or the position of the ignition switch being adjusted. For example, the computer can be configured to switch to a standby mode or hibernation mode, shutdown, prompt the user to select an action, or do nothing in response to the ignition switch being placed in an off position. The ignition switch can be electrically coupled to an input of the computer so that the computer's operating system or another application can monitor the status of the ignition switch. The operating system or application can cause the computer to perform the configured response upon detecting a change in the ignition switch's position or an actuation of the ignition switch. |
| US08996190B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling electrical loads to provide positive damping of power grid oscillation
A method and apparatus is provided for controlling an electrical load exhibiting destabilizing negative-resistance negative-damping characteristics to provide positive damping of power grid oscillations and for controlling the electrical load to operate at a reduced power level when the power grid voltage is reduced. |
| US08996186B2 |
System and method for managing power consumption
In accordance with a particular embodiment, a method for managing power consumption includes receiving power rate information and receiving power usage information. The method also includes receiving a plurality of personal preference profiles. Each personal preference profile of the plurality of personal preference profiles is associated with a different user of a plurality of users and includes at least one preferred state associated with a respective user. The method further includes detecting a presence of at least one user within a room. The method additionally includes adjusting at least one state associated with the room based on the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room, the power rate information, and the power usage information. |
| US08996185B2 |
Method for scheduling power generators based on optimal configurations and approximate dynamic programming
A unit commitment problem is solved for a set of generators with a set of configurations having a set of 2N.T schedules, wherein N is a number of generators i and T is a number of decision time steps. A reduced set of configurations is determined, and then a functional metric to measure a similarity of all possible pairs of the configurations is defined. Dynamic programming is applied to the reduced set of configurations using the similarity metric to determine an optimal configuration. |
| US08996184B2 |
Apparatus and method for energy management
Provided are an apparatus and a method for energy management. The energy management apparatus includes: a receiving block configured to receive energy use information from at least one sensor; and an estimating block configured to calculate a sum and change of energy use per predetermined time slot from the received energy use information and estimate energy use or energy charge after a certain time based on the calculation of the sum and the change. The method includes: receiving energy use information from at least one sensor; and calculating a sum and change of energy use per hour from the received energy use information and estimating energy use or energy charge after a certain time slot based on the calculation of the sum and the charge. |
| US08996183B2 |
System and method for estimating and providing dispatchable operating reserve energy capacity through use of active load management
A utility employs an active load management system (ALMS) to estimate available operating reserve for possible dispatch to the utility or another requesting entity (e.g., an independent system operator). According to one embodiment, the ALMS determines amounts of electric power stored in power storage devices, such as electric or hybrid electric vehicles, distributed throughout the utility's service area. The ALMS stores the stored power data in a repository. Responsive to receiving a request for operating reserve, the ALMS determines whether the stored power data alone or in combination with projected energy savings from a control event is sufficient to meet the operating reserve requirement. If so, the ALMS dispatches power from the power storage devices to the power grid to meet the operating reserve need. The need for operating reserve may also be communicated to mobile power storage devices to allow them to provide operating reserve as market conditions require. |
| US08996181B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing energy usage
Systems and methods for analyzing energy usage are provided. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may receive weather information for a first set of geographical locations and correlate the weather information with energy demand information and economic information to generate one or more models indicating at least one energy usage pattern for a geographical location of interest based at least in part on the correlation of the weather information, the energy demand information, and the economic information. |
| US08996180B2 |
System and method for predicting perforated tile airflow in a data center
Systems and methods provide determinations of airflow from a raised floor plenum. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method is provided for predicting airflow from a plurality of openings in a plenum, including determining an average air pressure in the plenum, determining an airflow value for each of the openings based on the average air pressure, dividing the plenum into a plurality of grid cells, determining a value for airflow velocity for each of the grid cells, determining an air pressure value at each of the openings based on the airflow velocity, determining a new airflow value for each one of the plurality of openings based on the air pressure value, determining whether a difference between the new airflow values and previous airflow values is greater than a threshold, and storing the new airflow value for each one of the plurality of openings as a final airflow value. |
| US08996179B2 |
Movement simulator
A movement simulator includes a base; a platform movable relative to the base; a plurality of actuators each having a controllably variable length, each of the actuators being coupled with the base and carrying the platform, wherein the dimensions of the base and the platform, and the variable lengths of the actuators determine a workspace within which the platform can move. A controller is operable to provide a motion cueing algorithm having a demanded platform state as output and a washout controller having a washout adaptation as output, which washout controller keeps the platform within its workspace by adapting the demanded platform state to a commanded platform state using the washout adaptation. The commanded platform state controls, via a kinematic transformation, the lengths of the actuators. The washout adaptation is calculated using a model predictive control algorithm. |
| US08996167B2 |
User interfaces for robot training
In accordance with various embodiments, a user interface embedded into a robot facilitates robot training via direct and intuitive physical interactions. In some embodiments, the user interface includes a wrist cuff that, when grasped by the user, switches the robot into zero-force gravity-compensated mode. |
| US08996165B2 |
Telepresence robot with a camera boom
A remote controlled robot with a head that supports a monitor and is coupled to a mobile platform. The mobile robot also includes an auxiliary camera coupled to the mobile platform by a boom. The mobile robot is controlled by a remote control station. By way of example, the robot can be remotely moved about an operating room. The auxiliary camera extends from the boom so that it provides a relatively close view of a patient or other item in the room. An assistant in the operating room may move the boom and the camera. The boom may be connected to a robot head that can be remotely moved by the remote control station. |
| US08996155B2 |
Apparatus and methods for digital manufacturing
A method for manufacturing objects/materials includes selectively arranging the predetermined components in a staging area, substantially simultaneously selectively removing two or more of the selectively arranged predetermined components according to a predetermined removal plan and substantially simultaneously placing the selectively removed components, the removed components being substantially simultaneously placed at a predetermined location. A system for practicing the method includes a supply of the predetermined components, an arranging subsystem receiving the predetermined components and arranging the predetermined components according to a predetermined arrangement, a selective removal subsystem for selectively removing at least two of the selectively arranged predetermined components, the selectively removing occurring substantially simultaneously and according to a predetermined removal prescription, and a placement subsystem for substantially simultaneously placing the selectively removed components at a predetermined location. |
| US08996153B2 |
Tuning order configurator performance by dynamic integration of manufacturing and field feedback
A novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for tuning order configurator performance by dynamic integration of manufacturing and field feedback information. A method for dynamically tuning order configurator behavior by using product issue data can include collecting product issue data for a manufactured product, the product issue data including performance and attribute information of a part of the manufactured product, analyzing the collected product issue data to identify a problematic part, and, modifying the order configurator using the analyzed product issue data. |
| US08996151B2 |
Visualization of product build using precedence transversal method
A method for visualization of product build which includes compilation of a virtual temporal configuration of an in-process assembly and visualization of the results using three-dimensional representations of the affected products and associated resources. An illustrative embodiment of the method includes formulating a plurality of installation plans each adapted to direct production of a portion of a product within a build sequence of the product and enabling three-dimensional virtual visualization of a temporal build state of the portion of a product for each of the installation plans. |
| US08996150B1 |
Customization of manufactured products
A system, apparatus and method for a person to communicate customized design information for an object, such as a product at a time prior to its manufacture. A network accessible communications channel and user interface is provided that enables the person to communicate design information, including a visual representation of the product, prior to its manufacture. |
| US08996147B2 |
Dynamically updated audio juke box
Embodiments discussed herein are directed to an apparatus and method for providing a library of audio files. In one embodiment, a receiver records a number of music tracks or other audio files from broadcasts or other transmissions that are sent across a number of channels. The receiver may be operable to receive a number of audio and/or video channels. The audio tracks may be recorded from the audio channels and stored on the receiver, when the receiver is not otherwise being used. In this way, the receiver accumulates a number of audio tracks that may be played back by a user at a convenient time. The receiver may adapt to record certain tracks or channels based on choices made by a user. In certain embodiments, a user may enter one or more preferences that cause the receiver to record certain tracks or channels. |
| US08996141B1 |
Adaptive predictive functional controller
A controller device and a method for controlling a system that utilizes an adaptive mechanism to self-learn the system characteristics and incorporates this adaptive self-learning ability to predict a control parameter correctly to provide precise control of a system component. |
| US08996138B2 |
Breakaway electrical connections for defibrillation electrode package
An electrode package for use with a defibrillator, the electrode package comprising an outer shell providing a vapor barrier between an interior space inside the outer shell and an exterior environment, a breakaway connection element positioned at the perimeter of the outer shell, one or more defibrillation electrodes positioned in the interior space inside the outer shell, a further electrical element positioned in the interior space inside the outer shell, electrical paths extending from the further electrical element through the breakaway element to the exterior environment, wherein the breakaway element and electrical paths are configured so that, when the outer shell is opened and the defibrillation electrodes are removed, the electrical paths are disconnected within the breakaway element. |
| US08996135B2 |
Device and method for inserting a cardiac catheter
A device and method for implanting a catheter between the left atrium and/or left ventricle of the heart from a prepectoral region through a less invasive and lower-risk approach is provided that allows the implantation of the catheter in the left cardiac chambers through a femoral approach atrial transseptal puncture, and the removal of the catheter proximal end by a retrograde venous route. The device includes a transseptal sheath for slidably carrying the catheter, an elongate pulling element attached to a proximal end of the catheter, a runner slidable within the transseptal sheath and operable for biasing against the proximal end of the cardiac catheter, and a loop catheter having a loop formed at one end thereof, wherein the loop is dimensioned for receiving the transseptal sheath and for receiving the elongate pulling element therein when the loop and the elongate pulling element are separated from the transseptal sheath. |
| US08996131B1 |
Apparatus and method for managing chronic pain with infrared light sources and heat
Method and apparatus for infrared-light nerve stimulation-plus-therapeutic-heat (INS-plus-TH) that includes providing a plurality of light sources; providing a plurality of thermally conductive extensions configured to transfer heat generated by the plurality of light sources away from the plurality of light sources; emitting a plurality of infrared-light nerve-stimulation signals toward neural tissue of an animal from the plurality of light sources, wherein the emitted infrared-light nerve-stimulation signals are configured to generate action potentials in the neural tissue, and wherein the emitting of the plurality of infrared-light nerve-stimulation signals includes generating heat; controlling the emitting of the plurality of infrared-light nerve-stimulation signals to generate action potentials in the neural tissue; and transferring the heat generated by the plurality of light sources during the emitting of the plurality of infrared-light nerve-stimulation signals away from the plurality of light sources and into surrounding tissue of the animal using the plurality of thermally conductive extensions. |
| US08996130B2 |
Temporary touch-proof connector for heartwires
Temporary touch-proof connectors are disclosed that include an insulating body defining a passageway having an open leading end configured to receive a connector element of a medical lead and an enclosed trailing end shielding the connector element. |
| US08996128B2 |
Couplings for implanted leads and external stimulators, and associated systems and methods
Couplings for implanted leads and external stimulators, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a cable assembly that in turn includes an electrical cable having a proximal end and a distal end. A first connector is attached to the cable toward the proximal end and has a plurality of first connector contacts positioned to releasably connect to an external patient device. A second connector is attached by the cable toward the distal end, and includes a first portion and a second portion pivotably connected to the first portion. The first portion has a slot elongated along a slot axis and positioned to receive an implantable patient signal delivery element axially along the slot axis. The second portion has a plurality of second connector contacts positioned to releasably, electrically contact the signal delivery element when the signal delivery element is positioned within the slot and the first and second portions are placed in a secured position. At least one of the first and second portions is pivotable relative to the other between the secured position and an unsecured position. |
| US08996125B2 |
Implantable electroacupuncture system and method for treating cardiovascular disease
An implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD) treats cardiovascular disease through application of stimulation pulses applied at at least one of acupoints EX-HN1, BL14, HT7, HT5, PC6, ST36, LI11, LU7 and LU2. The IEAD comprises an implantable, coin-sized, self-contained, leadless electroacupuncture device having at least two electrodes attached to an outside surface of its housing. The device generates stimulation pulses in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen. Power management circuitry within the device allows a primary battery, having a high internal impedance, to be used to power the device. The stimulation regimen generates stimulation pulses during a stimulation session of duration T3 minutes applied every T4 minutes. The duty cycle, or ratio T3/T4 is very low, no greater than 0.05. The low duty cycle and careful power management allow the IEAD to perform its intended function for several years. |
| US08996124B2 |
Assessing noise on a communication channel
A system and method involve transceiving successive first and second synchronization signals defining endpoints of a frame. A digital signal is transceived by a modulating time interval between portions of the first and second synchronization signals. A first data pulse is transceived during the frame. A relative position in the frame of the first data pulse represents a first analog signal. |
| US08996121B2 |
Varying the effective coil area for an inductive transcutaneous power link
A prosthesis including an external device and an implantable component. The external device includes a first inductive communication component. The implantable component includes a second inductive communication component, wherein the implantable component is configured to be implanted under skin of a recipient. The external device is configured to transmit power via magnetic induction transcutaneously to the implantable component via the second inductive communication component. The internal component is configured to receive at least a portion of the power transmitted from the external device via the inductive communication component. At least one of the first and second inductive communication components comprise an inductive communication component configured to vary its effective coil area. |
| US08996120B1 |
Methods and systems of adjusting one or more perceived attributes of an audio signal
An exemplary method of adjusting one or more perceived attributes of an audio signal includes mapping each of the plurality of perceived attributes to one or more control parameters governing an operation of an implantable cochlear stimulator, receiving data representative of an input command to adjust one or more of the perceived attributes, adjusting at least one of the one or more control parameters in response to the received input command and in accordance with the mapping of the perceived attributes to the one or more control parameters, and directing the implantable cochlear stimulator to apply electrical stimulation to one or more stimulation sites within the patient in accordance with the at least one adjusted control parameter. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08996117B2 |
Arbitrary waveform generator and neural stimulation application with scalable waveform feature
A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary scalable waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, where scaling function(s) can be used to scale arbitrary waveforms for increased flexibility and which can also be used for charge balancing purposes as well. |
| US08996115B2 |
Charge balancing for arbitrary waveform generator and neural stimulation application
A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, where such arbitrary waveforms can also be used for charge balancing purposes. |
| US08996108B2 |
Activity sensor processing for phrenic nerve activation detection
An implantable cardiac device includes a sensor for sensing patient activity and detecting phrenic nerve activation. A first filter channel attenuates first frequencies of the sensor signal to produce a first filtered output. A second filter channel attenuates second frequencies of the accelerometer signal to produce a second filtered output. Patient activity is evaluated using the first filtered output and phrenic nerve activation caused by cardiac pacing is detected using the second filtered output. |
| US08996106B2 |
Method and device for intermittent occlusion of a vein draining the organ system
In a method for the intermittent occlusion of a vein draining the organ system, in which the vein is occluded by an occlusion device, the fluid pressure in the occluded vein is continuously measured and stored, the behavior of the fluid pressure is determined as a function of time, and the occlusion of the vein is triggered and/or released as a function of at least one characteristic value derived from the pressure measurements, pressure is applied during the occlusion in a pulsating manner. The device for the intermittent occlusion of a vein, including an occlusion device, a pressure measuring device for continuously measuring the fluid pressure in the occluded vein, and a memory for storing the fluid pressure behavior as a function of time, means are provided for applying a pulsating pressure in the occluded vein. |
| US08996100B2 |
Monitoring system comprising electrodes with projections
An electrode structure for use with a monitoring system. A thin flexible body of an electrode material comprising conductive rubber is provided with projections extending externally to a working surface. According to this construction of the working surface of the electrode only the projections make a contact to the recipient's skin. When the projections are provided with a small cross-section, the constant electrode-skin contact is ensured due to the resiliency of the electrode material. |
| US08996097B2 |
Ophthalmic measuring method and apparatus
In an ophthalmic measuring method, a traceable marker in particulate form is administered to the lachrymal fluid of a subject's eye, and the lachrymal fluid is irradiated with illuminating light. Images of the illuminated lachrymal fluid are electronically captured respectively at different times. Two images from among the captured images are selected, with each of the two selected images displaying the traceable marker. A characteristic point of each of the two selected images is specified. A movement speed of the traceable marker is measured based on positions thereof in the two selected images and on a time difference from specifying the characteristic point of one of the two selected images to specifying the characteristic point of the other of the two selected images. The measured movement speed of the traceable marker is outputted as the movement speed of the lachrymal fluid of the subject's eye. |
| US08996096B2 |
Systems and methods for determining patient temperature
A temperature probe includes a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and a tip disposed at the distal end. The probe also includes an infrared sensor configured to measure a temperature of a structure disposed proximate the shaft. The probe further includes a temperature sensor disposed distal to the infrared sensor. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a body cavity temperature of a patient. |
| US08996094B2 |
Method and system for compensating a self-caused displacement of tissue
A system for compensating a neurally triggered or other self-caused displacement of a tissue of an animal including man comprises a base provided with a means for immobilizing the animal or body part thereof comprising the tissue, one or more displacement means in contact with the base, a means for sampling position data from a marker disposed in or in the proximity of the tissue, a means for sampling source activity data from one or more sources of displacement, microprocessor means for correlating position data and source activity data to generate a predictive correspondence, a means for controlling the one or more displacement means by source activity data based on the predictive correspondence. Also disclosed is a corresponding method and use. |
| US08996093B2 |
System to quantify and visualize ventricular rotation pattern of the heart
A non-invasive analysis system includes data collecting units and an analysis unit adapted to quantify and visualize ventricular rotation patterns of the heart. The data collecting units register rotational information about the cardiac movement for a number of time points and levels in the heart throughout the cardiac cycle. The analysis unit calculates rotation planes for different levels in the heart over time and constructs rotation planes from at least two rotation lines originating from the same level in the heart. Each of the rotation lines are created between a pair of points having matching rotation values located in ventricular walls, and to calculate a rotation axis for the rotation plane for each selected level. The analysis unit creates a model of the rotational pattern of the heart. Deflection and direction of the rotation axes for the rotation planes at selected levels of the ventricles are quantified and visualized. |
| US08996092B1 |
Garment to facilitate electrode placement for intraoperative monitoring
A garment is provided with an electrode and indicia to facilitate placement of the garment. The indicia is used to orient the garment such that the electrode is placed in precise orientation with respect to a stimulation site to facilitate intraoperative monitoring during surgical procedures. |
| US08996088B2 |
Apparatus and method for improving training threshold
The present invention generally relates to a non-invasive biosensor device configured to measure physiological parameters of a subject. In one aspect, a method of determining a training threshold of a subject is provided. The method includes the step of detecting an oxygenation parameter of a tissue of the subject using Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (NIRS). The method further includes the step of processing the oxygenation parameter. Additionally, the method includes the step of determining the training threshold of the subject using the result of the processing. In another aspect, a biosensor device for determining a lactate threshold of a subject during exercise is provided. In a further aspect, a biosensor device for measuring parameters of a subject during exercise is provided. |
| US08996086B2 |
Digital mapping system and method
Embodiments of the innovation relate to method for generating an image of a tissue element. The method includes generating, by a visualization system controller, a highlighting image representation of the tissue element within a tissue region based upon a first image of the tissue element captured when a first light source illuminates the tissue region, receiving, by the visualization system controller, a second image of the tissue element within the tissue region when a second light source illuminates the tissue region, combining, by the visualization system controller, the highlighting image representation of the tissue element to the second image of the tissue element to generate a composite tissue image, and delivering, by the visualization system controller, the composite tissue image to an output device. |
| US08996084B2 |
Superconducting magnet device and magnetic resonance imaging system
A superconducting magnet device and a magnetic resonance imaging system not only avoid the need for costly aluminum alloy formers but also lower quench pressure effectively, have a baffle covering the former and the coil, with a gap between the baffle and the coil. |
| US08996083B2 |
Self-shield open magnetic resonance imaging superconducting magnet
A self-shield open magnetic resonance imaging superconducting magnet comprises five pairs of coils: shim coils, first main magnetic coils, second main magnetic coils, third main magnetic coils, and shielding coils. The five pairs of coils are symmetric about the center. The shim coils are arranged closest to the center point; the first main magnetic coils, the second main magnetic coils, the third main magnetic coils, and the shielding coils are arranged in sequence outside. The first main magnetic coils are connected with reverse current. The second and third main magnetic coils are connected with positive current for providing the main magnetic field strength. The shim coils are connected with positive current for compensating the magnetic field in the central region. The shielding coils are connected with reverse current for creating a magnetic field opposite to the main magnetic field for compensating the stray magnetic field in the space. |
| US08996076B2 |
Device, method, and storage medium storing program
According to an aspect, a device includes a battery, a display, and a controller. When a charge of the battery is started, the controller causes the display to display a screen including one or more options for stopping a function in which power is consumed. |
| US08996072B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling light emitting elements in terminal device and terminal device
A method for controlling light emitting elements includes: obtaining a first light intensity value detected by an ambient light sensor in a terminal device and obtaining a second light intensity value detected by an image capturing apparatus in the terminal device under same lighting conditions; determining a standard light intensity value corresponding to the second light intensity value according to a preset mapping between a light intensity value of the image capturing apparatus and a standard light intensity value of the ambient light sensor; obtaining a calibration parameter for the ambient light sensor according to the first light intensity value and the standard light intensity value; obtaining a detected light intensity value detected by the ambient light sensor when light emitting elements in the terminal device need to be controlled; and controlling the light emitting elements in the terminal device according to the detected light intensity value and the calibration parameter. |
| US08996068B2 |
Electronic paper display unit and mobile communication terminal having the same
An electronic paper display unit includes a protective case, which is made of a transparent material, a display, which is installed in the protective case, is powered to display desired image information, and includes a plurality of divided regions, and a control module, which is electrically connected with the display, and includes a first mode transmitting a divided mode signal such that many pieces of image information are independently displayed on the respective divided regions and a second mode transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of image information is displayed throughout the overall divided regions. Further, a mobile communication terminal can visually display various pieces of image information thereon according to selection of a user. |
| US08996067B2 |
Method of displaying menu screen in mobile communication terminal and the system thereof
A system and method of displaying a menu screen in a mobile communication terminal is provided, and includes the steps of dividing a display screen into a predetermined number of areas to display a plurality of menu items in response to a user's menu screen display request, grouping the menu items based on the number of divided screen areas, and displaying the grouped menu items in the divided screen areas, respectively. Accordingly, a user can easily select various menu items of the mobile communication terminal. In addition, when the user wants to see a desired menu item, the user can easily recognize which direction a cursor should be moved, and since menu items can be exchanged group-for-group, the number of user key inputs can be minimized. |
| US08996064B2 |
Health risk, mitigating, retractable, wired headset and protective case platform for wireless communication devices
A method and apparatus for mitigating health risk from cell phone usage wherein a cell phone having a source of radiation generating excitatory radiation toward brain tissue and an earphone electrically connected to the cell phone via a cord of sufficient length to permit the cell phone to be located more than ten inches from brain tissue during operation of the cell phone. An automatic shutoff mechanism preventing operation of the cell phone unless the cord is extended at least ten inches whereby the excitatory radiation is at a sufficient distance from the brain tissue to prevent brain tissue damage from the excitatory radiation. |
| US08996058B2 |
Mobile phone terminal
Disclosed is an information communication terminal having a configuration in which it is possible to prevent a wrong operation of the information communication terminal due to an unconscious operation of an input equipment during operating an audio output equipment. That is, the information communication terminal includes a controller. The controller operates a detection sensor that detects an object approaching during operating the audio output equipment. And the controller controls a status of being input into the input equipment based on a detected result of the detection sensor. |
| US08996054B2 |
Dynamic SAR emission control to minimize RF exposure
A network node determines one or more parameters related to a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) target, where SAR is a measure of a maximum energy or power absorbed by a unit of mass of tissue exposed to radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation generated as a result of radio transmissions generated by a UE. The network node generates content for a message for transmission to the UE including the determined one or more SAR-related parameters to be applied by a transmitter in the UE. Based on those one or more SAR-related parameters, the UE determines and implements an action in order to meet the SAR target. Other example embodiments permit the UE to determine the SAR-related parameters in other ways. |
| US08996053B2 |
Method and apparatus for updating and using updated group aliases and incident IDs
An updated group alias, based on one or more of a location, function, and purpose of a group, is transmitted to a subscriber unit (SU) and displayed at the SU, in place of a previously provisioned group ID or group alias associated with the group, during communications with, or when the SU is tuned to, the group. An incident ID, associated with one or more groups and identifying an incident, is received and stored at a SU. The SU embeds the stored incident ID in all future communications with the one or more groups and, upon request, scans a set of groups and/or channels for communications having the incident ID embedded therein. An incident ID alias described one or more of a name, location, function, or purpose of the incident, may also be received and associated with the incident ID. |
| US08996052B1 |
Relating time-to-live information with location data
This disclosure relates to relating time-to-live information with location data for wireless network access points. A freshness component determines a value associated with a freshness of location data for an access point. An encoding component encodes the value into a time-to-live information element included publicly broadcast access point information, and a transmitter transmits the publicly broadcast access point information. The publicly broadcast access point information includes at least one of a beacon frame or probe response. Additionally, by providing a value satisfying a non-inclusion threshold for the time-to-live information, emitters or network administrations may use time-to-live information to indicate that they do not wish to have location data for an access point stored. |
| US08996049B2 |
Reference signal arrangement method and wireless communication base station apparatus
A wireless communication base station apparatus which is able to prevent deterioration in the throughput of LTE terminals even when LTE terminals and LTE+ terminals coexist. In this apparatus, based on the mapping pattern of the reference signals used only in LTE+ terminals, a setting unit (105) sets, in each subframe, the resource block groups where the reference signals used only by the LTE+ terminals are mapped. For symbols mapped to the antennas (110-1 to 110-4), an mapping unit (106) maps, to all the resource blocks within one frame, cell specific reference signals used for both LTE terminals and LTE+ terminals. For the symbols mapped to the antennas (110-5 to 110-8), the mapping unit (106) maps, to the plurality of resource blocks, of which part of the resource block groups is comprised, in the same subframe within one frame, the cell specific reference signals used only for LTE+ terminals, based on the setting results inputted from the setting unit (105). |
| US08996045B2 |
Method of e-mailing a map location using predefined context-sensitive messages
A wireless communications device generates a message from a map application to enable a recipient of the message to view a location on a map. After a user selects a location to be sent to the recipient, the map application determines location information associated with the location and generates the message to be sent to the recipient. The message contains a link to enable the recipient to download the map showing the location and further contains the location information embedded as text within the message. The map application can determine whether the location is based on a GPS position fix, whether it is a Point of Interest or whether it is part of a map route. In each case, predetermined text is automatically embedded in the message to convey the location information to the recipient. |
| US08996042B1 |
System and method for forwarding a paging message between access nodes
A paging message is received at a first access node for a wireless device. It is determined by the first access node that the wireless device is unavailable at the first access node, and the paging message is forwarded from the first access node to a second access node over a communication link between the first access node and the second access node. A message can also be sent from the first access node to a controller node to prevent the sending of a second paging message from the controller node. |
| US08996038B2 |
Method for providing idle screen layer endowed with visual effect and method for providing idle screen by using the same
A method for displaying an idle screen, which is varied depending on a specific condition of a mobile communication terminal, for better graphic impressions. When the user of the mobile communication terminal travels between countries, and a border crossing is detected, a landmark image of a corresponding country is displayed on the idle screen. In addition, an animation effect is displayed on the idle screen so as to inform of the occurrence of the corresponding event. Accordingly, a novel graphic effect is provided to the user via a user interface having enhanced entertaining features. |
| US08996036B2 |
Autonomous location of objects in a mobile reference frame
An apparatus and method for estimating a location of an object within a mobile reference frame. Sensor data is received from an accelerometer associated with an object followed by determining from the sensor data that the mobile reference frame is executing one of a set of predetermined maneuvers. In response to such determination: (1) the sensor data is applied to a mathematical model associated with the executed maneuver, the model trained with previously obtained data from one or more reference accelerometers positioned at known locations within the mobile reference frame and estimating the location of the object by applying the sensor data to the mathematical model; and/or (2) incorporating reference accelerometers in the mobile reference frame and comparing the sensor data with the reference accelerometers and estimating the location of the object. |
| US08996035B2 |
Mobile advertisement with social component for geo-social networking system
Methods and systems that record the location of a user and transmit targeted content to a user based upon their current and past location. A network is configured to include a server programmed with a database of targeted content, a database of location information, a database of user information, a database searching algorithm, and a wireless communication system capable of communicating with the user's mobile device. The location of the mobile device is ascertained and recorded. Targeted content may be sent to the mobile device of the user and whether the user visits the physical locations associated with the targeted content is monitored. Once it is verified that the user has visited the physical location, then any associated promotional offers may be authorized. Payment systems, phone exchange systems, and other features may also be integrated to provide detailed conversion tracking to producers of targeted content and business owners. |
| US08996028B2 |
Systems and methods for the detection of transmission facilities
A method of detecting a transmitting device within an obstruction rich environment is disclosed. The method may involve detecting the transmitting device with a wireless transmission detection facility; communicating signal information relating to the detected transmitting device from the wireless transmission detection facility to a central unit; determining the location of the transmitting device; displaying information of the detection and location of the transmitting device through a user interface; and providing an action facility for causing actions related to the detected transmitting device. |
| US08996026B2 |
Scheduling system for radio communication networks
A scheduling process handles a plurality of communication services in a collective manner, thus making a radio communications system more operable. A pilot signal sender sends pilot signals with carrier frequencies each corresponding to an N (N≧1) different communication services. A scheduler collects N×n instances of propagation environment data from n (n≧1) terminal devices and selects terminal devices and communication services therefor by assigning terminal devices having a better propagation environment to the plurality of different communication services in a collective manner. The pilot signals are used by a propagation environment data sender to measure and report a propagation environment of each carrier frequency. A communication function configurer automatically sets up a communication function to adapt to the communication service that the base station has assigned. |
| US08996023B2 |
Base station and communication method
For downlink communication with a communication terminal using a downlink radio resource allocated to this communication terminal by a radio resource allocating unit, if this communication terminal does not transmit a first known signal using an associated uplink radio resource associated with this downlink radio resource but it transmits the first known signal using a nonassociated uplink radio resource which is not associated with this downlink radio resource and which includes the frequency band of this downlink radio resource in a frequency direction, a communication unit controls the transmission directivity of a plurality of antennas based on a second known signal if the aforementioned communication terminal transmits the second known signal in the frequency band of the aforementioned downlink radio resource in an interval between a time period of this downlink radio resource and a time period of the aforementioned nonassociated uplink radio resource. |
| US08996013B2 |
Method and system for load balancing of large file transfers on a wireless network
A method and system identifies a data file for transfer to a user. The invention also detects the movement of the user device from which the data file transfer was made and calculates a projected path for movement of the user device. Based on the projected path of movement, the sections of the requested data file are transferred in parallel to node areas where the user device is projected to move according to the projected path. As the user enters a node area, the section of the data file downloaded to that node area is locally transferred to the user device and thereby substantially reducing download time of a large data file. |
| US08996009B2 |
Method, system and device for transmitting handover information
The present invention discloses method, system and equipment for transmitting handover information. The method comprises: source eNB sends handover request to target eNB, and distinguished the carried primary cell (Pcell) candidate set and secondary cell (Scell) candidate set through the identification information carried by said handover request. That carrying indication information of target eNB is used for selecting Pcell and Scell through handover request information during multicarrier handover is realized through the embodiments of the present invention. |
| US08996008B2 |
Wireless communication network system, wireless communication apparatus, mobile terminal, connection-target switch determining method, and connection-target change determining method
A wireless communication network system includes: a mobile terminal that transmits a switching request for requesting to switch a connection target from a currently connected first wireless communication apparatus to a second wireless communication apparatus mounted on a mobile body; and a wireless communication apparatus that determines permission or prohibition that the mobile terminal switches the connection target from its own apparatus to the second wireless communication apparatus, based on permission/prohibition setting of the connection target switching from the first wireless communication apparatus to the second wireless communication apparatus in accordance with a type of the first wireless communication apparatus. |
| US08996006B2 |
Mobile station, radio base station, mobile communication system, and mobile communication method
A mobile station UE according to the present invention includes: a determination unit 14 configured to determine whether to notify a measurement result based on the radio quality in the serving cell and the neighboring cell measured by the measurement unit 13, and the parameter acquired by the parameter acquisition unit 12; and a notification unit 15 configured to notify the radio base station eNB of the measurement result when the determination unit 14 determines that the measurement result is to be transmitted, in which only when a first predetermined period or more has elapsed after the mobile station UE starts to communicate with the serving cell, the determination unit 14 is configured to determine whether to notify the measurement result. |
| US08996001B2 |
De-registration method, Home NodeB (HNB), and Home NodeB gateway (HNB GW)
The present invention relates to the field of communication technology, and a de-registration method, a Home NodeB (HNB) and a Home NodeB Gateway (HNB GW) are disclosed. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a de-registration method, comprising: initiating, by an HNB GW, release of pre-registration resources corresponding to user equipment (UE) after the HNB GW receives indication information indicating that the UE moves to another cell from a source HNB. Applying the embodiment of the present invention can release pre-registration resources in time and reduce waste of resources. |
| US08995993B2 |
System for managing mobile internet protocol addresses in an airborne wireless cellular network
The Aircraft Mobile IP Address System provides wireless communication services to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of the individually identified wireless devices located onboard the aircraft. The System assigns a single IP address to each Point-to-Point Protocol link which connects the aircraft network to the ground-based communication network but also creates an IP subnet onboard the aircraft. The IP subnet utilizes a plurality of IP addresses for each Point-to-Point link thereby to enable each passenger wireless device to be uniquely identified with their own IP address. This is enabled since both Point-to-Point Protocol IPCP endpoints have pre-defined IP address pools and/or topology configured; each Point-to-Point Protocol endpoint can utilize a greater number of IP addresses than one per link. Such an approach does not change IPCP or other EVDO protocols/messaging but does allow this address to be directly visible to the ground-based communication network. |
| US08995986B2 |
Detection of scrambling code confusion
Detection of a confusion caused by scrambling code reuse is provided herein. Timing measurements, as observed by a mobile device, and an identification of primary scrambling codes associated with the timing measurements are captured. The timing measurements are identified by the primary scrambling codes for the particular radio measured. The mobile device also reports its location information. Radios for which timing measurements have been received are paired. Based on the paired radios and a history of observed time difference reference values for radio pairs, comparisons are made between paired radios having at least one common radio. Radios, exhibiting a set of values that is near an expected range, are removed from the analysis. Radios, exhibiting two sets of values that are distinct, are isolated in order to identify the radio that is causing the scrambling code confusion. |
| US08995984B2 |
Communication system, compact base station, and communication method
A communication system (1) includes a mobile communication network (2); a fixed communication network (3) connected to the mobile communication network (2); and a plurality of radio base stations capable of communicating with a mobile terminal (100) by radio communication. The radio base stations include a first base station (41, 42) connected to the mobile communication network (2); and second base stations (51, 52) connected to the fixed communication network (3) through wire communication lines (61, 62). A communication connection using a predetermined interface is established between one of the second base stations (51) and one of neighboring base stations (the first base station (42) and another one of the second base stations (52)) located in the neighborhood of the one of the second base stations (51). |
| US08995983B2 |
Method of adjusting event prompt degree and mobile electronic device and computer program product using the same
A method of adjusting an event prompt degree and a mobile electronic device and a computer program product using the same are provided. In the present method, when the mobile electronic device executes a ringtone prompt, whether the mobile electronic device is moved is determined. When the mobile electronic device is determined to be moved, the ringtone prompt is reduced without turning off the vibration prompt or the ringtone prompt. Thereby, continuous event prompt is prevented from bothering other people. |
| US08995982B2 |
In-car communication between devices
Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a system to generate a vehicle communication system. The vehicle communication system can determine which devices are within the vehicle. From this determination, the vehicle communication system may create a universal bus and hotspot where applications, data, multimedia information, and resources can be shared both with the vehicle and with the other devices in the vehicle. |
| US08995980B2 |
System, method and apparatus for protecting privacy when a mobile device is located in a defined privacy zone
A system, method and apparatus for protecting privacy when a mobile device is located in a defined privacy zone are described herein. The available features that a user of a mobile device may use are controlled while the mobile device is located in a define privacy zone. Once a mobile device is detected in the define privacy zone, a database is accessed to determine if the mobile device has the features available that are to be disabled. If the features are available, a disable signal is sent via the communications network to the mobile device and the feature is disabled. Once the mobile device is detected to be outside of the defined privacy zone, the previously disabled mobile device feature is enabled. |
| US08995977B2 |
Distributed locater, alert, repeater, and/or call technologies for communication devices
Distributed locater, alert, repeater, and call technologies for communication devices are presented herein. A base component can be configured to receive a message at a base unit, the message corresponding to at least one of a call directed to a wireless communication device or another message directed to at least one of the wireless communication device or a wired communication device. The base component can distribute an alert to at least one remote unit based on the message. A remote component can be configured to receive the alert at the at least one remote unit, and broadcast the alert or another alert from the at least one remote unit. An interface component can be configured to receive an input at the at least one remote unit based on the alert. Further, the remote component can be configured to transmit a response based on the input. |
| US08995976B2 |
Embedding service provider information in a wireless call
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, in a mobile station of a terminating party, an incoming call and an identifier of a service provider of an initiating party of the incoming call, and displaying information corresponding to the initiating party service provider on a display of the mobile station. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08995975B2 |
Measuring end user activity of software on a mobile or disconnected device
A hardware and/or software facility measures end user activity associated with a software application or service on a mobile phone or other mobile device. The facility tracks and stores usage data associated with a mobile user's use of the application or service. When the mobile user initiates transmission of the usage data, the facility retrieves from the mobile phone or other mobile device a usage code representing the usage data. The facility relies on user transcription, text input-buffer insertion, or other indirect means of data transport to deliver the usage code from the mobile phone or other mobile device to an application developer, service provider, or another entity. The recipient extracts the usage data contained in the usage code, and may perform various data mining and analysis techniques on the usage data in order to evaluate how the application or service is used. |
| US08995972B1 |
Automatic personal assistance between users devices
Methods and systems are presented for providing automatic personal assistance on a user device (e.g., mobile phone). In some embodiments, a personal assistant on a first user device may respond automatically to a received input communication from a second user device. In some embodiments, the personal assistant may perform a local search of data stored on the first user device in order to retrieve data responsive to the received input. In some embodiments, the personal assistant may perform a local load of an entry into an application on the first user device in order to perform an action responsive to the received user input. In some embodiments, the automatic response may include sending a responsive output communication to the second user device. The automatic personal assistance may be customized based on user-editable automatic personal assistance settings. |
| US08995968B2 |
System for targeting advertising content to a plurality of mobile communication facilities
A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively. |
| US08995967B1 |
Systems and methods for device emulation on mobile channel
A user may access a website via a mobile channel using a mobile device. As the user is logged into the website, the user may call or otherwise contact a representative via another communications channel with the mobile device or another user device, such as a phone or a user computing device or another mobile device. An emulator engine may determine the type of mobile device that the user is using to access the website via the mobile channel. An emulator for the mobile device that has been determined may be retrieved from an emulator library and provided to the representative computing device. The representative may view the same user interface on the representative computing device that the user sees on the mobile device. |
| US08995962B2 |
Information notification method and wireless handheld device
An information notification method is disclosed in this application. The method includes: receiving notification information sent by a sending end that indicates that unprocessed information exists, and the notification information is information carrying a vibration instruction (S101); obtaining a sending identifier in the notification information and searching for unprocessed information that has the sending identifier (S102); and When the unprocessed information is found, triggering a vibration motor according to the vibration instruction (S103). In the information notification method provided by the present invention, in a manner of sending an information vibration instruction to generate vibration at a receiving party, the receiving party is rapidly and effectively notificationed to view the unprocessed information, so that the information receiving party can process some significant information sent by a sending party in time. |
| US08995960B2 |
Mobile device authentication
A mobile device has an authentication module that detects a proximity-based authentication component and unlocks sensitive areas of the mobile device when the proximity-based authentication component is within a desired proximity of the mobile device. If the proximity-based authentication component is not within the desired proximity of the mobile device, the mobile device automatically locks the secured areas of the mobile device. The proximity-based authentication component is separate from the mobile device in that it is not inserted or slid within the mobile device, or in any way attached to the mobile device, in order to be used. |
| US08995957B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication method and communication system
A repeater apparatus includes a network communication unit that acquires, from a server through a network, first terminal identification information for identifying a terminal to be controlled and control information for controlling the terminal to be controlled, a near-field communication unit that acquires, by near-field communication from the terminal, second terminal identification information for identifying the terminal and stored in the terminal, and a comparison unit that decides whether the first terminal identification information agrees with the second terminal identification information. The near-field communication unit transmits the control information to the terminal by near-field communication, in the case where the comparison unit decides that the first terminal identification information agrees with the second terminal identification information. |
| US08995955B2 |
Systems, methods, and media for logging phone calls
Methods, systems, and media for logging phone calls are provided. In some embodiments, methods for logging phone calls are provided, the methods comprise: causing a phone call to a client to be made; creating at least one note based on received user input; transmitting information about the phone call and the created note to the first server; causing the information and the note to be stored in association with the client by the first server; causing the information about the phone call and the note to be transmitted from the first server to a second server, wherein the information and the note are stored in an electronic medical record on the second server that is associated with the client; receiving an analysis of phone calls associated with the client over a period of time; and causing the analytical information to be presented based on the received analysis. |
| US08995953B2 |
Mobile communication terminal that stores accumulated communication charge for an application
Information that is no longer valid due to the passage of time is not provided to a user. When a stock price information server acquires updated stock price information from a securities market network, a message that instructs that a predetermined application be started up and to which a term of validity has been attached is sent to a user terminal over a paging channel via an SMS server. When the user terminal receives the message, it determines whether or not the message is within the term of validity, and if it determines that the message is within the term of validity, starts up the instructed application from among a plurality of applications that are stored. The stock price information server then sends to the user terminal the stock price information that is requested by the started up application. |
| US08995952B1 |
Feature management of a communication device
A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the establishment and enforcement of policies or rules associated with the feature or functions that may be performed with the device, such as making and receiving calls, exchanging data, playing games and music, sending and receiving email, accessing web sites, and paying for goods and services. If a child or employee is using the device, there may be a need to regulate how that device can be used and to determine who will pay for what goods or services. In addition to providing all of the features associated with a device, service providers need to be able to establish and enforce rules (policies) regulating how and when that device can be used and who will pay for a good or service requested by the user of the device. |
| US08995949B2 |
Proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication
Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD. |
| US08995948B2 |
Emergency call forward based on location
A location-based call forwarding method comprises, in response to determining that an intended call recipient is unavailable to receive a call from a caller, identifying an alternate call recipient located within a predetermined proximity of a current location of the intended call recipient, and forwarding the call to the alternate call recipient. The alternate call recipient may be identified by determining a person with whom the intended recipient is meeting or an establishment where the intended recipient is situated. This information may be extracted from various sources such as a calendar, social network site, or device-generated location data. |
| US08995947B2 |
Configuration of display settings for broadcast messaging while roaming
While a mobile wireless device (102) operates in a home region (106), the mobile wireless device (102) displays public broadcast messages in accordance with the default broadcast message display settings (244) for the home region (106). In the event that the mobile wireless device (102) transits to a different region (110) for which region-specific broadcast message display settings have not already been configured, the mobile wireless device (102) queries a user to configure the broadcast message display settings (244) to be used for the new region (110). The display settings for a given region may be stored such that when the mobile wireless device (102) enters a region previously visited, the previously-configured display settings for the previously-visited region may be automatically implemented without user prompting. |
| US08995945B2 |
Mobile communicator and system
Disclosed herein is a mobile communicator that includes a speed detection system for determining whether the mobile communicator is moving faster than a threshold speed. The mobile communicator further includes a sleep mode wherein both the speed detection system and a second function of the mobile communicator are disabled. An attempt to use the second function causes the mobile communicator to enable the speed detection system. Further, the mobile communicator includes a disabling circuit configured to disable the second function of the mobile communicator if the speed detection system determines that the mobile communicator is moving faster than the threshold speed. |
| US08995943B2 |
Multi-beam active phased array architecture with independent polarization control
In an exemplary embodiment, a phased array antenna comprises multiple subcircuits in communication with multiple radiating elements. The radio frequency signals are independently adjusted for both polarization control and beam steering. In a receive embodiment, multiple RF signals of various polarizations are received and combined into at least one receive beam output. In a transmit embodiment, at least one transmit beam input is divided and transmitted through multiple radiating elements, with the transmitted beams having various polarizations. In an exemplary embodiment, the phased array antenna provides multi-beam formation over multiple operating frequency bands. The wideband nature of the active components allows for operation over multiple frequency bands simultaneously. |
| US08995942B2 |
Radio communication device, signal strength output method and radio communication system
There is provided a radio communication device including a radio receiving unit to receive a radio signals, a synchronization unit to detect synchronization based on a result of a correlation for received signals output from the radio receiving unit, and a signal strength output unit to output, as signal strength of the received signals that is RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value, a level of a correlation signal that is output as a result of the correlation by the synchronization unit. |
| US08995938B2 |
Radiation power level control system and method for a wireless communication device having tunable elements
A radiation power level compliance and control scheme for a wireless user equipment (UE) device including one or more tunable elements. The wireless UE device comprises a component configured to detect one or more changes with respect to at least one operational parameter associated with the wireless UE device. A component is provided for determining that a tunable action is required with respect to at least one of the tunable elements. Upon defining one or more tunable element settings, a component is configured to determine a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value, which is compared against an acceptable limit. If the SAR is within the limit, appropriate tuning control signals are provided to the tunable elements according to the defined tunable element settings. If the SAR is not within the limit or is about to exceed the limit, then the tunable element settings may be changed and retested. |
| US08995936B2 |
Communication system with band, mode, impedance and linearization self-adjustment
A communication system is provided, including an antenna, a PA, a linearization circuit to enhance linearity, a filter system, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive information on the signals and conditions, and based on the information the controller controls one or more of the antenna, the PA, the linearization circuit and the filter system to provide an optimum configuration to meet specifications of signal properties under the conditions. The controller may look up a registry having entries regarding the specifications of signal properties under conditions in terms of predetermined parameters. |
| US08995932B2 |
Transmitter noise suppression in receiver
Systems and methods for suppressing transmitter noise in a receive band of a co-located receiver that are suitable for wideband applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, an analog radio frequency transmit signal output by a transmitter includes a desired signal in a transmit band of the transmitter and transmitter noise in a receive band of a main receiver. A secondary receiver obtains a secondary receiver input signal that is representative of at least the transmitter noise in the receive band of the main receiver and outputs a digital feedforward signal. A digital feedforward transmit noise cancellation subsystem generates a digital transmitter noise cancellation signal that is representative of the transmitter noise in the receive band based on the digital feedforward signal and subtracts the digital transmitter noise cancellation signal from a digital receive signal output by the main receiver to thereby provide a compensated digital receive signal. |
| US08995931B2 |
Creating a system on the fly and applications thereof
Disclosed herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods for creating a system of wireless-enabled components (WECs). Such a system includes a server and a plurality of wireless-enabled component (WECs). Each WEC includes a functional resource (e.g., a processing resource and/or a memory resource) and is configured for wireless communication with the server and one or more other WECs. A first WEC is configured to wirelessly upload, to the server, an availability of the functional resource of the first WEC. The first WEC is further configured to wirelessly download, from the server, a linking resource for linking with one or more of the plurality of WECs. The plurality of WECs may be located on a single chip, on multiple chips of a single device, or on multiple chips of multiple devices. |
| US08995927B2 |
Communication between a receiver and a transmit controller
A method for a radio control transmit controller communicating with exactly one radio control receiver is provided. Two or more identifiers are stored in a radio control transmit controller. Each identifier is an identifier of a radio control transmit controller. The transmit controller receives a link request from a first radio control receiver. The link request includes an identifier of the first receiver. The transmit controller determines if the identifier of the first receiver is in the two or more identifiers. If the identifier of the first receiver is in the two or more identifiers, the transmit controller transmits a link response to the first receiver. |
| US08995922B2 |
Method and apparatus relating to spectrum sensing
The invention presents methods and corresponding device relating to cooperative spectrum sensing. First a candidate set of sensors that can participate in an occasion of cooperative spectrum sensing is obtained. A cost formula for calculating a cost associated with using sensors from the candidate set in the cooperative spectrum sensing is then defined (75; 107, 97). The candidate set is partitioned (29; 14, 145) into an active set and a passive set. The active set contains any sensor (s) from the candidate that is to participate in the cooperative spectrum sensing. The passive set includes any sensor (s) that is not to participate in the cooperative spectrum sensing. The partitioning of the candidate set is done by applying an optimization procedure (79, 81, 83; 111, 113, 115) which performs a constrained optimization of the cost in accordance with the defined cost formula. |
| US08995918B2 |
Mitigating transmission interference between digital radio and broadband communication devices
A broadband device (105) can detect a proximate narrowband transmission (152) from a narrowband communication device (145). The narrowband transmission (152) can be in close enough proximity (155) to at least one bearer channel of the broadband device (105) to result in interference on the narrowband reception (152) when the broadband device (105) is transmitting and the narrowband communication device (145) is concurrently receiving. Responsive to the detecting, the broadband device (105) can gate a broadband transmission (142) to ensure the broadband transmission (142) does not interfere with the proximate narrowband reception (152). In absence of detecting the narrowband transmission (152), the broadband transmission (142) from the broadband device (105) would not be gated. |
| US08995916B2 |
Wireless transmission method, and wireless transmitter and wireless receiver
A wireless transmitter controls the number of transmission beams to be formed for transmitting a data stream depending on the number of data streams to be transmitted, and a wireless receiver selectively receives any one or more of the transmission beam from the transmission beams. In this manner, by changing the number of transmission beams (the original number of beams selectable on the receiving side) to be formed depending on the number of transmitting data streams, high throughput characteristics by a low interbeam correlation at the time of the multistream transmission and a large directional gain at the time of a single stream may be achieved. |
| US08995908B2 |
Mobile communications system providing enhanced out of band (OOB) bluetooth pairing and related methods
A communications system may include a communications device including a first Bluetooth transceiver. The first Bluetooth transceiver may comprise a clock. The first Bluetooth transceiver may be capable of scanning a plurality of different operating frequencies for a pairing request based upon the clock. The communications device may further include an output device coupled with the Bluetooth transceiver and capable of outputting data associated with the clock via a communications path different than Bluetooth. The system may also include a mobile communications device including an input device capable of receiving the clock data from the output device via the communications path, and a second Bluetooth transceiver coupled with the input device and capable of generating the pairing request based upon the received clock data. |
| US08995907B2 |
Data communication system
A system for communicating between a first unit and a second unit without a physical connection, the system including a magnetic element for creating a magnetic field, a sensor operatively arranged to detect changes in the magnetic field, and a driver operatively arranged to alter the magnetic field detected by the sensor in accordance with a first signal, the first signal operatively arranged to transmit data independent of an amplitude of the first signal, the sensor generating a second signal in response to changes in the magnetic field, the second signal representative of the first signal. |
| US08995906B2 |
M2M equipment, base station, and method for performing scheduling delay
Disclosed are M2M equipment and base station capable of adjusting load through a scheduling delay. M2M equipment according to the present invention may comprise a receiver which receives a first message including a scheduling delay indicator directing the M2M equipment to delay transmission of uplink data from a base station, and a processor for controlling transmission of the uplink data to be delayed in response to scheduling delay direction of the first message. |
| US08995903B2 |
Credential transfer management camera network
A camera detects devices, such as other cameras, smart devices, and access points, with which the camera may communicate. The camera may alternate between operating as a wireless station and a wireless access point. The camera may connect to and receive credentials from a device for another device to which it is not connected. In one embodiment, the camera is configured to operate as a wireless access point, and is configured to receive credentials from a smart device operating as a wireless station. The camera may then transfer the credentials to additional cameras, each configured to operate as wireless stations. The camera and additional cameras may connect to a smart device directly or indirectly (for instance, through an access point), and the smart device may change the camera mode of the cameras. The initial modes of the cameras may be preserved and restored by the smart device upon disconnection. |
| US08995901B2 |
Image forming apparatus and rotation control method for motor driving rotation of timing rollers
An image forming apparatus having a transport device including a pair of timing rollers, operable to cause a leading edge of a recording sheet to abut a nip portion of the non-rotating timing rollers, and then initiate rotation to transport the sheet toward a transfer position, the transport device comprising: a motor transmitting rotational force to the timing rollers via a power transmission mechanism such that the timing rollers rotate; and a control unit controlling motor rotation, wherein the control unit activates the motor, causes the timing rollers to transport a first recording sheet at a first speed, and stops the motor once transportation is complete, and when a second recording sheet is to be subsequently transported at a different second speed, the control unit causes the timing rollers to execute an idle rotation at the second speed or at another speed, and then stopping, before beginning second sheet transportation. |
| US08995900B2 |
Cleaning member, cleaning device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A cleaning member includes a blade portion contacted to a member-to-be-cleaned with respect to a direction counter to a movement direction of the member-to-be-cleaned, and a flexible supporting member. The supporting member includes one end portion where the blade portion is provided, another end portion including a portion-to-be-fixed for being fixed at the fixing portion, and a bent portion between the one end portion and the other end portion in a side remote from a surface of the member-to-be-cleaned toward an outside with respect to a line connecting the portion-to-be-fixed and a contact portion where the blade portion is contacted to the member-to-be-cleaned. The portion-to-be-fixed is provided downstream of the contact portion with respect to the movement direction of the member-to-be-cleaned. The blade portion is supported by the supporting member in contact to only the one end portion. |
| US08995893B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a supporting mechanism and contact members. The supporting mechanism pivotably supports a separating member. The contact members come into contact with the circumferential surface near both ends of the first roller and form a gap having a predetermined distance between the distal end of the tabular member and the circumferential surface of the first roller. The supporting mechanism includes first and second fulcrum members functioning as a fulcrum for pivoting of the separating member and first and second holes provided in the separating member. The first fulcrum member is inserted into the first hole and the second fulcrum member is inserted into the second hole. The first hole is a hole that allows the separating member to substantially shift only in a predetermined direction. The second hole is a hole that does not substantially restrict displacement of the separating member. |
| US08995890B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus having magnetic poles to control the distribution of a magnetic attraction force
A developing device includes a developing member including a magnet member on which plural magnetic poles including a developing main magnetic pole are magnetized in a circumferential direction and a developer holder that faces an image supporting member, receives the magnet member, and holds a developer, wherein a distribution of a magnetic attraction force in a circumferential direction has a gradient that increases toward a downstream end from an upstream end of a developing area in a developer transport direction of the developer holder, and the magnetic poles are magnetized on the magnet member so that the amount of the increase of the magnetic attraction force between the upstream end and a middle position of the developing area is larger than that between the middle position and the downstream end. |
| US08995889B2 |
Toner anti-bridging agitator for an image forming device
A removable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having an inner volume forming a toner reservoir and a channel for accumulating toner. The removable unit further includes an auger for advancing toner within the channel. The auger has a rotational axis and a flight. An agitator is pivotally mounted within the toner reservoir. The agitator has at least one agitating member extending near the auger and a cam surface operatively connected to the at least one agitating member and positioned to engage the auger. When the auger rotates, the flight of the auger engages the cam surface causing pivotal movement of the agitator to move the at least one agitating member to agitate toner accumulated near the auger. |
| US08995885B2 |
Image forming apparatus and toner case
An image forming apparatus includes a toner case, an apparatus main body and a cover. The toner case is attachably/detachably installed to the apparatus main body and includes a case main body having a discharge port discharging a toner, a shutter opening/closing the discharge port and a lever connected with the shutter. The cover is openably/closably attached to the apparatus main body and partly covers the toner case. The lever is shifted to a first position in order to make the shutter close the discharge port and to allow the close of the cover without interfering with the cover, to a second position in order to make the shutter close the discharge port and to interfere with the cover, or to a third position in order to make the shutter open the discharge port and to allow the close of the cover without interfering with the cover. |
| US08995884B2 |
Developing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A developing apparatus is provided, including a developing unit including a developing roller; a developer accommodating unit; a partition wall partitioning the developing unit and the developer accommodating unit; a supply port which makes communication between the developing unit and the developer accommodating unit; a transport member configured so that the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit is supplied to the developing unit via the supply port in accordance with rotation; a return port configured so that the developer contained in the developing unit is permitted to fall into the developer accommodating unit; an opening/closing member configured to be movable between an open position for opening the return port and a closed position for closing the return port; and a driving mechanism configured so that the opening/closing member is moved to the closed position and the open position. |
| US08995883B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus including same
A developing device includes a developing container, a first agitating/conveying member, a second agitating/conveying member, a developer supply member, a supply port, and a supply section. The developing container is separated into a developer supply passage, a first conveying chamber, and a second conveying chamber, which are arranged substantially parallel to one another. The supply section is disposed between the developer supply passage and the first conveying chamber, and through the supply section, the developer is supplied from the developer supply passage into the first conveying chamber. The supply section is disposed upstream from a downstream-side end portion of the developer supply passage but downstream from the supply port with respect to a developer-conveying direction of the developer supply passage, and via the supply section, the developer supply member supplies the developer into the first conveying chamber in a direction opposite to a developer-conveying direction of the first conveying chamber. |
| US08995880B2 |
Cartridge drive shaft gear
An interior member of a print cartridge gear including one or more slots in the interior member for receiving a pin, the one or more slots including a first portion extending from a distal end of the interior member towards a base end of the interior member, the one or more slots including a second portion that extends horizontally outward. |
| US08995874B2 |
Image forming apparatus
Provided is a configuration in which a scanner is mounted to a cartridge door via an elastic member, and the scanner is positioned relative to a frame that can be mounted to and demounted from an apparatus main body and that supports an intermediate transfer member and a photosensitive member using an urging force of the elastic member. |
| US08995873B2 |
System and method for refurbishing print cartridges and print cartridge toner blades
A refurbished toner blade for a toner cartridge and a method for refurbishing a toner blade for a toner cartridge are provided. The refurbished toner blade includes a fixed portion configured for attachment to a portion of a toner cartridge, a depending portion extending away from the fixed portion, and a permanent deflection that is formed during refurbishment of the toner blade and that extends between the fixed portion and the depending portion. The refurbished toner blade is formed from a used toner blade in which the depending portion has obtained a permanent deformation in a first direction after an initial period of use. The permanent deflection deflects the depending portion in a second direction opposite the first direction. |
| US08995870B2 |
Belt cleaning device and image forming apparatus having the same
A belt cleaning device includes a collection roller, a cleaning blade, a sealing member, a first thrust mechanism, and a second thrust mechanism. The collection roller collects remaining toner on an intermediate transfer belt. The cleaning blade extends along the collection roller and scrapes off the toner of a surface of the collection roller. The sealing member softly comes into contact with the surface of the collection roller and prevents counterflow of the toner. The first thrust mechanism displaces the collection roller in its rotating shaft direction by a rotational driving force transmitted to the collection roller and the second thrust mechanism thrusts the cleaning blade in the rotating shaft direction of the collection roller in a thrust cycle shorter than that of the collection roller based on the first thrust mechanism. |
| US08995859B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion for fixing an unfixed image formed on a sheet. The fixing portion includes an endless belt, a heater contacting the inner surface of the belt and including first and second heat generators, and a pressor forming a fixing nip with the heater for nipping and feeding the sheet. The apparatus also includes a controller for controlling electric power supplied to the first and second heat generators. The controller controls the first and second heat generators independently from each other. The apparatus sets a plurality of feeding speeds of the sheet, and the controller changes the difference between the times at which electric power is supplied to the first and second heat generators in accordance with the sheet feeding speed. |
| US08995858B2 |
Power supply device and image formation apparatus
A power supply device includes: a power supply part to convert an AC voltage from an AC power source into a direct current and output a DC voltage; a zero cross detector to detect zero cross timings of AC voltage; and a power supply controller to control supply of the AC voltage to the power supply part and the zero cross detector based on the zero cross timing. |
| US08995849B2 |
Printing apparatus which switches a printing mode upon resuming after a jam
A printing apparatus includes a print mechanism which performs a printing on a plurality of papers; a paper feed section on which the papers to be printed are placed; a paper discharge section on which the papers that have been printed are placed; a transport route which extends from the paper feed section to the paper discharge section via a printing position at which the printing is performed by the print mechanism; a transport mechanism which successively transports the papers along the transport route; and a controller which controls the transport mechanism. The controller controls the transport mechanism to perform a transportation of the papers by a plurality of transport modes including a first transport mode and a second transport mode. |
| US08995843B2 |
Multicarrier based optical signal transmitting apparatus and optical signal receiving apparatus
Disclosed is an optical signal transmitting apparatus including: an optical carrier generator configured to generate a plurality of optical carriers and outputs the optical carriers to optical modulators corresponding to the optical carriers, respectively; a plurality of optical modulators configured to modulate the optical carriers, respectively, according to an input signal; and an optical combiner configured to couple a plurality of optical signals from the plurality of optical modulators. |
| US08995840B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing synchronized data by using visible light communication
An apparatus and a method for providing synchronized data by using visible light communication includes, receiving a synchronization channel from a mobile communication base station using a specific mobile communication network, by a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting; analyzing the received synchronization channel, and extracting a synchronization signal for synchronizing the LED lighting with at least one LED lighting adjacent to the LED lighting; selecting a specific time slot of the synchronization signal based on IDentifications (IDs) of the LED lightings; and including a data frame of the LED lighting in the specific time slot, and transmitting the specific time slot, which includes the data frame of the LED lighting, to a mobile terminal. |
| US08995836B2 |
Passive optical network with adaptive filters for upstream transmission management
A wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (WPON) comprising an optical line terminal (OLT) and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) coupled to the OLT via a power optical splitter. The OLT is configured to monitor wavelengths in use by the ONUs and to divide upstream traffic from the ONUs into multiple channels using tunable filters. Also disclosed is an OLT for a PON, the OLT comprising a plurality of receivers and a plurality of tunable filters corresponding to each of the receivers. The OLT also comprises channel control logic coupled to the tunable filters, wherein the channel control logic is configured to detect a plurality of wavelengths in use for upstream traffic in the PON and to divide the upstream traffic into multiple channels using the tunable filters. Included is a method for managing upstream traffic in a PON, the method comprising monitoring, by a processor, wavelengths in use for upstream traffic in the PON. The method also comprises dividing the upstream traffic into multiple channels using tunable filters. |
| US08995833B2 |
Channel wavelength assignment with transient reduction
In an automatically switched optical network operating according to a wavelength plan, the wavelengths are assigned to an optical path based on availability, performance and SRS wavelength coupling reduction. First, the wavelengths are grouped in static bins based on their reach versus cost performance, and each bin assumes a ΔQ of a middle wavelength. Then, the bins are moved into subsets of dynamic bins, constructed using bin constraints that account for the particulars of the respective optical path. The path is characterized taking into account the wavelength currently accessing at the end nodes, and the wavelength tandeming through the end nodes. Wavelength selection starts with the bins that satisfy the maximum number of constraints, and the wavelengths are checked sequentially against wavelength constraints; relaxed constraints are also applied when it is not possible to exactly satisfy one or more constraints. |
| US08995830B2 |
Communication system, optical network unit, optical line terminal, control device, and communication control method
An ONU includes a power-interruption detecting unit configured to detect power interruption of the ONU, a transmitting and receiving unit capable of being set in a power saving state, and a PON-side control unit configured to notify an OLT of, as power saving return information, a power holding time during occurrence of the power interruption of the ONU and a startup time, which is time until the transmitting and receiving unit returns from the power saving state, and, when the power-interruption detecting unit detects the power interruption, transmit a power interruption notification to the OLT. The OLT includes the PON control unit configured to determine, based on the power saving return information, whether the ONU can transmit the power interruption notification when the power interruption occurs in the power saving state. |
| US08995829B2 |
Optical link quality monitoring in a computer network
In one embodiment, a local network device collects local optical power information for at least one of either a local optical transmit interface and a local optical receive interface of the local network device. The local network device may then exchange the local information for remote optical power information of corresponding remote optical receive and transmit interfaces of a remote network device at an opposing end of at least one corresponding optical link (fiber). For example, an exchange may use a point-to-point protocol which may dynamically determine/discover neighboring relationships between capable peer device interfaces and establish a suitable communication exchange between the capable peers. Based on the local information and exchanged remote information, the local network device may calculate an optical power loss of each corresponding optical link. |
| US08995828B2 |
Optical transmission device, optical transmission system and optical transmission method
An optical transmission device includes an extractor that extracts respective optical signals from optical signals multiplexed from a plurality of optical signals of different wavelengths, a detector that detects wavelengths of the extracted respective optical signals, a storage that stores the wavelengths of the detected respective optical signals, and a processor that is operative to derive trends in wavelength variation of the respective optical signals based on the detected respective optical signals and the respective optical signals stored in the storage, and determines that either one or both of the extractor and the detector cause the wavelengths to be varied when the trends in wavelength variation of two or more wavelengths are the same. |
| US08995826B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and control method of the image capturing apparatus
An image capturing apparatus comprises: a lens unit capable of changing a focal length; an imaging unit that outputs an image signal according to light incident through the lens unit; a filter capable of moving in a direction of insertion to an optical path of the imaging unit and in a direction of retraction from the optical path; and a control unit that controls a position of the filter using information related to the focal length of the lens unit. |
| US08995824B2 |
Digital video recorder with segmented program storage
An apparatus for recording multimedia content transmitted over a network including a reception interface for receiving the multimedia content from the network, a user input interface for receiving user inputs, and a storage resource including executable instructions including a recording module for recording the multimedia content in accordance with the user inputs. The user inputs also include a multimedia selection signal for indicating the multimedia content to be recorded, and a segmenting signal for indicating a size of at least one of a plurality of segments in which the multimedia content is recorded. |
| US08995818B2 |
Recorder apparatus
It is provided a recorder apparatus in which a user can use simply and efficiently plural functions which can be performed simultaneously. According to an embodiment of the invention, a recorder apparatus has a display, an input section for a video being inputted, a random access recording medium for recording the video, an output section for outputting the video recorded in the recording medium, a multitask control section, a display control section and a reception section for receiving an specification of the tab and the direction of the video for a processing target for the selected function. The multitask control section performs plural functions in parallel simultaneously which plural functions includes a function for recording the inputted video in the recording medium. The display control section displays tabs assigned to the plural functions respectively and processing situation of the function selected by specifying the tab on the display. |
| US08995812B2 |
Fiber optic management unit and fiber optic distribution device
A fiber optic management unit for handling optical fibers unit having a base with first and second segments miming perpendicular to each other. A tray is pivotably attached to the second segment such that the tray is transferable between a first position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is closed and a second position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is opened when the tray is pivoted around a first axis, and wherein the tray is transferable between the second position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is opened and a third position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is also opened when the tray is pivoted around a second axis running perpendicular to the first axis. |
| US08995809B2 |
Fiber optic cables with access features
Cables are constructed with discontinuities in the cable jacket that allow the jacket to be torn to provide access to the cable core. The discontinuities can be longitudinally extending strips of material in the cable jacket. The discontinuities allow a section of the cable jacket to be pulled away from a remainder of the jacket using a relatively low peel force. |
| US08995807B1 |
Laminated light guide collimator
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an optical device comprising: a light guide film to transport light rays via total internal reflection; a first optical layer covering at least a portion of a first side of the light guide film, the first optical layer to receive an exiting portion of the light rays; a second optical layer covering at least a portion of the first optical layer; and a grating pattern located at an interface between the first optical layer and the second optical layer to out-couple light rays travelling in the light guide film, wherein the grating pattern is configured so that the exiting portion of the light rays transmit through the grating pattern twice before being total internally reflected by the grating pattern. |
| US08995806B2 |
Optical transceiver interface with planar alignment and securing
An optical lens connector includes alignment features for passive connection alignment. The alignment features have generally planar surfaces to interface with a mating connector. The alignment features passively align an optical fiber with an optical lens in the optical lens connector, by fitting adjacent to planar surfaces of the mating connector. When interfaced together, the alignment features restrict lateral and vertical motion of the connectors with respect to each other, which helps keep the optical lens aligned with the optical fiber. |
| US08995801B2 |
Planar coaxial electrically and optically conductive structure
A method for fabricating a coaxial structure having an electrical conductor surrounded by an optically conductive dielectric is disclosed. The method may include creating an optical trench in an electrical conductor and depositing an optical material into the optical trench to cover an inner surface of the trench. The method may also include removing a portion of the deposited optical material from the optical trench to form an embedded trench in the deposited optical material, and building up electrically conductive material from within the embedded trench to create an inner electrical conductor. The method may also include depositing optical material around an exposed portion of the inner electrical conductor to create an optical channel encapsulating the inner electrical conductor, and depositing electrically conductive material over a top surface of the optical channel and over a top surface of the first electrical conductor to create the coaxial structure. |
| US08995799B2 |
Optoelectronic chips including coupler region and methods of manufacturing the same
An optoelectronic chip including a coupler region, and a method of manufacturing the same, include a substrate; a coupler region formed of a material having a refractive index lower than the substrate and surrounded by the substrate. The coupler region includes a total reflection surface that totally reflects light incident through a surface of the substrate into the substrate or emits light guided in the substrate through the surface of the substrate. |
| US08995797B2 |
Periodic probabilistic two-dimensional cluster state generator with arbitrary interconnections
A Periodic Cluster State Generator (PCSG) consisting of a monolithic integrated waveguide device that employs four wave mixing, an array of probabilistic Photon Guns, single mode Sequential Entanglers and an array of controllable entangling gates between modes to create arbitrary size and shape cluster states with several constraints. The cluster state is assumed linear or square lattice. Only nearest neighbor qubits are entangled. Such a cluster state resource has been proven to be able to perform universal quantum computing if the initial state is large enough. |
| US08995795B1 |
Automated cleanup of digital volumes
Textual errors in digital volumes in a corpus are corrected by comparing a set of similar digital volumes, the set including a basis volume and a plurality of comparison volumes. The basis volume is compared with the comparison volumes to identify sequences of text that are identical across all of the candidate volumes and mismatched sequences of text that contain different text in at least one of the candidate volumes. The correct text for at least some of the mismatched sequences is resolved by comparing the different text in the different candidate volumes. The mismatched sequences are replaced by the resolved correct text, thereby correcting errors in the candidate volumes. |
| US08995793B1 |
Moving object super-resolution systems and methods
In some approaches, super-resolution of static and moving objects can be performed. Results of moving object super-resolution may be improved by means of performing image co-registration. The quality of images of moving objects in an automated form may be improved. A sequence of images may be processed wherein objects can be detected and tracked in succeeding frames. A small region around a tracked object may be extracted in each frame. These regions may be co-registered to each other using frequency domain techniques. A set of co-registered images may be used to perform super-resolution of the tracked object. Also described are image processing systems and articles of manufacture having a machine readable storage medium and executable program instructions. |
| US08995792B2 |
Image processor, image processing method, and digital camera
A digital camera includes: a horizontal reduction (resizing) processor 301 for reducing a RAW image from single-sensor color imaging device to an image corresponding to a video recording size in an input line direction; a memory section 303 storing horizontally resized image data; a plurality of vertical reduction (resizing) processors 304, 306, and 308 reducing (resizing), in a vertical direction orthogonal to the input line direction, a plurality of pieces of reduced line data read out from the memory section 303; and horizontal reduction (resizing) processors 310 and 312 reducing a plurality of images reduced (resized) in the horizontal and vertical directions back into images of a display size and a face detection size in the input line direction. |
| US08995786B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus capable of appropriately arranging a plurality of images of an output target in an output region is provided. For example, when the plurality of images is arranged in rows and columns by the arrangement unit, if there is a row or a column in which a number of images is less than a predetermined number of images, the number of images in the row or column is identified. Then, from the plurality of combinations, based on the number of images identified by the identification unit, for each of a plurality of combinations of number of rows and number of columns when the plurality of imaged is arranged, a combination of the number of rows and the number of columns is determined. |
| US08995784B2 |
Structure descriptors for image processing
A structure descriptor for an m×n pixel block of an image may be determined. The m×n pixel block may contain a primary pixel having a primary pixel value and a plurality of secondary pixels having respective secondary pixel values. The structure descriptor may include a plurality of structure indicators each associated with a respective secondary pixel. The respective structure indicators may be based on the primary pixel value and the respective secondary pixel value of the associated secondary pixel. Based on the structure descriptor, a structure value for the m×n pixel block may be determined. Based on the structure value, image processing may be applied to the m×n pixel block. |
| US08995782B2 |
System and method for enhancing the legibility of degraded images
Disclosed are embodiments for a system, method, and computer program product for performing an process on an original image, the process being implemented by a computer system performs a comprising the at least one computer: performing an process on an image that renders the processed image legible than then the original image, wherein the analysis segregates dark pixels of the image from light pixels of the image. The method can comprise: first converting the image into a grayscale image. The method comprises processing a pixel area for each pixel of the image is a dark pixel or a light pixel and determining if a pixel is proximate to an edge. |
| US08995781B2 |
Method and apparatus for deblurring non-uniform motion blur using multi-frame including blurred image and noise image
A method and apparatus for deblurring a non-uniform motion blur using a multi-frame including a blurred image and a noise image is provided. The apparatus may provide a clearer image by estimating non-uniform motion blur information of the blurred image using the multi-frame, and performing estimation of the non-uniform motion blur information and obtaining of a latent image iteratively, thereby improving accuracy for estimating the non-uniform motion blur information, and reducing a processing time. |
| US08995780B2 |
Compression of digital images of scanned documents
A method for creating a binary mask image from an inputted digital image of a scanned document, including the steps of creating a binarized image by binarizing the inputted digital image, detecting first text regions representing light text on a dark background, and inverting the first text regions, such that the inverted first text regions are interpretable in the same way as dark text on a light background. A method for comparing in a binary image a first pixel blob with a second pixel blob to determine whether they represent matching symbols, including the steps of detecting a line in one blob not present in the other and/or determining if one of the blobs represents an italicized symbol where the other does not. |
| US08995778B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding high resolution images
The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for encoding/decoding high resolution images, which involve setting the size of the prediction unit to be encoded to an expanded macro-block size in accordance with the temporal frequency characteristics or spatial frequency characteristics among pictures to be encoded, and performing motion prediction motion compensation, and transformation on the basis of a set prediction unit size. In addition, the methods and the apparatuses of the present invention involve dividing a macro-block having a pixel size of 32*32 or 64*64 into at least one partition on the basis of an edge, and performing encoding processes for each partition. Accordingly, encoding efficiency can be improved for high definition (HD) or higher resolution high-resolution images. |
| US08995769B2 |
Method and system of obtaining contact information for a person or an entity
A method of obtaining contact information for a person or an entity is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a name of the person or the entity in a frame from a screen of a device; determining a presence status for the detected name based on one or more connectivity status for the detected name in one or more communication applications and/or one or more databases, where the one or more communication applications operate on the device from which the frame originates and where the one or more databases are accessible on the device; displaying the presence status on the screen of the device. |
| US08995768B2 |
Methods and devices for processing scanned book's data
A method for processing data of a scanned book having a plurality of pages is disclosed. The method includes obtaining page image data from a page. The method further includes segmenting and recognizing the page image data to obtain locations of rectangular boxes corresponding to the respective characters and text codes for the respective characters. The method also includes obtaining respective aggregated character line information for each line of characters. The method further includes adjusting the rectangular boxes in accordance with the obtained aggregated character line information. |
| US08995766B1 |
Image processing method and image processing device
An image processing module is provided. A de-mosaic unit in the image processing module includes an edge direction detection unit and a multi-pixel directional interpolation unit. The edge direction detection unit is used to determine a first color row luminance difference according to a plurality of first color pixels of a pixel row of raw data, and determine a first color column luminance difference according to a plurality of first color pixels of a pixel column of raw data. The multi-pixels directional interpolation unit is used to determine pixel luminance of a third color array according to the first color column luminance difference, the first color row luminance difference, the third color pixels adjacent to a first color pixel and the third color pixels adjacent to a second color pixel. |
| US08995763B2 |
Systems and methods for determining compression methods to use for an image
Systems and methods described herein facilitate determining compression methods to use on an image. A client is in communication with a server that is configured to separate an image into a plurality of regions. The server is also configured to determine a first data compression method for a first set of the regions and a second data compression method for a second set of the regions, wherein the second data compression method is different from the first data compression method. Further, the server is configured to compress the first set and the second set of the regions by using the first data compression method and the second data compression method, respectively. The server is also configured to transmit the first set and the second set of the regions that have been compressed to the client. |
| US08995762B2 |
Image processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium for obtaining similarity between a local color displacement distribution and an extracted color displacement
An image processing apparatus includes a color displacement calculation unit, a distribution obtaining unit, and a similarity calculation unit. The color displacement calculation unit calculates local color displacements that are color displacements locally occurring in individual regions of interest of a given image. The distribution obtaining unit obtains distribution of the local color displacements with respect to an extracted-color displacement that is a displacement of a color preset in a reference region set for the regions of interest. The similarity calculation unit calculates similarity to the extracted-color displacement for the regions of interest using the distribution. |
| US08995758B1 |
Classifying false positive descriptors
According to an embodiment, a method for filtering descriptors for visual object recognition is provided. The method includes identifying false positive descriptors having a local match confidence that exceeds a predetermined threshold and a global image match confidence that is less than a second threshold. The method also includes training at least one classifier to discriminate between the false positive descriptors and other descriptors. The method further includes filtering feature point matches using the at least one classifier. According to another embodiment, the filtering step may further include removing one or more feature point matches from a result set. According to a further embodiment, a system for filtering feature point matches for visual object recognition is provided. The system includes a hard false positive identifier, a classifier trainer and a hard false positive filter. |
| US08995756B2 |
3D vision processing
Methods and apparatuses are described for processing 3D vision algorithms. A 3D vision processor device comprises one or more 3D vision processing cores. Each 3D vision processing core includes one or more memory blocks for storing location values associated with 3D point cloud images and an arithmetic logic unit coupled to the one or more memory modules. The arithmetic logic unit includes a plurality of memory registers for temporarily storing location values associated with a point in a 3D point cloud image and a processing unit coupled to the plurality of memory registers for performing arithmetic operations on the location values stored in the memory registers, the arithmetic operations used for 3D vision processing algorithms. The 3D vision processing core also includes a communication link for transferring data between the arithmetic logic unit and the memory modules. |
| US08995751B2 |
Method for virtually expanding and enriching the field of view of a scene
The invention relates to a method for virtually expanding and enriching the field of view of the current image of a scene described by a video including several images.This method includes the following steps of: a—expanding said field of view by at least one mosaic obtained from said images and by inserting at least one contextual datum in the reference frame of the current image of said scene, b—enriching said field of view by at least one piece of information referenced in said contextual datum. |
| US08995746B2 |
Image synchronization of scanning wafer inspection system
An inspection system comprises a beam generator module for deflecting spots across scan portions of a specimen. The system also includes detection channels for sensing light emanating from a specimen in response to an incident beam directed towards such specimen and generating a detected image for each scan portion. The system comprises a synchronization system comprising clock generator modules for generating timing signals for deflectors of the beam generator module to scan the spots across the scan portions at a specified frequency and each of the detection channels to generate the corresponding detected image at a specified sampling rate. The timing signals are generated based on a common system clock and cause the deflectors to scan the spots and the detection channels to generate a detected image at a synchronized timing so as to minimize jitter between the scan portions in the response image. |
| US08995745B2 |
Sequencer for combining automated and manual-assistance jobs in a charged particle beam device
A device for imaging and processing a workpiece having nanometric features through the use of at least one charged particle beam, by both fully automated procedures and manual assistance procedures. The device includes a user interface, including a schedule input entry device and a human operator ready input that can be placed in a first state or a second state and a procedure scheduler, accepting a schedule of procedures, including fully automated procedures and manual assistance procedures, from the schedule input entry device. Additionally, a procedure sequencer that, when the human operator ready input is in the second state, sequences through fully automated procedures until the human operator ready input is placed into the first state, at which time the sequencer begins sequencing the manual assistance procedures, after reaching a safe termination point for the fully automated procedures being performed. |
| US08995739B2 |
Ultrasound image object boundary localization by intensity histogram classification using relationships among boundaries
Fatty tissue boundary depths and muscle tissue boundary depths are identified in an ultrasound image by first creating an average intensity histogram of the ultrasound image. The histogram has a plurality of peaks, but has the characteristic that one of its peaks corresponds to a fat boundary depth, and a second of its peaks corresponds to a muscle boundary depth. A first classifier based solely on the local-characteristics of individual peaks is used to identify a first fat tissue depth. A second classifier trained to find a muscle depth given a fat depth, receives the output from the first classifier and identifies an output muscle tissue depth relative to the first fat tissue depth. A third classifier trained to find a fat boundary depth given a muscle boundary depth, receives the output muscle tissue depth and outputs a second fat boundary depth. |
| US08995736B2 |
System and method for prostate visualization and cancer detection
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for detecting a disease of a prostate. Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can include receiving an image dataset acquired with at least one acquisition mode; segmenting a region of interest including the prostate from the dataset; applying conformal mapping to map the region of interest to a canonical shape; generating a 3D visualization of the prostate using the canonically mapped dataset; and applying computer aided detection (CAD) to the canonically mapped volume to detect a region of disease of the organ. |
| US08995734B2 |
Image processing method and system
A method of processing image data including performing a first mapping, of a first image dataset to a first reference, performing a second mapping, of a second image dataset to a second reference, and using the first mapping and the second mapping to correlate at least one position in the first image dataset to at least one position in the second image dataset. |
| US08995728B1 |
Visual security mechanism for a device with a front-facing camera
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and computer readable media for locking a computing device. Periodic images are received from a camera on a computing device. Each of the images is compared to a stored image of a user. A determination is made that one of the images does not match the stored image, and the computing device is locked upon determining that one of the images does not match the stored image. |
| US08995721B1 |
Using object appearance changes due to high reflectivity for feature detection
Methods and apparatus are disclosed related to classifying illuminated objects. A computing device can receive a sequence of images including first and second images. The first image can be of an environment of a vehicle taken at a first time. The second image can be of the environment of the vehicle taken at a second time. The vehicle can include a light source that illuminates a portion of the environment. The first and second times can differ. The computing device can detect an object having a first size and a first brightness in the first image. The computing device can detect the object having a second size and a second brightness in the second image. The computing device can classify the object based on a brightness difference between the first brightness and second brightness and a size difference between the first size and second size. |
| US08995720B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium
A non-transitory information storage medium stores a program for causing a computer to execute processing including obtaining a search region for a search of the outside of one object and selecting any object in the search region as a search result from among a plurality of other objects. |
| US08995709B2 |
Method for calculating weight ratio by quality grade in grain appearance quality grade discrimination device
A method is provided for calculating a weight ratio by quality grade using a grain appearance quality grade discrimination device. The method involves the steps of imaging a plurality of grains; discriminating the quality grade of the grains on the basis of data of the imaged grains; tallying, by quality grade, the number of pixels in said data of the imaged grains with regards to the grains whose quality grade has been discriminated; multiplying the number of pixels tallied by quality grade by a weight conversion coefficient per pixel predetermined by quality grade, and thereby converting said number of pixels into a weight by quality grade; and calculating the weight ratio by quality grade of the grains on the basis of the weight by quality grade. |
| US08995706B2 |
Method for protecting digital content against minority collusion attacks
A method and system of detecting colluders conducting a collusion attack including a minority-type collusion attack on a digital product includes the generation of codewords used as watermarks in the digital product. The inner code of the codewords is generated using permutations of rows in a Hadamard matrix and concatenating them together. A typical outer code of the codeword is the Reed Solomon code. An adaptive detector is able to accurately detect one of three or more colluders of a minority-type attack. Prior art schemes using an error correcting code-based watermarking mechanism with an inner code fail to detect colluders with a minority-type collusion attack which includes three colluders. |
| US08995705B2 |
Multi-layer armature for moving armature receiver
A multi-layer armature for a moving armature receiver. The armature includes a first armature layer and a displacement region. The first armature layer includes a first surface and a second armature layer having a second surface positioned adjacent to the first surface. The displacement region provides relative displacement between the armature layers. |
| US08995700B2 |
Acoustic transducer
An acoustic transducer may comprise a sound source, a throat connected to the sound source, and a horn connected to the throat. The horn may be arranged on a wall, wherein the throat is designed such that a path of the sound from the sound source to an interface between the throat and the horn is shorter in a region close to the wall than at a region that is remote from the wall. |
| US08995699B2 |
Hearing aid with antenna for reception and transmission of electromagnetic signals
The invention regards a communication device which is adapted for placement in a users ear. The communication device comprises a shell part enclosing an input transducer for receiving an input signal, a signal processing device and an output N transducer for providing a signal perceivable as sound, a battery located at a surface part of the shell which is facing away from the head of the user, a transmission and reception circuit for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic energy. According to the invention an antenna for radiating and/or receiving electromagnetic energy is provided such that it has a first surface turned towards the surroundings and a second surface located in close proximity of the battery. |
| US08995698B2 |
Visual speech mapping
Described herein are an apparatus and method for displaying the signal processing effects of a hearing upon speech. Such visual speech mapping may include displaying text corresponding to words spoken to a patient wearing a hearing aid as derived from an input signal derived from the hearing aid. The text is displayed with indicia representing the effects of the signal processing function performed by the hearing aid upon individual letters or groups of letters. |
| US08995694B2 |
Embedded circuit in a MEMS device
A Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) microphone includes a printed circuit board, a MEMS die, and an integrated circuit. The MEMS die is disposed on a top surface of the printed circuit board. The integrated circuit is disposed at least partially within the printed circuit board and produces at least one output signal. The output signals of the integrated circuit are routed directly into at least one conductor to access pads at the printed circuit board and the access pads are disposed on a bottom surface of the printed circuit board that is opposite the top surface. |
| US08995693B2 |
Noise mitigating microphone system and method
A microphone system has a base coupled with first and second microphone apparatuses. The first microphone apparatus is capable of producing a first output signal having a noise component, while the second microphone apparatus is capable of producing a second output signal. The first microphone apparatus may have a first back-side cavity and the second microphone may have a second back-side cavity. The first and second back-side cavities may be fluidly unconnected. The system also has combining logic operatively coupled with the first microphone apparatus and the second microphone apparatus. The combining logic uses the second output signal to remove at least a portion of the noise component from the first output signal. |
| US08995692B2 |
Personal media playing system
An apparatus for personal media playing, the apparatus comprising: a signal receiver, configured to receive a media signal, a signal generator, in communication with the signal receiver, configured to derive a plurality of signals from the received media signal, and tailor each of the derived signals for a respective one of a plurality of body areas of a user, and a plurality of vibration devices, in communication with the signal generator, each vibration device being deployable on a respective one of the body areas of the user and configured to vibrate on the body area, according to the signal tailored for the body area. |
| US08995691B2 |
Audio amplifier
The embodiments described herein relate to amplifier circuits with power rails. The power rails are generated in response to an input signal, which will typically be an audio signal, and with a sufficient magnitude to power the amplifier and to generate an output signal corresponding to the input signal. |
| US08995688B1 |
Portable hearing-assistive sound unit system
A system consisting of interconnectible, hearing-assistive, portable “units” which can address communication problems that persons who are hard of hearing experience in many social settings (such as while dining out with friends in a noisy restaurant). The system allows each unit operator to share multiple audio input signals coming into any of the connected units with the other participants using the system. The operator is also able to selectively amplify one or more of the incoming audio signals (such as from the voices of one or more of the participants) while blocking out or turning down another (such as from background music). The units are capable of integrating audio signals with video, word processing and internet data. An innovative method for improving communication for persons who are hard of hearing in public and private settings is also claimed. |
| US08995686B2 |
Sound volume control device, sound volume control method, and sound volume control program
A sound volume control device includes a sound input section, a band dividing section, an excessive output notification section, a correction band decision section and a sound output control section. The sound input section converts input sound into a sound signal. The band dividing section carries out band-division with respect to the sound signal. The excessive output notification section outputs excessive output notification information when output sound from the present device is excessive. The correction band decision section calculates audible signal distribution information when the excessive output notification information is not output and excessive signal distribution information when the excessive output notification information is output, for each band in the sound signal, and decides a correction band according to the audible signal distribution information and excessive signal distribution information. The sound output control section controls sound volume of sound signal for the correction band to provide output sound. |
| US08995681B2 |
Audio processing apparatus with noise reduction and method of controlling the audio processing apparatus
An audio processing apparatus includes first and second audio pickup units. The second audio pickup unit includes an audio resistor provided to cover a sound receiving portion to suppress external wind introduction while passing an external audio. A first filter attenuates a signal having a frequency lower than a first cutoff frequency of the output signal of a first A/D converter. A second filter attenuates a signal having a frequency higher than a second cutoff frequency of the output signal of a second A/D converter. A third filter is provided between the first audio pickup unit and the first A/D converter to attenuate a signal having a frequency lower than a third cutoff frequency for suppressing the wind noise. |
| US08995676B2 |
Hearing protector
A hearing protector comprises two protective muffs (1) with passive noise damping, a microphone (3) disposed in at least the one protective muff (1) and connected to an analog and a digital signal processing device (5 and 7, respectively), the signal processing devices (5, 7) being connected to loudspeakers (4) disposed interiorly in the protective muffs (1) for extinguishing interior noise in the protective muffs (1). The analog signal processing device is rehearsed for processing non-repeatable noise, while the digital signal processing device is rehearsed for processing repeatable noise. According to the invention, a further microphone (8) is disposed outside the passive noise damping and is connected to the digital signal processing device for tracing and locking onto repeatable noise. |
| US08995665B1 |
Role based encryption without key management system
A role based security infrastructure for data encryption that does not require a key management system is provided. For each defined role, a unique key pair is generated. To encrypt a data set, a random encryption key is generated on the fly, and used to encrypt the data. To allow a role access to an encrypted data set, the corresponding encryption key is encrypted with the public key of that role, and stored in association with the encrypted data set. To access an encrypted data set, a private key associated with a role allowed access is used to decrypt the copy of the associated encryption key, which has been encrypted using the corresponding public key and stored in association with the data set. The decrypted encryption key is then used to decrypt the encrypted data set. |
| US08995660B2 |
Cryptographic system, cryptographic communication method, encryption apparatus, key generation apparatus, decryption apparatus, content server, program, and storage medium
A cryptographic communication technology that is based on functional encryption and that can operate flexibly is provided. A conversion rule information pair is determined in advance, which has attribute conversion rule information prescribing a conversion rule for converting attribute designation information to attribute information used in a functional encryption algorithm and logical expression conversion rule information prescribing a conversion rule for converting logical expression designation information to logic information used in the functional encryption algorithm. One kind of conversion rule information included in the conversion rule information pair is used to obtain first attribute information or first logic information from input information. The first attribute information or the first logic information is used for encryption. Encryption information is decrypted with a decryption key generated by using second attribute information or second logic information obtained from user information by using the other kind of conversion rule information. |
| US08995659B2 |
Parameterized random data generator providing a sequence of bytes with uniform statistical distribution
A random data generator, a method, and a non-transitory machine-readable medium each operate a plurality of random number generators. Each random number generator is coupled to receive inputs comprising seed numbers, and generates an output stream of n-bit numbers. A bit-swap module receives each n-bit number and reorders the bits of the n-bit number to provide a reordered n-bit number. A byte select circuit selects a byte from the reordered n-bit number and provides a selected byte as an output to the random data stream. |
| US08995655B2 |
Method for creating asymmetrical cryptographic key pairs
The invention relates to a method for creating a set of asymmetrical cryptographic key pairs, wherein the set of key pairs has a first key pair (K1) and a second key pair (K2), wherein the first key pair is formed by a first private (G1) and a first public key (O1) and the second key pair is formed by a second private (G2) and a second public key (O2), wherein a first cipher (C_G2_O1) is allocated to the first and second key pair, wherein the first cipher is formed by an encryption of the second private key (G2) with the first public key (O1), having the following steps: adding a third asymmetrical cryptographic key pair (K3) to the set of key pairs, wherein the third key pair is formed by a third private (G3) and a third public key (O3); creating a second cipher (C_G3_O1) by encrypting the third private key (G3) with the first public key (O1); storing the second cipher (212; 186), wherein the set of key pairs has a directed graph structure. |
| US08995654B2 |
Method for verifying correct encryption key utilization
A method for sending encrypted data in response to a request for an I/O operation. The method includes the steps of requesting a data encryption key, the request including one or more identifiers unique to the I/O operation; receiving a data encryption key attached with a first key use fingerprint, independently generating a second key use fingerprint in response to the one or more identifiers; comparing the first and the second key use fingerprints; and if the first key use fingerprint matches the second key use fingerprint, using the data encryption key to encrypt the data to be sent. In one embodiment, the one or more identifiers include at least one of a target identifier, a LUN identifier, and a LBA range identifier. |
| US08995645B1 |
System, method, and computer readable medium for routing an agent to a preferred communications platform in order to receive a customer call
A system and method for routing an agent to a preferred communications platform in order to receive a customer call. The system may include a web server call notification module that receives an automatic number identification and information relating to an establishment whose phone number was dialed, and a virtual automated call distributor (VACD). Further, the system may include an interactive voice response (IVR) system that requests an agent's identification from the VACD, wherein the VACD and the web server are coupled to the IVR system, and wherein the VACD routes a customer's information to an agent desktop environment (ADE) coupled to the VACD. Also included may be an access platform that receives the customer's information and updates an ADE phone control state session on an agent's desktop, wherein the customer's information is routed to the ADE environment through a message transfer layer. |
| US08995643B2 |
System and method of intelligent call routing for cross sell offer selection based on optimization parameters or account-level data
An apparatus and methods for a call routing system is disclosed whereby the call routing service provider is associated with a series of partners. By providing a system supporting not only the main user, but also the partners, efficiencies are gained through cost-spreading. Agents can be qualified to field calls for multiple business entities. Cross-selling and proactive servicing based on caller demographic and profile data can be effectuated. The system employs a centralized or global bank of shared Interactive Voice Response (IVR) units so that unnecessary post-routing and call site interflow are reduced. The system comprises a central server system that interfaces with a long distance provider so that route requests are received, caller data is retrieved from one or more databases, routing and handling strategies are developed, load balancing is effectuated, and calls are appropriately routed to one of a plurality of geographically separated call center systems with queues staffed by agents. Each call center system is designed to support various queues, and agents may be qualified or assigned to various queues based on their skill sets and skill levels. |
| US08995641B2 |
Method and system for a multitenancy telephone network
A method and system for operating a multitenancy telephony system including a call queue that stores call requests received from a plurality of users; an expandable and contractible telephony resource cluster that establishes call sessions for call requests; a analysis system that calculates capacity requirements of the system; a resource allocator that manages the scaling and operation of the telephony resource cluster; and a plurality of telephony network channels that are used as telephony communication channels for call sessions. |
| US08995640B2 |
Call forwarding initiation system and method
A method and system creates on a portable electronic device a real-time graphical view of an in-store product display that pinpoints the location of one or more target products on the product display. The graphical view is generated by capturing image data, such as a video feed of the in-store product display, and processing the data to initiate the one or more target products based on predefined product recognition criteria uniquely associated with the respective target products. |
| US08995638B2 |
Provisioning and correlating a dynamic phone number to identify a unique caller
A method comprising directing a user equipped with a user's phone to a landing page in response to a call request to a call server communicatively coupled with a dynamic number insertion service (“DNIS”) provisioning server is disclosed. The user may be presented with an offer visible on the landing page such that the offer may be associable with the user's IP address. A user record may be created such that the user may be identifiable through a plurality of unique identifiers. A dynamic DNIS may be provisioned using the DNIS provisioning server such that a called ID associable with the landing page may be generated and the dynamic DNIS may be dialed such that the called ID may be captured. The user record may be matched using the dynamic DNIS and the dynamic DNIS may be released for re-use. |
| US08995637B2 |
System and method of advanced call routing in mass telephony conference calls
The present invention relates to performing advanced call routing in a mass telephone conference call, including: checking a conferee list to determine whether a telephone number is a ported number; creating a list of carriers for each ported number on the conferee list, which provides a list of the carriers for each ported number; arranging the list of the carriers in order based upon cost, from least expensive to most expensive, for the call; placing the call to each conferee based upon the ordered list of the carriers, starting with the least expensive to the most expensive of the carriers for each ported number; and wherein when the least expensive of the carriers is unavailable, placing the telephone call to a next one of the carriers on the ordered list, from the least expensive to the most expensive of the carriers. |
| US08995626B2 |
Unified and consistent user experience for server and client-based services
Described is a technology by which a storage at a telephone device (e.g., a client telephone) is synchronized with information corresponding to actions performed at a computing device (e.g., a server) on behalf of the client. For example, the server may employ speech recognition to recognize a name or number spoken into the client telephone, and in response, dial out a corresponding telephone number for the client telephone. This action is synchronized back to the client storage so that the client's call history includes knowledge of the server's dialing action. Thereafter, an action at the telephone device that accesses the call history (e.g., for redialing or scrolling) obtains the full call history, independent of whether the telephone device or computing device performed the action. Changes made via telephone device may be similarly synchronized to the computing device, such as directly dialed calls, user-input speed dial information, and so forth. |
| US08995624B2 |
Remote virtual supervision system
An apparatus and method that enables a case officer to monitor in remotely to P/Ps. The remote supervision server receives GPS data/time-date data/text/audio/video reporting periodically from the parolees and probationers and the GPS data/time-date data/text/audio/video reporting is analyzed. The remote supervision server will send an alert to the case officer if a suspicious behavior is detected. If no suspicious behavior is detected, the remote supervision server will store the analysis result and send a notification to the case officer. The case officer can then check the audio/video reporting and the analysis result later. The remote supervision server also calculates the likelihood of recidivism for each post-release supervised client, parolee or probationer and advises the officer of such risk in order of greatest risk to lowest risk. |
| US08995619B2 |
Personnel screening system
The present specification discloses an inspection system for detecting objects being carried by a person who is moving along a pathway. The inspection system has two detection systems configured to detect radiation scattered from the person as the person moves along the pathway and an X-ray source positioned between the detection systems. The X-ray source is configured to generate a vertical beam spot pattern and does not generate beams that move horizontally. |
| US08995618B2 |
Portable orthovoltage radiotherapy
A portable orthovoltage radiotherapy system is described that is configured to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. In some embodiments, inflammatory ocular disorders are treated, specifically macular degeneration. In some embodiments, the ocular structures are placed in a global coordinate system based on ocular imaging. In some embodiments, the ocular structures inside the global coordinate system lead to direction of an automated positioning system that is directed based on the ocular structures within the coordinate system. |
| US08995617B2 |
Radiotherapeutic apparatus
The ability to provide a fine resolution variation in the dose rate of radiotherapeutic apparatus would allow delivery times of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) and related techniques to be reduced significantly. A radiotherapeutic apparatus is described, comprising a source of radiation able to issue pulses of radiation at a base frequency, and a control apparatus arranged to permit pulses provided these match a pulse pattern chosen to achieve a selected time-averaged power level, the chosen pulse pattern being one selected from a plurality of pulse patterns that include patterns consisting of trains of pulses that include, relative to the base frequency, at least every nth and every mth pulse where n≠m and the nth and mth pulses are non-coincident. Essentially, such an apparatus issues a pulse if it is the nth or the mth or the kth (etc) where n, m, k . . . are selectable independently. |
| US08995612B2 |
Image diagnosis apparatus and method using X-ray
An image diagnosis apparatus and method may emit radiation to a target object, may compress the target object in response to the emitted radiation, and may collect a plurality of images with respect to the compressed target object in response to the emitted radiation. An elastic image with respect to the target object may be generated based on the plurality of collected images. |
| US08995611B2 |
Scan start and/or end position identifier
A subject support (118) for an imaging system (100) includes a moveable portion (122) that includes a surface (204) on which the subject is loaded and that is configured to move into an examination region of the imaging system where the subject is to be scanned. The support further includes a scan position identifier (126) that generates a signal indicative of at least one of a start scan position or an end scan position for a predetermined region of interest of the subject based on a location of the region of interest on the moveable portion of the subject support for an arbitrary relative position of the moveable portion with respect to the examination region. |
| US08995609B2 |
X-ray compton scatter imaging on volumetric CT systems
Briefly described, in an exemplary form, the present invention discloses a system, method and apparatus for X-ray Compton scatter imaging. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention uses two detectors in a volumetric CT system. A first detector is positioned generally in-line with the angle of attack of the incoming energy, or, generally in-line of path x, where x is the path of the incoming energy. The first, or primary, detector detects various forms of radiation emanating from an object undergoing testing. In some embodiments, the present invention further comprises a Compton scattering system positioned generally normal to path x. In some embodiments, the Compton scattering subsystem comprises a second detector and a pin-hole collimator. The second detector detects Compton scattering energy from the object being tested. |
| US08995608B2 |
Compact microbeam radiation therapy systems and methods for cancer treatment and research
The present subject matter relates to compact, non-synchrotron microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) systems and methods for cancer research and treatment based on a carbon nanotube distributed x-ray source array technology. The systems and methods can deliver microscopically discrete x-ray radiation at peak dose rate of 10 Gy per second or higher. The x-ray radiation can be provided by a spatially distributed x-ray source array. The technology can be used, for example and without limitation, for human cancer treatment, for intra-operative radiation therapy, and for pre-clinical cancer research on animal cancer models. |
| US08995594B2 |
Baseband cancellation of platform radio interference
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a platform may comprise a receiver to receive a signal that includes an error in the received signal due to a noise signal generated in the platform, and a processor configured to calculate a noise vector from a source of the noise signal and to send the noise vector to the receiver, The receiver may include a digital signal processor configured to estimate an error vector based at least in part on the noise vector and to subtract the estimated error vector from the received signal to cancel the noise signal from the received signal. The noise cancelled from the received signal may include platform noise generated by a bus, a memory circuit, a clock, a power supply, a circuit ground or integrated circuit substrate, or input/output circuit of the platform. |
| US08995591B2 |
Reusing a single-chip carrier aggregation receiver to support non-cellular diversity
A wireless communication device configured for receiving multiple signals is described. The wireless communication device includes a single-chip carrier aggregation receiver architecture. The single-chip carrier aggregation receiver architecture includes a first antenna, a second antenna, a third antenna, a fourth antenna and a transceiver chip. The transceiver chip includes multiple carrier aggregation receivers. The single-chip carrier aggregation receiver architecture reuses at least one of the carrier aggregation receivers for secondary diversity. |
| US08995590B2 |
Hardware engine to demod SIMO, MIMO, and SDMA signals
An apparatus including a configurable demodulation architecture which includes a control module and a demodulation engine. The control module includes a set of one or more control fields. The demodulation engine includes a spatial whitening module, a Minimum Mean Square Estimation (MMSE) module, at least a first Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC) module, and at least one multiplexer. Further, the multiplexer is coupled to the instruction module and controlled based on the control fields to select at least one of the MMSE module or MRC module. |
| US08995588B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing improved frequency estimation
A system and method are provided for implementing improved frequency estimation for wireless communication that involves lower power transmissions with reduced signal-to-noise ratios for receivers particularly in systems configured according to the pending IEEE 802.11ah standard. These systems and methods provide frequency estimation over that prescribed for devices operating according other IEEE 802.11 standards and the proposed frequency estimator specified for IEEE 802.11ac systems. The disclosed techniques use schemes that reuse a short training field (STF) stored in memory, employ joint STF-long training field (LTF) estimation, use portions of a guard interval (GI), and create of multiple-phase estimates, with different symbol separation to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the frequency estimate. |
| US08995584B1 |
Multi-stream demodulation scheme using multiple detectors
In a method of demodulating a signal transmitted via a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication channel, a data symbol vector is received at a communication device, the data vector comprising a plurality of data symbols that are received via a plurality of antennas. The received data symbol vector corresponds to a transmitted data symbol vector comprising a plurality of transmitted data symbols. A plurality of candidate vectors for the transmitted data symbol vector are generated at the communication device using a plurality of non-maximum likelihood detection techniques. One candidate vector is selected from the plurality of candidate vectors at the communication device using a maximum likelihood technique. |
| US08995582B2 |
Priori training in a mobile DTV system
An apparatus for decoding digital data includes a processor for recreating a priori training information received with the digital data for provision to a maximum a posteriori (MAP) decoder. The processor detects locations of symbols in the input data stream and regenerates data corresponding to each location. The regenerated data is used by the processor to recreate a priori information suitable to each location of the input data stream location and provides the recreated a priori information to the MAP decoder to aid in the decoding of the digital data. In a preferred implementation, the a priori training data is structured so that after deterministic processing and trellis encoding at the transmitter, it can be regenerated by the processor as a pseudo noise (PN) sequence using a PN sequence generator. |
| US08995578B2 |
Receiver apparatus, reception method, and reception program
A receiver apparatus includes a propagation channel estimating unit that estimates a propagation channel. The propagation channel estimating unit includes a path detector unit that repeatedly performs a process of detecting paths in the order of increase in a propagation channel goodness of fit. The receiver apparatus that estimates a propagation channel at a high accuracy level with a small amount of calculation operation involved is thus provided. |
| US08995577B2 |
Apparatus and method for measurement of the reception time of a pulse
Apparatus for measurement of the reception time of a pulse in a receiving system, which contains at least one receiving channel with a non-linear transmission response, which receiving channel produces at its output a received signal, having a memory, in which the received signals of reference pulses with a predetermined different amplitude are available as reference signals with respect to a time scale, and having an evaluation device, which is connected to the receiving system and to the memory and compares a received signal with each reference signal with a variant time offset in order to determine that reference signal and that time offset for which the comparison discrepancy is a minimum, and outputs this time offset as the reception time with respect to the time scale. |
| US08995574B2 |
Method for transmitting signals in multi-carrier radio transmission system
A method for transmitting signals in a multi-carrier radio transmission system is provided. The method includes a transmission block composed of N consecutive Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in a time domain and M consecutive physical sub-carriers in a frequency domain, where N and M are each an integer not less than 1. The method further includes encoding and interleaving data at a transmitting end, transmitting a pilot signal in a frequency area of a pilot stream for transmission of the pilot signal, performing, at the transmitting end, an IFFT operation on the encoded and interleaved data and the pilot signal, and transmitting, at the transmitting end, the data and the pilot signal through at least one antenna after inserting a preamble signal, wherein at least one pilot stream exists at the transmitting end, and wherein at most one pilot signal is transmitted in a group of OFDM symbols. |
| US08995573B1 |
Octagonal quadrature amplitude modulation
Octagonal non-rectangular Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is disclosed. Grid points from a uniform rectangular grid, which includes points that have equal horizontal and vertical spacing, are selected to form a non-rectangular octagonal grid that approximates an octagonal shape. QAM symbols are mapped to respective grid points in the non-rectangular octagonal grid to form a non-rectangular octagonal QAM constellation that also approximates the octagonal shape. Input signals can then be modulated using the non-rectangular octagonal QAM constellation. |
| US08995571B2 |
Baseband digital pre-distortion architecture
An amplifier may include a predistorter receiving an input signal to generate a predistortion signal, a first converter receiving the predistortion signal to generate a preamplified signal, a power amplifier receiving the preamplified signal to generate an output signal based on the preamplified signal and the input signal, and a second converter sampling the output signal to generate a feedback signal. The predistorter may separately and independently generate a predistortion signal component for the in-phase input signal and a predistortion signal component for the quadrature input signal. |
| US08995569B2 |
Quadrature digital-IF transmitter without inter-stage SAW filter and devices using same
An RF transmitter comprises a digital-to-IF circuit block configured to receive a digital in-phase baseband signal and a digital quadrature baseband signal and to up-convert the digital in-phase and quadrature baseband signals to a digital in-phase IF signal and to a digital quadrature IF signal. The wireless RF transmitter further comprises an IF-to-RF circuit block configured to convert the digital in-phase and quadrature IF signals to analog signals and to up-convert the analog in-phase and quadrature IF signals to an RF output signal. The digital-to-IF circuit block comprises pre-compensation circuitry configured to reduce analog impairments associated with the IF-to-RF circuit block. |
| US08995566B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A modulator generates a modulation signal from an input signal, and a serial-parallel converter generates a subcarrier modulation signal from the modulation signal. An IFFT unit performs an inverse fast Fourier transformation on the subcarrier modulation signal, and a decomposer decomposes a calculation result into a real part data and an imaginary part data. A calculator applies a predetermined calculation with respect to each element the value of which is equal to or greater than a positive threshold value and each element the value of which is equal to or less than a negative threshold value among the real part data and the imaginary part data. A synthesizer synthesizes the real part data and the imaginary part data to generate a baseband signal, and a transmitter generates a transmission signal from the baseband signal, and transmits it to another apparatus via an antenna. |
| US08995565B2 |
Distortion control device and method
This invention includes a waveform analyzing means (13) for calculating an estimated value of a back-off value required by a power amplifier (2), which amplifies a high-frequency signal generated from a baseband signal (I, Q) to a predetermined transmission power, by analyzing the waveform of the baseband signal (I, Q), and a control means (14) for controlling at least one of the amplitude of high-frequency power input to the power amplifier (2) and the supply power of the power amplifier (2) on the basis of the estimated value. The invention calculates the estimated value of a back-off value by analyzing the waveform of a baseband in this manner, and hence need not generate a table in advance by calculating a back-off value for each combination of code channels. The invention can therefore be applied to even a case in which the number of code channels greatly increases, and can effectively prevent an increase in adjacent channel leakage power due to a signal obtained by multiplexing these code channels. |
| US08995563B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving uplink channel sounding reference signals in a wireless communication system
A method is provided for transmitting uplink control information by a terminal in a cellular communication system. The method includes receiving system information associated with uplink transmission of a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) from a base station; determining an orthogonal sequence having a first length or a second length predefined; transmitting uplink control information to which a first orthogonal sequence is applied, if the first orthogonal sequence having the first length is determined; and transmitting uplink control information to which a second orthogonal sequence is applied, if the second orthogonal sequence having the second length is determined. The SRS is selectively transmitted with the uplink control information, based on the received system information, and the uplink control information, to which the first orthogonal sequence having the first length is applied, is transmitted regardless of whether or not the SRS is transmitted in a corresponding slot. |
| US08995551B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating codebook in a wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for generating a codebook in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The codebook generation apparatus includes a processor for generating a covariance matrix of a channel between the transmitting end and a receiving end, using a unitary matrix including a first vector corresponding to at least one quantized dominant singular singular vector of the channel and a second vector corresponding to at least one basis vector of a null space of the first vector, and transforming a predefined first codebook by applying the covariance matrix of the channel to the first codebook. |
| US08995550B2 |
Transmission device, reception device, communication system, and communication method
High transmission efficiency is realized by allowing extension to a number of ports greater than the conventional number of ports through efficient signaling. In a communication system, the highest number of ranks that is the number of spatial multiplex of transmission data transmitted to a terminal device from a base station is 8. The base station generates control information including 3-bit rank information indicating the rank of transmission data, and transmits the transmission data, a reference signal used for demodulating a physical downlink shared channel having the transmission data mapped, and the control information. The terminal device receives the transmission data, the reference signal, and the control information to identify the reference signal using the control information. |
| US08995549B2 |
Method for transmitting a source signal, method for receiving a transmitted signal, corresponding transmitter, receiver, signal and computer programs
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting a source signal including a plurality of binary sequences to NR receiving antennas, where NR is no lower than 2. The method implements, for at least one first binary sequence of the source signal, pre-filtering for focusing a signal to be transmitted on at least one of the reception antennas, referred to as the target antenna. The target antenna and the associated focus pre-filtering step are selected according to a value of the first binary sequence intended for being considered as received. The method also includes transmitting the pre-filtered signal. |
| US08995543B2 |
Method and device for channel estimation with colliding interference cancellation
The method comprises receiving a signal comprising a symbol-carrier matrix, the symbol-carrier matrix comprising a predetermined pattern of reference symbols, the reference symbols comprising a target reference symbol, determining a first channel estimate vector based on demodulating received reference symbols with known reference symbols, and determining a second channel estimate vector by multiplying the first channel estimate vector with an interference cancellation matrix, wherein the second channel estimate vector includes an interference cancelled channel estimate at a position of the target reference symbol. |
| US08995539B2 |
Methods and apparatus for selecting and using communications resources in a communication system
Methods and apparatus for determining, e.g., selecting, communications resources, e.g., tones, to use in a communications system are described. The methods are well suited for use in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Devices seeking to transmit information select tones in pairs for use in transmitting the information. Each tone pair includes a tone and the corresponding image tone. By restricting a communications device to select communications frequencies in pairs, the problem of interference and reduced dynamic range at a receiver due to IQ imbalance is reduced, as compared to the case where devices may use a tone independent of the corresponding image tone for transmission purposes, since the path loss from the transmitter to the receiver is likely to be the same for both tones and the transmission power level is controlled by an individual device using both of the tones. |
| US08995533B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving FEC frame headers with variable header modulation
A frame header of Forward Error Correction (FEC) is provided, suitable for using in the DVB-C2 Standard. In the DVB-C2 Standard, Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) or Variable Coding and Modulation (VCM) is applied to each FEC block to provide as much flexibility as possible. As a result, a frame header is attached in front of each FEC frame to inform the coding rate, modulation type and physical layer pipe identifier. Besides the signaling of physical layer related information, the FEC frame header has to provide a structure so that it can be easily and reliably detected in the receiver. Motivated by the need in DVB-C2 Standard, an efficient and reliable FEC header suitable for DVB-C2 Standard is provided in at least one implementation in this disclosure that combines use of two different modulation types for the header information. In addition, the detection Method of the FEC header is described. |
| US08995527B2 |
Block type signalling in video coding
In one example, this disclosure describes video encoding and decoding techniques applicable to bi-directional prediction. For signaling from an encoder to a decoder a block type for a video block, an encoder can transmit to the decoder two or more separate syntax elements, where one of the two or more separate syntax elements identifies a partition size for the video block and another of the two or more separate syntax elements identifies a prediction direction for a partition of the video block. The separate syntax elements can be individually encoded and transmitted from the encoder to the decoder. |
| US08995525B2 |
Bit-depth scalability
To increase efficiency of a bit-depth scalable data-stream an inter-layer prediction is obtained by mapping samples of the representation of the picture or video source data with a first picture sample bit-depth from a first dynamic range corresponding to the first picture sample bit-depth to a second dynamic range greater than the first dynamic range and corresponding to a second picture sample bit-depth being higher than the first picture sample bit-depth by use of one or more global mapping functions being constant within the picture or video source data or varying at a first granularity, and a local mapping function locally modifying the one or more global mapping functions and varying at a second granularity smaller than the first granularity, with forming the quality-scalable data-stream based on the local mapping function such that the local mapping function is derivable from the quality-scalable data-stream. |
| US08995524B2 |
Image encoding method and image decoding method
An example image decoding apparatus and method involves acquiring encoded data including an image code sequence corresponding to a slice of a plurality of slices obtained by dividing a picture of a moving image and first timing information indicating a first time at which the slice is to be decoded and no underflow or overflow occurs in a first virtual reception buffer from which the image code sequence is output in a slice unit. The image code sequence is decoded on the basis of the first timing information. |
| US08995523B2 |
Memory efficient context modeling
In an example, aspects of this disclosure relate to a method of coding video data that includes determining context information for a block of video data, where the block is included within a coded unit of video data, where the block is below a top row of blocks in the coded unit, and where the context information does not include information from an above-neighboring block in the coded unit. That method also includes entropy coding data of the block using the determined context information. |
| US08995517B2 |
Method and apparatus for locating faults in communications networks
The present invention relates to a device for the location of passive intermodulation faults in a coaxial cable network. The test apparatus (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a pair of high-power, frequency-synthesized, unmodulated RF carriers v1(t) (101) and v2(t) (102) are generated inside the HPA module of the apparatus. The power and frequency of v1(t) (101) and v2(t) (102) can be independently set to a range of values, v1(t), v2(t) are combined inside the instrument and then applied to the input of the device under test (DUT). The PIM signals (107,108,109) generated in the DUT are combined to produce the primary PIM signal vIM(t) (103). The apparatus also includes two receivers (110,111, 112,113,114,115) for the detection of vIM(t) 103 and vREF(t) (104). These signals are downconverted to 455 kHz. The two 455 kHz waveforms are digitized with a dual- channel A/D converter (116,117) and the amplitude ratio and phase offset between the digitized waveforms are calculated and stored. |
| US08995516B2 |
Devices and methods for facilitating signal-to-noise ratio estimation of received wireless transmissions
Access terminals are adapted to facilitate estimation of signal-to-noise ratios for received wireless transmissions. According to at least one example, a wireless communication device can receive a plurality of data symbols. The wireless communication device can determine a first estimate of a signal-to-noise ratio based on first estimates of a signal power and a noise power associated with the plurality of received data symbols. When the first estimate of the signal-to-noise ratio is below a predetermined threshold, a second estimate of the signal-to-noise ratio can be determined based on second estimates of the signal power and the noise power for the received data symbols. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included. |
| US08995513B1 |
System and method for triggering a device under test via RF leakage
Device and method for outputting a leaked radio frequency (RF) signal useable for triggering devices under test (DUTs). The device may include a vector signal analyzer (VSA) which may also perform the method for triggering DUTs. The VSA may include a first component, configured to generate an RF signal, an input configured to receive RF signals transmitted from DUTs, and a received RF signal conditioning portion, each coupled to an internal switching portion. The VSA may be configured to generate the RF signal via the first component, leak the RF signal from the first component to the internal switching portion, generating a leaked RF signal, route the leaked RF signal to the input, bypassing the received RF signal conditioning portion and output the leaked RF signal which is useable to trigger DUTs via the input. |
| US08995510B2 |
Apparatus and method for analyzing a signal under test
A portion of a signal under test corresponding to a portion of interest in an eye pattern is easily identified. An eye pattern display area displays an eye pattern that is derived from sample data of a signal under test in a bitmap form and shows frequency information with colors or brightness. A user selects an arbitrary point on the eye pattern display area with a cross-hair shaped mouse cursor, by manipulating a mouse. Thereafter, a waveform passing through the selected point is discriminably displayed, for example, with highlighted display on the eye pattern. Further, the corresponding portion of a waveform in the waveform display area is distinguishably displayed, such as with a highlighted display. |
| US08995509B2 |
Systems and methods for flow control of a remote transmitter
Systems and methods are provided to enable a near-end receiver to control the far-end transmitter's data transmission such that the near-end receiver's TC data buffers do not overflow. In an embodiment, a high waterline and low waterline implemented into a near-end receiver are used to determine when the near-end receiver's TC data buffers are near maximum capacity. In an embodiment, the near-end receiver transmits a Packet Transfer Mode (PTM) All Idle Out Of Sync (AIOOS) codeword to the far-end transmitter when the high waterline is reached, and the near-end receiver stops transmitting the AIOOS codeword when the low waterline is reached. |
| US08995508B2 |
Method and arrangement in a digital subscriber line system
Transmitting and receiving arrangements and methods in a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system having a plurality of modems and vectored transmission capability. A first part of an available frequency band is reserved exclusively for vectored DSL transmission and reception using modems operating in the first part of the frequency band. The remaining, second, part of the available frequency band is reserved for both vectored and non-vectored transmission using modems operating in the second part of the frequency band. |
| US08995506B2 |
Transceiver with sub-sampling based frequency synthesizer
Disclosed is a transceiver including a sub-sampling based frequency synthesizer with a sampling frequency fsmp, configured to generate M different output signals 3 for use as a carrier signal for transmission and/or a signal with a channel frequency for reception. M is an integer greater than 4, each output signal has a corresponding predefined frequency. The predefined frequencies are within a frequency band with a predefined bandwidth CFR. CFR is greater than fsmp. The frequency synthesizer includes a frequency shift unit configured for shifting a version of the output signal over a predefined frequency shift fshift to obtain a frequency shifted signal which is supplied to a sampling unit of the sub-sampling based frequency synthesizer, wherein −fsmp/2≦fshift≦+fsmp/2. The frequency shift unit is configured to use for the generation of each of the N different output signals a corresponding predefined frequency shift fshift. |
| US08995504B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for data transmission
In an embodiment, a communication device is provided comprising transmit circuitry and crosstalk reduction circuitry. In an embodiment, the crosstalk reduction circuitry is configured to receive crosstalk information indicative of crosstalk between a plurality of communication connections for only a part of communication channels of said communication connections. |
| US08995502B1 |
Transceiver with spectral analysis
A transceiver for a cellular telephone network includes a transmitter and a receiver that receives transmitted signals, as well as a receiver. A spectral analyzer analyzes the received signals and a controller coupled to the spectral analyzer controls the transmitter and receiver as a function of the spectral analyzer analysis. |
| US08995499B2 |
Method and apparatus for signal quality reporting for interference-cancellation receivers
In one aspect, the teachings herein disclose a method and apparatus for signal quality reporting from a wireless apparatus that better reflects the actual interference cancellation efficiency expected at the wireless apparatus for a given transmission interval. In one example, the wireless apparatus knows or predicts the particular modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) that will be used in the transmission of one or more interferer signals for a transmission interval of interest. In turn, it uses those MCS values to estimate the actual interference cancellation efficiency the wireless apparatus will achieve with respect to those interferers. The wireless apparatus estimates and reports signal quality according to its estimated interference cancellation efficiency. Such processing allows the supporting wireless communication network to improve throughput by more aggressively scheduling the wireless apparatus for transmission intervals during which the wireless apparatus exhibits higher interference cancellation efficiency. |
| US08995496B2 |
Method and device for estimating parameters of a system for spreading the spectrum of a clock signal
A method to estimate parameters of a system to spread a spectrum of a first periodic signal according to a modulation period. An embodiment comprises sampling the first signal using a second periodic signal, determining based on the sampling result each occurrence where the first and second signals are synchronous, incrementing a first counter at each sampling, the first counter being reset at each said occurrence, storing at each said occurrence the last value of the first counter before the resetting, providing a third periodic signal at a first level when said last value is greater than a threshold and at a second level when said last value is smaller than the threshold, and determining the modulation period based on the period of the third signal. |
| US08995494B1 |
Multi-band laser architecture
Techniques and architecture are disclosed for providing a laser system. In one specific example embodiment, the system includes a thulium-doped fiber laser coupled by silica glass fiber to a remote optical converter (ROC) including a Ho:YAG laser and, optionally, an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) utilizing zinc germanium phosphide (ZnGeP2; ZGP) or orientation-patterned gallium arsenide (OPGaAs). The fiber laser may emit a low-peak-power, continuous wave pump signal that pumps the Ho:YAG laser, which in turn emits a higher-peak-power, pulsed signal. When included, the OPO can be used to convert the resultant, pulsed signal to a longer wavelength (e.g., about 2-5 μm, or greater). In some cases, distributed architecture and reduced weight/bulk may be realized while eliminating the need to actively cool the ROC for operation, for example, over a broad temperature range (e.g., −55-125° C.). Also, methods of preparing high-peak-power, pulsed signals using such systems are disclosed. |
| US08995484B2 |
Temperature controlled multi-channel transmitter optical subassembly and optical transceiver module including same
A temperature controlled multi-channel transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) may be used in a multi-channel optical transceiver. The temperature controlled multi-channel TOSA generally includes an array of lasers optically coupled to an optical multiplexer, such as an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), to combine multiple optical signals at different channel wavelengths. The lasers may be thermally tuned to the channel wavelengths by establishing a global temperature for the array of lasers and separately raising local temperatures of individual lasers in response to monitored wavelengths associated with the lasers. A temperature control device, such as a TEC cooler coupled to the laser array, may provide the global temperature and individual heaters, such as resistors adjacent respective lasers, may provide the local temperatures. The optical transceiver may be used in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical system, for example, in an optical line terminal (OLT) in a WDM passive optical network (PON). |
| US08995483B2 |
Methods and apparatus for temperature tuning of semiconductor lasers
The present technology relates to a fast and efficient heating element based on a thick heterostructure which is monolithically integrated in close proximity to one or more components of a photonic or an electronic circuit. Inventive embodiments also relate to methods of use illustrative heating elements to control or tune the characteristics of the electronic or photonic component(s). Inventive embodiments may be particularly useful in the fast spectral tuning of the emission wavelength of single mode QCLs. |
| US08995475B2 |
Digital broadcasting transmitter and receiver, and methods for processing streams thereof
A digital broadcast transmitter to transmit a plurality of supplementary data streams is provided, including a multiplexer (MUX) unit which generates a transmission stream by inserting the plurality of supplementary data streams into a normal data stream so that the plurality of supplementary data streams are continuously arranged in an alternating pattern in the normal data stream, and an exciter unit which processes the transmission stream so that the plurality of supplementary data streams are distinguishably arranged in a plurality of areas forming a plurality of transmission units. |
| US08995471B2 |
Shelf of a network synchronization device, and network synchronization device
A shelf of a network synchronization device includes: a clock input reception unit which receives an input of a clock signal; a clock output unit which outputs a clock signal; a clock interruption detection unit which detects a clock interruption if the clock input reception unit does not receive a clock; an AIS signal detection unit which detects an AIS signal if the AIS signal is received through the clock input reception unit; an AIS signal generation unit which generates the AIS signal; an alarm control unit which outputs a predetermined alarm notification when the AIS signal detection unit does not detect the AIS signal if the clock interruption detection unit detects the clock interruption; and an output signal selection unit which outputs the AIS signal generated by the AIS signal generation unit to the clock output unit if the clock interruption detection unit detects the clock interruption. |
| US08995470B2 |
Transmitting device and transmitting method
A transmitting device is provided which includes a plurality of input interfaces, each of which receives a signal from another device, a plurality of output interfaces, each of which transmits a signal to another device, a multiplexing unit which multiplexes the signals received by the plurality of input interfaces, a distributing unit which transmits the signal multiplexed by the multiplexing unit to each of the plurality of output interfaces, and a table storage unit which stores a switching table in which a transmission destination of each signal is defined. The output interface extracts a signal which the output interface is to transmit according to content of the switching table from each signal included in the signal multiplexed by the multiplexing unit, and transmits the extracted signal to a transfer destination according to the content of the switching table. |
| US08995466B2 |
Communications methods and apparatus for using a single logical link with multiple physical layer connections
A base station uses a common link layer controller for multiple physical attachment points to facilitate concurrent wireless connections between different sector physical attachment points and a wireless terminal using the same link layer link. A wireless terminal maintains multiple simultaneous wireless connections for the same link layer link. A packet of user data is fragmented into a plurality of grouping of MAC frames, thus a packet portion can be communicated over a connection. A single packet is sometimes communicated with different portions conveyed over different wireless connections. Automatic repeat request, using the common link layer controller, allows for retransmission of a packet portion over a different connection than it was initially transmitted over. A wireless terminal sends connection request messages including lists of link layer identifiers associated with the wireless terminal. A base station responds with an indication of whether logical link state was already present. |
| US08995465B2 |
Reference signal patterns
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for allocating resources for use in transmitting reference signals (RSs). According to certain aspects, a large set of enumerated possible CSI-RS resources (“CSI-RS patterns”) may be defined and a base station may select a CSI-RS pattern from a subset of the available patterns, with the subset determined by a transmission configuration. |
| US08995461B2 |
Channel selection in power line communications
Systems and methods for channel selection in power line communications (PLC) are described. In some embodiments, a method may include defining a plurality of frames, each frame having a plurality of time slots. The method may also include assembling a pair of beacon and bandscan packets within each of time slot of each frame. The method may further include sequentially transmitting each of the frames over a corresponding one of a plurality of different frequency bands. In some implementations, each bandscan packet may include a slot index indicating a position of its time slot within its respective frame and/or a band index indicating one of the plurality of different frequency bands. In response to having transmitted the plurality of frames, the method may include receiving one or more packets indicating a selection of one or more of the plurality of different frequency bands to be used in subsequent communications. |
| US08995458B1 |
Method and apparatus for delay jitter reduction in networking device
A networking device reduces delay jitter of a plurality of packets passing through the networking device. The networking device includes an input interface that receives a first packet, a packet memory that stores the first packet, a timestamp module, an egress module, and an output interface. The timestamp module generates a first timestamp corresponding to when the first packet was received. The egress module stores a first output time corresponding to the first packet. The first output time is a sum of the first timestamp and a fixed time interval. The fixed time interval is a difference between an amount of time required to receive a maximum-sized packet and an amount of time required to receive a minimum-sized packet. The output interface is configured to transmit the first packet to a destination networking device in response to a current timestamp being greater than or equal to the first output time. |
| US08995456B2 |
Space-space-memory (SSM) Clos-network packet switch
A Clos-network packet switching system may include input modules coupled to a virtual output queue, central modules coupled to the input modules, and output modules coupled to the central modules, each output module having a plurality of cross-point buffers for storing a packet and one or more output ports for outputting the packet. |
| US08995448B2 |
Method for transmission of information between nodes of a network and network using said method
A method for communication between nodes (UR1; UR2; UC1-UC16) of a network, interconnected by a transmission channel and each identified by a node identification number in which at least one transmitter node emits at least one message to at least one message recipient node. The message comprises a description of a path (PH) between the transmitter node which emits the message and the message recipient node. The path is defined by the node that emits the message via a sequence of node identification numbers along the path itself. |
| US08995446B2 |
Efficient generation of VPN-based BGP updates
In one embodiment, a router may store a “neighbor table” for storing the router's Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) neighbors. Each neighbor corresponds to a virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) instance and associated VRF identifier (ID), and the neighbor table indexes the BGP neighbors according to their respective VRF ID. In response to initiating a BGP update generation for a BGP table having BGP network entries, each entry having an associated VRF ID that indicates to which VRF instance the BGP entry is to be advertised, a single lookup operation for each BGP entry is performed into the neighbor table based on the corresponding VRF ID of each BGP entry to determine a corresponding VRF update group of indexed BGP neighbors to which each BGP entry is to be advertised. Accordingly, a shared BGP update may be generated for each VRF update group for the initiated BGP update generation. |
| US08995442B2 |
Apparatus and method for translating an address of a packet transferred between networks
An apparatus translates a destination address of a first packet that is transferred from an external communication device in an external network to an internal communication device in an internal network through the external network, from an external-network address that has been assigned to the internal communication device using an addressing scheme for the external network, to an internal address that has been assigned to the internal communication device using an addressing scheme for the internal network. The apparatus transmits, to another apparatus, address information including the external-network address and identifier information for identifying the external communication device where the another apparatus is configured to translate a source address of a second packet that is transferred from the internal communication device to the external communication device, from the internal address to the external address. |
| US08995439B2 |
Control of multicast content distribution
A local router stores a content distribution map that specifies a plurality of permitted multicast groups. The local router receives communications from user devices on an access-network side of the local router. Those received communications identify multicast groups for which user devices wish to receive data. The local router ascertains if those identified multicast groups are permitted multicast groups specified by the stored content distribution map. For multicast groups ascertained to be permitted multicast groups, the local router sends communications across a network-side interface requesting membership in those multicast groups. The local router may then receive data for those multicast groups and forward that data to user devices. For multicast groups identified in user device communications ascertained not to be permitted multicast groups, the local router sends no communications across the network-side interface requesting membership. |
| US08995438B2 |
Method and a device for optimizing data transfer in a wireless communication network
A method for optimizing data transfer in a wireless communication network is presented. A routing protocol is run for enabling data transmission devices (101-06) to form the wireless communication network. If routing information indicates that a route from a first data transmission device (101) to a second data transmission device (104) goes via at least one third data transmission (102, 103) device, it is checked whether a direct radio link (110) from the first data transmission device to the second data transmission device could be possible. If the direct radio link is possible, a message receivable by the at least one third data transmission device is sent. The message informs the third data transmission device that data transfer from the first data transmission device to the second data transmission device is direct radio communication and no forwarding actions are needed from the third data transmission device. |
| US08995437B2 |
Transmission of segmented frames in power line communication
Segmented frames of data may be transmitted from a transmitting device using conflict free slots (CFS) within a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol on a noisy media. At a receiver, a segmented frame of data is received. The data is represented by a plurality of tones. If requested by the transmitter, a tone map response command is prepared that specifies a set of optimized tone map parameters by analyzing the received frame of data. Any previously determined tone map response commands to the transmitting device are deleted. A sequence of frame segments may be received in conflict free slots, but only one tone map response is transmitted to the transmitting device after receiving the entire sequence of frame segments. |
| US08995430B2 |
IC processor reconstucting two consecutive lost packets from secondary information
A media over packet networking appliance provides a network interface, a voice transducer, and at least one integrated circuit assembly coupling the voice transducer to the network interface. The at least one integrated circuit assembly provides media over packet transmissions and holds bits defining reconstruction of a packet stream having a primary stage and a secondary stage. The secondary stage has one or more of linear predictive coding parameters, long term prediction lags, parity check, and adaptive and fixed codebook gains. The packet stream has an instance of single packet loss, and the reconstruction includes receiving a packet sequence represented by P(n)P(n−1)′, [Lost Packet], P(n+2)P(n+1)′, and P(n+3)P(n+2)′, obtaining as information from the secondary stage one or more of the linear predictive coding parameters, long term prediction lags, parity check, and adaptive and fixed codebook gains, and performing an excitation reconstruction utilizing said packet sequence thus received. |
| US08995428B2 |
Signalling messages in a communications network node to communicate a called address string
Communications network node (5) configured to receive a called address string of a call destination and to output the called address string. The node comprises a processor (10) and a memory (12). The memory arranged to store at least one address string, and the processor configured to compare the called address string with the at least one stored address string. If the received called address string corresponds to one of the at least one stored address string the processor configured to cause the called address string to be output as a single signalling message. |
| US08995426B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing call routing in a network
A method and an apparatus for providing call routing in a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a signaling message for a call, and determines if the signaling message contains information for determining if routing of the call requires an ENUM (tElephone Numbering Mapping) query. The method then processes the call by bypassing the ENUM query if the signaling message contains the information. |
| US08995425B1 |
Network device scheduler and methods thereof
Methods and systems for a network device are provided. The network device includes a stage one arbiter for a base-port for determining if there are any pending requests; blocking any other requests from a same receive queue destined for a same sub-port, same physical transmit queue, and same virtual transmit queue when there are any pending requests; selecting a group of requests with a highest priority and available resources; selecting at least two of the highest priority requests; selecting an oldest one of the requests having the same priority when there are requests with a same priority; sending the selected requests to a stage two arbiter for the base-port; and determining if any new requests have been made or if any previously pending requests have been removed. |
| US08995423B2 |
Multimedia routing system for securing third party participation in call consultation or call transfer of a call in Progress
A multimedia router has code executable on the router from storage on a machine readable medium coupled to the router, the code providing routing functions, and a routing point identified in the router code for establishing at least one non-voice communications session between two or more communications appliances enabled for non-voice communications. During a voice call established between a calling party and one of the two or more communications appliances, the routing point is invoked from the called communications appliance by issuance of a non-voice routing request to establish at least one non-voice communications session between the called communications appliance and another of the two or more communications appliances. |
| US08995414B2 |
Location aware background access point scanning for WLAN
Respective distances between a communication device and a plurality of wireless local area network (WLAN) access points are determined. One of the plurality of WLAN access points with which the communication device is to associate is selected based on the determined distances. A background scanning process is initiated based on determined distances. The background scanning process includes at least selecting one of the plurality of WLAN access points with which the communication device is to associate based on the determined respective distances by evaluating the plurality of WLAN access points in an order based on the determined respective distances. If it is determined that a WLAN access point is acceptable, evaluation of the plurality of WLAN access points is stopped before all of the plurality of WLAN access points have been evaluated. |
| US08995410B2 |
Airsync: enabling distributed multiuser MIMO with full multiplexing gain
Time and phase synchronization may enable distributed multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) architectures and techniques, such as supported by the IEEE 802.11n standard, where several access points are connected to a central server and operate as a large distributed multi-antenna access point. The phase of all access points can be locked using a common reference (e.g., a synchronization tone) broadcasted over the air in conjunction with a predictive filter (e.g., a Kalman filter) which closely tracks the phase drift for each subcarrier channel. |
| US08995405B2 |
Pathloss reference configuration in a wireless device and base station
A base station transmits message(s) assigning each of at least one secondary cell to a cell group in cell groups comprising a primary cell group and a secondary cell group. The at least one message comprises a pathloss reference for a secondary cell. The pathloss reference is a configurable parameter if the secondary cell is in the primary cell group. The configurable parameter is configurable to a downlink of the secondary cell or the primary cell. The pathloss reference is only configurable as a downlink of the secondary cell if the secondary cell is in the secondary cell group. |
| US08995401B2 |
Multiple antenna method and apparatus for reducing inter-cell interference in multi-user wireless systems
A method is provided to reduce inter-cell interference in mobile wireless systems, and particularly in TDD wireless systems. In an embodiment, a base station receives a pilot signal from at least one of the mobile terminals that it serves at a plurality of base station antennas, which include both main antennas and auxiliary antennas. In response, each of the base station antennas provides an output that is processed to obtain a set of precoding weights for a transmission from the main antennas. The processing includes nulling at least one interfering signal using the outputs from at least the auxiliary antennas. |
| US08995399B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for implementing user equipment handover
A method, an apparatus, and a system for implementing User Equipment (UE) handover are disclosed. A Mobility Management Entity (MME) obtains address information of a serving Interworking Function (IWF) by interacting with a function entity in a network and notifies the IWF to process handover according to the obtained IWF address information, so that the MME is capable of obtaining the address information of the serving IWF. Therefore, the normal proceeding of a UE handover procedure in a Circuit Switched over Packet Switched (CSoEPS) scenario is ensured. |
| US08995397B2 |
Pseudo wires for mobility management
Embodiments describe mobility management utilizing neighbor discovery and at least two pseudo wires. When a wireless device desires to handoff to a detected access router, such handoff may not be configured until such time as a current access router receives routing information of the target access router. In order to minimize handoff time, communication between the target access router and the wireless device can be through the current access router utilizing least two pseudo wires. Bidirectional neighbor discovery and create is conducted by the access routers allow subsequent wireless devices to automatically handoff between the access routers. |
| US08995391B2 |
Method for reducing the control signaling in handover situations
The present invention relates to a method, devices, and a program for using IP multicast addresses for mobile terminals (6) (UE) connected to a communication gateway (1) in a wireless communication network (2). The IP multicast address is used for updating routers (3) in the infrastructure network of where to transport data to the UE when the UE connects to another communication gateway (V), this may be updated from the new communication gateway or from a mobility management entity (5) relieving a network gateway (4) (e.g. a SAE gateway) of control traffic reducing the risk of bottle necks in the infrastructure network (2). |
| US08995388B2 |
Systems and methods for uplink resource allocation
A method embodiment for transmission scheduling includes implementing, by a first base station (BS), a soft-persistent scheduling scheme. The soft-persistent scheduling scheme includes allocating a first resource block to a first UE and other resource blocks to other UEs for a first transmission time interval (TTI), calculating a first priority of the first UE for the first resource block for a second TTI, wherein calculating the first priority involves including a first bonus in the first priority, and wherein the second TTI is later than the first TTI, calculating other priorities for the other UEs and the other resource blocks for the second TTI, and allocating the first and the other resource blocks to the first and other UEs for the second TTI in accordance with the first priority of the first UE as modified by the first bonus and the other priorities of the other UEs. |
| US08995385B2 |
Apparatus and method for UE-specific demodulation reference signal scrambling
A user equipment (UE) is configured to communicate with a plurality of base stations in a wireless network. The UE includes a processor that receive a downlink grant scheduling a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for the UE, the downlink grant being transmitted in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH). The processor also receives UE-specific demodulation reference signals (UE-RS) provided for demodulation of the PDSCH, wherein the UE-RS are scrambled according to a scrambling sequence initialized with an initialization value cinit. The downlink grant includes a one-bit scrambling identifier (SCID) information field configured to indicate a pair of values comprising a scrambling identifier nSCID and a virtual cell ID Nv-IDcell out of two candidate pairs, the pair of values to be used for determining the initialization value cinit for the UE-RS. |
| US08995384B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control information in a wireless communcation system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting control signal via a PUCCH in a wireless communication system, and to an apparatus for the method, wherein the method comprises the following steps: joint-coding a plurality of pieces of control information to obtain a single codeword; obtaining a first modulation symbol sequence from the single codeword; obtaining, from the first modulation symbol sequence, a plurality of second modulation symbol sequences corresponding to each slot in the PUCCH; cyclically shifting the plurality of second modulation symbol sequences in a time domain to obtain a plurality of third modulation symbol sequences; performing a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) precoding process on the plurality of third modulation symbol sequences to obtain a plurality of complex symbol sequences in a frequency domain; and transmitting the plurality of complex symbol sequences via the PUCCH. |
| US08995382B2 |
Systems and methods for traffic policing
Systems and methods for policing traffic in communications systems are described herein. According to systems and methods herein, tokens are generated for a packet data network based on a peak transmission rate associated with the packet data network. Packets are selected for transmission over the packet data network based on availability of tokens. |
| US08995381B2 |
Power control in a wireless device
A wireless device receives a control command to transmit a random access preamble on random access resources of a secondary cell in a secondary cell group. The wireless device receives a random access response providing an uplink grant to transmit an uplink packet. The wireless device computes the transmission power of the uplink packet employing, at least in part, a first parameter calculated by summation of: a power control value corresponding to a power control field in the uplink grant; and a total power ramp-up from the first transmission to the last transmission of the random access preamble. |
| US08995379B2 |
Method and device for activating and de-activating uplink of secondary cell of terminal
A method and device for activating and de-activating an uplink of a secondary cell of a terminal. The method includes: determining a number of component carrier waves an RF chain of the terminal can simultaneously receive; determining an activation method to be used for uplink activation according to the number of component carrier waves; and, based on needs, sending information that carries the activation method. Using the method and device, one can determine the activation or de-activation method according to the number of the component carrier waves the terminal's RF chain can simultaneously receive, thus conserving electricity consumption of the terminal and avoiding communication interruptions. |
| US08995376B2 |
Uplink grant, downlink assignment and search space method and apparatus in carrier aggregation
Methods of mapping, indicating, encoding and transmitting uplink (UL) grants and downlink (DL) assignments for wireless communications for carrier aggregation are disclosed. Methods to encode and transmit DL assignments and UL grants and map and indicate the DL assignments to DL component carriers and UL grants to UL component carriers are described. Methods include specifying the mapping rules for DL component carriers that transmit DL assignment and DL component carriers that receive physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and mapping rules for DL component carriers that transmit UL grants and UL component carriers that transit physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) when using separate coding/separate transmission schemes. |
| US08995375B2 |
Method and apparatus for resource assignment during control channel ambiguity
In one example of the teachings herein, a network base station (16, 18) includes one or more communication interfaces configured to send messages to a wireless communication device, and one or more processing circuits (36) operatively associated with the communication interface(s). The processing circuits (36) are configured to send a reconfiguration message to the device using an existing downlink control channel configuration for the device, which message indicates a new downlink control channel configuration for the device, and, during a window of control channel configuration ambiguity that arises for the device as a consequence of sending the reconfiguration message, send a control message to the device using both the existing and the new downlink control channel configurations. Such a method of operation advantageously avoids the delays that arise if new downlink control signaling towards the device (20) is deferred until receiving confirmation that the device (20) received the reconfiguration message. |
| US08995374B2 |
Method for determining information which enable a mobile station to identify which resources are allocated to the mobile station
A method determining information enabling a mobile station to identify which wireless telecommunication network resources are allocated to the mobile station. The allocated resources are divided into plural non contiguous clusters of resources. The method includes: allocating resources to the mobile station; determining, from the allocated resources, plural ordered parameters each equal to a number of contiguous resources allocated or not to the mobile station; calculating, for a first parameter, a number of possibilities having a subset of resources including an amount of resources that is lower than the first parameter; calculating, for each following parameter, a number of possibilities having subsets of resources including amounts of resources respectively equal to the respective parameters having a lower rank than the following parameter and having a subset of at least one resource including an amount of resources lower than the following parameter; determining information by summing the calculated numbers. |
| US08995372B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing random access in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing random access in a wireless communication system. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises acquiring a time adjustment value for acquiring uplink timing via the representative CC in an uplink timing group which is set up by a predetermined condition; and updating the time adjustment value for the relevant uplink timing group by using the acquired time adjustment value. |
| US08995367B2 |
Efficient transmission for low data rate WLAN
A network interface device utilizes a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) maximum duration such that, (A) when operating in a first mode of operation, a data unit (i) defined by a protocol in a layer above a PHY protocol in a protocol stack and (ii) having a maximum length defined by the protocol above the PHY protocol will fit entirely within a single PPDU at a lowest possible data rate in the first mode of operation, and (B) when operating in a second mode of operation, the data unit (i) defined by the protocol in the layer above the PHY protocol and (ii) having the maximum length defined by the protocol above the PHY protocol will not fit entirely within a single PPDU at a lowest possible data rate in the second mode of operation. |
| US08995361B2 |
Multi-channel, multi-modulation, multi-rate communication with a radio transceiver
Techniques for communicating via a control channel, determining a particular data channel based on the communicating, and transferring data via the particular data channel are described. One or more messages are communicated via the control channel between first and second nodes. The one or more messages may indicate a particular data channel from multiple data channels that may be utilized to transfer data between the first and second nodes. The one or more messages may also indicate a modulation technique and/or data rate that may be implemented on the particular data channel. The one or more messages may be utilized to determine the particular data channel that will be utilized to transfer the data. The first and second nodes may switch to the particular data channel based on the determination and transfer the data via the particular data channel. |
| US08995360B2 |
Techniques for prefix subnetting
A delegated internet protocol version six prefix, which is assigned to a gateway device which is interposed between an internet and a premises, is divided into a lower-numbered portion and a higher-numbered portion. One of the portions is allocated to a plurality of networks associated with the premises. The other is broken into a plurality of blocks for use in prefix delegation for allocation to routers associated with the premises requesting the prefix delegation. The gateway device is operated in accordance with the dividing, allocating, and breaking steps. Optionally, at least some of the plurality of networks associated with the premises are pre-categorized into at least first and second trust zones, and the operating step further includes operating the gateway device in accordance with the pre-categorizing step. Apparatuses, devices, computer program products, and internet protocol version four embodiments are also provided. |
| US08995354B2 |
Method for selecting communication links in a multi-radio wireless communication system
A method provides for selecting a communication interface towards an access point by a wireless communication device. The method includes receiving one or more HELLO messages from the access point; determining whether any of a plurality of communication links is being used to reach the access point by evaluating at least one field of each of the received HELLO messages; penalizing a link metric of a communication link when the communication link is being used; and selecting a communication interface towards the access point, wherein the selected communication interface is coupled to a best communication link having a best link metric. |
| US08995353B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting broadcast data and method and apparatus for receiving broadcast data
Provided are a method and apparatus for transmitting broadcast data and a method and apparatus for receiving broadcast data so as to provide a broadcast service. The method of transmitting broadcast data includes: receiving at least one Internet Protocol (IP) packet group, the IP packet group classified based on a service provided by IP packets; generating first mapping information which indicates mapping information between an IP address corresponding to each of the at least one IP packet and an address within a transmission channel on which each of the at least one IP packet group is to be carried; and transmitting the first mapping information and the at least one IP packet group via the transmission channel. A user accesses only desired IP packets quickly and processes them so that a data processing speed can be improved. |
| US08995351B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for intelligent APN management in wireless communications networks
Systems, methods, and computer program products are for managing APNs in a wireless communications network during a PDP context activation sequence. An exemplary method includes a radio network controller (RNC) generating an APN assignment request in response to a PDP context activation request being received from a device and sending the APN assignment request to an intelligent APN management system (iAPNMS). The method also includes determining, at the iAPNMS based upon an assignment factor, an APN to assign to the PDP context activation request and assigning the APN to the PDP context activation request. The method also includes one of the RNC and the iAPNMS modifying the PDP context activation request to include the APN, and the RNC forwarding the PDP context activation request including the APN to a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) gateway support node (SGSN) to continue the PDP context activation sequence. |
| US08995349B2 |
Communication control method, mobile communication system and mobile terminal apparatus
The present invention is designated to reduce the deterioration of transmission characteristics upon data transmission, even when soft buffer memory for retransmission control is not sufficiently secured in a mobile terminal apparatus. The present invention provides the steps of, in a base station apparatus (eNB), performing channel coding of information bits (ST 802), performing a rate matching process for the coded bits after interleaving (ST 804), and transmitting transmission data to match the coded bit length after rate matching, to a mobile terminal apparatus (UE) (ST 806), and, in the mobile terminal apparatus (UE), receiving the transmission data (ST 807), performing channel decoding of the received data (ST 810), and discarding part of the received data in accordance with the size of the soft buffer memory in the mobile terminal apparatus (UE) and storing this in the soft buffer memory (ST 812 and ST 813). |
| US08995345B2 |
Method and apparatus for confirming delivery in a multi-channel receiving apparatus
An apparatus for simultaneously receiving incoming messages on at least two channels in a multi-channel device, wherein a first incoming message is received on a first channel of the at least two channels according to a first protocol. Responsive to receiving the first incoming message, outgoing messages are transmitted on the first channel while the incoming messages are simultaneously received on a second channel. The outgoing messages to be sent according to the first protocol are queued in a transmitter. The transmitter also monitors at least one data stack that is used for transmitting messages according to a second protocol for transmit opportunities. Responsive to detecting a transmit opportunity, the transmitter transmits an optimal number of the outgoing messages within the duration of the transmit opportunity. The outgoing messages are transmitted on the first channel without affecting incoming messages received on the second channel. |
| US08995340B2 |
Devices for variable traffic flow templates
The invention discloses a user terminal (115) for a wireless communications system (100) which is arranged to establish and carry out a communications session with a gateway node (120) in the system (100) according to a first protocol over at least one bearer (110, 140). The user terminal (115) is arranged to provide a predefined issued message to the gateway node (120) during the establishment of a session with an indicator that the user terminal (115) is arranged to handle traffic to and from the gateway node (120) using a predefined version of a defined filter (130). |
| US08995336B2 |
MTC service activation
An MTC device activates an MTC service by first performing an MTC device attachment procedure to attach to a mobile communication network. After the MTC device is attached to the mobile communication network, the MTC device activates a packet data protocol context for the MTC device with the mobile communication network. After the packet data protocol context is activated, the MTC device activates an MTC service with an MTC server. |
| US08995335B2 |
Scalable deployment of network nodes
A method for communicating between nodes in a communication system. Communicating in a first node in a radio access network and a second node in a core network using messages associated with a first set of operations connecting the first node to the core network. Communicating in the first node with other nodes of the radio access network using messages associated with a second set of operations connecting the radio access network nodes. Communicating in the first node with a third node using messages associated with a third set of operations, the third set of operations providing at least part of the operations provided by the first and second set of operations. The scalability of the core network nodes is enhanced when the number of the radio access network nodes connecting to the core network nodes increases. |
| US08995330B2 |
Base station, relay station and method in mobile communication system
A base station generates first setting information commonly used for establishing a logical path for communication with a user apparatus and for establishing a logical path for communication with a relay station, and second setting information used only for establishing the logical path for communication with the relay station, and transmits a second RRC message including the second setting information to the relay station after transmitting a first RRC message including the first setting information to the relay station. The first setting information includes information indicating a priority of a radio bearer in the logical path, information indicating usage of resources in SPS, information indicating resources of SRS, configuration information in a MAC sublayer, and information on change of a security encryption key in handover, and the second setting information includes at least system information and MBSFN information. |
| US08995323B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing access overhead from paged device in machine to machine communication system
An apparatus for an idle mode terminal is configured to perform a method for operating the idle mode terminal in a Machine to Machine (M2M) communication system. A paging message is received from the base station during a paging listening interval. The Apparatus determines whether an indicator indicating receipt of multicast group data is included in the paging message. When the indicator indicating the receiving of multicast group data is included, data transmitted via a downlink resource that uses an identifier mask of a multicast group to which a terminal belongs is received. Thereafter, a paging non-listening interval is entered. |
| US08995320B2 |
Systems and methods of using space time block codes
In a particular embodiment, a method includes applying a first stream to antenna mapping scheme to a preamble portion of a packet. The method further includes applying a second stream to antenna mapping scheme to a data portion of the packet. The second stream to antenna mapping scheme is applied to the data portion of the packet but not to the preamble portion of the packet. The second stream to antenna mapping scheme includes a circulation scheme or a cyclic delay diversity (CDD) scheme. |
| US08995317B2 |
Systems and methods for selecting a gateway general packet radio service (GPRS) support node
In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for selecting a GGSN. The method may include obtaining a network address for a home agent; transmitting a request to a name server for a name associated with the network address; receiving from the name server in response to the request a name associated with the network address; initiating a GPRS attachment; and after initiating the GPRS attachment, initiating a PDP context activation, wherein the step of initiating the PDP context activation comprises transmitting the name to an SGSN, and the SGSN is configured to use the name to lookup an IP address of a GGSN. |
| US08995314B2 |
Selectively adaptable far-end echo cancellation in a packet voice system
A packet voice transceiver adapted to reside at a first end of a communication network and to send an ingress communication signal comprising voice packets to, and receive an egress communication signal comprising voice packets from, a second packet voice transceiver residing at a second end of the communication network. The packet voice transceiver includes a far-end echo canceller that reduces echo that is present in the egress communication signal. The far-end communicates with other functional components of the transceiver system and cancels echo or refrains from canceling echo based on the activity of the other functional components. |
| US08995311B2 |
Relays in multi-user MIMO systems
A method for signalling in a MIMO system. The system comprises a base station (BS), and at least one relay station (RS), operating in half duplex realized using Time Division Duplex. The BS and the RS distribute channels to at least one mobile station (MS), The method is particularly characterized in the steps where:-the BS selects at least one RS which is served during a first time slot (TS1), and selects at least one MS which is served during a second time slot (TS2),—the BS creates channels during T1 to said RS,—the BS and said RS create channels during T2 to said MS. |
| US08995299B2 |
Aggregation of carriers of a cellular radio network with carriers of an auxiliary network
A method and devices for integrating a cellular radio network with a WiFi network are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes selecting, at a base station having a cellular radio subsystem and a WiFi radio subsystem, at least one of a cellular radio network carrier and a WiFi carrier to carry at least one data flow from the base station to a user equipment. The method further includes transmitting, from the base station to a user equipment, a control signal to cause the user equipment to select at least one of a cellular radio subsystem of the user equipment and a WiFi radio subsystem of the user equipment to receive the selected at least one of the cellular radio network carrier and the WiFi carrier. Data from the at least one data flow is transmitted on the at least one selected carrier. |
| US08995298B2 |
System and method for multi-pair configuration over existing cabling infrastructure
A system and method for multi-pair configuration over existing cabling infrastructure. In one embodiment, a network device is configured through a selective activation of one or more physical layer devices that are coupled to a respective one or more of the conductor pairs that are identified in a diagnostic process. Aggregation can be performed on the data streams carried over the activated conductor pairs. |
| US08995297B2 |
Method for controlling downlink transmission power and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method in which a home base station performs power control and an apparatus for the same, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring information on downlink signal strength of a macrocell; and determining an upper limit of downlink transmission power of the home base station by taking into consideration of the downlink signal strength of the macrocell, wherein: when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the upper limit of the downlink transmission power of the home base station is determined to be an intermediate value among a minimum transmission power value, a maximum transmission power value, and a power control value proportional to the downlink signal strength of the macrocell; and when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the upper limit of the downlink transmission power of the home base station is determined to be a predetermined fixed value, the predetermined condition being a value indicating the downlink signal strength of the macrocell is equal to or greater than a first threshold value. |
| US08995294B2 |
Control and data multiplexing in communication systems
Methods and apparatus are provided for a base station to assign to a UE communicating with the base station a number of coded control information symbols being transmitted with coded data information symbols during a transmission time interval by the UE. At least one offset value is assigned to the UE. A size of data is assigned to the UE. The base station transmits information regarding the at least one offset value to the UE. The base station transmits information regarding the size of data to the UE. The number of coded control information symbols assigned to the UE for transmission of control information is determined based on the size of data and the at least one offset value. The control information includes at least one of CQI, ACK/NAK, PMI, and RI. |
| US08995292B2 |
Systems and etiquette for home gateways using white space
Methods and systems for sharing white space with primary services and other emerging services are provided. Signal distribution within a specified location, such as a dwelling, is performed using a home gateway that identifies unused white space, reserves such white space spectrum, and delivers data to one or more devices at the respective location using the reserved spectrum. Signalling between the devices and the gateway is performed over a shared signalling channel, which enables the gateway to advise the devices from where and when to receive data. The gateway also uses a common spectrum reservation OFDM symbol to advise the neighbouring gateways of the local spectrum reservation. |
| US08995289B2 |
Method and system for implementing energy efficient ethernet techniques in a MACSec enabled PHY
Aspects of a method and system for implementing energy efficient Ethernet techniques in a MACSec enabled PHY are provided. In this regard, an Ethernet PHY comprising memory may be operable to perform packet processing functions comprising MACSec protocol processing and energy efficient Ethernet (EEE) processing. In this regard, the memory may be utilized for implementing the MACSec protocol processing and energy efficient Ethernet (EEE) processing. The Ethernet packet processing functions may comprise packet inspection, packet generation, and packet modification. The energy efficient Ethernet (EEE) processing may comprise generating and/or inspecting messages for controlling when to transition into and out-of an energy-saving mode. The Ethernet PHY may be operable to monitor signals and/or conditions within the Ethernet PHY and control transitions into and out-of an energy-saving mode based on the monitored signals and/or conditions. The energy saving mode may comprise a low power idle mode and/or a subset PHY mode. |
| US08995288B2 |
Method and system for a configurable communication integrated circuit and/or chipset
A deployed configurable communication integrated circuit (IC) and/or chipset which may be integrated within a wireless communication and/or multi-media communication device may be operable to monitor its operating conditions, performance and/or utilization characteristics. It may send information via a wireless, optical and/or wired network to a remote analysis and/or development system and/or service, such as an engineering service, that may determine and return configuration parameters. The configuration parameters may be utilized to adjust antenna and/or MIMO, SIMO, MISO and beamforming configuration, power level, interference rejection, equalizer length, dynamic range, modulation, encoding and/or decoding, analog to digital conversion precision, error detection and/or correction parameters, MAC parameters such as timing thresholds, transmit window size and/or buffer space. The configurable communication IC and/or chipset may configure and/or reconfigure itself one or more times over a period of time while deployed in the field. |
| US08995286B2 |
Autonomous self-disrupting network element
A method, apparatus, and machine readable storage medium is disclosed for establishing a test protocol processor which identifies and removes predetermined messages from a network element port buffer. Subsequent to removal the test protocol processor may perform one or more of several actions according to the results of statistical calculations. These actions include allowing the message to drop, replacing the message after a delay, replacing the message after altering the payload of the message, and replacing the message after altering the message type. The disclosed autonomous self disrupting network element is particularly useful for providing a means to perform in situ field testing of network performance indicators under desired statistical conditions. |
| US08995282B2 |
Fast channel probing
A method and arrangement for estimating the current channel quality for a data transfer in a mobile network. In a sending system entity, a channel quality estimate (CQE) associated with a data transfer to a receiving system entity in a mobile communication network is adjusted. One or more probing packets are communicated 400 between the sending system entity and the receiving system entity, each probing packet being formatted according to a predefined combination of transmission parameters. Furthermore, is a Channel State Information (CSI) report received 404 from the receiving system entity, and the CQE is adjusted 406 based on the CSI report and which probing packets have been successfully communicated. By sending a sequence of probing packets, each formatted according to a predefined combination of transmission parameters, and not waiting for each packet to be acknowledged, a fast and accurate estimation of the current channel quality is achieved. |
| US08995278B1 |
Managing a wireless device connection in a multioperator communication system
In operation, a plurality of data packets is received from a wireless device in communication with a first network, the data packets comprising an indication of first network congestion. The plurality of data packets are examined to determine an application requirement and a data rate of an application running on the wireless device. When a number of indications of first network congestion in relation to the data rate meets a congestion criteria, which can be based on the application requirement, a handover is performed to hand over the wireless device to a second network. |
| US08995263B2 |
Method and apparatus for internal/external memory packet and byte counting
Systems and methods are provided for counting a number of received packets and a number of bytes contained in the received packets. A system includes a first memory disposed in an integrated circuit, the first memory being configured as a first combination counter having a first set of bits for storing a subtotal of received packets, and a second set of bits for storing a subtotal of bytes contained in the received packets. A second memory is external to the integrated circuit. The second memory is configured to store a total number of received packets and a total number of bytes contained in the received packets. Update circuitry is configured to update the total number of packets stored in the second whenever either of the first set of bits or the second set of bits overflows in the first memory. |
| US08995259B2 |
Systems and methods for resource booking for admission control and scheduling using DRX
Systems and methods provide for performing admission control in a communications network. The method includes: receiving a request for an entity or service for admission to the communications network; calculating resources, wherein the step of calculating resources includes: estimating a first future resource use for current entities and services in the communications network; and estimating a second future resource use for the entity or service received in the request; determining admission to the communications network of the received request based at least in part on the step of calculating resources; and using a partitionable booking window, if admission is allowed for the received request, for booking the first and second future resource uses based at least in part on the step of calculating resources. |
| US08995258B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and radio communication method for determining relay processing based upon policy information
A radio communication apparatus mounted on a mobile body establishes a local network using terminals and relays a packet transmitted and received between a predetermined terminal connected to the local network and a server connected to an external network, which is another network. The radio communication apparatus includes an uplink-traffic monitoring unit and a downlink-traffic monitoring unit to extract header information from packets received from the server and the terminal, a policy table that registers policy information indicating possibility of communication connection establishment for each combination of the server and the terminal and a priority degree of the communication connection, a priority-degree determining unit to determine whether relay processing for the packet is performed, and an uplink-traffic control unit and a downlink-traffic control unit to discard the received packet when the priority-degree determining unit determines that the relay processing is not performed. |
| US08995255B2 |
Coverage adjustment in E-UTRA networks
Embodiments of systems and techniques for coverage adjustment in evolved universal terrain radio access networks (E-UTRANs) are described. In some embodiments, a network management (NM) apparatus may receive data representative of first and second radio link failure (RLF) reports including information related to respective disconnections of first and second user equipment (UEs) from an E-UTRAN. The NM apparatus may identify a hole in a coverage area of the E-UTRAN based at least in part on the first and second RLF reports, and may perform an automated coverage and capacity optimization (CCO) action to reconfigure cell resources of the E-UTRAN based on the identified hole. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08995243B2 |
System and method for suppressing jitter in digital data signals including image, video and audio data signals
A system and method for suppressing jitter in a digital data signal in a signal processor system. The digital data signal has spaced apart byte allocation units wherein such spacing is increased such that unallocated bytes can be identified and removed from the digital data signal. The byte allocation units of the digital data signal are suppressed with a digital data signal being outputted from the signal processor system having suppressed byte allocation units to suppress the occurrence of jitter. |
| US08995236B2 |
Electronic timepiece with internal antenna
An electronic timepiece has a case of which at least part is made from a conductive material; an annular antenna housed in the case; and a dial disposed inside the antenna. The antenna has an annular dielectric base. The base has a sloped surface that slopes toward the dial and decreases in height to the dial with proximity to the inside. The antenna element is made from a conductive material and is fed by the feed part of the antenna, and is disposed to the sloped surface of the base. |
| US08995235B2 |
Electronic timepiece
An electronic timepiece can adjust the input terminal and suppress power consumption. An electronic timepiece has: a reception unit 8 that receives a satellite signal containing time information from a positioning information satellite; a power supply unit 4 having a battery that supplies drive power; a remaining capacity detection unit 5 that measures the remaining battery capacity; and a control unit 9 that controls satellite signal reception by the reception unit 8. The control unit 9 includes a timekeeping unit 91 that keeps time, a time adjustment unit 99 that adjusts the time kept by the timekeeping unit 91 based on the satellite signal received by the reception unit 8, and a prohibition period setting unit 93 that sets a prohibition period in which receiving a satellite signal is prohibited based on the remaining battery capacity measured by the remaining capacity detection unit 5. |
| US08995233B2 |
Astronomical watch
Mechanism for displaying the day and phase of at least a first celestial body, comprising a gear train for a constant frequency gear drive on an output of a timepiece movement. This mechanism includes a means for the three-dimensional display of the day and phase of said first celestial body represented by a first mobile component, which is driven by the gear train, which includes a phase train and a day train, each in mesh on an output of this same movement.This phase train and/or this day train include at least one uncoupling means between the input and its output thereof. |
| US08995232B2 |
Electromagnetic seismic vibrator architecture
Aspects described herein relate to an electromagnetic seismic vibrator (EMSV) architecture that provide wide frequency range operation, ground force application with high fidelity, and low environmental impact. The EMSV architecture can include a base member that can support a force coil and mitigate electrical heating due, at least in part, to spurious currents. The EMSV architecture can include means for restricting movement of a reaction member included in the EMSV architecture relative to the base member. Such means can permit mitigation of damage of the EMSV architecture in scenarios in which control of the EMSV architecture may fail. |
| US08995229B2 |
Determining a position of a submersible vehicle within a body of water
Methods and apparatus determining a position of a submersible vehicle within a body of water are provided. A method comprises determining an initial position of the vehicle while the vehicle is at or near a water surface. The method further comprises coupling the vehicle and a base node to a weight and determining a position of the base node once the base node and vehicle have reached the floor of the body of water using acoustic modems of the vehicle and a surface vessel to aid in calculating the position as they descend, and acoustically transferring the at rest position on the seafloor from the vehicle to the node. The method further comprises decoupling the vehicle from the node and weight and determining a position of the vehicle based on the position of the base node and acoustic signals exchanged between acoustic modems of the vehicle and the base node. |
| US08995223B2 |
Method for removing Scholte waves and similar ground roll type waves from seismic sea bottom data shallow waters
The various embodiments of the present invention provide a method for removing a Scholte waves and similar ground roll type waves from a seismic sea bottom data in a shallow water. The method comprises acquiring seismic sea bottom data in a shallow waters, applying a time-frequency-wave number (t-f-k) transform on the acquired seismic sea bottom data, identifying a time-frequency relationship of a surface wave based on a specific wave number, identifying a frequency-wave number relationship of a surface wave based on a specific time, designing a time varying frequency-wave number filter in the time-frequency-wave number domain to separate the surface wave, applying a time varying frequency-wave number filtering process to remove an undesired energy and inversing a filtered record by applying an inverse S-Transform operation and an inverse Fourier Transform operation. |
| US08995218B2 |
Semiconductor device
To provide a semiconductor device including a plurality of circuit blocks each of which is capable of performing power gating by setting off periods appropriate to temperatures of the respective circuit blocks. Specifically, the semiconductor device includes an arithmetic circuit, a memory circuit configured to hold data obtained by the arithmetic circuit, a power supply control switch configured to control supply of the power supply voltage to the arithmetic circuit, a temperature detection circuit configured to detect the temperature of the memory circuit and to estimate overhead from the temperature, and a controller configured to set a period during which supply of the power supply voltage is stopped in the case where a power consumption of the arithmetic circuit during the period is larger than the overhead period and to control the power supply control switch. |
| US08995212B2 |
Column repair circuit
A column repair circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a plurality of mats and performs a column repair operation to replace failed cells among a plurality of memory cells provided in the mats. The column repair circuit includes two or more fuse units configured to perform the column repair operation. Each of the fuse units includes a plurality of fuses, and is configured in such a manner that m mats correspond to one fuse or n mats correspond to one fuse, where m and n are natural numbers equal to or more than 1 and different from each other. |
| US08995210B1 |
Write and read collision avoidance in single port memory devices
A method of avoiding a write collision in single port memory devices from two or more independent write operations is described. A first write operation having a first even data object and a first odd data object is received from a first data sender. A second write operation having a second even data object and a second odd data object is received from a second data sender at substantially the same time as the first write operation. The second write operation is delayed so that the first even data object writes to a first single port memory device at a different time than the second even data object writes to the first single port memory device. The second write operation is delayed so that the first odd data object writes to a second single port memory device at a different time than the second odd data object. |
| US08995209B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and method for monitoring reference voltage thereof
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a write path coupled to a pad, a read path coupled to the pad, and a reference voltage output control block configured to apply a reference voltage to the pad through the write path in response to a reference voltage monitoring signal. The read path is electrically isolated from the pad in response to the reference voltage monitoring signal. |
| US08995205B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of testing the same
Provided is a semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of first and second data lines coupled to a memory cell array are alternately arranged. The semiconductor memory device includes a first write driving circuit configured to load a plurality of first write data transmitted through a plurality of third data lines into the plurality of first data lines in response to a first write enable signal; a second write driving circuit configured to load a plurality of second write data transmitted through a plurality of fourth data lines into the plurality of second data lines in response to a second write enable signal; and a column control circuit configured to activate at least one of the first and second write enable signals during a given period, in response to a plurality of data width option modes, during a parallel test mode. |
| US08995201B1 |
Methods circuits apparatuses and systems for sensing a logical state of a non-volatile memory cell and non-volatile memory devices produced accordingly
Disclose is a non-volatile memory (NVM) cell sensing circuit. The sensing circuit may include a sense-side-line conditioning circuit segment adapted to condition a sense-side-line of the NVM cell. Conditioning may include adjusting a charge density within the NVM cell sense-side-line during a first NVM cell current sensing phase. The conditioning circuit segment may also be adapted to maintain an NVM cell current sensing condition during a second NVM cell current sensing phase. Adjusting a charge density within the NVM cell sense-side-line may include inducing current in the sense-side-line in a direction opposite to the sensing current. |
| US08995200B1 |
Non-volatile memory (NVM) with dynamically adjusted reference current
A sense amplifier is configured to sense a current from a selected bit cell of a non-volatile memory array and compare the sensed current to a reference current to determine a logic state stored in the bit cell. A controller is configured to perform a program/erase operation on at least a portion of the memory array to change a logic state of at least one bit cell of the portion of the memory array; determine a number of program/erase pulses applied to the at least one bit cell during the program/erase operation to achieve the change in logic state; and when the number of program/erase pulses exceeds a pulse count threshold, adjust the reference current of the sense amplifier for a subsequent program/erase operation. |
| US08995198B1 |
Multi-pass soft programming
Disclosed herein are system, method and computer program product embodiments for utilizing soft programming a nonvolatile memory. An embodiment operates by sequentially applying a single soft programming voltage pulse to all memory cells along each word line in the nonvolatile memory that fail soft programming verification in a first phase. This sequential application of the single soft programming voltage pulse in the first phase may repeat a predetermined number of times or until a threshold is met. Once the predetermined number of times completes, or the threshold is met, soft programming proceeds to a second phase where soft programming remains with each word line until all memory cells along the word line passes soft programming verification. |
| US08995197B1 |
System and methods for dynamic erase and program control for flash memory device memories
A computer readable medium, a system and a method for flash memory device parameter optimization, the method may include: receiving or generating an estimate of a wear level of at least one group of flash memory cells of the flash memory device, and finding erase parameters and programming parameters to be applied on one or more groups of flash memory cells of the flash memory device in response to estimate of the wear level. |
| US08995196B2 |
Method of sorting a multi-bit per cell non-volatile memory and a multi-mode configuration method
A method of sorting a multi-bit per cell non-volatile memory includes programming and reading to test an n-bit-per-cell (n-bpc) non-volatile memory, which has a plurality of m-bpc pages, where m is a positive integer from 1 through n. If the m-bpc page fails the test, counting a block associated with the failed m-bpc page to (m-1)-bpc blocks, wherein each said m-bpc page is subjected to at most one time of programming and reading. When m is equal to 1, the 0-bpc block corresponds to a bad block. |
| US08995194B2 |
Direct multi-level cell programming
A method is performed in a data storage device that includes a controller coupled to a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory includes a group of storage elements. Each storage element is configured to store multiple data bits. Data is sent from the controller to the non-volatile memory and first bits corresponding to a first portion of the data are stored into the group of storage elements during a first write stage. Each storage element of the group of storage elements stores at least one bit of the first bits upon completion of the first write stage. Second bits corresponding to a second portion of the data are sent to a second memory without sending the first bits to the second memory. The second bits are retrieved from the second memory and at least the second bits are stored into the group of storage elements during a second write stage. |
| US08995192B2 |
Method of programming selection transistors for NAND flash memory
Disclosed herein is a method that includes providing a non-volatile memory device which includes a plurality of cells, a plurality of selection transistors each having a gate and each coupled to associated one of the cells, and a selection line coupled in common to the gates of the selection transistors, applying a first program voltage to the selection line, and applying a second program voltage to the selection line when at least one of the selection transistors have not been shifted to a program condition. |
| US08995190B2 |
Reducing the programming current for memory matrices
A sector of an electrically programmable non-volatile memory includes memory cells connected to word lines and to bit lines, each cell including at least one transistor having a gate connected to a word line, a drain connected to a bit line and a source connected to a source line. The sector includes at least two distinct wells insulated from one another, each including a number of cells of the sector, being able to take different potentials, and in that the sector has at least one bit line electrically linked to the drain of at least two cells mounted on two distinct wells. |
| US08995185B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes memory units each includes a first transistor, memory cell transistors, and a second transistor serially coupled between first and second ends. A memory cell transistor of each memory unit has its gate electrode coupled to each other. A bit line is coupled to the first ends. First and second drivers output voltage applied to selected and unselected first transistors, respectively. Third and fourth drivers output voltage applied to selected and unselected second transistors, respectively. A selector couples the gate electrode of the first transistor of each memory unit to the first or second driver, and that of the second transistor of each memory unit to the third or fourth driver. |
| US08995182B2 |
Coarse and fine programming in a solid state memory
Memory devices adapted to receive and transmit analog data signals representative of bit patterns of two or more bits facilitate increases in data transfer rates relative to devices communicating data signals indicative of individual bits. Programming of such memory devices includes initially programming a cell with a coarse programming pulse to move its threshold voltage in a large step close to the programmed state. The neighboring cells are then programmed using coarse programming. The algorithm then returns to the initially programmed cells that are then programmed with one or more fine pulses that slowly move the threshold voltage in smaller steps to the final programmed state threshold voltage. |
| US08995181B2 |
Magnetoresistive element
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element comprises a storage layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy with respect to a film plane and having a variable direction of magnetization, a reference layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy with respect to the film plane and having an invariable direction of magnetization, a tunnel barrier layer formed between the storage layer and the reference layer and containing O, and an underlayer formed on a side of the storage layer opposite to the tunnel barrier layer. The reference layer comprises a first reference layer formed on the tunnel barrier layer side and a second reference layer formed opposite the tunnel barrier layer. The second reference layer has a higher standard electrode potential than the underlayer. |
| US08995180B2 |
Magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) differential bit cell and method of use
A MRAM bit cell including a first magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) connected to a first data line and a second MTJ connected to a second data line. The MRAM bit cell further includes a first transistor having a first terminal connected to the first MTJ and a second terminal connected to the second MTJ. The MRAM bit cell further includes a second transistor having a first terminal connected to a driving line and a second terminal connected to the first MTJ. The MRAM bit cell further includes a third transistor having a first terminal connected to the driving line and a second terminal connected to the second MTJ. A method of using the MRAM bit cell is also described. |
| US08995179B2 |
Magnetoresistance element and non-volatile semiconductor storage device using same magnetoresistance element
A magnetoresistance element is disclosed. The magnetoresistance element includes a magnetic tunnel junction portion configured by sequentially stacking a perpendicularly magnetized first magnetic body, an insulation layer, and a perpendicularly magnetized second magnetic body. The second magnetic body has a configuration wherein a ferromagnetic layer and a rare earth-transition metal alloy layer are stacked sequentially from the insulation layer side interface. A heat assist layer that heats the second magnetic body with a heat generated based on a current flowing through the magnetic tunnel junction portion is further provided. |
| US08995178B1 |
SRAM with embedded ROM
An integrated circuit includes first and second memory cells including a first pull-up transistor each having a body tie coupled to respective first and second well bias voltages. Drain electrodes of the first and second pull-up transistors are coupled to a first true bit line and a first complementary bit line, respectively. A second memory cell includes first and second pull-up transistors each having a body tie coupled to the second and first well bias voltages, respectively. Drain electrodes of the first and second pull-up transistors are coupled to a second true bit line and a second complementary bit line, respectively. The first well bias voltage is lower than the second well bias voltage during a Read-Only Memory (ROM) mode, and the first well bias voltage is the same as the second well bias voltage during a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) mode. |
| US08995176B2 |
Dual-port SRAM systems
Schematic circuit designs for a dual-port SRAM cell are disclosed, together with various layout schemes for the dual-port SRAM cell. The dual-port SRAM cell comprises a storage unit and a plurality of partial dummy transistors connected to the outputs of the storage unit. Various layout schemes for the dual-port SRAM cell are further disclosed. A gate electrode serves as the gate for a pull-down transistor and a pull-up transistor, a gate of a first partial dummy transistor, and a gate of a second partial dummy transistor. A butt contact connects a long contact to the gate electrode. The long contact further connects to a drain of a pull-down transistor, a drain of a pull-up transistor, a drain of a first pass gate, and a drain of a second pass gate, wherein the first pass gate and the second pass gate share an active region. |
| US08995175B1 |
Memory circuit with PMOS access transistors
A memory circuit that includes a memory storage unit and access transistors coupled to the memory storage unit, where the access transistors include PMOS transistors, is described. In one implementation, the memory circuit further includes a bias clamp transistor coupled to the memory storage unit. |
| US08995174B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor device includes NAND gates and switches to form a circuit to hold data, and a capacitor electrically connected to the circuit via a transistor to store the data held in the circuit. The transistor has a channel formation region including an oxide semiconductor. |
| US08995173B1 |
Memory cells, devices and method with dynamic storage elements and programmable impedance shadow elements
A memory device can include a plurality of memory cells, each including a dynamic section configured to store data dynamically, and a programmable impedance section comprising at least one programmable element programmable between at least two different data states, the programmable impedance section configured to establish a data value stored by the dynamic section in response to a recall signal. |
| US08995171B2 |
Designing method of non-volatile memory device, manufacturing method of non-volatile memory device, and non-volatile memory device
A method of designing a cross-point non-volatile memory device including memory elements arranged in (N×M) matrix, each of the memory elements including a variable resistance element and a bidirectional current steering element connected in series with the variable resistance element, the method comprises the step of: when an absolute value of a low-resistance state writing voltage is VR and an absolute value of a current flowing through the variable resistance element having changed to a low-resistance state by application of the low-resistance state writing voltage to both ends of the variable resistance element in a high-resistance state is Ion, and a relationship between a voltage V0 applied to both ends of the bidirectional current steering element and a current I flowing through the bidirectional current steering element is approximated as |V0|=a×Log(I)+b, deciding N, M, VR, Ion, a, and b such that b−VR/2>a×[Log {(N−1)×(M−1)}−Log(Ion)] is satisfied (S101). |
| US08995169B1 |
Method of operating FET low current 3D Re-RAM
Operating ReRAM memory is disclosed herein. The memory cells may be trained prior to initially programming them. The training may help to establish a percolation path. In some aspects, a transistor limits current of the memory cell when training and programming. A higher current limit is used during training, which conditions the memory cell for better programming. The non-memory may be operated in unipolar mode. The memory cells can store multiple bits per memory cell. A memory cell can be SET directly from its present state to one at least two data states away. A memory cell can be RESET directly to the state having the next highest resistance. Program conditions, such as pulse width and/or magnitude, may depend on the state to which the memory cell is being SET. A higher energy can be used for programming higher current states. |
| US08995166B2 |
Multi-level memory array having resistive elements for multi-bit data storage
A resistor array for multi-bit data storage without the need to increase the size of a memory chip or scale down the feature size of a memory cell contained within the memory chip is provided. The resistor array incorporates a number of discrete resistive elements to be selectively connected, in different series combinations, to at least one memory cell or memory device. In one configuration, by connecting each memory cell or device with at least one resistor array, a resistive switching layer found in the resistive switching memory element of the connected memory device is capable of being at multiple resistance states for storing multiple bits of digital information. During device programming operations, when a desired series combination of the resistive elements within the resistor array is selected, the resistive switching layer in the connected memory device can be in a desired resistance state. |
| US08995160B2 |
Electronic component including a matrix of TCAM cells
Electronic component including a ternary content-addressable memory component, configured to compare the input data items with a set of pre-recorded reference data words; the memory component incorporates a matrix of elementary cells arranged in lines and columns; each line incorporates cells in each of which is recorded one bit of one of the reference data words; the cells of a given column are dedicated to the comparison of the same bit of the input data word; each cell incorporates: two memory points storing the data representing the reference data bit; a comparison circuit connected to the memory points, with a comparison point of which the potential represents the comparison if the input data bit and the data stored in the memory points, and also incorporating a common comparison circuit to which are connected the comparison circuits of all or part of the cells of a given column; the comparison circuit incorporates terminals to which the bit from the input data word and its complement are applied. |
| US08995158B2 |
Circuit arrangement with a rectifier circuit
A rectifier circuit includes first and second load terminals, a first semiconductor device having a load path and configured to receive a drive signal, and a plurality of second semiconductor devices each having a load path and each configured to receive a drive signal. The load paths of the second semiconductor devices are connected in series, and connected in series to the load path of the first semiconductor device. A series circuit with the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor devices is connected between the load terminals. Each of the second semiconductor devices is configured to receive as a drive voltage either a load-path voltage of at least one of the second semiconductor devices, or a load-path of at least the first semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device is configured to receive as a drive voltage a load-path-voltage of at least one of the second semiconductor devices. |
| US08995153B2 |
Passive power factor correction circuit
The disclosure relates to a passive power factor correction circuit. The passive power factor correction circuit comprises: a filtering device being used for decreasing high order harmonic of an input current; a resonance device being coupled to the filtering device for controlling operation time of the input current; and a suppression device being coupled to the resonance device for suppressing ripple of the input current. |
| US08995149B2 |
Keyboard device with a support for supporting a keyboard
The invention discloses a keyboard device including a keyboard and a support for protecting the keyboard or accommodating a portable information processing device. The support of the invention is capable of rotate in a direction away from the keyboard to be at a supporting state. The support of the invention is also capable of rotate in a direction toward the keyboard to cover whole of the top of the keyboard. |
| US08995148B2 |
Backplane for electrically coupling modular information handling resources to one or more other information handling resources
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a backplane for electrically coupling modular information handling resources to one or more other information handling resources, may include a printed circuit board, a first plurality of slots, and a second plurality of slots. The printed circuit board may have a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first plurality of slots may be mounted to the first surface and the second plurality of slots may be mounted to the second surface, such that each of the second plurality of slots are offset from an adjacent slot of the first plurality of slots in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the first surface and each of the second plurality of slots are rotated approximately 180 degrees from an adjacent slot of the first plurality of slots. |
| US08995147B2 |
Connection assembly and electronic device
A connection assembly includes a connection member and a switch. The connection member includes a serial attached small computer system interface (SAS) connector electronically connected to the switch. When the switch is electronically connect to the motherboard, the switch transmits signals from the motherboard to a hard disk drive backplane via the SAS connector. When the switch is electronically connect to the hard disk drive backplane, the switch transmits signals from the hard disk drive backplane to the motherboard via the SAS connector. |
| US08995143B2 |
Pivotal assembly applied to board
A pivotal assembly applied to a board includes a first board, a first pivotal member, and a pivotal plate. The first pivotal member is fixed to the first board and has a first retaining structure. The pivotal plate is pivotally connected to the first pivotal member and has a first protrusion. The first protrusion is retained in the first retaining structure, so as to make the first board limitedly rotate to be perpendicular or parallel to the pivotal plate. |
| US08995141B1 |
Connector pin on springs
An electronic device includes a first component electrically coupled to a second component. The first component and the second component are coupled by the base of a spring loaded connector. |
| US08995136B2 |
Communications bladed panel systems
A fiber panel system includes a chassis and at least blades configured to mount to the chassis. Each blade is moveable relative to the chassis between a retracted (closed) position and at least one extended position. Each blade may be locked into one or more positions relative to the chassis using one or more latching arrangements. Each latching arrangement includes two flexible arms. A stop member is disposed at a distal end of each flexible arm. |
| US08995135B2 |
Electronic device and a casing used therefor
In an electronic device in which a component connecting portion is mounted inside a case (1, 2), a protective cover (5) is mounted to the case to be rotatable and covers the component connecting portion. The protective cover has elastically deformable hooks (52) facing a direction (A1) parallel to a rotation center line thereof. On the other hand, the case has hook receivers (11a) engageable with and disengageable from the hooks. The protective cover may be removable from the case or may be loosely connected thereto. |
| US08995134B2 |
Electrically-cooled power module
In one embodiment, an apparatus for cooling an electrical component in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises a power module including the electrical component for converting energy. The power module includes a first printed circuit board (PCB) including a first ceramic substrate for receiving the electrical component. The power module further includes a plurality of thermoelectric cells being coupled to the first PCB for discharging heat away from the electrical component. The power module further includes a second PCB including a second ceramic substrate being coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric cells, the first ceramic substrate and the second ceramic substrate for electrically isolating the electrical component from the first PCB and the second PCB and for providing thermal conductance from the electrical component through the plurality of thermoelectric cells. |
| US08995131B2 |
Heat transfer system for aircraft structures
A heat transfer system is provided by the present disclosure that includes, in one form, a structural member having an upper skin, a lower skin, and a foam core disposed between the upper skin and the lower skin. At least one heat conducting array extends through the foam core and between the upper skin and the lower skin, the heat conducting array defining at least one upper cap, at least one lower cap, and a wall portion extending between the upper cap and the lower cap, the upper cap being disposed proximate a heat source. A heat conducting spreader is disposed between the lower cap of the heat conducting array and the lower skin of the structural member. |
| US08995128B2 |
Power conversion apparatus
A power conversion apparatus according to an embodiment includes a case that can be provided on a mounting wall surface and places therein an electric reactor and a power conversion board for performing power conversion between a predetermined power generator and a commercial electric power system. The case is sectioned into a central area and first and second side areas that sandwich the central area therebetween. The electric reactor is arranged in the central area. |
| US08995115B2 |
Portable computing device
A portable computing device includes at least a base portion of a lightweight material that includes at least a wedge shaped top case having a trough formed at an interfacing edge thereof. The trough includes a raised portion having a first contact surface and a receiving area, and a bottom case coupled to the top case to form a complete housing for at least a portion of the portable computing device for enclosing at least a plurality of operational components and a plurality of structural components. The portable computing device also includes at least a lid portion pivotally connected to the base portion by a hinge assembly. In the described embodiments, the lid portion has a display in communication with one or more of the plurality of components in the base portion by way of or more electrical conductors that electrically connect the base portion to the lid portion. |
| US08995110B2 |
Laminated ceramic capacitor
A laminated ceramic capacitor includes multiple dielectric layers, internal electrodes having Cu as the primary component and embedded between the dielectric layers, and external electrodes. The dielectric layers contain a primary component comprised of a CaZrO3 compound and auxiliary components that include Mn, B, Si, and Li wherein a primary phase comprised of the primary component, segregation phases containing Ca and at least one of the auxiliary components, and secondary phases containing at last Ca and Zr are formed. The ratio of Ca to Zr in the secondary phases is smaller than the ratio of Ca to Zr in the primary phase, and the number of secondary phases with a diameter of 100 nm or greater in a cross section of the dielectric layers averages 30 or less per 10 square μm. |
| US08995108B2 |
Coupling structure for airframe components
Provided is a coupling structure for airframe components that is capable of ensuring sufficient lightning protection capability. A conductive pattern part 40 made of a conductive material is formed around each fastener member 24 between wing surface panels 21A and 21B. The conductive pattern part 40 is formed, for example, around each of holes 21c and 21d on the plane on which the wing surface panel 21A and the wing surface panel 21B abut against each other. Then, the conductive pattern part 40 is pushed against both the wing surface panel 21A and the wing surface panel 21B by the fastening power of the fastener members 24, whereby electrical conduction between the wing surface panel 21A and the wing surface panel 21B can be achieved. |
| US08995102B2 |
Display and electrostatic discharge protection apparatus
A display and an electrostatic discharge protection apparatus are disclosed, wherein the display includes a display module, a flex flat cable, a motherboard, and an electrostatic discharge protection apparatus. The flex flat cable is electrically connected with the display module and the motherboard; the electrostatic discharge protection apparatus is disposed between the flex flat cable and the display module. The electrostatic discharge protection apparatus has an isolation board and at least one isolation pad, the isolation board includes a first surface and a second surface, and at least one part of the first surface is attached to the flex flat cable; the isolation pad comprises a first isolation surface, and the first isolation surface is combined with the second surface. |
| US08995097B2 |
High voltage DC breaker apparatus
A high voltage DC breaker apparatus configured to interrupt a fault current occurring in a high voltage DC conductor comprises a mechanical interrupter, at least one semiconductor device connected in series with the interrupter, an arrester connected in parallel with the semiconductor device and an LC-circuit connected in parallel with the series connection of the semiconductor device and the interrupter. A control unit is configured to, upon detection of a fault current, control switching of the semiconductor device at a frequency adapted to the values of an inductance and a capacitance of the LC-circuit for charging the capacitance by the fault current while making the current through the interrupter oscillating with an increasing amplitude and the interrupter to open for having the mechanical contacts thereof separated when current zero-crossing is reached for obtaining interruption of the fault current through the interrupter. |
| US08995090B2 |
Wiring circuit flexible substrate including a terminal section and a connecting section
A wiring circuit substrate, comprising: a metal support layer; an insulating layer formed on the metal support layer; a conductive layer for wiring formed on the insulating layer; and an opening formed so as to open at a same location in the insulating layer and the conductive layer for wiring, wherein the metal support layer includes: a support section that supports the insulating layer and the conductive layer for wiring, and a terminal section that extends from one edge side to the other edge side of the opening, the terminal section being separated from the support section; and the conductive layer for wiring includes a wiring that is connected to the terminal section by a connecting section. |
| US08995088B1 |
Heat sink for a spin torque oscillator (STO) in microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR)
In accordance with one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main pole configured to emit a recording magnetic field for affecting a magnetic medium, a spin torque oscillator (STO) device in electrical communication with and positioned above the main pole in a track direction, the STO device being configured to generate a high-frequency magnetic field which is superimposed with the recording magnetic field in order to record data to the magnetic medium when current flows to the STO device, and a heat sink positioned near the STO device, the heat sink being configured to reduce a temperature of the STO device when current flows to the STO device. In another embodiment, a method includes forming a heat sink behind a STO device in an element height direction perpendicular to a media facing surface, and/or on both sides of the STO device in a cross-track direction at the media facing surface. |
| US08995087B1 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording write head having a wrap around shield
A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is disclosed. The PMR head includes a perpendicular magnetic recording pole having at least one side, a bottom and a top wider than the bottom. The PMR head also includes at least one side gap, at least one side shield, a to gap on the PMR pole and a top shield. The side gap(s) encapsulate the side(s) of the PMR pole, has at least one width and is between the PMR pole and the side shield(s). The to gap has a thickness such that the ratio of the width(s) to the thickness is greater than one. A portion of the top gap is between at least part of the top shield and the side shield(s). |
| US08995084B2 |
Disk drive device with hub and wiring member with increased thinness
The disk drive device includes a base member with a first upper surface and a second lower surface, a hub, a bearing unit arranged on the base member that rotatably supports the hub, a spindle drive unit that drives the hub to rotate, and a wiring member arranged on the second surface of the base member. The spindle drive unit includes a stator core having a salient pole with coil wound around, and a magnet opposed thereto. The base member includes a wire hole through which a wire is placed, with a first opening on the first surface and a second opening on the second surface. A concaved area on the second surface includes a lower slope, axially between the concaved area and the second opening on which a wiring member is arranged. The wire is connected to the wiring member, radially outside of an outer diameter of the magnet. |
| US08995074B1 |
Read channel optimization using evolutionary algorithms
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to the use of evolutionary algorithms for tuning the performance of read channels. Instructions encoded on a medium are performed by processor cause a storage device to perform operations including obtaining values corresponding to operating parameters of a read channel of the storage device, generating one or more output parameters corresponding to use of the values with the read channel, selecting a proper subset of the values based on the one or more output parameters and a cost function, creating a new generation of the values corresponding to the operating parameters based on the proper subset and repeating the generating and the selecting using the new generation of the values until a target is achieved, and outputting two or more of the values of the proper subset of a last generation, when the target is achieved to configure the read channel. |
| US08995070B2 |
Garbage collection based on functional block size
An execution environment for functional code may treat application segments as individual programs for memory management. A larger program of application may be segmented into functional blocks that receive an input and return a value, but operate without changing state of other memory objects. The program segments may have memory pages allocated to the segments by the operating system as other full programs, and may deallocate memory pages when the segments finish operating. Functional programming languages and imperative programming languages may define program segments explicitly or implicitly, and the program segments may be identified at compile time or runtime. |
| US08995062B2 |
Projection lens for projection display systems
Projection lens having improved properties such as a high throughput are described. In one embodiment, a projection lens is described comprising in sequential order from a screen side a first lens group, a second lens group of positive refractive power, and a third lens group of positive refractive power. At least one lens group has an aspheric surface. The ratio of the focal length of the projection lens (F) to the focal length of each of the lens groups (F1, F2, and F3) is such that |F1/F|>5, 0.5<|F2/F|<0.9, and 1 |
| US08995054B2 |
Apparatus for generating pulse train with adjustable time interval
An apparatus for generating a pulse train with an adjustable time interval is provided. The apparatus, being an annular optical cavity structure, includes a seed source receiving end, a pump source receiving end, an optical coupler, an optical combiner, a gain fiber, an optical path time regulator and a beam splitter. Thus, the apparatus is capable of generating a pulse train with an adjustable time interval to increase material processing quality and speed. |
| US08995051B2 |
Glass large-core optical fibers
Embodiments of optical fiber may include cladding features that include a material (e.g., fluorine-doped silica glass) that may produce a very low relative refractive index difference with respect to cladding material in which the cladding features are disposed. This relative refractive index difference may be characterized by (n1−n2)/n1, where n1 is the index of refraction of the cladding material in which the cladding features are included, and n2 is the index of refraction of the cladding features. In certain embodiments, the relative refractive index difference may be less than about 4.5×10−3. In various embodiments, the configuration of the cladding features including, for example, the size and spacing of the cladding features, can be selected to provide for confinement of the fundamental mode yet leakage for the second mode and higher modes, which may provide mode filtering, single mode propagation, and/or low bend loss. |
| US08995050B2 |
Fiber stretcher module for use in the 1550 nm wavelength range
Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to embodiments of the present invention relate to a fiber stretchers module for use in the 1550 nm wavelength range. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fiber stretcher module for use in the 1550 nm wavelength range comprises a first fiber comprising a relative dispersion curve value of greater than about 0.0002 nm−2 and a dispersion value of less than about −60 ps/(nm·km) at about 1550 nm, and a second fiber comprising a relative dispersion curve value of about zero and a relative dispersion slope value of about 0.003 nm−1 at about 1550 nm, wherein the fiber stretcher module comprises a collective relative dispersion slope of about 0.0413 nm−1 and a relative dispersion curve of about 0.00286 nm−2 at 1550 nm. |
| US08995048B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling gain profile of an optical amplifier
A change in loading conditions of fiber amplifiers in an optical communications network causes rapid variations in the gain profile of the amplifiers due to spectral hole burning and stimulated Raman scattering. An apparatus for reducing such gain profile variations is described which monitors optical signal perturbations and reacts by adjusting pump powers of the amplifiers and, or fast variable optical attenuator according to a pre-determined function stored in the form of constants in controller's memory. The optical signal is monitored as total power, and the power of light after passing through one or more optical filters. The light detection is relatively fast, whereby the gain profile variations are compensated by fast controlled variable optical attenuator and pump power adjustment upon the change in loading conditions. |
| US08995046B2 |
Suspended particle device, light control device using the same, and driving method
A suspended particle device includes a first substrate; a second substrate; a first electrode that can be controlled for a potential; a second electrode that can be controlled for a potential different from that of the first electrode; an electrified body; and a liquid suspension containing charged light control particles and a dispersion medium, in which the first electrode, the second electrode and the electrified body are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the liquid suspension is sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the light control particles are capable of being accumulated to a periphery of the electrified body. Thus, it is possible to ensure uniformity of transmission light as well as to hold a light transmittance state in a state where the power supply is stopped. |
| US08995041B2 |
Ternary nickel oxide materials for electrochromic devices
Compounds having the formula LiaEC1M1bM2cOx, wherein “a” ranges from about 0.5 to about 3; b+c ranges from about 0.1 to about 1; c/(b+c) ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.9; and wherein x is about 0.1 to about 50, are disclosed. Methods of making these compounds as well as their use in thin film materials and electrochromic devices are also disclosed. |
| US08995040B2 |
Lighting element in the exterior mirror
An exterior mirror assembly with an optical display is suggested, whereby a light opening (2) is provided on the exterior mirror assembly for the passage of light of a warning display. The optical display comprieses of a display housing (4), into which an active illuminated display element (10) is mounted as a light source. |
| US08995037B2 |
Holographic display apparatus capable of steering view window
Holographic display apparatuses are provided. The holographic display apparatus may include a light source module generating coherent light, at least two input optical systems converging the light generated from the light source module on at least two converging points, an output optical system mixing the lights provided from the at least two input optical systems to provide a hologram image, and a spatial light modulating module modulating the light. |
| US08995035B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus, and color separation table generating method optimizing color gamut for each printing mode
A color gamut for each printing mode is maximally used, a color separation table is used, which includes an area (color reproduction maintaining area) for which an image having a color difference of a predetermined value or less between printing modes in a case where the same input value is input is output and an area (area other than the color reproduction maintaining area) for which an image having a color difference of a predetermined value or more between the printing modes in a case where the same input value is input is output. From this, a color matching table can be shared between the printing modes. |
| US08995034B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of color revising
An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit to store a color conversion table, a user interface unit to receive a color revision initiation command, an image forming unit to print a color chart generated based on the color conversion table if the color revision initiation command is received, the color chart having a plurality of CMYK mixed colors having at least one of brightness and chroma changed, a scan unit to scan the printed color chart, and a change unit to revise the color conversion table using the scanned color chart. |
| US08995032B2 |
Producing an image and optical file from a visible first digital image and from a visible second digital image of a machine-readable optical code which encodes information associated with or derived from the first digital image
A method of making a digital image file from a visible first digital image and from a visible second digital image of a machine-readable optical code, wherein the machine-readable optical code encodes information associated with or derived from the first digital image includes using a scanner to scan the visible first digital image and using the scanner to scan the visible second digital image and using a processor to make the digital image file by storing in a memory the scanned first digital image in an image portion and storing the scanned second digital image in retrievable association with the first digital image in an information portion. |
| US08995029B2 |
Ultrashort laser micro-texture printing
Systems and methods for providing laser texturing of solid substrates are disclosed. The texturing may be used to provide grayscale images obtainable from substrates, which may include steel, aluminum, glass, and silicon. In some embodiments, images may be obtainable from the substrate by modifying the reflective, diffractive, and/or absorptive features of the substrate or the substrate surface by forming random, periodic, and/or semi-periodic micro-structure features on the substrate (or substrate surface) by an ultrafast laser pulse train. The ultrafast pulse train may be modulated in order to vary, for example, optical exposure time, pulse train intensity, laser polarization, laser wavelength, or a combination of the aforementioned. The ultrafast pulse train and the substrate may be scanned with respect to each other to provide different optical energies to different regions of the substrate (or substrate surface). In some embodiments, the image is provided by making one or more passes of the ultrafast laser pulse train relative to the substrate. |
| US08995023B2 |
Amplification modulation screening method and apparatus
An amplitude modulation screening method is provided. The method comprises a step of utilizing regular hexagon screen dots to form a threshold matrix for amplitude screening. In embodiments of the present application, an amplitude modulation screening apparatus is also provided. The apparatus may comprise a matrix module configured to constitute a threshold matrix for amplitude screening using regular hexagon screen dots. Due to the threshold matrix formed with regular hexagon screen dots, the method and apparatus of the present application resolve the problem of the screen dots in the prior art, and improve the printing quality. |
| US08995019B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes an extracting unit extracting custom color identification data that identifies each of one or more custom colors different from multiple predetermined basic colors from drawing data for every page; a separation data generating unit generating separation data that indicates an object to be drawn for each color in accordance with the drawing data for one page without waiting for the completion of the extraction of the custom color identification data for the pages other than the one page; a raster data generating unit generating raster data concerning each color in accordance with the separation data; an acquiring unit acquiring mixing ratio data; and a combining unit combining the raster data concerning the custom color with the respective pieces of raster data concerning the basic colors in accordance with the mixing ratio data. |
| US08995016B2 |
Printing device configured to detect a configuration of data control units detachably connected thereto and control method thereof
In a printer controller, an obtaining unit automatically obtains the configuration of each station. Based on the obtaining result of the obtaining unit, a table creating unit creates a table of setting information for each data control unit as well as creates a table of setting information for an image output control unit; and sends the table of the setting information for the data control unit to the data control units and sends the table of the settings information for the image output control unit to the image output control unit. |
| US08995012B2 |
System for mobile image capture and processing of financial documents
An automated document processing system, particularly for mobile image capture and processing of financial documents to enhance images captured on a mobile device with camera capabilities for data extraction. The systems comprise a mobile device that includes a capture device configured to capture color images of documents, and that has a processor for performing certain operations, such as color reduction, and a transmitter for sending an image from the mobile device to a server. The server is configured to optimize and enhance the image, and to apply an improved binarization algorithm using a window within a relevant document field and/or a threshold for the document field. Orientation correction may also be performed at the server by reading the MICR line on a check and comparing a MICR confidence to a threshold. A check image may also be size corrected using features of the MICR line and expected document dimensions. |
| US08995011B2 |
Calibration performed in image formation apparatus to maintain image quality
An image formation apparatus performs calibration to maintain image quality. An adding unit performs addition processing to add an arbitrary type of printing medium different from a printing medium designated in advance as a printing medium usable for the calibration. A storage unit stores characteristic information indicating characteristics of each of a plurality of arbitrary types of printing media added by the adding unit. A determination unit determines an arbitrary type of printing medium relatively approximate to the characteristics of the printing medium designated in advance by comparing the characteristic information of each of the plurality of arbitrary types of printing media with the characteristics of the printing medium designated in advance. A calibration performing unit performs the calibration using the printing medium determined by the determination unit. |
| US08995010B2 |
Digital printer
A digital printer is equipped with a built-in color measurement device in the form of a colorimeter or spectral photometer, as well as with color management support. The built-in color measurement device is used for control and optimization of the print output, especially for the simplification, optimization and automation of the work processes and for the verification of the output results. |
| US08995004B2 |
Control apparatus of non-volatile memory and image forming apparatus
An apparatus has an external memory control apparatus for controlling rewriting of a memory. The external memory control apparatus allows the memory to store the number of formed monochromatic images and changes a rewriting frequency of the memory according to the number of formed monochromatic images. |
| US08995003B2 |
Method and system for displaying a menu which has an icon and additional information corresponding to stored video data, wherein the icon can selectively display a still image and a video image of the video data with the additional information
A menu displaying system and method having an icon for editing image data in an AV (Audio and Video) device, the AV device having a recording medium capable of storing image data and audio data, and which is capable of reproducing image data and audio data. The method comprises steps for displaying icons and additional information corresponding to the image data stored at the recording medium, selecting one of the icons displayed, and reproducing image data corresponding to the selected icon. A corresponding program stored at the AV device having a recording media such as a hard disc drive, is then reproduced upon a menu screen such that image data stored at the AV device can be easily observed. |
| US08994999B2 |
Image forming apparatus that uses appropriate print control device to complete printing at high speed
An image forming apparatus has a print engine, a job issuing device, two print control devices that control the print engine, and a job assignment device that assigns the print job to one of the two print control devices that is appropriate for the print job. Each print control device notifies the print engine of print information corresponding to the print job and manages already-indicated latest information, which is the latest print information. The print information is different from the already-indicated latest information. When making a switchover between the two print control devices to select a switched-to print control device, which is a print control device to which to assign the print job, the job assignment device causes the switched-to print control device to delete the already-indicated latest information managed by the switched-to print control device. |
| US08994994B2 |
Controller and control method
A controller for use in a printing apparatus ejecting a metallic ink is configured to, on a user interface screen, display a reception portion that receives an item desired by a user with respect to a metallic texture, and a display portion that displays a printing-medium type suitable for the item. |
| US08994985B2 |
Systems and methods for updating printing device capabilities
Systems and methods that generate initial printing device capabilities data including one or more initial printing device capabilities based on the initial print ticket markup language data, receive second print ticket markup language data, generate updated printing device capabilities data including one or more updated printing device capabilities based on the second print ticket markup language data, and generate one or more changed printing device capabilities markup language data based on the initial printing device capabilities data and the updated printing device capabilities data, wherein the one or more changed printing device capabilities markup language data includes one or more changed printing device capabilities that indicate differences between the one or more initial printing device capabilities and the one or more updated printing device capabilities. |
| US08994984B2 |
Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image processing method
An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of output circuits that output a plurality of pieces of information to an external device. Each of the output circuits includes a synchronization control unit that synchronizes an operation clock of the output circuit with an operation clock of a separate output circuit; an information receiving unit that receives a piece of information that is different from a piece of information that is received by the separate output circuit; and an output control unit that outputs the received piece of information to the external device in accordance with the synchronized operation clock. |
| US08994983B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing system, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus connected to a network in which a plurality of devices having a transmission request reception function for transmitting a transmission-requested image to a designated destination is installed and including an address book used for registering destination data indicating the designated destination includes an address registration unit configured to register, in the address book, transmission request destination data designating one of the plurality of devices and the destination data in association with each other, an address designation unit configured to designate the destination data registered by the address registration unit, an image designation unit configured to designate an image to be transmitted, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the image designated by the image designation unit and the destination data designated by the address designation unit to the device designated by the transmission request destination data associated with the destination data. |
| US08994977B2 |
Image transmission apparatus and method of controlling image transmission apparatus
An image transmission apparatus includes a destination setting unit configured to set a transmission destination of image data, a transmission unit configured to transmit the image data to the destination set by the destination setting unit, an authentication unit configured to perform processing for authentication required for the transmission unit to transmit the image data to the destination set by the destination setting unit, a storage unit configured to store a destination table in which authentication information required for the authentication unit to perform the processing for authentication is registered in such a manner that the authentication information is associated with the destination, a selection unit configured to select one of a first authentication mode, in which the authentication unit performs the processing for authentication using the authentication information stored in the storage unit when the transmission unit transmits the image data to the destination set by the destination setting unit, and a second authentication mode, in which the authentication unit performs the processing for authentication using authentication information entered by a user when the transmission unit transmits the image data to the destination set by the destination setting unit, and a limitation unit configured to limit a number of destinations to which the transmission unit transmits the image data when the selection unit selects the second authentication mode. |
| US08994975B2 |
Information processing apparatus, output system and non-transitory computer readable information recording medium
An information processing apparatus includes an analysis part that analyzes a set of output data that has been input to obtain an attribute value of an output attribute; a determination part that determines whether to generate a preview image of the set of output data, based on the attribute value of the output attribute of the set of output data and history information that associates attribute values of the output attribute of sets of output data with information concerning preview displays of the sets of output data; and a preview image generation part that generates, based on the determination result of the determination part to generate the preview image of the set of output data, the preview image of the set of output data, and stores the generated preview image in a storage part. |
| US08994968B2 |
Image forming apparatus which is capable of displaying real size preview, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus that is capable of displaying a real size preview and reduces user's time and effort required for forming the image on the recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes a printing unit which forms an image on a recording medium, and a user interface for displaying information to a user. A real size preview image is displayed on the user interface. A display magnification slider is used for enabling a user to change a display magnification of the image displayed on the user interface. A controller unit selects a size of the recording medium on which the image is to be formed, based on the display size changed by the user. A printing unit forms the image on the recording medium having the selected size. |
| US08994967B1 |
Scanner web service for web application and scanner driver communication
A computer system with a scanner web service set up as a local host is provided. An HTTP message is received from a client-side web application code client-side running in a web browser on the computer system by the scanner web service. A message based on the received HTTP message is sent to a scanner driver that is in communication with a scanner connected to or integrated with the computer system. Scanned image information is received from the scanner driver, and is provided to the client-side web application code running the web browser. |
| US08994966B2 |
Method of changing position of menu in image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus configured to change position of menu
A method of changing a position of a menu in an image forming apparatus includes displaying a screen of a first mode user interface having menus for a use of a function of the apparatus, selecting any one menu of the first mode user interface, shifting the selected menu to a second mode user interface, and deleting the selected menu from the screen of the first mode user interface, adding and displaying the selected menu to a screen of the second mode user interface When the first mode is a user mode, the second mode is a manger mode, and when the first mode is the administrator mode, the second mode is a user mode. |
| US08994965B2 |
Image forming apparatus and operation controlling method of the same
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to improve the maneuverability and usability of the apparatus concerned. The apparatus includes: a display section to display a screen thereon; a controlling section to form a synthesized image in which position detecting symbols are synthesized with an image onto which the screen displayed on the display section is to be arranged; a storage section to store a table in which the keys and corresponding positions of the keys, arranged on the paper sheet, are correlated with each other, respectively; and a printing section to print the synthesized image onto the paper sheet. When acquiring positional information, the controlling section refers to the table so as to specify a specific key correlated with the positional information, and establishes a status of the image forming apparatus, being same as that established by designating the specific key from the screen. |
| US08994959B2 |
Device and method for printing containers and capturing the rotary position of at least one rotary device provided for receiving the containers
The invention relates to a device for capturing the rotary position (D) of at least one rotary device (4) provided for receiving a container (3) by means of at least one sensor unit (5), wherein the rotary device (4) is provided for driving the container (3) about a rotary axis (DA), and the at least one sensor unit (5) is advantageously designed for non-contact capturing of the rotary position (D) of the rotary device (4) relative to the rotary axis (DA). |
| US08994956B2 |
Optical device for observing millimetric or submillimetric structural details of an object with specular behaviour
A device for observation, by reflection, of the structural details of an object (2) that exhibits a behavior that is at least partially specular, located in an exposure area, which includes: at least one radiation source with an emission surface (6) possessing at least two distinct zones (26, 27) emitting streams of radiation, where at least one of the characteristics differs from one zone to the next; an optical projection system that is located in line with the radiation source in relation to the exposure zone, in the path of the radiation; an optical exposure system (18) designed to optically link the entry aperture (14) of the optical projection system and the emission surface (6); a projection surface (10) that is linked optically with the object in the exposure zone, and whose received radiation depends on the deflection on the object (2). |
| US08994950B2 |
Methods and apparatus for sensing a substrate in a chamber
The present invention provides methods, apparatus, and systems of sensing a substrate in a chamber. The invention includes emitting radiation of at least two different wavelengths; directing the emitted radiation of a first wavelength through a view port of a chamber at an interior of the chamber; directing the emitted radiation of a second wavelength through the view port of the chamber at a location of a hole in a blade of a substrate carrier; detecting any of the emitted radiation reflected by the blade, the interior of the chamber, or a substrate on the blade; and determining if a substrate is present on the blade based on the reflected radiation detected. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed. |
| US08994947B2 |
Diagnostic method for high sensitivity detection of component concentrations in human gas emissions
A method for detecting component concentrations in human gas emissions such as breath and gas emitted from skin. A gas sample containing a specified component is collected into a gas cell using a pump and a series of valves to draw the gas sample into the cell and control the gas pressure within the cell. A tunable optical radiation beam is passed through the gas cell and the amount of energy absorbed by the specified component may be measured indirectly by taking the difference between the incident and emerging beam energy or directly by optoacoustic methods. Concentrations of the specified component as small as 0.1 ppB may be determined. Additionally, the tunable optical radiation beam may be multiplexed for use with a plurality of systems utilizing the beam for medical purposes. |
| US08994944B2 |
Methods and scatterometers, lithographic systems, and lithographic processing cells
In a method of determining the focus of a lithographic apparatus used in a lithographic process on a substrate, the lithographic process is used to form a structure on the substrate, the structure having at least one feature which has an asymmetry in the printed profile which varies as a function of the focus of the lithographic apparatus on the substrate. A first image of the periodic structure is formed and detected while illuminating the structure with a first beam of radiation. The first image is formed using a first part of non-zero order diffracted radiation. A second image of the periodic structure is formed and detected while illuminating the structure with a second beam of radiation. The second image is formed using a second part of the non-zero order diffracted radiation which is symmetrically opposite to the first part in a diffraction spectrum. The ratio of the intensities of the measured first and second portions of the spectra is determined and used to determine the asymmetry in the profile of the periodic structure and/or to provide an indication of the focus on the substrate. In the same instrument, an intensity variation across the detected portion is determined as a measure of process-induced variation across the structure. A region of the structure with unwanted process variation can be identified and excluded from a measurement of the structure. |
| US08994943B2 |
Selectivity by polarization
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide selectivity for imaging devices and systems. Polarization may be applied to emitted light radiation and/or received light radiation to select a desired imaging result. Using polarization, an imaging device or system can pass desired light radiation having desired information and reject unwanted or stray light radiation. |
| US08994941B2 |
Optical system, apparatus and method for performing flow cytometry
An optical system includes a radiation source, a radiation-illuminating device, and a radiation-collecting device. The radiation source is configured to generate radiation. The radiation-illuminating device is optically coupled to the radiation source and configured to direct and focus the radiation obliquely with respect to an optical axis thereof onto a sample. The radiation-collecting device is configured to collect back-scattered radiation scattered from the sample and spatially separated from noise radiation. Associated apparatus and method are also described. |
| US08994939B2 |
Imaging spectrometer
Optical radiation from a sample is received by the slit and it is passed through an aperture in a reflective plane of a folding mirror towards a curved reflective surface of a collimating mirror. The slit and the curved reflective surface have a common optical axis. The reflective plane and the curved reflective surface face each other. The optical radiation passed through the folding mirror is collimated by the curved reflective surface. The collimated optical radiation is directed to the reflective plane of the folding mirror by the curved reflective surface. The collimated optical radiation is reflected in a direction other than the common optical axis of the slit and the curved reflective surface by the reflective plane. |
| US08994938B2 |
Raman spectroscopy using diffractive MEMS
A Raman spectrometer including a laser excitation source, edge filters, and detection optics that direct light into a spectrograph. A spectrograph containing a dispersive element and optics that directs various wavelengths of light onto a segmented diffractive MEMS light modulator array. The MEMS array, depending on actuation state, directs light either to or away from a single detector. Control electronics drive the MEMS light modulator for either sequential wavelength measurement or multiplexed wavelength measurement (Hadamard for example). |
| US08994934B1 |
System and method for eye safe detection of unknown targets
The present disclosure provides for a system and method for detecting and identifying unknown targets. At least one region of interest comprising an unknown target in a sample scene may be targeted using SWIR spectroscopic techniques. A region of interest may be surveyed to thereby determine whether or not a human is present. This surveying may be achieved my assessing LWIR data, data acquired from motion sensors, and combinations thereof. If no human is present in a region of interest, the region may be interrogated using Raman spectroscopic techniques to thereby obtain a Raman data set representative of the region of interest. This Raman data set may be assessed to thereby identify said unknown target. This assessment may be achieved by comparing the Raman data set to a reference data sets in a reference database, where each reference data set is associated with a known target. |
| US08994933B2 |
Apparatus and method for characterizing a replica tape
An apparatus and method are provided for characterizing a replica tape which has been embossed, compressed or cast on a surface of a material to be measured to replicate that surface. The replica tape is secured between first and second holding components such that a compressible surface of the replica tape is secured against the first holding component. A light source transmits light through the second holding component, the replica tape and the first holding component. An image sensor measures intensity of the light respectively transmitted through at least two measurement points of the compressible surface of the replica tape. A processing unit converts the measured light intensity transmitted through the at least two measurement points into at least two data values each respectively relating to a measurement statistic of the replica tape at a corresponding one of the at least two measurement points, respectively. |
| US08994932B2 |
Multimodal platform for nonlinear optical microscopy and microspectroscopy
A method for providing images using a multimodal nonlinear optical microscope is disclosed. The method includes providing a foundation femtosecond laser beam, generating a first femtosecond laser beam and a second femtosecond laser beam corresponding to the foundation femtosecond laser beam, combining the first femtosecond laser beam and the foundation femtosecond laser beam to generate a first combination femtosecond laser beam, and generating a coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) signal based on the first combination femtosecond laser beam. A multimodal nonlinear optical microscopy platform is also disclosed. |
| US08994928B2 |
Laser radar device
A laser radar device mounted on a vehicle includes a first laser emission part configured to generate a measuring laser beam by using a laser beam emitted from a laser source and to illuminate a predetermined area in a front traveling direction and a second laser emission part configured to generate a measuring laser beam by using the laser beam emitted from the laser source. A beam spread angle, viewed from a side of the vehicle, of the measuring laser beam generated by the second laser emission part is larger than a beam spread angle, viewed from a side of the vehicle, of the measuring laser beam generated by the first laser emission part. |
| US08994926B2 |
Optical proximity sensors using echo cancellation techniques to detect one or more objects
An optical sensor includes a driver, light detector and echo canceller. The driver is adapted to selectively drive a light source. The light detector is adapted to produce a detection signal indicative of an intensity of light detected by the light detector. The echo canceller is adapted to produce an echo cancellation signal that is combined with the detection signal produced by the light detector to produce an echo cancelled detection signal having a predetermined target magnitude (e.g., zero). The echo canceller includes a coefficient generator that is adapted to produce echo cancellation coefficients indicative of distance(s) to one or more objects, if any, within the sense region of the optical sensor. The optical sensor can also include a proximity detector adapted to detect distance(s) to one or more objects within the sense region of the optical sensor based on the echo cancellation coefficients generated by the coefficient generator. |
| US08994923B2 |
Movable body apparatus, exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
In measurement of a positional information in the XY plane of a fine movement stage held by a coarse movement stage, an encoder system is used including a head which is placed facing a grating placed on a surface substantially parallel to the XY plane of the fine movement stage and irradiates a measurement beam on the grating. Then, the fine movement stage is driven individually or integrally with the coarse movement stage by a drive system, based on the positional information measured by the encoder system. In this case, the head of the encoder system can be placed in proximity to the fine movement stage (the grating), which allows a highly precise measurement of the positional information of the fine movement stage by the encoder system. |
| US08994917B2 |
Temperature stabilization system to stabilize a temperature of an article
An article support is constructed to support an article. The article support includes a back fill structure constructed to supply and extract a thermal buffering fluid to and from the article support. The back fill structure is connected to an extraction duct that is constructed and arranged to extract at least a gas phase of the thermal buffering fluid from the back fill structure. The back fill structure is connected to a supply duct, constructed and arranged to supply a liquid phase of the thermal buffering fluid to the back fill structure. The back fill structure is arranged to have the thermal buffering fluid brought in a combined liquid and gas phase to thermally connect with the article. |
| US08994913B2 |
Display panel and method of manufacturing the same
A display panel includes a substrate, an electro-optical layer and a supporting layer. The substrate includes a display area and a peripheral area surrounding the display area. A thin-film transistor (TFT) part is formed in the display area. The electro-optical layer is disposed in the display area of the substrate. The supporting layer is disposed on the electro-optical layer and faces both the display area and the peripheral area, openings being formed through the supporting layer in the peripheral area. Accordingly, the supporting layer may prevent the substrate from sagging and may protect the gate circuit part. |
| US08994906B2 |
Display with multilayer and embedded signal lines
A display may have a thin-film-transistor layer with a substrate layer. A layer of dielectric may be formed on the substrate layer and may have an upper surface and a lower surface. The thin-film-transistor layer may include an array of display pixels. Data lines and gate lines may provide signals to the display pixels. Gate driver circuitry in an inactive peripheral portion of the display may include a gate driver circuit for each gate line. The gate driver circuits may include thin-film transistors that are formed on the upper surface of the layer of dielectric. Signal lines such as a gate low line, a gate routing line coupled between the gate driver circuits, and a common electrode line may be formed from two or more layers of metal to reduce their widths or may be embedded within the dielectric layer between the upper and lower surfaces under the thin-film transistors. |
| US08994903B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a display panel having a plurality of pixels. The display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate opposing each other. A liquid crystal layer is positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate. A pixel electrode is positioned on the first substrate and positioned in one pixel of the plurality of pixels. An opposing electrode faces the pixel electrode with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. At least one of the pixel electrode and the opposing electrode includes a liquid crystal inclination direction determining member. A transmission region of the pixel includes a first region and a second region that have different cell gaps of the liquid crystal layer from each other and extension directions of the liquid crystal inclination direction determining member in the first region and the second region are different from each other. |
| US08994902B2 |
Transparent display device and manufacturing method thereof
A display device includes; a first substrate, a second substrate disposed substantially opposite to the first substrate, a third substrate disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a color display layer disposed between the first substrate and the third substrate, the color display layer comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal, a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to the color display layer, a color conversion layer disposed between the third substrate and the second substrate, and a third electrode and a fourth electrode electrically connected to the color conversion layer. |
| US08994899B2 |
Polarizing plate comprising a polyethylene terephthalate film having an in-plane phase difference and a coating layer having a haze value and liquid crystal display provided with the same
A polarizing plate includes a polarizer, a thin film on the polarizer, the thin film having an in-plane phase difference (Ro) of about 500 nm to about 3000 nm, and a coating layer disposed on one side of the thin film and having a haze value of about 15% to about 35%. |
| US08994898B2 |
COF base tape and manufacturing method thereof and liquid crystal display module comprising same
The present invention provides a COF base tape. The COF base tape includes: a connected lead being configured to connect with a connected terminal of a liquid crystal glass; an alignment mark being set on the two sides of the connected lead being configured to align with a mark of the connected terminal, an area of the alignment mark thereof being light transparency. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the COF base tape and liquid crystal display module. The embodiment of the invention of a COF base tape and manufacturing method thereof and liquid crystal display module including the same enhances the strength of the COF base tape edge and raises the accurate alignment and operationally of the COF base tap connected with liquid glass. The present invention can save the material and reduce the cost of the art. |
| US08994897B2 |
Reflective liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
There is provided a reflective liquid crystal display device including a first liquid crystal panel containing a first liquid crystal material that reflects light of a first color, a second liquid crystal panel containing a second liquid crystal material that reflects light of a second color and a third liquid crystal material that reflects light of a third color, the second and third liquid crystal materials positioned to be distinct from each other, and a light absorption layer that is bonded to a lower surface of the second liquid crystal panel, wherein the second liquid crystal panel is bonded to a lower surface of the first liquid crystal panel, and the first to third liquid crystal materials reflect light in a planar state and transmit light in a focal conic state. |
| US08994896B2 |
Surface light source and liquid crystal display device
A light emitting device including a lens in which light radiated from a light source with a wide angle can effectively be oriented while a directional characteristic of the light source is expanded is provided, and a surface light source including the light emitting devices and a liquid crystal display device are provided. The surface light source is configured such that the plural light emitting devices are disposed in a central portion thereof. The light emitting device radiates the light on an optical axis A and around the optical axis A. The light emitting device includes a light source and a lens that radially expands the light from the light source. The lens includes a reflection unit at a bottom surface of the lens partially. |
| US08994895B2 |
Backlight module and liquid crystal display apparatus
The present invention provides a backlight module and a liquid crystal display apparatus. The backlight module comprises a light guide plate; a base disposed at one side of the light guide plate; a light source disposed on the base; and a reflective element configured to reflect light rays which are emitted from the light source to a light-incident surface of the light guide plate, wherein the reflective element includes a reflective curved surface and a first reflective plane connected thereto. The backlight module and the liquid crystal display apparatus of the present invention can have a high coupling efficiency. |
| US08994894B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In a liquid crystal display device including a backlight unit that irradiates the entire image formation region with light from light emitting diodes disposed in a concentrated manner, in order to reduce warpage of a reflection sheet to obtain uniform illumination, provided is a liquid crystal display device (1), including: a liquid crystal panel (3); a reflection sheet (6), which is disposed on a rear surface side of the liquid crystal panel (3) and is curved so as to have a concave surface facing the liquid crystal panel (3); a light emitting diode substrate on which a plurality of light emitting diodes (14) are disposed along a horizontal direction; and a support (21) for fixing the reflection sheet (6) at a curved portion of the reflection sheet (6). |
| US08994889B2 |
Display device and method for manufacturing the same
An object is to provide a display device with excellent display characteristics, where a pixel circuit and a driver circuit provided over one substrate are formed using transistors which have different structures corresponding to characteristics of the respective circuits. The driver circuit portion includes a driver circuit transistor in which a gate electrode layer, a source electrode layer, and a drain electrode layer are formed using a metal film, and a channel layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor. The pixel portion includes a pixel transistor in which a gate electrode layer, a source electrode layer, and a drain electrode layer are formed using an oxide conductor, and a semiconductor layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor. The pixel transistor is formed using a light-transmitting material, and thus, a display device with higher aperture ratio can be manufactured. |
| US08994887B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising a second organic film over a third insulating film wherein the second organic film overlaps with a channel formation region and a second conductive film
In an active matrix type liquid crystal display device, in which functional circuits such as a shift register circuit and a buffer circuit are incorporated on the same substrate, an optimal TFT structure is provided along with the aperture ratio of a pixel matrix circuit is increased. There is a structure in which an n-channel TFT, with a third impurity region which overlaps a gate electrode, is formed in a buffer circuit, etc., and an n-channel TFT, in which a fourth impurity region which does not overlap the gate electrode, is formed in a pixel matrix circuit. A storage capacitor formed in the pixel matrix circuit is formed by a light shielding film, a dielectric film formed on the light shielding film, and a pixel electrode. Al is especially used in the light shielding film, and the dielectric film is formed anodic oxidation process, using an Al oxide film. |
| US08994886B2 |
Display device and television device
A liquid crystal display device (display device) 10 according to the present invention is provided with a display area AA that displays an image, and a non-display area NAA surrounding the display area AA. The non-display area NAA includes at least a backup wire 32 as a first wire and a source wire 24 as a second wire arranged on an upper side with respect to the backup wire 32 and intersecting with the backup wire 32. The backup wire 32 includes an intersecting portion 32CP intersecting with the source wire 24. The intersecting portion 32CP includes a crank portion 35 cranked at a side edge of the intersecting portion 32CP a second wire extending direction in which the source wire 24 extends. |
| US08994885B2 |
Pre-edging lens and method for manufacturing edged lens
An object of the present invention is to provide a pre-edging lens and a method for manufacturing an edged lens, wherein provisions are made to be able to maintain the cell gap of a liquid crystal lens structure constant while, in effect, eliminating the need to incorporate any spacers in the edged lens. More specifically, the invention provides a pre-edging lens and a method for manufacturing an edged lens, wherein the pre-edging lens includes a first transparent substrate, a second transparent substrate, a first sealing material which does not contain any spacer, a liquid crystal layer provided between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate and sealed by the first seal, and a second seal which contains a spacer and which is disposed in a region provided between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate and located outwardly of the first seal, the region being removed during edging. |
| US08994884B2 |
Broadcast receiver and electronic device
According to one embodiment, a broadcast receiver includes a housing, a circuit board, a module, a holder, and a buffer. The housing is provided with a wall. The circuit board is housed in the housing and includes a first connector. The module includes a second connector to be electrically connected to the first connector and fits to the first connector with a gap therebetween. The module is movable between a first position where the length of connected portions of the first connector and the second connector is short and a second position where the length of the connected portions is long. The holder holds the module. The buffer is provided to the holder and is bent along with the movement of the module from the first position to the second position. |
| US08994882B2 |
Control of video processing algorithms based on measured perceptual quality characteristics
Systems and methods may provide for conducting a real-time perceptual quality analysis of a video, wherein the perceptual quality analysis includes at least one of a noise measurement, a contrast measurement and a sharpness measurement. One or more strength parameters of one or more post-processing modules in a video processing pipe may be set based on the perceptual quality analysis resulting in overall video processing that adapts to the changing perceptual quality of the input. In one example, the strength parameters include at least one of a contrast parameter and a de-noising parameter. The invention results in visually enhanced video at the output of the post-processing module. |
| US08994881B2 |
Method and apparatus for simultaneously viewing multimedia content and accepting an incoming video call communication
An example method and apparatus for audio-visual communication is provided. In some examples, a method as disclosed herein may include receiving an incoming call indication comprising a conversation request from a remote party, wherein the outgoing call request is displayed in a visual communication screen area on a display; establishing a communication link with the remote party in an instance in which an answering signal has been received, the communication link enabling a multi-directional audio and visual conversation; and causing a received video of the remote party to be displayed in the visual communication screen area, wherein the display is operable to display multimedia content in a multimedia screen area simultaneously with the received video of the remote party in the visual communication screen area. |
| US08994878B2 |
Camera for vehicular applications
A camera for a vehicle includes a front housing member, a lens member, an imaging element, a circuit board and a rear housing member. The front housing member has a front housing member interior surface that has a front housing member electrically-conductive coating of electrically conductive material thereon. The rear housing member has a rear housing member interior surface that has a rear housing member electrically-conductive coating of electrically conductive material thereon. The front and rear housing members are configured to join together such that the front and rear housing member electrically-conductive coatings are electrically engaged with each other. The circuit board has a ground connector that is electrically connected to at least one of the front housing member electrically-conductive coating and the rear housing member electrically-conductive coating. The ground connector may electrically connect to ground via a wire harness that extends from the rear housing member. |
| US08994874B2 |
Image capture apparatus and control method therefor
Subject distances of a plurality of subject areas included in a captured image are computed based on a plurality of focus evaluation values indicating in-focus positions of a plurality of focus detection areas set in the captured image. Upon detection of a change in the captured image, the subject distances of the plurality of subject areas are re-computed by re-moving a focus lens. In this case, a driving range of the focus lens includes in-focus positions corresponding to previously-calculated subject distances and corresponds to the distribution of the previously-calculated subject distances. |
| US08994872B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and method for controlling the same
A shift amount between a plurality of image signals that is obtained from pixels in each of which a plurality of photoelectric conversion units are provided is computed from an amount of correlation based on a difference value between the plurality of image signals. Also, if the difference value that is used for computing the amount of correlation is not less than a predetermined upper limit, a predetermined value that is not more than the upper limit is used as the difference value. |
| US08994871B2 |
Focus controller
A focus controller includes an evaluation value generating unit and a control unit. An evaluation value generating unit obtains a first evaluation value based on a first signal output from a pixel part of an imaging unit by scanning the pixel part in a first direction and obtains a second evaluation value based on a second signal output from the pixel part by scanning the pixel part in a second direction different from the first direction. When a first movement direction of a focus lens based on the first evaluation value and a second movement direction of a focus lens based on the second evaluation value are in the same direction, the control unit performs an auto focus operation in order to move the focus lens in the movement direction determined as the same direction. |
| US08994869B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a focus lens, an image sensor which captures an image and a controller which moves the image sensor or the focus lens. A distance measurer measures a distance to a subject based on a first image and a second image. A focal position moves for the first focal range by moving the image sensor or by moving the position of the focus lens during the first exposure time period, and the focal position moves for the second focal range by moving the image sensor or by moving the position of the focus lens during the second exposure time period. |
| US08994866B2 |
Analog-to-digital converter, photoelectric conversion device, and imaging system
A photoelectric conversion device includes a counter circuit configured to count a first clock signal to output a count signal thereof, a second clock signal generation unit configured to generate a second clock signal based on the first clock signal, and a clock synchronization unit configured to output a count start signal in synchronization with the second clock signal, wherein the counter circuit performs a counting operation in response to the count start signal synchronized with the second clock signal. |
| US08994863B2 |
Solid state imaging device having a plurality of unit cells
A solid-state imaging device is capable of simplifying the pixel structure to reduce the pixel size and capable of suppressing the variation in the characteristics between the pixels when a plurality of output systems is provided. A unit cell (30) includes two pixels (31) and (32). Upper and lower photoelectric converters (33) and (34), transfer transistors (35) and (36) connected to the upper and lower photoelectric converters, respectively, a reset transistor (37), and an amplifying transistor (38) form the two pixels (31) and (32). A full-face signal line 39 is connected to the respective drains of the reset transistor (37) and the amplifying transistor (38). Controlling the full-face signal line (39), along with transfer signal lines (42) and (43) and a reset signal line (41), to read out signals realizes the simplification of the wiring in the pixel, the reduction of the pixel size, and so on. |
| US08994862B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and image-pickup apparatus
In a photoelectric conversion device, groups of unit pixels are arranged in a well, where each of the unit pixels includes photoelectric conversion elements, an amplifier transistor, and transfer transistors. The photoelectric conversion device includes a line used to supply a voltage to the well, a well-contact part used to connect the well-voltage-supply line to the well, and transfer-control lines used to control the transfer transistors. The transfer-control lines are symmetrically arranged with respect to the well-voltage-supply line in respective regions of the unit-pixel groups. |
| US08994860B2 |
Molded image sensor package and method
An image sensor package includes an image sensor, a window, and a molding, where the molding includes a lens holder extension portion extending upwards from the window. The lens holder extension portion includes a female threaded aperture extending from the window such that the window is exposed through the aperture. A lens is supported in a threaded lens support. The threaded lens support is threaded into the aperture of the lens holder extension portion. The lens is readily adjusted relative to the image sensor by rotating the lens support. |
| US08994858B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method of manufacturing solid-state imaging device, and electronic equipment
A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric transformation portion and a micro lens, the micro lens has a first refractive index layer which is a first refractive index and a second refractive index layer which is a second refractive index different from the first refractive index, wherein the micro lens is configured so that a vertical cross section, which is a surface perpendicular to the capturing surface, has a rectangular shape, wherein each of the first refractive index layer and the second refractive index layer are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction along the capturing surface, and an interface between the first refractive index layer and the second refractive index layer in the vertical cross section is formed so as to follow a direction perpendicular to the capturing surface. |
| US08994850B2 |
Apparatus and method for photographing information management
A photographing information management method, which includes: judging whether there is equality between photographing position information added to an image file stored in an external storage medium which is detachably attachable to an imaging apparatus and photographing position information stored in an internal memory of the imaging apparatus; and when it is judged that the two pieces of photographing position information have the equality, displaying an image and the photographing position information of the image file on a display screen of the imaging apparatus. |
| US08994849B2 |
Method and apparatus for increasing dynamic range of image by using electronic shutter
A method and apparatus for increasing a dynamic range of an image by using a first electronic shutter and a second electronic shutter of a camera is provided. The method includes initiating exposure of an image sensor by moving a first electronic front curtain according to a first control pulse signal of the first electronic shutter; moving a second electronic front curtain with respect to at least one pixel of the image sensor according to a second control pulse signal of the second electronic shutter; blocking the exposure of the image sensor by moving a mechanical rear curtain included in the camera; and acquiring, after blocking the exposure, a long exposure image using the first electronic front curtain and a short exposure image using the second electronic front curtain. |
| US08994848B2 |
Method and system for handling mixed illumination in video and photography
A method including: obtaining, with an image processing apparatus, a white point that corresponds to an image captured by a camera with only the natural light as a light source; obtaining, with the image processing apparatus, a white point that corresponds to an image captured by the camera with only the artificial light as a light source; determining, with the image processing apparatus, a ratio of an intensity of natural light for a pixel to an intensity of an artificial light for the pixel within an image captured by a camera under mixed illumination of the natural light and the artificial light; and determining, with the image processing apparatus, a white point for the pixel in the image under mixed illumination based on the ratio of the intensity of natural light to the intensity of artificial light for the pixel in the image, the white point for only the natural light, and the white point for only the artificial light. |
| US08994843B2 |
High dynamic range image sensor
This disclosure describes techniques for producing high dynamic range images by applying a variable weighting factor to a sample prior to combining the sample with another sample. In one example, a method includes sampling a first pixel cell signal at a first time to produce a first sample, sampling a second pixel cell signal at a second time to produce a second sample, applying a variable weighting factor to the second sample, wherein the variable weighting factor is defined based on a function, and combining the first sample and the weighted second sample. |
| US08994835B2 |
Exposure control technique for image capturing apparatus and method of controlling same
An image capturing apparatus receives shake information detected by, for example, a sensor which detects a shake, and determines whether the hold status of the image capturing apparatus is handheld or fixed, based on the shake information (first shake determination). Also, the image capturing apparatus sequentially acquires images output upon photoelectric conversion by charge-accumulation type photoelectric conversion elements, and determines whether the hold status is handheld or fixed, based on an image displacement between the images (second shake determination). The exposure settings at the time of image capturing are changed between the case wherein it is determined by first shake determination that the hold status is fixed, and that wherein it is determined by second shake determination that the hold status is fixed. |
| US08994833B2 |
Photography system to organize digital photographs and information regarding the subjects therein
A photographic processing system in which subject and other data is stored in a database and such data is automatically linked to photographs taken using either a film or digital camera. |
| US08994832B1 |
Calibration in multiple slope column parallel analog-to-digital conversion for image sensors
An apparatus includes analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion circuitry coupled to a pixel array. The A/D conversion circuitry includes a voltage ramp generator and a set of column A/D conversion circuits. The voltage ramp generator generates a single slope voltage ramp in a first state and a multiple slope voltage ramp in a second state. The set of column A/D conversion circuits is coupled with the voltage ramp generator. The apparatus further includes calibration circuitry coupled with the set of column A/D conversion circuits and operable to determine digital calibration data to adjust digital image data. The calibration circuitry provides analog calibration data that spans a calibration range to the set of column A/D conversion circuits instead of the analog image data from the pixel array being provided to the set of column A/D conversion circuits. |
| US08994830B2 |
Access to video streams on mobile communication devices
A method and apparatus to provide access to video streams associated with communication channels in a communication network are described. The method may comprise monitoring selection of a communication channel by a user of a mobile communication device, identifying at least one video feed associated with the selected channel, and providing access to the mobile communication device to the selected at least one video feed. Providing access may comprise associating the selected video stream with the mobile communication device. |
| US08994828B2 |
Aligned video comparison tool
A video quality comparison tool provides for direct visual perceptual comparison of video sequences. Two inputs are presented at the same position and size, with no-look user choice of which to see and easy back-and-forth comparison while the videos are playing, single-stepping, or paused. |
| US08994827B2 |
Wearable electronic device
In one embodiment, a device includes a device body that includes a touch-sensitive display and a processor. The device also includes a band coupled to the device body and an optical sensor in or on the band. The optical sensor faces outward from the band and captures images. The processor communicates with the optical sensor to process captured images. |
| US08994818B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting minimum post spacing in imaging applications
A method includes receiving image data obtained by a laser imaging system. The method also includes identifying a minimum post spacing obtainable in a three-dimensional image constructed using the image data. The minimum post spacing defines a maximum obtainable resolution of the image. Identifying the minimum post spacing includes using (i) multiple point spread functions associated with the image data and (ii) a number of laser pulses directed at a specified area by the imaging system during capture of the image data. Identifying the minimum post spacing may also include using (iii) a minimum contrast ratio associated with the image. The point spread functions may be associated with different point reflectors, have a Gaussian distribution, and overlap. |