| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09014249B2 |
Communications receiver with channel identification using A-priori generated gain vectors and associated methods
A communications receiver includes an antenna, and a burst signal acquisition circuit coupled to the antenna to detect a burst signal received over a wireless communications channel. The burst signal has a burst structure that includes channel-corrupted known preamble bits, channel-corrupted known probe bits and channel-corrupted unknown data bits. A channel estimator is coupled to the burst signal acquisition circuit to generate a-priori a gain vector based on uncorrupted known probe bits, and to perform a recursive least squares (RLS) operation to determine an impulse response of the wireless communications channel based on the channel-corrupted known probe bits and the gain vector. A maximum likelihood sequence estimator (MLSE) or equalizer is coupled to the channel estimator and the burst signal acquisition circuit. |
| US09014248B2 |
BASE-T common mode testing in an Ethernet subsystem
Systems and methods are provided for common mode testing for a system using an Ethernet subsystem. The Ethernet subsystem generates test signals that can be introduced at various points in the system to detect the effect of noise introduced by various elements of the system. By introducing test signals at various points in a system, common mode noise introduced into the system can be more accurately determined. |
| US09014243B2 |
System and method for scrambling using a bit scrambler and a phase scrambler
A system and method that demodulates the phase characteristic of a carrier signal are described. The scrambling of the phase characteristic of each carrier signal includes associating a value with each carrier signal and computing a phase shift for each carrier signal based on the value associated with that carrier signal. The value is determined independently of any input bit value carried by that carrier signal. The phase shift computed for each carrier signal is combined with the phase characteristic of that carrier signal so as to substantially scramble the phase characteristic of the carrier signals. Bits of an input signal are modulated onto the carrier signals having the substantially scrambled phase characteristic to produce a transmission signal with a reduced PAR. |
| US09014241B2 |
Digital pre-distortion in a communication network
A method of performing digital pre-distortion in a communication network is described. The method comprises implementing a transceiver in the communication network, the transceiver enabling the transfer of communication signals in the communication network by way of a wireless communication channel; sampling signals, at the transceiver, associated with a transmit signal which are necessary to perform digital pre-distortion; providing the sampled signals to a remote computer; and generating, at the remote computer, parameters to be applied to a digital pre-distortion circuit of the transceiver. A communication network configured to enable digital pre-distortion is also described. |
| US09014240B2 |
Wireless transmitter/receiver, wireless communication device, and wireless communication system
Disclosed is a wireless transmitter/receiver provided with: a local oscillator which oscillates at a predetermined local oscillator frequency; a mixer which mixes a local oscillation signal of the local oscillation frequency outputted from an output terminal of the local oscillator and a radio signal received by an antenna; a modulation circuit which modulates the local oscillator signal and generates a radio signal; and a transmission/reception switching unit which selectively switches over between a reception state in which the output terminal of the local oscillator is connected to the mixer and a transmission state in which the output terminal is connected to the antenna without passing through the mixer. |
| US09014239B2 |
Transmission-reception device of a node of a radio network
In one embodiment, a method comprising receiving at a first node a first data frame having a first frequency and a first phase, receiving at the first node a second data frame having a second frequency and a second phase, and determining a first phase difference between the first phase and the second phase by correlating one or more first sampling values associated with data in the first data frame with one or more second sampling values associated with data in the second data frame. |
| US09014237B2 |
Multiple-in-multiple-out network-coded amplify-and-forward relaying scheme for three node bidirectional cooperation
A method and apparatus are described including receiving a first signal including first data in a first time slot of a first channel (705), receiving a second signal including second data in a second time slot of a second channel (710), determining a first pre-coding matrix (715), determining a second pre-coding matrix (720), applying the first pre-coding matrix to the first data to produce pre-coded first data (725), applying the second pre-coding matrix to the second data to produce pre-coded second data (730), generating a third signal by combining the pre-coded first data and the pre-coded second data (735) and transmitting the third signal on the first channel and on the second channel (740). Also described are a method and apparatus including transmitting a first signal (605), receiving a second signal including a first training sequence (610) and decoding the second signal by removing the first training sequence and removing the first signal (615). |
| US09014233B2 |
Delay-induced scattering with phase randomization and partitioned frequency hopping
A method includes generating multiple copies of a signal that comprises a plurality of time division multiple access frames. The multiple copies of the signal includes a first copy and one or more other copies of the signal. Each of the one or more other copies of the signal having a respective fixed delay and a respective phase relative to the first copy of the signal. The method also includes transmitting the multiple copies of the signal using hopping carrier frequencies. The hopping carrier frequencies associated with a consecutive pair of the plurality of time division multiple access frames are separated by an odd multiple of a separation value representing a frequency separation between two adjacent carrier signals. The respective fixed delay is proportional to the separation value for each of the one or more other copies of the signal. |
| US09014232B2 |
Method and system for optimizing the use of the radio spectrum and computer program product therefor
A system for scanning a frequency spectrum to detect usage thereof includes an ultra-wideband receiver for performing the scanning, and cooperates with a spectrum usage estimator module and a radio controller unit. The spectrum usage estimator module derives from the scanning performed via the ultra-wideband receiver information as to usage of individual bands in the frequency spectrum. The radio controller unit controls operation of a radio cognitive system as a function of the information as to usage of individual bands in the frequency spectrum as derived by the spectrum usage estimator module. The radio cognitive system operates over unused bands in the frequency spectrum. |
| US09014223B2 |
Compact high energy mid wave OPCPA laser
Systems and methods of optical parametric chirped pulse amplification for laser pulses are provided. Techniques and components include replacing pulse stretcher and/or pulse compressors with chirped volume Bragg gratings (CVBGs) to reduce size, weight, cost, and environmental sensitivity of the laser system. |
| US09014220B2 |
High-power CW fiber-laser
A CW ytterbium-doped fiber-laser includes a gain-fiber having a reflector proximity-coupled to one end, with the other end left uncoated. A laser resonator is defined by the reflector and the uncoated end of the gain-fiber. Pump-radiation from fast-axis diode-laser bar-stacks emitting at 915 nm and 976 nm is combined and focused into the uncoated end of the gain-fiber for energizing the fiber. Laser radiation resulting from the energizing is delivered from the uncoated end of the gain-fiber and separated from the pump-radiation by a dichroic mirror. |
| US09014219B2 |
Link aggregation (LAG) information exchange protocol
In one embodiment, a switch includes a processor adapted for executing logic, logic adapted for receiving link aggregation (LAG) information about a first peer switch, logic adapted for storing the LAG information about the first peer switch, and logic adapted for using the LAG information about the first peer switch and LAG information about the switch to determine load balancing across one or more connections between the switch and the first peer switch. In another embodiment, a method for exchanging LAG information between peer switches includes receiving LAG information about a first peer switch at a second peer switch, storing the LAG information about the first peer switch, and using the LAG information about the first peer switch and LAG information about the second peer switch to determine load balancing across one or more connections between the first and second peer switches. |
| US09014216B2 |
Real-time time encoding and decoding machines
Methods for decoding a signal encoded by a Time Encoding Machine (TEM) include defining a plurality of time-windows, each time-window corresponding to a portion of a TEM-encoded signal and made up of a plurality of trigger values, at least two of the time-windows overlapping, decoding each of the time-windows using a Time Decoding Machine (TDM) to generate a decoded time-window, and stitching the decoded time-windows together to generate a TEM-decoded signal. |
| US09014211B2 |
Reducing the maximum latency of reserved streams
An embodiment may include circuitry that may facilitate, at least in part, assignment, at least in part, of at least one bandwidth reservation for at least one packet stream and/or at least one stream reservation class. The at least one bandwidth reservation may be greater than an expected communication bandwidth of the at least one packet stream. The assignment of the at least one bandwidth reservation may be made prior to commencement of communication of the at least one packet stream. The at least one bandwidth reservation may be assigned exclusively to the at least one packet stream and/or the at least one stream reservation class. Many modifications, variations, and alternatives are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US09014210B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing retransmission resources
A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus for determining retransmission feedback resources are provided. An apparatus receives a downlink resource assignment over a control channel and obtains an offset related to a region for retransmission feedback resources. The offset is determined based on a type of the control channel. The apparatus determines resources for communicating retransmission feedback for communications received over the downlink resource assignment based on an index of a resource related to the downlink resource assignment and the offset. The apparatus transmits retransmission feedback for the communications over the resources. |
| US09014206B2 |
Method and device for improving the transmission efficiency in a communicaton system with a layerd protocol stack
In a method for improving the transmission efficiency in a communication system with a layered protocol stack, data packets are processed on an upper protocol layer. Data packets are forwarded to a lower protocol layer for transmission and the transmission is performed with variable channel access delays. The upper protocol layer is notified by the lower protocol layer when a transmission is started to allow a synchronization of timers in the upper protocol layer. If a layer performs a scheduling of data packets for the transmission, a rescheduling is performed alternatively or in addition during a channel access delay. Devices and software programs embodying the invention are also described. |
| US09014198B2 |
Apparatus and system for aggregating captured network traffic
Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and devices for aggregating sets of received captured network traffic by a network captured traffic distribution device communicatively coupled to a plurality of network captured network traffic distribution devices arranged in a stacked topology are described. Systems for aggregating captured network traffic may include a source of captured network traffic, a plurality of stacked network captured traffic distribution devices arranged in a stacked topology such that each network captured traffic distribution device is communicatively coupled via a communication link with at least one additional stacked network captured traffic distribution device, and an external device. In some embodiments, one or more of the stacked network captured traffic distribution devices, source, and/or external device may operate at locations that are geographically disperse from one another. |
| US09014195B2 |
Packet forwarding method and system
Forwarding decisions for Internet Protocol packets/frames are provided. An IP address from received packets/frames is extracted and split into portions or parts, a prefix, offset and suffix. A prefix table is used to identify an entry with a longest match to the prefix. A base address is retrieved from the identified entry to generate an identifier used to locate another entry in another table. The other identified entry provides receiver data or information regarding the intended destination. |
| US09014194B2 |
Communication network for water treatment
A communications network is provided for a water treatment system. A controller is in communication with a plurality of network elements using digital communications. The network elements have a connection configured to connect the network element to the controller or another network element. The controller sends a message to the network elements to configure the network elements for communication with the controller. The controller receives a response from the network elements including a network address and a header. If the network address is a default address, configuration information is sent to the network element for communication on the network. If the network address is not a default address, communication is established with the network element. Messages sent from the controller to a network element having a network address not matching the network address of the network element are sent over the network to a next network element. |
| US09014192B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving data transmission reliability in a wireless communications system
Techniques for performing duplicate detection and re-ordering for a HARQ transmission are described. For duplicate detection, a receiver determines whether a decoded packet x for an ARQ channel y is a duplicate packet based on packet x and a prior decoded packet for ARQ channel y. For re-ordering, the receiver determines whether an earlier packet is still pending on any other ARQ channel based on prior decoded packets for the ARQ channels and forwards packet x only if there are no pending earlier packets. There are no pending earlier packets on another ARQ channel z if (1) a decoded packet was received on ARQ channel z at a designated time or later or (2) a decoded packet was not received on ARQ channel z within a time window from current time. |
| US09014188B2 |
Communication system
This communication system is equipped with a plurality of transceiver devices each composed of a transmission device that transmits unit data and a reception device that receives unit data from the transmission device. The transmission devices are connected in series. Each of the transmission devices stores identification information for identifying the device itself. The transmission device accepts unit data from a front stage side. The transmission device generates identification information for identifying one of the transmission devices from information included in the accepted unit data, in accordance with a predetermined generation process. In a case that the generated identification information corresponds to the stored identification information, the transmission device transmits the accepted unit data to the reception device. In a case that the generated identification information does not correspond to the stored identification information, the transmission device sends the accepted unit data to a back stage side. |
| US09014186B2 |
Hardware-accelerated packet multicasting
Methods and systems for hardware-accelerated packet multicasting are provided. According to one embodiment, a multicast packet is received at an ingress system of a packet-forwarding engine (PFE). Multiple flow classification indices are identified for the multicast packet by the ingress system. The multiple flow classification indices are sent to an egress system of the PFE by the ingress system. A single copy of the multicast packet is buffered in a memory accessible by the egress system. Corresponding transform control instructions are identified by the egress system based on each flow classification index. The single copy of the multicast packet is read from the memory. The multicast packet is transformed to an outgoing packet for each instance of the multicast packet based on the corresponding transform control instructions. The outgoing packet is transmitted for routing to a network. |
| US09014183B2 |
Buffer transfer service
A buffer transfer session can be used to send a data object from one device to another using a low-overhead, reliable point-to-point data transfer protocol. In response to a request to transfer a data object to the receiving device, the sending device can locate the requested data object and establish a first buffer transfer session to transfer the data object to the receiving device. The buffer transfer session can be assigned a unique session identifier. The sending device can send the data object as a sequence of packets, each including the session identifier and a portion of the data object. Multiple buffer transfer sessions can be established concurrently between the two devices. In some instances, transfers can be paused and resumed, canceled, switched to a different transport, or persisted across disconnection/reconnection events. |
| US09014180B2 |
Method of handling time alignment command during a random access procedure
Disclosed is the radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and the terminal, and more particularly, a method of handling time alignment command during a random access procedure in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) evolved from the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system is provided. |
| US09014179B2 |
Communication method using spatial division multiple access (SDMA), and base station
The present invention relates to the field of communications, and provides a communication method using spatial division multiple access (SDMA), to optimize an existing spatial division multiplexing mechanism. The method comprises: for each channel including a service channel and a control channel, according to a service information amount and/or a control information amount of the channel and a decision threshold corresponding to the channel, determining whether to activate SDMA for the channel; according to a decision result for a remote radio unit (RRU) to which each user belongs, allocating resources in an SDMA manner for the channel with the SDMA activated, and sending data of each user on the channel only on the RRU to which the user belongs; for a channel with the SDMA not activated, sending all data on the channel on all RRUs. The present invention is applicable to the spatial division multiplexing of various physical channels and physical signals specified by the standards of LTE and LTE-A systems, and can further improve utilization of resources in the system, the throughput of the system, and the data transmission rate. |
| US09014177B2 |
System for interconnecting standard telephony communications equipment to internet
Apparatus include a communication predelivery receiver, configured to communicate with and relay both IP addressed overhead and IP addressed payload data from an originating communication device. The communication predelivery receiver includes a screener configured to, when the communication predelivery receiver is in communication with the originating communication device, receive certain data including first IP addressed data and second IP addressed data of corresponding first and second initiated communications. The communication predelivery receiver is configured and connected within a network so the first IP addressed data and the second IP addressed data are processed differently. For the first initiated communication, the first payload data is converted, after the point in time at which the screener received the first IP addressed data, from IP addressed first payload data to another network signal. For the second initiated communication, the second payload data is delivered without so converting the second payload data. |
| US09014165B2 |
Method of transmitting pilot bits in a wireless communication system
A method of allocating pilot bits in a wireless communication system using a multiple carrier modulation (MCM) is disclosed. The method includes allocating a plurality of precoded data symbols precoded by a precoding matrix module and a plurality of non-precoded pilot bits to a plurality of subcarriers, and transmitting the allocated precoded data symbols and the allocated non-precoded pilot bits. |
| US09014162B2 |
Wireless local area network-based position locating systems and methods
The location of one or more mobile nodes in a wireless local area network (WLAN) is determined. Nodes in the WLAN include respective ping drivers to generate ping event values related to transmit count stamps and receive count stamps for wireless messages exchanged between the nodes. Each wireless message is associated with a transmit offset corresponding to an expected transmit time. A sorting module groups the ping event values and produces a difference between the respective receive count stamps and the transmit count stamps for each wireless message. Based on the sorted ping event values, the sorting module generates transmit offset values relating to the transmit offsets. A space-time calibration unit generates, from the sorted differences and the transmit offset values, a clock rate solution and a location solution for at least one of the nodes in the WLAN. |
| US09014161B2 |
Multi-tier indexing methodology for scalable mobile device data collection
A mobile device indexing system includes a plurality of edge nodes in communication with each other across a communication network and a plurality of mobile devices configured to communicate with the edge nodes. Each mobile device has both computing and communication functionalities. A separate mobile device index is maintained at each one of the plurality of edge nodes. Each mobile device index is a geographical spatio-temporal index having entries for a unique set of mobile devices derived from the plurality of mobile devices. Each unique set contains only mobile devices registered to the edge node associated with that mobile device index. |
| US09014160B2 |
Method for providing a valet mode in a vehicle
A method for providing a valet mode for a vehicle comprises: providing a mobile router in the vehicle; operating the mobile router to substantially continuously determine the current location of the vehicle; providing a valet application program to a wireless device; utilizing the valet application program to program the wireless device to provide a valet user interface; utilizing the valet user interface to activate and deactivate a valet mode at the mobile router; operating the mobile router such that when the valet mode is activated, the mobile router activates a predetermined a boundary of predetermined radius about the current location of the vehicle; automatically operating the mobile router when the valet mode is activated to detect if the boundary is exceeded; and operating the mobile router to automatically cause a notification to be sent to the wireless device upon the router detecting that the vehicle exceeds the boundary. |
| US09014158B2 |
System and method for offloading data in a communication system
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a data packet transported on a backhaul link at a first network element; de-capsulating the data packet; identifying whether the data packet is an upstream data packet; identifying whether the data packet matches an internet protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier; and offloading the data packet from the backhaul link. In more specific embodiment, the method can include identifying that the data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and communicating the data packet to a second network element. In other examples, the method can include identifying that the data packet is a downstream data packet; identifying a service to be performed for the data packet that cannot be performed at the first network element; and communicating the data packet to a second network element. |
| US09014150B2 |
Method and apparatus of enhancing performance of downlink multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output transmissions in wireless communication system
A method of enhancing performance of downlink multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output transmissions in a wireless communication system comprising a communication device and a network is disclosed. The method comprises generating a feedback report comprising a correlation-based validity threshold (CVT); and transmitting the feedback report from the communication device to the network. |
| US09014148B1 |
Techniques for establishing a communication handoff threshold using user feedback
Examples are disclosed for acquiring real-time VoIP data and implementing statistical modeling techniques to perform a handoff between different telecommunication networks for a hybrid mobile device. In some examples communication link handoff logic may be executed by the processor component to receive VoIP data during a voice call mediated by a call server, the voice call between a hybrid mobile device and another communication device, the data pertaining to one or more Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication link parameters for the communication link between the hybrid mobile device and the call server. The VoIP communication link parameters are statistically modeled and compared to a handoff profile operative to establish criteria for switching the VoIP communication link to an alternate communication link. |
| US09014145B2 |
Radio base station and mobile station
Provided is a radio base station and a mobile station capable of reducing a handover delay while avoiding an increase of a load on the C-Plane even in a case where the kind of the PDCP-SN used within a cell after the handover is changed. A radio base station eNB according to the present invention includes a transmission unit configured to notify a mobile station UE that the length of the PDCP-SN used in communication within the first cell (or the second cell) is changed in a case where the mobile station UE performs a handover from the second cell to the first cell (or in a case where the mobile station UE performs a handover from the first cell to the second cell). |
| US09014143B2 |
Methods and apparatus for accessing dormant cells
A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The UE receives an information block from a first base station while camped on a second base station. In an aspect, the information block includes an indication of a random access configuration for performing at least a part of a random access procedure. The UE determines to reselect to the first base station from the second base station. The UE performs at least a part of a random access procedure with the first base station based on the indicated random access configuration to reselect from a second base station to the first base station. |
| US09014137B2 |
Apparatus and method for personality modification during handoff
A method and apparatus for facilitating access terminal handoff between access networks is provided. The method may comprise: receiving, at a first access network (AN), an access channel message from an access terminal, wherein the access channel message includes information corresponding to a communication session between a second AN and the access terminal, wherein the communication session includes at least an active personality negotiated with the second AN, obtaining at least one personality, associated with the access terminal, previously negotiated by the first AN, determining if one of the at least one personalities is substantially similar to the active personality, and upon a determination that one of the at least one personalities is substantially similar to the active personality, transferring the communication session to the first AN with the substantially similar personality as the active personality. |
| US09014130B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control information through uplink
Provided is a method for transmitting control information by a terminal, the terminal generates a first bit stream for first control information and a second bit stream for second control information; determines the transmission power of the first bit stream and the second bit stream on the basis of the weight of the first control information with respect to the second control information; generates a multiplexed bit stream by multiplexing the first bit stream and the second bit stream; and transmits the multiplexed bit stream to a base station on the basis of the transmission power. |
| US09014127B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting reference signal
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more specifically, to a method and an apparatus for transmitting an RS (Reference Signal) from a transmission end. The present invention relates to an RS transmission method and an apparatus therefore, comprising the steps of: confirming RS resources which are defined according to each layer; and transmitting the precoded RS for the layers to a receiving end through a multiple antenna, wherein the RS resource includes a 1st index for indicating an RS resource pattern group in which the precoded RS is mapped within a resource block and a 2nd index for indicating a code resource for multiplexing the precoded RSs within the RS resource pattern group. |
| US09014123B2 |
Method for controlling compressed mode and system thereof
A method for controlling compressed mode is disclosed in the disclosure, includes: a network side obtains multi-carrier frequency measurement capability of a User Equipment (UE); when the UE needs to switch among frequencies/systems, the network side determines and controls whether the UE starts a compressed mode or not according to the multi-carrier frequency measurement capability of the UE. A system for controlling compressed mode is accordingly disclosed in the disclosure. By applying the disclosure, measurement can be implemented without starting the compressed mode when the UE needs to switch among frequencies/systems, thus enhancing the utilization rate of system sources and improving system performance. |
| US09014106B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer readable medium embodying a program for resource allocation
Apparatus and method for resource allocation are provided. An apparatus includes a controller configured to: utilize a tree structure with more than one branch in the resource allocation of physical resource blocks, each branch including one or more legal starting positions for resource allocation. Each starting position is associated with a cluster of physical resource blocks, the number of starting positions being different on each branch. The size of the resource clusters of each branch is different. The controller is configured to denote each resource cluster with a predefined index, and allocate one or more clusters to user equipment uplink connection. |
| US09014105B2 |
80MHZ/160MHZ transmission opportunity (TXOP) protection in 802.11ac transmissions
A method and apparatus for negotiating an idle subchannel set for a wireless data transmission. The method includes transmitting an indication of a first set of idle subchannels to a wireless station. The method also includes receiving an indication of a second set of idle subchannels from the wireless station. The method further includes determining a final set of idle subchannels based on the indication of the first set of idle subchannels and the indication of the second set of idle subchannels. |
| US09014101B2 |
Control channel transmission and reception method and system
In an embodiment method, a first central controller of a wireless system selects a first common reference signal (“CRS”) pattern for muting on a first type of control channel by the first central controller, wherein the first type of control channel is formed with resource elements (“REs”), and selects a second CRS pattern for muting on a first data channel by the first central controller, where the first CRS pattern and the second CRS pattern are separately configured. The central controller identifies a set of subframes including the first type of control channel, where the set of subframes has REs that overlap the first CRS pattern for muting, and mutes the overlapping REs in the first type of control channel when the set of subframes are not multicast broadcast single frequency network subframes, and frequency-division multiplexes the first type of control channel with the first data channel. |
| US09014100B2 |
Method and device for maintaining the performance quality of a communication system in the presence of narrow band interference
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold from the average composite wideband power level, detecting narrow band interference according to the adaptive threshold, and configuring a filter to substantially suppress the detected narrow band interference. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09014098B2 |
Digital fixed station interface (DFSI) internet protocol to binary serial data protocol converter
A system and method are provided for converting radio communication signals between a Digital Fixed Station Interface (DFSI) Internet Protocol (IP) APCO P25 standard communications format and binary serial data protocol standard communications. Received serial binary data may be evaluated, separated into control information and data payloads, and converted to DFSI IP standard data. Incoming and outgoing data communications are processed by implementing decisions about how to handle the information contained in, or to be contained in, the incoming and outgoing data communications based upon the substance, or overarching format, of the data contained in individual data packets, or serial bit streams. In embodiments, decisions and determinations regarding the information include determining that the information is damaged or corrupted and therefore not available to be converted. The data may be discarded based on such a determination. |
| US09014094B2 |
Main hub, sub hub, and sensor node communicating in wireless body area network (WBAN) including at least one sub hub, and communication method thereof
A main hub, a sub hub, and a sensor node communicating in a wireless body area network (WBAN) including at least one sub hub, and a communication method thereof, are provided. A communication method of the main hub, includes assigning a beacon slot to the sub hub. The method further includes receiving, from the sub hub, a beacon signal based on the beacon slot. The method further includes verifying whether the sub hub includes data to be transmitted to the main hub based on the beacon signal. The method further includes receiving, from the sub hub, the data based on a result of the verification. |
| US09014093B2 |
Direct communication method and direct communication device and coordinator device using the same
A direct communication method, a direct communication device, and a coordinator device using the same method are provided. The direct communication method may be adapted for direct communications between devices with multiple priorities/power upper bounds/ranges. Multiple contention/transmission slots with different power upper bounds or priorities are used as a configuration to allocate resource for the direct communication. The associated configuration acquisition is also disclosed. The direct communication method may also adopt relative periodicity of occurrence of the contention/transmission slots, and may adaptively vary the relative periodicity. The direct communication method may include an associated monitor scheme for spectrum regulation. |
| US09014090B2 |
Method and an arrangement for legacy fallback between communication network systems
A method for handling Circuit Switched Fallback from a Packet Switched domain includes receiving an indication that Circuit Switched Fallback is supported from an eNodeB located within the Packet Switched domain. The method also includes registering to a Circuit Switched domain associated with Circuit Switched Fallback by tunneling Circuit Switched Registration information, via the eNodeB, to the Circuit Switched domain, thereby enabling the User Equipment to setup a Circuit Switched call or receive a Circuit Switched page. The method also includes receiving a Circuit Switched specific parameter setting from the eNodeB. The Circuit Switched specific parameter setting includes decoding information to facilitate decoding of transmissions in the Circuit Switched domain. Additionally, the method includes, after receiving the Circuit Switched specific parameter setting, switching from the Packet Switched domain to the Circuit Switched domain and using the decoding information to access the Circuit Switched domain. |
| US09014089B2 |
Management apparatus, control apparatus, communication system, control method and program
When accepting an establishment request (Cx-LIR) for establishing an information communication path between a sending-side UE and a receiving-side UE, an HSS performs control so as to establish the information communication path between the sending-side UE and the receiving-side UE via an MGW and an existing 3G network if the receiving-side UE exists in an IMS network and is a communication interception target terminal. |
| US09014086B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating resources in a broadband wireless communication system
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for allocating a MAP message region in a broadband wireless communication system having a multi-cell/-sector structure. The present invention allocates a common MAP message region for multiple cells/sectors and a data region, divides the common MAP message region into MAP message sections for each of the cells or each of the sectors, allocates MAP messages corresponding to each of the cells or each of the sectors to the divided MAP message sections and allocates data to be transmitted to each MS to the data region, and broadcasts multiple frames containing MAP message regions for each of the cells or for each of the sectors and the data region. |
| US09014083B2 |
Transport channel flexibility over satellite backhaul links
A method is performed in a system integration unit located on the vessel and coupled with a radio device and a plurality of satellite transceivers that each provide a transport route for communication. A method for routing data packets from vessel to a fixed communication center through to one of the transport routes. The method determines which transport route should be used to communicate the data packet based on the availability of all transport routes and the desirability of using each transport route for the transmission of the data packet. The method then routes the data packet to the most desirable transport route that is available for communication data packets. |
| US09014082B2 |
Method and device for signal transmission on a wireless communications system
A method for signal transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes: transmitting backhaul resource allocation information by a base station to a relay node; decoding the backhaul resource allocation information by the relay node; and transmitting backhaul downlink control information and backhaul downlink data by the base station to the relay node, wherein a start position of a symbol for transmitting the backhaul downlink control information is fixed to a specific symbol of a backhaul link subframe, and the backhaul resource allocation information includes information on a radio resource for transmitting the backhaul downlink data. |
| US09014078B2 |
Method and apparatus for multicasting a medium access control (MAC) control message in wireless access system
A wireless access system supporting an M2M environment and, more particularly, a method and apparatus for multicasting a MAC control message respective to an M2M device is disclosed herein. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for multicasting a MAC control message may include the steps of receiving a paging message including an MGID identifying an M2M group to which the corresponding M2M device belongs and an indicator indicating a multicast data transmission for the M2M device, receiving an M2M MA A-MAP IE including resource assignment information indicating a resource region to which the MAC control message respective to the corresponding M2M device is being transmitted, and, when a CRC bit being masked to the M2M MA A-MAP IE includes the MGID, receiving a MAC PDU being accompanied by the MAC control message being multicast through the resource region indicated by the resource assignment information. |
| US09014077B2 |
Methods and apparatus for conducting financial transactions
A method of establishing wireless communications between an interrogator and individual ones of multiple wireless identification devices, the method comprising combining tree search and Aloha methods to establish communications between the interrogator and individual ones of the multiple wireless identification devices without collision. A system comprising an interrogator, and a plurality of wireless identification devices configured to communicate with the interrogator In a wireless fashion, the respective wireless identification devices having a unique identification number, the interrogator being configured to employ tree search and Aloha techniques to determine the unique identification numbers of the different wireless identification devices so as to be able to establish communications between the interrogator identification and individual devices without ones of the multiple wireless collision by multiple wireless identification devices attempting to respond to the interrogator at the same time. |
| US09014075B2 |
Wide area mirroring router
A wide area mirroring router enables mobile device screen mirroring across a wide area network. The wide area mirroring router (WAMR) is in wireless communication with a mobile device to receive Internet Protocol (IP) packets, including multicast packets, containing data related to mirroring content displayed on the mobile device to a remote display device. The WAMR encapsulates the IP packets into envelopes for transmission via a tunnel to the remote display device over the wide area network. |
| US09014071B2 |
Apparatus and method for avoiding system losses for M2M devices operating at longer slot cycle
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus and methods capable of pre-correcting reacquisition slew of pilot signal timing when a mobile device operates in a slotted mode or discontinuous reception (DRX) mode. In one aspect, a mobile device is operated in slotted mode. The mobile device wakes up to perform a pilot reacquisition corresponding to a slotted mode and detects a slew of a pilot timing relative to a pilot reference timing. The mobile device adjusts a subsequent pilot reference timing by an amount corresponding to the detected slew, to be utilized during a subsequent wake-up cycle. The mobile device returns to a sleep state to wait for the subsequent wake-up cycle. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described. |
| US09014069B2 |
Methods and apparatus for communication mode selection based on content type
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with selection of a communication mode based on traffic type information. In one example, a network entity (e.g., a WiFi router, Picocell, Fentocell, an eNB, etc.) is equipped to obtain traffic type information for content to be transmitted by a network entity, determine a communication mode to use for transmission of the content based on the traffic type information, and transmit the content using the determined communication mode. In an aspect, the traffic type information may indicate that the content is a best effort traffic type, a latency sensitive traffic type, or no traffic type is available. |
| US09014067B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring frame in wireless communication system including relay station
A method and apparatus of communicating by a relay station a wireless communication system including a relay station is provided. The method include communicating with at least one of a base station and a user equipment through a frequency division duplex (FDD) uplink (UL) frame configured by the base station, the FDD UL frame including a UL relay zone including a plurality of UL subframes and a UL access zone including a plurality of UL subframes. The UL relay zone is a sector used for the relay station to transmit a signal to the base station, and the UL access zone is a sector used for the relay station to receive a signal from the user equipment. The UL relay zone is located before the UL access zone within the FDD UL frame. |
| US09014064B2 |
Scheduling and hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) timing indication for an uplink-downlink (UL-DL) reconfiguration
Technology for reconfiguring an uplink-downlink (UL-DL) time-division duplexing (TDD) configuration timing is disclosed. In an example, a user equipment (UE) for reconfiguring an uplink-downlink (UL-DL) time-division duplexing (TDD) configuration timing can have computer circuitry configured to: Decode a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for downlink control information (DCI) including a timing indication field (TIF); and reconfigure a channel timing for a semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration using the TIF. The channel timing can include a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) timing, a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) scheduling timing, or a PUSCH HARQ timing. |
| US09014061B2 |
Control signal management system and method
A user equipment (UE) including a processor configured to transmit control plane data irrespective of on-duration/off-duration status. |
| US09014060B2 |
System and method for integrating VoIP client for audio conferencing
Aspects of the present disclosure disclose system, apparatus and methods for providing an integrated web conferencing. In various aspects, the disclosure is directed to integrating a VoIP client for audio conferencing with a web client. In particular, the system provides for integrating a web portion of a web conference with an audio portion of the web conference. More specifically, the system, apparatus and methods provide for connecting a VoIP client to an audio conferencing portion of the system to facilitate communications between client and server. |
| US09014058B2 |
Enhancement of audio conference productivity through gain biasing
Techniques are provided for communicating with a plurality of endpoints participating in a conference session. A signal representing audio from each of the endpoints is received at a control unit. The control unit adjusts one or more target power levels for purposes of automatic gain control of the audio from one or more of the endpoints based on information derived in real-time from the audio of the plurality of endpoints during the conference session and predetermined information pertaining to a source of the audio from at least one of the endpoints. |
| US09014056B2 |
Bridging network devices in a hybrid communication network
A hybrid bridge can implement functionality for selectively populating its bridge tables based on preferred transmission routes to influence other network devices to transmit frames based on the preferred transmission routes. The hybrid bridge determines a preferred transmission route for communicating with each network device in the hybrid communication network. For each of the network devices, it is determined whether the hybrid bridge is part of the preferred transmission route associated with the network device. Depending on whether the hybrid bridge is part of the preferred transmission route to the network device and/or whether a network interface of the hybrid bridge is a transmit or a receive interface on the preferred transmission route, a local bridge table or a remote bridge table of the network interface can be populated with at least the address of a destination network device. |
| US09014053B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring client software usage in end user device
The present invention enables a capability for packet-switched network service providers, e.g., VoIP network service providers, to monitor the CPE application usage of their subscriber to ensure that changes to the network do not interfere with these applications and to potentially provide changes to the network to enhance these premise based applications. Monitoring software will be installed in the CPE to monitor upgrades and features installed by the end users so that any potential impact to these applied applications can be assessed before a VoIP network upgrade is carried out. |
| US09014050B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing system
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a communication controller for determining, based on an influence of a second communication device on a communication network connected to one or more first communication devices, whether joining of the second communication device in the communication network is accepted. |
| US09014047B2 |
System and method for aggregating and reporting network traffic data
A method for analyzing traffic in a communications network includes sampling data packets at a plurality of network interconnection points, wherein sampling the data packets includes generating a plurality of sampled packet data in one or more standardized formats, converting the sampled packet data from the one or more standardized formats into a neutral format, and aggregating the sampled packet data in the neutral format from the plurality of network interconnection points. A system includes a communications node operable to sample data packets flowing through and generate sample packet data in a specified format, a collector node operable to convert the sampled packet data into a neutral format, the collector node further operable to map IP addresses of the sampled packet data to corresponding prefixes in a routing table; and an aggregator node operable to aggregate neutrally formatted sampled packet data from a plurality of collector nodes. |
| US09014045B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient feedback in a wireless communication system supporting multiple antennas
A method and apparatus for performing effective feedback in a wireless communication system supporting multiple antennas. A method for transmitting CSI of downlink transmission via uplink in a wireless communication system includes transmitting a joint-coded rank indicator (RI) and a first wideband (WB) precoding matrix indicator (PMI) at a first subframe, and transmitting a wideband channel quality indicator (WB CQI) and a second WB PMI at a second subframe. A user equipment (UE) preferred precoding matrix is indicated by a combination of the first PMI and the second PMI. If the RI is Rank-1 or Rank-2, the first PMI indicates one of subsets each having 8 indexes from among 16 indexes of the first PMI of a precoding codebook. |
| US09014044B2 |
Communications terminal and method and apparatus for testing
A method in a communication terminal for measuring one or more measurement quantities, wherein the measurement quantities correspond to a measurement identity, the method comprising: determining whether measurement of the measurement quantities can be performed in a first measurement occasion corresponding to the measurement identity; and if measurement of the measurement quantities cannot be performed in the first measurement occasion, measuring the measurement quantities using one or more other measurement occasions, wherein the one or more of the other measurement occasions correspond to at least one other measurement identity. |
| US09014043B2 |
Reference signal measurement method and apparatus for use in wireless communication system including plural base stations with distributed antennas
An apparatus and a method of measuring a reference signal for efficient downlink transmission in a mobile communication system are provided. The system includes plural base stations, each having a plurality of antennas distributed in the service area thereof based on a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). A method for a base station to notify a terminal of reference signal measurement information in a mobile communication system comprises determining whether the terminal is in a Rank Indicator/Precoding Matrix Indicator (RI/PMI) disabled mode, selecting, when the terminal is in the RI/PMI disabled mode, the reference signal to be measured by the terminal between a Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS) and a Channel Status Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS), notifying the terminal of the reference signal measurement information with the selection result, and receiving channel information generated based on the reference signal measurement information from the terminal. |
| US09014041B2 |
Method and system for configuring a device that has failed to obtain network address
Method and system for configuring a device that has failed to obtain a network address. In one aspect of the invention, a method for remotely configuring a device includes attempting to obtain a network address from a network server over a network, and receiving a valid network address over the network from a remote device connected to the network in response to failing to obtain the network address from the network server. |
| US09014040B1 |
Selection of wireless devices for measurement reports
A database is maintained that maps source cell regions to channel condition on the neighbor cell(s) coverage. The database also tracks whether the neighbor cell has better, weaker, or similar signal strength than the source cell. The channel condition and bitrate requirement of each wireless device being served by the source cell are also tracked. Once a particular neighbor cell has been selected for traffic offload (i.e., handover of one or more wireless devices), the source cell uses the database to select which wireless devices should send measurement reports. Those wireless devices with channel conditions that are mapped in the database to the target cell's coverage are designated for possible selection. Among these wireless devices, either the wireless devices with the highest or lowest bitrate requirements are selected to provide measurement reports for the target cell. |
| US09014038B2 |
Intelligent multi-streaming for enhancing or avoiding dropped and interrupted communication sessions
Systems and methods for intelligently enhancing communication sessions or avoiding dropped and interrupted communication sessions between or among communication devices. Characteristics of a communication link are monitored and are compared to intelligent communication session data to predictively determine whether a handoff may be needed or whether multi-streaming should be invoked or terminated. Intelligent communication session data may be monitored, recorded and/or stored by a handoff service, a bridging service and/or a multi-streaming service, as well as applications executed on communication devices or other network devices. Intelligent communication session data may be any data relating to a communication session, including detected signal strengths, available networks, protocol and buffer statistics and analysis, environmental and/or geographical factors, the performance of access points and other network components, past interactions between or among communication devices, and access points and other network components, context of conversations during voice calls. |
| US09014034B2 |
Efficient network traffic analysis using a hierarchical key combination data structure
A network access device for network traffic analysis of a plurality of client devices in a local area network (LAN) maintains a hierarchical key combination traffic analysis (HKCTA) table for each of the client devices of the LAN (LAN devices) to store network traffic statistics of each LAN device, wherein the HKCTA includes entries identified by keys, each key being formed based on a combination of zero or more packet attributes of packets or flow attributes of a network flow associated with the packets (packet/flow attributes) exchanged by the LAN device. Each key represents one of hierarchical levels of a hierarchy of the entries. Each level of the hierarchy includes all packet/flow attributes of its parent hierarchical level plus at least one additional packet/flow attribute that is not present in its parent hierarchical level. |
| US09014028B2 |
Identifying and transitioning to an improved VOIP session
An additional session is established for voice over internet protocol communication between a pair of endpoints in a network, wherein a current session is already established between the endpoints and is currently used for data packet communication between endpoints. Qualities of each of the sessions for voice over internet protocol communication are assessed and compared, and the endpoints signaled to select the session having the higher assessed quality as a current session for further data packet communication between the endpoints, and to remove the lower quality session from use as a session for the further data packet communication between the endpoints, or to use the lower quality session as a secondary session for data communication between the endpoints. More particularly, the assessed qualities of each of the current and additional sessions meet a basic requirement defined to provide voice over internet protocol data packet communication between the endpoints. |
| US09014027B2 |
Multi-interface adaptive bit rate session management
Systems and method are provided that allow an application layer client in a mobile device to manage multiple interfaces in a communication network. The multiple interfaces can include WiFi, cellular, Femto, WiMAX, Bluetooth, infrared, Ethernet, and other types of interfaces for communication in a network. The client on the mobile device can use intelligence and rules to determine how and when request fragments are communicated over the various interfaces available to the client. The intelligence can include parameters such as performance information for a particular interface and subscriber preferences. Based on this information the client can decide to use a combination of the interfaces to obtain multimedia content and render the content for display on the mobile device. By using a combination of interfaces and tracking the advantages and disadvantages of each interface, the client can make intelligent decisions in providing multimedia content to the user. |
| US09014026B2 |
Network based service profile management with user preference, adaptive policy, network neutrality, and user privacy
Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device implements a service profile for assisting control of a communications device use of a service on a network, in which the service profile includes service policy settings for the communications device; monitors use of the service by the communications device based on the service profile; and modifies a service policy setting to achieve a service usage goal. |
| US09014022B2 |
Wavelength regeneration in a network
An optical network including a plurality of gateway nodes interconnected with a plurality of intermediate nodes with segments of fiber. The network includes a plurality of devices, such as reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexors, optimally placed at various nodes throughout the network. The device placement is optimized with an integer linear programming analysis considering span definition such that any given span involves some number of segments not exceeding a number of segments that would require wavelength regeneration, cost of placement of a device at a given node, cost of wavelength regeneration, and various parameters and constraints. |
| US09014015B2 |
Method and apparatus for resource utilization management in a multi-carrier communications system
Systems and methods are described that facilitate evaluating conditions of nodes (e.g., access points, access terminals, etc.) in a wireless communication environment having a plurality of carriers to determine a level of disadvantage for a given node relative to other nodes. The node may transmit a resource utilization message (RUM) that represents the level of disadvantage for the node and request other interference nodes to back off on one or more carriers. |
| US09014012B2 |
Network path discovery and analysis
A network analysis system invokes an application specific, or source-destination specific, path discovery process. The application specific path discovery process determines the path(s) used by the application, collects performance data from the nodes along the path, and communicates this performance data to the network analysis system for subsequent performance analysis. The system may also maintain a database of prior network configurations to facilitate the identification of nodes that are off the path that may affect the current performance of the application. The system may also be specifically controlled so as to identify the path between any pair of specified nodes, and to optionally collect performance data associated with the path. |
| US09014010B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting PDCP status
A method and apparatus for method for reporting a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) status are provided. A wireless device sets up a radio bearer that does not perform retransmission at a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer and transmit a PDCP status report for the radio bearer to a base station, the PDCP status report indicating which at least one PDCP Service Data Unit (SDU) is missing. |
| US09014007B2 |
VXLAN based multicasting systems having improved load distribution
A virtual extensible local area network (“VXLAN”) system includes servers having VXLAN tunnel end points (“VTEP”) and virtual machines (“VMs”), multiple routers to transmit network data using bidirectional groups (“BIDIRs”) and rendezvous points (“RPs”), and an associated management and provisioning entity (“MPE”) adapted to arrange BIDIRs dynamically based upon network traffic such that traffic is more evenly distributed across the VXLAN. Some of the routers can be preconfigured as potential RPs, and the MPE can activate and deactivate these routers to and from RP status as needed. The MPE creates and rearranges BIDIRs based upon volume thresholds of traffic being reached in BIDIRs, such as by splitting overloaded BIDIRs. Network traffic can be monitored by VTEPs and RPs. |
| US09014006B2 |
Adaptive routing using inter-switch notifications
A method includes receiving in a network switch of a communication network communication traffic that originates from a source node and arrives over a route through the communication network traversing one or more preceding network switches, for forwarding to a destination node. In response to detecting in the network switch a compromised ability to forward the communication traffic to the destination node, a notification is sent to the preceding network switches. The notification is to be consumed by the preceding network switches and requests the preceding network switches to modify the route so as not to traverse the network switch. |
| US09014002B2 |
Early traffic regulation techniques to protect against network flooding
Methods and apparatus for providing an Anti-Flooding Flow-Control (AFFC) mechanism suitable for use in defending against flooding network Denial-of-Service (N-DoS) attacks is described. Features of the AFFC mechanism include (1) traffic baseline generation, (2) dynamic buffer management, (3) packet scheduling, and (4) optional early traffic regulation. Baseline statistics on the flow rates for flows of data corresponding to different classes of packets are generated. When a router senses congestion, it activates the AFFC mechanism of the present invention. Traffic flows are classified. Elastic traffic is examined to determine if it is responsive to flow control signals. Flows of non-responsive elastic traffic is dropped. The remaining flows are compared to corresponding class baseline flow rates. Flows exceeding the baseline flow rates are subject to forced flow rate reductions, e.g., dropping of packets. |
| US09013996B2 |
Customer configuration of broadband services
Novel solutions to provide enhanced configurability of network access. Such solutions can provide, inter alia, enhanced utilization of network resources (including without limitation network aggregation devices, such as DSLAMs and the like). In an aspect of some solutions, a network aggregation device can divide an aggregate uplink bandwidth into a plurality of time slots. Some or all of the time slots can be reserved for different customers (subscribers). In another aspect of some embodiments, the time slots can be allocated in such a way as to simulate oversubscription of the aggregate uplink bandwidth. |
| US09013989B2 |
Medium access control layer that encapsulates data from a plurality of received data units into a plurality of independently transmittable blocks
A method of operating in a network in which a plurality of stations communicate over a shared medium, comprising providing a physical layer (e.g., PHY) for handling physical communication over the shared medium; providing a high level layer (e.g., PAL) that receives data from the station and supplies high level data units (e.g., MSDUs) for transmission over the medium; providing a MAC layer that receives the high level data units from the high level layer and supplies low level data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the physical layer; at the MAC layer, encapsulating content from a plurality of the high level data units; dividing the encapsulated content into a plurality of pieces (e.g., segments) with each piece capable of being independently retransmitted; and supplying low level data units containing one or more of the plurality of pieces. |
| US09013988B2 |
Enhancing mobile multiple-access communication networks
A method for estimating engine thrust values of an aircraft is disclosed, the method comprising calculating estimated thrust value of an engine based on an equation of longitudinal motion, aircraft data measured during flight and calibrated drag/lift models, and a method for determining the thrust of an aircraft engine, based on information available from tracking the aircraft air-speed, acceleration, and position, the method comprising calculating the thrust, using the following equation: Thrust=mg{dot over (H)}/V+m{dot over (V)}+Drag. |
| US09013987B2 |
Method for handling local link congestion and apparatus
The present invention relates to the field of congestion control, and discloses a method for handling local link congestion and an apparatus. The method includes: negotiating, by a local link control entity, a local congestion notification capability with a local terminal; setting, by the local link control entity, a congestion identifier in a downlink data packet corresponding to the local congestion notification capability when a local link is congested between the local link control entity and the local terminal; and performing, by the local link control entity, congestion control on the local link, or performing, by the local terminal, congestion control on the local link according to the congestion identifier. The apparatus includes a local link control entity and a terminal device. |
| US09013985B2 |
Protection of a bidirectional label switched path
In one embodiment, a primary bidirectional LSP is established between an originating LSP packet switching device and a destination LSP packet switching device through an intermediate packet switching device. A corresponding backup LSP is also established. The originating LSP packet switching device sends a particular label switched packet to the destination LSP packet switching device over the primary bidirectional LSP. An intermediate packet switching device sends the particular label switched packet back to the originating LSP packet switching device over the primary bidirectional LSP in response to an error condition identified as affecting the primary bidirectional LSP towards the destination LSP packet switching device. The originating LSP packet switching device receives the particular label switched packet and sends it to the destination packet switching device over the backup LSP. |
| US09013982B2 |
M-pair mode protection switching
A communication comprises a plurality of digital subscriber line (DSL) links, a first node having at least one application port configured for an elastic service and a plurality of DSL ports, and a second node having at least one application port configured for an elastic service and a plurality of DSL ports. Each of the first and second nodes is configured to interleave data received over the at least one application port across the plurality of DSL ports, each DSL port allocated a set of DSL timeslots for transport of the data received over the at least one application port. When a failure is detected on one of the DSL links, each of the first and second nodes is configured to interleave the data received over the at least one application port across the remaining DSL ports not connected to the failed DSL link without adjusting the set of DSL timeslots allocated to each of the remaining DSL ports for transport of the data from the at least one application port. |
| US09013973B2 |
Carrier frequency acquisition method and apparatus
The present invention discloses a carrier frequency acquisition method and apparatus in which the structure of a transmission frame includes a short training sequence, the method including: delaying a received short training sequence by L sampling points and multiplying the delayed short training sequence with the original short training sequence to obtain a new sequence; delaying the new sequence by D sampling points and conjugate multiplying the delayed new sequence with the original new sequence; accumulating the results of the conjugate multiplication; and evaluating a phase from the result of the accumulation to estimate carrier frequency offset. With the above method, the present invention is capable of greatly improving the acquisition range of carrier frequency offset while requiring a simple set of hardware. |
| US09013971B2 |
Optical disk device and equalizer adjustment method
An optical disk device includes an optical pickup that directs light beams onto a recording surface of an optical disk and receives reflected light, a signal generating unit that generates playback signals based on reflected light received by the optical pickup, an equalizer adjustment unit that performs equalizer adjustment of the playback signals, and an adjustment control unit. The adjustment control unit controls the equalizer adjustment unit so as to perform equalizer adjustment of the playback signals according to the playback signals based on reflected light from a management information area on a recording surface of the optical disk, the management information area including predetermined management information recorded thereon. |
| US09013969B2 |
Video jukebox apparatus and a method of playing music and music videos using a video jukebox apparatus
A digital jukebox (14) allows for playback of a first offering and a second offering. The contents of each offering are individually licensed for public performance at a particular location where the jukebox is found. The jukebox (14) displays advertisements that are selected in response to user interaction with the jukebox or a number of other factors. The jukebox (14) features a screen (18 and 20) that allows user to interact with the jukebox to select offerings, but also to respond to advertising. Jukebox can function in cooperation with a server (12), but in the alternate, can function as an independent and stand-alone device when connection (16) to server (12) is not available. |
| US09013967B1 |
Heat-dissipating stepped slider for a heat-assisted magnetic recording head
In a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) hard disk drive, a heat-dissipating head slider assembly is described in which the slider is stepped on the disk-opposing side and a HAMR laser module is mounted on the lower surface to assist with dissipation of heat from the laser. The lower surface is a surface of the main body of the slider and is composed primarily of a first material, and the slider may include a heat-dissipating plate that forms the higher stepped surface, where the plate is composed of a second material that has a higher thermal conductivity than the first material, such as silicon. |
| US09013965B2 |
Optical pickup device and optical disk drive including the same
Provided are an optical pickup device and an optical disk drive including the same. The optical pickup device includes a quarter-wave plate (QWP) that is disposed parallel to an objective lens and a reflection mirror that reflects a beam back onto the QWP after the beam passed through the QWP. The optical pickup device also includes a polarization mirror that is disposed between the objective lens and the QWP, and which reflects the beam which is generated from a light source onto the QWP, and allows the beam reflected by the reflection mirror to pass through to the objective lens. |
| US09013964B2 |
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head having a plasmon generator
A return path section includes first and second yoke portions and first, second and third columnar portions. The first and second yoke portions and the first columnar portion are located on the same side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to a wave guide core. The second and third columnar portions are located on opposite sides of a plasmon generator and connected to a shield. The first yoke portion connects a main pole to the first columnar portion. The second yoke portion connects the first columnar portion to the second and third columnar portions. A coil is wound around the first columnar portion. |
| US09013957B2 |
Full flow pulser for measurement while drilling (MWD) device
An apparatus, method, and system described for generating pressure pulses in a drilling fluid utilizing a flow throttling device longitudinally and axially positioned within the center of a main valve actuator assembly is described. The main valve actuator assembly includes a main valve pressure chamber, a magnetic cup encompassing a rotary magnetic coupling, and a pilot actuator assembly. Passage of drilling fluid through a series of orifices, valves, shields, and screens where the fluid eventually combines with a pilot exit fluid that flows toward a main exit flow such that as the fluid becomes a pilot fluid that ultimately combines with the main flow such that the combined fluid causes one or more flow throttling devices to generate large, rapid controllable pulses that produce transmission of well developed signals easily distinguished from other noise resulting from other vibrations due to nearby equipment that is within or exterior to the borehole such that the signals also provide predetermined height, width and shape. |
| US09013956B2 |
Method and system for seismic imaging and earth modeling using beam tomography
A beam tomography computer implemented method and system for generating improved seismic images and earth models without dependence on reflector structure is disclosed. Recorded seismic data is transformed into data beams which are compared to forward modeled beams using an earth model having a velocity model to compute raypaths and a seismic image to specify the reflectors. The tomographic updates to the earth model and velocity model are based on misalignments between the data beams and the same beams forward modeled from the velocity model and the seismic image. The updated earth model and seismic image better describe the true propagation of the beams through the earth. |
| US09013953B2 |
Buoy based marine seismic survey system and method
A seismic survey system for recording seismic data underwater. The system includes first plural buoys configured to descend to a first predetermined depth (H1) in water, at least one buoy having a seismic receiver for recording the seismic data; a first vessel configured to launch the first plural buoys; and a first acoustic system attached to the first vessel and configured to detect a position of the at least one buoy while underwater. The at least one buoy is instructed to maintain the first predetermined depth (H1) underwater while recording the seismic data. |
| US09013952B2 |
Marine seismic survey systems and methods using autonomously or remotely operated vehicles
Systems and methods for carrying out seismic surveys and/or conducting permanent reservoir monitoring with autonomous or remote-controlled water vehicles, including surface and submersible vehicles, are described. Additional methods carried out by autonomous or remote-controlled water vehicles and associated with seismic surveys further described. |
| US09013951B2 |
Word line drivers and semiconductor memory devices including the same
Word line drivers including a selection signal generator and a word line drive unit are provided. The selection signal generator generates a selection signal which is enabled according to a high-order address signal and a low-order address signal in an active mode. Further, the selection signal generator generates a complementary selection signal which is enabled when an equalization signal is inputted in a pre-charge mode after the active mode. The word line driver receives the main word line signal to drive a word line to have a first level when the selection signal is enabled, to drive the word line to have a second level when the selection signal is disabled, and to drive the word line to have a third level when the complementary selection signal is enabled. |
| US09013950B2 |
Column select signal generation circuit
A column select signal generation circuit includes: a first current controller configured to control the level of a pre-column select signal in response to a bank active signal, a driver configured to generate an amplified column select signal in response to the pre-column select signal, and a second current controller configured to generate an output signal of the driver as a column select signal in response to the bank active signal. |
| US09013948B2 |
Memory architecture for display device and control method thereof
A memory architecture for a display device and a control method thereof are provided. The memory architecture includes a display data memory and a memory controller. The display data memory includes N sub-memories and N×M arbiters, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer equal to or greater than 2. Each sub-memory includes M memory blocks divided by an address. Each M arbiters are coupled to the M memory blocks of each sub-memory. The memory controller, coupled to the N×M arbiters, generates N×M sets of request signals and output address signals according to a set of an input request signal and an input address signal, and transmits to the N×M arbiters to sequentially control the N×M arbiters. |
| US09013941B2 |
DRAM with pulse sense amp
Disclosed is a pulsed sense amplifier approach for resolving data on a bit line. A chip is provided which comprises a sense amplifier coupled to first and second DRAM bitlines; and a circuit having a trigger node coupled to the sense amp to transition it from a first state to a second state to trigger the sense amp, the circuit having an element to impede the transition once it is initiated. A chip is described which comprises: a DRAM array having a plurality of bitlines; sense amplifiers to resolve data on the bit lines, and a circuit to slow down resolution of the data by the sense amps after they have been triggered to resolve the data. |
| US09013937B2 |
Semiconductor device, method for inspecting the same, and method for driving the same
A method for limiting writing of data to a specific memory cell without disconnecting a wiring of a memory cell array or placing a prober in contact with a memory cell, a row, or a column is provided. Row address data and column address data of a memory cell to which data cannot be written are stored in a register. Enable data which controls data writing is stored in the register. Next, in order to write data to a memory cell, row address data and column address data of a memory cell to which data is written, writing enable data, and the like are output from a logic circuit; thus, writing of data to a memory cell corresponding to the address data stored in the register is inhibited. |
| US09013934B2 |
Method of operating a nonvolatile memory by reprogramming failed cells using a reinforced program pulse in an idle state and memory system thereof
A memory system, and an operation method of a nonvolatile memory, include programming memory cells using a normal program pulse, reading out a first set of data from the memory cells, detecting failed cells based on the first set of data, storing information about the failed cells in a buffer, and reprogramming the failed cells using a reinforced program pulse in an idle state based on the information stored in the buffer. |
| US09013932B1 |
Semiconductor devices and semiconductor systems including the same
A semiconductor system includes a controller and a semiconductor device. The controller outputs offset signals whose level combination is controlled according to temperature code signals including information on an internal temperature. The semiconductor device generates the temperature code signals according to a level combination of the offset signals. Further, the semiconductor device controls a refresh cycle time determined by the level combination of the offset signals. |
| US09013931B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for testing the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a compression unit configured to compress a plurality of data, which are read from a memory cell region based on successive read commands and addresses, and to successively output the compressed data during a first test mode, a latching unit configured to latch the compressed data in response to a read strobe signal and to fix the latched value when a fail is detected from the compressed data during the first test mode, and an output unit configured to output the latched value to the outside during a second test mode. |
| US09013929B2 |
Flash memory device and method for handling power failure thereof
A flash memory device. In one embodiment, the flash memory device includes a flash memory, a diode, a controller, and a capacitor. The flash memory has a voltage source pin. The diode is coupled between a voltage source and the voltage source pin of the flash memory. The controller is coupled to the flash memory via a data bus. The capacitor is coupled between the voltage source pin of the flash memory and a ground, and supplies power to the flash memory to enable the flash memory to complete writing of at least one data page when the level of the voltage source is lowered. |
| US09013928B1 |
Dynamic bit line bias for programming non-volatile memory
A program operation for a set of non-volatile storage elements. A count is maintained of a number of program pulses which are applied to an individual storage element in a slow programming mode, and an associated bit line voltage is adjusted based on the count. Different bit line voltages can be used, having a common step size or different steps sizes. As a result, the change in threshold voltage of the storage element within the slow programming mode, with each program pulse can be made uniform, resulting in improved programming accuracy. Latches maintain the count of program pulses experienced by the associated storage element, while in the slow programming mode. The storage element is in a fast programming mode when its threshold voltage is below a lower verify level, and in the slow programming mode when its threshold voltage is between the lower verify level and a higher verify level. |
| US09013927B1 |
Sector-based regulation of program voltages for non-volatile memory (NVM) systems
Methods and systems are disclosed for sector-based regulation of program voltages for non-volatile memory (NVM) systems. The disclosed embodiments regulate program voltages for NVM cells based upon feedback signals generated from sector return voltages that are associated with program voltage drivers that are driving program voltages to NVM cells within selected sectors an NVM array. As such, drops in program voltage levels due to IR (current-resistance) voltage losses in program voltage distribution lines are effectively addressed. This sector-based regulation of the program voltage effectively maintains the desired program voltage at the cells being programmed regardless of the sector being accessed for programming and the number of cells being programmed. Sector return voltages can also be used along with local program voltages to provide two-step feedback regulation for the voltage generation circuitry. Test mode configurations can also be provided using test input and/or output pads. |
| US09013921B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a first data bus having a first width, and a second data bus which is separate from the first data bus and which has a second width which is different from the first width. The semiconductor memory device further includes a data transfer unit configured for transferring data from memory cells connected to a plurality of bit lines. In a first operational mode, the data transfer unit connects a first number of bit lines from among the plurality of bit lines to the first data bus to transfer the data, the first number being equal to the first width. In a second operational mode, the data transfer unit connects a second number of bit lines from among the plurality of bit lines to the second data bus to transfer the data, the second number being equal to the second width. |
| US09013916B2 |
Josephson magnetic memory cell system
One aspect of the present invention includes a Josephson magnetic memory system. The system includes a superconducting electrode that conducts a read current. The system also includes a hysteretic magnetic Josephson junction (HMJJ). The HMJJ can store a binary value and convert superconducting pairs associated with the read current flowing through the HMJJ from a singlet-state to a triplet-state. The system further includes a write circuit magnetically coupled to the HMJJ and configured to write the binary value into the at HMJJ in response to at least one write current and a read circuit configured to determine the binary value stored in the HMJJ in response to application of the read current to the HMJJ. |
| US09013915B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In an n-channel HK/MG transistor including: a gate insulating film made of a first high dielectric film containing La and Hf; and a gate electrode which is formed of a stacked film of a metal film and a polycrystalline Si film and which is formed in an active region in a main surface of a semiconductor substrate and surrounded by an element separation portion formed of an insulating film containing oxygen atoms, a second high dielectric film which contains Hf but whose La content is smaller than a La content of the first high dielectric film is formed below the gate electrode which rides on the element separation portion, instead of the first high dielectric film. |
| US09013913B2 |
Bipolar resistive-switching memory with a single diode per memory cell
According to various embodiments, a resistive-switching memory element and memory element array that uses a bipolar switching includes a select element comprising only a single diode that is not a Zener diode. The resistive-switching memory elements described herein can switch even when a switching voltage less than the breakdown voltage of the diode is applied in the reverse-bias direction of the diode. The memory elements are able to switch during the very brief period when a transient pulse voltage is visible to the memory element, and therefore can use a single diode per memory cell. |
| US09013912B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of forming same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment comprises: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory layers; and a control unit configured to control a voltage applied to the memory cell array. Each of the memory layers comprises a first line and a second line, and further includes a memory cell disposed between the first line and the second line and including a variable resistance element. The control unit is configured to, when executing a forming operation on the memory cell array, execute the forming operation sequentially on the plurality of memory layers. The forming operation is executed sequentially on the memory layers in ascending order of a magnitude of a non-selected current flowing in a non-selected memory cell during the forming operation. |
| US09013910B2 |
Antifuse OTP memory cell with performance improvement prevention and operating method of memory
Provided is an OTP memory cell including a first antifuse unit, a second antifuse unit, a select transistor, and a well region. The first and the second antifuse unit respectively include an antifuse layer and an antifuse gate disposed on a substrate in sequence. The select transistor includes a select gate, a gate dielectric layer, a first doped region, and a second doped region. The select gate is disposed on the substrate. The gate dielectric layer is disposed between the select gate and the substrate. The first and the second doped region are respectively disposed in the substrate at two sides of the select gate, wherein the second doped region is disposed in the substrate at the periphery of the first and the second antifuse unit. The well region is disposed in the substrate below the first and the second antifuse unit and is connected to the second doped region. |
| US09013908B2 |
Control scheme for 3D memory IC
The present invention discloses a control scheme for 3D memory IC that includes a master chip and at least one slave chip. The master chip includes a main memory core, a first local timer, an I/O buffer, a first pad and a second pad. The at least one slave chip is stacked with the master chip. Each of the slave chip includes a slave memory core, a second local timer and a third pad. A first TSV is coupled to the first pad and the third pad. A logic control circuit layer includes a logic control circuit and a fourth pad, and the logic control circuit is coupled to the fourth pad. A second TSV is coupled to the second pad and the fourth pad. |
| US09013906B2 |
Power system-interconnected inverter device
In a power-system-interconnected inverter device, PI control circuits obtain voltage correction values in directions reducing the current errors on the basis of current errors serving as differences between target current values and detection values. Multiplexers provide modulation circuits with voltage target values corrected by the voltage correction values being added to voltage detection values. The modulation circuits provide gate signals for switch elements in multilevel circuits. In addition, a sign circuit provides gate signals for switch elements in a bridge clamping circuit. |
| US09013903B2 |
High side driver circuitry
One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for controlling a power switch that includes converting a control signal to a current pulse signal, where the control signal is referenced to a first reference potential. The method also includes generating a switch drive voltage signal based on the current pulse signal, where the switch drive signal is referenced to a second reference potential. The method also includes controlling the conduction state of a power switch using the switch drive voltage. |
| US09013900B2 |
Noise reduction unit, power supply device, and method for disposing cores in noise reduction unit
A noise reduction unit includes a plurality of cores each having formed therein a through hole, a plurality of wires connected to a noise source and each wound around the corresponding core through the through hole, and a core supporting member that supports the plurality of cores. The core supporting member supports the plurality of cores in such a manner that the plurality of cores is disposed parallel to each other along a through direction of the through holes and spaced apart from each other with a predetermined gap in the through direction. |
| US09013899B2 |
Constant current power supply apparatus
A constant current power supply apparatus is provided which can drive a load with a constant current, even if the circuit configuration is such that a time delay is generated in the feedback control of a converter, or the like. An FB period restricting circuit including an ON generation circuit, OR circuit, inverter, and PMOS restricts the period during which an FB signal is fed back, to the logical sum of the ON period of an SW signal for driving an LED array on and a replenishment period generated by the OR circuit based on the SW signal. An FB signal generation circuit including a differential amplifier, NMOS, reference voltage, capacitor, and shunt regulator generates, in the replenishment period other than the ON period of the SW signal, an FB signal corresponding to an output current having flown through the LED array during the ON period of the SW signal. |
| US09013897B2 |
Power supply
A power supply applied to an electronic device for providing power includes a transformer unit, a connector, a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control unit, and a switch unit. The connector is electrically connected with the secondary side of the transformer unit for outputting a first output voltage. The PWM control unit outputs a pulse signal with a first period. The switch unit is electrically connected between the PWM control unit and the primary side of the transformer unit. When the electronic device is connected to the power supply, the connector receives an external control signal, and the PWM control unit adjusts the pulse width of the pulse signal to a second period and transmits the pulse signal with the second period to the switch unit to control the connector to output a second output voltage to the electronic device. |
| US09013896B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for power supply employing single-stage forward voltage conversion
A method of supplying direct-current (DC) power is presented herein. In the method, a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal are received. The first electrical signal alternates between a high voltage and a low voltage according to a constant duty cycle. The second electrical signal is synchronized with the first electrical signal. The first electrical signal is gated using the second electrical signal to produce a gated electrical signal with a duty cycle less than the duty cycle of the first electrical signal. The gated electrical signal is filtered to generate a DC output voltage. A difference between the generated DC output voltage and a reference DC voltage is determined. The duty cycle of the gated electrical signal is controlled by controlling the gating of the first electrical signal based on the difference. |
| US09013891B2 |
3-D integrated package
An electronics package includes one or more insulating layers and an electrically conductive transmission line. The electrically conductive transmission line includes a signal trace disposed substantially parallel to the one or more insulating layers. The electrically conductive transmission line further includes one or more signal vias electrically coupled to the signal trace. The one or more signal vias are configured to pass through at least a portion of the one or more insulating layers. The electronics package further includes one or more electrically conductive ground planes substantially parallel to the one or more insulating layers. The ground planes include one or more signal via ground cuts. The one or more signal via ground cuts provide clearance between the one or more signal vias and the one or more ground planes. |
| US09013890B2 |
Semiconductor packages and methods for producing the same
In one embodiment, a semiconductor package includes an isolating container having a recess, which forms an inner membrane portion and an outer rim portion. The rim portion is thicker than the membrane portion. The package includes a semiconductor chip disposed in the recess and a backplane disposed under the membrane portion of the isolating container. |
| US09013888B2 |
Systems and methods for ejecting removable entities from electronic devices
Systems and methods for ejecting removable entities from electronic devices are provided. A removable entity ejection system may include a driver that may be controllable by software (e.g., via a control unit that may be configured to send electrical signals to the driver). The driver may include a driving component that may apply a force directly, or indirectly, to one or more removable entities to eject the one or more removable entities from an electronic device. When the force is applied indirectly, one or more interfacing components may receive the applied force and may transfer the received force to the one or more removable entities to cause ejection thereof. |
| US09013887B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a panel module, a frame, and a fixing device, wherein the panel module has a panel connecting part. The frame has a frame connecting part whose location corresponds to the location of the panel connecting part. The fixing device includes a joint unit and a fixing unit. The joint unit is used for accommodating the panel connecting part and the frame connecting part. The fixing unit is connected to the joint unit such that the frame can be fixed on the panel module. |
| US09013885B2 |
Foldable electrical connector-housing system and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of a foldable electrical connector-housing system includes: providing a first end panel having an outer first end panel side with first end panel contacts that substantially span from one edge of the outer first end panel side to an opposite edge of the outer first end panel side; providing a second end panel having an outer second end panel side, the second end panel and the first end panel with the outer second end panel side facing away from the outer first end panel side and the first end panel contacts exposed in a folded configuration; mounting an electronic component between the outer first end panel side and the outer second end panel side; and connecting a conductor to the first end panel contacts and the electronic component. |
| US09013882B2 |
High-frequency module
A high-frequency module has a multilayer board formed by laminating a plurality of sheets made of a thermoplastic resin material and subjecting the laminated sheets to thermocompression bonding, and an IC chip placed in a cavity provided in the multilayer board. A gap is provided between a side of the IC chip and an inner wall of the cavity. The multilayer board includes a via-hole conductor provided near the inner wall of the cavity for preventing the resin sheets from being softened and flowing into the cavity upon thermocompression bonding. |
| US09013880B2 |
Frame module and computer having the same
A frame module is adapted to be disposed in a housing of a computer for fixing first and second electronic devices. The computer includes a motherboard unit with a socket connector. The frame module includes a frame body having top and bottom surfaces adapted to be connected respectively to the first and electronic devices. An adaptor board includes a board body connected transversely to a rear edge of the frame body and having an edge connector adapted to be inserted into the socket connector, and first and second electrical connectors for electrical connection with the first and second electronic devices, respectively. |
| US09013874B2 |
Heat dissipation device
A heat dissipation device for an electronic device includes a base, a plurality of fins and at least one heat pipe. The base has a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface. A heat-generating component of the electronic device is disposed adjacent to the rear surface. The plurality of fins extend from the front surface of the base. The heat pipe is disposed on the front surface of the base and in a cutout portion of the plurality of fins. The heat dissipation device, which removes heat from the heat-generating component, has a low profile and improved heat dissipation capability. |
| US09013868B2 |
Portable electronic apparatus, expanding platform and combination apparatus thereof
An expanding platform includes a main body, a moving element, a first elastic element and at least one operating element. The main body includes a stop portion. The moving element connects moveably to the main body and includes at least one fixed element. The at least one operating element connected movably to the moving element can move relative to the moving element, and each operating element includes a first operating portion and a second operating portion. The moving element is fixed at an initial position by the stop portion blocking the second operating portion. The first operating portion is pressed when inserting a portable electronic apparatus, and the second operating portion can be moved to escape from the stop portion. The moving element moves to a locking position by the first elastic element and locks the portable electronic apparatus by the at least one fixed element. |
| US09013859B2 |
Laminated electronic component and manufacturing method therefor
A method for manufacturing a laminated electronic component in which, when first plating layers that respectively connect a plurality of internal electrodes to each other and second plating layers that improves the mountability of a laminated electronic component are formed as external terminal electrodes, the entire component main body is treated with a water repellent agent after the formation of the first plating layers, and the water repellent agent on the first plating layers is then removed before the formation of the second plating layers. The gaps between the end edges of the first plating films on the outer surface of the component main body and the outer surface of the component main body are filled with the water repellent agent. |
| US09013854B2 |
Configurable solenoid actuation method and apparatus
A configurable, connectorized method and apparatus for driving a solenoid coil reduces energy consumption and heating of the solenoid coil, allows detection of the solenoid state, and simplifies connections to the solenoid. |
| US09013850B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a sense resistor that converts a sense current flowing through a sense terminal of a switching element to a voltage (sense voltage), and an overcurrent protection circuit that performs a protection operation for the switching element when the sense voltage exceeds a threshold. The overcurrent protection circuit can switch the threshold to a first reference voltage, or to a second reference voltage which is lower than the first reference voltage. The overcurrent protection circuit sets the threshold to the second reference voltage at the time of the switching element being in a steady state, and sets the threshold to the first reference voltage during a mirror period immediately after turning-on of the switching element. |
| US09013848B2 |
Active clamp protection circuit for power semiconductor device for high frequency switching
A protection circuit for a power transistor includes a first transistor connected in parallel with the power transistor and having a control terminal connected to a first power supply voltage through a first resistive element; and a first set of diodes connected between a first terminal and a control terminal of the first transistor. In operation, the voltage at the first terminal of the first transistor is clamped to a clamp voltage and the first transistor is turned on to conduct current in a forward conduction mode when an over-voltage condition occurs at a first terminal of the power transistor. |
| US09013843B2 |
Multiple device voltage electrostatic discharge clamp
A multiple device voltage electrostatic discharge (ESD) clamp includes a trigger circuit, first and second inverters, and an ESD discharge path. The trigger circuit includes a resistor having a first terminal electrically connected to a first voltage supply node, and a capacitor having a first terminal electrically connected to a second voltage supply node. The first inverter has an input terminal electrically connected to second terminals of the resistor and the capacitor. The second inverter has a power terminal electrically connected to an output terminal of the first inverter. The ESD discharge path has a first end electrically connected to the first voltage supply node, and a second end electrically connected to a third voltage supply node, and includes a first transistor controlled by the first inverter, and a second transistor controlled by the second inverter. |
| US09013838B1 |
Anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensors and techniques for fabricating same
Novel anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) sensor architectures and techniques for fabricating same are described. In at least one embodiment, an AMR sensor is provided that includes barber pole structures having upper and low metal layers that are formed of different materials. The metal material closer to the AMR element is formed of a material that can be etched using an etching process that does not attack the AMR material. In some other embodiments, AMR sensors having segmented AMR sensing elements are described. |
| US09013836B1 |
Method and system for providing an antiferromagnetically coupled return pole
A method and system provide a magnetic head having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic head includes a read transducer and a write transducer. The read transducer includes a first shield and a read sensor. The write transducer includes a main pole, at least one coil for energizing the main pole and a return pole between the read sensor and the main pole. The return pole includes an antiparallel coupling (AC) pole structure. The AC pole structure includes a plurality of ferromagnetic layers interleaved with at least one nonmagnetic layer. The ferromagnetic layers and the nonmagnetic spacer layer(s) are substantially parallel. The ferromagnetic layers and the nonmagnetic spacer layer(s) are substantially perpendicular to the ABS. The magnetic moment of each of the ferromagnetic layers is aligned antiparallel with the magnetic moment of a nearest neighbor of the ferromagnetic layers. |
| US09013835B2 |
Low translational load suspension assembly
Implementations described and claimed herein address the foregoing problems by providing a suspension assembly used in a storage device to support a transducer head, wherein the suspension assembly comprises a base plate for attaching to an actuator arm and a moving portion movably attached to the base plate. The base plate is fixed and/or clamped to the actuator arm and the moving portion adapted to rotate about a center of rotation. The moving portion is adapted to have a center of mass of its moving mass substantially close to its center of rotation. In one implementation, a counter-weight is attached to the moving portion to move the center of mass of its moving mass substantially close to its center of rotation to minimize inertial loads to the system during suspension actuation. |
| US09013831B2 |
Write pole fabricated using a carbon hard mask and method of making
A magnetic writer comprises a write pole, a substrate and a non-magnetic, oxygen-free buffer material. The write pole has a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side and second side. The substrate is at the leading edge of the write pole. The non-magnetic, oxygen-free buffer material is located between the write pole and the substrate, and the oxygen-free buffer material is selected from Re, Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, and combinations thereof. |
| US09013830B2 |
Non-uniform write gap perpendicular writer for shingle writing
A PMR writer is disclosed that includes a recessed center section in the write pole trailing edge and a center recessed trailing shield to improve the field gradient at track edge. In all embodiments, there is a non-uniform write gap between the trailing edge and the trailing shield. The recessed portion of the write pole trailing edge and/or center recess of the trailing shield has a thickness from 10 to 40 nm in a down-track direction and a width in a cross-track direction of 20 to 200 nm. The distance between the center recess and a corner of the trailing edge is from 20 to 80 nm. A sequence of steps is provided to fabricate the two embodiments of the present invention. |
| US09013825B1 |
Electronic system with vibration management mechanism and method of operation thereof
An apparatus includes: a media; a head assembly over the media; a head actuation motor coupled to the head assembly; control circuitry, coupled to the head actuation motor, configured to position the head assembly; and a microphone, coupled to the control circuitry, configured to generate a signal in response to a vibration; and wherein: the control circuitry is further configured to: generate a compensation value based on the signal; and control the head actuator motor based on the compensation value. |
| US09013823B2 |
System, method and computer program product for optimization of tape performance
A tape performance optimization method may include accumulating data in a memory, monitoring the accumulation of data, determining whether a certain amount of data has been accumulated in the memory, and causing the accumulated data to be migrated to a tape in a tape library. In one embodiment, the amount of data to be accumulated is set to be two wraps or a multiple thereof. Using embodiments, it can take zero or near zero time to rewind the tape when unloading occurs, eliminating wasted tape movement time and significantly increasing tape performance. In one embodiment, the accumulation of data may be terminated even if the desired amount of data has not been accumulated. In one embodiment, the termination might be triggered by a timeout condition. |
| US09013822B2 |
Creating a single library image from multiple independent tape libraries
A system according to one embodiment includes a plurality of logical libraries configured to store sequential access media therein, a plurality of shuttle cars, and one or more shuttle pathways for the shuttle cars. The shuttle cars are for transporting a sequential access medium between the plurality of logical libraries. Each of the logical libraries comprises at least one local station for sending and/or receiving shuttle cars to and/or from the plurality of logical libraries. The one or more shuttle pathways connect the stations in a multi-drop arrangement. |
| US09013818B1 |
Disk drive measuring reader/writer gap by measuring fractional clock cycle over disk radius
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, and a head actuated radially over the disk, wherein the head comprises a read element separated from a write element by a reader/writer gap. A disk-locked clock is synchronized to a rotation of the disk, wherein the disk-locked clock comprises a plurality of clock cycles, and the reader/writer gap spans a first number of the clock cycles comprising an integer of the clock cycles plus a fraction of one of the clock cycles. The fraction of one of the clock cycles is measured when the head is positioned at a first plurality of radial locations across the disk, and a second plurality of radial locations is estimated where the fraction substantially equals a full one of the clock cycles. |
| US09013813B2 |
Optical imaging lens set and electronic device comprising the same
An optical imaging lens set includes: a first lens element with positive refractive power having an image-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of a circular periphery of the first lens element, a second lens element having an object-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of a circular periphery of the second lens element, a third lens element having an object-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of a circular periphery of the third lens element, a fourth lens element having a concave object-side surface, and a plastic fifth lens element having an image-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of the optical axis. The air gap between the second lens element and the third lens element G23, and the air gap between the third lens element and the fourth lens element G34, satisfied the relation 1.40≦G23/G34. |
| US09013810B2 |
Wide-angle image lens with high resolution and short overall length
A wide-angle image lens, in the order from the object side to the image side thereof, includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens and an image plane. The image lens satisfies the following formulas: D/TTL>0.45; CT4/ET4<2.11; Z/Y>0.06; wherein D is the maximum image diameter of the image plane; TTL is a total length of the wide-angle image lens; CT4 is a distance along an optical axis from the seventh surface to the eighth surface; ET4 is a distance along the optical axis from an outmost edge of the seventh surface to an outmost edge of the eighth surface; Z is a distance from a central point of the fifth surface to an outmost edge of the sixth surface along the optical axis; Y is a distance from the outmost edge of the sixth surface to the optical axis. |
| US09013809B2 |
Image capturing lens and image capturing apparatus provided with the image capturing lens
An image capturing lens which substantially consists of five lenses, composed of a first aspherical lens having a convex surface on the object side and a positive refractive power; a second aspherical lens having a concave surface on the image side and a negative refractive power; a third aspherical lens having a positive refractive power near the optical axis; a fourth aspherical lens having a negative refractive power; and a fifth aspherical lens which is a meniscus lens having a concave surface on the image side and a negative refractive power, arranged in this order from the object side, and satisfies predetermined conditional expressions. |
| US09013802B2 |
Zoom lens, imaging device and information device
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side in an optical axis a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power; a third lens group having a negative refractive power, a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, a fifth lens group having a positive refractive power, and an aperture stop arranged between the third lens group and the fourth lens group, an interval between the first lens group and the second lens group being increased, an interval between the second lens group and the third lens group being varied, an interval between the third lens group and the fourth lens group being decreased, and an interval between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group being decreased when changing a magnification from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end. |
| US09013801B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens substantially consists of, in order from the object side, a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, a positive fourth lens group, and a negative fifth lens group. When varying magnification, the distances between adjacent lens groups are changed, while all of the lens groups are moved with respect to an image formation position. If fw represents the focal length of the entire lens system at the wide angle end, f4 represents the focal length of the fourth lens group, F5 represents the focal length of the fifth lens group, and β5T is an image formation magnification of the fifth lens group when focusing on infinity at the telephoto end, formula (J): 0.50 |
| US09013800B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; and a second lens group having a positive refractive power, provided in this order from an object side. Magnification is changed by moving the first lens group and the second lens group. The first lens group includes a first lens having a negative refractive power, a second lens, a third lens having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens having a positive refractive power, provided in this order from the object side. The zoom lens satisfies predetermined conditional formulae. |
| US09013796B2 |
Virtual image display device
An intermediate image is formed inside the prism by a projection lens or the like, and since an image light that is totally reflected at three or more surfaces; a third surface firstly, a first surface firstly, at a third surface secondly, at a first surface secondly, and the second surface in this order, transmits the first surface and then arrives at an observer's eyes, the thickness of the prism can be reduced and the size and weight of the entire optical system can be reduced, and it is possible to realize a display of high performance and brightness with a wide angle of view. Since the external light can be observed after passing through the first surface and the third surface, and the visibility at that time becomes substantially zero, it is possible to reduce the defocus or distortion of the external light when observing the external light. |
| US09013795B2 |
Optical coating method, apparatus and product
This disclosure is directed to an improved process for making glass articles having optical coating and easy-to clean coating thereon, an apparatus for the process and a product made using the process. In particular, the disclosure is directed to a process in which the application of the optical coating and the easy-to-clean coating can be sequentially applied using a single apparatus. Using the combination of the coating apparatus and the substrate carrier described herein results in a glass article having both optical and easy-to-clean coating that have improved scratch resistance durability and optical performance, and in addition the resulting articles are “shadow free.” |
| US09013794B2 |
Dispersive optical device with three-dimensional photonic crystal
A dispersive optical device with a three-dimensional photonic crystal. The object is to obtain a device having a high damage threshold on the whole and the making of which is facilitated and guaranteeing optimum optical properties. This object is achieved by using a device in silica including a three-dimensional photonic crystal and a diffraction grating. This device may notably be used in a compressor system for a short pulse. |
| US09013790B1 |
High contrast rear projection screen for use with a diverging illumination source
A projection screen includes a transparent substrate having a front side and a backside, a dark film disposed across the front side of the transparent substrate, an array of holes disposed through the dark film, a diffusing layer disposed between the transparent substrate and the dark film, and an array of lenses disposed across the backside of the transparent substrate. The array of lenses are aligned to focus display light incident through the array of lenses towards the array of holes and the diffusing layer diffuses the display light for emission out the array of holes as diffuse display light. |
| US09013789B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; and a second lens group having a positive refractive power, provided in this order from an object side. Magnification is changed by moving the first lens group and the second lens group. The first lens group includes a first lens having a negative refractive power, a second lens, a third lens having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens having a positive refractive power, provided in this order from the object side. The zoom lens satisfies predetermined conditional formulae. |
| US09013788B2 |
Dual-stage sunlight redirection system
A system providing consistent and intense sunlight to light-guiding structures for redirecting sunlight to the interior of a building is presented. One aspect of the inventive subject matter includes an illumination system comprising a solar redirector and at least one optical converter. The solar redirector can be configured to extend outward from a wall of a building and to redirect sunlight to exterior sections of the wall below the solar redirector. The optical converter can be configured to mount on at least one of the exterior sections of the wall and to receive the redirected sunlight and distribute the redirected sunlight to an interior of the building. |
| US09013787B2 |
Microscope and inspection apparatus
A system including a microscope and an inspection apparatus in which an objective lens having a large numerical aperture is used for detecting a defect existing inside a sample. A light source apparatus produces linearly polarized light. The polarization maintaining fibers optically coupled to the light source apparatus project the linearly polarized light onto the sample surface as an illumination beam of P-polarized light at an incidence angle substantially equal to the Brewster's angle of the sample. The scattered light generated by the defect existing in the sample is emitted from the sample and is collected by the objective lens whose optical axis is perpendicular to the sample surface. Since the illumination beam of P-polarized light is projected at the incidence angle equal to the Brewster's angle of the sample, no surface reflection occurs and it is possible to use the objective lens having a large numerical aperture. |
| US09013782B2 |
Low-emissivity panels including magnetic layers
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for forming low emissivity panels that may include a first substrate. The first substrate may have a first side and a second side. The low emissivity panels may also include a magnetic fluid layer deposited over the first side of the first substrate and a reflective layer deposited over the second side of the first substrate. The magnetic fluid layer may include magnetic particles. The reflective layer may include a conductive material configured to conduct an electrical current and generate a magnetic field. The magnetic field may be configured to change an orientation of the magnetic particles in the magnetic fluid layer and a transmissivity of the magnetic fluid layer within a visible spectrum. The low emissivity panels may also include a first bus and a second bus deposited along opposite edges of the reflective layer and electrically connected to the reflective layer. |
| US09013781B2 |
Inks including pigments having tri-block copolymer grafts
Pigment-based inks are provided. The inks include a non-polar carrier fluid and pigment particles suspended in the non-polar carrier fluid. The pigment particles have tri-block copolymer grafts. Each tri-block copolymer graft comprises a tri-block copolymer having three portions: an inner block attached to the pigment particle, a middle block, and an outer block, wherein the inner and outer blocks each contain bulky organic groups to help facilitate solubility of the functionalized polymers in the non-polar solvent and to provide steric stabilization of the resulting particle dispersion in the non-polar solvent, and wherein the middle block contains either acidic or basic functionalized side groups that facilitate charging of the pigment particle. A combination of an electronic display and an electronic ink employing the pigment and a process for making the pigment-based inks are also provided. |
| US09013778B2 |
Laser cuts to reduce electrical leakage
One object of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic device having improved insulating film structure to reduce electrical leakage. The improved structure includes a lower conductive layer, upper conductive layer, an electrochromic electrode layer, a counter electrode layer, and at least one ion-conductor layer sandwiched between the electrochromic electrode layer and the counter electrode layer. The lower conductive layer and the electrochromic electrode layer are scribed and the gap formed from the scribing is filled with the layers formed above the electrochromic electrode layer. In some aspects, the ion-conductor layer is also scribed with the lower conductor and electrochromic electrode layers and the gap formed from the scribing is filled with the layers formed above the ion-conductor layer. In further aspects, the insulating film may include one or more buffer layers formed above an ion-conductor layer, further separating the upper conductive layer from the lower conductive layer. |
| US09013777B2 |
Integrated device architectures for electrochromic devices
This disclosure describes systems and methods for creating monolithically integrated electrochromic devices which may be a flexible electrochromic device. Monolithic integration of thin film electrochromic devices may involve the electrical interconnection of multiple individual electrochromic devices through the creation of specific structures such as conductive pathway or insulating isolation trenches. |
| US09013772B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method of inspecting image, and computer-readable medium storing image inspection control program
An information processing apparatus including a read image obtainer and a setting value calculator implemented by circuitry. The read image obtainer obtains a scanned determination image, including a plurality of different dot patterns output by an image forming apparatus on a recording medium. The setting value calculator, for each of the different dot patterns of the obtained scanned determination image, determines densities of different colors of the respective dot pattern and a total number of pixels influencing the density of each coefficient of a dot gain correction filter, with respect to each target pixel. The setting value calculator further configured calculates the coefficients of the dot gain correction filter based on the determined densities of the different colors of the different dot patterns and the total number of pixels, determined for each coefficient of the dot gain correction filter and for each of the different dot patterns. |
| US09013770B2 |
Image processing device determining whether image is chromatic color image or achromatic color image
In an image processing device, the control device identifies a background color of the image. The control device classifies each of the pixels into either one of a background color pixel group or a non-background color pixel group. The control device determines whether a partial region of the image having the non-background pixel is a chromatic color region or an achromatic color region, without using pixel values corresponding to pixels classified into the background color pixel group. The control device determines that the image is chromatic color image when it is determined that the partial region is the chromatic color region. The control device determines that the image is achromatic color image when it is determined that the partial region is the achromatic color region. |
| US09013767B2 |
Image reading apparatus and method for manufacturing the same
An image reading apparatus including: a conveyor; a first reading unit; a second reading unit; a first frame; and a second frame. The first reading unit extends in a prescribed direction and has a first end on a first side and a third end on a second side opposite to the first side in the prescribed direction. The second reading unit extends in the prescribed direction and has a second end on the first side and a fourth end on the second side. The second reading unit is disposed opposite to the first reading unit with a conveying path along which a sheet is conveyed interposed therebetween. The first frame includes first and second engagement portions configured to be engaged with the first and second ends, respectively. The second frame includes third and fourth engagement portions configured to be engaged with the third and fourth ends, respectively. |
| US09013766B2 |
Image reading apparatus capable of providing improved layout of wiring cable
An image reading apparatus includes: a base section; a reading unit; a movable body; a drive unit; and a cable. The movable body supports the reading unit and reciprocates between first and second end positions in a first direction. The drive unit is disposed on a first side where the first end position is located. The cable has one end portion fixed to a base wall of the base section and another end portion connected to the reading unit. The cable includes: a first elongated portion extending from the one end portion; a curved portion extending from the first elongated portion toward a second side where the second end position is located and then curving toward the first side; and a second elongated portion connected to the another end portion. The curved portion has a part overlapping with the drive unit in the first direction. |
| US09013764B2 |
Reading apparatus that reads original sheet while conveying the same
In a reading apparatus, a control device is configured to: acquire a conveyance path switching information indicating whether a conveyance path switching unit has switched a conveyance path to a first conveyance path or a second conveyance path; judge, based on detection results by a width detecting unit, whether a type of an original sheet that is currently placed on an original sheet placing unit and that is not yet conveyed by a conveyance unit from the original sheet placing unit is a first type or a second type; and determine, based on both of the conveyance path switching information and the type of the not-yet-conveyed original sheet, whether the conveyance unit should stop conveyance of a preceding original sheet that the conveyance unit is currently conveying. |
| US09013762B2 |
Method for scanning documents and automatically controlling the further processing of the documents
In a method for scanning documents, in particular printed sheets of paper, and automatically controlling the further processing of the scanned documents, the following steps are carried out: manually applying at least one marking to a margin area of the document that is not printed on; scanning the document; automatically detecting the at least one marking applied to the margin area of the document; and automatically controlling the further processing of the document according to the marking applied in the margin area. |
| US09013757B2 |
Color conversion coefficient generating apparatus and method, color processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A color conversion coefficient generating apparatus includes a color vision degree coefficient calculating unit and a color conversion coefficient calculating unit. The color vision degree coefficient calculating unit calculates a color vision degree coefficient indicating the degree of color vision deficiency. The color conversion coefficient calculating unit calculates a color conversion coefficient used to convert an input color value, on the basis of correspondence between the color vision degree coefficient, calculated by the color vision degree coefficient calculating unit, and sensitivity characteristics of long- (L), medium- (M), and short- (S) wavelength-sensitive cones. |
| US09013756B2 |
Blended halftone with mixed dot sizes for object oriented halftones
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for printing is disclosed. For example, the method selects a first frequency and a first angle for a low frequency halftone, selects a second frequency and a second angle for a high frequency halftone, wherein the high frequency halftone comprises a large dot cluster and a small dot cluster, tags each one of one or more objects in an image to be printed, selects a low frequency halftone or a high frequency halftone for the each one of the one or more objects that are tagged and prints the image in accordance with the low frequency halftone or the high frequency halftone that is selected for the each one of the one or more objects that are tagged. |
| US09013754B1 |
Color processing device, image forming apparatus, and recording medium
A color processing device includes: an association information acquisition section that acquires first association information obtained by associating first color information and first output color information as a target to be output from a color adjustment-subject unit, and second association information obtained by associating the first color information and second output color information for an image actually output from the color adjustment-subject unit; an output section that outputs second color information to the color adjustment-subject unit; an output color information acquisition section that acquires third output color information; a prediction section that predicts the second association information to be newly applied on the basis of the third output color information; and a conversion relationship preparation section that prepares a conversion relationship for performing a color adjustment on the color adjustment-subject unit on the basis of the predicted second association information and the first association information. |
| US09013753B2 |
Apparatus for printing a digital image on an object, apparatus for scanning an object to create a digital image, and related methods of controlling such apparatuses
The invention relates to a method for controlling an apparatus, in particular a marking apparatus and/or a scanning apparatus, for printing a digital image on an object and/or scanning an object to create a digital image of the object, wherein the digital image comprises pixels arranged in image columns and image rows, wherein the apparatus comprises an operating head having a plurality of operating devices, in particular marking devices and/or sensing devices, wherein the object is moved relative to the operating head in an advance direction, in which the pixel values are transferred between the operating devices and an image storage comprising storing elements arranged in storage columns and storage rows for storing pixel values, particularly in which the operating devices are time dependently supplied with pixel values of the digital image from the image storage, and/or pixel values sensed by the operating devices are transferred to the image storage to form the digital image. The inventive method is characterized in that the operating devices are arranged in an array of array rows and array columns, such that a rectangular pattern of the operating devices is formed, the array of operating devices is tilted by a tilting angle with regard to the advance direction, and the operating devices are controlled according to a mapping algorithm that defines between which operating device and which storing element of the image storage a pixel value is transferred based on the tilting angle. The invention further relates to an apparatus for printing and/or scanning, to a computer program, and a computer program product. |
| US09013751B2 |
Printing apparatus, method, and storage medium for changing a sheet attribute set to a sheet holding unit
A system in which when a setting of a certain sheet storing unit of a group of sheet storing units is changed, and the changed setting of the certain sheet storing unit is different from settings of other sheet storing units within the same group as the certain sheet storing unit, a user is notified accordingly, or the changed setting is set to the other sheet storing units. |
| US09013750B2 |
Image processing for processing image data in correspondence with each pixel of an image
An image processing device processes image data, which expresses an image and is edited to image data including, in correspondence with each pixel of the image, a pixel value field that holds a pixel value of the pixel and an attribute value field that holds an attribute value. The image processing device includes a first and a second image processing module, and a connection module that is connected to the first and second image processing modules, and moves the image data from one image processing module to the other image processing module. At least one of the image processing modules has a first function to output an image processing result for a pixel value of the input image data as an output pixel value, and a second function to output an image processing result for a pixel value of the input image data as an output attribute value. |
| US09013749B2 |
Image reading apparatus, image forming device, and method for controlling reading so frequency of pulse signal to stepper motor reduces vibration during quiet scanning mode
A light source section of the image reading apparatus illuminates a document with light. An image sensor outputs image signals. An operating section accepts input of an enlargement factor and selection of a document scanning mode. An image processing section generates image data, from pixels (lines) in a quantity according to an enlargement factor. A stepper motor moves the document or the light source section. During a quiet mode, a signal generating section inputs to the stepper motor a pulse signal of a fixed frequency within a quiet mode frequency band. The quiet mode frequency band is a frequency band in which vibration of the stepper motor is at or below a predetermined normal vibration level. |
| US09013747B2 |
Data processing device
To provide a technology enabling a terminal device to use various functions provided in a data processing device without the use of a device driver. A multifunction device executes a process for implementing a function indicated by instruction data when such instruction data is stored in a shared area of the RAM. Here, the shared area of the RAM in which the instruction data is stored can be recognized by a personal computer connected to the multifunction device as a storage area that can be accessed through the file system, which is a function provided as a standard feature of the operating system. Accordingly, operations of the multifunction device can be controlled from the personal computer end simply by storing instruction data in the shared area via the operating system, eliminating the need for a special device driver to control the operations of the multifunction device. |
| US09013744B2 |
Image forming system and information processing apparatus
In a case where a set value, which is used during a time of job execution by an image forming apparatus that is different from the use-target image forming apparatus, is selected as a set value to be set into a use-target image forming apparatus, based on set value identification information, an information processing apparatus of an image forming system identifies a set value corresponding to the selected set value from set values for a set item of the use-target image forming apparatus, and transmits setting information, which is for changing a current set value of the use-target image forming apparatus to the identified set value, to the use-target image forming apparatus. |
| US09013739B2 |
Information processing system, image forming apparatus, management apparatus, information processing method, and computer program for automatically determining whether an application is to be applied in response to change in configuration information
A device management module acquires the configuration information from the image forming apparatus and acquires product information of a product that corresponds to the image forming apparatus. The device management module determines whether the condition for validating the application that corresponds to the above-described product in the image forming apparatus is satisfied based on the acquired configuration information and the acquired product information. If the condition is satisfied, the device management module transmits license issuance request information to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus transmits a license issuance request to the device management module to acquire a license and validates the application based on the acquired license. |
| US09013737B2 |
Image reading device and non-transitory computer readable medium storing image reading control program
An image reading device includes: a reading unit that reads image data of a document; a communication unit that communicates with an external apparatus; a start unit that receives a start instruction transmitted from the outside through the communication unit and starts the reading unit; a display; a first screen display unit that displays a first screen on the display before the reading unit starts; a second screen display unit that displays a second screen on the display after the reading unit reads the image data; a start instruction receiving unit that enables the start unit to receive the start instruction during the display of the first screen; and an inhibition unit that inhibits a process which involves a screen change and is not related to a process of reading the image data, while the first screen is displayed. |
| US09013733B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit which reads an image on a document while being conveyed, a cover movable between an opened position where the reading unit is opened and a closed position where the reading unit is covered, a metal pressing member held by the cover and configured to face the reading unit and press the document toward the reading unit when the cover is at the closed position, a metal frame supporting the conveyor and configured to face the pressing member when the cover is at the closed position, and a ground member directly connected to the frame and configured to be separated from the pressing member when the cover is at the opened position, and to be in contact with the pressing member when the cover is at the closed position. |
| US09013728B2 |
Image processing systems that perform communication using at least two communication protocols, data processing apparatuses that perform communication using at least two communication protocols, and computer-readable media storing instructions for such data processing apparatuses
Image processing systems include image processing apparatuses and information processing apparatuses. Image processing apparatuses include first and second communication devices, which communicate using first and second communication protocols, respectively. Information processing apparatuses include third and fourth communication devices, which communicate using the first and second communication protocols, respectively. First and third communication devices communicate therebetween using the first communication protocol to transmit connection information therebetween. The connection information includes information for establishing communication using the second communication protocol. Second and fourth communication devices use the connection information to establish communication therebetween using the second communication protocol to transmit image data therebetween. Image processing apparatuses and information processing apparatuses start processes for completing a job prior to second and fourth communication devices establishing communication therebetween using the second communication protocol. |
| US09013726B2 |
Image reading device and image forming apparatus
An image reading device includes: a feeding unit; a carriage for holding and moving a reading unit; a motor-side transmission gear for transmitting a power from a motor; a feeding unit-side transmission gear for transmitting the power to the feeding unit; a carriage-side transmission gear for transmitting the power to the carriage; a switching gear switched between a carriage-side position where the motor-side and the carriage-side transmission gears are coupled and a feeding unit-side position where the motor-side and the feeding unit-side transmission gears are coupled; and a control unit for performing: a prediction process of predicting whether a feeding unit read mode will be executed before receiving a reading start instruction; and a switching process of switching the switching gear to the feeding unit-side position when the feeding unit mead mode is predicted to be executed. |
| US09013724B2 |
Information processing apparatus and program
An information processing apparatus is disclosed, including: a first storage unit which stores printing setting information used in an OS, the printing setting information including identifying information and a setting value of each setting item in printing; a second storage unit which stores customizing information including identifying information and a default value of a predetermined setting item that is included in a printer driver; and an updating unit which updates a setting value of the printing setting information to the default value and identifying information of the printing setting information to identifying information of the customizing information when the identifying information included in the printing setting information and the identifying information stored in the second storage unit differ when the printing setting information read by the OS from the first storage unit is obtained. |
| US09013720B2 |
Resource saving while avoiding customer wait annoyance
Systems and methods receive user feedback during user interaction with at least one printing apparatus to record user annoyance measurements for one or more users into memory of at least one computerized device. The systems and methods automatically calculate one or more user annoyance curves for the users from the user annoyance measurements. The annoyance curves relate to one or more performance characteristics of the printing apparatus. The systems and methods automatically select a specific annoyance curve from the annoyance curves depending upon which of the users is utilizing the printing apparatus. The systems and methods automatically determine a performance characteristic level for the printing apparatus that will maintain user annoyance below a predetermined standard for each of the users using the specific annoyance curve for each user. The systems and methods automatically set components of the printing apparatus to operate so as to achieve the identified performance characteristic level. |
| US09013719B2 |
Non-print mode in a multifunction printing device
A multifunction print device and a method of using the multifunction device is disclosed. The multifunction print device includes a user interface comprising at least one input mechanism configured to transmit a user request to enter at least one of a print mode and a non-print mode; a plurality of elements configured to be in either an active or inactive state, wherein the elements comprise one or more first elements configured to perform printing functions and one or more second elements configured to perform non-printing functions; and a control system configured to, in response to a user request to enter non-print mode, switch the one or more second elements from an inactive state to an active state while keeping the one or more second elements in an inactive state. |
| US09013718B2 |
Print control apparatus, control method thereof, and device driver for converting commands from one format to another
In order to allow any device to use a graphics device interface (GDI) driver without having to modify it once the GDI driver has been developed, the GDI driver is configured to create a spool format in a next-generation print path (NGPP) graphics engine specification and to convert drawing data in the spool format in the NGPP graphics engine specification into a page description language (PDL) by using an NGPP driver. |
| US09013713B2 |
Relief pattern detection device
The present invention aims to provide a highly reliable relief pattern detection device 1, including a slant FOP 3 having an input end surface 4 with which an object surface makes contact and an output end surface 5 substantially parallel to the input end surface 4, an irradiation light source 10 disposed on the output end surface 5 side of the slant FOP 3, for irradiating the output end surface 5 with light, and a CCD camera 11 disposed on the output end surface 5 side of the slant FOP 3, for detecting a relief pattern based on light emitted from the output end surface 5, in which optical axes Rf of optical fibers are inclined so as to create a first angle α less than 90° in one direction from the output end surface 5 within a predetermined plane substantially perpendicular to the output end surface 5, the irradiation light source 10 irradiates the output end surface 5 with light in a direction to create a second angle β less than 90° in the other direction from the output end surface 5 within the predetermined plane, and the first angle α and the second angle β are set so that light made incident from the output end surface 5 into a core 8 of the optical fiber 6 enters into a cladding 9. |
| US09013711B2 |
Contour sensor incorporating MEMS mirrors
A structured light sensor system for measuring contour of a surface includes a control module that coordinates control of both a projection system and an imaging system to operate the structured light sensor system in three different modes. The imaging system is configured to selectively capture an image of light reflected off of the surface. In point mode, the imaging system is on for a first period during which the projection system projects a point of light onto the surface. In line mode, the imaging system is on for a second period during which the projection system projects onto the surface a first plurality of points of light forming a line of light. In area mode, the imaging system is on for a third period during which the projection system projects onto the surface a second plurality of points of light forming a plurality of lines of light. |
| US09013709B2 |
Method and device for detecting motion
A method for detecting motion direction of an object (4) comprises the steps of: laser output light (L1) is generated, using a semiconductor laser (2) having a thermal response frequency (fr); the laser is driven with rectangularly modulated DC current (I) having a modulation frequency higher than said thermal response frequency (fr) and preferably higher than twice said thermal response frequency (fr), such as to triangularly modulate the wavelength of the laser output light; the laser output light is directed to the object; a portion of reflected light (L3) is allowed to interfere with light (L0) within the laser; a portion of the laser light is used as measuring beam (5); the frequency spectrum of the measuring beam (5) is analyzed in conjunction with the modulated laser current in order to determine the direction of movement of the object (4). |
| US09013700B2 |
Variable path length photon trapping spectrometer
A system and method of photon trapping spectroscopy to vary the path length of light for use in spectroscopy. The systems and method include a rotating reflector with slits for selectively permitting light to enter and exit into a reflection cavity containing a sample to be analyzed. After entering the cavity, but before exiting, the light is trapped and repeatedly reflects back and forth through a sample, effectively increasing the path length of light through a sample. The effective path length is quickly adjustable by altering the rotation speed of the rotating reflector to alter the time in which the light is trapped within the cavity. The systems and methods provide a spectroscope with a wide dynamic range, low detection limits, and usable with broadband and monochromatic light sources throughout the optical region (ultraviolet to infrared). |
| US09013699B2 |
Vaccine testing system
Several methods and apparatuses for determining whether a vaccine specimen has previously frozen. One method includes providing a known value correlating to the settling of vaccine known to have previously frozen, and, upon agitation of the specimen, directing light substantially through the specimen as the specimen settles. The amount of light that passes through the specimen correlates to the settling of the specimen and is compared to the known value to determine whether the specimen has previously frozen. Another method includes providing light of a predetermined wavelength and directing the light through the specimen. The intensity of the light transmitted through the specimen is compared to the intensity of light of the predetermined wavelength having passed through an amount of vaccine known to have previously frozen. Based on this comparison, a determination is made whether the specimen has previously frozen. |
| US09013698B2 |
Imaging systems for optical computing devices
Optical computing devices are disclosed. One optical computing device includes an electromagnetic radiation source that emits electromagnetic radiation into an optical train to optically interact with a sample and at least one integrated computational element, the sample being configured to generate optically interacted radiation. A sampling window is arranged adjacent the sample and configured to allow transmission of the electromagnetic radiation therethrough and has one or more surfaces that generate one or more stray signals. A first focal lens is arranged to receive the optically interacted radiation and the one or more stray signals and generate a primary focal point from the optically interacted radiation. A structural element defines a spatial aperture aligned with the primary focal point such that the optically interacted radiation is able to pass therethrough while transmission of the one or more stray signals is substantially blocked by the structural element. |
| US09013696B2 |
Light quality evaluating device
The present invention relates to a light quality evaluating device, comprising a light receiving unit, first processing unit, a memory unit, a second processing unit, a display unit, and a power management unit, and being used for evaluating the light quality light based on physiological perception of human. In evaluating operation, it transfers a power spectrum of the light emitted from a light source to a luminance spectrum of light through a luminosity function. Next, the method compares the luminance spectrum of light with a corresponding luminance spectrum of blackbody radiation thereof. Therefore, an index of spectral resemblance with respect to the black body radiation (SRBR) would be calculated and then obtained, such that the SRBR can be used for evaluating the quality of the light emitted from the light source. Moreover, comparing to conventional CRI, SRBR is a better light quality evaluating method because of having fairness and consistency. |
| US09013693B2 |
Particle analyzer, optical system for particle analyzer, and lens for particle analyzer
A particle analyzer comprises a light source, a flow cell, an irradiating optical system, and a light receiving optical system. The light receiving optical system comprises a light focusing lens system which includes a light focusing lens configured to focus forward scattered light from the particles, a light receiving member configured to receive the forward scattered light, and a beam stopper. The beam stopper is provided in the light path between the light focusing lens system and the light receiving member. The light focusing lens has an aspheric lens form. The light focusing lens system is configured such that the focal distance of the forward scattered light through the central area which includes the optical axis is longer than the focal distance of the forward scattered light through the peripheral area outside the central area. |
| US09013691B2 |
Snapshot spectral imaging based on digital cameras
Snapshot spectral imagers comprise an imaging lens, a dispersed image sensor and a restricted isometry property (RIP) diffuser inserted in the optical path between the source image and the image sensor. The imagers are used to obtain a plurality of spectral images of the source object in different spectral bands in a single shot. In some embodiments, the RIP diffuser is one dimensional. An optional disperser may be added in the optical path, to provide further dispersion at the image sensor. In some embodiments, all imager components except the RIP diffuser may be part of a digital camera, with the RIP diffuser added externally. In some embodiments, the RIP diffuser may be included internally in a digital camera. |
| US09013688B2 |
Method for optical inspection, detection and analysis of double sided wafer macro defects
A method of automatic optical self-contained inspection for detection of macro defects of sub-pixel defect size in pattern wafers and non-pattern wafers is based on surface light scattering color-intensity computerized analysis. The method includes setting-up initial calibration and deriving correction data. A wafer image is acquired and rendered and compensated for lighting intensity and optical sensor sensitivity color spectra biases and spatial variances prior to displaying the inspection results. |
| US09013683B2 |
Substrate table, a lithographic apparatus and a device manufacturing method
A table for a lithographic apparatus, the table having a catchment opening formed in an upper surface of the table, the catchment opening in fluid communication through the table with the environment of the table at a drain opening in a surface of the table other than the upper surface. |
| US09013682B2 |
Clamping device and object loading method
The present invention relates to a clamping device configured to clamp an object (20, 120) on a support (1, 101). The clamping device comprises: a first device configured to force the object and the support away from each other using a first force, and a second device configured to force the object and the support towards each other using a second force. The first device and second device are configured to simultaneously exert the first force and the second force respectively to shape the object to a desired shape before completing the clamping of the object on the support. |
| US09013681B2 |
Movable body apparatus, pattern formation apparatus and exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
On the +X and −X sides of a projection unit, a plurality of Y heads are arranged in parallel to the X-axis by a predetermined distance half or less than half the effective width of the scale, so that two heads each constantly form a pair and face a pair of Y scales. Similarly, on the +Y and −Y sides of the projection unit, a plurality of X heads are arranged in parallel to the Y-axis by the predetermined distance described above, so that two heads each constantly form a pair and face a pair of X scales. Of the pair of heads consisting of two heads which simultaneously face the scale, measurement values of a priority head is used, and when abnormality occurs in the measurement values of the priority head due to malfunction of the head, measurement values of the other head is used. Then, by using the measurement values of the two pairs of Y heads and the pair of X heads, a position of a stage within a two-dimensional plane is measured in a stable manner and with high precision. |
| US09013680B2 |
Illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
An illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes a beam deflection array including a number beam deflection elements, for example mirrors. Each beam deflection element is adapted to deflect an impinging light beam by a deflection angle that is variable in response to control signals. The light beams reflected from the beam deflection elements produce spots in a system pupil surface. The number of spots illuminated in the system pupil surface during an exposure process, during which a mask is imaged on a light sensitive surface, is greater than the number of beam deflection elements. This may be accomplished with the help of a beam multiplier unit that multiplies the light beams reflected from the beam deflection elements. In another embodiment the beam deflecting elements are controlled such that the irradiance distribution produced in the system pupil surface changes between two consecutive light pulses of an exposure process. |
| US09013679B2 |
Collector mirror assembly and method for producing extreme ultraviolet radiation
A collector mirror assembly includes a collector mirror that includes a reflective surface and a hole having an edge. The hole extends through the reflective surface. The assembly also includes a tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The tubular body is constructed and arranged to guide a gas flow in a direction substantially transverse to the reflective surface. The outer surface of the tubular body and the edge of the hole form an opening arranged to guide a further gas flow that diverges with respect the gas flow substantially transverse to the reflective surface. |
| US09013678B2 |
Projection objective having mirror elements with reflective coatings
An optical system is disclosed that includes a plurality of elements arranged to image radiation at a wavelength λ from an object field in an object surface to an image field in an image surface. The elements include mirror elements have a reflective surface formed by a reflective coating positioned at a path of radiation. At least one of the mirror elements has a rotationally asymmetrical reflective surface deviating from a best-fit rotationally symmetric reflective surface by about λ or more at one or more locations. The elements include an apodization correction element effective to correct a spatial intensity distribution in an exit pupil of the optical system relative to the optical system without the apodization correcting element. The apodization correction element can be effective to increase symmetry of the spatial intensity distribution in the exit pupil relative to the optical system without the apodization correcting element. |
| US09013675B2 |
Liquid recovery system, immersion exposure apparatus, immersion exposing method, and device fabricating method
A liquid recovery system is used by an immersion exposure apparatus. The liquid recovery system comprises: a plate that has a first surface and a second surface on the side opposite the first surface; and a liquid recovery part, at least part of which opposes the second surface with a first gap interposed therebetween. The liquid recovery system recovers the liquid on a movable object that opposes the first surface of the plate via the liquid recovery part. |
| US09013670B2 |
First substrate sheet, liquid crystal panel having first substrate sheet and method for manufacturing same
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel having the first substrate sheet. The object of the present invention can be accomplished by a liquid crystal capsule which is mixed with a binder and printed on one surface of the first substrate on which the transparent electrode is formed; a transparent adhesive applied to entirely cover the liquid crystal capsule and the binder printed on the first substrate; and a releasing sheet which is attached to entirely cover the transparent adhesive applied on the first substrate. |
| US09013663B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a gate line and an auxiliary capacitance line extending in a first direction, a source line extending in a second direction orthogonally crossing the first direction, and a pixel electrode having a main pixel electrode arranged on the auxiliary capacitance line and extending in the first direction. The second substrate includes a common electrode having a main common electrode arranged above the gate line and extending in the first direction. A liquid crystal layer is held between the first substrate and the second substrate having liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal molecules are initially aligned in the first direction in a splay alignment state between the first substrate and the second substrate in a state where electric field is not formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. |
| US09013659B2 |
Method and device for liquid crystal optical alignment
The present invention provides a method for liquid crystal alignment, which includes: providing a substrate, the substrate being disposed with a liquid crystal layer; using a first radiation beam and a second radiation beam to radiate the substrate, the first radiation beam being for performing alignment on liquid crystal layer and the second beam being for adjusting substrate temperature. The method and device for liquid crystal alignment of the present invention can rapidly adjust environment temperature during liquid crystal alignment and achieve optimization of reaction speed and uniformity through temperature control during polymerization. The present invention is simple in structure, easy to operate and low cost. |
| US09013658B2 |
Method of manufacturing reflective color filter
Provided is a method of manufacturing a reflective color filter. According to the method, the reflective color filter may reflect light having a desired wavelength by controlling the distance between colloidal particles. The method of manufacturing a reflective color filter may include forming colloidal particles having a charged surface, forming colloidal crystals by controlling distances between the colloidal particles, and forming a photonic crystal composite by fixing the colloidal crystals having the colloidal particles. |
| US09013656B2 |
Polarizing plate and liquid crystal display
A polarizing plate according to the invention includes a first protective film; a polarizer; a second protective film; and an adhesive layer in this order, in which a moisture vapor permeability of the first protective film is less than or equal to 200 g/m2/24 hours, the second protective film contains cellulose acylate as a major component, a creep amount of the adhesive layer is less than 100 μm, and a shrinkage force of the polarizing plate in an absorption axis direction thereof which is represented by the following expression (A) is lower than or equal to 2000 N/m. Expression (A) is the Shrinkage Force (N/m) of Polarizing Plate in Absorption Axis Direction=Elastic Modulus (GPa) of Polarizing Plate in Absorption Axis Direction×|Humidity Dimensional Change Rate (%) of Polarizing Plate in Absorption Axis Direction|×Thickness (μm) of Polarizing Plate×10. |
| US09013652B2 |
Lighting device and liquid crystal display device provided with same
Provided is an illumination device capable of housing and fixing a plurality of light guide plates inside a chassis. The illumination device has a rectangular box-shaped chassis, a plurality of horizontally long rectangular light guide plates that are housed inside the chassis while arranged side by side on the bottom surface, light sources that emit light to the shorter side end faces of the respective light guide plates such that the light enters the respective light guide plates, and a plurality of support members that clamp the respective light guide plates on the bottom surface of the chassis. Each support member has a holding part that makes contact with upper surfaces of respective light guide plates at the long-side edges, a shank extending from the holding part, and a pair of locking pieces elastically deformable toward and away from each other, the pair of locking pieces being provided at an end of the shank and being inserted and engaged in an attachment hole in the bottom plate. |
| US09013651B2 |
Backlight unit comprising a sheet guide having an opening surrounding edges of a bottom cover, light sources, and a light source fixing unit and liquid crystal display device using the same
Disclosed are a backlight unit, an assembly structure of which is modified to minimize the thickness of a bezel and to prevent optical defects, such as light leakage, and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight unit. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel, at least one light source fixing unit on which plural light sources are mounted and which is fixed to the inner side surface of a bottom cover, a diffusion plate receiving light from the plural light sources through a light entry plane and changing the progress direction of light into a forward direction, a sheet guide formed on the front surface of the bottom cover in a shape in which the inside of the sheet guide is opened, and plural optical sheets disposed on the sheet guide and separated from the diffusion plate to perpendicularly emit light from the diffusion plate. |
| US09013649B2 |
Array substrate for transflective liquid crystal display device and fabrication method thereof
An array substrate for a transflective liquid crystal display device and its fabrication method are discussed. In one embodiment, an array substrate for a transflective liquid crystal display device includes a gate pad on a base substrate, a gate insulator on the gate pad and having an opening exposing a portion of the gate pad, an auxiliary pad pattern on the gate insulator and made of an intrinsic amorphous silicon layer, and a conductive layer on the auxiliary pad pattern and contacting the gate pad through the opening. |
| US09013644B2 |
Charge recovery scheme
Shuttering eyewear (or shutter glasses) may be used to enable stereoscopic 3D and to provide different images to two viewers using a single display, known as Dual View. The shuttering eyewear may utilize charge recovery circuits. The charge recovery circuits may achieve high charge recovery efficiencies on the order of 80 to 90 percent resulting in a dramatic reduction in power supply battery operating current and a resulting increase in operating time. The charge recovery circuits may utilize switch mode boost conversion to recover most of the charge from a shutter that is being closed to one that is to be opened. Further, a charge recovery method for utilizing energy stored on a capacitive storage device may include closing a first active shutter, moving charge to a converter in buck mode to a capacitor, and pulling charge from the capacitor to open a second shutter. |
| US09013642B2 |
Display device
A display device including a substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a form of a matrix in a plane parallel with the substrate, a display functional layer exerting an image display function on a basis of an image signal supplied to the plurality of pixel electrodes, a driving electrode opposed to the plurality of pixel electrodes, and a plurality of detecting electrodes arranged in a form of a plane opposed to the driving electrode, separated and arranged at a pitch of a natural number multiple of an arrangement pitch of the pixel electrodes in one direction in the arrangement plane, and each capacitively coupled with the driving electrode. |
| US09013638B2 |
Laser based display method and system
The present invention is directed to display technologies. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention provide projection display systems where one or more laser diodes are used as a light source for illustrating images. In one set of embodiments, the present invention provides projector systems that utilize blue and/or green laser fabricated using gallium nitride containing material. In another set of embodiments, the present invention provides projection systems having digital lighting processing engines illuminated by blue and/or green laser devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a 3D display system. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US09013632B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for user controlled synchronization of presented video and audio streams
Systems and methods are operable to correct synchronization between a video stream and an audio stream presented to a user. An exemplary embodiment receives a synchronization correction instruction, wherein the synchronization correction is configured to be initiated by the user; and incrementally adjusts one of the video stream and the audio stream by a synchronization correction, wherein the synchronization correction advances or retards presentation of at least one of the video stream and the audio stream by a predefined duration. |
| US09013631B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing and displaying multiple captions superimposed on video images
Methods and apparatus for processing and displaying caption information associated with a video program are provided. The caption information is extracted from a video signal and different captions are rendered in sequence for different segments of the video program. A plurality of the different captions is blended in a form for simultaneous display superimposed on video images during one of the different segments of the video program. The different captions may be the latest caption corresponding to the current segment of video and a previous caption corresponding to a previous video segment. These different captions can be displayed such that they overlie each other and such that their opacity is different. In this manner, a viewer is able to have a prolonged period of time to read captions and can readily distinguish the current caption from the previous caption. |
| US09013628B2 |
Lens barrel and image pickup apparatus
A lens barrel includes: a lens holding frame holding a lens; a mounting member to which the lens holding frame is mounted; an inclination regulating member regulating a position of the lens holding frame with respect to the mounting member, thereby regulating inclination of the lens holding frame with respect to an optical axis; and an eccentricity regulating member regulating the position of the lens holding frame with respect to said mounting member, thereby regulating eccentricity of the lens holding frame with respect to the optical axis, in which the eccentricity regulating member is supported by said inclination regulating member. |
| US09013627B2 |
Image capturing device and capturing method with light assistance
An image capturing device and a capturing method with light assistance are provided, wherein the image capturing device has a multi-directional lighting unit. In the method, at least two areas are defined continuously according to information provided by the image capturing device after the image capturing device enters a capture mode. Before a capture result is obtained, the multi-directional lighting unit is dynamically controlled to project different light beams to at least two latest areas. |
| US09013622B2 |
Operation device
An operation device includes a fixed member, an operation member arranged to be manually rotatable, a load section configured to apply a predetermined load to the operation member, a transducer configured to come into friction contact with the load section, a position detecting section configured to detect a relative position of the operation member with respect to the fixed member or the load section, an operation mode setting section, and an operation sense control section configured to control oscillation applied to the load section by the transducer to thereby change a sense of operation obtained from the operation member when the operation member is rotated. The operation sense control section causes, on the basis of an output from the position detecting section, the operation member to generate a sense of click corresponding to the set operation mode. |
| US09013621B2 |
Image sensor module and camera module using same
An image sensor module includes a rigid-flex board, an image sensor, and a supporting plate. The rigid-flex board defines a through hole, and includes a plurality of connecting pads adjacent to the through hole. The image sensor is positioned on one side of the rigid-flex board, and includes an image surface and a plurality of pins adjacent to the image surface. The image surface faces the through hole, and the pins are connected to the connecting pads. The supporting plate is positioned on the side of the rigid-flex board. The image sensor is positioned between the supporting plate and the rigid-flex board. |
| US09013620B2 |
Multiple band imager and method
Apparatus for imaging a scene, comprising a focusing structure for focusing light emanating from a scene on an imaging subsystem, and an imaging subsystem. The imaging subsystem includes an imager, disposed within the optical path of the focusing structure, having an array of pixels sensitive to light at frequencies higher than far infrared frequencies, and a frequency shifter disposed between the lens element and the imager. The frequency shifter includes an array of frequency-shifting elements disposed over a subset of the array of pixels, the elements shifting the far infrared frequencies from the focused light to higher frequencies and transmitting the resulting signals to the subset of the array of pixels. |
| US09013619B2 |
Camera with multi-function display
A camera is provided that includes a first panel including a plurality of lens units to capture an image, the lens units being disposed at one side of the first panel; a second panel that is rotatably connected to one edge of the first panel so that the first panel and the second panel rotate relative to each other between a first position contacting the one side of the first panel and a second position contacting the other side of the second panel; and an electronic mirror display unit to display an image if a signal is applied to the electronic mirror display unit and to reflect light if a signal is not applied to the electronic mirror display unit, the electronic mirror display unit being disposed at one side of the second panel corresponding to the one side of the first panel at the first position. |
| US09013618B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and its control method
An image pickup apparatus controls in such a manner that if a touch applied to a touch operation member is detected by a detection unit arranged to detect a touch operation applied to the touch operation member, a photographic preparation unit makes an adjustment of a photographic setting, and after the touch, if the detection unit detects a predetermined touch operation and thereafter detects that the touch operation member loses the touch applied thereto, a photographic processing unit does not execute a photographic processing, while after the touch, if the detection unit detects that the touch operation member loses the touch applied thereto without detecting the predetermined touch operation, the photographic processing unit executes the photographic processing. |
| US09013617B2 |
Gyroscope conditioning and gyro-camera alignment
An apparatus and method for generating parameters for an application, such as an augmented reality application (AR app), using camera pose and gyroscope rotation is disclosed. The parameters are estimated based on pose from images and rotation from a gyroscope (e.g., using least-squares estimation with QR factorization or a Kalman filter). The parameters indicate rotation, scale and/or non-orthogonality parameters and optionally gyroscope bias errors. In addition, the scale and non-orthogonality parameters may be used for conditioning raw gyroscope measurements to compensate for scale and non-orthogonality. |
| US09013611B1 |
Method and device for generating a digital image based upon a selected set of chrominance groups
A method of generating a digital image is described. The method comprises detecting light from a scene to form an image; identifying an aberration in the image; and implementing a color filter array interpolator based upon the detected aberration in the image. A device for generating a digital image is also described. |
| US09013604B2 |
Video summary including a particular person
A digital video camera system that provides a video summary using a method that includes: designating a reference image containing a particular person; capturing a video sequence of the scene using the image sensor, the video sequence including a time sequence of image frames; processing the captured video sequence using a video processing path to form a digital video file; during the capturing of the video sequence, analyzing the captured image frames using a person recognition algorithm to identify a subset of the image frames that contain the particular person; forming the video summary including fewer than all of the image frames in the captured video sequence, wherein the video summary includes at least part of the identified subset of image frames containing the particular person; storing the digital video file in the storage memory; and storing a representation of the video summary in the storage memory. |
| US09013602B2 |
Digital camera system having a retail mode
A digital camera system having a retail mode, comprising: an image sensor; an optical system for forming an image of a scene; a data processing system; a storage memory; and a program memory storing instructions configured to implement a method for automatically deleting captured digital images. The stored instructions include setting the digital camera system to operate in the retail mode in response to detecting a predefined first condition; enabling a user to capture a plurality of digital images, storing any digital images captured while the digital camera system is operating in the retail mode in the storage memory; and automatically deleting at least some of the stored digital images from the storage memory in response to detecting a predefined second condition, wherein any stored digital images that were not captured in the retail mode are not deleted from the storage memory. |
| US09013600B2 |
Filing digital images using voice input
Method and device for naming digital image data files stored on a camera enabled device having an image sensor, an audio sensor, a display and a memory, including: capturing image data through the image sensor; automatically displaying on the display a default filename for an image data file for the captured image data; monitoring the audio sensor for voice input upon detecting a user input selecting the default filename, and determining a new filename for the image data file in dependence on a text translation of the voice input. A folder name can alternatively be determined in dependence on a text translation of a voice input and an image data file for the captured image data saved in the memory using a folder having the folder name. |
| US09013595B1 |
Digital video camera with internal data sample compression
An apparatus generally comprising a first encoder, a decoder and a second encoder is disclosed. The first encoder may be configured to generate a plurality of first compressed samples from a plurality of data samples of a picture. The data samples generally include a plurality of luminance samples and chrominance samples created internal to a digital video camera. The decoder may be configured to generate a plurality of reconstructed samples from the first compressed samples. The second encoder may be configured to generate a plurality of second compressed samples based on the reconstructed samples. |
| US09013592B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for presenting burst images
An apparatus, method and computer program product for presenting burst images are provided. The apparatus may include a processor that may be configured to receive a plurality of burst images. Each burst image may differ from the other burst images based on a variable parameter. The processor may also be configured to provide for a presentation of a sample burst image. In this regard, the sample burst image may be one of the plurality of burst images. The processor may be further configured to receive a selected location within the presentation of the sample burst image and provide for a presentation of a plurality of burst image fragments associated with each of the plurality of burst images. In this regard, the burst image fragments may be portions of each of the burst images, where the areas of each burst image may be determined based on the selected location. |
| US09013591B2 |
Method and system of determing user engagement and sentiment with learned models and user-facing camera images
In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes the step of obtaining a digital image of a user with a user-facing camera of a computing device. It is determined that the digital image includes a frontal image of the user. A user-sentiment score is calculated based on at least one attribute of the frontal image. A user engagement value is determined with respect to a portion of a display of the computing device. At least one of the frontal image of the user, the user-sentiment score or the gaze position of the user is communicated to an external server process or an application operating in the computing device. |
| US09013590B2 |
Pixel multiplication using code spread functions
Methods and apparatus for pixel multiplication in optical imaging systems. In one example, an expanded optical point spread function, referred to as a code spread function, is used to phase modulate an incident electromagnetic wavefront, and digital processing, including correlation techniques, are used to filter and process the modulated wavefront to recover sub-pixel information from an image produced by the wavefront on a pixilated detector array. |
| US09013589B2 |
Digital image processing apparatus and digital image processing method capable of obtaining sensibility-based image
A digital image processing method includes obtaining photographing setting information from an input image, obtaining one or more candidate images corresponding to the obtained photographing setting information from a first database that stores candidate images, and determining photographing setting information for a selected candidate image from a second database that stores photographing setting information corresponding to the candidate images. A digital image processing apparatus includes a photographing setting information obtaining unit that obtains photographing setting information from an input image, a candidate image determining unit that determines one or more candidate images corresponding to the obtained photographing setting information from a first database that stores candidate images, and a photographing setting information determining unit that determines photographing setting information corresponding to a selected candidate image from a second database that stores photographing setting information corresponding to the candidate images. |
| US09013587B2 |
Method and apparatus to correct digital image blur by combining multiple images
Methods and apparatus for correcting digital image blur caused by motion of imaging device or subject. A method comprising displaying an image in a viewfinder, designating by a processor or by the user a main subject in the displayed image, capturing multiple images of the main subject, combining multiple images. Combining the multiple images may include calculating pixel values for the corrected image based on pixel values in the combined multiple images. Method may include shifting the multiple images to align the main subject in each of the images. |
| US09013586B2 |
Integrated substrate for anti-shake apparatus
An integrated substrate for an anti-shake apparatus defined with an optical axis includes: a substrate, a lens module, an anti-shake apparatus and an image-sensing module. The substrate includes a frame having a predetermined thickness. The frame includes a first surface, a second surface, a first circuit layout, and a second circuit layout. The lens module is located above the substrate on the optical axis. The anti-shake apparatus is furnished between the lens module and the substrate. The image-sensing module has an active side and an inactive side, and the inactive side is furnished onto the second surface. The active side is located on the optical axis in a manner of facing the lens module. The anti-shake apparatus is coupled to the first circuit layout, while the image-sensing module is coupled to the second circuit layout. The first and second circuit layouts comprise a plurality of first and second metal leads, respectively. |
| US09013584B2 |
Border handling for motion compensated temporal interpolator using camera model
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for providing border handling in motion compensated interpolation, wherein a camera model is used to detect areas of predominant movements in a displayable output, and for each reveal or conceal area: it is determined whether the reveal or conceal areas is due to a camera movement or an object movement. If the reveal or conceal areas is due to a camera movement. The camera model is used to arrive at interpolated pixel values for pixels within the corresponding area. If the reveal or conceal areas is not due to a camera movement, arriving at interpolated pixel values for pixels within the corresponding area without using the camera model. |
| US09013580B2 |
Method and system for adjusting display parameters
A method and a system for adjusting display parameters are provided. In the method, at least one real display parameter of a display to be adjusted is measured. A target template in accordance with the at least one real display parameter is searched from a plurality of templates stored in a database and target parameter adjusting data recorded in the searched target template is obtained, in which each template in the database records the at least one reference display parameter of a tested display and the reference parameter adjusting data used to adjust the tested display. Finally, the display is set and adjusted according to the obtained target parameter adjusting data. |
| US09013578B2 |
Video image presentation system
A system for presenting video images from a vehicle environment includes taking video images of the vehicle environment, detecting sensor data of the vehicle environment or the vehicle, processing the sensor data, recognizing objects in the video images, and visualizing the processed sensor data in the displayed video images by changing the representation of recognized objects in the displayed video images. |
| US09013574B2 |
Machine vision system program editing environment including synchronized user interface features
A machine vision system program editing environment including synchronized selection and/or identification of related features in a plurality of different user interface windows is provided. In particular, one of the windows is an editing window where a part program representation is displayed for editing by a user. In one embodiment, a user may select data or another feature of interest in a window that is not the editing window (e.g., a results window, or graphical workpiece inspection feature display window) and the associated part program instruction representation is automatically highlighted and/or selected in the editing window. Conversely, a part program instruction representation may be selected by a user in the editing window and the associated results or feature in another window is automatically highlighted and/or selected. User interface navigation, rapid program quality assessment, and overall part program creation and editing efficiency are significantly enhanced in such an editing environment. |
| US09013573B2 |
Knowledge capture and sharing for exploration and production tool sessions
A method for knowledge capture of exploration and production (E&P) tool sessions, including performing, using an E&P tool configured on a computer system, a first E&P tool session based on a subterranean formation field data set, recording a video capture of a plurality of scenes generated by the E&P tool and displayed during the first E&P tool session, capturing a description associated with a first scene of the plurality of scenes, wherein the first scene is assigned a time stamp corresponding to a specific point in time of a time line of the video capture, tagging the description with the time stamp included in a log of the video capture, and storing the video capture and the log of the video capture, wherein the description is synchronized with the specific point in time of the first scene based on the time stamp. |
| US09013571B2 |
Image processing device, measuring/testing system, and program
The present invention provides a contour extraction technique capable of resolving not only spuriousness, duplication, or branches in the contours of a sample pattern, but also discontinuities in the contours. A thinning process is performed with respect to design data for generating a sample pattern, and pattern in/out definition information defining the inside and outside of a pattern formed on a target sample is generated. Then, based on the Marker Controlled Watershed Segmentation method, region segmentation is performed by expanding regions indicated by the pattern in/out definition information while referencing pixel values of an edge-enhanced image of a target sample image, and pattern contours are generated. |
| US09013569B2 |
Conveying device, conveying method and microscope system
A conveying device including: a storage unit storing two or more sheets of slide glasses to be subjected to a predetermined treatment; a stage holding only one sheet of slide glass to be subjected to the treatment; a supply arm by which one sheet of slide glass to be subjected to the treatment is picked up from the storage unit and supplied onto the stage; a discharge arm by which the slide glass mounted on the stage is picked up and discharged in the storage unit; a moving unit operable to move the supply arm and the discharge arm in an integral manner so as to bring the supply arm or the discharge arm into proximity to each of the storage unit and the stage; and a control unit operable to control the supply arm, the discharge arm and the moving unit. |
| US09013564B2 |
Controllable lenticular lenslets
An autostereoscopic 3D display system includes a display having a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel is configured to display light rays representing a left-eye view and a right-eye view of an image. The autostereoscopic 3D display system further includes an optical-deflection system configured to control the light rays representing the left-eye view and the right-eye view. The optical-deflection system includes a separately controllable lenslet associated with each pixel, where the lenslet is configured to steer the light ray representing the left-eye view corresponding to the pixel, and steer the light ray representing the right-eye view corresponding to the pixel. |
| US09013563B2 |
Wavelength separation device, projector, and image display system
A wavelength separation device includes a waveplate adapted to convert the polarization direction of light in a predetermined wavelength band so that right-eye and left-eye image light in a time-divisional manner can be separated into first outgoing light as first polarized light in a first wavelength band and second outgoing light as second polarized light in a second wavelength band, a polarization control element adapted to keep the polarization direction of the first and the second outgoing light input from the waveplate in the case of either one of the right-eye and the left-eye image light, and respectively change the polarization direction of the first and the second outgoing light input from the waveplate in the case of the other thereof, and a polarization plate adapted to absorb one of the first polarized light and the second polarized light, and transmit the other thereof. |
| US09013561B2 |
Stereoscopic video processing apparatus, method, and program
The invention relates to a stereoscopic video processing apparatus, method, and program that can reduce visual fatigue on watching a stereoscopic video. A scene change detecting unit (61) accumulates, in an internal buffer or the like, frames corresponding to a stereoscopic video for three seconds extracted from a stereoscopic video signal, and specifies a scene change frame. A parallax adjusting unit (62) acquires a frame that precedes the specified scene change frame by three seconds and a frame that lags behind the scene change frame by three seconds, based on a frame number for the scene change frame specified by the scene change detecting unit (61), and calculates a parallax coefficient α by specifying a maximum parallax value in the two frames. Thus, the value of the maximum parallax of a parallax plane is adjusted by using the parallax coefficient. |
| US09013558B2 |
System and method for alignment of stereo views
Systems and methods according to principles disclosed here provide a screen space transform, e.g., implemented as a node, that may be employed to correct alignment issues between left and right eyes of a native stereo plate. The transformations may be in a number of homographic ways, including via translation, rotation, and scaling. By properly aligning stereographic images, subsequent images are properly aligned throughout the animation pipeline. In addition, the viewer experience is significantly improved. |
| US09013554B2 |
Systems and methods for comprehensive focal tomography
A method and system for forming a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene using a two-dimensional image sensor are disclosed. Formation of a three-dimensional image is enabled by locating a coded aperture in an image field provided by a collector lens, wherein the coded aperture modulates the image field to form a modulated image at the image sensor. The three-dimensional image is reconstructed by deconvolving the modulation code from the image data, thereby enabling high-resolution images to be formed at a plurality of focal ranges. |
| US09013552B2 |
Method and system for utilizing image sensor pipeline (ISP) for scaling 3D images based on Z-depth information
A monoscopic video camera may capture, via at least one image sensor, two-dimensional video, and may capture, via at least one depth sensor, corresponding depth information for the captured two-dimensional video. The monoscopic video camera may then adaptively configure scaling operations applicable to the captured two-dimensional video based on the depth information, which may comprise variably scaling different portions of the two-dimensional video. In this regard, the monoscopic video camera may determine, based on the depth information, a plurality of depth planes. The different portions of the two-dimensional video that are subjected to variable scaling may be determined based on the plurality of depth planes. Configuration of scaling operations may be performed in response to user input, which may comprise a zoom command. In this regard, scaling operations may be configured to focus on one or more of the different portions of the two-dimensional video based on zoom commands. |
| US09013550B2 |
Online reference generation and tracking for multi-user augmented reality
A multi-user augmented reality (AR) system operates without a previously acquired common reference by generating a reference image on the fly. The reference image is produced by capturing at least two images of a planar object and using the images to determine a pose (position and orientation) of a first mobile platform with respect to the planar object. Based on the orientation of the mobile platform, an image of the planar object, which may be one of the initial images or a subsequently captured image, is warped to produce the reference image of a front view of the planar object. The reference image may be produced by the mobile platform or by, e.g., a server. Other mobile platforms may determine their pose with respect to the planar object using the reference image to perform a multi-user augmented reality application. |
| US09013547B2 |
Apparatus of processing an image and a method of processing thereof
The disclosure is disclosed an apparatus of processing an image and a method thereof. According to the present invention, the method of transmitting a broadcast signal for 3-dimensional, 3D, service, may include encoding video data for a 3D service into a stream, generating first service information including a first descriptor including first information for specifying that a type of the stream is a video stream and second information for specifying a type of a component included in the video stream is a 3D video component and transmitting a broadcast signal including the encoded stream and the generated service information. |
| US09013546B2 |
Adaptable media stream servicing two and three dimensional content
Media sources that deliver at least portions of media content to viewer systems are described. The media content represents a plurality of camera perspectives of a single media product. A first request and a second request are both received. The first request is from a first viewer system and the second request is from a second viewer system. The first request is responded to by delivering a primary media stream to the first viewer system. The primary media stream contains a representation of at least a first of the plurality of camera perspectives. The second request is responded to by delivering both the primary media stream and a secondary media stream to the second viewer system. The secondary media stream contains a representation of at least a second of the plurality of camera perspectives. The second viewer system combines the primary and secondary media streams to display a three-dimensional view. |
| US09013543B1 |
Depth map generation using multiple scanners to minimize parallax from panoramic stitched images
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for minimizing parallax based on depth map generation are described herein. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to cameras positioned on a camera assembly that capture digital photographic images. The digital photographic images are stitched together into a panoramic image. In order to minimize the parallax while stitching, the procedure includes estimating a distance of a pixel corresponding to a scene point on the scene surface from a panoramic center of projection positioned on the camera assembly to the scene surface. A depth map is generated that provides the estimated depth of the pixel. Based on the estimated depth, the pixel may be projected onto each camera. A panoramic pixel corresponding to the scene point may be obtained from the values of each projected pixel. The panoramic pixel may then be mapped onto the panoramic image with parallax minimized. |
| US09013540B2 |
Method for switching shared content in a video conference and a video conference system
A method for switching shared content in a video conference includes determining a status of the video conference when a switch event is triggered. If the status is a video status, sharable content of the sharing terminal are detected, and whether the sharing terminal has at least one sharable content is determined. If so, one of at least one sharable content is shared with at least one remote terminal. If not, the status keeps being in the video status. If the status is a sharing status and the sharing terminal shares a content having a first index number, sharable content of the sharing terminal are detected, and whether the sharing terminal has a first sharable content having an index number larger than the first index number is determined. If so, sharing the first sharable content with at least one remote terminal by the sharing terminal. |
| US09013539B1 |
Video conferencing system and method
A method and computing system for scheduling a multi-session video conference for a host. A plurality of discrete video conference sessions are linked to the multi-session video conference. The multi-session video conference is executed. The host is transferred between two or more of the discrete video conference sessions during the multi-session video conference. |
| US09013537B2 |
Method, device, and network systems for controlling multiple auxiliary streams
A method, a device, and a network system for controlling multiple auxiliary streams are disclosed. The method for controlling multiple auxiliary streams includes: applying, by a terminal at a first site, for a presentation (PRE) token; and sending, by the terminal at the first site after applying for and obtaining the PRE token, an auxiliary stream to a terminal at a second site through a PRE auxiliary stream channel corresponding to the PRE token, and sending one or more other auxiliary streams to the terminal at the second site through an auxiliary stream channel bound with the PRE auxiliary stream channel. By using the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention, participants at the sites can view images of multiple auxiliary streams simultaneously. |
| US09013535B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system and information processing method
An information processing apparatus may include a detecting unit to detect a pointing object in a captured image, and a generation unit to generate pointing information based on detection of the pointing object by the detecting unit. The pointing information may indicate a position of the pointing object determined using a pointable range set based on a user in the captured image. The apparatus may further include a communication unit to transmit the pointing information to an external apparatus. |
| US09013532B2 |
Light source control apparatus and image forming apparatus
A light source control apparatus which controls, based on image data input, light emission of a light source which forms an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing body in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a pattern generating unit which generates an internal pattern for position aligning and concentration correcting according to the image data; and a mirroring processing unit which performs a process of mirroring the image data and the internal pattern at a later stage of the pattern generating unit. |
| US09013527B2 |
Light-emitting component, print head and image forming apparatus
A light-emitting component includes: plural transfer thyristors each configured with a semiconductor layer stack laminating first to fourth semiconductor layers, and shifting to an ON state in order; plural coupling transistors each configured with the first to third semiconductor layers, provided to couple adjacent transfer thyristors, the first and the second semiconductor layers of the coupling transistor being continued to the first and the second semiconductor layers of the former transfer thyristor; plural first resistances, each provided between the third semiconductor layer of each transfer thyristor and a wiring for power supply; a second resistance having a resistance value smaller than a product of a resistance value of the first resistance and a ratio of a collector current of the coupling transistor to a cathode current of the transfer thyristor in the ON state; and plural light-emitting thyristors each configured with the semiconductor layer stack. |
| US09013521B2 |
Low color shift multi-view display device and display method thereof
According to various embodiments of the invention, gamma curves for multiple pixel groups can be calibrated using look-up tables or by using reference voltage groups provided by gamma voltage generators so that the pixels can display multiple images with correct gray levels at different view angles. Therefore, color shift can be avoided or lessened without necessarily using extra circuitry on the display panel. Also, any related light transmittance or light utilization efficiency reduction may be decreased or eliminated. |
| US09013520B2 |
Display device and control method therefor
A display device having pixels in a matrix where the pixels compose at least two drive blocks each including at least two pixel rows, includes a first signal line and a second signal line disposed in a pixel column direction. The first signal line is disposed in one of the left and right sides of the pixels of the corresponding column, and the second signal line is disposed in the other of the sides. Each of the pixels includes an organic EL element and a current control unit. Pixels in a kth drive block are connected to the first signal line via a first connecting line, and pixels in a (k+1)th drive block are connected to the second signal line via a second connecting line. The first signal line is disposed without crossing the second connecting line, and the second signal line is disposed without the first connecting line. |
| US09013518B2 |
Image display device and driving method with selective black data insertion
A driving method for an image display device including sub-pixels arranged in rows and columns, the driving method including: receiving first data corresponding to one frame; dividing the one frame into fields; generating second data from the first data for each of the fields; and supplying the second data to the sub-pixels. Where, the second data is generated by selectively inserting black data in portions of the first data. |
| US09013517B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
Provided is a liquid crystal display device, including: a data line; a plurality of pixel circuits; an output grayscale value generating circuit for outputting an output grayscale value obtained by correcting a display grayscale value indicating a grayscale potential having one of positive polarity and negative polarity; and a data-line driving circuit for selectively outputting an output potential having one of positive polarity and negative polarity corresponding to the output grayscale value to the data line. The data-line driving circuit outputs the potential so that the positive-polarity output potential corresponding to a smallest output grayscale value becomes lower than a positive-polarity grayscale potential indicated by a smallest one of the display grayscale values and that the negative-polarity output potential corresponding to the smallest output grayscale value becomes higher than a negative-polarity grayscale potential indicated by the smallest one of the display grayscale values. |
| US09013516B2 |
Image display device having memory property
An image display device expresses multiple colors including intermediate colors and an electrophoretic particle making up the image display device includes n-kinds of (n>2) charged particles each having colors and threshold value voltages each being different from one another. A specified period during which a voltage is applied includes a resetting period for applying a resetting voltage, a first, . . . , kth, . . . , nth voltage applying periods and a voltage to be applied includes a resetting voltage, 0V, first voltage (absolute value) to be applied within the first voltage applying period, 0V, kth voltage (absolute value) to be applied within kth voltage applying period, and 0V voltage, nth voltage (absolute value) to be applied within an nth voltage applying period. Relationships: |first applied voltage|>|kth applied voltage|>|nth voltage| and |first applied voltage|<|kth voltage|<|nth voltage| are satisfied. |
| US09013515B2 |
Emissive display blended with diffuse reflection
An apparatus providing a viewer with a blend of displayed and reflected content. The apparatus includes an emissive display device with a display screen operable providing digital content. The emissive display device includes a light source selectively articulating and transmitting light through the display screen at a particular illumination level to display digital content such as text and graphics. The apparatus includes a thematic overlay positioned over the display screen with a front surface configured to provide diffuse reflection of light striking the front surface from a viewer space such that the front surface appears substantially opaque to the viewer and the viewer cannot see the display screen when the light source is inactive or at low brightness. When the light source is in active mode, the displayed content is visible as emissive display content concurrently with the diffuse reflection content but the display screen remains hidden from view. |
| US09013514B2 |
Variable speed autoscroll system and method
A variable speed autoscroll system is disclosed. The variable speed scrolling system includes a control device, such as a scrolling wheel or other suitable control member. A user may select a scrolling speed by displacing the control member, and a non-linear increase in scrolling speed based on the degree of displacement of the control member is achieved. The control member may be disposed in a computer mouse, keyboard, or other peripheral device. In various embodiments, the user may toggle between various sensitivity levels to achieve a greater or lesser degree of increase in scrolling speed based on the amount of displacement of the control member. Optionally, the user may input the set of parameters to determine the dynamics of the system. |
| US09013512B2 |
Overscan support
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for dynamically setting an executing application's display buffer size are described. To ameliorate display device overscan operations, the size of an executing application's display buffer may be set based on the display device's extent and a display mode. In addition, contents of the executing application's display buffer may be operated on as they are moved to a frame buffer based on the display mode. In one mode, for example, display buffer contents may be scaled before being placed into the frame buffer. In another mode, a black border may be placed around display buffer contents as it is placed into the frame buffer. In yet another mode, display buffer contents may be copied into the frame buffer without further processing. |
| US09013510B2 |
Systems and methods for rendering user interface elements in accordance with a device type
A method for rendering one or more user interface elements on a display screen of a device is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request for rendering a first user interface element without an orientation preference, and identifying a type of the device. The method also includes, in accordance with a determination that the type of the device is a first device type corresponding to television devices and the first user interface element corresponds to a first user interface element type, rendering the first user interface element as a vertical user interface element in a first display region of the display screen. |
| US09013506B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable medium with parallel rendering
An information processing apparatus includes a rendering processor that renders a plurality of objects on a page in a parallel process, an overlap determiner that determines a plurality of objects overlapping each other in accordance with coordinate information of each object on the page and acquires coordinate information of an overlap area between the objects, a timing controller that controls a timing of the rendering of each object in the parallel process of the rendering processor in accordance with the coordinate information of the overlap area, and a renderer that renders a lower-layer object in the overlap area in accordance with timing information generated by the timing controller prior to rendering an upper-layer object on the lower-layer object in a superimpose fashion. |
| US09013504B2 |
Information processing device, display control method, a program, and an information storage medium
The method includes the steps of displaying one or more main images within a main area in a screen, displaying one or more tab images associated with the main image within a tab area in the screen, displaying other main image within the main area in the screen according to a user's instruction so as to replace the main image that is already displayed with the other main image, and displaying other tab image within the tab area in the screen in addition to the tab image that is already displayed, in which the other tab image is associated with the other main image. |
| US09013497B2 |
Image aesthetic signatures
An approach for determining transducer functions for mapping objective image attribute values to estimated subjective attribute values. The approach includes determining objective attribute values for each of one or more aesthetic attributes for each image in a first set of images. The approach further includes determining, for each aesthetic attribute, a mapping from the objective attribute values to respective estimated subjective attribute values based on the objective attribute values and corresponding experimentally-determined attribute values. Using the determined mappings, aesthetic signatures, which include estimates of subjective image aesthetics across multiple dimensions, may be generated. |
| US09013496B2 |
Rendering global light transport in real-time using machine learning
Some implementations disclosed herein provide techniques and arrangements to render global light transport in real-time or near real-time. For example, in a pre-computation stage, a first computing device may render points of surfaces (e.g., using multiple light bounces and the like). Attributes for each of the points may be determined. A plurality of machine learning algorithms may be trained using particular attributes from the attributes. For example, a first machine learning algorithm may be trained using a first portion of the attributes and a second machine learning algorithm may be trained using a second portion of the attributes. The trained machine learning algorithms may be used by a second computing device to render components (e.g., diffuse and specular components) of indirect shading in real-time. |
| US09013495B2 |
Method and apparatus for rendering
A rendering apparatus and method are provided. The rendering method includes: reading a block, corresponding to a fragment, from among compressed blocks stored in a depth buffer, by considering frequency information corresponding to the fragment and prepared in advance; and performing a depth test for the fragment by considering the restored block. |
| US09013491B2 |
Low-power GPU states for reducing power consumption
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that drives a display from a computer system. During operation, the system detects an idle state in a first graphics-processing unit (GPU) used to drive the display. During the idle state, the system switches from using the first GPU to using a second GPU to drive the display and places the first GPU into a low-power state, wherein the low-power state reduces a power consumption of the computer system. |
| US09013482B2 |
Mesh generating apparatus, method and computer-readable medium, and image processing apparatus, method and computer-readable medium
Disclosed is a mesh generating apparatus, method and computer-readable medium, and an image processing apparatus, method and computer-readable medium. A single 3D mesh and a single 3D object model may be generated using a single color image and a single depth image. A plurality of viewpoint images seen from a plurality of viewpoints may be generated from a single 3D object model. |
| US09013478B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying stereoscopic information related to ultrasound sectional plane of target object
A method of displaying stereoscopic information related to an ultrasound sectional plane of a target object includes: setting a line of interest on the target object; obtaining brightness information of the ultrasound sectional plane of the target object along the set line of interest; converting the obtained brightness information into height information; and displaying the stereoscopic information related to the ultrasound sectional plane of the target object based on the height information. |
| US09013473B2 |
Graphic processing unit and method for decompressing data
A graphic processing unit (GPU) and method for decompressing compressed 3-dimensional (3D) compressed data. The GPU may extract segment information by analyzing a compressed data header and decompress segments included in a bit stream based on the segment information. |
| US09013470B2 |
Method and device for displaying information, particularly in a vehicle
In a method for displaying information, particularly in a vehicle, at least one object for conveying a portion of gross information is represented graphically in at least one first display mode with the aid of a display mounted, e.g., in the vehicle, and as a function of a control signal of a control device, graphic data are generated which alter the representation of the graphical object such that the graphical object changes over to at least one second display mode. In the second display mode, the object is shown swiveled about an axis in a perspective or three-dimensional manner relative to the first display mode of the object, and the portion of the gross information conveyed by the object is greater in the second display mode than the portion of the gross information conveyed by the object in the first display mode. A corresponding display device is adapted to perform the method described above. |
| US09013469B2 |
Method and device for displaying a three-dimensional view of the surface of a viewed object
A method and device for displaying a three-dimensional view of the surface of a viewed object is disclosed, wherein a subset of the three-dimensional data from the entire image of the viewed object in a region of interest is determined and displayed to provide enhanced detail in the region of interest. |
| US09013468B2 |
Display device able to prevent an abnormal display caused by a soft fail and a method of driving the same
A display device includes a data driver for applying a data signal to a data line; a gate driver for applying a gate signal to a gate line; a level shifter for shifting a voltage level of a signal applied to the gate driver; and a signal controller for controlling the data driver, the level shifter, and the gate driver, wherein when a signal exchange between the data driver and the signal controller has an abnormality, the signal controller maintains a control signal applied to the level shifter in an off level. |
| US09013465B2 |
Organic light emitting display and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. According to one aspect, the OLED display includes pixels including an OLED and a driving transistor for supplying a driving current according to an image data signal to the OLED. The display includes a sensor configured to sense a first current flowing to the driving transistor corresponding to a source data input signal. An operation voltage of a saturation region of the driving transistor is measured based on performance information of the OLED by using the same current amount as the first current. A voltage controller is configured to determine a minimum electroluminescence voltage for driving the pixels based on information received from the sensor. A power supply is configured to control a power source voltage applied to the pixels according to the determined electroluminescence voltage, and supply the determined power source voltage. |
| US09013464B2 |
Linked shell
An apparatus and method is provided for controlling a display device for displaying a user interface associated with an application. A processor for controlling peripheral devices and/or the display may be selected based on characteristics of a requested function to be performed. For example, a processor may be selected with a power characteristic corresponding to a power level needed to perform the requested function. Also, an instantiation of a user interface may be switched based on selection of the processor for controlling peripheral devices. In another example, the transition from one instantiation of the user interface to another instantiation of the user interface may be smooth such that a user may be unaware a change has been made. |
| US09013462B2 |
Image display device
An image display device 1 includes: a liquid crystal panel 11 having a plurality of pixels; and an overdrive execution section 50 configured to determine, with respect to each of target pixels for which overdrive is performed among the plurality of pixels of the liquid crystal panel 11, a gain usage value to be used for the overdrive, based on a predetermined set gain value, and to apply, based on the gain usage value, a liquid-crystal driving voltage to the corresponding target pixel, wherein with respect to a pixel, among the target pixels, for which it is judged that a gradation value in a current frame obtained from the video signal is an intermediate gradation value, the overdrive execution section 50 performs a gain suppressing operation for determining the gain usage value as a value smaller than the set gain value. |
| US09013460B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
A display device and a method of driving the display device are disclosed. The display device includes first and second data drivers. The first data driver is configured to generate data voltages for the pixels based on first image data. The second data driver is configured to generate current voltages for the pixels based on second image data. One of the first and second data drivers may be disposed outside of a display panel. |
| US09013459B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes: a display control unit configured to cause the liquid crystal panel to display a right eye image and a left eye image in an alternating manner; and a polarity control unit configured to cause the polarity of the drive voltage for the liquid crystal panel to be reversed. The polarity control unit causes the polarity of the drive voltage to be reversed such that, in one cycle including a number of display frames for right and left eye images, the number being a multiple of 8, the combination of polarities for image display in one pair of display frames composed of right and left eye images is one of four combinations and a number of occurrences of each of the four combinations is equal. |
| US09013458B2 |
Display device and method for controlling the same
A display device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. More specifically, a three-foldable display device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, wherein the three-foldable display device has two cameras at previously set locations with different resolutions different from each other and controls a location for providing a preview interface in accordance with an activated one of the two cameras. |
| US09013449B2 |
Optical touch system having a plurality of imaging devices for detecting a plurality of touch objects
An optical touch system comprises a first imaging device configured to be directed toward a side surface of a target on a touch surface and a processing device. The first imaging device sequentially generates a first picture having an image of the target and a second picture having an image of the target. The computing device is configured to calculate a first dimension of the target using the first picture and a second dimension of the target using the second picture, and to determine whether the target is formed by one object or two objects by the first and second dimensions. |
| US09013446B2 |
Touch sensor mechanism and manufacturing method thereof
A touch sensor mechanism for a touch display device, includes a cover lens made by a transparent material having a dielectric constant greater than 4.5 and a compression strength greater than 700 MPa for generating a finger's touching capacitance (CF) while a user's finger of a user touch thereon; and a sensor device module including a plurality of sensor devices having a sensor parasitic capacitance (CP). The cover lens and the sensor device module are disposed in the touch display device in such a manner that a ratio of a standard deviation value (σU) of the finger's touching capacitance (CF) of the cover lens to the sensor parasitic capacitance (CP) of the sensor device module is a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The SNR is adjusted along with the finger's touching capacitance (CF) by reducing the thickness of the cover lens. |
| US09013445B2 |
Capacitive touch device and sensing method thereof
A capacitive touch device includes a capacitive touch panel, a driving control unit, k ADCs, a multiplex network and a processing unit. The capacitive touch panel has an m×n sensing point matrix formed by m driving line and n sensing lines. The driving control unit is coupled to the m driving lines. The multiplex network connects the n sensing lines and the k ADCs by time-domain multiplexing. The processing unit is coupled to the k ADCs. At least a part of the driving lines and at least a part of the sensing lines are assigned to be electrically connected. The processing unit senses according to multiple frequencies to obtain multiple signal strength values, and selects the frequency corresponding to a smallest signal value to be a sensing frequency of the capacitive touch device. |
| US09013437B2 |
Negative pixel compensation
Negative pixel compensation in a touch sensor panel is disclosed. The panel can compensate for a negative pixel effect in touch signal outputs due to poor grounding of an object touching the panel. To do so, the panel can reconstruct a captured touch image to remove negative pixel values indicative of the negative pixel effect and compute a composite image from the captured image and the reconstructed image to replace the captured image. In addition or alternatively, the panel can reconstruct a captured touch image to remove negative pixel values indicative of the negative pixel effect and replace the captured image with the reconstructed image. |
| US09013435B2 |
Portable electronic device including touch-sensitive display and method of controlling same
A method includes: detecting a first touch at a first location on a touch-sensitive display; detecting a second touch at a second location on the touch-sensitive display; and displaying a navigation indicator on the touch-sensitive display in response to detecting the second touch while first touch contact is maintained. |
| US09013434B2 |
Touch display panel and driving method thereof
A touch display panel, including first electrode patterns, second electrode patterns, active elements, third electrode patterns and fourth electrode patterns is provided. The second electrode patterns and the first electrode pattern are set to form pixel areas. Each of the active elements is disposed in one of the pixel areas and electrically connected to the corresponding first electrode pattern and second electrode pattern. The third electrode patterns are arranged along a direction of an arrangement direction of the second electrode patterns and divide the second electrode patterns into groups, wherein each third pattern covers columns of the pixel areas. The fourth electrode patterns are electrically insulated to the third electrode patterns. Each fourth electrode pattern is disposed in one of the pixel areas and electrically connected to the corresponding active element. A driving method of a touch display panel is also provided. |
| US09013430B2 |
Hand and finger registration for control applications
Robot control typically requires many physical joysticks, buttons and switches. We have created a dynamically resizing, ergonomic, and multi-touch (DREAM) controller that enables a software-based operator control unit (SoftOCU) using a multi-touch screen. The DREAM controller can be formed wherever a person places his or her hand on a touch screen. We have also developed an algorithm for accurate hand and finger registration that can be used to create the DREAM controller. |
| US09013428B2 |
Electronic device and handwritten document creation method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a touch-screen display, a memory, a display process module, and a change module. The memory is configured to store time-series information indicative of loci and an order of handwriting of a plurality of strokes handwritten on the touch-screen display. The display process module is configured to display loci corresponding to the plurality of strokes, on the touch-screen display, based on time-series information. The change module is configured to change time-series information in accordance with an editing operation to the plurality of strokes on the touch-screen display. |
| US09013426B2 |
Providing a sense of touch in a mobile device using vibration
Controlling haptic feedback in a mobile communication device is provided. Metadata associated with a set of objects within requested content is parsed to identify each object within the requested content having an associated frequency pattern included in the metadata. The requested content is displayed in a display device. A touch input is received on the display device at a location of an identified object that has an associated frequency pattern within the requested content. A frequency and a duration of a vibration generated by a variable frequency vibration device simulating a tactile texture of the identified object touched within the requested content is controlled using the associated frequency pattern of the identified object. |
| US09013425B2 |
Method and apparatus for data transmission via capacitance sensing device
Methods, devices, and systems for a touch sensor or a capacitive sensing device to interact with external objects. One method utilizes a capacitive profile on the external object. Another method involves the further use of a capacitive sensor array for wireless communication with the external object. |
| US09013420B2 |
Display device, display program, and display method
A display device includes a display section displaying instruction information to be instructed to users in an instruction information display region provided corresponding to the instruction information, a touch panel capturing an instruction represented by the instruction information displayed in the instruction information display region, in response to a users' touch operation to a touch detection region provided corresponding to the instruction information display region, and a control section performing a predetermined operation control based on the instruction information inputted through the touch panel. The instruction information display region is provided in an upward zone within the touch detection region. |
| US09013419B2 |
Touch panel
An embodiment of this invention provides a touch panel, which comprises a touch screen and a display. The touch screen comprises a patterned, transparent first conductive layer comprising a sensing pattern and a shielding pattern. The touch panel features in that the touch screen employs the sensing pattern as a sensing layer, and the display employs the shielding pattern as an electrostatic protection layer. |
| US09013415B2 |
Information input device including a detection electrode with an aperture
An information input device includes a touch panel which is provided with a touch sensor capable of sensing a position in which a sensing target body is close to a sensing surface thereof. The touch sensor includes a scanning electrode and a detection electrode which faces and is spaced from the scanning electrode with a dielectric body being interposed therebetween, the touch sensor being configured so that electrostatic capacitance which is formed between the scanning electrode and the detection electrode is varied when the sensing target body is close to the detection electrode. The detection electrode is formed with a slit in a surface thereof which faces the scanning electrode, and a floating electrode is installed in the slit. |
| US09013414B2 |
Touch panel display system and driving method thereof
A touch panel display system and driving method thereof is provided. The touch panel display system includes a display device and a display circuit coupled to the display device for driving a display position of the display device. The system further includes a sensing device coupled to the display device for sensing an contact pressure, and a sensing circuit coupled to the sensing device for driving a sensing position of the sensing device. The system further includes a synchronous controller coupled to the display circuit and the sensing circuit for synchronously controlling the display circuit and the sensing circuit such that the display position and the sensing position are not overlapped and maintained beyond a predetermined distance. |
| US09013413B2 |
Driving circuit for liquid crystal display device and method for driving the same
A driving circuit of a liquid crystal display device and a driving method of the same are discussed. A driving circuit of a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel comprising pixel cells having only circuit pixels, respectively, aligned in a matrix type corresponding to full resolution, the liquid crystal panel disposed in a matrix type to have resolution that is lower than the full resolution in a predetermined ratio; a panel driving unit driving entire pixel cells provided in the liquid crystal panel to display images, the panel driving unit converting and outputting touch sensing signals transmitted from the pixel cells having the touch sensor circuits into digital signals; and a sensing system calculating touch coordinates from the converted touch sensing signals. |
| US09013409B2 |
Display, apparatus with single RF transceiver for communication with human input device and for WLAN network access
Disclosed is a display system. The display system includes a display apparatus equipped with a wireless communication function, and a human input device connected with the display apparatus to transmit user input data to the display apparatus. The display apparatus allocates a communication channel dedicated for communication with the human input device among a plurality of communication channels, and receives the user input data through the allocated dedicated communication channel. |
| US09013407B2 |
Power-saving sensing module for optical mouse and power-saving sensing method
A power-saving sensing module includes a light source, first and second sensors, first and second detection units, and a controller. The first sensor detects a first image corresponding to a working plane in response to at least a part of the light ray from the light source to generate a first sensing signal. The first detection unit generates a displacement signal in response to the first sensing signal. The second sensor detects a second image corresponding to an object in response to at least a part of light ray to generate a second sensing signal. The second detection unit generates a touch signal corresponding to the object in response to the second sensing signal. The controller outputs a control signal in response to the touch signal. The first detection unit operates at a dormant state or a sensing state in response to the control signal. |
| US09013403B2 |
Remote controlling of mouse cursor functions of a computer device
A method is provided for remote controlling of mouse cursor functions of a computer device is disclosed. The method includes: tracking movement of a handheld pointing device in a three dimensional monitoring space based on a directional carrier sent by the handheld pointing device; modulating the directional carrier with a pulse pattern based on a corresponding manual operation action at the handheld pointing device; converting the tracked movement of the handheld pointing device in corresponding movement information; converting the movement information of the handheld pointing device in valid desktop coordinates for the computer device and moving a mouse cursor to these coordinates; demodulating the directional carrier and evaluating the pulse pattern in order to determine a corresponding manual operating action at the handheld pointing device; and taking corresponding action if a defined manual operating action at the handheld pointing device is determined. |
| US09013402B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
An information processing device includes: a user position detection unit that detects a user position indicating a position of a user indicated by a plurality of values on different coordinate axes; a calculation unit that calculates user movement information indicating a movement of the user based on a coordinate point defined by a value on at least one axis among the plurality of values on coordinate axes indicating the user position; a setting unit that sets a process to be executed among a plurality of processes performed according to a movement of the user based on the calculated user movement information; and an execution unit that executes the set process. |
| US09013400B2 |
Projection system, projection apparatus, sensor device, power generation control method, and computer program product
A projection system includes a projector that projects an image onto a projection plane of a screen, and sensor units each including a photoelectric power generating unit that is installed at a predetermined position in an area in which an image is projected on the projection plane and that generates power corresponding to an intensity of projection light projected by the projector. The projector may include an image processing circuit that converts at least image data projected at the installation positions of the sensor units in image data projected on the projection plane into white image data or converts whole image data into white image data. |
| US09013399B2 |
Information processing device, portable device and information processing system
To take security into account and increase user friendliness, an information processing device includes: an input unit to which information is input; an extracting unit extracting predetermined words from the information input to the input unit; a classifying unit classifying the words extracted by the extracting unit into first words and second words; and a converting unit converting the first words by a first conversion method and converting the second words by a second conversion method, the second conversion method being different from the first conversion method. |
| US09013396B2 |
System and method for controlling a virtual reality environment by an actor in the virtual reality environment
A motion capture environment includes at least one sensor-tracker for tracking a location of a tracked object within the motion capture environment and one or more computers collectively operable to generate a virtual reality environment including a virtual control panel having a virtual control that, when actuated, effects a predetermined result in the virtual reality environment; determine a virtual location of the tracked object within the virtual reality environment; and determine when the virtual location of the tracked object coincides with the location of the virtual control to actuate the virtual control. The motion capture environment further includes a display device for displaying the virtual reality environment to an actor within the motion capture environment. |
| US09013394B2 |
Driving method for electrophoretic displays
This application is directed to an electrophoretic display device in which the common electrode is not connected to a display driver. The driving method suitable for such a display device provides a low cost solution for many display applications. |
| US09013391B2 |
Output control circuit, scanning line driving circuit of electro-optic device, electro-optic device and electronic apparatus
An output control circuit is configured to have a first circuit which includes a NOT circuit, a NAND circuit and a transmission gate as a first sub circuit, and a second circuit which includes a NAND circuit as a second sub circuit. The NAND circuit controls a transmission to the NAND circuit of the enable signal by the transmission gate based on signal which has been logic reversed by the NOT circuit and the NAND circuit. |
| US09013390B2 |
Gate driver with node stabilizer and display device including the same
A gate driver includes stages coupled to each other and outputting gate signals. Each stage includes a node driver, a pull-up unit, a node controller, a first node stabilizer, and a pull-down unit. The node driver outputs a first voltage or a second voltage to a first node in response to a first or a second input signal. The pull-up unit pulls an output terminal to high in response to a voltage of the first node. The node controller outputs an on-voltage to a second node in response to a first clock signal from a third node or a second clock signal from a fourth node. The first node stabilizer stabilizes the first node to an off-voltage in response to a voltage of the second node. The pull-down unit pulls the output terminal to low in response to the voltage of the second node or the second input signal. |
| US09013388B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and display apparatus
A liquid crystal display device (1) includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix form, and a patterned retarder having retarder plates (RR) and retarder plates (RL) formed at positions corresponding to odd-numbered rows and even-numbered rows, respectively, of the liquid crystal panel. Among sub pixels disposed in the pixels positioned in the n-th row, a sub pixel electrode of a boundary-proximity sub pixel, which is positioned closest to a boundary between the associated retarder plate (RR) and the associated retarder plate (RL), is connected to an auxiliary bus line via a transistor having a gate electrode connected to a gate bus line in the (n−1)-th or prior row. In the second display mode, gate signals are sequentially supplied to the gate bus lines in order from the first to the N-th rows, and, in the first display mode, gate signals are sequentially supplied to the gate bus lines in order from the N-th to the first rows. |
| US09013386B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method for operating the same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) and an operating method thereof are provided. The operating method includes the following steps. It is determined whether a first frame and a second frame following the first frame are dynamic frames. When the first frame and the second frame are dynamic frames, a timing controller of the LCD performs a polarity inversion on a polarity signal, so that the polarity signal corresponding to the first frame is the same as the polarity signal corresponding to the second frame. When the second frame is written into an LCD panel of the LCD, energy written into the LCD panel is reduced. |
| US09013384B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing or eliminating mura artifact using contrast enhanced imagery
Systems, methods, and devices are provided to calibrate an electronic display to reduce or eliminate mura artifacts. Such mura artifacts may be due to differential behavior of multiple common voltage layers (VCOMs) of the display. One method for reducing or eliminating such muras may involve setting pixels of an electronic display to a gray level and setting an operating parameter of the liquid crystal display to a starting value. An image of the pixels may be captured. Using the image, an average luminance of the pixels may be determined and the image may be amplified around the average luminance to enhance contrast of the image. When the amplified image substantially does not indicates the presence of a mura, the value of the operating parameter may be stored in the electronic display. |
| US09013383B2 |
Display systems
We describe circuits and methods for compensating for gate kickback in electro-optic displays, in particular electrophoretic displays. In embodiments the method comprises compensating gate kickback comprising a change in voltage between a pixel electrode and a common electrode of the display arising from capacitive coupling between a gate drive line and the pixel electrode by offsetting a value of a common voltage on the common electrode by an offset value dependent on a difference between a magnitude of said positive gate voltage and a magnitude of said negative gate voltage. |
| US09013375B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of driving the same
An organic light-emitting display apparatus, including: a plurality of pixels each including an organic light-emitting diode (OLED); and a power supply voltage driving unit generating a first power supply voltage have a first level that varies according to time and a second power supply voltage having a second level that varies according to time, the power supply voltage driving unit supplying the first and the second power supply voltages to the plurality of pixels, wherein the power supply voltage driving unit includes: a first resistor connected to a gate of a second transistor for pulling-down the first power supply voltage, and a second resistor connected to a gate of a fourth transistor for pulling-down the second power supply voltage. |
| US09013365B2 |
Interconnect feed devices for electrical components, and processes for manufacturing same
Interconnect feed devices (10) are provided for electrically connecting first and second electrical components (17, 21). The interconnect feed devices (10) can include a dielectric shell (23) with an electrically-conductive coating (40), and leads (22) positioned within individual conduits (30) of the shell. Each lead (22) and its associated conduit (30) can act as a coaxial cable for transmitting radio frequency (RF) energy between the first and second electrical components (17, 21). The shell (23) can be manufactured using a process, such as stereolithography, that allows the shell to be formed with relatively complicated geometries, which in turn can facilitate relatively complicated cable routing. |
| US09013364B1 |
Electromagnetically operational micro-truss structure
An electromagnetically operational micro-truss structure and methods are disclosed. A micro-truss structure comprises a grid of interlocking elements, and a metallic coating selectively coats the grid. The metallic coating is configured to resonate an electromagnetic energy. |
| US09013359B2 |
On-board directional flat-plate antenna, vehicle comprising such an antenna, and satellite telecommunication system comprising such a vehicle
An onboard directional plane antenna comprises at least one array of radiating-slot waveguides comprising an alternating succession of three superposed metallic plates and of two dielectric substrates. The two substrates each comprise at least four adjacent waveguides, corresponding and communicating with one another pairwise by way of coupling slots. Each waveguide of the upper substrate furthermore comprises a plurality of radiating slots passing through the upper metallic plate, all the radiating slots of one and the same waveguide being parallel to one another and oriented in one and the same direction, the radiating slots of two adjacent waveguides being disposed in chevrons. Each waveguide of the lower substrate comprises an internal individual feed circuit comprising an individual electronic circuit for phase shifting and amplification. |
| US09013354B2 |
Multi-band antenna
A multi-band antenna includes a substrate and a conductive layer. The conductive layer covered on a top surface of the substrate includes a ground element, a first radiating element and a second radiating element. The ground element is connected with a bottom side edge of the substrate. The first radiating element is connected with one end of a lower top edge of the ground element. The first radiating element includes a connection portion, a first coupling portion, a first radiating portion and a first inductance portion. The second radiating element is connected with the other end of the lower top edge of the ground element. The second radiating element includes a second inductance portion, a second coupling portion, a second radiating portion and a third radiating portion. |
| US09013353B2 |
Position correction apparatus, position correction method, program, position correction system
Systems and methods for correcting a location of a terminal are provided. In various aspects, a processor in a position correction apparatus may associate a reference position with the terminal, and determine a range for the terminal based on the reference position. The processor may also associate a second position with the terminal, and determine if the second position associated with the terminal is outside the determined range for the terminal based on the reference position. Upon a determination that indicates that the second position is outside the determined range, the processor may correct the second position to a corrected position associated with the terminal. |
| US09013348B2 |
Radiometric imaging device and corresponding method
A radiometric imaging device and a corresponding method for scanning a scene. The device comprises a radiometer configured to detect radiation in a predetermined spectral range emitted from said scene and to generate a radiation signal from said detected radiation, and a processor configured to process said generated radiation signal by de-convoluting said generated radiation signal by use of a distance-dependent de-blur kernel, which is determined depending on the distance between said scene and the radiometer. |
| US09013345B2 |
Successive approximation AD converter and successive approximation AD conversion method
A successive approximation AD converter includes a DA converter that converts a higher conversion data greater than an approximate value into an analog higher converted voltage and converts a lower conversion data less than the approximate value into an analog lower converted voltage; a sample-and-hold circuit that samples and holds voltage differences between an input voltage and each of the higher converted voltage and the lower converted voltage; a comparator that outputs a first comparison result indicating whether the input voltage is greater or less than the higher converted voltage and a second comparison result indicating whether the input voltage is greater or less than the lower converted voltage; and an operation unit that changes the approximate value based on the first comparison result and the second comparison result, and changes a next higher conversion data and a next lower conversion data based on the changed approximate value. |
| US09013342B2 |
Low-power sigma-delta converter
A sigma-delta converter may include an input node, a switched capacitor input stage integrating a difference signal between an input signal from the input node and a feedback signal representing an output signal, and a switched capacitor adder coupled downstream from the switched capacitor input stage and generating a sum signal based upon the input signal with a signal generated by the switched capacitor input stage. The sigma-delta converter may include a switched capacitor output stage amplifying the sum signal and generating an analog amplified signal, a quantization stage coupled in cascade to the switched capacitor output stage and generating the output signal as a digital replica of the analog amplified signal, and a circuit generating the feedback signal as an analog replica of the output signal. |
| US09013338B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for dual mode operation of a converter
Methods, systems and apparatuses for operating a converter or other circuits are disclosed. More particularly, in one embodiment a converter or other circuit can be operated in two modes which may include the count-to-time and time-to count modes to determine an output value corresponding to an input signal. During operation in the count-to-time mode a converter may be operated using a reference signal to determine a number of clock cycles needed until an output corresponds to a scaling factor is reached. During operation of the circuit in the time-to-count mode then, the converter may be operated for this number of clock cycles using the input signal to determine an output. This output may be proportional to the level on the input signal. |
| US09013335B2 |
Device for controlling a Braille display, a Braille display, and an associated control method
The method relates to a method and a device for controlling a Braille display having a read area suitable for displaying a portion of a text in Braille form, said read area comprising a row of Braille cells. The control device comprises: emitters, each suitable for emitting a light beam in register with a respective Braille cell; receivers, each suitable for receiving a light beam reflected by at least one finger of a user when said finger is situated on a Braille cell; and a calculation unit suitable for determining the position or the succession positions of a user's finger relative to the read area as a function of the detected light beams, the calculation unit being suitable for triggering commands for navigation in the text as a function of the determined positions. |
| US09013330B2 |
Electric taxi system guidance
A taxi guidance system is provided for an aircraft having a primary thrust engine and an onboard electric taxi system. The taxi guidance system includes or cooperates with a source of aircraft status data for the aircraft, and a source of airport feature data associated with synthetic graphical representations of an airport field. The taxi guidance system includes a processor operatively coupled to the source of aircraft status data and to the source of airport feature data to generate, in response to at least the aircraft status data and the airport feature data, taxi path guidance information for the aircraft, start/stop guidance information associated with operation of the primary thrust engine, and speed guidance information for the onboard electric taxi system. The processor generates image rendering display commands that can be received by a display system to render a dynamic synthetic representation of the airport field that includes graphical indicia of the taxi path guidance information, the start/stop guidance information, and the speed guidance information. |
| US09013324B2 |
RF4CE for automotive and industrial environments
A refrigerated container system is described that includes a wireless personal area network (WPAN) including a plurality of wireless sensor nodes and a coordinator node through which the sensors provide sensor data to a controller for the refrigerated container system. The wireless sensors and the coordinator incorporate a variety of features that ensure efficient utilization of battery life by preventing unintended pairing of sensors with other WPANs and excessive sensor signal processing arising from door chatter. Finally, pairing is performed without pressing a button on the wireless door sensor. Instead, the sensor's magnetic reed switch is enlisted to detect swiping of a magnet by a user to enter a pairing mode. |
| US09013323B2 |
Pairing of a battery monitor to a communication device
A battery monitor is paired to a communication device, e.g., as provided on an industrial vehicle, battery charger, etc., for wireless communication. Pairing is implemented by transmitting an encoded message from the communication device to a load. The encoded message is detected by the battery monitor, by sensing changes in a characteristic of the battery that occur responsive to the communication device transmitting the encoded message to the load. The battery monitor then converts the encoded message into a discovery parameter. A paired wireless connection is set up between the communication device and the battery monitor using the discovery parameter such that the battery monitor and communication device wirelessly communicate thereafter. |
| US09013322B2 |
Real-time onsite internet communication with well manager for constant well optimization
An apparatus and method for well control and monitoring including an independent web server computer integrated with a pump controller located at each well in an oil field. The well controller locally controls the well pump, processes well and pump data, generates surface and downhole cards, and communicates production reports, recommendations for production improvements, and production statistics to remote sites via the internet. The controller can be queried remotely to provide production reports, etc. Furthermore, the controller can initiate alerts via email, text messaging, or internet messaging, for example, during fault conditions. |
| US09013318B2 |
Electronic shelf label and method of displaying remaining battery life thereof
An electronic shelf label system is provided. There is provided a method in which an electronic shelf label periodically transmits its remaining battery capacity to a server in a electronic shelf label system according to the present invention, and the server converts the battery level into a remaining battery life (time) and provides the same, so that a manager can check the remaining battery life in a management mode of the server and a terminal, and easily manage an electronic shelf label using a battery. |
| US09013313B2 |
Bed pre-exit patient monitor
Improvements in a bed pre exit patient monitor to determine when a patient has moved to an edge of a bed prior to the patient leaving the bed by measuring load on a single wheel by slightly lifting the wheel with load sensing rods that measure the wheel load. A variety of different alarm signals are used signal to warn a care giver. The device is self-contained, self-secures and removes itself from a variety of different diameter wheels. The device can auto calibration when the wheel is initially lifted and also calibrate when a patient is resting on a bed. The monitoring establishes a threshold load without a patient and with a patient to allow the software to determine when the on an edge of a bed and also when a patient has completely left the bed. Software filtering rejects patient movement to prevent false alarms. |
| US09013297B1 |
Condition responsive indication assembly and method
A portable communications device transportable to remote locations by an individual includes a control unit. A biometric sensor is electrically connected to the control unit. The biometric sensor senses a condition of the individual and creates and transmits a signal to the control unit. An environmental sensor is electrically connected to the control unit. The environmental sensor senses an environmental condition local to the individual and creates and transmits a signal to the control unit. A communications unit is electrically connected to the control unit. It receives the signals from the control unit and transmits them away from the remote locations. |
| US09013296B2 |
Electrical panel safety monitor
An electrical safety monitor for monitoring electrical energy potentials of one or more electrical power input lines of an A.C. circuit. The electrical safety monitor including one or more detector circuits, each including one or more capacitors corresponding to one or more electrical power input lines arranged to charge responsive to an electrical energy potential on the corresponding line and a discharge circuit electrically communicating with the one or more capacitors to cause a capacitor discharge at a predetermined capacitor voltage. A plurality of solid-state light-emitting devices disposed in a human-viewable arrangement, each light emitting device electrically communicating with a selected capacitor and producing a light output responsive to capacitor discharge of the corresponding capacitor. A testing circuit generates a test current through the one or more detectors circuits providing verification of the electrical safety monitor integrity. |
| US09013293B2 |
Apparatus and method for synchronizing color, blinking, and/or blinking rate of a first light of a first device with a second light of a second device
A first device is configured to emit light and synchronize both or either color and/or rate of blinking of a first light of the first device with a second light of a second device. The synchronizing enables observing an implied relationship and/or connection between the first device and the second device. |
| US09013290B2 |
Method for lighting up a luminous safety accessory
A method for lighting up a luminous safety accessory includes separating the two sets of luminous sources such that they are each visible based on a different direction; separately lighting up the two sets of luminous sources; lighting up the first set of luminous sources in response to a positive acceleration, with the lighting involving the varying of the luminous intensity of the sources based on the measured acceleration; and lighting up the second set of luminous sources in response to a negative acceleration of which the absolute value exceeds a pre-determined threshold value, with the lighting involving the varying of the luminous intensity of the sources based on the measured acceleration. |
| US09013288B2 |
Exterior mirror reflective element sub-assembly
A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror back plate. The mirror back plate includes an indicator unit mounting portion and a mirror actuator attaching portion established at a first side by a plastic injection molding operation. A heater pad is disposed between the mirror reflective element and a second side of the mirror back plate. An indicator unit has a light source that is activatable to emit light and is mounted at the indicator unit mounting portion. Light emitted by the light source, when activated, transmits through an aperture of the mirror back plate and through a light transmitting portion of the heater pad and through a light-transmitting window of the mirror reflector and exits the mirror reflective element to be viewable by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the mirror assembly. |
| US09013286B2 |
Driver assistance system for displaying surroundings of a vehicle
A driver assistance system is configured to display on a vehicle display an image of corresponding surroundings of a vehicle, having at least one image capturing camera; a viewpoint converter to generate a viewpoint converted image having a point of view looking downwardly from above the vehicle; at least one sensor configured to detect a distance or a partial shape of at least one object in surroundings of the vehicle; an image processor configured to modify the viewpoint converted image based on the detected distance or the partial shape of the at least one object looking from the vehicle to the at least one object, wherein the modification of the viewpoint converted image includes enhancing the three dimensional appearance of the at least one object in the viewpoint converted image. |
| US09013285B2 |
Electronic device and method for displaying warning signals of bicycle
In a method for displaying warning signals using an electronic device while riding a bicycle, the method firstly detects any acceleration of the electronic device in three predefined axes in real time using a gravity sensor of the electronic device, and detects any angular velocity of the electronic device around any of the three predefined axes using a gyroscope of the electronic device. Secondly, the method determines a current driving condition of the bicycle according to any detected acceleration and any detected angular velocity of the electronic device. The method displays warning signals on the display screen of the electronic device according to the current driving condition of the bicycle. |
| US09013284B2 |
Vehicle presence notification apparatus
A vehicle presence notification apparatus may include a dynamic speaker for radiating a notification sound from a vehicle in an audible frequency, and a sound pressure supplement unit is provided to control a sound pressure of the notification sound. The apparatus may further include a parametric speaker for generating a supersonic sound of the notification sound from a supersonic sound generation unit. The supersonic sound is emitted from a sound emission opening. The parametric speaker may further include a reflected sound pressure detecting unit for detecting a sound pressure generated by a reflection of the supersonic sound from the sound emission opening. The sound pressure supplement unit increases the sound pressure of the notification sound radiated by the dynamic speaker based on the sound pressure detected by the reflected sound pressure detecting unit. |
| US09013283B1 |
Smart electrical outlet, and smart grid electrical management system
A smart outlet and a smart grid electrical management system, wherein the outlet is adapted to fit in a typical gang box, to swivel, to detect and retain a plug, to automatically respond to a change in electrical demand and to provide a standby mode and includes a circuit board and an operably coupled touch screen GUI display controller, and wherein the management system includes a display controller for receiving user inputs and power data, for controlling the system and for outputting information, a ZigBee enabled load controller and a wired or wireless communication network linking the display controller, the load controller and one or more outlets, power sources, and/or electrical appliances or devices. |
| US09013276B2 |
Defining a radio frequency identification read area
Defining a radio frequency identification read area includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader operable to read RFID tags within a specified read area. An RFID transmitter is coupled with the RFID reader and is operable to radiating a modulated carrier in an area adjacent to the specified read area. The RFID reader controls the RFID transmitter to transmit the modulated carrier during a preamble transmission of the RFID reader to prevent any RFID tags in the adjacent area from recognizing an interrogation signal from the RFID reader. |
| US09013274B2 |
Magnetomechanical markers for marking stationary assets
An article, system and method related to a magnetomechanical marker used to mark stationary assets. Magnetomechanical markers can be arranged in clusters and associated with stationary assets, including assets buried underground. Markers can be associated with an asset by being attached to the asset, arranged in a particular spatial relationship with the asset, or in any other appropriate way. A portable locating device can be used to generate an alternating magnetic field to activate the magnetomechanical marker and thus locate the asset. |
| US09013273B2 |
Method of controlling electric device
A method for controlling an electronic device is provided. The method may include displaying, on a display, information related to at least one of a plurality of items to be managed or processed by the device, selecting at least one piece of item information displayed on the display, recognizing the selected piece of item information, and storing the recognized piece of item information into a memory as an object to be managed or processed by the device. |
| US09013264B2 |
Multipurpose controller for electronic devices, facial expressions management and drowsiness detection
A hands-free controller, a facial expression management system, a drowsiness detection system and methods for using them are disclosed. The controller monitors facial expressions of the user, monitors motions of the user's body, generates commands for an electronic device based on the monitored facial expressions and body motions, and communicates the commands to the electronic device. Monitoring facial expressions can include sensing facial muscle motions using facial expression sensors. Monitoring user body motions can include sensing user head motions. Facial expression management can includes monitoring user facial expressions, storing monitored expressions, and communicating monitored expressions to an electronic device. Drowsiness detection can include monitoring eye opening of the user, generating an alert when drowsiness is detected, monitoring proper usage of the device, and generating a warning when improper usage is detected. |
| US09013263B2 |
Wound iron core for static apparatus, amorphous transformer and coil winding frame for transformer
Disclosed is a wound iron core (3) for a static apparatus in which magnetic paths in the inside of the wound iron core are subdivided to improve iron core characteristics. The iron core (3) is configured by using two or more kinds of magnetic materials (11 to 14) with different magnetic permeabilities to form laminated blocks with single plates or a plurality of laminated plates and by alternately arranging the laminated blocks with different magnetic permeabilities from the inner circumference. An iron core material (14) with large magnetic permeability out of iron core materials with different magnetic permeabilities is arranged on the inner circumference side. Further, when the iron core materials with different magnetic permeabilities are alternately arranged, the iron core materials (11) with the same magnetic permeability are configured to gradually change in thickness to ease an excessive magnetic flux density distribution in the iron core. A ring-shaped iron core is configured such that a plurality of block-like laminated members, which are each formed by laminating a plurality of strip-like amorphous material thin plates, are laminated and formed into a ring shape and a sheet-like non-magnetic insulation material is arranged between the n-th (n: an integer of two or more) layer of the ring-shaped block-like laminated members from the most inner circumference side and the (n+1)-th layer of the ring-shaped block-like laminated members from the most inner circumference side. |
| US09013253B2 |
Relay
A relay includes two stators each having a fixed contact, and a movable element having movable contacts. Each of the stators includes a stator proximity plate portion adjacent to the movable element, and the movable element includes a movable element proximity plate portion adjacent to the stators. A direction of current flowing in the stator proximity plate portions is set to be same as a direction of current flowing in the movable element proximity plate portion to generate an inter-plate attraction force for attracting the movable element proximity plate portion onto the stator proximity plate portions. The movable element proximity plate portion is biased by the inter-plate attraction force toward a direction for bringing the movable contacts into contact with the fixed contacts. |
| US09013252B1 |
Pedestal-based dielectric-loaded cavity resonator
A dielectric-loaded cavity resonator has a conductive (e.g., copper) box defining a cavity and a dielectric (e.g., ceramic) resonator mounted within the box. The dielectric resonator has a cylindrical dielectric post and first and second dielectric pedestals respectively connected to the ends of the post and having lateral dimensions greater than the diameter of the post. Insulating (e.g., PTFE) pads are mounted onto outer surfaces of the pedestals to provide air gaps between the pedestals and corresponding top and bottom walls of the box. In certain embodiments, the pedestals have rectilinear, 3D shapes completely or only partially covering the top and bottom walls of the cavity, while, in other embodiments, the pedestals have cylindrical shapes maximally or less than maximally covering the top and bottom walls of the cavity. |
| US09013251B2 |
Acoustic wave device
An acoustic wave device has a substrate and adjacent IDT electrodes. One IDT electrode has a signal connecting bus bar at one side in a direction orthogonal to a propagation direction and is connected to a signal line. A ground bus bar is grounded and located at the other side in the orthogonal direction. The other IDT electrode has a signal connecting bus bar which is located at the other side in the orthogonal direction and is connected to a signal line. A ground bus bar is grounded and located at the one side in the orthogonal direction. The acoustic wave device further has a floating member on the substrate, which is located at a space between the ground bus bar of the IDT electrode and the signal connecting bus bar of the IDT electrode and is not connected to the ground bus bar nor the signal connecting bus bar. |
| US09013246B2 |
Coupler with distributed feeding and compensation
The embodiments described herein can provide improved signal feeding between hybrid couplers and associated transistors. As such, these embodiments can improve the performance of amplifiers and other such RF devices that utilize these components. In one embodiment a device includes a distribution network and a compensation resonator. The distribution network is configured to output a signal through a relatively wide output feedline. This relatively wide output feedline provides distributed signal feeding that can improve signal distribution and performance. The output feedline is coupled to the compensation resonator. In general, the compensation resonator is configured to resonate with the distribution network at the frequency band of the signal. Thus, the distribution network and compensation resonator together can provide improved signal distribution while maintaining performance at the frequencies of interest. |
| US09013243B2 |
Resonator element, resonator, electronic device, electronic apparatus, and mobile object
A resonator element includes a substrate vibrating in a thickness-shear vibration mode, a first excitation electrode disposed on one principal surface of the substrate, and has a shape obtained by cutting out four corners of a quadrangle, and a second excitation electrode disposed on the other principal surface of the substrate, and a ratio (S2/S1) between the area S1 of the quadrangle and the area S2 of the first excitation electrode fulfills 87.7%≦(S2/S1)<95.0%. |
| US09013238B2 |
Radio frequency power amplifier and electronic system
A radio frequency (RF) amplifier is disclosed. The RF power amplifier includes a bias circuit, an output-stage circuit and a RF compensation circuit. When a first system voltage is larger than a first voltage threshold value, the bias circuit generates a first current rising slightly. When first system voltage is larger than second voltage threshold value, the RF compensation circuit receives a second circuit rising slightly transmitted from the bias circuit. When the first system voltage is in an operation voltage range, the first current is larger than the second circuit so as to a quiescent operating current of the RF power amplifier is independent of change of the first system voltage. When the first system voltage is larger than a third voltage threshold value, the first current is equal to the second current so as to have the bias current being a zero current to protect the RF power amplifier from over-voltage. |
| US09013232B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing interference
A method and apparatus is provided for reducing interference in circuits. A management strategy is provided to reduce reference spurs and interference in circuits. The management strategy uses a combination of one or more techniques which reduce the digital current, minimize mutual inductance, utilize field cancellation, prevent leakage current, and/or manage impedance. These techniques may be used alone, or preferably, used on combination with one another. |
| US09013230B2 |
Charge pump circuit
A charge pump circuit includes a charge pump, a regulator circuit, and a load current, wherein the charge pump circuit further includes: a filter circuit connected to an output terminal of the charge pump for filtering an output voltage of the charge pump; and a ripple control circuit connected both to the output terminal of the charge pump and to the filter circuit for reducing the output voltage of the charge pump upon an increase thereof, thereby attenuating ripples contained in the output voltage of the charge pump. The charge pump circuit is capable of enabling a relatively stable output voltage for the charge pump, thus benefiting a downstream integrated circuit. |
| US09013229B2 |
Charge pump circuit
A charge pump circuit includes a plurality of serially coupled stages and a plurality of clock drivers. A voltage output of a first of the stages is connected to a voltage input of a second of the stages. A voltage output of the second of the stages is boosted relative to a voltage input of the second of the stages. Each of the stages includes complementary charge pumps. Each of the charge pumps includes a pumping capacitor that stores charge in the stage. Each of the clock drivers drives a clock signal to the pumping capacitor of at least one of the stages. A voltage of the clock signal provided to the second of the stages is derived from the voltage input of the second of the stages. |
| US09013228B2 |
Method for providing a system on chip with power and body bias voltages
Embodiments described in the present disclosure relate to a method for providing power for an integrated system, including acts of: providing the system with power, ground and body bias voltages, the body bias voltages comprising a body bias voltage of p-channel MOS transistors, greater or lower than the supply voltage, and a body bias voltage of n-channel MOS transistors, lower or greater than the ground voltage, selecting by means of the system out of the voltages provided, depending on whether a processing unit of the system is in a period of activity or inactivity, voltages to be supplied to bias the bodies of the MOS transistors of the processing unit, and providing the bodies of the MOS transistors of the processing unit with the voltages selected. |
| US09013227B2 |
System of providing multiple voltage references to a radio-frequency device using a single analog line
A system includes a control board, a controlled board, and a connector connecting the control board to the controlled board. The control board includes a processing unit that configures the reference voltage signals, a non-volatile memory that stores information about the reference voltage signals, and a DAC that outputs the reference voltage signals in accordance with instructions from the processing unit. The controlled board includes: first and second voltage reference devices that receive first and second reference voltage signals, respectively, and a radio-frequency device that receives a first frequency signal and a second frequency signal and outputs a third frequency signal based on one of the first and second reference voltage signals. The connector includes an analog line for providing reference voltage signals to the first and second voltage reference devices and a digital line for providing control signals to activate one of the first and second voltage reference devices. |
| US09013224B2 |
Soft turn-on in an ignition system of a combustion engine
A switching system for a combustion engine ignition system comprises a switching device switchable between an accumulation condition and a transfer condition to activate an ignition element. The switching system comprises control logic that provides a control signal for controlling the switching device, measures a progress indicator indicative of progress in switching the switching device from the transfer condition to the accumulation condition, and causes the control signal to vary with a first variation rate during a first stage until the progress indicator reaches a first progress condition. The control logic causes the control signal to vary with a second variation rate, lower than the first variation rate, during a second stage until the progress indicator reaches a second progress condition, and causes the control signal to vary with a third variation rate, higher than the second variation rate, during a third stage of the preliminary switching. |
| US09013221B2 |
Low-voltage differential signal receiver circuitry
A receiver circuit for a differential input signal, may include a divider bridge having first and second ends, a midpoint therebetween, and intermediate points on either side of the midpoint. The divider bridge is coupled to receive the differential input signal at the first and second ends. A current generator is coupled to the divider bridge and configured to generate compensation currents associated respectively with components of the differential input signal. The divider bridge is configured to receive the compensation currents respectively at the intermediate points, and generate a compensated differential signal between the intermediate points. |
| US09013218B2 |
Dual-port negative level sensitive reset data retention latch
In an embodiment of the invention, a dual-port negative level sensitive reset data retention latch contains a clocked inverter and a dual-port latch. Data is clocked through the clocked inverter when clock signal CKT goes low, CLKZ goes high, reset control signal REN is high and retention control signal RET is low. The dual-port latch is configured to receive the output of the clocked inverter, a second data bit D2, the clock signals CKT and CLKZ, the retain control signal RET, the reset control signal REN and the control signals SS and SSN. The signals CKT, CLKZ, RET, REN, SS and SSN determine whether the output of the clocked inverter or the second data bit D2 is latched in the dual-port latch. Control signal RET determines when data is stored in the dual-port latch during retention mode. |
| US09013214B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor system including the same
A semiconductor device includes a buffer unit suitable for outputting a first signal of differential input signals as a positive signal, and a second signal of differential input signals as a negative signal in response to a setting signal, and a setting control unit suitable for generating the setting signal based on a level state of the positive signal and the negative signal in response to a reset signal. |
| US09013211B2 |
Head lamp system
A head lamp system may include a head lamp that may be provided with a headlight and a spotlight unit including a plurality of optical modules having different irradiation regions in front of a vehicle, wherein an optical module of the plurality of optical modules, which has a irradiation region that corresponds to a position of an obstacle in front of the vehicle, blinks, and a blink period of the optical module may be changed according to a vehicle speed. |
| US09013210B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit may include a plurality of fuse boxes, each suitable for selectively outputting a first input signal and a reverse input signal obtained by inverting the first input signal; and a first output signal generator suitable for selectively receiving the first input signal and the reverse input signal from the fuse boxes, and generating a first output signal by performing a logical combination operation on the received input signals, a second input signal, and a third input signal. |
| US09013209B1 |
Programmable input/output circuit
A apparatus, having a processing system and an input buffer coupled with both the processing system and one of two IO pads, and a reference buffer coupled to both the input buffer and the second of the IO pads such that the reference generator controls the input threshold of the input buffer in response to an analog voltage received from an external circuit on the second of the IO pads. |
| US09013208B1 |
Method and apparatus for clocking
Aspects of the disclosure provide a clock gate circuit for generating a clock signal. The clock gate circuit includes a multiplexer and a logic module coupled to the multiplexer. The multiplexer is configured to receive a first logic signal at a first data input, a second logic signal at a second data input, and a reference clock signal at a selector input, and to output the clock signal having a logic state selected from one of the first logic signal or the second logic signal based on transitions of the reference clock signal. The logic module includes at least one of an XNOR and an XOR module and is configured to provide an output signal that is responsive to performing at least one of an XNOR and an XOR operation of the output of the multiplexer and an enable signal that enables or disables the clock gate circuit to generate the clock signal. |
| US09013205B2 |
Testing apparatus and testing method
The present disclosure provides a testing apparatus for executing a test program, to perform a first test on a circuit component on a circuit board and a second test on the circuit board. The testing apparatus includes a first module, a second module, and a signal transmission line that connects the two. The first module includes a control unit, a signal generation unit, a signal processing unit, a signal expansion unit, and a power supply unit. The control unit generates a first control signal or a second control signal. The signal generation unit generates a current signal or a voltage signal. The signal processing unit generates a numerical signal. The signal expansion unit generates a second data signal. The power supply unit generates a working voltage. The second module includes a test address assignment unit that assigns an address and a signal isolation unit that performs noise immunization process. |
| US09013201B2 |
Method of testing an object and apparatus for performing the same
A method of testing objects and an apparatus for performing the same, the method including loading the objects into a testing unit through a loading unit; testing the objects in the testing unit and determining whether the objects are normal objects or abnormal objects; unloading the tested objects from the testing unit to an unloading unit; directly reversely loading the abnormal objects from the unloading unit into the testing unit when the objects are determined to be abnormal objects; and re-testing the abnormal objects in the testing unit. |
| US09013199B2 |
Contact-connection unit for a test apparatus for testing printed circuit boards
The invention relates to a contacting unit for a test apparatus for testing printed circuit boards. The contacting unit comprises a full grid cassette and an adapter. The full grid cassette is provided with a plurality of spring contact pins arranged in the grid of contact points of a basic grid of a test apparatus. The adapter is provided with test needles for electrically connecting each of the spring contact pins of the full grid cassette to a circuit board test point of a printed circuit board to be tested, the spring contact pins being secured in the full grid cassette against falling out on the side remote from the adapter and the test needles being secured in the adapter on the side remote from the full grid cassette. The adapter and the full grid cassette are releasably joined to each other. In this way, both the spring contact pins and the test needles are secured against falling out of the contacting unit in the assembled state of the adapter and the full grid cassette. |
| US09013197B2 |
Chip on glass substrate and method for measuring connection resistance of the same
A chip on glass substrate includes a substrate, first, second, and third pads that are arranged on the substrate and that are electrically connected to an IC device, and first to fourth conductive patterns. A first conductive pattern is arranged on the substrate, has one end electrically connected to the first pad, and has another end that is electrically floated. Second and third conductive patterns are arranged on the substrate, each have one end electrically connected to the second pad, and each have another end that is electrically floated. A fourth conductive pattern is arranged on the substrate, has one end electrically connected to the third pad, and has another end that is electrically floated. |
| US09013194B2 |
Capacitive analysis of a moving test material
The capacitive measuring circuit for a moved elongated test material contains at least two measuring capacitors, each of which is configured for receiving the test material. It further contains electrically actuatable selection means, by means of which one of the measuring capacitors can be selected in such a way that only the selected measuring capacitor contributes to the measurement, whereas the other measuring capacitors do not. As a result, the total capacitance of the measuring circuit is reduced and its sensitivity is increased. |
| US09013193B2 |
Fluid quality sensor
An object of the present invention is to accurately detect concentrations of mixtures in a fluid. An internal electrode 23 is disposed on the inner side of an external electrode 22 coaxially with the external electrode 22, and a plurality of points in the length direction of the internal electrode 23 are supported by a casing 21 via supporting members 28a and 28b. The state of a fluid S passing through a passage 26 between the external electrode 22 and the internal electrode 23 is detected based on electrostatic capacitance between the external electrode 22 and the internal electrode 23. |
| US09013192B2 |
Inductive measuring device for detecting lengths and angles
The invention relates to a measuring device for detecting absolution positions, comprising a sensor unit (N, M) as a planar coil structure and a scale having alternating areas of variable reluctance or conductivity along the measuring line. The invention is characterized in that the measuring device has at least two divisions (T1, T2) for determining the absolute position within the measuring length, the at least two divisions being coded aperiodically and in a bitwise manner and extending parallel to each other and, for each bit formation, having opposite effects on a coil element (S2, S3, S4) as part of the entire sensor structure. Preferably, each coil element (S2, S3, S4), comprising its own emitter and receiver windings (E, R), is balanced in offset, and the entire sensor structure provides approximately equal signal amplitudes for each individual bit of the absolute value at any position of the coded scale by means of compensation windings. |
| US09013190B2 |
Digital delay measurement
Distance between two devices is determined by sending a digital signal from a first device to a second device, and receiving a repeated signal from the second device in the first device. The repeated signal includes the digital signal sent from the first device resent by the second device. A time difference between the sent digital signal and the received repeated signal is determined by providing both the sent digital signal and the received repeated signal to a logic gate, the output of the logic gate indicating whether the digital signal and the received repeated signal are at same or different states. The output of the logic gate is evaluated to determine an approximate distance between the first device and the second device. |
| US09013184B2 |
MR imaging system for automatically providing incidental findings
A system automatically concurrently performs an MR image study acquisition and supplementary image data acquisition. The system includes a detector for providing a signal indicating individual portions of an imaging scan using a first imaging method have ceased. An image data processor automatically concurrently interleaves imaging of a first anatomical portion using the first imaging method and supplementary imaging of a second anatomical portion using a different second imaging method, in response to the signal. The image data processor incorporates identifier data in data representing images acquired using the second imaging method identifying images acquired using the second imaging method differently from images acquired using the first imaging method. |
| US09013183B2 |
MRI apparatus with energy control values and an SAR value calculated from a modified energy control value according to plural imaging conditions set before the MRI acquisition
An MRI apparatus includes an image generating unit and an SAR calculating unit. The image generating unit receives a magnetic resonance signal generated as a result of transmission of an RF pulse from an object, and generates image data of the object based on the magnetic resonance signal. The SAR calculating unit performs a correction operation on an energy control value of the RF pulse according to an imaging condition, and calculates an SAR value based on an energy value subjected to the correction operation. |
| US09013181B2 |
Magnetoresistive sensors having reduced AMR effects
Embodiments related to magnetoresistive angle sensor layouts having reduced anisotropic magneto resistance (AMR) effects. Embodiments provide magnetoresistive angle sensor layouts that reduce or eliminate distortion related to AMR effects, can be more easily scaled up or down, and are more compact to use available surface area more efficiently. |
| US09013176B2 |
Methods and apparatus for sensing a substrate in a load cup
Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for detecting the presence of a substrate in a load cup. The invention includes a proximity sensor having a detection pad disposed below a contact surface of a load cup assembly and a target disposed on a lever member and adapted to move toward the detection pad when a substrate is placed on the lever member and adapted to move away from the detection pad when a substrate is removed from the lever member. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed. |
| US09013175B2 |
Reading circuit for a magnetic field sensor with sensitivity calibration, and related reading method
A reading circuit for a magnetic-field sensor, generating an electrical detection quantity as a function of a detected magnetic field and of a detection sensitivity, is provided with an amplification stage, which is coupled to the magnetic-field sensor and generates an output signal as a function of the electrical detection quantity and of an amplification gain. In particular, the amplification gain is electronically selectable, and the reading circuit is moreover provided with a calibration stage, integrated with the amplification stage and configured so as to vary a value of the amplification gain in such a way as to compensate a variation of the detection sensitivity with respect to a nominal sensitivity value. |
| US09013173B2 |
Process for detecting energy theft
The present invention relates generally to detecting energy theft within an energy distribution system and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting energy discrepancies in voltages and/or currents reported by electric meters present in a distribution circuit, without requiring installation of additional hardware at the transformer. Typically, the location of each of at least two meters is determined with respect to a transformer. The line resistances within the distribution circuit are determined starting with a line resistance farthest from the transformer. Estimated line voltages are determined for at least one electric meter using the estimated line resistances, and the estimated voltages are compared to actual voltage readings for the at least one electric meter. The existence of line loss is determined based on this comparison. |
| US09013170B2 |
Lightning current detection sensor
The present invention has an object to provide a lightning current detection sensor that has a configuration resistant to high voltage and high current in a lightning strike and has high sensitivity and high resolution. In a lightning current detection sensor 10, an insulation-coated wire 22 wound in multiple turns is collectively covered with a base tape 21 and a cover tape 23. Thus, even when the insulation-coated wire 22 is wound in multiple turns to increase sensitivity, a minute area can be detected to increase resolution. Also, with the base tape 21 and the cover tape 23 covering the insulation-coated wire 22 and also a shield portion 12 made of an insulating material and a gap 40 formed between the shield portion 12 and the coil portion 20, a sufficient shielding property is ensured and detection with high accuracy can be performed against high current and high voltage without capacitative coupling. |
| US09013169B2 |
Soft-start time control circuit
A control circuit for controlling a soft-start time of a DC power supply includes a digital potentiometer, a first drive circuit, and a controller. The digital potentiometer includes a first potentiometer. The first drive circuit includes a first driver, a first MOSFET, and a first charge capacitor. The first driver charges the first charge capacitor via the first potentiometer when the DC power supply is first switched on, and the first MOSFET is switched on to connect the DC power supply to the load when the first charge capacitor is fully charged. The controller regulates resistance of the first potentiometer to regulate a charge time constant of the first charge capacitor, enabling a gradual rise in voltage supplied, from approximately zero to full power, within a desired period of time. |
| US09013156B2 |
Signal generation device and signal generation method
A signal generation device and a signal generation method may measure leakage currents, such as an input current value I and phase-shifted current values I cos θ and I sin θ in a short period of time and automatically output the detected values without calculating a vector of a phase difference. The signal generation device generates logical signals from a voltage waveform and a current waveform of a measured power line through first and second comparators, sets parameters, full-wave rectifies the current waveform, and performs quantization transform on the full-wave rectified current waveform using a successive ΔΣADC. |
| US09013153B2 |
Method for controlling battery recharging process and electronic device
A method for controlling battery recharging process is provided for an electronic device equipped with a battery. The method comprises entering a recharging smart mode. In the recharging smart mode, an actual capacity rate of the battery is determined. In the recharging smart mode, according to the actual capacity rate of the battery, a rechargeable capacity rate of the battery is changed. When the actual capacity rate is larger than a first capacity threshold value for a first predetermined time interval, the rechargeable capacity rate of the battery is decreased. |
| US09013149B2 |
Electronic apparatus, method for controlling electronic apparatus, computer program, and recording medium
The present invention provides an electronic device that can operate as long as possible even if the battery level is low and that can avoid an unexpected shutdown as much of the time as possible while data is being transmitted to, or received from, an external device.The electronic device has a particular mode of operation in which the electronic device is connected to an external device and can accept a request to read and/or write information sent by the external device. The electronic device includes: a battery; an interface, which is connected to the external device so as to get power from the external device and which accepts the request sent by the external device; and a control section for changing conditions for enabling that particular mode of operation according to a supply value, which is at least one of the values of current and voltage supplied by the external device, and a value representing a level of the battery. |
| US09013148B2 |
Lithium-ion battery pack and method of charge/discharge equalizing
A lithium-ion battery includes two or more series-connected lithium-ion cells, a balancing lithium-ion cell, controllable switches with the same number as the lithium-ion cells, a drive module for the controllable switches, a voltage detection module for detecting a voltage at two ends of the lithium-ion cells, and a controller. The balancing lithium-ion cell is connected in parallel to the lithium-ion cells. The controllable switches control the turn on/off of the connection in parallel between the balancing lithium-ion cell and each of the lithium-ion cells independently. The drive module for the controllable switches and the voltage detection module are connected to the controller. A battery pack including the lithium-ion battery and a method for real-time charge/discharge equalizing of the lithium-ion battery are also provided. |
| US09013147B2 |
Circuit and method for cell balancing
A balancing circuit for balancing multiple cells in a battery. The cell balancing circuit includes a first shunt path connected in parallel to a first cell, a controller coupled to the first shunt path, a timer and a storage unit. The controller balances the cells and detects balance conditions of each cell. The timer measures pre-balance times and balance times for each cell. The storage unit stores the pre-balance times and balance times. The controller pre-balances the first cell by enabling the first shunt path for a first pre-balance time and balances the first cell by enabling the first shunt path for a first balance time if an unbalance condition of the first cell is detected by the controller, and updates the first pre-balance time for each balancing cycle based on the first pre-balance time and the first balance time from a previous balancing cycle. |
| US09013139B2 |
Adaptive charger device and method
Disclosed is a method for charging a rechargeable battery that includes at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell is disclosed. The method includes measuring at least one electrical characteristic of the battery, and determining a charging current to be applied to the battery based on the at least one measured electrical characteristic. |
| US09013137B2 |
Apparatus for calculating rotational position of rotary machine
In a system for driving an inverter, a superimposing element superimposes, on an output voltage of the inverter. The high-frequency voltage signal is correlated with a measured high-frequency component value of a current flowing in the rotary machine. A calculating element calculates a rotational angle of the rotary machine based on the measured high-frequency component value. A dead-time compensating element shifts a start edge and an end edge of an on duration for each of first and second switching elements of the inverter by a preset same time to compensate for an error due to dead time. A current manipulating element manipulates a current flowing in the rotary machine to maintain an accuracy of calculation of the rotational angle. |
| US09013136B2 |
Motor and drive system provided therewith
A three-phase AC motor (4) has a configuration in which a q-axis inductance is larger than a d-axis inductance by a predetermined amount or more to allow smoothing of power fluctuations due to the power supply voltage of the AC power source (3). |
| US09013132B2 |
Variable reluctance resolver and rotation angle detecting device
Two excitation coils (excitation A coil, excitation B coil) and two detection coils (detection A coil, detection B coil) are provided. The excitation A coil and the excitation B coil are excited at frequencies that are different from each other. The number of turns of the detection A coil and the detection B coil are respectively set with two sine waves using the number ms1 and ms2 of pole pairs. The number ms1 and ms2 of pole pairs, the number mx1 and mx2 of pole pairs of the excitation A coil and the excitation B coil, and the number mr of pole pairs of a rotor are set to have a predetermined relationship. A resolver having redundancy can be realized with small number of coils. |
| US09013130B2 |
Method of controlling torque output of impact power tool and the control apparatus
An impact power tool includes a motor, a battery, a hammer mechanism and a control apparatus. The motor runs in the same speed no matter what torque level is selected. The motor runs for a total running time which is identical to an impacting time plus a compensative time. The impacting time is decided according to the selected torque level, and the compensative time is decided according to the power of the battery. An impacting time table and a compensative time table are pre-established to decide the impacting time value and the compensative time value. Therefore, the impact power tool always provides the theory torque output of the selected torque even if the battery is low. |
| US09013117B2 |
Method for driving color lamp and apparatus therefor
Disclosed is a color lamp driving apparatus for generating illumination light of various colors by using a plurality of Red (R), Green (R), and Blue (B) lamps together with each other, having a color controller for generating a color control signal, which indicates driving time rates of R, G, and B lamp arrays, according to color information of required illumination light, and a lamp driving module for outputting a driving signal for driving each of R, G, and B lamp arrays according to the color control signal output from the color controller. The driving signal is set to apply driving times for the R, G, and B lamp arrays based on one among a start time point, a middle time point, and an end time point of each corresponding period ΔT within one light-emitting period T. |
| US09013116B2 |
Light source, pulse controller and method for programmabale pulse generation and synchronization of light emitting devices
An LED (Light Emitting Device) light source (100), a pulse controller or pulse control module (130) for an LED light source, and a method are provided, for controlling relative timing and phase of LED light pulse generation and operation of peripheral devices, relative to a common timing reference. A system is provided comprising a pulse controller (130) for controlling synchronization of multiple LEDs (144) and/or other devices and peripherals (164), relative to a common timing reference. The pulse controller (130) comprises a processor (131) that programmatically executes a time based sequence of digital control signals (141) from received inputs (121) indicative of a pulse generation sequence. The pulse controller provides for multiple pulse trains where improved control of relative timing of several events is required, such as for control of multiple high intensity LED light sources and synchronized control of peripheral devices such as detectors, for applications, such as, fluorescence microscopy and other spectroscopic applications. |
| US09013115B2 |
Discharge lamp igniting apparatus
A power supply circuit (4) is responsive to an activating signal by supplying a discharge lamp (2) with an operating voltage on which a high voltage is temporality superposed. An insufficient current detecting circuit (46) detects abnormality of an output current supplied to the discharge lamp (2) from the power supply circuit (4). A CPU (52) stops the operation of the power supply circuit (4) in response to detection of abnormality by the insufficient current detecting circuit (46). An output nullification time period timer (50) nullifies the output of the insufficient current detecting circuit (46) for a predetermined time period measured from the supplying of the activating signal. |
| US09013108B1 |
LED element with color light enhancement function
An LED element with a color light enhancement function is a two-terminal element for receiving a driving current to emit light and includes at least one blue LED chip, at least one red LED chip and a three-way compensator. The three-way compensator intercepts a driving current passing through the blue LED chip depending on a proportion value according to a change of working temperature and adjusts the amount of current flowing into the red LED chip. If the working temperature exceeds a default value, an input terminal of the three-way compensator is triggered to intercept the driving current and generate and output a set current to the red LED chip to compensate an attenuation of the red LED chip caused by high temperature. The LED element will not be changed its intensity after a prolonged period of usage. |
| US09013106B2 |
Lamp ballast having filament heating apparatus for gas discharge lamp
Provided is a lamp ballast having a filament heating apparatus for gas discharge lamp, including a PFC converter for receiving an AC input voltage and converting the AC input voltage into a DC bus voltage; an inverter connected to an output end of the PFC converter for converting the DC bus voltage into an AC output voltage for driving gas discharge lamps; and a filament heating apparatus connected to the output end of the PFC converter. The filament heating apparatus includes an auxiliary heating circuit for converting the DC bus voltage into a heating power for pre-heating the filaments of the gas discharge lamps; and a control circuit connected to the inverter and the auxiliary heating circuit for generating an auxiliary voltage according to the heating power to activate the PFC converter. After the auxiliary heating circuit has been operating for a predetermined period of time, the auxiliary heating circuit is turned off first and then the inverter is turned on; or otherwise the inverter is turned on first and then the auxiliary heating circuit is turned off. |
| US09013096B2 |
Light emitting module
The light emitting module includes: a light emitting panel which has feeding electrodes each of which being electrically connected to a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the light emitting unit; a circuit board which is electrically connected to the feeding electrodes and is configured to supply electric power to the light emitting unit; and a case unit in which the light emitting panel and the circuit board are housed. The feeding electrodes are arranged at a peripheral region of the light emitting panel. The electrical connection between the feeding electrode and the circuit board (or the land-board) is obtained by a wiring which is elongated from the center region to the peripheral region of the light emitting panel. |
| US09013095B1 |
Spark plug for internal combustion engine
A spark plug for an internal combustion engine includes a center electrode, an insulator holding the center electrode inserted therein, a housing holding the insulator inserted therein, a ground electrode joined to the housing so as to form a spark discharge gap with the center electrode, and a stem electrically connected to the center electrode. The stem includes a stem body inserted and held inside the insulator and a terminal exposed from a proximal end of the insulator. The insulator includes a supported portion axially supported by the housing. A heat insulating member is interposed between the stem and the center electrode. A conductive member is disposed inside the insulator so as to pass through the heat insulating member for making electrical connection between the stem and the center electrode. The heat insulating member is located closer to a proximal side of the insulator than the supported portion is. |
| US09013091B2 |
Photoacoustic imaging apparatus, photoacoustic imaging method, and probe for photoacoustic imaging apparatus
Acoustic waves and photoacoustic waves are detected efficiently in a photoacoustic imaging apparatus configured to obtain acoustic images as well, to enable obtainment of high quality acoustic images and photoacoustic images. A probe for a photoacoustic imaging apparatus is equipped with: first piezoelectric bodies that detect acoustic waves reflected by a subject after the acoustic waves are irradiated onto the subject; and second piezoelectric bodies that detect photoacoustic waves generated within the subject due to irradiation of light after the light is irradiated onto the subject. Piezoelectric bodies made from an inorganic material are employed as the first piezoelectric bodies, and piezoelectric bodies made from an organic material are employed as the second piezoelectric bodies. |
| US09013089B2 |
Microelectromechanical system-based resonator device
The disclosure provides a structure for a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based resonator device. The structure for the MEMS-based resonator device includes at least one resonator unit. The at least one resonator unit comprises a substrate having a trench therein. A pair of first electrodes is disposed on a pair of sidewalls of the trench. A piezoelectric material fills the trench, covering the pair of first electrodes. A second electrode is embedded in the piezoelectric material, separated from the pair of first electrodes by the piezoelectric material. The second electrode disposed in the trench is parallel to the pair of first electrodes. |
| US09013088B1 |
Field effect control of a microelectromechanical (MEMS) resonator
Apparatus and methods for control of charge in a semiconductor material of a mechanical resonating structure are described. Controlling the charge of the material may control the material properties of the semiconductor, such as the stiffness. Such control may result in changes in the behavior of the mechanical resonating structure, allowing for control and tuning of the behavior of the mechanical resonating structure. |
| US09013087B2 |
Brush holder having RFID temperature sensor system
An apparatus including: a brush holder; a radio frequency identification (RFID) device affixed to the brush holder, the RFID device including: a temperature sensor system for determining temperature(s) at one or more distinct locations on the brush holder; and a transmitter for providing indication of the temperature(s). |
| US09013086B2 |
Stator for an electric motor including separately formed end pieces and associated method
A stator for an electric motor includes a stator core including a yoke and a plurality of arms extending radially from the yoke. The stator includes an end piece secured to a radial end of each arm of the stator core. The stator core has a length defined along a longitudinal axis of the stator, and each end piece has a length defined along the longitudinal axis of the stator. The length of each end piece is greater than the length of the stator core. |
| US09013081B2 |
Variable magnetic gears
A magnetic gear comprising: a first movable member having a first set of magnetic poles, a second movable member having a second set of magnetic poles, and a third movable member having a set of pole pieces; wherein the first and second members have magnetic poles at different spacings and the pole pieces are arranged to modulate the magnetic field acting between the magnetic poles, and control means arranged to control rotation of one of the members so as to vary the gear ratio between the other two members. |
| US09013079B2 |
Permanent magnet generator for stabilizing electromotive force
The present invention relates to a permanent magnet generator for outputting a stabilized electromotive force. More specifically, the permanent magnet generator for stabilizing an electromotive force outputs an electromotive force stably according to the rotation speed of a motor and stabilizes the wave form of the electromotive force to be close to sine waves. |
| US09013077B2 |
Rotary electric machine
To include a stator, a rotor that is arranged within the stator, a frame that encloses the stator and the rotor, a pair of bearings that respectively support a driving side and a driven side of a rotary shaft, and a fan that is mounted on the rotary shaft. A plurality of blades that extend in a radial direction of the rotor and are provided to stand at a substantially equal interval in a rotation direction of the rotor are formed in the fan. A cross section of each of the blades in a direction perpendicular to the rotor has an elliptical shape extending in the radial direction, and the cross section widens toward a side of the fan. |
| US09013075B2 |
Induction motors including vent spacers, rotor core assemblies including vent spacers, and methods of operating same
Vent spacers and induction motor rotor core assemblies for induction motors are disclosed. The induction motor rotor assembly includes at least two rotor packages, each having axial sidewalls, a radial periphery, and axial vents, and a vent spacer positioned between opposing axial sidewalls of the at least two rotor packages. The vent spacer has a hub and a plurality of radially-extending fins coupled to the hub, the fins extending approximately to a radial periphery and extending axially between the opposed axial sidewalls to form a plurality of radial cooling channels extending between the sidewalls. Induction motors and methods of operating the induction motors are disclosed, as are other aspects. |
| US09013073B2 |
System and method for balancing input current with parallel power supplies
A method for balancing input current with at least two parallel power supplies, including the steps of defining an input current difference tolerance, measuring input current from the at least two parallel power supplies, calculating an absolute value of the difference between the two measured input currents, and when the calculated value exceeds the tolerance, performing the subset of steps including employing an adjustment technique to calculate new operating parameters for the two power supplies, configuring the two power supplies with the new operating parameters, and repeating the steps above except for the defining step. |
| US09013069B2 |
Power generation system and power generating unit
The power generation system includes first and second power generating units, each of which converts DC energy into RF energy and transmits the power wirelessly, a combining section, which combines the respective outputs of the power generating units together, and an oscillation phase control section, which reduces the phase difference between the RF energies supplied from the two power generating units and. The oscillation phase control section controls a phase difference between the RF energies supplied from the oscillators and belonging to the first and second power generating units and, respectively, so that first and second RF energies supplied from the first and second power generating units and are in phase with each other when combined together by the combining section. |
| US09013066B2 |
High voltage electric accumulators with internal distributed DC-DC converters for self regulation and protection
A power management system may employ a power source, a distribution system between the power source and electrical loads and an energy accumulator. The accumulator may comprise a plurality of energy processing blocks. Each block may have a limited number of energy storage cells connected in series to produce first voltage. A second higher output voltage from the accumulator may be achieved though integrated DC-DC, DC-AC and AC-DC conversion with intermediate boost of AC voltage through high frequency transformers. Bidirectional power flow may be achieved with high efficiency during charge and discharge of the accumulator. Secondary windings of the transformers may be connected with one another in series so that the accumulator can transfer energy between the distribution system and any one or all of the energy processing units in a fault-tolerant and efficient manner. |
| US09013063B2 |
Uninterruptible power supply system
In an uninterruptible power supply system, control sections of three uninterruptible power supply units are connected to one another by communication cables to configure one integrated control unit. The integrated control unit brings three switches into conduction if a bias feeding mode is selected by one arbitrary operation section and brings three switches into conduction if an inverter feeding mode is selected. Therefore, there is no need to separately provide an operation section and a control section for operating and controlling all of the uninterruptible power supply units. |
| US09013062B2 |
Vehicle, control method for vehicle, and power reception facilities
A vehicle ECU executes a program including the steps of determining whether or not to permit discharge assistance, generating first assistance information, transmitting the first assistance information, carrying out discharge control when a result of determination as to whether or not to request discharge assistance and requested discharge electric power is received and when measures based on the result of determination can be taken, and giving notification about whether or not discharge assistance is carried out. |
| US09013060B2 |
Method and system for measuring, monitoring and controlling electrical power consumption
A system and method for measuring, monitoring and controlling electrical power directed through one or more electricity directing devices is provided. The one or more electricity directing devices includes electrical sockets supplying power to one or more devices. The system includes a potential transformer configured to receive AC voltage directed through a socket and further configured to relay the voltage to a processing device. The system further includes a current sensor configured to sense current drawn from the socket and further configured to relay the current to the processing device. A microcontroller is adapted to receive analog or digital values of voltage and current corresponding to AC voltage and AC current. The microcontroller then measures values of voltage and current, calculate electrical power consumed and generate a control signal. The control signal activates a switching device operationally connected to the socket and switches power flow through the socket. |
| US09013059B2 |
Load control system having an energy savings mode
A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load, a daylight control device (such as a motorized window treatment) for adjusting the amount of natural light to be admitted through a window, and a controller for adjusting a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building. In response to receiving a demand response command, the controller controls the lighting control device, the daylight control device, and the heating and cooling system so as to decrease a total power consumption of the load control system. The load control system may comprise a controllable switching device for disconnecting power to or disconnecting the control lines to one or more components of the heating and cooling system. |
| US09013058B2 |
Vehicle lighting device and lighting method
The light distribution region of headlights (12) is divided into a plurality of regions, and each of the divided regions can be irradiated or non-irradiated by light, and the light distribution characteristic can be changed separately for each divided region. The radiation or non-radiation of light to each divided region is controlled by a light distribution control ECU (14). Besides, light reflection/emission regions (hatched portions in FIG. 4) are detected by detecting light regions of reflection, such as white lines, reflectors, etc., and light regions of light emission, such as street lights or the like, are detected. Then, divided regions corresponding to light distribution region irradiated by the headlights (12) which correspond to the detected light reflection/emission regions are specifically determined, and the headlights (12) are controlled so that the light radiated to the specifically determined divided regions 22 becomes dark in light distribution relative to other regions. |
| US09013057B2 |
Starter circuit for motor vehicle
A starter circuit includes a battery, a starter electrically coupled with the battery, a relay disposed between the battery and the starter, and a starter switch mounted remotely from the starter. The starter includes a switch assembly and a starter motor. The switch assembly includes an actuator and a start signal switch. The relay is configured to operate to provide current to the switch assembly to close the start signal switch in response to a received signal. The starter switch closes in response to the start signal switch being closed, whereby the battery delivers current to the starter motor when the starter switch is closed. A starter unit is also disclosed. |
| US09013056B2 |
Backup power source device and automobile equipped with same
A backup power source device includes the following elements: a capacitor; a charging circuit provided in the charging path of the capacitor and performing step-down operation; a boost circuit provided in the output path of the capacitor; and a door-lock-releasing output terminal connected to the boost circuit. |
| US09013055B1 |
Kite system for generating electricity
A kite based electricity generation system uses a kite that is tethered to a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is slidably disposed within a housing with an electric coil disposed therein, such that sliding of the magnet within the housing slides the magnet within the coil and generates electricity. As the kite is subject to a wind load, the kite pulls the magnet through the coil toward a top of the housing. When the wind load decreases, a spring biases the magnet in a reverse direction, each time the magnet sliding within the coil and generating electricity. The housing pivots with respect to a base to which the housing is attached and may also rotate with respect to the base, such pivoting and rotation may generate additional electricity. |
| US09013053B2 |
Multi-type wind turbine
A multi-type wind turbine is provided such that a plurality of arms are combined with one tower in a radial direction, and a unit generator having a blade is provided at the plurality of arms, respectively, and at least two of the unit generators are rotated in opposite directions to each other. Furthermore, both ends of the arm may be located both sides thereof on the basis of the height directional central line of the tower to be fixed thereto or both ends of the arm may be located at one side of the tower to be rotatably combined therewith. Furthermore, the rotation speed and tilt angle of the blade of the unit generator may controlled in an individual manner or controlled in a grouped manner. Furthermore, the unit generator may include a main blade and a sub-blade which is smaller than the main blade. |
| US09013052B2 |
Apparatus for harvesting energy from a body of water and a method
The invention relates to a device for harnessing energy from a body of water, which device comprises a Darrieus rotor having at least two Darrieus rotor blades, and comprises at least two connecting arms which connect the Darrieus rotor blades with a central axis, wherein per Darrieus rotor blade a first, proximal section of a connecting arm is connected to the central axis and a point of the connecting arm situated at a distance of the proximal section is connected to a first point on the Darrieus rotor blade, wherein at least the connection between the point of a connecting arm situated at a distance of the first proximal section and the first point on a Darrieus blade is a hingable connection, for every Darrieus rotor blade, of at least one connecting arm the connection between the proximal section of the connecting arm and the central axis is a rigid connection. |
| US09013051B2 |
Hybrid type construction machine
Provided is a construction machine capable of achieving an energy conservation effect while restraining overcharge of an electrical storage device, including an engine, a slewing electric motor, an electrical storage device, a generator-motor, and an assist controller which causes the generator-motor to assist the engine to consume an electric power equal to or more than an electric power equal to a difference between the regeneration power and the maximum allowable charge amount, when a regeneration power regenerated by the slewing electric motor is equal to or more than a maximum allowable charge amount which is a maximum amount of an electric power within which the electrical storage device can be charged. |
| US09013050B2 |
Hybrid construction machine
Provided is a hybrid construction machine including: a hydraulic actuator; a hydraulic pump which discharges hydraulic fluid for driving the hydraulic actuator; a generator-motor which performs an electric generator action of generating electric power and an electric motor action of generating motive power; an engine connected to the hydraulic pump and the motor-generator; an electrical storage device; and a controller which causes the generator-motor to perform the electric generator action and charge the electrical storage device and causes the generator-motor to perform the electric motor action by electric power discharged from the electrical storage device to assist the engine. The controller causes the generator-motor to start the electric generator action when an engine output becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined engine lower limit output, and controls the electric generator action to keep the engine output no lower than the engine lower limit output. |
| US09013049B2 |
Surface sealant for optical semiconductor, method for manufacturing organic EL device, organic EL device and organic EL display panel using the same
To provide a resin composition for sealing an optical semiconductor, which is a raw material for a sealing resin layer having good curability and excellent storage stability; preferably a raw material for a sealing resin layer further having excellent weather resistance. The surface sealant for an optical semiconductor of Embodiment 1 according to the present invention contains epoxy resin (a) having two or more epoxy groups in a molecule, and metal complex (b1) which contains at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of Zn, Bi, Ca, Al, Cd, La and Zr, a tertiary amine capable of forming a complex with the metal ion and having no N—H bond and an anionic ligand having a molecular weight of 17 to 200, in which the surface sealant has a viscosity of 10 to 10000 mPa·s, as measured by E-type viscometer at 25° C. and 1.0 rpm. |
| US09013048B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method and semiconductor device
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes sealing a first surface of a semiconductor wafer with a resin, causing a resin-made warp suppression member to be adhered to a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface of the semiconductor wafer and causing the warp suppression member to shrink, measuring the amount of warp of the semiconductor wafer, and forming cuts in the warp suppression member in accordance with the amount of warp of the semiconductor wafer. |
| US09013047B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element, a capacitor, a first resin, lead frames and a second resin. The first resin forms a resin molding which covers the semiconductor element and the capacitor. The lead frames are attached to two surfaces of the resin molding and are connected to the semiconductor element and the capacitor. The second resin directly covers the capacitor and has a rigidity lower than a rigidity of the first resin. An outside of the second resin is directly covered with the first resin. |
| US09013043B2 |
Semiconductor element applicable to optical products
A semiconductor element includes: a transparent substrate; a stack structure formed on the transparent substrate and having a metal oxide layer partially exposed through sidewalls of the stack structure; a plurality of leads spacingly formed on the stack structure and extending to the sidewalls of the stack structure; an insulating film covering the exposed portions of the metal oxide layer; a metal film formed on the leads; and a solder mask layer disposed on the metal film, the stack structure and the insulating film. As such, the insulating film prevents short circuits from occurring between adjacent leads so as to improve the product yield. |
| US09013041B2 |
Semiconductor package with ultra-thin interposer without through-semiconductor vias
There are disclosed herein various implementations of semiconductor packages including an interposer without through-semiconductor vias (TSVs). One exemplary implementation includes a first active die situated over an interposer. The interposer includes an interposer dielectric having intra-interposer routing traces. The first active die communicates electrical signals to a package substrate situated below the interposer utilizing the intra-interposer routing traces and without utilizing TSVs. In one implementation, the semiconductor package includes a second active die situated over the interposer, the second active die communicating electrical signals to the package substrate utilizing the intra-interposer routing traces and without utilizing TSVs. Moreover, in one implementation, the first active die and the second active die communicate chip-to-chip signals through the interposer. |
| US09013036B2 |
Sealing member and electronic device using the same
A sealing member is disclosed, which includes a first structure and a second structure. The first structure includes a groove with an opening towards the outside of the sealing member, wherein the second structure is disposed in the groove. The first structure includes a first material, and the second structure includes a second material, wherein the water absorption rate of the second material is greater than the water absorption rate of the first material. Also, an electronic device using the sealing member is disclosed. |
| US09013035B2 |
Thermal improvement for hotspots on dies in integrated circuit packages
Methods and apparatuses for improved integrated circuit (IC) packages are described herein. In an aspect, an IC device package includes an IC die having a contact pad, where the contact pad is located on a hotspot of the IC die. The hotspot is thermally coupled to a thermal interconnect member. In an aspect, the package is encapsulated in a mold compound. In a further aspect, a heat spreader is attached to the mold compound, and is thermally coupled to the thermal interconnect member. In another aspect, a thermal interconnect member thermally is coupled between the heat spreader and the substrate. |
| US09013034B2 |
Semiconductor package
A semiconductor package, wherein, in bonding of members constituting the semiconductor package, by using bonding layers containing copper and a low-melting-point metal such as tin, the bonding is performed in a temperature range where the occurrence of warpage or distortion of the members is suppressed, and after the bonding, a high melting point is obtained; and by configuring the members so that all the surfaces of the members which become bonding surfaces of bonding layers are parallel to each other, all the thickness directions of the bonding layers are aligned to be in the same direction, and during the formation of the bonding layers, the pressing direction is set to be one-way direction which is the direction of laminating the members. |
| US09013032B2 |
High pin count, small SON/QFN packages
A plastic SON/QFN package for high power has a pair of oblong metal pins exposed from a surface of the plastic, the pins straddling a corner of the package; each pin has a long axis, the long axes of the pair forming a non-orthogonal angle. |
| US09013028B2 |
Integrated circuit package and method of making
An integrated circuit (“IC”) device and method of making it. The IC device may include a conductive lead frame that has a die pad with a relatively larger central body portion and at least one relatively smaller peripheral portion in electrical continuity with the central body portion. The peripheral portion(s) project laterally outwardly from the central body portion of the die pad. Lateral displacement of a portion(s) of an encapsulation layer overlying the peripheral portion(s) is resisted by abutting surfaces on the peripheral portion(s) and the encapsulation layer. |
| US09013023B2 |
Photoelectric element having stacked charge-transport layers
A photoelectric element includes a first electrode; and a second electrode positioned so as to face the first electrode; and a semiconductor disposed on a face of the first electrode, the face being positioned so as to face the second electrode; and a photosensitizer carried on the semiconductor; and a first charge-transport layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a second charge-transport layer interposed between the first charge-transport layer and the second electrode. The first charge-transport layer and the second charge-transport layer contain different oxidation-reduction materials. The oxidation-reduction material in the first charge-transport layer has an oxidation-reduction potential higher than an oxidation-reduction potential of the oxidation-reduction material in the second charge-transport layer. |
| US09013015B2 |
Micro-electromechanical semiconductor component
A micro-electromechanical semiconductor component is provided with a semiconductor substrate, a reversibly deformable bending element made of semiconductor material, and at least one transistor that is sensitive to mechanical stresses. The transistor is designed as an integrated component in the bending element. |
| US09013011B1 |
Stacked and staggered die MEMS package and method
A staggered die MEMS package includes a substrate having a converter cavity formed therein. A converter electronic component is mounted within the converter cavity. Further, a MEMS electronic component is mounted to both the substrate and the converter electronic component in a staggered die arrangement. By staggering the MEMS electronic component directly on the converter electronic component instead of locating the MEMS electronic component in a side by side arrangement with the converter electronic component, the total package width of the staggered die MEMS package is minimized. Further, by locating the converter electronic component within the converter cavity and staggering the MEMS electronic component directly on the converter electronic component, the total package height, sometimes called Z-height, of the staggered die MEMS package is minimized. |
| US09013008B2 |
Semiconductor structures and methods of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor structure has embedded stressor material for enhanced transistor performance. The method of forming the semiconductor structure includes etching an undercut in a substrate material under one or more gate structures while protecting an implant with a liner material. The method further includes removing the liner material on a side of the implant and depositing stressor material in the undercut under the one or more gate structures. |
| US09013003B2 |
Semiconductor structure and process thereof
A semiconductor structure includes a first gate and a second gate, a first spacer and a second spacer, two first epitaxial structures and two second epitaxial structures. The first gate and the second gate are located on a substrate. The first spacer and the second spacer are respectively located on the substrate beside the first gate and the second gate. The first epitaxial structures and the second epitaxial structures are respectively located in the substrate beside the first spacer and the second spacer, wherein the first spacer and the second spacer have different thicknesses, and the spacing between the first epitaxial structures is different from the spacing between the second epitaxial structures. Moreover, the present invention also provides a semiconductor process forming said semiconductor structure. |
| US09013002B1 |
Iridium interfacial stack (IRIS)
An iridium interfacial stack (“IrIS”) and a method for producing the same are provided. The IrIS may include ordered layers of TaSi2, platinum, iridium, and platinum, and may be placed on top of a titanium layer and a silicon carbide layer. The IrIS may prevent, reduce, or mitigate against diffusion of elements such as oxygen, platinum, and gold through at least some of its layers. |
| US09013001B2 |
Stress-generating shallow trench isolation structure having dual composition
A shallow trench isolation structure containing a first shallow trench isolation portion comprising the first shallow trench material and a second shallow trench isolation portion comprising the second shallow trench material is provided. A first biaxial stress on at least one first active area and a second bidirectional stress on at least one second active area are manipulated separately to enhance charge carrier mobility in middle portions of the at least one first and second active areas by selection of the first and second shallow trench materials as well as adjusting the type of the shallow trench isolation material that each portion of the at least one first active area and the at least one second active area laterally abut. |
| US09013000B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device may include a first metal gate electrode provided in a NMOS region of a substrate; and a second metal gate electrode provided in a PMOS region of the substrate, wherein the first and second metal gate electrodes may be formed of TiN material or TiAlN material. Here, the first metal gate electrode may have a higher titanium (Ti) content than the second metal gate electrode, and the second metal gate electrode may have a higher nitrogen (N) content than the first metal gate electrode. |
| US09012999B2 |
Semiconductor device with an inclined source/drain and associated methods
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a channel region therein, a gate structure above the channel region, and source and drain regions on opposite sides of the gate structure. A respective contact is on each of the source and drain regions. At least one of the source and drain regions has an inclined upper contact surface with the respective contact. The inclined upper contact surface has at least a 50% greater area than would a corresponding flat contact surface. |
| US09012996B2 |
Silicon-on-insulator radio-frequency device and method of forming the same
A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) radio-frequency (RF) device is disclosed, the SOI RF device includes: a silicon substrate; a buried oxide layer formed on the silicon substrate; a device layer formed on the buried oxide layer, the device layer including an RF device; a first dielectric layer covering the device layer; a deep trench structure extending through, from the top downward, the first dielectric layer, the silicon device layer and the buried oxide layer to an interface between the buried oxide layer and the silicon substrate; and a second dielectric layer covering both of the first dielectric layer and the deep trench structure. The SOI RF device is capable of improving signal transmission characteristics and preventing signal distortion, and can be easily manufactured with lower cost in less critical process conditions. A method of forming such an SOI RF device is also disclosed. |
| US09012994B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and method for manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor array panel is disclosed. The thin film transistor array panel may include a gate line disposed on a substrate and including a gate electrode, a semiconductor layer including an oxide semiconductor disposed on the substrate, a data wiring layer disposed on the substrate and including a data line crossing the gate line, a source electrode connected to the data line and a drain electrode facing the source electrode, a polymer layer covering the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a passivation layer disposed on the polymer layer. The data wiring layer may include copper or a copper alloy and the polymer layer may include fluorocarbon. |
| US09012993B2 |
Semiconductor device
An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied for a certain time. Another object is to increase the degree of integration of a semiconductor device and to increase the storage capacity per unit area. A semiconductor device is formed with a material capable of sufficiently reducing off-state current of a transistor, such as an oxide semiconductor material that is a wide-bandgap semiconductor. With the use of a semiconductor material capable of sufficiently reducing off-state current of a transistor, the semiconductor device can hold data for a long time. Furthermore, a wiring layer provided under a transistor, a high-resistance region in an oxide semiconductor film, and a source electrode are used to form a capacitor, thereby reducing the area occupied by the transistor and the capacitor. |
| US09012992B2 |
Fabrication of electronic and photonic systems on flexible substrates by layer transfer method
A transfer layer includes a transparent substrate. A buffer layer is formed on the transparent substrate that comprises PbO, GaN, PbTiO3, La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 (LSCO), or LaxPb1-xCoO3 (LPCO) so that separation between the buffer layer and the transparent substrate occurs at substantially high temperatures. |
| US09012987B2 |
Semiconductor device, printing apparatus, and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including a DMOS transistor, an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor arranged on a semiconductor substrate, the DMOS transistor including a first impurity region and a second impurity region formed to be adjacent to each other, the first impurity region being of the same conductivity type as a drain region and a source region of the DMOS transistor, forming to enclose the drain region, and the second impurity region being of a conductivity type opposite to the first impurity region, forming to enclose the source region, the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device comprising forming the first impurity region and one of the NMOS transistor and the PMOS transistor, and forming the second impurity region and the other of the NMOS transistor and the PMOS transistor. |
| US09012984B2 |
Field effect transistor devices with regrown p-layers
A transistor device includes a drift layer having a first conductivity type, a body layer on the drift layer, the body layer having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, and a source region on the body layer, the source region having the first conductivity type. The device further includes a trench extending through the source region and the body layer and into the drift layer, a channel layer on the inner sidewall of the trench, the channel layer having the second conductivity type and having an inner sidewall opposite an inner sidewall of the trench, a gate insulator on the inner sidewall of the channel layer, and a gate contact on the gate insulator. |
| US09012983B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device includes the following elements. A semiconductor substrate has a device formation region. The device formation region is defined by first and second device isolation regions which extend in first and second directions, respectively. The device formation region has a first gate groove which extends in the second direction. A first gate insulating film is disposed in a lower portion of the first gate groove. A first gate electrode is disposed on the first gate insulating film. The first gate electrode is disposed in the lower portion of the first gate groove. A buried insulating film is disposed over the first gate electrode. The buried insulating film is disposed in an upper portion of the first gate groove. |
| US09012981B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first pillar-shaped silicon layer formed on a planar silicon layer, a gate insulating film formed around the first pillar-shaped silicon layer, a first gate electrode formed around the gate insulating film, a gate line connected to the first gate electrode, a first first-conductivity-type diffusion layer formed in an upper portion of the first pillar-shaped silicon layer, a second first-conductivity-type diffusion layer formed in a lower portion of the first pillar-shaped silicon layer and an upper portion of the planar silicon layer, a first sidewall having a laminated structure of an insulating film and polysilicon and being formed on an upper sidewall of the first pillar-shaped silicon layer and an upper portion of the first gate electrode, and a first contact formed on the first first-conductivity-type diffusion layer and the first sidewall. |
| US09012977B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices having selection transistors with nonuniform threshold voltage characteristics
Provided is a semiconductor memory device. In the semiconductor memory device, a lower selection gate controls a first channel region that is defined at a semiconductor substrate and a second channel region that is defined at the lower portion of an active pattern disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The first threshold voltage of the first channel region is different from the second threshold voltage of the second channel region. |
| US09012976B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, the stacked body includes a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of conductive layers alternately stacked on the underlying film. The first insulating film is provided in a trench piercing the stacked body in a stacking direction of the stacked body and separating the stacked body into a plurality of resistance element blocks in a first direction on the underlying film. The resistance element blocks include a line portion formed of the conductive layer extending in a second direction crossing the first direction and the stacking direction and a hole formation portion provided to protrude in the first direction from the line portion and including a second insulating film provided in a hole piercing the stacked body in the stacking direction. |
| US09012975B2 |
Field effect transistor and manufacturing method thereof
A field effect transistor (FET) and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The FET includes a substrate, a fin bump, an insulating layer, a charge trapping structure and a gate structure. The fin bump is disposed on the substrate. The insulating layer is disposed on the substrate and located at two sides of the fin bump. The charge trapping structure is disposed on the insulating layer and located at at least one side of the fin bump. A cross-section of the charge trapping structure is L-shaped. The gate structure covers the fin bump and the charge trapping structure. |
| US09012968B2 |
Semiconductor non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device with good write/erase characteristics is provided. A selection gate is formed on a p-type well of a semiconductor substrate via a gate insulator, and a memory gate is formed on the p-type well via a laminated film composed of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, and a silicon oxide film. The memory gate is adjacent to the selection gate via the laminated film. In the regions on both sides of the selection gate and the memory gate in the p-type well, n-type impurity diffusion layers serving as the source and drain are formed. The region controlled by the selection gate and the region controlled by the memory gate located in the channel region between said impurity diffusion layers have the different charge densities of the impurity from each other. |
| US09012967B2 |
1T MIM memory for embedded RAM application in soc
Embedded memories. The devices include a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer, and a plurality of capacitors. The substrate comprises transistors. The first dielectric layer, embedding first and second conductive plugs electrically connecting the transistors therein, overlies the substrate. The second dielectric layer, comprising a plurality of capacitor openings exposing the first conductive plugs, overlies the first dielectric layer. The capacitors comprise a plurality of bottom plates, respectively disposed in the capacitor openings, electrically connecting the first conductive plugs, a plurality of capacitor dielectric layers respectively overlying the bottom plates, and a top plate, comprising a top plate opening, overlying the capacitor dielectric layers. The top plate opening exposes the second dielectric layer, and the top plate is shared by the capacitors. |
| US09012964B2 |
Modulating germanium percentage in MOS devices
An integrated circuit structure includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate, and an opening extending into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the opening is adjacent to the gate stack. A first silicon germanium region is disposed in the opening, wherein the first silicon germanium region has a first germanium percentage. A second silicon germanium region is overlying the first silicon germanium region, wherein the second silicon germanium region has a second germanium percentage higher than the first germanium percentage. A metal silicide region is over and in contact with the second silicon germanium region. |
| US09012962B2 |
Gas sensor and flip-chip method for its manufacture
A sensor element is described that includes at least one semiconductor component having a gas-sensitive layer which is attached to a substrate by the flip-chip method, the gas-sensitive layer facing the substrate and a supply arrangement being provided to supply a gas to be examined to the gas-sensitive layer. The semiconductor component is enclosed in a casing. Also described is a method for manufacturing the sensor element, in which a semiconductor component having a gas-sensitive layer is attached by the flip-chip method to a substrate in such a way that the gas-sensitive layer faces the substrate. After that, the casing is applied by a plasma sputtering method, in particular an atmospheric plasma sputtering method. Finally, a use of the sensor element in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine is also described. |
| US09012958B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device of the invention includes an n-GaN layer provided on a substrate, a channel layer provided in contact with the upper surface of the n-GaN layer, an electron supply layer which is provided on the channel layer, and a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode which are provided on the electron supply layer. The gate electrode is in contact with an underlying layer made from a nitride semiconductor. The semiconductor device has a ratio defined by the equation L/d1≧7, where L is the width of the gate electrode in contact with the underlying layer in a direction between the source electrode and drain electrode; and d1 is the distance between a surface of the n-type gallium nitride layer and a boundary between the gate electrode and the underlying layer. |
| US09012951B2 |
Radiation-emitting component and method for producing a radiation-emitting component
A radiation-emitting component including a semiconductor chip having a semiconductor body with an active region that generates a primary radiation, and including a conversion element that at least partly converts the primary radiation, wherein the conversion element is fixed to the semiconductor chip with a connecting layer and a radiation conversion substance is formed in the connecting layer. |
| US09012950B2 |
Light emitting device package
A light emitting device package includes: a package main body having a chip mounting region surrounded by side walls; lead frames spaced apart from one another, at least one portion thereof being positioned in the chip mounting region; a light emitting device mounted on the chip mounting region; a wire connecting the lead frame and the light emitting device; a lens disposed on the light emitting device; and a lens support unit formed to be higher than the wire in the chip mounting region and supporting the lens such that the lens does not come into contact with the wire. |
| US09012949B2 |
Light-emitting module, light-emitting device, and method for manufacturing the light-emitting module
A highly reliable light-emitting module or light-emitting device is provided. A method for manufacturing a highly reliable light-emitting module is provided. The light-emitting module includes, between a first substrate and a second substrate, a first electrode provided over the first substrate, a second electrode provided over the first electrode with a layer containing a light-emitting organic compound interposed therebetween, and a sacrifice layer formed using a liquid material provided over the second electrode. |
| US09012948B2 |
Light-emitting element having a plurality of contact parts
A light-emitting element includes a supportive substrate; a reflective layer formed on the supportive substrate; a transparent layer formed on the reflective layer; a light-emitting stacked layer formed on the transparent layer; an etching-stop layer formed between the transparent layer and the reflective layer; and a plurality of contact parts formed between the light-emitting stacked layer and the transparent layer. |
| US09012946B2 |
Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode includes a patterned carbon nanotube layer, a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, an active layer stacked on an epitaxial growth surface of a substrate in that sequence. A first portion of the patterned carbon nanotube layer is covered by the first semiconductor layer and a second portion of the patterned carbon nanotube layer is exposed. A first electrode is electrically connected with the second semiconductor layer. A second electrode electrically is electrically connected with the second portion of the patterned carbon nanotube layer. |
| US09012941B2 |
Light emitting diode device, light emitting apparatus and method of manufacturing light emitting diode device
Provided is a light emitting diode device. The light emitting diode device includes a light emitting diode chip having a first surface on which first and second electrodes are disposed, and a second surface opposing the first surface, a wavelength conversion portion including fluorescent substances and covering the first surface and side surfaces of the light emitting diode chip, wherein the side surfaces denote surfaces placed between the first and second surfaces, and first and second electricity connection portions each including a plating layer, respectively connected to the first and second electrodes, and exposed to the outside of the wavelength conversion portion. Accordingly, the light emitting diode device, capable of enhancing luminous efficiency and realizing uniform product characteristics in terms of the emission of white light, is provided. Further, a process for easily and efficiently manufacturing the above light emitting diode device is provided. |
| US09012939B2 |
N-type gallium-nitride layer having multiple conductive intervening layers
A vertical GaN-based blue LED has an n-type layer comprising multiple conductive intervening layers. The n-type layer contains a plurality of periods. Each period of the n-type layer includes a gallium-nitride (GaN) sublayer and a thin conductive aluminum-gallium-nitride (AlGaN:Si) intervening sublayer. In one example, each GaN sublayer has a thickness substantially more than 100 nm and less than 1000 nm, and each AlGaN:Si intervening sublayer has a thickness less than 25 nm. The entire n-type layer is at least 2000 nm thick. The AlGaN:Si intervening layer provides compressive strain to the GaN sublayer thereby preventing cracking. After the epitaxial layers of the LED are formed, a conductive carrier is wafer bonded to the structure. The silicon substrate is then removed. Electrodes are added and the structure is singulated to form a finished LED device. Because the AlGaN:Si sublayers are conductive, the entire n-type layer can remain as part of the finished LED device. |
| US09012938B2 |
High reflective substrate of light emitting devices with improved light output
Apparatuses and methods for producing light emitting devices maximizing luminous flux output are disclosed. In one possible embodiment, a light emitting device comprises a substrate and a reflective layer at least partially covering the substrate. The reflective layer is non-yellowing, and may be substantially light transparent. One or more light emitting diode (LED) chips are disposed on the substrate. The light emitting device may emit white light. The reflective layer may comprise a silicone carrier with light reflective particles dispersed in the silicone carrier. A light diffusion lens may also be disposed on the substrate and surrounding the LED chips. Furthermore, one or more microspheres, light scattering particles, and/or phosphor particles may be dispersed in the lens. In one possible method for producing a light emitting device, a substrate is provided. One or more LED chips are coupled with the substrate, and a high reflective, non-yellowing coating is applied on at least a portion of the top surface of the substrate. The coating comprises a carrier with reflective particles dispersed throughout. |
| US09012934B2 |
Method of forming semiconductor layer and semiconductor light emitting device
A method of forming a semiconductor layer is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of nanorods on a substrate and forming a lower semiconductor layer on the substrate so as to expose at least portions of the nanorods. The nanorods are removed so as to form voids in the lower semiconductor layer, and an upper semiconductor layer is formed on an upper portion of the lower semiconductor layer and the voids. |
| US09012933B2 |
Light-emitting diode having a roughened surface
A light-emitting diode includes a substrate, the substrate including an upper surface, a bottom surface opposite to the upper surface, and a side surface; a first type semiconductor layer on the upper surface, wherein the first type semiconductor layer includes a first portion and a second portion, and the second portion includes an edge surrounding the first portion; a light-emitting layer on the first portion; and a second type semiconductor layer on the light-emitting layer, wherein the second portion includes a first surface and a second surface, and a first distance is between the first surface and the upper surface, and a second distance is between the second surface and the upper surface and is smaller than the first distance; wherein the first surface is rougher than the second surface, and the second surface is located at the edge. |
| US09012930B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device providing graded brightness
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor lamination including a p-type semiconductor layer, an active semiconductor layer, and an n-type semiconductor layer; opposing electrode structure including a first electrode structure formed above the p-type semiconductor layer, and a second electrode structure formed above the n-type semiconductor layer; and brightness grade producing structure including a surface layer of at least one of the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer and producing brightness grade gradually changing from one edge to opposite edge of light output plane. |
| US09012925B2 |
Solid state imaging device having a pair of charge holding films
A solid-state imaging device according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a light receiving unit, a first charge holding film, and a second charge holding film. The light receiving unit converts the incident light to an electric current. The first charge holding film is formed above the light receiving unit and holds electric charges. The second charge holding film is formed on the first charge holding film and holds electric charges. Further, concentration of oxygen in the second charge holding film is higher than concentration of oxygen in the first charge holding film. |
| US09012924B2 |
Spectrum detector including a photodector having a concavo-convex patten
Provided is a spectrum detector capable of being miniaturized and which does not require complicated optical axis alignment. The spectrum detector of the present invention comprises: a substrate; a photodetector formed on the substrate and including a semiconductor having a plurality of convex portions; and a wavelength detection circuit for detecting a wavelength of light transmitted through the plurality of convex portions, from light incident on the photodetector. According to the present invention, a small-sized spectrum detector can be provided which can easily detect a peak wavelength distribution included in light of an unknown wavelength, without the use of optical equipment such as a grating or prism, thus dispensing with the need for the optical axis alignment of a complex optical system. |
| US09012919B2 |
III-V semiconductor structures and methods for forming the same
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods of fabricating semiconductor structures, and to semiconductor structures fabricated by such methods. In some embodiments, the methods may be used to fabricate semiconductor structures of III-V materials, such as InGaN. A semiconductor layer is fabricated by growing sublayers using differing sets of growth conditions to improve the homogeneity of the resulting layer, to improve a surface roughness of the resulting layer, and/or to enable the layer to be grown to an increased thickness without the onset of strain relaxation. |
| US09012914B2 |
Thin-film transistor and method for manufacturing thin-film transistor
A method for manufacturing a thin-film transistor includes: preparing a substrate; forming a gate electrode above the substrate; forming a gate insulating layer above the gate electrode; forming a semiconductor film above the gate insulating layer; forming, above the semiconductor film, a protective layer comprising an organic material; forming a source electrode and a drain electrode which are opposed to each other and each of which has at least a portion located above the protective layer; forming a semiconductor layer patterned, by performing dry etching on the semiconductor film; and performing, in a hydrogen atmosphere, plasma treatment on an altered layer which (i) is a surface layer of the protective layer exposed from the source electrode and the drain electrode and altered by the dry etching, and (ii) has at least a portion contacting a surface of the semiconductor layer. |
| US09012904B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
In the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film of the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film has a stacked-layer structure of the hydrogen capture film and the hydrogen permeable film. At this time, the hydrogen permeable film is formed on a side which is in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, and the hydrogen capture film is formed on a side which is in contact with a gate electrode. After that, hydrogen released from the oxide semiconductor film is transferred to the hydrogen capture film through the hydrogen permeable film by the heat treatment. |
| US09012900B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device and method of fabricating the same
An organic light emitting diode display device capable of improving capacitance Cst of a storage capacitor and transmittance and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting diode display device includes a driving thin film transistor (TFT) formed on the substrate, a passivation film formed to cover the TFT driver, a color filter formed on the passivation film in a luminescent region, a planarization film formed to cover the color filter, a transparent metal layer formed on the planarization film, an insulating film formed on the transparent metal layer, a first electrode connected to the TFT driver and overlapping the transparent metal layer while interposing the insulating film therebetween, an organic light emitting layer and a second electrode which are sequentially formed on the first electrode. The transparent metal layer, the insulating film, and the first electrode constitute a storage capacitor in the luminescent region. |
| US09012899B2 |
Electroluminescent metal complexes with nucleophilic carbene ligands
This invention relates to electroluminescent metal complexes of the formula (I) wherein the ring A, represents an optionally substituted aryl group which can optionally contain heteroatoms, the ring B, represents an optionally substituted nitrogen containing aryl group, which can optionally contain further heteroatoms, or the ring A may be taken with the ring B binding to the ring A to form a ring; the group C, represents an acyclic carbene, or a cyclic carbene (ring C), which can optionally contain heteroatoms, the ring D, represents an optionally substituted aryl group which can optionally contain heteroatoms, n1 is an integer of 1 to 3, m1 is an integer of 0, 1 or 2, m2 is an integer 0 or 1, M1 is a metal with an atomic weight of greater than 40, L3 is a monodentate ligand or a bidentate ligand, Y is —C(═O)— or —C(X1)2—, wherein X1 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl, especially hydrogen and y is 0 or 1, especially 0; a process for their preparation, electronic devices comprising the metal complexes and their use in electronic devices, especially organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), as oxygen sensitive indicators, as phosphorescent indicators in bioassays and as catalysts. |
| US09012898B2 |
Electrophoretic display
An electrophoretic display device includes: a first substrate having a plurality of pixels formed in a plurality of vertical pixel rows and a plurality of horizontal pixel rows; a plurality of data lines formed at every vertical pixel row of the first substrate; a thin film transistor (TFT) formed at each pixel of the first substrate and including a source electrode, a drain electrode, an organic semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode; a passivation layer formed on the TFTs and the data lines of the first substrate and including a first contact hole exposing the drain electrode of the TFT and a second contact hole exposing the gate electrode of the TFT; a pixel electrode formed on the passivation layer at each pixel of the first substrate and connected with the drain electrode of the TFT via the first contact hole of the passivation layer; a plurality of gate lines formed on the passivation layer at every horizontal pixel row of the first substrate and connected with the gate electrode of the TFT via the second contact hole of the passivation layer; a second substrate attached to the first substrate in a facing manner; a common electrode formed on the second substrate; and an electrophoretic film formed between the first and second substrates. |
| US09012889B2 |
Field effect transistor using graphene, phosphorus-doped graphene, and methods of producing the same
A field effect transistor using a channel layer including a phosphorus-doped graphene and a method of fabricating the same are provided. Further, a phosphorus-doped graphene and a method of producing the same are provided. The field effect transistor includes: a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on a substrate; and a channel layer comprising a phosphorus-doped graphene, the channel layer electrically connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode. |
| US09012884B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting devices including contact layers to form reflective electrodes
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a contact layer. The contact layer has the composition ratio of Al elements which varies gradually therein. A region formed by an Al element in the contact layer of the semiconductor light-emitting device may improve light extraction efficiency of the light emitted from an active layer and facilitate a formation of the reflective electrode. |
| US09012883B2 |
Recessed contact to semiconductor nanowires
A semiconductor nanowire device includes at least one semiconductor nanowire having a bottom surface and a top surface, an insulating material which surrounds the semiconductor nanowire, and an electrode ohmically contacting the top surface of the semiconductor nanowire. A contact of the electrode to the semiconductor material of the semiconductor nanowire is dominated by the contact to the top surface of the semiconductor nanowire. |
| US09012882B2 |
Graphene nanomesh and method of making the same
A graphene nanomesh includes a sheet of graphene having a plurality of periodically arranged apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures have a substantially uniform periodicity and substantially uniform neck width. The graphene nanomesh can open up a large band gap in a sheet of graphene to create a semiconducting thin film. The periodicity and neck width of the apertures formed in the graphene nanomesh may be tuned to alter the electrical properties of the graphene nanomesh. The graphene nanomesh is prepared with block copolymer lithography. Graphene nanomesh field-effect transistors (FETs) can support currents nearly 100 times greater than individual graphene nanoribbon devices and the on-off ratio, which is comparable with values achieved in nanoribbon devices, can be tuned by varying the neck width. The graphene nanomesh may also be incorporated into FET-type sensor devices. |
| US09012881B2 |
Resistive-switching memory elements having improved switching characteristics
Resistive-switching memory elements having improved switching characteristics are described, including a memory element having a first electrode and a second electrode, a switching layer between the first electrode and the second electrode comprising hafnium oxide and having a first thickness, and a coupling layer between the switching layer and the second electrode, the coupling layer comprising a material including metal titanium and having a second thickness that is less than 25 percent of the first thickness. |
| US09012880B2 |
Resistance memory device
Provided is a resistance memory device including a dielectric layer, a conductive layer, a bottom electrode, a top electrode and a variable resistance layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on a substrate and has a first opening constituted by a lower opening and an upper opening. The conductive layer fills up the lower opening. The bottom electrode is disposed on the bottom and on at least a portion of the sidewall of the upper opening. The top electrode is disposed in the upper opening. The variable resistance layer is disposed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. |
| US09012879B2 |
Morphology control of ultra-thin MeOx layer
A nonvolatile memory device contains a resistive switching memory element with improved device switching performance and life and methods for forming the same. The nonvolatile memory device has a first layer on a substrate, a resistive switching layer on the first layer, and a second layer. The resistive switching layer is disposed between the first layer and the second layer and the resistive switching layer comprises a material having the same morphology as the top surface of the first layer. A method of forming a nonvolatile memory element in a ReRAM device includes forming a resistive switching layer on a first layer and forming a second layer, so that the resistive switching layer is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The resistive switching layer comprises a material formed with the same morphology as the top surface of the first layer. |
| US09012874B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhanced lifetime and performance of ion source in an ion implantation system
An ion implantation system and process, in which the performance and lifetime of the ion source of the ion implantation system are enhanced, by utilizing isotopically enriched dopant materials, or by utilizing dopant materials with supplemental gas(es) effective to provide such enhancement. |
| US09012870B2 |
Two-photon 3-D FIONA of individual quantum dots
Microscopy is performed by imaging individual quantum dots (QD) using two-photon (2P) microscopy of in an aqueous environment with widefield and point-scan excitations at nanometer accuracy. |
| US09012867B2 |
Ion sources, systems and methods
Ion sources, systems and methods are disclosed. |
| US09012866B2 |
Compact proton therapy system with energy selection onboard a rotatable gantry
Systems and apparatuses for providing particle beams for radiation therapy with a compact design and suitable to a single treatment room. The radiation system comprises a stationary cyclotron coupled to a rotating gantry assembly through a beam line assembly. The system is equipped with a single set of dipole magnets that are installed on the rotating gantry assembly and undertakes the dual functions of beam energy selection and beam deflection. The energy degrader may be exposed to the air pressure. The beam line assembly comprises a rotating segment and a stationary segment that are separated from each other through an intermediate segment that is exposed to an ambient pressure. |
| US09012862B2 |
Material aging test apparatus and method thereof
A material aging test apparatus and method thereof are provided. The aging apparatus includes a pulsed laser, a beam expansion assembly, a platform, and a spectrum analyzer. The pulsed laser is used for transmitting a first beam. The beam expansion assembly is used for converting the first beam into a second beam and projecting the second beam onto an object. The platform is used for carrying the object. The spectrum analyzer is used for measuring the spectral response which is generated from the object by the projection of the second beam. |
| US09012859B2 |
Tiled X-ray imager panel and method of forming the same
A tiled imager panel is disclosed. In certain embodiments, the tiled imager panel is formed from separate imager chips that are mechanically tiled together so as to minimize the gap between the tiled imager chips. In addition, in certain embodiments, a scintillator material associated with the tiled imager panel is in a hermetically sealed environment so as to be protected from moisture. |
| US09012858B2 |
X-ray detector and method for driving the same
Described embodiments provide an X-ray detector and a method for driving the same. The X-ray detector includes: a sensor panel in which a plurality of pixels are defined, the plurality of pixels each including a photodiode for converting light corresponding to incident X-ray into an electric signal, and a switching element connected to one terminal of the photodiode to control the output of the electric signal; a light emitting unit for providing light to the photodiode; and a voltage supply unit connected to the other terminal of the photodiode to selectively supply first and second voltages different from each other. |
| US09012854B2 |
Optimized scintilator crystals for PET
When employing specular reflective material in a scintillator crystal array, light trapping in the crystal due to repetitive internal reflection is mitigated by roughening at least one side (16) of each of a plurality of pre-formed polished scintillator crystals. A specular reflector material (30) is applied (deposited, wrapped around, etc.) to the roughened crystals, which are arranged in an array. Each crystal array is coupled to a silicon photodetector (32) to form a detector array, which can be mounted in a detector for a functional scanner or the like. |
| US09012846B2 |
Handheld device with surface reflection estimation
Estimating reflectance of a surface adjacent a handheld electronic device having a orientation sensor and a light sensor, including estimating a location of the handheld electronic device relative to the surface in dependence on information from the orientation sensor; measuring light from the surface with the light sensor; and estimating a reflectance of the surface in dependence on the estimated location and measured light. |
| US09012839B2 |
Mass spectrometer vacuum interface method and apparatus
A method of operating a mass spectrometer vacuum interface comprising a skimmer apparatus having a skimmer aperture and downstream ion extraction optics. An expanding plasma is skimmed through the skimmer aperture. Within the skimmer apparatus, a portion of the skimmed plasma adjacent the skimmer apparatus is separated from the remainder of the skimmed plasma by providing means to prevent, inhibit or impede, the separated portion from reaching the extraction optics while allowing the remainder to expand towards the extraction optics. This allows removal of ions liberated from deposition matter on the skimmer apparatus surface, thereby discriminating against such ions, and offering reduced memory effects. The remainder of the plasma can expand towards the extraction optics, so interaction and mixing between the boundary layer and the remainder of the plasma can be reduced or minimized. |
| US09012838B2 |
Covalently functionalized nanodiamond-based MALDI matrices and methods of use thereof
The present disclosure relates to functionalized nanodiamonds comprising at least one MALDI matrix covalently bonded to a nanodiamond and compositions comprising the same. The present disclosure also relates to methods of performing matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), for example on small molecules, using matrices comprising at least one MALDI matrix covalently bonded to a nanodiamond. |
| US09012837B2 |
Mass spectrometer and method of controlling same
A mass spectrometer and control method which achieves high-speed scanning while maintaining relatively high sensitivity. The mass spectrometer (1) has: an ion source (2); a collisional cell (40) for performing a storing operation for storing at least some of the ions (2) and then performing an ejecting operation for ejecting the stored ions; a second mass analyzer (50) for selecting desired ions; a detector (60) for detecting the desired ions; analog signal processing circuitry (80) for converting a signal from the detector (60) into a voltage; and an A/D converter (90) for sampling and converting the output voltage into a digital signal. Signals delivered from the analog signal processing circuitry (80) in response to two pulsed ions produced by two successive ejecting operations of the collisional cell (40) are at least partially overlapped temporally. |
| US09012833B2 |
Terahertz wave measuring apparatus and measurement method
The present invention provides a terahertz wave measuring apparatus and measurement method capable of improving the quantitativeness of obtained frequency spectrum information. In a measurement method in which a terahertz wave measuring apparatus is used, the terahertz wave measuring apparatus measures a time waveform of a terahertz wave relating to a calibration sample whose shape of a calibration spectrum is already known and obtains a measurement spectrum by transforming the time waveform. The calibration spectrum and the measurement spectrum are compared, and, on the basis of results of the comparison, time intervals of measurement data that form a time waveform are adjusted in order to calibrate the terahertz wave measuring apparatus. |
| US09012832B2 |
Method and device for checking an irradiation planning system, and irradiation system
The invention relates to a method for checking an irradiation installation in which a dose distribution is deposited in a target object by means of a treatment beam, said method comprising the following steps: an irradiation planning data record optimized for the irradiation of a moving target volume is provided; a movement signal that reproduces a movement of the target volume is provided; a phantom is irradiated, said phantom being formed for detecting a dose distribution deposited in the phantom during or after the irradiation, using the control parameters stored at the irradiation planning data record and the movement signal; a dose distribution deposited in the phantom is determined; a dose distribution to be expected is calculated on the basis of parameters that are related to the control of the irradiation installation during the irradiation; and the determined dose distribution deposited in the phantom is compared to the calculated dose distribution to be expected. The invention also relates to a corresponding device and an irridation installation comprising such a device. |
| US09012829B2 |
Spectrum sensor and angle restriction filter
An angle restriction filter that allows light incident thereon in a predetermined range of incident angles to pass, includes: an optical path wall section formed from a plurality of light shield members laminated in layers including a common material, thereby forming an optical path in a lamination direction of the light shield members; and a light transmission section formed in a region surrounded by the optical path wall section. |
| US09012828B2 |
Method and device for sensing a position of an object
A sensing method and device for sensing the position of an object are provided. The sensing device comprises a light source for generating a plane light, and a sensor unit disposed at one side of the light source. The sensing method comprises driving the light source to generate the plane light, forming a reflective light distribution by the object reflecting the plane light; and estimating a relative distance between the object and the light source according to the reflective light distribution. |
| US09012827B2 |
Optoelectronic measuring system with a compensation light source
An optoelectronic measuring system comprises at least two transmission light sources that emit time-sequentially clocked, phased light. A compensation light source is controlled independently of the transmission light sources. A receiver receives the light radiated by the transmission light sources, and the compensation light source converts them into an electrical received signal. At least two evaluation units evaluate the received signal and generate one control signal each. At least two transmission paths each comprise a transmission light source, an evaluation unit and a clock generator. The clock generator generates the clock for the transmission light sources and for the evaluation unit. The evaluation units each generate a control signal. A control unit generates a compensation control signal from the control signals, with which the compensation light source is controlled and supplied. The evaluation unit generates a clock-synchronous control signal for the transmission light source from the received signal. |
| US09012823B2 |
Vehicle having a nanocomposite optical ceramic dome
A vehicle, such as a missile, is disclosed. The vehicle includes an optically transparent dome, a vehicle body, and a brazed joint directly coupling the dome to the vehicle body. The dome is formed of a Nanocomposite Optical Ceramic (NCOC) material comprising two or more different types of nanograins dispersed in one another. Each nanograin type has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and an aggregate CTE of the NCOC material is based on the CTE of each nanograin type. |