| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09020878B2 |
Intelligent airfoil component surface inspection
An apparatus includes a positioning system; a surface indicator system to collect an indication data set from a surface of a component utilizing a fluorescent penetration process; an indication data processing system to create an output data set in response to the indication data set utilizing a fuzzy logic algorithm; and a microprocessor to provide at least one surface variance in response to the indication data set and the output data set. A method including conducting a surface indication technique for a component; utilizing a positioning algorithm to manipulate positioning equipment in response to the component; directing an indication source to a surface of the component; collecting an indication data set in response to directing the indication source; applying a fuzzy logic analysis in response to the indication data set to provide an output data set; and providing at least one surface variance in response to the output data set. |
| US09020877B2 |
Method and system for managing computer systems
A management system for a computer system is disclosed. The computer system operates or includes various products (e.g., software products) that can be managed in a management system or collectively by a group of management systems. Typically, the management system operates on a computer separate from the computer system being managed. The management system can make use of a knowledge base of causing symptoms for previously observed problems at other sites or computer systems. In other words, the knowledge base can built from and shared by different users across different products to leverage knowledge that is otherwise disparate. The knowledge base typically grows over time. The management system can use its ability to request information from the computer system being managed together with the knowledge base to infer a problem root cause in the computer system being managed. The computer system being managed can also request the management system to process its knowledge base for possible problem cause analysis. The management system can also continually identify persisting problem causing symptoms. |
| US09020876B2 |
On-demand suggestion for vehicle driving
A method of on-demand suggestion for vehicle driving which includes: providing a centralized vehicle driving knowledgebase containing previously-stored information pertaining to vehicle driving situations; responsive to a request for information pertaining to navigating a particular road situation, collecting current parameters pertaining to a current vehicle driving situation; providing the current parameters to the centralized vehicle driving knowledgebase; evaluating the current parameters with respect to the information previously stored in the centralized vehicle driving knowledgebase; and providing at least one suggestion to a vehicle for navigating the particular road situation. Also included is a computer program product for providing an on-demand suggestion for vehicle driving and a vehicle helping system. |
| US09020875B1 |
Catastrophe prediction via estimated network autocorrelation
Described is a system for catastrophe prediction. The system generates a time series of observables at multiple time steps from data observed from a complex system. A surrogate time series based on the time series of observables is then generated. Inferred network structures for both the time series of observables and the surrogate time series are reconstructed. Next, spatial autocorrelation for each inferred network structure in both the time series of observables and the surrogate time series is computed. A statistical test of a detected trend between the time series of observables and the surrogate time series is computed to determine if the detected trend occurred by chance. Finally, an early warning signal of the detected trend occurring by chance is generated. |
| US09020873B1 |
Decision engine using a finite state machine for conducting randomized experiments
Systems, apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture provide for implementing a decision engine using a finite state machine for conducting randomized experiments. According to some embodiments, methods may include initializing a decision engine comprising at least one state machine, receiving information defining for the at least one state machine, states and transitions between the states, receiving information defining at least one set of weighted choices, receiving an indication of an occurrence of an event, executing the decision engine to select randomly using the at least one state machine a weighted choice based on the event, and transmitting to the application an indication of the identified random choice. |
| US09020872B2 |
Detecting missing rules with most general conditions
A technique for detecting missing rules (mr) with most general conditions in a rule project (1) having a given scope with a fixed number of objects of a given type, wherein each rule (r) is defined by at least one test (t) in respect to at least one condition of at least one attribute (age, value) of the object, the method comprising the steps of finding at least one missing case not covered by the rules (r), identifying a list of tests (t) that occur in the rules (r), generalizing the missing case into a family of missing cases (mc) in terms of the tests (t) occurring in the rules (r), generalizing the family of missing cases (mc) into a missing rule (mr), and generating missing rules (mr) with most general conditions. |
| US09020870B1 |
Recall system using spiking neuron networks
Described is a recall system that uses spiking neuron networks to identify an unknown external stimulus. The system operates by receiving a first input signal (having spatial-temporal data) that originates from a known external stimulus. The spatial-temporal data is converted into a first spike train. A first set of polychronous groups (PCGs) are generated as a result of the first spike train. Thereafter, a second input signal originating from an unknown external stimulus is received. The spatial-temporal data of the second input signal is converted into a second spike train. A second set of PCGs are then generated as a result of the second spike train. Finally, the second set of PCGs is recognized as being sufficiently similar to the first set of PCGs to identify the unknown external stimulus as the known external stimulus. |
| US09020862B2 |
Method and system for computer question-answering
A method and system for computer question-answering. The method includes: receiving a plurality of the questions to be trained, and obtaining a candidate answer set for each question; determining part of the questions to which the candidate answer sets include correct answers, and using first feature sets of the candidate; obtaining a first mathematical model, which is used to compute a first confidence degree that the candidate answer is a correct answer; computing first confidence degrees of the candidate answers of all the questions to be trained, and for each question, extracting a second feature set related to the first confidence degrees and the first feature set; and obtaining a second mathematic model, which is used to compute a second confidence degree that the candidate answer is a correct answer based on the second feature set. |
| US09020861B2 |
Predictive model application programming interface
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for utilizing predictive models from an application scripting language. |
| US09020860B2 |
Automated mail creation and processing system
A system and method for preparing mail packages to be sent to recipients includes a carrier envelope with a front address window and a back window. A content document having a style code printed on it is positioned at the back of the carrier envelope. The content style code is positioned to be visible through the back window of the carrier envelope. A reply envelope is enclosed with an address area aligned with the front window of the carrier envelope. Mail packages are prepared by storing a corresponding content style for the recipient. While transported, the content style code is scanned. From the style code, a recipient having the corresponding content style is selected from the stored list. That recipients name and address are printed onto the address area of the reply envelope. |
| US09020857B2 |
Integrated risk management process
A method and system allowing the analysis of risk through the use of Monte Carlo simulation, statistical and data analysis, stochastic forecasting, and optimization. The present invention includes novel methods such as the detailed reporting capabilities coupled with advanced analytical techniques, an integrated risk management process and procedures, adaptive licensing technology, and model profiling and storage procedures. |
| US09020856B2 |
License compliance management
Methods, computer program products and systems for determining the level of use of a program associated with a license, by one or more agents, for comparison with a predetermined licensed level of use. In one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of collecting initial data from the one or more agents associated with a metric indicative of use of the program during a first predetermined time period, calculating the metric to determine a level use of the program for the first predetermined time period, receiving new data from one or more agents associated with the metric of usage of the program, where the new data arrives after the first predetermined time period, estimating a new value of the metric to determine a approximate level of use for a second predetermined time period from the original data, the metric and the new data and in response to a trigger event, recalculating the metric to produce a final value of the metric based on the original data and the new data to provide an indication of the level of use of the program. |
| US09020854B2 |
Linked account system using personal digital key (PDK-LAS)
One embodiment of the invention includes a system comprising: a personal digital key and a computer readable medium that is accessible when authenticated by the personal digital key. |
| US09020852B2 |
Systems and methods for activation and deactivation of appliances
Systems and methods are provided for an appliance system. The system includes an appliance, and a processor connected to the appliance such that the processor places the appliance in one of an enabled state and a disabled state. The processor is configured to track usage of the appliance and to place the appliance in a disabled state when the usage of the appliance exceeds a threshold amount. The system also includes a data receiving device configured to receive a code, wherein upon receipt of a valid code, the processor is configured to adjust the threshold amount to allow additional usage of the appliance. |
| US09020851B2 |
Apparatus and method of a distributed capital system
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide for conducting financial transactions over a network. A user requests to execute at least one financial transaction with at least one of a number of parties, each of the parties corresponding to a data processing system on the network. Real-time financial information relating to the financial transaction is obtained, and the user can test and confirm that the financial transaction with the at least one party can take place prior to execution of the financial transaction. |
| US09020848B1 |
Method and system for time and location tracking
A method for tracking time and location of an employee based on a predefined schedule. This method may uses time tracking software installed on a mobile device to detect the presence (or lack of presence) of an electronic signal emitted by a NFC (near field communication), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), or other wireless device. The detection may trigger the mobile application to communicate to a server to determine if the employee is scheduled to work at a work zone, which may result in the mobile application clocking in/out the employee. Also, geofencing may be used in combination with scheduling to clock in/out employees when entering a geofenced area determined by the employer. These location detection embodiments of the present invention may be used individually or in combination to improve location accuracy. A supervisor may also use this system to review the timesheets, make changes and integrate the data into a Payroll system. |
| US09020846B2 |
Trailer utilization systems, methods, computer programs embodied on computer-readable media, and apparatuses
The disclosed systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer programs embodied on computer-readable media may enable a shipping carrier to determine the utilization of a trailer in a delivery network by receiving and aggregating disparate types and sources of shipping information, including, for example, package billing data from a customer order, scan data from the loading and unloading of packages transported by the trailer, dimensional data received from dimensional scans of packages at carrier shipping hubs, and/or trailer data including the volume of the trailer. Utilization may be determined for each trailer in a carrier delivery network or for a subset of trailers in the network. The determined utilizations may be used to determine the parameters for an optimized delivery network, which may include the addition, elimination, and/or modification of the delivery schedule. Network optimization may be an iterative process that may be continually performed using continually updated trailer utilization statistics. |
| US09020844B2 |
System and method for calculating and displaying price distributions based on analysis of transactions
Embodiments of systems and methods for the aggregation, analysis, display and monetization of pricing data for commodities in general, and which may be particularly useful applied to vehicles are disclosed. Specifically, in certain embodiments, historical transaction data associated with a particular vehicle configuration may be obtained and processed to determine pricing data associated with the vehicle configuration. The historical transaction data or determined pricing data may then be presented in an intuitive manner. |
| US09020843B2 |
System and method for aggregation, analysis, presentation and monetization of pricing data for vehicles and other commodities
Embodiments of systems and methods for the aggregation, analysis, display and monetization of pricing data for commodities in general, and which may be particularly useful applied to vehicles are disclosed. Specifically, in certain embodiments, historical transaction data associated with a particular vehicle configuration may be obtained and processed to determine pricing data associated with the vehicle configuration. The historical transaction data or determined pricing data may then be presented in an intuitive manner. |
| US09020842B2 |
System and method for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and a seller where the seller is one of multiple available providers
The present invention provides a computer system and method for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and a seller. The seller is one of multiple available providers of a product and/or service. Initially, the buyer sends out an order, and the order is automatically verified. A seller is then determined based on at least one desirable characteristic of that particular seller. Then, the order is automatically translated into a format understandable by the desired seller. The order is communicated to the desired seller and the status of the order is later communicated to the buyer. |
| US09020841B2 |
System and method for custom-fitting services to consumer requirements
Systems and methods for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements are provided. A method for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements, comprises acquiring a request for the service solution from a consumer via a conversational interface, and issuing a query to a service knowledge base to obtain a set of service knowledge representation items from the service knowledge base and analyzing each service knowledge representation item to determine whether a custom-fit service solution can be developed. |
| US09020836B2 |
Method and system for mobile banking using a mobile application
A method for transmitting data between a mobile communication device and a server. The method includes running a mobile application on the mobile communication device. The mobile application is hosted on the mobile communication device through the server as a Software as a Service (SaaS). The method further includes transmitting data associated with the mobile application between the mobile communication device and the server, in which transmission of the data between the mobile communication device and the server is monitored through the server. |
| US09020835B2 |
Search-powered connection targeting
A social networking system extends the reach of an ad by allowing an advertiser to seed a search for suggesting targeting criteria for an ad. Using the seeds, the social networking system identifies a set of seed objects from a social graph. The social networking system traverses the social graph to compute the similarity between the seed objects and candidate objects related to the seed objects. Based on the computed similarity, the social networking system suggests a set of target objects to the advertiser. The social networking system receives a selection of one or more target objects from the advertiser. From the selected target objects the social networking system determines one or more targeting criteria for the ad, so users with an edge in the social graph to any of the selected target objects are eligible to receive the ad. |
| US09020830B2 |
Hierarchy based dependent object relationships
Embodiments are directed towards employing a plurality of object relationships to dynamically generate a hierarchical structure of dependent object relationships (“HSDOR”). Each object relationship may include a plurality of information, including, but not limited to, a consumer object, a provider object, a one or more direct values, a quantity of units consumed by the consumer object, or the like. Dependencies between the plurality of object relationships may be utilized to dynamically generate an HSDOR. In some embodiments, the HSDOR may be modified by resolving detected circularity relationships within the HSDOR and/or dynamically modifying object relationship dependencies affected by a new and/or modified object relationship. In some embodiments, the HSDOR may be utilized to iteratively determine a total value of an object as a function of total loaded values of object relationships from which the object depends. |
| US09020822B2 |
Emotion recognition using auditory attention cues extracted from users voice
Emotion recognition may be implemented on an input window of sound. One or more auditory attention features may be extracted from an auditory spectrum for the window using one or more two-dimensional spectro-temporal receptive filters. One or more feature maps corresponding to the one or more auditory attention features may be generated. Auditory gist features may be extracted from feature maps, and the auditory gist features may be analyzed to determine one or more emotion classes corresponding to the input window of sound. In addition, a bottom-up auditory attention model may be used to select emotionally salient parts of speech and execute emotion recognition only on the salient parts of speech while ignoring the rest of the speech signal. |
| US09020820B2 |
State detecting apparatus, communication apparatus, and storage medium storing state detecting program
A state detecting apparatus includes: a processor to execute acquiring utterance data related to uttered speech, computing a plurality of statistical quantities for feature parameters regarding features of the utterance data, creating, on the basis of the plurality of statistical quantities regarding the utterance data and another plurality of statistical quantities regarding reference utterance data based on other uttered speech, pseudo-utterance data having at least one statistical quantity equal to a statistical quantity in the other plurality of statistical quantities, computing a plurality of statistical quantities for synthetic utterance data synthesized on the basis of the pseudo-utterance data and the utterance data, and determining, on the basis of a comparison between statistical quantities of the synthetic utterance data and statistical quantities of the reference utterance data, whether the speaker who produced the uttered speech is in a first state or a second state; and a memory. |
| US09020814B2 |
Pulse encoding and decoding method and pulse codec
In a pulse encoding and decoding method and a pulse codec, more than two tracks are jointly encoded, so that free codebook space in the situation of single track encoding can be combined during joint encoding to become code bits that may be saved. Furthermore, a pulse that is on each track and required to be encoded is combined according to positions, and the number of positions having pulses, distribution of the positions that have pulses on the track, and the number of pulses on each position that has a pulse are encoded separately, so as to avoid separate encoding performed on multiple pulses of a same position, thereby further saving code bits. |
| US09020809B1 |
Increasing semantic coverage with semantically irrelevant insertions
A method includes accessing data specifying a set of actions, each action defining a user device operation and for each action: accessing a corresponding set of command sentences for the action, determining first n-grams in the set of command sentences that are semantically relevant for the action, determining second n-grams in the set of command sentences that are semantically irrelevant for the action, generating a training set of command sentences from the corresponding set of command sentences, the generating the training set of command sentences including removing each second n-gram from each sentence in the corresponding set of command sentences for the action, and generating a command model from the training set of command sentences configured to generate an action score for the action for an input sentence based on: first n-grams for the action, and second n-grams for the action that are also second n-grams for all other actions. |
| US09020807B2 |
Format for displaying text analytics results
A system can receive text. The text can be divided into various portions. One or more significance indicators can be associated with each portion of text: these significance indicators can also be received by the system. The system can then display a portion of text and the associated significance indicators to the user. |
| US09020806B2 |
Generating sentence completion questions
The subject disclosure is directed towards automated processes for generating sentence completion questions based at least in part on a language model. Using the language model, a sentence is located, and alternates for a focus word (or words) in the sentence are automatically provided. Also described is automated filtering candidate sentences to locate the sentence, filtering the alternates based upon elimination criteria, scoring sentences with the correct word and as modified the alternates, and ranking the alternates. Manual selection may be used along with the automated processes. |
| US09020805B2 |
Context-based disambiguation of acronyms and abbreviations
Context-based disambiguation of acronyms and/or abbreviations may determine a target abbreviation and one or more keywords appearing in context with the target abbreviation in a received passage, the target abbreviation representing a shortened form of one or more word. A contextual search query including the target abbreviation and said one or more keywords may be generated. A pseudo document index may be searched for one or more expansions of the target abbreviation by invoking the contextual search query, the pseudo document index containing index of one or more pseudo documents, associated one or more abbreviations and associated context keywords. One or more pseudo documents associated with the target abbreviation may be returned based on the searching of the pseudo document index. |
| US09020804B2 |
Method for aligning sentences at the word level enforcing selective contiguity constraints
An alignment method includes, for a source sentence in a source language, identifying whether the sentence includes at least one candidate term comprising a contiguous subsequence of words of the source sentence. A target sentence in a target language is aligned with the source sentence. This includes developing a probabilistic model which models conditional probability distributions for alignments between words of the source sentence and words of the target sentence and generating an optimal alignment based on the probabilistic model, including, where the source sentence includes the at least one candidate term, enforcing a contiguity constraint which requires that all the words of the target sentence which are aligned with an identified candidate term form a contiguous subsequence of the target sentence. |
| US09020801B2 |
Cluster-based operating system-agnostic virtual computing system
According to a disclosed embodiment of the invention, an improved cluster-based collection of computers (nodes) is realized using conventional computer hardware. Software is provided that enables at least one virtual machine to be presented to guest operating systems, wherein each node participating with the virtual machine has its own emulator or virtual machine monitor. VM memory coherency and I/O coherency are provided by hooks, which result in the manipulation of internal processor structures. A private network provides communication among the nodes. |
| US09020798B2 |
Real-time capable battery cell simulation
A system for real-time simulation of a battery comprising simulating a cell array by an overall computer model is disclosed. The model includes a plurality of single cells. A computer is connected via a cell voltage emulator to a control unit calculating terminal voltages of single cells by using the overall model and supplying the calculated terminal cell voltages to the control unit by the cell voltage emulator. The overall model comprises a first model which models a first single reference cell having cell parameters typical of the cell array and sending the total input current of the cell array to the first model as an input variable. The terminal voltage of the reference cell is calculated by the first model. The overall model further comprises a second model which calculates a deviation in the terminal voltage of an additional single cell from the terminal voltage of the reference cell. |
| US09020794B2 |
Enabling real-time testing of on-demand infrastructure
Provided are techniques for demonstrating the efficiency and effectiveness of a customer's information technology (IT) system and applications operating in a shared IT, or electronic business on-demand, environment. A test suite mimics hypothetical settings in an on-demand services environment (129) and then determines how the settings affect the allocation of resources in the on-demand services environment (129). The calculated allocation of resources is then compared to one or more service level agreements (SLAs) in order to determine compliance with a particular SLA. |
| US09020792B2 |
Coupling architectural and implementation/behavioral models of a computer-based system
Coupling architectural and implementation/behavioral models of a computer-based system by creating a bridge element, defining a port of the bridge element, associating the port of the bridge element with a port of an implementable element of an architectural model of a computer-based system and a port of an implementation element of an implementation/behavioral model of the computer-based system, mapping an interface member of the implementation element port to an interface member of the implementable element port, generating, from a template, skeleton source code applicable for the mapped interface member, generating a usage description element for the architectural model corresponding to the mapped interface member, generating an architectural description document from the architectural model, generating implementation code from the implementation/behavioral model and the generated skeleton source code, and generating a declaration file for an operating system service for use by the implementation code. |
| US09020789B2 |
Systems and methods for determining volume of activation for deep brain stimulation
This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for determining volume of activation for deep brain stimulation (“DBS”) using a finite element model (FEM) circuit to determine a FEM of an implanted electrode and a tissue medium in which the electrode is implanted, a Fourier FEM solver circuit to calculate a potential distribution in the tissue medium using information from the FEM circuit and a capacitive component of at least one of the implanted electrode and the tissue medium, and a volume of activation (VOA) circuit to predict a VOA using the potential distribution and a neuron model. |
| US09020787B2 |
Methods, systems and media for simulating contact scenarios
Embodiments of the invention provide methods enabling reliable simulation of objects in contact scenarios. Embodiments of the invention utilize methods providing three parameter-independent guarantees. According to embodiments of the invention, simulations of well-posed problems: have no interpenetrations; obey causality, momentum and energy conservation laws; and complete in finite time. |
| US09020786B2 |
Analyzing structural durability in the frequency domain
A method of analyzing the durability of a structure. Load-controlled testing is performed on samples of a composite material of the structure to relate critical strain invariants of the material to cyclic rates of strain invariant accumulation and frequencies associated with the cyclic rates. The material is characterized based on effective properties of the material, including the cyclic rates of strain invariant accumulation. Laminate properties and a geometrical definition of the structure are used to obtain a parametric model. Material characterizations are used to determine model element frequency responses to applied load conditions. Each element's frequency responses and critical strain invariants are used to determine whether damage is indicated at the element. Progression of damage is tracked and accounted for in the model. |
| US09020785B2 |
Identifying and routing poison tuples in a streaming application
A method for processing a stream of tuples may comprise receiving a stream of tuples to be processed by a plurality of processing elements operating on one or more computer processors. In addition, the method may include generating a model of performance for processing the stream of tuples at runtime, wherein one or more tuples from the stream of tuples potentially cause adverse performance. Further, the method may comprise predicting a parameter for a tuple from the stream of tuples, the parameter indicating a potential for adverse performance, the predicting including using the model. The method may also include modifying processing of the tuple if the parameter falls outside a threshold. |
| US09020783B2 |
Direct manipulation of composite terrain objects with intuitive user interaction
A method, apparatus, system, and computer readable medium provide the ability to manipulate a terrain in a drawing. A composite object of the terrain is obtained in a CAD BIM application. The composite object is a combination of sub-objects that each define a geometry that is part of the terrain. Each of the sub-objects is drawn on a separate corresponding drawable interface instance. A sub-object is selected and in response, the selected sub-object is displayed in its corresponding drawable interface instance. The selected sub-object is directly modified, in canvas, using the drawable interface instance. In response to the modification, the terrain is dynamically updated and displayed. |
| US09020781B2 |
Monitoring memory module parameters in high performance computers
Monitoring parameters of memory modules is described. According to certain embodiments, one or more parameters on respective memory modules are monitored. Corresponding parameter information is transmitted from the respective memory module to a device that is external to the respective memory modules. |
| US09020780B2 |
Motion detector module
In a data acquisition system a sensor module includes a motion sensor and a communication controller. The motion sensor and communication controller are prepared in a form factor adapted to be received within, or otherwise readily used with, the user appliance. A data signal produced by the motion sensor is adaptable for compliance validation. |
| US09020777B2 |
Method for locating and detecting the position of the wheels of a vehicle
A method for locating the position of the wheels of a vehicle, each wheel being equipped with a sensor capable of emitting a location signal and the vehicle being equipped with a receiver capable of receiving the location signals emitted by the sensors. The method includes the step of determining a signature of the location signal emitted by the sensor of each wheel as a function of the position of the wheel on the vehicle, and the step of storing in the receiver the signature and the corresponding position of each of the wheels. The receiver is equipped with at two least two antennas, called first and second antennas, the signature of the location signal emitted by the sensor of each wheel being determined from the strength difference between the strength of the signal received by the first antenna and the strength of the signal received by the second antenna. |
| US09020776B2 |
Inclination angle compensation systems and methods
An inclination angle compensation system for determining an inclination angle of a machine is disclosed. The inclination angle compensation system may have a non-gravitational acceleration estimator configured to estimate a non-gravitational acceleration of a machine based on an estimated inclination angle and an acceleration output from a forward acceleration sensor. The inclination angle compensation system may also have an inclination angle sensor corrector configured to receive an inclination angle output from an inclination angle sensor, determine an inclination angle sensor acceleration based on the inclination angle output, and calculate a corrected inclination angle of the machine based on the non-gravitational acceleration and the inclination angle sensor acceleration. |
| US09020767B2 |
Wireless fuel monitoring system
A monitoring system includes a transducer coupled to an outer surface of a tank wall. The transducer is oriented to transmit a first signal through the tank wall. An intermediate reflective surface is positioned within the fuel storage tank. The intermediate reflective surface is oriented to produce a first reflected signal associated with the first signal. A controller is programmed to calculate a fuel level based on at least the first signal and the first reflected signal. |
| US09020765B2 |
Safety system in and method for the operation of a combustion device
A system and a method for safe operations of a mass flow sensor in a combustion device, with a gas supply, an air supply, a fan with an electric motor, a burner, and a communication micro processor, wherein the mass flow sensor includes a microprocessor used for communications, the communication micro processor communicates with the micro processor of the one mass flow sensor, and the communications include safety-relevant interrogations of the mass flow sensor in order to secure the mass flow sensor. |
| US09020762B2 |
Method for providing road data in a motor vehicle, and ground-based device
Ground-based devices are provided which each have a transceiver apparatus and a data memory. Route data are stored in the data memory. This route data can be transmitted in a wireless fashion from the ground-based device to motor vehicles so that information relating to such a route is made available in the motor vehicles which are located outside the sensing range of a sensing apparatus of the motor vehicle. |
| US09020760B2 |
System for classifying streets for vehicle navigation
Vehicle management systems and associated processes can determine and consider street classifications when selecting routes for fleet vehicles. In one embodiment, a system for calculating routes for a plurality of vehicles in a vehicle fleet includes a computer system. The computer system is configured to receive custom data to classify streets of a network of streets in a geographic region for use in calculating routes. Based at least in part on the received custom data, the computer system can calculate custom routes on the network of streets between waypoint locations. In addition, the computer system can determine a classification for each street of the network of streets based at least in part on the calculated custom routes. The classification can include a score indicative of a hierarchical ranking of each street for calculating routes for the fleet vehicles on the network of streets in the geographic region. |
| US09020757B2 |
Path planning autopilot
A path planning autopilot guides vehicles efficiently even when they are far from a desired path. |
| US09020752B2 |
Method and device for indoor positioning using magnetic field properties
The present invention relates to a method for positioning a user inside a building, wherein the user has a user carried device and the device is provided with a direction sensor and a movement sensor. The method includes providing the user carried device with a vector map of the building, wherein the vector map includes vectors and nodes representing possible movement paths for the user in the building; determining a starting point in the vector map, receiving movement information from the movement sensor, receiving direction information from the direction sensor, receiving a magnetic field map at the user carried device, wherein the magnetic field is detectable by the user carried device, and estimating a new position of the user based on the vector map, the movement information, the direction information and the property map. |
| US09020741B2 |
Driving support system, driving support method, and in-vehicle unit
Traffic information is provided to an in-vehicle unit of a vehicle located in a shadow portion of a large-sized vehicle and to an in-vehicle unit of a vehicle at a location separated from an intersection 193. A UHF beacon unit 112 is installed at the intersection 193, thereby distributing the traffic information using a UHF beacon signal having a diffraction characteristic. This arrangement can allow the in-vehicle unit of the vehicle located in the shadow portion of the large-sized vehicle as well to receive the traffic information. Further, since the UHF signal propagates far, this arrangement can allow the in-vehicle unit of the vehicle at the location separated from the intersection 193 as well to receive the traffic information. The UHF beacon unit 112 transmits, to a plurality of concentric zones, UHF beacon signals with different traffic information set therein for the different zones, by time division. At this time, the UHF beacon unit 112 transmits the UHF beacon signals with the different traffic information set therein, with different transmission output powers. |
| US09020735B2 |
Skip fire internal combustion engine control
A variety of methods and arrangements for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a skip fire variable displacement mode are described. In one aspect, the working chamber firing that are selected to deliver the desired engine output are determined at least in part based on torque feedback. The torque feedback may be an indication of the torque output of the engine or the torque experienced at some other location in the drive train. In some embodiments, the torque feedback signal is filtered to remove high frequency components of the torque feedback signal in order to help stabilize the system. In another aspect, other operational parameters are used as feedback in the determination of the firing sequence. In yet another aspect, a filter is arranged to filter a feedback signal to provide a filtered feedback signal that is used in the determination of the working chamber firings. |
| US09020730B2 |
Safety interlock system with side area detection
A safety interlock system for a motor vehicle has a plurality of object sensors capable of detecting the presence of an object such as a pedestrian in the danger zone at the front of the vehicle, rear the vehicle or proximate to the wheels. A door sensor is capable of detecting the open or closed state of the vehicle doors. An interlock override switch and a control circuit are also connected to the safety interlock system. The control circuit is capable of activating the safety interlock system when a door open signal is received. When the safety interlock system is activated the control circuit may engage the brakes to prevent motion of the vehicle if an object signal is received from the object sensor. |
| US09020727B2 |
Vehicle braking assist device and vehicle braking assist method
A vehicle braking assist device for a host vehicle includes a risk potential computing part that computes a risk potential of the host vehicle with respect to an obstacle in the travelling direction of the host vehicle, an accelerator operation state sensor that detects the operation state of an accelerator, and a braking force application device that applies a first braking force on the host vehicle when the risk potential is higher than a predetermined first threshold and the detected operation state of the accelerator indicates that the accelerator is not being operated, and that applies a second braking force on the host vehicle irrespective of the operation state of the accelerator when the risk potential is higher than a predetermined second threshold, the risk potential represented by the second threshold being higher than the risk potential represented by the first threshold. |
| US09020717B2 |
Method for controlling an automated motor vehicle transmission
A method of controlling an automated motor vehicle transmission. A current driving resistance is taken into account when selecting a target gear to be engaged as part of a shifting process. In order to be able to regulate shifting processes in a driving-resistance-dependent manner so as to ensure that the motor vehicle can always able to continue driving on, during selection of the target gear, disregarding gears for shifting from a currently engaged gear, in a driving-resistance-dependent manner, when the required associated shifting times are longer than a respective permitted maximum shifting time. In connection with the above, the method is incorporated in an automated motor vehicle transmission, a computer program product and a data carrier, containing the computer program product. |
| US09020716B2 |
Control device for vehicle drive device and control method for vehicle drive device
A control device for a vehicle drive device that includes a drive source that outputs a drive force for running and an automatic transmission that has multiple speeds, the control device includes: a blipping control device that performs blipping control in which an output torque of the drive source is changed irrespective of an accelerator operation when a manual downshift of the automatic transmission is performed, and that changes a timing to perform next blipping control in a learning manner on the basis of an undershoot amount of a turbine speed at start of shifting of the automatic transmission. |
| US09020714B2 |
Control device for automatic transmission
For each engine operation state to which a variable cylinder engine can be switched, a fuel consumption amount to be consumed to generate a driving force required to maintain a current traveling state of a vehicle for each of a current gear and a new gear after a possible shift-up is calculated. An automatic shift control of shifting up to the new gear is performed in a condition that a calculated fuel consumption amount of the new gear after the possible shift-up is smaller than a calculated fuel consumption amount of the current gear. In this way, the fuel consumption amount can be optimally reduced and the shift control can be performed without degrading the traveling performance, even in the vehicle equipped with the variable cylinder engine. |
| US09020713B1 |
Temperature determination for transmission fluid in a vehicle
A transmission assembly in a vehicle includes a transmission configured to receive a transmission fluid. A controller operatively connected to the transmission and configured to store a first look-up table defining respective warm-up calibration factors (Fw) for a respective first set of ambient temperatures. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for determining a current temperature (TTF) of the transmission fluid. The vehicle is keyed off and then keyed on after a key-off time duration (te), the controller being deactivated when the vehicle is keyed off and activated when the vehicle is keyed on. The controller is configured to determine the current temperature of the transmission fluid (TTF) based at least partially on the first look-up table and a key-on temperature (TTFkey-on) of the transmission fluid. |
| US09020708B2 |
Drive control method of operating machine
In drive control of an operating machine configured to drive a structure by a hydraulic motor configured to be driven by operating oil supplied from a hydraulic pump through a control valve and an electric motor configured to cooperate with the hydraulic motor, a speed command generated based on a manipulation amount of a remote control valve configured to determine an operation amount of the structure is subjected to speed feedback control performed based on an actual rotation speed of the hydraulic motor and pressure difference feedback control performed based on an operating oil pressure difference between a suction port and discharge port of the hydraulic motor. |
| US09020706B2 |
Vehicle motion control apparatus
A vehicle motion control apparatus configured to control a plurality of control objects in a same direction of vehicle motion control to achieve a requested control amount is provided. The vehicle motion control apparatus includes a control object selection unit which is configured to determine priority of the control objects used for the vehicle motion control based on a priority determination condition, to select a control object from among the plurality of control objects. The control object selection unit includes a control object selection timing determination section configured to detect a change in the priority determination condition, and cause the control object selection unit to reselect a control object at a timing of the change detection as a selection timing. |
| US09020702B2 |
Steering control apparatus of vehicle and steering control method of the same
A steering control apparatus of a vehicle includes a steering motor configured to output a steering torque for steering turning wheel, a steering motor angle sensor configured to detect a rotation angle of the steering motor, a steering motor drive current supply unit configured to supply the steering motor with a steering motor drive current for setting a turning angle of the turning wheel to an angle corresponding to an operation of a steering wheel, a set rotation angle storage unit configured to store beforehand a set rotation angle which is the rotation angle of the steering motor and which corresponds to the set turning angle that is set to an angle smaller than a limit turning angle to which the turning wheel is steerable, and a current supply quantity limiting unit configured to limit a supply quantity of the steering motor drive current. |
| US09020694B2 |
Bicycle-use measuring apparatus and control method
A bicycle-use measuring apparatus includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to be installed on a bicycle having a rotating part. The controller is operatively connected to the sensor. The controller adjusts a detection frequency of the sensor in accordance with changes in a rotational state of the rotating part. |
| US09020693B2 |
Hydraulic shovel calibration device and hydraulic shovel calibration method
A hydraulic shovel calibration device includes an input unit, a first calibration computation unit, and a second calibration computation unit. The input unit is a unit where working point position information and antenna position information are input. The working point position information indicates coordinates of the working point at a plurality of positions which are measured by an external measurement device. The antenna position information indicates coordinates of the position of the antenna which are measured by the external measurement device. The first calibration computation unit computes calibration values of the work implement parameters by numerical analysis based on the working point position information input into the input unit. The second calibration computation unit calibrates the antenna parameters based on the antenna position information input into the input unit. |
| US09020692B2 |
Diagnostic apparatus and diagnostic method of hybrid vehicle
A diagnostic apparatus of a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electricity storage device, a motor generating a driving force for a vehicle travel using at least electricity from the electricity storage device, a diagnostic unit diagnosing a vehicle state when an output of the internal combustion engine is zero, a state detection unit detecting a state of the electricity storage device, a remaining time acquisition unit acquiring a remaining time required until diagnostic completion, when the vehicle state is diagnosed by the diagnostic unit, a determination unit determining whether or not the diagnosis of the vehicle state is continued by the diagnostic unit, based on the state of the electricity storage device and the remaining time when the vehicle state is diagnosed by the diagnostic unit, and a control unit that controls continuation or stop of the vehicle state diagnosis according to the determination result. |
| US09020689B2 |
Method for real-time model based structural anomaly detection
A system and methods for real-time model based vehicle structural anomaly detection are disclosed. A real-time measurement corresponding to a location on a vehicle structure during an operation of the vehicle is received, and the real-time measurement is compared to expected operation data for the location to provide a modeling error signal. A statistical significance of the modeling error signal to provide an error significance is calculated, and a persistence of the error significance is determined. A structural anomaly is indicated, if the persistence exceeds a persistence threshold value. |
| US09020680B2 |
Travel direction determination method and system
A method for determining a direction of travel for a following vehicle ensures that the following vehicle follows a path indicative of that of a target vehicle. The target vehicle extends in longitudinal (X) and lateral (Y) directions, the longitudinal direction (X) corresponding to an intended direction of travel of the following vehicle. The method may include determining a measured lateral offset (ΔYmeasure) between the following and target vehicles. The method may also include measuring a lateral position change parameter corresponding to an actual performed, ongoing and/or impending lateral position change of the following vehicle, an actual performed, ongoing and/or impending lateral position change of the target vehicle, or a combination thereof. The method may further include determining a lateral offset modification measure (OY) using the lateral position change parameter, and using the measured lateral offset (ΔYmeasure) and lateral offset modification measure (OY) when determining the direction of travel. |
| US09020679B2 |
Robotic ordering and delivery system software and methods
Systems, methods and devices for the automated delivery of goods form one to another using a robotic tug and accompanying cart. A computer within the tug or cart stores an electronic map of the building floor plan and intended paths for the tug to take when traversing from one location to the next. During the delivery, a variety of different sensors and scanners gather data that is used to avoid obstacles and/or adjust the movement of the tug in order to more closely follow the intended path. The system preferably includes both wired and wireless networks that allow one or more tugs to communicate with a tug base station, a primary network located at the site of the delivery and a remote host center that monitors the status and data collected by the tugs. |
| US09020675B2 |
Hybrid vehicle transmission and method of controlling starting of hybrid vehicle
Disclosed herein is a vehicle transmission and a method of controlling the starting of the vehicle. The method includes: starting, by a controller, the engine by a starter; adjusting, by the controller, an input shaft speed of a transmission to a predetermined speed range to engage a coupling element of a torque transfer mechanism; and determining, by the controller, after the coupling element of the torque transfer mechanism is engaged, the input shaft speed of the transmission according to the engine speed and driving efficiency of at least two motor generators, in response to a request for engine power. |
| US09020674B2 |
Diversion of energy from regenerative braking
A regenerative braking system for a vehicle utilizing diversion of energy for efficient use or maintaining consistent vehicle performance. The regenerative braking system includes a generator for producing regenerative energy during slowing and includes switches connected to a battery and a plurality of devices. A processor is connected with the battery and the switches for controlling the configuration of the switches based on a characteristic of the battery. If the battery has a state of charge exceeding a predetermined threshold, the processor controls the switches to route the regenerative energy to the other devices. The processor also controls the switches to provide regenerative energy to specific devices where it may most desirably be utilized. Heating and cooling units of the vehicle may be alternatively or simultaneously connected to receive the regenerative energy for providing consistent vehicle slowing performance when the battery state of charge exceeds the predetermined threshold. |
| US09020673B2 |
Hybrid vehicle and control method for the same
A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine (22), a motor (MG2), and a secondary battery (50), and travels in an electric-powered travel mode and in a hybrid travel mode. In the hybrid vehicle, an execution travel mode is set to one of two travel modes including an electric-powered travel priority mode where the hybrid vehicle travels with priority being given to the electric-powered travel mode over the hybrid travel mode, and a hybrid travel priority mode where the hybrid vehicle travels with priority being given to the hybrid travel mode over the electric-powered travel mode. When the execution travel mode is switched while the internal combustion engine (22) is being operated, the internal combustion engine (22) and the motor (MG2) are controlled so that charging/discharging electric power for charging or discharging the secondary battery (50) is gradually changed and the hybrid vehicle travels in the switched execution travel mode (S750 to S800). |
| US09020672B2 |
Automatic gear shifting system for two-wheel electric vehicles
The automatic gear shifting system for two-wheel electric vehicles includes a detection unit for detecting the status of operation of the two-wheel electric vehicle, a processing unit connected with the detection unit for receiving, analyzing and filtering the detected signals so as to generate a speed-changing signal that is correspondent to the detected signal, and a driving device having a low-power motor unit and control member with multiple nodes. The driving device is connected to the operation cable of the speed changing device. The driving device receives the signals of changing speed so as to change the gears according to the signals of changing speed. A motor unit located at the mediate portion of the vehicle is coupled to the processing unit and the front chainwheel. The gears are automatically changed according to the statuses of the two-wheel electric vehicle to provide sufficient power for climbing, low-speed and high-speed operations. |
| US09020670B2 |
Hybrid electric vehicle and method for smooth engine operation with fixed throttle position
A torque management strategy for an HEV having an engine operating with a fixed throttle position to better manage NVH while the vehicle is stationary or decelerating and the engine is generating more torque than a requested torque uses excess engine torque to charge the battery until the requested torque is below a torque loss threshold. Partial fuel injector cut off is avoided to reduce or eliminate associated NVH by adjusting a misfire torque limit to the expected or estimated engine torque produced during operation at the fixed throttle position until the requested torque results in complete fuel cut off to all cylinders. |
| US09020668B2 |
Apparatus and method for air conditioning vehicle interior using battery charge control of electric vehicle
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for air conditioning a vehicle interior using a battery charge control of an electric vehicle, which can improve the cooling/heating performance by setting a start-up time of the electric vehicle and supplying heat generated from a battery during charge and its latent heat to the vehicle interior during initial start-up of the vehicle. |
| US09020667B2 |
Empty-load device feedback arrangement
An empty-load device feedback arrangement for a train with the railcar having an air brake arrangement with an one air-operable braking assembly, the arrangement including: an empty-load device having: at least one sensor arrangement to sense a load associated with the railcar; a braking assembly input exhibiting a delivered air pressure; a regulation arrangement to regulate air pressure; and a braking assembly output exhibiting a regulated air pressure; and a pressure sensor to: sense the regulated air pressure of the air being delivered to the air-operable braking assembly; and generate a regulated air pressure signal. An air brake arrangement is also disclosed. |
| US09020664B2 |
Methods and systems for displaying procedure information on an aircraft display
A method for displaying a flight path navigational procedure includes, but is not limited to, detecting with a position detecting system a current location of the aircraft, obtaining from an electronic storage device a plurality of flight path navigation procedures available for a geographic location, determining with a flight path analysis system a preferred flight path that will be taken by the aircraft, and displaying on a display unit a moving map corresponding with the current location of the aircraft and further displaying a depiction of the plurality of flight path navigation procedures on the moving map. The preferred flight path is displayed with a visual cue that visually differentiates the preferred flight path from the other flight paths of the plurality of flight path navigation procedures. |
| US09020662B2 |
Predicting aircraft trajectory
The present invention provides a computer-implemented method of producing a description of aircraft intent expressed using a formal language. The description may be used to predict aircraft trajectory, for example by air traffic management. Rules are used in association with information provided to generate a set of instructions describing both the aerodynamic configuration of the aircraft and the motion of the aircraft. These instructions are checked to ensure that they describe unambiguously the aircraft's trajectory. The instructions are then expressed using a formal language. |
| US09020660B2 |
Efficient intersection autonomous driving protocol
A system and method for efficiently and continuously allowing vehicles to travel through an intersection. The method includes broadcasting a synchronization signal to all vehicles that will be entering the intersection and broadcasting an intersection flow time to all of the vehicles that will be entering the intersection that identifies which travel lanes travel in what direction. The method also includes identifying an arrival synchronization pattern for all of the vehicles that will be entering the intersection and controlling a speed of the vehicles traveling through the intersection and a time for the vehicles entering the intersection so that vehicles traveling in perpendicular or cross directions to the intersection will simultaneously travel through the intersection without colliding with each other. |
| US09020658B2 |
System and method for monitoring vehicle mass tamper events
A system for detecting a mass tamper event affecting a vehicle mass record for a vehicle being monitored includes a body bounce frequency estimator configured to estimate body bounce frequency for the vehicle and a mass estimator configured to estimate a vehicle mass, m, according to the equation (I), where k is a constant relating to a suspension system in the vehicle and ωb is the estimated body bounce frequency. A first comparator compares the estimated vehicle mass value with an alternative vehicle mass value and identifies a mass tamper event when the estimated vehicle mass value differs from the alternative vehicle mass value by more than a pre-determined amount. An interface communicates mass tamper event data to a remote device. A system and method for recording vehicle mass data are also provided. m = k ω b 2 ( I ) |
| US09020656B2 |
Information handling system thermal control by energy conservation
A thermal state within an information handling system enclosure is managed within predetermined constraints by estimating thermal energy introduced to the enclosure by power dissipation to electronic components and thermal energy removed from the enclosure by a cooling airflow generated by a fan. A desired bulk temperature of a cooling airflow is attained at a predetermined position in an enclosure by selecting a fan speed and power allocation to the components that conserves energy within the enclosure at a predetermined thermal state. |
| US09020650B2 |
Utility grid, controller, and method for controlling the power generation in a utility grid
A utility grid is provided, the utility grid including a centralized controller; an intermittent renewable energy source for generating electrical power; at least one further power generation system; and a local controller for controlling the total power output of the intermittent renewable energy source and the at least one further power generation system, wherein the centralized controller is connected with the local controller and adapted to request a desired total power output from the local controller. |
| US09020646B2 |
Automated control-schedule acquisition within an intelligent controller
The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that initially aggressively learn, and then continue, in a steady-state mode, to monitor, learn, and modify one or more control schedules that specify a desired operational behavior of a device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller. An intelligent controller generally acquires one or more initial control schedules through schedule-creation and schedule-modification interfaces or by accessing a default control schedule stored locally or remotely in a memory or mass-storage device. The intelligent controller then proceeds to learn, over time, a desired operational behavior for the device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller based on immediate-control inputs, schedule-modification inputs, and previous and current control schedules, encoding the desired operational behavior in one or more control schedules and/or sub-schedules. |
| US09020643B2 |
Robot apparatus, control method thereof, and computer program
A robot apparatus includes a reception arm determination unit that determines from a left arm or a right arm of a user a reception arm which is used in handing of an object; a hand location calculation unit that calculates a current location of a hand of the reception arm; and a handing operation unit that performs an object handing operation at the location of the hand of the reception arm which is calculated using the hand location calculation unit. |
| US09020642B2 |
Robot controller, robot system, robot control method
A robot controller includes a force control unit that outputs a correction value of a target track of a robot based on a detected sensor value acquired from a force sensor, a target value output unit that obtains a target value by performing correction processing on the target track based on the correction value and outputs the obtained target value, and a robot control unit that performs feedback control of the robot based on the target value. The force control unit includes an impedance processor that obtains a solution of a differential equation in force control as the correction value before the conversion processing, and a nonlinear convertor that obtains the correction value after the conversion processing by performing nonlinear conversion processing on the correction value before the conversion processing acquired from the impedance processor and outputs the obtained correction value after the conversion processing. |
| US09020641B2 |
Obstacle sensing module and cleaning robot including the same
Disclosed herein are an obstacle sensing module and a cleaning robot including the same. The cleaning robot includes a body, a driver to drive the body, an obstacle sensing module to sense an obstacle present around the body, and a control unit to control the driver, based on sensed results of the obstacle sensing module. The obstacle sensing module includes at least one light emitter including a light source, and a wide-angle lens to refract or reflect light from the light source so as to diffuse the incident light in the form of planar light, and a light receiver including a reflection mirror to again reflect reflection light reflected by the obstacle so as to generate reflection light, an optical lens spaced from the reflection mirror by a predetermined distance, to allow the reflection light to pass through the optical lens, and an image sensor, and an image processing circuit. |
| US09020637B2 |
Simultaneous localization and mapping for a mobile robot
A method of simultaneous localization and mapping includes initializing a robot pose and a particle model of a particle filter. The particle model includes particles, each having an associated map, robot pose, and weight. The method includes receiving sparse sensor data from a sensor system of the robot, synchronizing the received sensor data with a change in robot pose, accumulating the synchronized sensor data over time, and determining a robot localization quality. When the accumulated sensor data exceeds a threshold accumulation and the robot localization quality is greater than a threshold localization quality, the method includes updating particles with accumulated synchronized sensor data. The method includes determining a weight for each updated particle of the particle model and setting a robot pose belief to the robot pose of the particle having the highest weight when a mean weight of the particles is greater than a threshold particle weight. |
| US09020635B2 |
Beverage dispensing system with user customizable inputs
A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a first compartment, a second compartment, a first door providing access to the first compartment, a second door providing access to the second compartment, and a beverage dispensing system operatively connected the cabinet. The refrigerator further includes a user interface operatively connected to the cabinet, the user interface having a display and being configured to identify a user of the beverage dispensing system and customize beverage settings and preferences associated with the user. |
| US09020634B2 |
Facility wide mixed mail sorting and/or sequencing system and components and methods thereof
The invention generally relates to a facility wide sorting and/or sequencing system for improving product processing operations and, more particularly, to a facility wide system and related functionality for simultaneously sorting and sequencing mixed mail pieces such as, for example, flats and letter mail pieces. The flats and letter mail pieces are placed in frames so that all types of mail pieces can be sorted and/or sequenced simultaneously through merging and diverting a stream of filled trays into and out of different streams at a full or substantially full transport speed. |
| US09020629B2 |
Main spindle device of machine tool
Loads that act on all the bearings that support a main spindle are derived from a variation in the state of the main spindle and, in addition, raceway surface contact pressures of the respective bearings are analyzed, so it is possible to accurately keep track of the state of each bearing. Then, when the raceway surface contact pressure exceeds a corresponding threshold, a machining condition is changed to execute control such that the raceway surface contact pressure does not exceed the corresponding threshold, and, furthermore, when the raceway surface contact pressure exceeds the corresponding threshold even when the machining condition is changed, the main spindle is controlled to stop, so it is possible to prevent a seizure of each bearing. Thus, it is possible to improve machining accuracy by controlling the main spindle with high accuracy. |
| US09020625B2 |
Process cost analysis system
A method of process cost analysis that includes determining a per-unit cost function for executing a process step, determining a percentage-of-acceptable-parts function for executing a process step, and receiving production data into memory. The production data corresponds to a measured quality metric of the executed process step. The method further includes determining a probability density function for the received production data, executing on a processor a correlation routine for cross-correlating the cost function with the probability density function of the production data to provide a first cross-correlation, and executing on the processor the correlation routine for cross-correlating the percentage-of-acceptable-parts function with the probability density function of the production data to provide a second cross-correlation. The method includes determining an average effective per-unit cost to produce a resultant of the process step by dividing the first cross-correlation by the second cross-correlation. |
| US09020618B2 |
Accelerometer based controller and/or controlled device
The present disclosure generally relates to techniques for controlling a device to perform a function, for example, window washing. A controller device may be adapted to control a controlled device. In response to hand movement, an accelerometer in the controller may obtain acceleration and/or angle signals. The signals may be processed in order to identify a command that may be used to control the controlled device. The controlled device may be secured to, for example, a window. Upon identifying command(s) initiated from the controller device, the controlled device may respond to the commands. The controlled device may include, for example, a cleaning unit. The command(s) may be instructions for the controlled device to move about the window and activate the cleaning system. |
| US09020617B2 |
Scalable motion control system
A control system includes a clustered architecture having a master controller, a central control section including one or more first remote controllers under direct control of the master controller, and a distributed control section including a cluster controller controlled by the master controller. The cluster controller controls the activities of one or more second remote controllers. Each of the first and second remote controllers are utilized to drive one or more axes. |
| US09020616B2 |
Control apparatus and control method of performing operation control of actuators
In a microcomputer, by virtue of the function of one input signal judgment module in the application layer, with respect to whether the situation is such that operation is to be requested to a controlled object from each of a plurality of applications, judgment processing onto input signals representing status information of controlled objects or detection information from sensors or the like is made common. The object-oriented architecture is introduced into an embedded computer program so that the memory is saved and the apparatus is simplified. |
| US09020615B2 |
Stability control system
In embodiments of a stability control system, a computing device includes a device housing that is integrated with a display device, and the device housing tilts for multiple display positions. Pivotable components are mechanically-linked and pivot in coordination to position the device housing in a display position, and sensors detect positioning inputs that are received to re-position the device housing. Clutch mechanisms are implemented to limit and/or resist movement of the pivotable components based on the positioning inputs. A stability controller can be implemented to control the clutch mechanisms based on sensor data from the sensors to position the device housing in a display position. |
| US09020614B2 |
Plant control system
A plant control system carrying out a single shot output without adding a program concerning signal transfer between a supervisory control device and a programmable logic controller to the supervisory control device and the programmable logic controller. The plant control system includes a single shot output functioning section which causes a SCADA system connected to a programmable controller for controlling the plant to send a control signal corresponding to control content of a selected plant to the programmable controller, and, thereafter, to send an erasure signal for erasing the control signal held in the programmable controller to the programmable controller. The single shot output functioning section is outside of the SCADA system and outside of the programmable controller. |
| US09020609B2 |
Electrode lead of pacemaker and pacemaker using the same
An electrode lead of a pacemaker includes at least one lead wire including at least one composite conductive core. The at least one composite conductive core includes at least one conductive core and at least one carbon nanotube yarn spirally wound on an outer surface of the at least one conductive core. The at least one carbon nanotube yarn includes a number of carbon nanotubes joined end to end by van der Waals attractive forces. The pacemaker includes a pulse generator and the electrode lead electrically connected to the pulse generator. |
| US09020608B2 |
Implantable paddle lead comprising stretching electrical traces and method of fabrication
In one embodiment, a paddle-style lead for implantation in the epidural space through an insertion tool, the paddle-style lead comprises: a paddle structure that comprises: (i) a frame of rigid material, the frame comprising a spring member adapted to bias the frame to assume a first width and a first length, the frame being adapted to elongate to assume a second width and a second length under application of a compressive force; and (ii) elastic material disposed across an interior surface area defined the frame, wherein a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of electrical traces are provided on the elastic material, wherein the plurality of electrical traces are electrically coupled to a plurality of lead conductors and the plurality of electrodes; wherein the plurality of electrical traces comprises a plurality of alternating curves that elongate when the elastic material is stretched. |
| US09020607B2 |
Implantable multi-electrode device
The invention provides an implantable multi-electrode device (300) and related methods and apparatuses. In one embodiment, the invention includes an implantable device (300) comprising: an assembly block (320); and a plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) radiating from the assembly block (320), each of the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) containing at least one electrode (342A), such that the electrodes are distributed within a three-dimensional space, wherein the assembly block (320) includes a barb (350) for anchoring the assembly block (320) within implanted tissue. |
| US09020606B2 |
Brain electrode lead anchoring device
Disclosed is a device for anchoring a brain lead that includes an anchoring ring with a circular base and a flange joining together where the inner walls form an aperture define a passage of a lead. Outer walls engage with a burr hole to secure the ring to the cranium, and a septum is contained within the aperture of the anchoring ring. Because the septum is already placed in the aperture when the trocar is removed from the brain, the body of the brain lead is immediately clamped by the elastic material of the septum while the tip of trocar is removed from the slit of septum. Friction between the lead body and the elastic material prohibits any movement of the lead caused by handling. |
| US09020604B2 |
Multi-electrode neurostimulation device
A neurostimulation device is provided comprising an input, a neurostimulation probe, a stimulation unit and a distribution calculation module. At the input stimulation data is received comprising information relating to a stimulation preferability and an orientation of at least one fiber bundle. The neurostimulation probe comprises an array of stimulation electrodes which are coupled to the stimulation unit. The stimulation unit, in accordance with a specified current distribution, provides currents to the respective stimulation electrodes for generating an electric field gradient. The distribution calculation module is coupled to the input and the stimulation unit for based on the stimulation data determining a preferred position and orientation for the electric field gradient, and based on the preferred position and orientation for the electric field gradient, calculating the specified current distribution. |
| US09020601B2 |
Hearing prosthesis with a standard wire interface
Methods, systems, and devices for receiving a data signal and a power signal by a hearing prosthesis are disclosed. An input signal is received at a first unit of a hearing prosthesis. The first unit receives the input signal at a wired interface module that conforms to a standardized interface. The first unit identifies a data signal and a power signal included in the input signal. The first unit transfers at least a portion of the power signal to a second unit of the hearing prosthesis. The second unit is implanted in a body and is configured to stimulate an auditory organ, allowing a user to perceive at least a portion of a sound. |
| US09020590B1 |
Apparatus to transcutaneously stimulate resonant frequencies of mammals
An apparatus to stimulate resonant frequencies of mammals, including humans, through transcutaneously applied bipolar micro-current therapeutic frequencies eXclusive OR (XOR) modulated over a variable duty cycle carrier square wave. A Fibonacci number clocked stored-program microcontroller generates a variable duty cycle higher frequency pulse width modulation (PWM) carrier square wave output which is XOR modulated with a lower therapeutic frequency square wave output to control an H-Bridge driver capacitive coupled to an isolation transformer. The preferred embodiment supports one or more user inputs and displaying program and operational information on a suitable display. Further, using an H-Bridge to drive an inductive load with bi-polar pulses creates scalar waves when the H-Bridge's output is switched from one polarity to the opposite each time the therapeutic low frequency square wave output XOR modulates the higher frequency PWM square wave. |
| US09020588B2 |
Body composition analyzer for animals
A body composition analyzer for animals is provided. A movement of an animal may be restrained by controlling a physical motion of a plurality of electrode units that come into contact with feet of the animal and thus, it is possible to effectively restrict the movement of the animal during measuring of a body composition of the animal, thereby more accurately measuring the body composition. |
| US09020587B2 |
Method and apparatus of neurological feedback systems to control physical objects for therapeutic and other reasons
A method and apparatus using brainwaves to control real objects is provided. The method and apparatus comprise using sensors to detect the brain's electrical signals and transmit at least two brainwaves to an apparatus that converts the brainwaves into a format usable by a signal processor. The signal processor determines a coherence between portions of the brainwaves, typically in the frequency domain, and compares the coherence values, which change rapidly from moment to moment, to thresholds. Based on the comparison of the coherence value to the thresholds, which are adjusted over time based on feedback relating to success, a control signal is developed that can be sent to a real object to control 3 dimensional motion of the control object. |
| US09020585B2 |
Electronic identity card
A method comprises the steps of obtaining a baseline measurement corresponding to a representation of brain activity from a living body and storing the baseline measurements on a storage device configured to be wearable on the living body in combination with obtaining, at a time subsequent to the baseline measurement, a second measurement representing brain activity from the living body, reading the baseline measurement from the storage device and evaluating the living body based on a comparison of the second measurement to the baseline measurement. A system for analyzing electrical brain activity, the system comprises a component for reading, from a storage medium, data corresponding to a baseline measurement of brain activity of a living body and a component for determining data representing a current brain activity of the living body in combination with a component for evaluating the living body by comparing the baseline measurement data and the current brain activity data. |
| US09020582B2 |
Detecting or validating a detection of a state change from a template of heart rate derivative shape or heart beat wave complex
Methods, systems, and apparatus for detecting and/or validating a detection of a state change by matching the shape of one or more of an cardiac data series, a heart rate variability data series, or at least a portion of a heart beat complex, derived from cardiac data, to an appropriate template. |
| US09020581B2 |
Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy of layered soft tissues and applications of same
The present invention in one aspect relates to a method for surgical margin evaluation of tissues during breast conserving therapy at a surgical site of interest. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of acquiring a plurality of spatially offset Raman spectra from the surgical site of interest, identifying tissue signatures from the plurality of spatially offset Raman spectra, and determining surgical margins of the surgical site from the identified tissue signatures. |
| US09020580B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring time based photo active agent delivery or photo active marker presence
Devices and approaches for monitoring time based photo active agent delivery or photo active marker presence in an eye. A monitoring system is provided for measuring the presence of a photo active marker by illuminating the eye so as to excite the photo-active marker and then observing characteristic emission from the photo active marker. Example systems incorporate Scheimpflug optical systems or slit lamp optical systems to observe cross sectional images of an eye to monitor instantaneous distribution, diffusion pattern, and rate of uptake of a photo active agent applied to an eye. Systems and methods further allow for utilizing the monitored distribution of photo active agent in the eye as feedback for a cross-linking system. |
| US09020577B2 |
Systems, devices and methods for cartilage and bone grafting
Disclosed are systems, methods, devices and products to identify suitable donor sites for harvesting bone-cartilage grafts and to implant such bone-cartilage grafts. In some embodiments, a method includes providing a computer having access to a donor database, the donor database comprising information on each of a plurality of donor joint sites of the body, receiving first data relating to a defect of a joint of a patient, the defect comprising an area of bone, a portion of which includes at least one of, for example, missing and/or damaged cartilage, and identifying, based on the first data, at least one donor site from the donor database of joints for harvesting a graft of bone and cartilage to repair the defect. |
| US09020576B2 |
Biological measurement apparatus and biological stimulation apparatus
A biological measurement apparatus of this invention includes (i) a micro piezoelectric element for vibrating a nerve cell of a subject without coming in contact with the nerve cell, (ii) an electromagnetic wave antenna for receiving an electromagnetic wave generated by the nerve cell vibrated by the micro piezoelectric element, and (iii) a computer for measuring an electric charge of the nerve cell based on the electromagnetic wave received by the electromagnetic wave antenna. Further, this biological measurement apparatus includes an electromagnetic wave antenna for emitting an electromagnetic wave to a nerve cell. This configuration provides an apparatus capable of measuring an electrical activity of a nerve cell in a living organism in real time and three-dimensionally at a spatial resolution of a nerve cell size. Moreover, this configuration provides an apparatus capable of individually giving electrical stimulations to any desired cells in the subject. |
| US09020572B2 |
Systems and methods for processing, transmitting and displaying sensor data
Systems and methods for continuous measurement of an analyte in a host are provided. The system generally includes a continuous analyte sensor configured to continuously measure a concentration of analyte in a host and a sensor electronics module physically connected to the continuous analyte sensor during sensor use, wherein the sensor electronics module is further configured to directly wirelessly communicate displayable sensor information to a plurality of different types of display devices. |
| US09020570B2 |
Portable electronic device with auxiliary input device and flex connector therefor
A portable electronic device includes a lower housing and an upper housing slidable relative to the lower housing between closed and open positions. The upper housing includes an auxiliary input device and a display. A primary flex connector electrically connects the lower and upper housings. At least one secondary flex connector may electrically connect the primary flex connector to the auxiliary input device or the display. The upper housing may include a cover plate that is removable to allow access to at least a portion of the flex connectors. |
| US09020569B2 |
Mobile phone
A main processor of mobile phone changes from power saving state to active state for changing display in response to a sub processor for sensors, the main processor returning to the power saving state after changing the display. The main processor changes from power saving state to active state for storing information from the sub processor, the main processor returning to the power saving state after the storing function. The main processor selects the stored display data on the basis of the information from the sub processor to change display. The main processor receives and stores information from the sub processor in the boot up process or before finishing the operation. The sub processor is in the active state so as to control the sensor even in a case where the main processor is in the power saving state. |
| US09020568B2 |
Mobile device
A mobile device and a display control method can be provided having good operability and enabling selection of a screen display for the mobile device from a mode displaying a plurality of kinds of screens to suit a user's preferences. An aspect of the mobile device includes a touch screen, a display, and a menu screen generator. The touch screen receives input from a user. The display displays a menu screen and is provided such that the touch screen is overlaid on the display. The menu screen generator generates the menu screen displayed on the display. The menu screen can be selected from a plurality of user interfaces. |
| US09020567B2 |
Authentication using fingerprint sensor in gesture path
Methods and devices for obtaining a fingerprint sample due to incidental contact with a fingerprint sensor when performing a gesture are described. In one aspect, an electronic device includes a touchscreen display and a fingerprint sensor adjacent the touchscreen display. One or more processors are associated with instructions that cause a fingerprint sample to be obtained and that cause a gesture to be detected. The gesture is characterized by input representing movement that is directed at or from the fingerprint sensor. The input is received, at least in part, at an end of the touchscreen display that is nearest the fingerprint sensor. |
| US09020565B2 |
Tile space user interface for mobile devices
Systems and methods for providing a user interface for mobile devices enable data and services available through the mobile device to be represented as a set of tiles maintained in a display space. The tiles provide a snapshot of the current state of content available through the mobile device without requiring any interaction by the user. The tiles and display space are customizable and can be dynamically updated to display content to a user. In addition, tiles can provide functionality, including simple tasks to a user without requiring the user to navigate away from the tile display space. Tiles can also provide quick access to start software applications. Tiles can be organized in the display space by the user or the tiles can be automatically grouped based upon associated metadata. |
| US09020556B2 |
Methods, apparatus and systems for handling additional power backoff
Methods, apparatus and systems are described for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to manage its transmission power. A power headroom report (PHR) may be triggered based on changes to backoff or the impacts of backoff. Additional backoff may be used to calculate a maximum output power of the WTRU and may be indicated by a domination indicator to network resources. The WTRU may be configured to eliminate triggers caused by virtual PHRs. Furthermore, the WTRU may be configured to respond to rapid changes to backoff. |
| US09020555B2 |
System and method for performance enhancement in heterogeneous wireless access network employing distributed antenna system
A system and method for dynamically optimizing the performance of indoor distributed antenna systems communicate to user equipment is disclosed. The user equipment measures information describing the downlink signals such as the downlink data rates, the quality of the received signal, and the location of the user equipment. A service module collects this information and determines an optimized power level for each of the antenna units. The service module may optimize only one antenna unit power level or a subset of the antenna units within the distributed antenna system in a preferred embodiment. One or more of the antenna units then transmits downlink signals with the optimized power levels. The optimized power level may be less than the initial power level in a preferred embodiment. As a result, the performance of the indoor distributed antenna systems is enhanced. |
| US09020554B2 |
System and method for supporting multi-user antenna beamforming in a cellular network
The present invention is a method and system for supporting a beamforming antenna system in a multiple user mobile broadband communication network including a process for setting and adjusting the magnitude and phase of the signal to user equipment from each antenna. Namely, the present invention supports the communication of power signal values or levels to user equipment in a manner that keeps pace with the rapid variations of the power levels that occur in the dynamic scheduling of transmissions on the cell site. The present invention satisfies this need for an improved signal strength signaling to user equipment for the situation where multiple users are located on the cell site. |
| US09020551B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A communication apparatus for performing communication of a plurality of pieces of data includes a plurality of communication units configured to perform communication at frequencies different from each other; and a selection unit configured to select a physical position of electromagnetic wave radiation for each of the communication units, and switch the physical position to be selected to another one of the physical positions of the communication units at predetermined intervals. |
| US09020548B2 |
Other cell interference estimation
Mobile broadband traffic has been exploding in wireless networks resulting in an increase of interferences and reduced operator control. Networks are also becoming more heterogeneous putting additional demand in interference management. Scheduler schedules uplink transmissions from UEs based on a load prediction algorithm that typically assumes worst case. However, UEs do not always use full power granted, and thus, much of granted radio resources are wasted. To address these and other issues, technique(s) to accurately predict/estimate other cell interferences and thermal noise separately and to accurately predict/estimate load utilization probability and variance is(are) described. Inventive estimation technique(s) can be used to schedule UEs to more fully utilize available radio resources. Extended Kalman filtering can be adapted for use in estimation providing low order computational complexity. |
| US09020545B2 |
Link adaptation method, base station and terminal in LTE system
The present invention discloses a link adaptation method, a base station and a terminal in a LTE system, wherein the method comprises: a terminal respectively calculating differences between a measured reference signal received power (RSRP) of a home service cell and the RSRPs of multiple adjacent cells; the terminal reporting the maximum difference in the differences to a base station; and the base station determining a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the terminal according to the maximum difference. The present invention does not introduce new overhead of the system, simplifies the flow of the AMC, and therefore improves the frequency spectrum efficiency of the system. |
| US09020542B2 |
Systems and methods for user-initiated location-based services through messaging
Systems and methods for user-initiated location-based services through messaging. Using a messaging client running on a communication device, a user transmits location information via a text and/or instant message to a recipient. The location information may be obtained from a GPS program or other location determining program accessible or installed on the user's communication device. A network identifier such as a URL is created based on the location information and is appended into the message. When the recipient selects the network identifier, electronic content such as a graphic map including the sender's location is displayed on the recipient's communication device. |
| US09020536B1 |
Method and apparatus for tracking a transported item while accommodating communication gaps
A method and apparatus is provided for minimizing potential security problems and battery power usage in a tracking device used in tracking an associated product while being transported along a route wherein wireless communication may be nonexistent or intermittent. This is accomplished in part by having an accessible database of signal quality and strength at a large plurality of locations along given transportation routes whereby adjustments can be made as to the times for the tracking device to obtain GPS location information as well as for times to report any location and or product status data to a remotely located central station. The ability to predict when, along a transportation route communication problems may occur provides the opportunity to notify appropriate authorities in advance of arriving at the communication gap zones whereby arrangements can be made to alleviate potential problems during transportation through wireless communication “gap or dead” zones. |
| US09020535B2 |
Method and system for providing a radio station locator service
An approach is provided to present station location information to one or more mobile devices. A request is received to provide station location information to a mobile device. Station location information is generated, in response to the request, the station location information including station location information of one or more radio stations that correspond to the location of the mobile device. The station location information is transmitted to the mobile device. |
| US09020534B2 |
Location-based mobile device profile aggregation
Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are described for generating an aggregated group profile of access terminal users in an identified geographic region (e.g., at an entertainment venue). A group profile request may be received for a set of mobile access terminal users in the identified geographic region. User profile information may be requested for each of the users. User profiles may be aggregated to generate an aggregated group profile. The aggregated group profile may be distributed (e.g., for use in selecting advertisements at an entertainment venue to reflect the users currently in attendance). |
| US09020533B1 |
Location services
In various embodiments, methods, systems, and software are provided to provide location services to a mobile device. In an embodiment, a method comprises receiving a call request (including a caller identification) for a call from a mobile device, and determining if the call qualifies for a status update based on the caller identification. In response to determining that the call qualifies for a status update, the method also comprises receiving a location of the mobile device, determining the identity of a mobile unit that is in progress to the location of the mobile device, and initiating a location request of the mobile unit, receiving a location of the mobile unit in response to the location request, and providing status information based on the location of the mobile unit and the location of the mobile device to a user of the mobile device. |
| US09020527B2 |
Asset tracking system with data ping based on asset movement
An asset tracking system that optimizes the value per ping by tying the ping to movement of the asset. The asset tracking device will send a ping to a remote host (i.e., receiver) when pre-determined condition(s) regarding the movement are met, conditions such as time between movements, the pattern of movement, and number of movements within a time period. In such a manner, the value per ping is optimized, leading to increased battery life and decreased operational cost. To satisfy these conditions and exception events, the asset tracking device is equipped with appropriate sensors, actuators, and trigger mechanism(s). The sensors and actuators detect movements and/or confirm or recognize a sequence of movements. When the detected movements and/or sequence of movements match a predetermined, recognized pattern or condition, the trigger mechanism is activated, after which a data ping is sent. |
| US09020523B2 |
Position estimating for a mobile device
Disclosed are methods, techniques and/or systems for selecting and/or determining a strategy and/or approach for searching for signals at a mobile device. Characteristics of and/or information obtained from such searched signals may be used in estimating a location of the mobile device. In one particular example, a strategy and/or approach for searching for wireless signals may be based, at least in part, on an availability of resources at a mobile device. |
| US09020521B2 |
Apparatus and method for signal detection
A communications apparatus capable of detecting a signal transmitted by another apparatus in a first band of spectrum is described. The apparatus identifies at least one second band of spectrum, different from the first band of spectrum, in which no signal is detected and then determines a noise characteristic for the at least one second band of spectrum. The determined noise characteristic may then be used by an energy detector operating in the first band of spectrum to ensure reliable detection of signals transmitted by the other apparatus. |
| US09020520B2 |
Reducing interference in a radio access network
A method and apparatus for reducing an effect of user interference on other users in an uplink of a radio access network using interference suppression. A user, for example, the user experiencing the highest interference, is selected from a plurality of users using the radio access cell. A perceived Rise over Thermal value for the user after interference suppression is predicted in the event that scheduling grants to an interfering user in the radio access network are altered. On the basis of the prediction, scheduling grants to the interfering user are altered, thereby reducing the interference for the selected user. |
| US09020517B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating and acquiring ACK/NACK resources in a mobile communication system
A method and apparatus are provided for receiving ACK/NACK information by a base station. The method includes transmitting data and control information to at least one UE, the control information being transmitted through a downlink control channel including at least one CCE; checking a resource for reception of an ACK/NACK mapped to the at least one CCE based on a mapping rule between CCEs and resources for reception of the ACK/NACK, the resource for reception of the ACK/NACK identified by a cyclic shift index, an orthogonal sequence index, and a resource block index; and receiving the ACK/NACK information for the transmitted data using the checked resource. |
| US09020512B2 |
Method and system for transmitting radio signal, and a base station using the same
A radio signal transmission method is used in a radio signal transmission system having a core network (CN), at least one base station and at least one user equipment (UE). After the UE initiates a circuit switch (CS) call, the base station determines whether to activate CS off-loading. If to activate CS off-loading, the base station determines whether identification (ID) codes of all call parties reside on the same base station or on the same group of base stations of the system. If yes, the base station determines whether to off-load only the user-plane data. If yes, the CN controls the signaling and the user-plane data is directly forwarded to another call party; otherwise, the base station processes a signaling and the user-plane data is directly forwarded to another call party via the base station. |
| US09020510B2 |
Method and device for initiating cell measurement
This document discusses a method and device for initiating cell measurement. An initiating condition for initiating the measurement of a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell and/or a Hybrid cell is preset by the network side. The measurement of the CSG cells and/or Hybrid cells is initiated by a User Equipment (UE) when the initiating condition is satisfied. The UE automatically initiates the measurement of the CSG cell and/or Hybrid cell when the UE is close to its own footprint area or fingerprint area. |
| US09020508B2 |
Mobile communication system, base station, higher-order apparatus, gateway apparatus, communication method, and program
A mobile communication system including: a terminal, a movement-origin base station to which the terminal connects before movement of the terminal; a movement-destination base station to which the terminal connects after movement of the terminal; and a higher-order apparatus that has the movement-origin base station and the movement-destination base station under its control. Control information for voice encoding is set in advance in the movement-origin base station and the movement-destination base station, the movement-origin base station includes the control information of its own station in a first message and transmits the first message to the higher-order apparatus, and the higher-order apparatus includes the control information of the movement-origin base station in a second message and transmits the second message to the movement-destination base station. |
| US09020503B2 |
Connection establishment system and method
A method of determining whether to accept a connection request from a user device requesting connection to a communications network is described. The method includes receiving a connection request from the user device, the connection request including a predefined identifier. A message requesting capability information associated with the user device is then generated and transmitted and the capability information is received in response. The method further includes determining whether to permit a connection to the user device based on the capability information and transmitting a message to release or reject or to establish the connection based on the determining. Apparatus for performing the method, including an eNodeB, gateway and user device are also described and corresponding methods of operation these components are provided. |
| US09020500B2 |
Network selection in a mobile communication terminal
A contract operator information acquisition section (110) acquires contract network operator identification information and availability/unavailability information from a service operator with which a mobile communication terminal (100) has a communication contract; an operator search section (130) searches for network operators; a comparison section (140) compares network operator identification information about the retrieved network operators with contract network operator identification information based on which the availability/unavailability information shows “available”, from among the acquired contract network operator identification information; and a display section (150) displays matching network operator identification information as a result of the comparison. |
| US09020498B2 |
Systems and methods for intelligent discard in a communication network
Systems and methods for optimizing system performance of capacity and spectrum constrained, multiple-access communication systems by selectively discarding packets are provided. The systems and methods provided herein can drive changes in the communication system using control responses. One such control responses includes the optimal discard (also referred to herein as “intelligent discard”) of network packets under capacity constrained conditions. Some embodiments provide an interactive response by selectively discarding packets to enhance perceived and actual system throughput, other embodiments provide a reactive response by selectively discarding data packets based on their relative impact to service quality to mitigate oversubscription, others provide a proactive response by discarding packets based on predicted oversubscription, and others provide a combination thereof. |
| US09020497B2 |
Method of routing a call to one of a plurality of user equipment
Method of routing a call to one of a plurality of user equipment of a UMA/GAN-subscriber in a telecommunications network. The telecommunications network comprises a service control entity. Said service control entity determines whether said UMA/GAN-subscriber is within or outside a home area. The service control entity comprises a first indicator indicating at least one network address of a user equipment comprised by the plurality of user equipment to which the call is to be routed in case the UMA/GAN-subscriber is within the home area, and a second indicator indicating at least one network address of a user equipment comprised by the plurality of user equipment to which the call is to be routed in case the UMA/GAN-subscriber is outside the home area. |
| US09020495B2 |
Method and arrangement in a communication system
Method and arrangement in a base station, a user equipment and a positioning node, for sending, and obtaining, respectively, a value of a propagation delay of a signal. The signal is sent to the base station from a user equipment. The base station and the user equipment are comprised within a wireless communication system. Also, the base station and the user equipment are adapted to exchange wireless signals. The method is characterized by the step of receiving a signal sent from the user equipment. The method is further characterized by the step of measuring the value of the signal propagation delay of the received signal. Still further, the method is characterized by the step of sending the measured value to the equipment and/or to a positioning node comprised within the wireless communication system. |
| US09020493B2 |
Validity time configuration for immediate MDT reporting
The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and a computer program product for performing one or more minimizing drive test (MDT) measurements, defining a validity time threshold for each kind of MDT measurement, verifying, prior to reporting one of the MDT measurement results, whether the validity time threshold defined for the respective MDT measurement result to be reported, is exceeded, and, if the validity time threshold is not exceeded, reporting the MDT measurement result. |
| US09020490B2 |
Method and apparatus for caching
A method and caching server for enabling caching of a portion of a media file in a User Equipment (UE) in a mobile telecommunications network. The caching server selects the media file and determines a size of the portion to be cached in the UE. The size may be determined depending on radio network conditions for the UE and/or characteristics of the media file. The caching server sends an instruction to the UE to cache the determined size of the portion of the media file in the UE. |
| US09020480B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for configuring a mobile electronic device
According to embodiments described in the specification, a method, system and apparatus for configuring a mobile electronic device are provided. The method comprises storing, in a memory of a provisioning server, a plurality of service records and one of a plurality of operation type parameters in association with each service record; receiving, at the provisioning server, a registration request for the mobile electronic device, the registration request including one or more identifiers identifying ones of the service records that are maintained in the mobile electronic device; selecting, based on the received identifiers and the operation type parameters, at least one service record for transmission; and, transmitting the at least one selected service record. |
| US09020478B2 |
Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to mobile telephony devices
Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a mobile telephony device that is roaming outside of its native service area make use of a forwarding termination service. The forwarding termination service causes the native mobile telephony service provider that provides service to the mobile telephony device to forward incoming telephony communications directed the native telephone number of the mobile telephony device to a forwarding access number. The forwarding termination service receives telephony communications directed to the forwarding access number, and then terminates the telephony communication to the mobile telephony device via any one of multiple different methods. The mobile telephony service provider can be instructed to implement and cancel call forwarding instructions by dialing a special character string on the mobile telephony device. |
| US09020476B2 |
System and method for remote care and monitoring using a mobile device
A system and method for remote care and monitoring of the user of a mobile device, such as a smartphone, and for simplifying use of the mobile device by the user. The system and method comprises software, operable on the mobile device and/or a remote device (such as another smartphone, a computer (including, for example, a web-based application system) or other device), for facilitating the use of a mobile smartphone device while also enabling authorized users (e.g. care providers) to remotely interact with the mobile user, provide them medical care information, daily care instruction, immediate connectivity, mobile phone control and tracking functions, general assistance as well as remotely updating and maintaining the mobile user's mobile device. |
| US09020475B2 |
Method and system for passing information through a network during overload
A method is provided for passing information through a network during overload and subsequent actions to reduce congestion. An exemplary method includes receiving an origination request from a mobile device of a calling party, detecting an overload condition, transmitting a message request to a terminating network element associated with a called party in response to the origination request during the overload condition, receiving an acknowledgement of receipt of the message request, and denying the origination request. In this manner, high resource requests (e.g. a voice call) may be converted into lower resource requests (e.g. text or voicemail messages), or the resource request may be deferred to a more appropriate time. |
| US09020473B2 |
Content sharing system, mobile terminal, protocol switching method and program
A content sharing system in which a plurality of terminal devices that enable voice calls and data communication to each other, switching equipment that mediates the voice calls, and a content sharing server that mediates the data communication are connected to each other, each mobile device comprising: a voice call module, a content sharing application that generates incremental update commands in response to one user operation and sends the incremental update commands to another mobile device with respect to the same content; first and second communication control units that perform data communication according to first and second communication protocols; and a protocol selection unit that sends a desired protocol to the content sharing server according to the status of the terminal device, receives the determined protocol and switches the communication protocol to this protocol. |
| US09020467B2 |
Method of and system for extending the WISPr authentication procedure
A method and system for completing the authentication process of a user device in a second communication network (such as Wi-Fi or WiMAX) utilizes the user credential (such as a SIM card, a USIM card, or a RUIM card) of a first communication network (such as GSM, CDMA, EDGE, or LTE). A client, such as a software module, executes on the wireless device. An authentication platform retrieves the SIM card credential information in the first communication network and passes the information to the authentication platform of the second communication network, thereby granting the client access to the second communication after the authentication platform validates with the first communication network. |
| US09020465B2 |
Sharing network capacity with another device
There is provided a cause a reception of information from a second device, wherein the information indicates a need to utilize the network capacity of the apparatus by the second device; detect an identifier of the second device in order to enable identification of the second device; determine whether or not to allow the second device to utilize the network capacity on the basis of the identification; upon deciding to allow the second device to utilize the network capacity of the apparatus, cause transfer of data between the second device and an accessed network, wherein the network is accessible with a specific subscriber identity module, SIM, of the apparatus; determine predetermined at least one characteristic related to the data transfer of the second device; cause transmission of information indicating the at least one characteristic to an entity responsible of invoicing data transfers with respect to the specific SIM. |
| US09020463B2 |
Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to measure mobile device usage
Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to measure mobile device usage are disclosed. An example method to determine mobile device usage includes filtering, with a processor, a debug log file stored in the device to obtain debug file entries representative of device usage information, the debug log file having been modified by at least one of an operating system of the device or a device application, and sending, to a server, a filtered log file based on filtering the debug log file. |
| US09020462B2 |
Enhanced handling of duress situations
A wireless communications device can be triggered by a user in a duress situation to provide to a predetermined recipient, or to a monitoring service, a duress message containing emergency-response information, such as GPS coordinates, a photograph and/or an audio clip to facilitate an emergency response to the duress situation. The wireless device can periodically send follow-up duress messages to provide updated GPS data, photos or other information. The wireless device monitoring can also reply to specific queries from the monitoring service to provide requested information that would be most useful to the recipient attempting to coordinate an emergency response. In the event that the device is outside data packet coverage, the duress message can be transmitted using an alternate mode of communication such as SMS or MMS. If no mode of communication is available, the device stores the duress message until communications are possible. |
| US09020460B2 |
Smart alarm providing terminal and alarm providing method thereof
Disclosed are a smart alarm providing terminal and an alarm proving method thereof. The smart alarm providing terminal includes an alarm unit to drive an alarm of the terminal, a voice conversation unit to perform a voice conversation function between a user and the terminal, a user information provision unit to provide different personalized information according to respective users, a memory unit to store data to perform the voice conversation function and to provide the personalized information, and a controller to control the voice conversation unit and the user information provision unit so as to enable the voice conversation function and provision of the personalized information when the alarm of the terminal is driven. |
| US09020458B2 |
Mixer with channel impedance equalization
A passive mixer with channel impedance equalization is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes replica devices configured to generate replica output signals and an error amplifier configured to generate bias signals based on the replica output signals. The bias signals are configured to equalize on-state channel impedances associated with a mixer. |
| US09020457B2 |
Phased-array receiver for mm-wave applications
The present disclosure relates to a circuit for providing a signal gain, comprising: a first stage comprising a first set of variable gain transconductors arranged for receiving an input signal and for performing phase-shifting of the input signal, thereby producing an intermediate signal, and a second stage, comprising a second set of transconductors and a plurality of capacitors arranged for receiving the intermediate signal and for providing an output signal to a combiner, wherein the first stage and second stage together form a filter, and wherein the first set of variable gain transconductors and at least one of the transconductors of the second set define the signal gain of the circuit. |
| US09020454B2 |
Linearization and calibration predistortion of a digitally controlled power amplifier
An apparatus and method of linearization of a digitally-controlled pre-power amplifier (DPA) and RF power amplifier (PA) for performing predistortion calibration to compensate for nonlinearlities in the DPA and PA circuits. A predistortion look up table (LUT) stores measured distortion compensation data that is applied to the TX data before being input to the digital-to-frequency converter (DFC), DPA and PA. The on-chip receiver, which is normally inactive during the TX burst in a half-duplex operation, demodulates the RF PA output and uses the digital I/Q RX outputs to perform calibration of the TX pre-distortion tables. A sample of the RF output signal is provided to the receiver chain. While the PA (DPA) code is increasing (or decreasing), the amplitude and phase of the recovered I/Q samples are used to determine the instantaneous value of the AM/AM and AM/PM pre-distortion from which an update to the predistortion tables may be computed. |
| US09020450B2 |
Output stage for wireless transmitter
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first block configured to decompose an input signal into a positive component and a negative component. The apparatus further includes a second block configured to generate a mixer positive driver component from the positive component and a mixer negative driver component from the negative component and input the mixer positive driver component and the negative driver component into a mixer for a wireless transmitter. |
| US09020449B2 |
Software-defined radio with broadband amplifiers and antenna matching
Mobile phone handsets include a CMOS front end configured for operating across multiple transmit and receive frequencies. The front end typically includes multiple receivers, each covering a different band allocated for cellular service, and requires large, expensive and power-intensive A/D converters and DSPs. Front-end circuits disclosed herein operate with a broadband software-defined radio (SDR), and include a receive Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), transmit Power Amplifier (PA), and an antenna matching network. The front-end provides broadband operation using relatively low power, and minimizes noise in the received signal. |
| US09020445B2 |
Mobile phone interconnect to telephone
An interface for connects a mobile phone and a plain old telephone service (POTS) phone. The interface detects a ring tone from a speaker output of the mobile phone and in response places a POTS ring signal on a ring line of the POTS phone. Upon a change in state of a hook signal, a hook state detector places a predetermined signal on a microphone input of the mobile phone. |
| US09020443B1 |
Systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling the color of a skin of a mobile communication device
A measure of signal strength is determined based on a signal received within a communication network. For example, a communication device, such as a mobile telephone, may determine the measure of signal strength within the communication network. A reception status is determined based on the measure of signal strength. A color of a skin of a communication device is caused to change from a first color to a second color, based on the reception status. |
| US09020442B1 |
Ranging method, ranging device, location device and location method
A ranging method, executed in a ranging device, comprising steps of: obtaining a trip time of a received wireless signal, wherein the received wireless signal is a wireless signal from an object; calculating a statistical value of a rising time of the received wireless signal; when the statistical value of the rising time of the received wireless signal is smaller than the specific value, estimating a distance between the object and the ranging device according to a corrected trip time, wherein the statistical value of the rising time of the received wireless signal corrects the trip time of the received wireless signal to generate the corrected trip time. |
| US09020440B2 |
Radio channel data and the use thereof
An apparatus comprises a receiver receiving wireless transmission of a real radio system from at least one base station of a radio system as a function of reception direction. The transmission comprises predetermined data. The apparatus comprises also a processing unit that forms taps of a delay profile on the basis of comparison between the data that is received and corresponding predetermined data. The processing unit estimates direction for the taps of the delay profile on the basis of a reception direction of the transmission, and forms radio channel data by associating the taps of the delay profile with the estimated direction. The radio channel data is for a radio channel model of a MIMO emulation in an OTA chamber having a plurality of antennas around a test zone where a device-under-test may be placed. |
| US09020437B2 |
Un-tethered wireless audio system
A wireless speaker audio system configured to receive audio information wirelessly transmitted by an audio source including first and second wireless transceivers. The first wireless transceiver establishes a bidirectional secondary wireless link with the audio source for receiving and acknowledging receipt of the audio information. The first and second wireless transceivers communicate with each other via a primary wireless link. A wireless audio system including an audio source and first and second wireless transceivers. The first and second wireless transceivers communicate via a primary wireless link. The audio source communicates audio information to the first wireless transceiver via a secondary wireless link which is configured according to a standard wireless protocol. The first wireless transceiver is configured to acknowledge successful reception of audio information via the secondary wireless link. |
| US09020432B2 |
Mobile communication device, communication method, integrated circuit, and program
A mobile communication device (98b) includes: an appliance information obtainment unit (98n) that obtains appliance information (98n1) by proximity wireless communication (98c1) with an appliance (98a) installed in a home (99), the appliance information specifying the appliance (98a); a position information obtainment unit (98j) that obtains position information (98j1) of the mobile communication device when the proximity wireless communication (98c1) is performed; and a transmission unit (98o) that transmits transmission information (98o1) to a server (98c) in the case where the proximity wireless communication (98c1) is performed, the transmission information including the appliance information (98n1) and the position information (98j1). |
| US09020428B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling NFC-capable mobile communications devices
NFC-capable systems and devices, and related methods, for controlling operation of an NFC-capable mobile device are disclosed. Through NFC communication, the NFC-capable mobile device detects a load associated with a surface proximate the NFC-capable mobile device. Based at least partly on a determined sustained intensity of the load, the NFC-capable mobile device triggers operation of a camera of the NFC-capable mobile device to capture an image of the surface proximate the NFC-capable mobile device. Based at least partly on a determined correspondence of the captured image with stored image data, the NFC-capable mobile device executes a device control command, such as to control some aspect of the NFC-capable mobile device based on the detected surface, which may be part of a holster for holstering the NFC-capable mobile device. |
| US09020419B2 |
Wireless relay module for remote monitoring systems having power and medical device proximity monitoring functionality
Wireless relay modules for networked communications between a medical device and a remote monitoring device via wireless relay networks and/or internet-accessible wireless communications networks. The wireless relay module includes a receiver, a first transmitter coupled to the wireless relay network, a second transmitter coupled to the internet-accessible wireless communication network, a controller and a display. The controller is coupled to the first and second transmitters, and controls the wireless relay module to select one of the transmitters for transmitting medical device data over one of the two respective networks. The controller generates an alarm signal and stores storing wirelessly-received medical device data in a memory of the wireless relay module upon detecting a changed characteristic for a power source of the wireless relay module. The controller also generates an alarm upon detecting a change in a characteristic of a signal transmitted by the medical device. |
| US09020416B2 |
Method and appartus to measure size of trophy game
The instant invention is a ribbon for use with sport fishing in conjunction with a GPS-enabled smart-phone. The ribbon tape is calculated in terms of estimated weight allowing an ocean weigh-in, versus a dock located weigh-in, to meet the fishing tournament requirements and/or a recreational angler's requirements, and the GPS-enabled smart-phone allows accurate documentation of the catch for competition or recreational purposes. The ribbon tape of the instant invention provides an estimate of fish weights based upon fish length, the fish weights based upon a statistical averaging of a particular fish species. The objective of the invention is to eliminate the destruction of fish caught only for the purpose of determining fish size and weight, and to eliminate the risk caused by tournament fishing boats racing back to weigh-in stations. |
| US09020415B2 |
Bonus and experience enhancement system for receivers of broadcast media
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a method for awarding incentives, the method comprising receiving, via a first interface of a server, audio signals from a user over a communication network, receiving, via a second interface of the server, audio signals from a plurality of broadcast channels over the communication network, comparing, by a processor in the server, the audio signals received from the user and the audio signals received from the plurality of broadcast channels, determining, by the processor, based on the act of comparing, that the audio signals from the user correspond to a program currently being broadcast on one of the plurality of broadcast channels, and in response to the act of determining, automatically awarding, by the processor, the user at least one incentive. |
| US09020410B2 |
Image heating apparatus
An image heating apparatus includes first and second rotatable members for forming a nip for heating therein a toner image on a sheet; an endless belt for contacting an outer surface of the first rotatable member and heat the first rotatable member; first and second rollers provided inside the endless belt and to rotatably support the endless belt; first and second bearings for rotatably supporting the first and second rollers; an elastic member contactable to the first bearing and to the second bearing and for urging the first roller and the second roller in directions away from each other; and a preventing member for preventing the elastic member from moving in directions of expansion and contraction thereof when the elastic member is out of contact with the first bearing and the second bearing. |
| US09020409B2 |
Belt unit, fixing device and image forming apparatus
A belt unit includes an endless belt member, a first roller provided on an inner circumferential surface side of the belt member, and a stretching member provided on the inner circumferential surface side of the belt member. The stretching member is configured to stretch the belt member. A circumferential length of the belt member at a center portion in a widthwise direction of the belt member is shorter than a circumferential length of the belt member at an end portion in the widthwise direction of the belt member. |
| US09020406B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of correcting color registration error
An image forming apparatus includes a color registration error amount calculation unit that calculates a color registration error amount from a first test pattern; a correction information obtaining unit that obtains a correction information for correcting an image on a back surface based on previously obtained contraction information of a printing paper after printing an image on a front surface when printing on both surfaces; and an image data correction unit that corrects the image on the back surface based on the color registration error amount calculated by the color registration error amount and the correction information obtained by the correction information obtaining unit. |
| US09020402B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing residual toner in a rotating container
An approach is provided for reducing an amount of residual toner remaining in a rotating container. The approach involves causing a rotatable vessel configured to contain a toner to be rotated by way of a drive train. The rotatable vessel includes a body section having a substantially round cross-section, a first end at one axial end of the body section, a second end axially distal the first end, and helical features on an internal surface of the body section configured to transport at least a portion of the toner in an axial direction between the first end and the second end as the rotatable vessel is rotated. The approach also involves causing the drive train to impart a periodic pulse to the rotatable vessel. The periodic pulse causes at least a portion of the toner contained by the rotatable vessel to be agitated. |
| US09020401B2 |
Apparatus, printers, and charge roller assemblies
Apparatus, printers, and charge roller assemblies are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a roller to charge a printer surface when closer to the printer surface than an upper threshold, and a damper to reduce movement of the roller and to keep the roller closer to the printer surface than the upper threshold. |
| US09020399B2 |
Developing cartridge including developing gear cover
A developing cartridge includes: a housing having first and second sidewalls through which respective end portions of a developing roller shaft are rotatably inserted; a developing gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which is fixed to the end portion of the developing roller shaft; a transmission gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which transmits driving force to the developing gear; a first cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the transmission gear; and a second cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the developing gear from an outer side in the axis line direction. The second cover member is formed separately from the first cover member and is arranged side by side with the first cover member outside of the first sidewall. |
| US09020397B2 |
Developing cartridge including developing gear cover
A developing cartridge includes: a housing having first and second sidewalls through which respective end portions of a developing roller shaft are rotatably inserted; a developing gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which is fixed to the end portion of the developing roller shaft; a transmission gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which transmits driving force to the developing gear; a first cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the transmission gear; and a second cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the developing gear from an outer side in the axis line direction. The second cover member is formed separately from the first cover member and is arranged side by side with the first cover member outside of the first sidewall. |
| US09020395B2 |
Developing cartridge and process cartridge for stably rotating developing roller
A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller main body; a developing roller shaft, which is arranged along a central axis line of the developing roller main body, and which protrudes from both end portions of the developing roller main body along the central axis line, wherein the developing roller shaft includes a small diameter part located at a first end portion in the axis line direction, the small diameter part having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of a second end portion opposite to the first end portion; and a developing gear that is fixed to the first end portion of the developing roller shaft. |
| US09020394B2 |
Image forming apparatus including black photosensitive drum replaceable independently from color photosensitive drums
An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a plurality of photosensitive drums, a process frame, and a process unit. The plurality of photosensitive drums includes a black photosensitive drum and color photosensitive drums. Black toner is used in the black photosensitive drum. Each of yellow, magenta, and cyan toner is used in one of the color photosensitive drums. The black and color photosensitive drums are arranged in a first direction. Each photosensitive drum has an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The process frame supports the color photosensitive drums in fixed positions and is detachably mounted on the main body. The process frame is inserted in a mounting direction to be mounted on the main body. The process unit is detachably mounted in the process frame and supports the black photosensitive drum. |
| US09020392B2 |
Image forming apparatus provided with cartridge support unit
An image forming apparatus includes: a cartridge support unit in which a plurality of cartridges are supported; an abutment portion; and a first applying portion. The cartridge support unit moves in a mounting direction from a withdrawn position to a mounted position. The abutment portion is disposed at one of the main casing and the cartridge support unit. The first applying portion is disposed at the other of the main casing and the cartridge support unit. The first applying portion abuts on the abutment portion to apply a first resistance force in a direction opposite to the mounting direction to the cartridge support unit when the cartridge support unit moves in the mounting direction. The first applying portion and the abutment portion are configured such that the first resistance force continuously increases and then continuously decreases. |
| US09020389B2 |
Developing device for preventing toner leakage
A developing device is capable of preventing developing agent from leaking from a developing frame of a developer cartridge. The developer cartridge includes a developing agent carrying member including a rubber roller, a first seal including a first fluffing member, and a second seal including a second base member and a second fluffing member fixed thereto. The second base member and the second fluffing member have downstream end portions in a rotational direction of the developing agent carrying member. The downstream end portion of the second base member is positioned upstream of the downstream end portion of the second fluffing member. The downstream end portion of the second fluffing member is nipped between the first fluffing member and the rubber roller. |
| US09020383B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus has an image forming section having a photoreceptor on which a toner image is formed, an endless belt that revolves with its outer surface facing the photoreceptor, a steering roller adapted to provide a tension to the belt and adjust the position of the belt in the width direction, a transfer roller that presses the belt toward the photoreceptor so as to form a transfer nip where the toner image is transferred, a transfer pressure adjusting mechanism adapted to adjust pressing force when the transfer roller presses the belt toward the photoreceptor, and a controller adapted to control the pressing force adjusted by the transfer pressure adjusting mechanism, according to the adjustment state of the steering roller. |
| US09020382B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a nip forming member and a transfer bias output device that outputs a transfer bias to form a transfer electric field in a transfer nip between the nip forming member and an intermediate transfer member. Upon transfer of a composite toner image including a particular toner image onto a recording medium in the transfer nip, the transfer bias output device outputs the transfer bias including a first superimposed bias in which a direct current (DC) component is superimposed on an alternating current (AC) component. Upon transfer of the composite toner image without the particular toner image onto the recording medium in the transfer nip, the transfer bias output device outputs one of the transfer bias including a second superimposed bias having a peak-to-peak value of the AC component smaller than that of the first superimposed bias and the transfer bias including only the DC component. |
| US09020381B2 |
Image forming apparatus
Image forming apparatus is disclosed. The developing portion is replenished with toner from a toner containing body by operating a toner feeding mechanism. The receiving portion receives a designation of switching to a low speed i.e. switching the rotation speed of the motor from the first speed to the second speed lower than the first speed. The measuring portion measures a value of a counter electromotive voltage generated in the motor by causing the motor to operate the toner feeding mechanism. The motor control portion causes the motor to rotate at the first speed until an absolute value of the value measured by the measuring portion is not larger than a predetermined first value, and causes the motor to rotate at the second speed after an absolute value of the measured value is smaller than the first value, in the case where the switching to a low speed is designated. |
| US09020380B2 |
Image forming apparatus for performing control of image forming condition and density detection apparatus for detecting the density of test pattern
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, which forms a test pattern for density control on the image carrier; and first and second light receiving elements, which receive reflected light irradiated by a light emitting element. A spot diameter of a reflected light received by the first light receiving element is smaller than a spot diameter of a reflected light received by the second light receiving element, and a number of sampling of the test pattern in line with a movement direction of a surface of the image carrier by the first light receiving element is greater than that of the test pattern in line with the moving direction by the second light receiving element. |
| US09020379B2 |
Image forming apparatus controlling light exposure based on applied bias
When a toner image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum is transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer bias is applied to a primary transfer portion. When a patch formed in an upstream image forming station and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt and a patch formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum pass through the primary transfer portion, a passing bias different from the transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer portion. A control section controls a laser beam scanner as an exposure member not to expose the surface of the photosensitive drum to which the passing bias is applied. |
| US09020375B2 |
Toner resupply device including a detector plate, a douser, and a fixing plate fixing the detector plate and the douser, and image forming apparatus
A toner resupply device includes a detector plate for detecting a surface of toner stored in a hopper; a douser that moves together with the detector plate; a fixing plate for fixing the detector plate and the douser integrally; and a toner sensor for detecting a phase of the douser. The douser has a light-blocking surface that blocks light to be detected by the toner sensor, and a shaft extending in an axial direction crossing the light-blocking surface, the shaft being inserted in a hole made in the detector plate. The shaft has a groove in which the fixing plate is locked, the groove extending in a direction crossing the axial direction. The fixing plate in a state of being locked in the groove pushes the shaft in the axial direction, thereby fixing the detector plate and the douser to each other. |
| US09020374B2 |
Developer transport unit, image forming apparatus, method of transporting developer, program for transporting developer, and storage medium storing the program
A developer transport unit which includes an intra-vessel transporting device to transport developer in a developer storage vessel to an ejection unit. The developer storage vessel is detachably attached at one end to an ejection unit. There is a transport/supply device to transport the developer from the ejection unit to a sub-storage vessel, and an intermediate-developer amount detector to obtain an amount of developer present in the sub-storage vessel. Further, there is a control unit to control driving of the intra-vessel transporting device and the transport/supply device. |
| US09020365B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion (PMD)
Current optical networks are engineered to handle amplifier noise and chromatic dispersion. Polarization mode dispersion occurs in optical networks due splitting of the light energy of a pulse propagating in a fiber into two modes. Compensating for polarization mode dispersion is a difficult and expensive task and hence only few commercial systems have been deployed to deal with this issue. A polarization mode dispersion compensation module according to an example embodiment of the present invention compensates for polarization mode dispersion by determining a performance metric related to an error rate of an optical signal in at least one polarization mode in a filtered state. Based on the performance metric, a control vector is determined to control the optical signal in the at least one polarization mode in the filtered state. The control vector is then applied to a polarization effecting device to compensate for polarization mode dispersion. |
| US09020362B2 |
Digital radio frequency transceiver system and method
A transceiver architecture for wireless base stations wherein a broadband radio frequency signal is carried between at least one tower-mounted unit and a ground-based unit via optical fibers, or other non-distortive media, in either digital or analog format. Each tower-mounted unit (for both reception and transmission) has an antenna, analog amplifier and an electro-optical converter. The ground unit has ultrafast data converters and digital frequency translators, as well as signal linearizers, to compensate for nonlinear distortion in the amplifiers and optical links in both directions. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the digital data converters, frequency translators, and linearizers includes superconducting elements mounted on a cryocooler. |
| US09020358B2 |
Wavelength division multiplexing transmission equipment
An optical transmission network comprises a multi-wavelength source (7) shared between multiple sets of client side equipment for manipulating electrical signals. A first wavelength selective routing element (5) is connected to the multi-wavelength source (7). Each set of client-side equipment (1) comprises an optical modulator (3) connected to the first wavelength selective routing element (5) and an optical receiver (2). A second wavelength selective routing element (6) is connected to the optical receiver (2) and is operative to direct incoming signals from one or more remote locations to the optical receiver (2). The network provides a WDM architecture solution for networks whereby the cost of implementing and running client side equipment (1) is reduced by not having the WDM source (7) within the client side equipment (1). |
| US09020352B2 |
Optical communication module
The present invention relates to an optical communication module, which includes: a first bidirectional multiplexer; a second bidirectional multiplexer; an optical fiber for connecting the first bidirectional multiplexer and the second bidirectional multiplexer to each other; one or more first light emitting devices connecting to the first bidirectional multiplexer, and operating in a first light emitting wavelength band; one or more first light receiving devices connecting to the first bidirectional multiplexer, and operating in a first light receiving wavelength band; one or more second light receiving devices connecting to the second bidirectional multiplexer, and operating in a second light receiving wavelength band; and one or more second light emitting devices connecting to the second bidirectional multiplexer, and operating in a second light emitting wavelength band. The second light emitting wavelength band includes the first light receiving wavelength band, and the first light emitting wavelength band includes the second light receiving wavelength band. The first light receiving wavelength band is different from the second light receiving wavelength band. |
| US09020351B1 |
Method and system for multiplexing optical communication signals
An optical waveguide can transmit multiple optical signals imprinted or encoded with different information, thereby increasing the waveguide's information carrying capability or bandwidth. Each optical signal can comprise multiple longitudinal modes that are energized and that are modulated substantially in unison. Thus, the photonic energy of each optical signal can be spread across a wavelength region in a substantially discrete or substantially discontinuous pattern. The respective wavelength regions of the optical signals can overlap or substantially overlay one another. Modes of one of the optical signals can be substantially interleaved, interspersed, or intermingled with modes of other optical signals. Systems at ends of the optical waveguide can feed the optical signals onto and off of the optical waveguide and discriminate the optical signals from one another. The systems can comprise ring resonators. The waveguide can support an on-chip network, such as for a multicore processor of a computer. |
| US09020344B2 |
Unified switching fabric architecture
A unified network and elements thereof, including a switch fabric, is provided. The switch fabric may include a plurality of transport elements and a first signal-communication media. The transport elements may be adapted to communicatively couple and to communicate, via the first signal-communication media, transport signals adapted for communication among any of the plurality of transport elements. At least one transport element may be further adapted to communicate, via a second signal-communication media, signals and/or sets of signal originating from and/or terminating to one or more network nodes. Each of the electrical signals may be formatted in accordance with a protocol for electrical signals. And one or more of the transport signals may include the electrical signals in adapted form. Additionally and/or alternatively, one or more of the transport signals may be formed from, or as a function of, the electrical signals. |
| US09020343B1 |
Pre-jam waveforms for enhanced optical break lock jamming effects
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to pre-jam waveforms for enhanced optical break lock jamming effects. In various examples, pre-jam waveforms for enhanced optical break lock jamming effects may be implemented in the context of systems, methods, computer program products and/or algorithms. |
| US09020336B1 |
Digital streak camera with rotating mirror
A rotating mirror digital streak camera including means to convert an image presented to a roughly cylindrical image plane into a plurality of discrete zones, a sensor being adapted to capture the image data associated with each such zone, and a means to assemble the collected data to reconstruct the original image that is swept across the image plane as an essentially uninterrupted image. |
| US09020332B2 |
Center rod for use in the carburetor or carburetor for MOCVD
Provided is a vaporizer that can efficiently cool a carrier gas, improve the effect of preventing a material from being clogged near the outlet port of a gas passage, contribute to prolonging the timing of maintenance and improving operating efficiency, and exert more uniform dispersing effect. A vaporizer includes: a center rod inserted into a carrier gas introduction hole formed in a disperser to form the gas passage in cooperation with the inner wall of the carrier gas introduction hole; a cooling part disposed on the outer circumferential side of the carrier gas introduction hole in the disperser to cool the inside of the gas passage; a cooling member insertion hole formed across almost the entire length of the center rod along the axial direction of the center rod; and a cooling member disposed in the inside of the cooling member insertion hole to cool the center rod. |
| US09020331B2 |
Video image information playback method and video image information playback device
A video image information playback method and a video image information playback device with which user convenience can be obtained at the start of resume playback. The video image information playback method is a method of playback of a recording medium on which virtual-machine-based content has been recorded. During normal playback of the virtual-machine-based content, a program running on a virtual machine and a decryption program that decrypts encrypted virtual-machine-based content perform decryption processing for the virtual-machine-based content while exchanging data. After suspension of playback of the virtual-machine-based content, at the start of resume playback, which is executed following an instruction to resume playback, a proxy program is launched in place of the program that runs on the virtual machine. The proxy program and the decryption program perform playback of the video image of the virtual-machine-based content while exchanging data. |
| US09020330B2 |
Receiving apparatus, receiving method, recording apparatus, recording method, program, recording medium, and network system
Disclosed herein is a receiving apparatus for sending received contents to a recording apparatus and for getting the recording apparatus to record the contents in accordance with preset recording reservations, the receiving apparatus including: a recording ready time information acquisition section configured to acquire from the recording apparatus information about a recording ready time; a continuous recording determination section configured to determine whether two chronologically successive broadcast contents are reserved for recording based on the preset recording reservations; and an end time setting section configured such that if the two chronologically successive broadcast contents are found reserved for recording, then the end time setting section sets the time at which to end processing for recording the earlier of the two contents based on a broadcast start time of the latter of the two contents and on the acquired information about the recording ready time. |
| US09020329B2 |
Signal processing device
The present signal processing device includes an operating unit, an editing database, a conflict detection unit and a conflict display unit. The operating unit is configured to output a plurality of pieces of editing result information and a single or plurality of editing IDs identifying pieces of result information in association with each other. The editing database holds the plurality of pieces of editing result information and the single or plurality of editing IDs in association with each other. The conflict detection unit detects a difference between or differences among the plurality of pieces of editing result information associated with the same editing ID as a single or plurality of conflict states based on the plurality of pieces of editing result information and the single or plurality of editing IDs to be obtained from the editing database. The conflict display unit displays the single or plurality of conflict states. |
| US09020323B2 |
Communication apparatus and storage medium
Provided are a communication apparatus and program which improve the operability for a user before and during data communication. The communication apparatus includes a plurality of communication units that establish electric field coupling or magnetic field coupling with a communication device located within a predetermined distance, a storage unit storing control information indicative of predetermined control contents in association with the respective communication units, a control information acquisition section that acquires, from the storage unit, control information associated with that communication unit which has established the electric field coupling or the magnetic field coupling, and a control unit that controls communication of that of the communication units which has established the electric field coupling or the magnetic field coupling by using the control information acquired by the control information acquisition section. |
| US09020321B2 |
Wall outlet having enclosed service connection
The present disclosure relates to an access box including a pivotal mounting panel to which a fiber optic adapter is mounted. The access box also includes a removable faceplate and a cover panel pivotable relative to the faceplate such that when the cover panel is in a closed position, the cover panel is substantially parallel to the faceplate, and wherein when the cover panel is in an open position, the cover panel is at an angle to the faceplate. The access box further includes an access panel pivotably secured to the cover panel. The access panel is movable between a first access panel position where the access panel blocks access to the adapter, and a second access panel position where the access panel allows access to the adapter. |
| US09020319B2 |
Communications bladed panel systems
A fiber panel system includes a chassis and at least a first blade configured to moveably mount to the chassis. Each blade includes a base, a frame, and front couplers. The base of each blade defines at least one opening at a location spaced rearwardly from the front couplers. The front couplers may be smart or passive. |
| US09020317B2 |
Surface waveguide having a tapered region and method of forming
A method for forming a waveguide having a thin-core region, a thick-core region, and a transition region of tapered thickness between them is disclosed. The method comprises forming a lower core layer of a first material on a lower cladding, forming a thin central core layer of a second material on the first core layer, forming an upper core layer of the first material on the central core layer, and etching the upper core layer in an etchant such that it is removed from the thin-core region and its thickness monotonically changes from its as-deposited thickness to extinction across the transition region, where the central core layer protects the lower core layer from exposure to the etchant. |
| US09020316B2 |
Low attenuation optical fibers with an F-graded index core
An optical fiber is provided that includes a fiber configured to transmit optical data in a plurality of modes or in a single mode; a core region in the fiber that comprises fluorine-doped silica; and a cladding in the fiber that surrounds the core region and that comprises fluorine-doped silica. The core region has a graded refractive index profile with an alpha of about 0.5 to 5. The core of the fiber may be set with a radius of approximately 6 to 50 microns. The cladding may also comprise one or a plurality of layers, including trench or moat regions of a relatively lower refractive index. Still further, an inner cladding may be doped with fluorine at a concentration greater than that in the core region. An outer cladding can comprise silica with fluorine at a concentration below or equal to that in the inner cladding. |
| US09020308B2 |
Multi-channel optical module with polyhedral mirror
The multi-channel optical module in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive may comprise a housing; an optical fiber disposed on one side of the housing; a plurality of optical devices disposed on the other side of the housing separated from the optical fiber; and a polyhedral mirror disposed between the optical devices and having mirror sides reflecting an optical signal between the optical fiber and the optical devices. |
| US09020303B2 |
Image magnification device and method
An interpolation computation unit (3B) treats, as positions of interest, positions where pixels within a high-resolution image (D30) occupy when the high-resolution image (D30) is superimposed on a low-resolution image (D01), and for each position of interest, obtains a pixel value for a pixel assumed to exist at the position of interest by performing an interpolation computation using pixel values of a plurality of pixels within the low-resolution image (D01). An interpolation coefficient calculation unit (3A) obtains interpolation coefficients (D3A) having values that increase with increasing strength of correlation of the pixels in the plurality of pixels in the low-resolution image with the pixel of interest, and outputs the interpolation coefficients to the interpolation computation unit (3B). Angles of edges and shapes of edges are not classified into any predetermined patterns; therefore, it is possible to perform suitable interpolation computations regardless of edge shape. |
| US09020301B2 |
Method and system for three dimensional mapping of an environment
A three-dimensional modeling system includes a multi-axis range sensor configured to capture a first set of three-dimensional data representing characteristics of objects in an environment; a data sensor configured to capture a first set of sensor data representing distances between at least a subset of the objects and the data sensor; a computer-readable memory configured to store each of the first set of three-dimensional data and the first set of sensor data; a mobile base; a processor; and a computer-readable medium containing programming instructions configured to, when executed, instruct the processor to process the first set of three-dimensional data and the first set of sensor data to generate a three-dimensional model of the environment. |
| US09020298B2 |
Automated image cropping to include particular subjects
A digital image is automatically cropped to fit within a desired frame. The cropping is based on one or more of two identified portions of the image. One of the portions is an all-subjects portion that includes all the identified subjects of a particular type in the image. The other portion is an attention portion that identifies an intended focus of the image. An attempt to crop the image to include both of these portions is made, and if unsuccessful then an attempt to crop the image to include at least the all-subjects portion is made. If neither of these attempts is successful, then the image is cropped to include one or more, but less than all, of the identified subjects of the particular type in the image. |
| US09020293B2 |
Integration of filters and phase unwrapping algorithms for removing noise in image reconstruction
A method to detect and remove noise in image reconstruction. The method includes integration of filters and phase unwrapping algorithms for removing speckle noise, residual noise and noise at the lateral surface of height discontinuities. The method is used for generating a noise-free unwrapped phase map and hence, a successful image reconstruction of an object image. |
| US09020292B2 |
Method for correcting rolling shutter effect and image processing device using the same
A method for correcting a rolling shutter effect is provided. The method includes: obtaining feature point pairs in images, wherein each of the feature point pairs corresponds to a motion vector; obtaining sampling points between two consecutive images in time; setting a moving velocity and an angular velocity of an image capturing unit at each of the sampling points as variables; obtaining estimating motion vectors according to the variables, a focal length of the image capturing unit, and row locations where the feature point pairs are located; executing an optimization algorithm according to a difference between the motion vectors and the estimating motion vectors, to calculate the moving velocity and the angular velocity corresponding to the variables; varying locations of pixels in an image according to the moving velocity and the angular velocity, to generate a first corrected image. Thereby, the rolling shutter effect in an image is removed. |
| US09020287B2 |
Methods and apparatus for filter parameter determination and selection responsive to variable transforms in sparsity-based de-artifact filtering
There are provided method and apparatus for filter parameter determination and selection responsive to variable transforms in sparsity-based de-artifact filtering. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding picture data for at least a portion of a picture. The encoder includes a sparsity-based de-artifact filter for performing sparsity-based de-artifact filtering on the portion. One or more filter parameters for the sparsity-based de-artifact filtering are determined and selected responsive to variable transforms. |
| US09020284B2 |
Image encoding apparatus
An image encoding apparatus is provided which realizes an encoding process at a high bit rate without degradation in image quality at boundary parts within a picture. The image encoding apparatus 1 includes: a plurality of entropy encoding sections 105 and 106 for generating bit streams by entropy-encoding intermediate data generated from syntax elements of image data; and an encoding control section 104 for supplying the intermediate data to any of the entropy encoding sections. The encoding control section 104 determines the entropy encoding section that performs an entropy encoding process by a frame in accordance with the processing status of each of the entropy encoding sections. |
| US09020283B2 |
Electronic device and method for splitting image
In a method for splitting an image for encoding purposes, a largest coding unit (LCU) of the image is obtained, the LCU divided into a plurality of 2N×2N blocks, the 2N×2N blocks examined sequentially, and a determination made as to whether or not the current 2N×2N block needs to be split according to a pixel variance of the current 2N×2N block. The method further determines whether a block merging operation needs to be executed for the LCUs according to an average value of pixels of each of the 2N×2N blocks if the current 2N×2N block does not need to be split. |
| US09020280B2 |
System and method for evaluating focus direction under various lighting conditions
A system and method for generating a direction confidence measure includes a camera sensor device that captures blur images of a photographic target. A depth estimator calculates matching errors for the blur images. The depth estimator then generates the direction confidence measure by utilizing the matching errors and a dynamic optimization constant that is selected depending upon image characteristics of the blur images. |
| US09020279B2 |
Image processing methods and apparatuses
Provided are image processing method and apparatus. The method includes selecting one of a plurality of images matched in structure as reference image, and select another of the images as subject image; for a subject pixel in the subject image, determining a pixel corresponding to the subject pixel in the reference image; calculating similarity values of at least part of pixels in the reference image with respect to the pixel corresponding to the subject pixel; establishing weight coefficients based on the similarity values, and weighted averaging the subject pixel in the subject image to obtain a processed pixel value. With the above solutions, it is possible to use structure information of a higher-quality image in processing another image, and thus improve quality of the other image. |
| US09020277B1 |
Image-based stimulus for circuit simulation
Certain embodiments enable image-based stimulus for circuit simulations by extracting a waveform from an image and using that waveform to simulate a circuit. Image-processing aspects may include edge-detection processes to identify a boundary of the waveform in the image. |
| US09020273B2 |
Image processing method, image processor, integrated circuit, and program
An image processing method capable of appropriately increasing a resolution of an input image in which an edge direction that is a direction along an edge included in the input image is identified; a shape of an application region that is a region including at least a part of the edge is determined according to the identified edge direction; an image similar to an image within the application region having the determined shape is searched for; and an output image is generated by performing a resolution conversion process on the input image using the similar image so that the input image includes high-frequency components. |
| US09020272B1 |
Sampling vector signed distance field using arc approximation
In one aspect, the present disclosure can be embodied in a method that includes approximating an outline of a vector image using a set of circular arcs. A signed distance value is computed for a selected group of points in a two-dimensional grid associated with the vector image based on a location of each point relative to the approximated outline of the vector image. The nearest are from the respective location of each point in the selected group is identified and the corresponding signed distance value is assigned to each point. The vector image is reproduced based on the signed distance value assigned to each point in the selected group. |
| US09020267B2 |
Information processing apparatus and handwritten document search method
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a storage processor and a search module. The storage processor stores document data and character codes, the document data including stroke data corresponding to strokes input by a handwriting operation and the character codes corresponding to the stroke data. The search module performs at least one of a handwriting search according to strokes of a first search key and a character search according to a character code of a second search key, stroke data corresponding to the strokes of the first search key retrieved from the document data in the handwriting search and stroke data corresponding to the character code of the second search key retrieved from the character codes in the character search. |
| US09020265B2 |
System and method of determining building numbers
A system and method is provided for automatically recognizing building numbers in street level images. In one aspect, a processor selects a street level image that is likely to be near an address of interest. The processor identifies those portions of the image that are visually similar to street numbers, and then extracts the numeric values of the characters displayed in such portions. If an extracted value corresponds with the building number of the address of interest such as being substantially equal to the address of interest, the extracted value and the image portion are displayed to a human operator. The human operator confirms, by looking at the image portion, whether the image portion appears to be a building number that matches the extracted value. If so, the processor stores a value that associates that building number with the street level image. |
| US09020264B2 |
Image management device, image management method, program, recording medium, and integrated circuit
An image management device clusters acquired images (S201) and generates blocks by grouping the images (S202). Next, the image management device calculates an intra-block importance degree of each cluster in each generated block (S204), calculates cluster importance degrees by accumulating the calculated intra-block importance degrees of each cluster (S205), and calculates an image importance degree based on the calculated cluster importance degrees (S206). |
| US09020263B2 |
Systems and methods for semantically classifying and extracting shots in video
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for classifying videos based on video content. For a given video file including a plurality of frames, a subset of frames is extracted for processing. Frames that are too dark, blurry, or otherwise poor classification candidates are discarded from the subset. Generally, material classification scores that describe type of material content likely included in each frame are calculated for the remaining frames in the subset. The material classification scores are used to generate material arrangement vectors that represent the spatial arrangement of material content in each frame. The material arrangement vectors are subsequently classified to generate a scene classification score vector for each frame. The scene classification results are averaged (or otherwise processed) across all frames in the subset to associate the video file with one or more predefined scene categories related to overall types of scene content of the video file. |
| US09020254B2 |
Dynamic image quality checker for use in image transcoding
Described is a technology by which an image is transcoded to a desired quality measure (e.g., PSNR). A quality measure of transcoded image data is checked against a desired quality measure, and if a desired quality measure is not achieved, a different quality level is iteratively provided to attempt to re-transcode the image until the desired quality measure is achieved. |
| US09020253B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying a colorbar/non-colorbar frame attribute
Presently disclosed are systems and methods for identifying a colorbar/non-colorbar attribute of a current frame. One example embodiment takes the form of a frame-processing device including a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause a set of steps to be carried out, the set of steps including: (i) receiving a frame of video from a video source device; (ii) defining a region of the received frame, wherein the region is associated with a plurality of pixels of the received frame; (iii) using a plurality of luma values associated with the plurality of pixels as a basis to identify the received frame as having a particular colorbar/non-colorbar attribute; and (iv) storing in a memory an indication that the received frame has the identified particular colorbar/non-colorbar attribute. |
| US09020251B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
Provided is a method and apparatus for modeling a human body using a depth image and a color image. An image processing apparatus may extract a body area from a color image based on a depth value of a depth image, may match a boundary of the extracted body area and a boundary of a generic body mesh model, and may deform a mesh of the generic body mesh model based on a depth value of a pixel positioned within the boundary of the extracted body area. |
| US09020248B2 |
Window dependent feature regions and strict spatial layout for object detection
Systems and methods for object detection by receiving an image; segmenting the image and identifying candidate bounding boxes which may contain an object; for each candidate bounding box, dividing the box into overlapped small patches, and extracting dense features from the patches; during a training phase, applying a learning process to learn one or more discriminative classification models to classify negative boxes and positive boxes; and during an operational phase, for a new box generated from the image, applying the learned classification model to classify whether the box contains an object. |
| US09020244B2 |
Ranking and selecting representative video images
Techniques are described herein for selecting representative images for video items using a trained machine learning engine. A training set is fed to a machine learning engine. The training set includes, for each image in the training set, input parameter values and an externally-generated score. Once a machine learning model has been generated based on the training set, input parameters for unscored images are fed to the trained machine learning engine. Based on the machine learning model, the trained machine learning engine generates scores for the images. To select a representative image for a particular video item, candidate images for that particular video item may be ranked based on their scores, and the candidate image with the top score may be selected as the representative image for the video item. |
| US09020243B2 |
Image adjustment
Techniques are disclosed relating to automatically adjusting images. In one embodiment, an image may be automatically adjusted based on a regression model trained with a database of raw and adjusted images. In one embodiment, an image may be automatically adjusted based on a model trained by both a database of raw and adjusted images and a small set of images adjusted by a different user. In one embodiment, an image may be automatically adjusted based on a model trained by a database of raw and adjusted images and predicted differences between a user's adjustment to a small set of images and a predicted adjustment based on the database of raw and adjusted images. |
| US09020241B2 |
Image providing device, image providing method, and image providing program for providing past-experience images
A image providing device provides a user with realistic and natural past-experience simulation through stereoscopic photographs. Specifically, feature-point extractors extract feature points from a foreground image and a background image, respectively. A stereoscopic matching module searches for pairs of feature points matching between the foreground image and the background image and obtains using the feature point pairs a transformation matrix for projecting the foreground image onto the background image. The transformation by the transformation matrix obtained by the matching unit is applied to foreground depth data, which is depth data of the foreground image. Lastly, depth based rendering is performed based on the transformed foreground depth data to obtain two or more viewpoint images corresponding to the foreground image. |
| US09020234B2 |
Contour delineation for radiation therapy planning with real-time contour segment impact rendering
A contouring module (22, 24) iteratively adjusts contours delineating a radiation target region and risk regions in a planning image. An intensity modulation optimization module (30) generates a radiation therapy plan conforming with dosage or dosage constraints (26) for the radiation target region and the risk regions delineated by the contours. A differential analysis module (40) is configured to invoke the intensity modulation optimization module (30) to estimate partial derivatives of an output of the intensity modulation optimization respective to the contours. The contouring module (22, 24) is configured to invoke the differential analysis module (40) after each iterative contour adjustment to estimate the partial derivatives respective to the contour segments and to render the contour segments on a display of the planning image with the contour segments coded based on the estimated partial derivatives to indicate impact of the contour segments on the intensity modulation optimization. |
| US09020233B2 |
Method and system for up-vector detection for ribs in computed tomography volumes
A method and system for up-vector detection for ribs in a 3D medical image volume, such as a computed tomography (CT) volume is disclosed. A rib centerline of at least one rib is extracted in a 3D medical image volume. An up-vector is automatically detected at each of a plurality of centerline points of the rib centerline of the at least one rib. The up-vector at each centerline point can be detected using a trained regression function. Alternatively, the up-vector at each centerline point can be detected by detecting an ellipse shape in a cross-sectional rib image generated at each centerline point. |
| US09020228B2 |
Method for identifying a tooth region
A method for identifying tooth regions. The method includes generating a first threshold image from a first tooth image by selecting intensity data values higher than a first predetermined threshold value c1; generating a second threshold image from a second tooth image by selecting intensity data values higher than a second predetermined threshold value c2; generating a preliminary tooth regions image that defines at least a first tooth region from the intersection of the first and second threshold images; generating a reference binary image from the first image by selecting intensity data values higher than a third predetermined threshold value c3, wherein threshold value c3 exceeds c1; and generating a refined tooth regions image from at least the first tooth region in the preliminary tooth regions image. The first tooth region is connected to objects in the reference binary image. |
| US09020224B2 |
Volume of efficacy model capture
A system and method for determining, planning, and/or administering a therapy of a selected material from a catheter to a selected specific region of an anatomy is disclosed. The catheter can be used to deliver a drug to the patient to achieve a volume of efficacy (VOE) within a selected target, region, or volume. The drug delivered can be used for treating at least a symptom in the patient. |
| US09020223B2 |
Method for determining bone resection on a deformed bone surface from few parameters
The invention relates to a method for non-invasive reproducible determination of a corrected surface on a 3D bone surface model constructed from 3D medical image of a bone having a deformation consisting in a bump overgrowth at the head-neck junction; wherein said corrected surface comprises: i) a 3D spherical corrected surface patch on the head portion of said 3D bone surface model, and ii) a 3D smooth transition corrected surface patch on the neck portion of said 3D bone surface model, contiguous to said 3D spherical corrected surface patch; Said corrected surface patches are defined by a set of parameters comprising: iii) at least one first parameter (a*) representing a spherical extent value of said 3D spherical corrected surface patch, iv) and a set of at least one second parameter, said set determining the 3D correction boundary of said corrected surface patches, such that said corrected surface patches are continuous with said 3D bone surface model along said boundary. |
| US09020222B2 |
Method and arrangement for the computer-assisted structuring of medical examination data
An arrangement for computer-assisted structuring of medical examination data is provided. The arrangement has a device for receiving at least one medical examination data record including at least one image data record created with a radiological imaging device, a device for receiving medical video data from external video sources, a device for converting the medical video data into a medical standard format in which a time stamp of the video data generation is stored, a device for storing the converted video data and the at least one examination data record, and a device for outputting the video data and examination data record. The video data and the at least one image data record can be arranged according to their time stamp. |
| US09020219B2 |
Medical image processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, a medical image processing apparatus includes at least a parallax image generation unit and a display unit. The parallax image generation unit generates combined data of a three-dimensional medical image data and a text information, and generates a plurality of parallax image data by performing projection processing on the combined data along a corresponding plurality of parallax directions. The display unit displays a plurality of parallax images, based on the plurality of the parallax image data, in the corresponding plurality of parallax directions such that a three-dimensional medical image based on the three-dimensional medical image data and a text plane based on the text information are perceived stereoscopically viewable by an observer. The parallax image generation unit changes orientation of a display region for the text information in generating the combined data according to each of the parallax directions. |
| US09020218B2 |
Methods and apparatus for generating a modified intensity projection image
In a method or apparatus for generating, from medical image data of a subject from a functional imaging modality, a modified intensity projection image for display. An intensity projection image data set is obtained from the image data. A segmentation for the image data is obtained. Based on information from the segmentation, a modified display property is calculated for at least one voxel of the intensity projection image data set. |
| US09020203B2 |
System and method for managing spatiotemporal uncertainty
Provided herein are methods and systems for managing spatiotemporal uncertainty in image processing. A method can comprise determining motion from a first image to a second image, determining a latency value, determining a precision value, generating an uncertainty element based upon the motion, the latency value, and the precision value, and rendering the uncertainty element. |
| US09020197B2 |
Motion analyzing apparatus
A sensor unit is installed to a target object and detects a given physical amount. A data acquisition unit acquires output data of the sensor unit in a period including a first period for which a real value of a value of m time integrals of the physical amount is known and a second period that is a target for motion analysis. An error time function estimating unit performs m time integrals of the output data of the sensor unit and estimates a time function of an error of a value of the physical amount detected by the sensor unit with respect to the real value of the value of the physical amount detected by the sensor unit based on a difference between a value of m time integrals of the output data and the real value for the first period. |
| US09020196B2 |
Extracting feature quantities from an image to perform location estimation
A feature extraction method for extracting a feature from an image includes receiving an image and measured acceleration data from a mobile device; obtaining a gravity vector in the image in a camera coordinate system based on the measured acceleration data; obtaining a vanishing point in the image in a vertical direction in a screen coordinate system using the gravity vector; obtaining differential vectors along two axes for each pixel in the screen coordinate system; obtaining a connection line vector connecting each of the pixels with the vanishing point; identifying a vertical edge based on determining that an angle formed by the differential vector and the connection line vector is within a certain threshold range; obtaining the sum of strengths of vertical edges and writing the sum in a predetermined variable array; extracting a keypoint based on the variable array; and calculating a feature quantity from the keypoint. |
| US09020194B2 |
Systems and methods for performing a device action based on a detected gesture
Systems and methods for performing an action based on a detected gesture are provided. The systems and methods provided herein may detect a direction of an initial touchless gesture and process subsequent touchless gestures based on the direction of the initial touchless gesture. The systems and methods may translate a coordinate system related to a user device and a gesture library based on the detected direction such that subsequent touchless gestures may be processed based on the detected direction. The systems and methods may allow a user to make a touchless gesture over a device to interact with the device independent of the orientation of the device since the direction of the initial gesture can set the coordinate system or context for subsequent gesture detection. |
| US09020192B2 |
Human submental profile measurement
An imaging system captures images of a human submental profile in a dimension controlled environment and utilizes image analysis algorithms for detecting submental changes. Instead of implementing a strict posture control of a subject, the imaging system allows the subject to freely move his/her head in an up-and-down direction and a high speed camera captures this movement through a series of images at varying head-to-shoulder angles. The image analysis algorithms may accurately compare before and after images at similar head-to-shoulder angles to identify changes in a human submental profile using a series of measurements and checkpoints. |
| US09020188B2 |
Method for object detection and apparatus using the same
A method for object detection and an apparatus using the same are provided, and the method includes: An image is captured, in which the image includes a plurality of sampling-windows. A first-stage sub-classifier of a classifier is used to detect whether the sampling-windows contain an object therein. The classifier is rotated at least one time by a predetermined rotation angle and the first-stage sub-classifier of the classifier is used to detect whether the sampling-windows contain the object after each rotating, wherein when the object is detected within the sampling-windows, keep detecting whether the sampling-windows contain the object therein sequentially by a second-stage sub-classifier to an Nth stage sub-classifier of the classifier with the same orientation. The image is rotated at least one time by a predetermined image angle and the above-mentioned operations of detecting the object is performed after each rotating. The sampling-windows containing the object are output. |
| US09020186B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting object using volumetric feature vector and 3D haar-like filters
In a method of detecting a specific object using a multi-dimensional image including the specific object, with respect to each window slide of the image subjected to window sliding by applying a previously generated 3D cube filter, data of an area corresponding to the window sliding is normalized in a previously defined specific form. After the corresponding part of the normalized data is assigned to each cell in the 3D cube filter, a volume of the cell is then calculated, thereby expressing the volumes of the cells as one volumetric feature vector having a volumetric feature. The volumetric feature vector is applied to a classifier so as to decide whether or not the data of the area corresponding to the window slide corresponds to the specific object. |
| US09020172B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for detecting feedback
Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed. An example sound processor is disclosed. The example sound processor includes a module configured to identify a feedback artifact in a current sample of an input spectral component by determining that a change in a signal level of an input spectral component is approximately equal to a predicted change. The predicted change may be based on one or more characteristics of an external feedback loop. Responsive to identifying the feedback artifact, the sound processor is further configured to apply a modification to a parameter used to process the input spectral component. The modification reduces a likelihood of including audible feedback in a processed input spectral component. |
| US09020168B2 |
Apparatus and method for audio delivery with different sound conduction transducers
An apparatus including an air-conduction transducer and a bone conduction transducer. The air-conduction transducer is configured to convert a first frequency band component of an electrical audio signal into acoustic energy to be delivered to an ear canal of a user. The bone conduction transducer is configured to convert a second, at least partially different, frequency band component of the electrical audio signal into mechanical energy to be delivered to a skull of the user. The apparatus is configured to deliver both forms of the energies to the user at a substantially same time to provide a combined audio delivery result to the user. |
| US09020167B2 |
Setting television or radio default channel
In some embodiments, a media device is configured so that it automatically causes a first predetermined channel to be displayed on an output device when a user sends a request signal to the media device to turn the output device off. The media device may be configured so that it causes the output device to shut off after the first predetermined channel has been on for a dwell period of time after the request signal has been received. The dwell period of time may be approximately two seconds. In some embodiments, a media device is configured so that it automatically causes a first predetermined channel to be displayed on an output device when a user sends a request signal to the media device to turn the output device on. In some embodiments, the media device is a television device. In other embodiments, the media device is a radio device. |
| US09020166B2 |
Volume amplitude limiting device
A volume amplitude limiting device includes a volume adjustment unit, an amplitude limiting unit, and a control unit. The volume adjustment unit adjusts the amplitude of an input sound signal to a larger degree as the adjustment value increases and outputs the resulting sound signal. The amplitude limiting unit limits the amplitude of the sound signal output from the volume adjustment unit to an output limitation value and outputs the resulting signal to a speaker. The control unit sets an adjustment value for the volume adjustment unit and also sets an output limitation value for the amplitude limiting unit according to an adjustment value. |
| US09020165B2 |
Pop/click noise reduction circuitry for power-up and power-down of audio output circuitry
Pop/clock noise reduction circuitry is disclosed for audio output circuitry. After audio output circuitry is enabled, reference voltage generator circuitry is then enabled to produce a reference voltage that ramps from a first voltage level to a second voltage level at a smooth rate. The ramping reference voltage is applied to the input of the audio output circuitry to reduce or prevent pop/click noise for the audio output circuitry. Further, negative offset control circuitry can also be used to provide a negative offset input to the audio output circuitry to remove initial step-up voltage levels that may exist at operational power-up for the audio output circuitry. Still further, current control circuitry can also be used that limits the available current flowing to the output node for the audio output circuitry, thereby further reducing and/or preventing potential pop/click noise in the audio output signals. |
| US09020163B2 |
Near-field null and beamforming
Devices and methods are disclosed that allow for selective acoustic near-field nulls for microphone arrays. One embodiment may take the form of an electronic device including a speaker and a microphone array. The microphone array may include a first microphone positioned a first distance from the speaker and a second microphone positioned a second distance from the speaker. The first and second microphones are configured to receive an acoustic signal. The microphone array further includes a complex vector filter coupled to the second microphone. The complex vector filter is applied to an output signal of the second microphone to generate an acoustic sensitivity pattern for the array that provides an acoustic null at the location of the speaker. |
| US09020160B2 |
Reducing occlusion effect in ANR headphones
In an active noise reducing headphone, a signal processor is configured to apply first feedback filters to the feedback signal path, causing the feedback signal path to operate at a first gain level, as a function of frequency, during a first operating mode, and apply second feedback filters to the feedback signal path, causing the feedback signal path to operate at a second gain level less than the first gain level at some frequencies during a second operating mode. The first gain level is a level of gain that results in effective cancellation of sounds transmitted through or around the ear cup and through the user's head, and the second level is a level of gain that is matched to the level of sound of a typical wearer's voice transmitted through the wearer's head when wearing the headphone. |
| US09020157B2 |
Active noise cancellation system
A noise cancellation system generates a noise cancellation signal from a signal representing ambient noise by signal processing. The signal processing applies a controllable gain value, and includes a high pass filter with a controllable cut-off frequency. A control block detects a wind amplitude. The cut-off frequency of the high pass filter is controlled based on the detected wind amplitude. A low pass function is applied to the detected wind amplitude, and the controllable gain is adjusted based on the output of the low pass function. |
| US09020151B1 |
Secure real-time data replication with disk encryption and key management system
A secure real-time data replication system includes a key management server that provides keys to hosts that store encrypted data. Data to be written in one host is encrypted using a key received from the key management server; the encrypted data is stored in the host. A copy of the data is provided to another host for real-time data replication. In the other host, the copy of the data is encrypted using another key received from the key management server; the encrypted copy of the data is stored in the other host. Keys are provided by the key management server based on policy rules governing the keys. |
| US09020149B1 |
Protected storage for cryptographic materials
Disclosed are various embodiments for obtaining a service request from a client, the service request including plaintext data to be encrypted and associated metadata. Ciphertext data is generated based upon the plaintext data. The ciphertext data is stored in a record in a data store of a cryptographic device. A service response is provided to the client, which includes a record identifier for the record in the data store. |
| US09020144B1 |
Cross-domain processing for noise and echo suppression
An audio-based system may perform noise and echo suppression by initially processing an audio signal that is subject to acoustic echo or echo resulting from other system characteristics. The audio signal is processed in the time domain using an adaptive echo-cancellation filter. The audio is then further processed in the frequency domain to simultaneously reduce background noise and residual echo. |
| US09020140B2 |
Telephonic teleservices management
A system and method to provide telephonic teleservices management is provided. The system may comprise a session management module used to establish a session with an agent via a telephone of the agent. An agent management module may manage a work state of the agent within a plurality of sequential calls between the agent and a plurality of customers. During the session, the connection with the agent remains established between each of the sequential calls. A hub management module manages a call hub during a call of the plurality of sequential calls between the agent and a customer of the plurality of customers. |
| US09020138B1 |
Targeted issue routing
A contact received by a service center from a customer may be assigned to one of a plurality of agents or representatives based on any prior experience with the customer or with the contact, any preferences of the customer or any skills required in order to address the contact. Preferably, an agent who previously handled an issue on behalf of the customer may be identified, and the contact may be assigned to that agent. Alternatively, the contact may be assigned to an agent preferred by the customer, or to a particularly skilled agent. If no preferred agents or particularly skilled agents are available to respond to the contact, the contact may be assigned at random to one or more particular agents. The contact may be initiated by way of a reply to a message containing a response to a previous contact, and the message may include metadata that associates the reply with the previous contact. |
| US09020133B2 |
Call occupancy management
A device may receive a history of call volumes and statistics for a call queue. The device may also receive, for each of a number of agents that are associated with the call queue, a work schedule. The device may determine a projected call occupancy for the call queue based on the history of call volumes for the call queue and the work schedules; select a subset of agents, among the number of agents that are associated with the call queue, that are not needed to handle calls in the call queue during a time for which projected call occupancy is below a first threshold; and assign tasks, for the time, to the subset of agents. |
| US09020130B2 |
Automatic integrated escalation in a unified messaging system
A user is identified based at least in part on a user identification designation associated with an incoming communication. A message recipient is then determined based at least in part on the identified user and one or more address books associated with message recipients by comparing the user identification designation to one or more entries in the one or more recipient databases. The incoming communication is routed to the determined message recipient. Escalation procedures are implemented up to a configured level in the recipient organization based on various criteria. As messages are escalated and deposited in mailboxes associated with the determined message recipients, the determined message recipients are notified of the deposited messages. |
| US09020129B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing human-assisted natural language call routing
Techniques for routing a telephone call are provided. A call interface device of an interactive voice response system is configured to receive the telephone call from a caller. A level one agent processing module routes the telephone all to a level one agent for an agent interview of the caller when level three and level two agents are not available. A level two agent processing module handles the telephone call when the level three agent is not available. A level three agent processing module facilitates the handling of the telephone call when the level three agent is available. |
| US09020126B1 |
Capacity allocation of call-handling devices across call destinations
A system and method that allocate call capacity based on the need to divide the call capacities of at least some call-termination devices across geographic regions. Accordingly, the allocation system uses various input parameters as constraints in a linear programming optimization, which has the objective of maximizing the capacity allocation of a device to fulfill the traffic demands of each region being processed. The input parameters that are used include i) the traffic demand forecast of each geographic region being evaluated, ii) the available call capacity of each call-termination device, iii) the call destinations associated with each region, and iv) service levels associated with each given call destination. Call-capacities are separately allocated for i) the predicted traffic that is expected in the next time period and ii) an additional margin of excess traffic above and beyond the expected traffic. |
| US09020124B2 |
System and method for implementing do-not-disturb during playback of media content
The disclosed embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product for implementing do-not-disturb feature during media content. For example, in one embodiment, a determination is made on whether to implement the do-not-disturb feature is implemented on at least one of a plurality of devices associated with a user during the playback of the media content based on user preferences, wherein the user preferences specify a type of media content that triggers the do-not-disturb feature. In response to the do-not-disturb feature being implemented, notification of an incoming communication is suspended during playback of the media content. |
| US09020120B2 |
Timeline interface for multi-modal collaboration
A system, method, and computer readable medium are provided to manage a conference. The start of a conference is identified. For example, the start of the conference is identified when a host dials into a conference bridge. A timeline is created for the conference based on a first event that occurs at the start of the conference. The timeline includes the first event. The timeline is updated in real-time with a second event, as a second event occurs during the conference. This process is repeated throughout the conference. The timeline is rendered for display to one or more participants in the conference. The conference is then displayed to the conference participants, thus providing the conference participants with a real-time timeline of the conference. |
| US09020119B2 |
Moderation control method for participants in a heterogeneous conference call
Presented are systems and methods for providing moderator control in a heterogeneous conference including acquiring a merge control to merge a first conference with a second conference to create a single heterogeneous conference, wherein the first conference and the second conference utilize different types of conference hosting systems. The system sends the merge control to a server, wherein the server is configured to establish conference connections with the first conference and the second conference. The system then merges the first conference with the second conference to create the heterogeneous conference and determines a moderator for the heterogeneous conference. The system automatically transfers one or more moderator controls to the moderator of the heterogeneous conference. |
| US09020117B2 |
Performing human client verification over a voice interface
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for managing telephone calls. Upon completion of a telephone call, a telephone services subscriber is provided with a post-call interface. The post call interface allows the subscriber to define how future telephone calls from the caller are to be managed. Instructions are received from the subscriber through the post-call interface. The instructions pertain to the management of future telephone calls from the caller. The received instructions are saved. |
| US09020115B2 |
Inmate communications
Inmate communications can include establishing a communication, between an inmate device and a registered device, and storing information associated with the communication in a local data store. |
| US09020114B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting a call anomaly using biometric identification
Embodiments of the present invention are directed generally to use of biometric identification during a call for detecting an anomaly occurring in the call, such as a change in the parties participating on the call. Communication between parties of a call is monitored and biometric identification is performed using the communication. According to one exemplary embodiment, biometric prints, such as voice prints, face prints, etc., are obtained for parties that are authorized to participate on a call. The call is then monitored and biometric data (e.g., audio, video, etc.) captured from communication during the call is compared with the biometric prints of the authorized parties to detect changes in the parties participating on the call, such as a new, unauthorized party joining the call. Thus, a call processing system can detect anomalies occurring during monitored calls, such as three-way calling, a handoff of a call, etc. |
| US09020111B2 |
Setting up a communication session within a wireless communications system
In an embodiment, an originating communication device within a wireless communications system sends a call request to a server to initiate a communication session with a target communication device, and also sends, along with the call request, a session description request, the session description request requesting alerting data to be sent to the target communication device from the server in addition to a call announce message for announcing the communication session to the at least one target communication device, the alerting data describing a nature of the communication session. The server sends the call announce message and the alerting data to the target communication device. The target communication device receives the call announce message and the alerting data, notifies a user of the target communication device of the announced communication session and outputs the alerting data to the user of the target communication device in conjunction with the notification. |
| US09020110B1 |
Consumer-provider video interaction
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for interactions between a consumer and a service provider. In some embodiments, an interaction application may provide a collection of service providers to a consumer, receive a selection of a service provider from the consumer, and establish a two-way video communication between the consumer and the service provider. In some embodiments, the interaction application may charge a fee to the consumer, the service provider, or both, for the providing the interaction. |
| US09020108B1 |
Methods and systems for confirming message delivery
Methods and systems for processing messages and providing notifications regarding the same are described. An optional embodiment includes a telecommunications interface, a data network interface, and an answering system coupled to the telecommunications interface and the data network interface, the call processing system configured to receive a first call from a caller via the telecommunications interface, store a message from the caller, transmit a message notification using the data network to the intended recipient of the call via which the intended recipient can access the message, and transmit information related to the intended recipient's receipt of the message. |
| US09020103B2 |
Versatile beam scanner with fan beam
A versatile beam scanner for generating a far-field scanned pencil beam, and, alternatively, a far-field pencil beam. An angle selector limits the angular extent of an inner fan beam emitted by a source of penetrating radiation. The source and angle selector may be translated, along a direction parallel to a central axis of a multi-aperture unit, in such a manner as to generate a scanned far-field pencil beam, when rings of apertures are interposed between the source and an inspected target, or, alternatively, a far-field fan beam, when no ring of apertures is interposed. |
| US09020101B2 |
Target for X-ray generator, method of manufacturing the same and X-ray generator
There is provided a target for an X-ray generator, including: a holder part made of an electrically conductive material and having an opening part; a diamond plate air-tightly joined to the holder part so as to close the opening part; a thin film target provided on a surface of the diamond plate, with its outer peripheral part extending to the holder part to be electrically connected to the holder part, wherein the holder part is configured to be electrically connected to a power supply of the X-ray generator, and the diamond plate is incorporated into the X-ray generator with one side disposed in a vacuum atmosphere where the thin film target is formed, and an opposite side thereto disposed at a side where the diamond plate is brought into thermal contact with a refrigerant and cooled. |
| US09020100B2 |
Multiple image collection and synthesis for personnel screening
An apparatus and method for inspecting personnel or their effects. A first and second carriage each carries a source for producing a beam of penetrating radiation incident on a given subject. A positioner provides for relative motion of each beam vis-à-vis the subject in a motion, the vertical component of which is one-way. A detector receives radiation produced by at least one of the sources after the radiation interacts with the subject. |
| US09020092B2 |
Apparatus and method for angular response calibration of photon-counting detectors in sparse spectral computed tomography imaging
A method for detector angular response calibration in computed-tomography (CT) comprising capturing incident X-ray photons, emitted from an X-ray source, via a plurality of energy-discriminating detectors, determining photon counts of the captured incident X-ray photons in a plurality of energy windows at each energy-discriminating detector, and adjusting the photon counts based on a pre-determined detector angular response calibration look-up table for a given view for each energy-discriminating detector at each energy window. |
| US09020084B2 |
High frequency synchronizer
Techniques for resolving a metastable state in a synchronizer are described herein. In one embodiment, a circuit for resolving a metastable state in a synchronizer comprises a signal delay circuit coupled to a node of the synchronizer, wherein the signal delay circuit is configured to delay a data signal at the node to produce a delayed data signal, and a transmission circuit coupled to the signal delay circuit, wherein the transmission circuit is configured to couple the delayed data signal to the node after a delay from a first edge of a clock signal. |
| US09020071B1 |
Amplitude shift keyed (ASK) modulator/transmitter with fast fall time
An Amplitude-Shifted-Keyed (ASK) modulator/transmitter has fall time enhanced by pulsing pull-up and pull-down enhancement switches on for a short period of time after a data transition. The enhancement switches draw energy from a coupling capacitor to more rapidly reduce an amplitude of the carrier wave being output. An input carrier wave is applied to gates of p-channel and n-channel current sources that drive the coupling capacitor. Gates of the n-channel and p-channel enhancement switches also receive the input carrier wave when data is high, but are disabled when data is low. Multiple p-channel and n-channel transistors may be used in parallel for each current source or enhancement switch. Each of the multiple transistors in parallel has a gate that is AND'ed with an index signal. The index signals are programmable and determine how many of the parallel transistors are enabled, thus determining the aggregate current. |
| US09020069B2 |
Active general purpose hybrid
A general purpose hybrid includes a first input port in communication with a first dual vector generator, a second input port in communication with a second dual vector generator, a first active combiner receives a first signal from the first dual vector generator and a third signal from the second dual vector generator, where the first and second dual vector generators independently apply phase shifting and amplitude control to the first and third signals; a second active combiner receives a second signal from the first dual vector generator and a fourth signal from the second dual vector generator, where the first and second dual vector generators independently apply phase shifting and amplitude control to the second and fourth signals; a first output port provides a first composite signal from the first active combiner; and a second output port provides a second composite signal from the second active combiner. |
| US09020066B2 |
Single-bit direct modulation transmitter
Single-bit transmitter modulator having a digital pulse shaping filter configured to shape data pulses of an inphase signal and quadrature signal; an upsampling filter configured to increase the sample rate of the inphase signal and quadrature signal; a sigma-delta modulator providing a one-bit inphase output signal and a one-bit quadrature output signal; an inphase low-order analog low pass filter coupling the one-bit inphase output signal to an inphase channel input of a quadrature modulator, and a quadrature low-order analog low pass filter coupling the one-bit quadrature output signal to a quadrature channel input of a quadrature modulator; and, wherein the quadrature modulator is connected to a carrier signal generator and is configured to generate an inphase and quadrature modulated carrier. |
| US09020065B2 |
Radio frequency digital filter group delay mismatch reduction
A radio frequency (RF) front end having group delay mismatch reduction is provided. One embodiment provides a first feed forward path and a second feed forward path. The second feed forward path is electrically in parallel with the first feed forward. The second feed forward path has a first signal path and a second signal path. The first and second signal paths are arranged to be electrically in parallel. The first signal path has a digital filter. The second signal path has a tunable analog filter. The tunable analog filter operates to reduce a delay associated with the second feed forward path as compared with a delay associated with the first feed forward path. |
| US09020060B2 |
Virtual multiple-input multiple-output communication method and device
The present invention provides a virtual multiple-input multiple-output communication method and device. The method includes: determining a user set to which a user equipment in a sector belongs, where the user set includes a first user set and a second user set, a user equipment in the first user set is in a beam coverage area of a first antenna group in the sector but is not in a beam coverage area of a second antenna group of the sector, and a user equipment in the second user set is in the beam coverage area of the second antenna group but is not in the beam coverage area of the first antenna group (101); and selecting, when a scheduled user equipment belongs to the first user set, an unscheduled user equipment in the second user set for pairing. |
| US09020054B2 |
Apparatus and methods for symbol timing error detection, tracking and correction
Systems and methods for adjusting timing in a communication system, such as an OFDM system are described. In one implementation an error signal is generated to adjust the timing of a variable rate interpolator so as to adjust FFT timing. The error signal may be based on detection of significant peaks in an estimate of the impulse response of the channel, with the peak locations being tracked over subsequent symbols and the system timing adjusted in response to changes in the peaks. |
| US09020053B2 |
Clocking architectures in high-speed signaling systems
Clocking systems and methods are provided below that accurately clock per-pin data transfers of input/output (IO) circuits of integrated circuit devices. These multiplexer-based clock selection systems use a dedicated multiplexer to receive clock signals from multiple mixer circuits and in turn to provide a selected reference clock signal for use by an interface circuit in transferring data to other integrated circuit devices. The timing of the selected reference clock signal is synchronized with the data signals to provide optimal sampling of the data signals. The multiplexer-based clock selection system is for use in memory interfaces of high-speed signaling systems for example. |
| US09020043B2 |
Pathway indexing in flexible partitioning
There is a processing of an incoming video signal into a compressed video bitstream. The processing includes determining indexed pathways of blocks in the incoming video signal. The processing also includes determining flexible partitioning of the blocks utilizing partitioning lines. The partitioning lines are based on index units in the determined indexed pathways. The processing also includes generating PIFP information associated with the determined flexible partitioning and encoding the generated PIFP information associated with the PIFP encoded video. Also, there is a processing of received PIFP encoded video utilizing received encoded PIFP information associated with the received PIFP encoded video. |
| US09020042B2 |
Audio/video speedup system and method in a server-client streaming architecture
A system and a corresponding method for temporal modification of audio signals, to increase or reduce the playback rates of an audio and/or a video file in a client-server environment. The system and method improve the efficiency of serving streaming media to a client so that the client can select an arbitrary time-speedup factor. The speedup system performs many of the pre-calculations once, at the server, so that the bandwidth needs are reduced and the client's computational load is minimized. The final time-scale-modification can be either done completely on the server, thus reducing the client's needs, or partly on the client's computer to minimize latency, and to reduce on-the-fly computational load from the server that serves multiple clients concurrently. |
| US09020038B2 |
Systems and methods for streaming and archiving video with geographic anchoring of frame contents
A system and method for generating compressed video with geographically-anchored-video functionality includes processing frames from a source video sequence by matching image content of the frames to image data from a geographic database to derive the geographic locations of pixels within at least part of the frames. The source video sequence is then compressed by a lossy video compression technique to generate a compressed video sequence, and the compressed video sequence is encoded together with data indicative of the geographic locations of pixels as a composite data stream. Also disclosed are methods for selective video archiving and retrieval based on the geographical footprint of the image content. |
| US09020032B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing a video signal
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for encoding or decoding a video signal. According to the present invention, a plurality of reference units for image prediction of the current unit is acquired and combined to obtain a unit prediction value, thereby improving the accuracy of image prediction. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for inducing a variety of reference units using a motion vector prediction value or a motion vector which is used in conventional inter-prediction, and also relates to a method which combines the reference units so as to obtain the prediction value for the current unit. In addition, the present invention relates to a method which involves acquiring a plurality of reference units for a merging mode, and combining the reference units so as to perform image prediction. |
| US09020028B2 |
Transmitter circuit, receiver circuit, and transmitting/receiving system
A transmitting/receiving system may include a transmission line, a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a clock to the transmission line and to adjust an amplitude of the clock in accordance with a logic level of data, and a receiver circuit configured to receive the clock transferred to the transmission line and to recover the data through detection of the amplitude of the clock. |
| US09020023B2 |
Reception device and reception method
The present technique relates to a reception device and a reception method which can improve equalization performance. An equalization processing unit has a time domain equalization unit which equalizes a received signal in a time domain and a frequency domain equalization unit which is provided in parallel to the time domain equalization unit and which equalizes the received signal in a frequency domain, and performs control of switching between the time domain equalization unit and the frequency domain equalization unit. The present technique can be applied to, for example, equalize a signal of data transmitted by way of single carrier transmission or data transmitted by way of multicarrier transmission. |
| US09020022B1 |
Analog finite impulse response adaptation method and apparatus
A SerDes receiver comprising: an input for receiving a signal, the signal having a baud rate; an Analog Finite Impulse Response equalizer (AFIR) for equalizing the received signal, the AFIR comprising: a pre-cursor tap having a pre-cursor coefficient; a cursor tap having a cursor coefficient, the cursor coefficient being constrained to a non-negative value; and a post-cursor tap having a post-cursor coefficient; an adaptation block coupled to the AFIR, the adaptation block configured to adjust the pre-cursor coefficient and the post-cursor coefficient based on the received signal, the adaptation block further being configured to constrain the values of the pre-cursor and post-cursor coefficients to be non-positive. |
| US09020018B2 |
Systems for calibration of wireless electronic devices
A calibration system may be provided for calibrating wireless communications circuitry in an electronic device during manufacturing. The calibration system may include data acquisition equipment and calibration computing equipment for receiving and processing test and calibration signals from wireless communications circuitry to be calibrated. During testing and calibration operations, a device may be provided with initial pre-distortion calibration values. The initial pre-distortion calibration values may be generated at least in part based on calibration operations performed for other wireless electronic devices. The device may generate a test signal using the initial pre-distortion calibration values. The calibration system may determine whether the test signal is within an acceptable range of a known reference signal. If the test signal is outside of the acceptable range, the calibration system may generate a set of corrected pre-distortion calibration values to be used in generating wireless communications signals during normal operation of the device. |
| US09020016B2 |
Multi-domain test and measurement instrument
A test and measurement instrument including a time domain channel configured to process a first input signal for analysis in a time domain; a frequency domain channel configured to process a second input signal for analysis in a frequency domain; and an acquisition system coupled to the time domain channel and the frequency domain channel. The acquisition system is configured to acquire data from the time domain channel and the frequency domain channel. Time domain and frequency domain data can be time aligned. |
| US09020014B2 |
Convergence layer bonding over multiple carriers
A cable modem termination system (CMTS) is disclosed that allocates one or more minislots of a super-frame arrangement to cable modems for upstream transmission. The super-frame arrangement includes multiple minislots that correspond to multiple communication channels of one or more super-frames. The CMTS receives requests for upstream bandwidth from the cable modems. The CMTS continuously allocates the minislots of the super-frame to provide upstream bandwidth grants to accommodate these requests. The CMTS communicates the upstream bandwidth grants as a single upstream bandwidth allocation map (MAP) to the cable modems. |
| US09020013B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing signals
An apparatus for processing signals, in particular physiological measuring signals, is provided with a number of channels with main signal inputs for receiving input signals. Each of the input signals has a specific signal component and a signal component common to all input signals. Each channel is provided with an impedance transforming input amplifier. The apparatus supplies a respective input signal to the first input of each input amplifier and an analog reference signal, which is equal for all channels, to the second input. The apparatus includes a digital signal processor and one or more analog-digital converters for supplying the signals provided by the input amplifiers to the digital signal processor. The signal processor converts signals received from the one or more analog-digital converters at least into one or more output signals. |
| US09020010B2 |
Transfer of encoded data
The invention relates to a method that includes transfer of data encoded on the basis of a first encoding scheme via an interface between a baseband assembly and a radio-frequency assembly of a mobile radio transceiver. The method further includes transfer of a data sequence which is encoded on the basis of the first encoding scheme and which identifies a change of encoding scheme from the first encoding scheme to a second encoding scheme. Lastly, the method includes transfer of data encoded on the basis of the second encoding scheme via the interface. |
| US09020006B2 |
High density laser optics
Apparatuses and methods for high density laser optics are provided. An example, of a laser optics apparatus includes a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) in a monolithically integrated array, a high contrast grating (HCG) integrated with an aperture of a vertical cavity of each of the plurality of the VCSELs to enable emission of a single lasing wavelength of a plurality of lasing wavelengths, and a plurality of single mode waveguides, each integrated with a grating coupler, that are connected to each of the plurality of the integrated VCSELs and the HCGs, where each of the grating couplers is aligned to an integrated VCSEL and HCG. |
| US09020003B1 |
Group III-nitride laser diode grown on a semi-polar orientation of gallium and nitrogen containing substrates
Blue laser diode (LD) structures are grown on a particular subset of semi-polar GaN substrate orientations that offer a distinct set of advantages relative to both (0001), non-polar oriented devices, and alternative semipolar-polar oriented devices operating in the blue regime are disclosed. In particular, the (30-3-1) and (30-31) gallium and nitrogen containing surface orientation and equivalent planes show narrower luminescence spectra than equivalent devices grown on the nonpolar {10-10} m-plane or semipolar planes tilted away from m-plane toward the c-plane between angles of about 0 degrees to about 7 or 8 degrees such as {60-6-1). |
| US09019992B2 |
Joint retransmission and frame synchronization for error resilience control
A method for controlling error resilience in network communication is described. The method includes: determining, by a receiver-side controller, a packet gap representing a packet loss of a packet being communicated over a network; projecting, by the receiver-side controller, a retransmission time-out for at least one missing packet of the packet loss; issuing, by the receiver-side controller, a retransmission request for the at least one missing packet; if the packet gap is not filled within a first time period of the retransmission time-out, then issuing, by the receiver-side controller, at least one synchronization frame request; and selecting, by a sender-side controller, to respond to at least one of either of the retransmission request or the at least one synchronization frame request and neither of the retransmission request nor the at least one synchronization frame request. |
| US09019991B1 |
Method and apparatus for detecting a packet in a WLAN system
A method for transmitting a data packet includes prepending to the digital contents of the data packet a preamble including a first preamble field having a plurality of repetitions of a sequence. The method also includes determining according to a specified communication protocol a first transmission power level for the data packet and determining according to the specified communication protocol and the first preamble field an unadjusted transmission power level for the first preamble field. The method further includes determining the presence of one or more power-boost characteristics of the data packet or of an intended receiving client, transmitting the first preamble field at a first adjusted transmission power level if one or more power-boost characteristics are determined to be present, and transmitting a remainder of the data packet at the first transmission power level for the data packet. |
| US09019989B2 |
Bandwidth allocation method of wirelessly transmitting AV stream data in wireless communication system including coordinator device
In response to a video and audio bandwidth allocation request command signal and an audio bandwidth allocation request command signal from a source device, a coordinator device allocates a first reservation period for transmitting AV stream data from the source device to a sink device and a second reservation period for transmitting audio stream data from the source device to a sink device within a predetermined frame period, and transmits a beacon signal including information on allocation of the first reservation period and the second reservation period. |
| US09019985B2 |
Method and system for scheduling multiple concurrent transmissions during a contention access period in a wireless communications network
Aspects of a method and system for scheduling multiple concurrent transmissions during a contention access period in a wireless communications network are presented. Aspects of the system comprise communicating devices (DEVs) within a piconet that are operable to derive a neighborhood map of a piconet. The neighborhood map information may enable a plurality of DEVs to concurrently transmit signals during a given channel time allocation (CTA) time slot. The ability for multiple DEVs to transmit signals concurrently during a single CTA time slot may increase spectral reuse within a wireless communication medium. In another aspect the system, the neighborhood map information may enable individual DEVs to set clear channel assessment (CCA) thresholds. Individual DEVs may utilize CCA threshold information to determine when to transmit signals to one or more destination DEVs and/or at what rate to transmit data via the signals. |
| US09019979B2 |
Radio base station apparatus and mobile terminal
To provide a radio base station apparatus and mobile terminal supporting each of a plurality of mobile communication systems when the plurality of mobile communication systems coexists, the radio base station apparatus assigns a modulated signal of a control signal to at least one frequency band with the system band of the LTE system as a unit on a predetermined data block basis (CCE basis) according to a predetermined rule, and when data blocks are assigned according to the rule as shown in FIG. 4(a), the mobile terminal demodulates CCEs of the same number in respective frequency bands at a time and thereby determines whether or not the signal is the control signal to the mobile terminal. Meanwhile, when data blocks are assigned according to the rules as shown in FIGS. 4(b) and 4(c), the mobile terminal demodulates a specific CCE block range in each frequency band, and thereby determines whether or not the signal is the control signal to the mobile terminal. |
| US09019976B2 |
Redundant host connection in a routed network
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a management mechanism and a configuration mechanism. During operation, the management mechanism is configured to operate the switch in conjunction with the partner switch as a single logical switch. The configuration mechanism is configured to assign a virtual switch identifier to the logical switch. |
| US09019975B2 |
Unified system networking with CEE-PCIE tunneling
Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) tunneling over Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) bus. An initiating device, connected to a CEE network, initiates a command. An encoding device encodes a CEE frame comprising the command, target device address, initiator signals, and an address of a CEE switch closest to the target device, connected to a PCIe network. The initiating device transmits an inquiry to the CEE switch through the CEE frame. The CEE switch comprises an address table with an entry specifying a generic PCIe device. The CEE switch is configured to convert the CEE frame into PCIe readable signals and to transmit them to PCIe devices. The initiating device receives a response indicating a PCIe acknowledgement from a corresponding device from the PCIe devices. The corresponding device is associated with the target device address. Based on the response, the initiating device initiates a transaction to the corresponding device through CEE frames. |
| US09019973B1 |
Static MAC address propagation in multipoint network services
A first network device receives a control message at an interface from a second network device, wherein the first network device and the second network device use a multipoint service that provides layer two (L2) connectivity between L2 networks. The control message specifies one or more L2 addresses of customer network devices that are provided connectivity to an autonomous system by the second network device, wherein the control message identifies the L2 addresses as static L2 addresses that are to be persistently maintained at the first network device as reachable by the interface. In response to receiving the control message and by the first network device, the first network device stores the L2 addresses as persistently maintained static L2 addresses being reachable by the interface at which the control message was received. |
| US09019972B2 |
System and method for gateway monitoring and control
A system and method for monitoring and controlling operations, of a gateway is disclosed. The system is configured to allow an end user to monitor and/or control data streams appearing on one or more customer premises equipment (CPE) interfaces of a gateway, even where the data streams are of different types such as voice, video or computer data. The system comprises a processor within the gateway that may be configured to receive data from an external network, generate the data streams from the received data, and provide the generated data streams to corresponding CPE devices. The processor may be further configured to receive commands from the corresponding CPE devices, determine a type of the received commands, and perform operations on the generated data streams based on the determined type of the received command to execute the desired monitoring and/or control functions. |
| US09019968B2 |
Method and system for managing communication ports
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a communication system that enables transmitting control signals between communication devices connected with a communication cable. The control signals are either to activate a visual indicator associated with the second port or to request a unique identification number and the signals are transmitted without changing the voltage polarity between the control wires. The communication cable may include at one end a connector having a control circuitry, a visual indicator and a unique identification number. |
| US09019966B2 |
Method for formatting signal in mobile communication system
A method for formatting a signal in a mobile communication system by appending a plurality of medium access control headers to a plurality of medium access control-service data units for data transfer between a mobile station and network in the mobile communication system. If the service data units have the same characteristics, a medium access control-protocol data unit is formed by successively coupling the service data units to any one of the medium access control headers. If the service data units have different characteristics, the protocol data unit is formed by sequentially coupling each of the service data units and each of the medium access control headers. The formed protocol data unit is then transformed into a transport block with a predetermined size. A medium access control sublayer formats medium access control-protocol data units according to transport channel characteristics in peer-to-peer communication in such a manner that the protocol data units can have different formats with respect to different transport channels. This makes it possible to provide more efficient functions. |
| US09019965B2 |
Methods and devices for routing data packets between IPv4 and IPv6 networks
A data packet routing system is provided wherein: at least one terminal belonging to a private IPv4 network is connected to a gateway itself connected to an IPv6 network; at least one interface device at the interface between said IPv6 network and a public IPv4 network implements a translation function comprising exchanging a private IPv4 address with a public IPv4 address. The gateway allocates to the terminal an IPv6 address by providing an IPv6 prefix with the private IPv4 address of the terminal in its private IPv4 network; said gateway verifying whether IPv4 address conflict exists, and if IPv4 it does exist, for replacing said private IPv4 address locally with a substitute private IPv4 address. A method is provided that routes an IPv4 data packet sent by a source terminal belonging to a first IPv4 domain via an IPv6 domain to a destination terminal belonging to a second IPv4 domain. |
| US09019962B1 |
Tunneling from a provider edge routing device to a remote customer edge network device
Selection of proper virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) tables is based on a logical interface that is not associated with a physical interface. The selected VRF table is used to perform an output interface lookup for outgoing packets. In one example, a router includes a plurality of network interfaces, and a processing unit configured to select a logical interface not associated with any of the plurality of network interfaces based on an association with a received packet of a virtual private network, select one of a plurality of VRF tables in which to perform an output interface lookup for the packet that corresponds to the selected logical interface, and determine one of the plurality of network interfaces from the one of the plurality of VRF tables based on a destination of the packet, wherein the determined one of the plurality of network interfaces is configured to forward the packet. |
| US09019961B2 |
Method and system for reliable multicast
Method and system for transmitting a multicast message with one or more packets to a plurality of destinations is provided. The system includes an adapter including an entry port to receive the multicast message from a source for transmission to the plurality of destinations; one or more egress ports of the adapter that transmit one or more packets of the multicast message to the plurality of destinations and receives acknowledgement for the one or more packets from the one or more destinations; and a message manager that monitors the delivery status for one or more packets to the plurality of destinations without using a plurality of dedicated individual connections between each of the plurality of destinations and the source. |
| US09019958B2 |
Outbound communication session establishment on a telecommunications network
Disclosed are techniques for establishing a communication session in a call server between communication devices. A call server receives a communication session establishment message from a communication device that has an associated VoIP telephone number. The message is indicative of the communication device wanting to place a call to a target communication device. The communication session establishment message includes the VoIP telephone number and a target communication device identifier. The call server establishes a first communication link with the device depending on the quality of a connection with an IP access point. The call server then establishes a second communication link with the target communication device. The call server may then join the first and second communication links to establish a communication session between the communication devices. |
| US09019956B2 |
Self-forming VoIP network
A self-forming VoIP connection capability is described that may be superimposed over wired networks, wireless networks, or combinations thereof. As described herein, a local network cluster forms while isolated from a conventional SIP server, or alternately may exist as a cluster of network nodes and clients that later becomes isolated from a conventional SIP server by a break in the network. Either way, each network node thus enabled with distributed SIP registry functionality according to this invention independently constructs a local SIP registry and SIP server capability within that node. Subsequently, while isolated from a conventional SIP server, VoIP conversations among client devices connected to nodes within an isolated cluster will continue, and nodes and clients may join or leave an isolated cluster with conversations able to be initiated or continued while a node has network connectivity to the cluster. |
| US09019954B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for handling public identities in an internet protocol multimedia subsystem network
The present invention concern methods and apparatuses for handling public identities in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, network. A CSCF node receives information indicating a set of distinct public identities, within a range of a wildcarded public identity, which set of distinct public identities are not in the same Implicit Registration Set (IRS) as the wildcarded public identity. The information is received from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) node. The CSCF node stores the information indicating the set of distinct public identities, which are not in the same IRS, in the CSCF node for allowing matching of an originating request to the information indicating the set of distinct public identities, which are not in the same IRS. Alternatively, the CSCF node forwards the information indicating the set of distinct public identities, which are not in the same IRS, to another CSCF node, for allowing matching of an originating request to the information indicating the set of distinct public identities, which are not in the same IRS. |
| US09019950B2 |
Data processing system having distributed processing means for using intrinsic latencies of the system
The present disclosure relates to a method for routing data between a sending unit and a receiving unit linked by a network in a processing system comprising several units, the method comprising steps of routing data in the network between the sending unit and the receiving unit, and of applying a process to the routed data, the process comprising several steps which are applied to the data by different units in the network receiving the data, to use latency times in data routing. |
| US09019949B2 |
Adapter, base band processing unit and base station system
An adapter, base band processing unit and a base station system. The adapter includes a frame obtaining logic unit configured to obtain an uplink data frame based on a received radio frame. A frame synchronizing logic unit configured to manage a frame tag of the uplink data frame. A time feedback logic unit configured to feedback to the base band processing unit an arrival time of a downlink data frame that is received from the base band processing unit. The base band processing unit includes a time synchronizing module configured to determine generation time of a current downlink data frame based on at least an arrival time of a previous downlink data frame that was a previous feed back from the adapter. A frame synchronizing module configured to manage a frame tag of the generated current downlink data frame. |
| US09019946B1 |
Wireless and cellular voice and data transmission with multiple paths of communication
A method and apparatus in which multiple Internet Protocol (IP) based wireless data transmissions are simultaneously provided between a wireless device and a server, including providing multiple antennas, multiple T/R units, multiple processors and multiple I/O ports on the wireless device. The method includes receiving multiple IP data packets on the I/O ports at substantially the same time, and sending multiple data packets from the wireless device to the server, whereby the transmission rate between the wireless device and the server is increased. |
| US09019945B2 |
Service-assisted network access point selection
Embodiments enable prioritization and selection of network access points (NAP) by a computing device using NAP attribute values. The computing device obtains the attribute values based on a location of the computing device and/or proximate NAPs detected by the computing device. The obtained attribute values are compared to a state of the computing device (e.g., sensor values), user preferences, or other criteria to select at least one of the NAPs for connection with the computing device. In some embodiments, a user of the computing device is presented with a list of Wi-Fi access points ranked according to relevance to the computing device and/or user. |
| US09019938B2 |
Predictive and nomadic roaming of wireless clients across different network subnets
Wireless access points detect neighboring wireless access points in different subnets. Upon connecting with a wireless client, a wireless access point determines predictive roaming information for the wireless client. Predictive roaming information identifies the wireless client; its home network subnet; and includes connection information associated with the wireless client. The wireless access point forwards the predictive roaming information associated with a wireless client to neighboring wireless access points while the wireless client is still connected with the wireless access point. Neighboring wireless access points store received predictive roaming information. Upon connecting with a wireless client, a neighboring wireless access point determines if the wireless client matches the stored predictive roaming information. If so, the neighboring wireless access point uses the predictive roaming information to quickly connect with the wireless client and to establish a tunnel to redirect network traffic associated with the wireless client through to its home subnet. |
| US09019928B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling inter-cell collision in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more specifically, a method and an apparatus for controlling an inter-cell collision are disclosed. A method for transmitting collision information from a transmission/reception apparatus, which is connected to first and second base stations, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the following steps: obtaining a first scheduling information, generated by the first base station, with regard to a first user equipment, and a second scheduling information, generated by the second base station, with regard to a second user equipment; generating the collision information based on the first scheduling information and the second scheduling information which are obtained; and transferring the collision information to the first and second base stations. |
| US09019919B2 |
Base station apparatus, terminal apparatus and wireless communication system using them
When signals received by receiving antennas included in each terminal are subjected to MMSE combining, it is configured that each terminal is able to grasp position of desired signal in signal vector obtained after combining. A base station 100 receives by a receiving antenna 23 from the terminal apparatus channel state information between a transmitting antenna 16 and spatial multiplexing object antennas included in each terminal apparatus. A transmit weight calculation unit 19 calculates a transmit weight for performing spatial multiplexing transmission to the terminal apparatus based on the channel state information. Transmit weight multiplication unit s 12 and 18 multiplies an information signal addressed to each terminal apparatus to be performed spatial multiplexing by the transmit weight. A signal multiplexing unit 13 multiplexes the information signal multiplied by the transmit weight and an information to specify the information signal that needs to be demodulated by each terminal apparatus. |
| US09019914B2 |
Efficient transmission for low data rate WLAN
In a method for facilitating power saving in a wireless network, a PHY header is generated to include an indication of a duration of a PHY data unit. A preamble is also generated. The PHY data unit is generated to include the preamble and the PHY header, and the PHY data unit is transmitted. |
| US09019911B2 |
System and method for centralized station management
A wireless network is adapted with a wireless network switch in communication with a plurality of access points, which are in communication with one or more stations. Specifically, a network device may receive a plurality of request messages on a plurality of wireless communication channels through a plurality of access points. The request messages are originated from a single station. Furthermore, the network can extract a plurality of channel identifiers from the request messages, and generates a filtered radio frequency neighborhood list dynamically based on the extracted channel identifiers. |
| US09019906B2 |
Wireless base station apparatus, wireless terminal apparatus, frequency resource allocation method, and method of forming transmission signal
A wireless base station apparatus and wireless terminal apparatus with a configuration which can prevent reductions in the accuracy of channel estimation when non-contiguous band transmission and SRS transmission are employed in an uplink line. In the base station apparatus (100), an allocation setting unit (106), which sets the reception band of an SRS at an SRS extraction unit (103) and sets the units of frequency allocation (RBG) at a CQI estimation unit (104) and allocation unit (105), matches the frequency position at the end of the SRS reception band to the frequency position at the end of any of the units of frequency allocation and sets the reception bandwidth of the reference signal to a natural number multiple of the bandwidth of the unit of frequency allocation. In the terminal apparatus (200), a band information setting unit (204), which sets the transmission band and units of frequency allocation (RBG), matches the frequency position at the end of the transmission band to the frequency position at the end of any of the units of frequency allocation and sets the transmission bandwidth of the SRS to a natural number multiple of the bandwidth of the unit of frequency allocation. |
| US09019904B2 |
Method and base station for transmitting reference signals, and method and user equipment for receiving reference signals
A method and apparatus for multiplexing reference signals in a predetermined number of Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) groups to balance power across Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols are disclosed. In a wireless communication system, orthogonal sequences used for spreading the reference signals are allocated such that the order of orthogonal sequences allocated to a subcarrier of one CDM group has a predetermined offset with respect to the order of orthogonal sequences allocated to a subcarrier of another CDM group, adjacent to the subcarrier of the one CDM group. |
| US09019899B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronous communication of frames of digital information
A method and apparatus for synchronous communication of frames of serial data is provided. A framing pattern and data payloads are communicated over a first communication path. A clock signal is communicated over a second communication path. The clock signal is synchronous to the data to allow easy data recovery at the receiver. The framing pattern is communicated between each data payload. The framing pattern has a length greater than the length of each data payload. The framing pattern includes one or more bits of a first logic level followed contiguously by one or more bits of a second logic level. Since the framing pattern is longer than each data payload, a data payload can never contain sufficient information to mimic a framing pattern. A transmitter and a receiver are provided that avoid the need for complex circuitry while readily identifying any communication path failures so as to prevent propagation of erroneous data. |
| US09019898B2 |
Multi-interface WLAN device having real and virtual dual band operation
A wireless local area network (WLAN) method and device including at least one antenna to enable simultaneous dual band (SDB) operation of the WLAN device, the SDB operation including communication in a first frequency band with a first device and communication in a second frequency band with a second device, first network interface circuitry to support communication in the first frequency band with the first device, second network interface circuitry to support communication in the second frequency band with the second device, and a processor to generate an information element including information regarding the SDB operation of the WLAN device, and to enable transmission of the information element to the first device or to the second device. |
| US09019897B2 |
Wireless multimedia brokerage service for real time content provisioning
A wireless multimedia brokerage service supports sharing of real-time multimedia content whereby a mobile device user can perceive real-time content from a device in visual proximity, such as a nearby display device, and share the content of the display device with another mobile terminal user without the need to download or otherwise directly access the real-time content. The brokerage service can handle the transactional details of obtaining rights to the real-time content and also manage establishing and terminating a real-time multimedia session with the device(s) of the recipient user(s). In some embodiments, the wireless multimedia content brokerage service can proactively obtain subscriptions to content providers based on the location of one or more users. The brokerage service can also proactively obtain and buffer real-time content after receiving a request to share the content, with the buffering allowing for content to be preserved while the recipient user or users are contacted. The content can then be pushed or otherwise provided to the recipient(s). |
| US09019896B2 |
Systems and methods for low overhead paging
Systems, methods, and devices for low overhead paging in a wireless communications network are described herein. In one aspect, a wireless communications device comprises a processor and a transmitter. The processor is configured to compress a bitmap of a paging message to obtain a compressed paging message. The bitmap is associated with a plurality of receiver identifiers, and each of the plurality of receiver identifiers associated with at least one receiver of a set of receivers. The compressed bitmap comprises a block bitmap and a plurality of sub-block bitmaps. Each bit of the block bitmap comprises a logical OR of a subset of the bitmap, and each sub-block bitmap corresponds to a bit of the block bitmap. The transmitter is electronically coupled with the processor and configured to transmit the compressed paging message to at least one receiver. |
| US09019895B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlling access points coupled to a common power source
Power efficient methods and apparatus for detecting wireless terminals in a relatively small geographic area are described. Wireless terminals transmit discovery signals and/or other signals which may be detected by an access point. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for embodiments where multiple access points, which obtain power from a common power source and/or via a common power bus, with limited power delivery capability. To address power constraints, access points are controlled by a gateway device coupled to the access points so that one or more access points perform monitoring at different times with one or more access points having their receivers powered off while another access point monitors for wireless terminal signals. Power consumption from the common power source is managed by controlling power consumption associated with monitoring operations performed by one or more access points coupled to a common power source. |
| US09019890B2 |
Method for selecting a policy and charging rules function server on a non-roaming scene
The present invention discloses a method for selecting a policy and charging rules function server in a non-roaming scenario to achieve that the PCC policies for each IP-CAN session are determined only by one PCRF. The method comprises of a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) establishing an association relationship table in which IP Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session information and corresponding address information of a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) server are stored; and when a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) entity and a Gateway Control Function Entity (GWCF) requests the PCRF for or to update a Policy and Charging Control (PCC) policy of one IP-CAN session, or when an Application Function (AF) entity sends application information or service information down to the PCRF, obtaining the address information of the PCRF associated with said IP-CAN session from said DRA, then performing subsequent processing. |
| US09019886B2 |
Unicast to multicast conversion
A method for unicast packet conversion whereby a unicast packet is received at a receiving node followed by a determination as to whether the destination address is identified in the packet. If the address is identified, then the unicast packets are converted to a multicast packet and forwarded to a connected station. If a destination network address is not identified, then the packet is forwarded to the connected station. |
| US09019881B2 |
Method and system for waking up node B cell
A method for waking up a Node B (NB) cell is provided. When a User Equipment (UE) in an idle state arrives in an area of a Home NB cell in which the UE ever resided, but does not search out signals of the Home cell, the UE reports Proximity Indication (PI) information to a network side through a specific Tracking Area Update (TAU) process; when determining that there is need to wake up the NB cell according to footprint information which is reported by the UE and obtained in the specific TAU process, the network side wakes up the NB cell. The method ensures that the UE in an idle state wakes up the sleeping Home NB cell (or macro cell) in time and gets service from the Home NB cell (or macro cell), thus a network coverage problem caused by cell sleeping for saving energy is avoided. |
| US09019879B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving system information update control information in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving system information update control information in a sleep mode in a wireless communication system. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method in which a terminal in a sleep mode receives system information update control information in a wireless communication system comprises: receiving, by the terminal from a base station, system information update control information including information on whether or not each of a plurality of secondary super frame header subpacket information elements (hereinafter, referred to as “S-SFH SP IEs”) is changed during a listening window; and receiving a changed S-SFH SP IE using the system information update control information. |
| US09019876B2 |
Virtual linking using a wireless device
A system and method for virtual linking a wireless device to another device is disclosed herein. The system includes an access point and a controller configured to mediate transmissions between the wireless device and the another device. The system further includes a virtual device table and a permissions filter to ensure virtual linking between devices that have matching access right and requested services. The wireless device and the another device may have the same or dissimilar protocols. |
| US09019872B2 |
Generation of HARQ-ACK information and power control of HARQ-ACK signals in TDD systems with downlink of carrier aggregation
Methods and apparatus are provided for a User Equipment (UE) configured to have multiple cells in a DownLink (DL) of a Time Division Duplex (TDD) communication system so as to determine a power of an acknowledgement signal that the UE transmits in a control channel and to determine a number of acknowledgement information bits that the UE multiplexes with data information bits in a data channel. A transmission power of the control signal is determined based on DL Assignment Index (DAI) Information Elements (IEs) in DL Scheduling Assignments (SAs) that the UE detects through multiple transmission time intervals and through the multiple configured DL cells. The number of acknowledgement information bits in the data channel is determined based on a DAI IE of an UpLink (UL) SA associated with the transmission of the data channel. |
| US09019871B2 |
Method for transmitting/receiving signal and device therefor
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method comprising: setting a first cell having a first TDD UL-DL configuration and a second cell having a second TDD UL-DL configuration; receiving a PHICH signal in a subframe #(n−L) of the first cell, or receiving a PDCCH signal in a subframe #(n−K) of the first cell; and transmitting a PUSCH signal in a subframe #n of the second cell, corresponding to the PHICH signal or the PDCCH signal, wherein the relationship between the subframes #(n−L), #(n−K), and #n is determined in consideration of a parameter value set in a specific TDD UL-DL configuration, which is the TDD UL-DL configuration having the least number of UL subframes from TDD UL-DL configuration(s), in which subframes set as UL in the first or second cell are all set as ULs. |
| US09019868B2 |
Methods and apparatus to manage conference calls
Methods and apparatus to manage conference calls are described. An example method includes classifying participants of the conference call in a hierarchy according to respective priority values; detecting an attempt of a participants to speak at a same time; detecting which one of the participants has a lower priority ranking; blocking an audio signal of the one of the participants having the lower priority ranking; placing an identifier associated with the blocked one of the participants in a queue; organizing the queue according to a behavior-based policy by comparing an utterance of a current speaker to a keyword associated with the conference call to determine a relevancy of the utterance; and increasing a point total associated with the current speaker in response to determining that the utterance is substantially relevant, and decreasing the point total associated with the current speaker in response to determining that the utterance is substantially irrelevant. |
| US09019864B2 |
System and method of wireless enabled device configuration over an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)
Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems for configuring a wireless-enabled device over an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network. In accordance with one aspect, a method is provided comprising receiving, from a first device via a first network, information about one or more wireless access points accessible by the first device. The method further comprises receiving, from a second device via a second network, configuration information for the first device for configuring the first device to connect to a wireless network through one of the one or more wireless access points; and configuring the first device using the configuration information. In one aspect, configuring the first device includes sending at least a portion of the configuration information to the first device via the first network. |
| US09019859B2 |
Method for calibrating listen duration and listen interval and control module thereof
A method for calibrating a listen duration and a listen interval and a control module thereof are provided. The method is suitable for being applied in a wireless device and monitoring beacons transmitted by a wireless access point (AP) within a wireless transmission range to calibrate the listen duration and the listen interval. The method includes: calculating an average beacon-receiving time and an RMS beacon-receiving time according to a beacon-receiving interval obtained within a first specific time frame when the listen duration and the listen interval are determined to be calibrated; setting the average beacon-receiving time and the RMS beacon-receiving time as an optimal listen interval and an optimal listen duration, respectively; monitoring beacons in X optimal listen durations according to the optimal listen interval and the optimal listen duration; if at least Y beacons are received, determining the calibration is successful, wherein X and Y are positive integers. |
| US09019857B2 |
Idle measurement periods in a communication network
A transmission frame is communicated to cause a media idle measurement period on a contention based communication media. The media idle measurement period (i.e., “quiet period”) provides a period of inactivity on the communications medium that may be used to detect for the presence of foreign signals such as radio broadcast interference, noise, or other signals, or may be used for calibration of circuitry coupled to the communications medium. Idle measurement periods may be caused regularly (e.g., periodically). The transmission frame may include an explicit instruction for the media idle measurement period or may cause the media idle measurement period by simulating a collision on the communications media. |
| US09019850B2 |
CSI reporting for multiple carriers with different system configurations
Techniques to support periodic reporting of channel state information (CSI) for multiple component carriers (CCs) with different system configurations are disclosed. A user equipment (UE) is configured with multiple CCs for carrier aggregation. Each CC is associated with a particular system configuration, which indicates whether FDD or TDD is utilized and, if TDD is utilized, a particular uplink-downlink configuration for the CC. Each CC is associated with a set of subframes available to send CSI on that CC, which is determined based on the system configuration of the CC. The multiple CCs configured for the UE include at least two CCs associated with different system configurations and different sets of subframes available to send CSI. The UE sends CSI for a first CC on a second CC based on a set of subframes available to send CSI on the second CC. |
| US09019846B2 |
Reducing the impact of hidden nodes in mesh networks
In one embodiment, hidden neighbor relationships are identified based on received neighbor information from a plurality of nodes in a communication network. Based on determining a number of hidden neighbors for a particular node at various node parameters, a cost function associated with the particular node may be determined and utilized. In another embodiment, a number of hidden nodes of the particular node is determined across a range of transmission powers, and a delay associated with the particular node reaching a root node in the network across the range of transmission powers is also determined based on the neighbor nodes reachable at respective transmission powers. A tradeoff is determined across the range of transmission powers between the number of hidden nodes and the delay, and then the transmission power of the particular node can be set based on an acceptable determined tradeoff. |
| US09019844B2 |
Radio carrier identification methods and apparatus
A user equipment (UE) in a communication system measures the power received in a bandwidth on possible downlink carriers in a frequency band that is supported by the UE in order to search for available carriers. Search times can be decreased on average by using a specially configured filter to process the received power measurements and then determining likely carriers based on the filtered values. Metrics from the filter can be used to indicate both where to perform cell search and where not to perform cell search. |
| US09019843B2 |
Utilizing stored data to reduce packet data loss in a mobile data network with data breakout at the edge
In a mobile data network with a breakout system, when data is broken out, the RLC function is split into two different flows, between the UE and the breakout system and between the breakout system and the RNC. These two flows are processed by different RLC functions that may drift apart and become out of synchronization resulting in errors that diminish the user's quality of experience. Other errors may also occur in communication on these two different flows. The breakout system attempts to correct these errors using data stored locally in communication data structures for the two data flows. If the errors cannot be corrected, the breakout system can initiate an RLC reset into both of these flows to resynchronize the data communication. |
| US09019838B2 |
Central piece of network equipment
A central piece of network equipment having at least one Ethernet connector having first and second pairs of contacts used to carry BaseT Ethernet communication signals and at least one electrical supply used by the central piece of network equipment to change impedance between at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts. |
| US09019834B2 |
Systems and methods for link load balancing on a multi-core device
Systems and methods are described for link load balancing, by a multi-core intermediary device, a plurality of Internet links. The method may include load balancing, by a multi-core device intermediary to a plurality of devices and a plurality of Internet links, network traffic across the plurality of Internet links. The multi-core device providing persistence of network traffic to a selected Internet link based on a persistence type. A first core of the multi-core device receives, a packet to be transmitted via an Internet link to be selected from the plurality of Internet links. The first core sends to a second core of the multi-core device a request for persistence information responsive to identifying that the second core is an owner core of a session for persistence based on the persistence type. The first core receives the persistence information from the second core and determines to transmit the packet to the Internet link previously selected based on the persistence information received from the second core. |
| US09019832B2 |
Network switching system and method for processing packet switching in network switching system
A network processor for processing packet switching in a network switching system is disclosed. The network processor includes a first memory for storing a first packet among a plurality of packets; a second memory for storing a second packet among the plurality of packets; and a memory selecting unit for selecting the first memory or the second memory for storing each of the plurality of packets according to whether a traffic of the network switching system is congested; wherein attributes of the first memory and the second memory are different. |
| US09019822B2 |
Apparatus and methods for block acknowledgment compression
Systems, methods, and devices for compressing block acknowledgment (ACK) frames/packets are described herein. In some aspects, a method of communicating in a wireless network includes generating a compressed block acknowledgment frame comprising a physical layer header, the physical layer header including at least one of the following: a block acknowledgment identifier, a starting sequence number of the compressed block acknowledgement frame, and a bitmap. The method further includes transmitting the compressed block acknowledgment frame. |
| US09019820B1 |
Optimizing voice services
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for optimizing voice services are provided. Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) is an algorithm that implements fast retransmissions of lost blocks or packets of data. HARQ is an error correcting algorithm. Data may be lost at any layer of a protocol stack, thus, increasing a retransmission rate. In order to reduce the retransmission rate and increase quality of voice services, HARQ may be implemented at each layer of a protocol stack based on, for example, radio frequency signal and retransmission rates. |
| US09019817B2 |
Autonomic network management system
The present invention relates to an autonomic network management system which includes: an active measurement unit that measures and analyzes a network state in an active measurement scheme; a passive measurement unit that measures and analyzes the network state in a passive measurement scheme; an autonomic management control unit that respectively receives the measured and analyzed results of the network from the active measurement unit and the passive measurement unit to determine the network state; and a transmission path control unit that receives a transmission path message from the autonomic management control unit to control a transmission path according to the transmission path message. |
| US09019813B2 |
Active IP forwarding in an event driven virtual link aggregation (VLAG) system
In one embodiment, a networking system includes a first networking switch positioned at a boundary between Layer-2 (L2) and Layer-3 (L3), the first networking switch including a first virtual router redundancy protocol (VRRP) module, a second networking switch connected to the first networking switch via an interswitch link (ISL), the second networking switch being positioned at the boundary between L2 and L3 and including a second VRRP module, and an access switch positioned in L2, the access switch being configured to be connected to the first and second networking switches in a virtual link aggregation (vLAG), the first VRRP module being configured to perform active internet protocol (IP) forwarding when the second networking switch is not performing active IP forwarding, and the second VRRP module being configured to perform active IP forwarding when the first networking switch is not performing active IP forwarding. |
| US09019808B2 |
Method for transferring data stream
A method for transmitting data stream includes the steps of analyzing a request to generate a transmitting command, calculating a data receiving ability of a receiving end when receiving the transferring command, calculating an I frame dividing rate, a P frame dividing rate, and a B frame dividing rate based on the data receiving ability, dividing an I frame, a P frame, and a B frame based on the I frame dividing rate, the P frame dividing rate, and the B frame dividing rate to generate a plurality of I frame segments, P frame segments, and B frame segments, transmitting the I frame segments, P frame segments, and B frame segments of the data stream to the receiving end in turn base on the data receiving ability. |
| US09019806B1 |
Low friction linear tracking tone arm
This invention is provides a means of playing LP records with minimal distortion. Low distortion is achieved by eliminating tracking error normally associated with pickup cartridges mounted to pivoting tone arms. This invention discloses a tone arm that constrains the motion of the stylus to straight radial path, mimicking the cutting path of the record lathe, supported on parallel rails by free rolling spherical bearings. Unlike many previous linear tracking tone arms, this invention does not rely on air pressure or servo motor mechanisms. The use of free rolling bearings or axles between parallel tracks fashioned from rails, rods or tubes, eliminates all sources of lateral friction other than pure static and rolling friction of the balls on the rails, rods or tubes. In the preferred embodiment, the fixed rods or tubes are driven synchronously, thereby eliminating static friction of the supporting rolling balls. Friction is further reduced using magnetic or buoyant support of the tone arm to reduce bearing load to that amount minimally sufficient to maintain full contact between the rolling balls and the upper and lower rods. |
| US09019802B2 |
Solar-powered electronic timepiece
The solar battery includes a plurality of cells having a same electromotive force with each other. The display device further includes a display means to display time, and a control means to control operation of the display means. The electromotive force of the solar battery is lower than a deterioration-start voltage of the rechargeable battery. The electromotive force of the cells is higher than a lower-limit driving voltage of the display device, in which a number of such cells equals a total number of cells include in the solar battery minus one. A driving voltage of the display means is lower than the aforementioned lower-limit driving voltage, and an operational voltage of the control means is lower than the aforementioned lower-limit driving voltage. |
| US09019798B2 |
Acoustic reception
A pressure-balanced acoustic-signal-receiving apparatus and methods therefor. The apparatus may comprise a first housing, a first actuator, a second housing, and a second actuator. The first housing may comprise a fluid chamber, a passage connecting a first and second portion of the fluid chamber, a tubular-contact assembly, an isolating member within the fluid chamber and coupled to the assembly, an acoustic-signal receiver within the isolating member and coupled to the assembly, and a communication member coupled to the receiver. A method for receiving an acoustic signal generated within a wellbore may comprise receiving the acoustic signal with a tubular-contact assembly, sensing the acoustic signal with an acoustic-signal receiver positioned within a fluid chamber and coupled to the assembly, equilibrating fluid pressures in the first and second portions of the fluid chamber, and transmitting information generated by the acoustic-signal receiver through a communication member. |
| US09019797B2 |
Deghosting using measurement data from seismic sensors
Measurement data is received from first and second seismic sensors, where the first and second seismic sensors are oriented in opposite directions. Each of the first and second seismic sensors has a sensing element responsive to pressure and particle motion. The signals can be combined to remove the particle motion component of the measurement data and obtain pressure-only data. Alternatively, the signals can be combined to deghost the received measurement data. |
| US09019794B2 |
Memory device with reduced on-chip noise
In some examples, a memory device includes multiple memory banks equipped with an isolation switch and dedicated power supply pins. The isolation switch of each memory bank is configured to isolate the memory bank from global signals. The dedicated power supply pins are configured to connect each of the memory banks to a dedicated local power supply pads on the package substrate to provide local dedicated power supplies to each of the memory banks and to reduce voltage transfer between memory banks over conductors on the device, the device substrate, or the package substrate of the memory device. |
| US09019793B1 |
Semiconductor devices
The semiconductor device includes a fuse data storage unit, a power source signal generator and a redundancy signal generator. The fuse data storage unit generates a section signal, a fuse clock signal, a fuse reset signal and a fuse data in response to a first power-up signal generated from a power supply voltage signal. The redundancy signal generator generates a fuse set signal that is counted in response to the fuse clock signal, generates an input reset signal and an input set signal from the fuse set signal and the fuse reset signal in response to the section signal, and latches the fuse data in response to the input reset signal and the input set signal to generate a redundancy signal. |
| US09019792B2 |
Fast startup hybrid memory module
A memory device is provided comprising: a volatile memory device, a non-volatile memory device, a memory control circuit volatile memory controller coupled to the volatile memory device and non-volatile memory device, and a backup power source. The backup power source may be arranged to temporarily power the volatile memory devices and the memory control circuit upon a loss of power from the external power source. Additionally, a switch may serve to selectively couple: (a) a host memory bus to either the volatile memory device or non-volatile memory device; and (b) the volatile memory device to the non-volatile memory device. Upon reestablishment of power by an external power source from a power loss event, the memory control circuit is configured to restore data from the non-volatile memory device to the volatile memory device prior to a host system, to which the memory device is coupled, completes boot-up. |
| US09019789B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit having differential signal transmission structure and method for driving the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes an input data line pair, a sense amplifier configured to sense and amplify data loaded in the input data line pair and transmit the amplified data to an output data line pair, in response to a control signal, and a sense amplification controller configured to sense an amplification level of the output data line pair, limit an activation period of a sense amplification enable signal, and output the limited signal as the control signal. |
| US09019786B2 |
Repair system for repairing defect using E fuses and method of controlling the same
A system for repairing a plurality of semiconductor chips each comprising a data storage region including electric fuses connected to the data storage regions of the plurality of semiconductor chips, a defect determination unit configured to read the data of a chip that is actually accessed and the data of an idle chip in the data storage regions, compare the actually accessed and read data with the data of the idle chip, and detect a defect based on a result of the comparison, a storage unit configured to store the defective position of the defect according to a result of the defect determination unit, and a repair unit configured to repair the defect through an E fuse connected to the position of the defect using a reset signal. |
| US09019784B2 |
Data training device
A data training device includes a training control block configured to activate driving signals for driving a bit line sense amplifier, with a word line deactivated, when a write training operation is performed according to a mode register write command; and the bit line sense amplifier configured to store training data according to the driving signals from the training control block. |
| US09019781B2 |
Internal voltage generation circuit
An internal voltage generation circuit includes: a selection unit configured to select one of first and second reference voltages as a selection reference voltage in response to a self refresh signal and a power-down mode signal and output the selection reference voltage; a driving signal generation unit configured to compare the selection reference voltage with a negative word line voltage applied to an unselected word line and generate a driving signal; and a driving unit configured to change the negative word line voltage in response to the driving signal. |
| US09019778B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes a memory chip which includes: a memory area; a data input/output block configured to communicate with the memory area; and a data transmission/reception block configured to connect one of a plurality of channels and a pad to the data input/output block, wherein the plurality of channels are configured to input and output normal data to and from another chip, and the pad is configured to input and output test data. |
| US09019771B2 |
Dielectric charge trapping memory cells with redundancy
A memory cell array of dielectric charge trapping memory cells and method for performing program, read and erase operations on the memory cell array that includes bits stored at charge trapping sites in adjacent memory cells. A bit of information is stored at a first charge trapping site in a first memory cell and a second charge trapping site in a second adjacent memory cell. Storing charge at two trapping sites in adjacent memory cells increases data retention rates of the array of memory cells as each charge trapping site can be read to represent the data that is stored at the data site. Each corresponding charge trapping site can be read independently and in parallel so that the results can be compared to determine the data value that is stored at the data site in an array of dielectric charge trapping memory cells. |
| US09019770B2 |
Data reading method, and control circuit, memory module and memory storage apparatus and memory module using the same
A data reading method for a rewritable non-volatile memory module is provided. The method includes applying a test voltage to a word line of the rewritable non-volatile memory module to read a plurality of verification bit data. The method also includes calculating a variation of bit data identified as a first status among the verification bit data, obtaining a new read voltage value set based on the variation, and updating a threshold voltage set for the word line with the new read voltage value set. The method further includes using the updated threshold voltage set to read data from a physical page formed by memory cells connected to the word line. Accordingly, storage states of memory cells in the rewritable non-volatile memory module can be identified correctly, thereby preventing data stored in the memory cells from losing. |
| US09019765B2 |
Semiconductor device, data programming device, and method for improving the recovery of bit lines of unselected memory cells for programming operation
A device comprises a non-volatile memory array, a first selection circuit selecting whether to make a first connection path between a first bit line and a first circuit node, and selecting whether to make a second connection path between the first bit line and a second circuit node, a power supplying circuit supplying a power supply voltage to the first circuit node, the power supply voltage being, when the first connection path is selected to be made, supplied to the first bit line, and a first voltage supplying circuit supplying a first voltage to the second circuit node, the first voltage being, when the second connection path is selected to be made, supplied to the first bit line, the first voltage and the power supply voltage being higher than a ground potential, and the first voltage being higher than the power supply voltage. |
| US09019764B2 |
Low-voltage page buffer to be used in NVM design
A low-current FN channel for Erase, Program, Program-Inhibit and Read operations is disclosed for any non-volatile memory using FN-tunneling scheme for program and erase operation, regardless NAND, NOR, and EEPROM and regardless PMOS or NMOS non-volatile cell type. As a result, all above NMV memories can use the disclosed LV, compact PGM buffer to replace the traditional HV PGM buffer for saving in the silicon area and power consumption. The page buffer is used to store new loaded data for new writing and to convert the stored data into the required BL HV voltage for either Erase or Program operations according to the stored data. In addition, the simpler on-chip State-machine design can be achieved with the superior quality of NVMs of this disclosure. |
| US09019763B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
This nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a transistor string formed on a substrate and including a plurality of first transistors connected in series with each other. A first bit line is connected to a first end of the transistor string. A source line is connected to a second end of the transistor string. A memory string extends in a direction perpendicular to the substrate and comprises a plurality of nonvolatile memory transistors and a select transistor connected in series. Moreover, a part of the memory string is connected to a gate of the first transistor. |
| US09019761B1 |
Memory device and column decoder for reducing capacitive coupling effect on adjacent memory cells
A memory device includes a memory cell array and a column decoder. The memory cell array includes a plurality of even local bit lines and a plurality of odd local bit lines. The column decoder includes a plurality of even pass transistors and a plurality of odd pass transistors. Each of the even pass transistors has a, control terminal coupled to a respective one of a plurality of even selection lines, a first terminal coupled to a respective one of the even local bit lines, and a second terminal coupled to an even global bit line. Each of the odd pass transistors has a control terminal coupled to a respective one of a plurality of odd selection lines, a first terminal coupled to a respective one of the odd local bit lines, and a second terminal coupled to an odd global bit line. |
| US09019760B2 |
Multilevel memory device
A memory device is provided, including a back gate including a first portion of electrically conductive material, a first portion of dielectric material arranged on the back gate, a semiconductor nanobeam arranged on the first portion of dielectric material, a second portion of dielectric material covering the semiconductor nanobeam, a portion of material configured to receive electrons and holes, and configured to store electrical charges and covering the second portion of dielectric material, a third portion of dielectric material covering the portion of material configured to perform storage of electrical charges, and a front gate including a second portion of electrically conductive material covering the third portion of dielectric material. |
| US09019758B2 |
Spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy multilayers
A spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM) element includes a composite fixed layer formed on top of a substrate and a tunnel layer formed upon the fixed layer and a composite free layer formed upon the tunnel barrier layer. The magnetization direction of each of the composite free layer and fixed layer being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. The composite layers are made of multiple repeats of a bi-layer unit which consists of a non-magnetic insulating layer and magnetic layer with thicknesses adjusted in a range that makes the magnetization having a preferred direction perpendicular to film plane. |
| US09019757B2 |
Spin wave element
A spin wave element includes a substrate, a multilayer, a detecting portion, and two or more input portions. The multilayer having a lamination direction thereof is formed on the substrate and includes a first ferromagnetic layer. The first ferromagnetic layer has magnetization whose direction is in the lamination direction. The detecting portion and the input portions are formed on the multilayer and separated from each other by a first nonmagnetic layer. In addition, a portion of an outer edge of the multilayer viewed from the lamination direction makes a portion of one ellipsoid. The detecting portion and one of the input portions are located on the long axis of the one ellipsoid. The portion of the one ellipsoid is located on a side of one of the input portions. |
| US09019751B2 |
Process tolerant circuits
Various integrated circuits and methods of operating the integrated circuits are disclosed. The integrated circuit may include a circuit having one or more electrical parameters resulting from process variations during the manufacture of the integrated circuit, and a voltage source configured to supply a voltage to the circuit to power the circuit, wherein the voltage source is further configured to adjust the voltage as a function of the one or more electrical parameters. |
| US09019750B2 |
Dynamic random access memory apparatus
The present invention provides a dynamic random access memory apparatus includes a first chip and a second chip. The first chip includes a plurality of memory cells and a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs). The plurality of memory cells are arranged in an array. First terminals of the TSVs are respectively coupled to the memory cells. The first chip and the second chip are overlapped, the second chip includes a plurality storage capacitors. Second terminals of the TSVs are respectively coupled to the storage capacitors storage capacitors. |
| US09019748B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and operation method thereof
This semiconductor memory device comprises: a memory cell array including plural bit lines, plural word lines intersecting the plurality of bit lines, and memory cells provided at intersections of the plural bit lines and the plural word lines; and a control unit operative to control a voltage applied to the bit line and the word line. The control unit, when performing a certain operation consecutively on a plurality of the memory cells, selects a first bit line selected from among the plural bit lines and a first word line selected from among the plural word lines to perform a first operation on a first memory cell. Then, in a subsequent second operation following this first operation, selects a second bit line different from the first bit line and a second word line different from the first word line to select a second memory cell. |
| US09019729B2 |
Controller for a switched mode power converter
A switched mode power converter controller outputs a switch control signal for a switch, receives sensed voltage and primary current input signals, and includes a constant current mode controller to process voltage input signals and generate output control signals for controlling converter peak current and/or switching frequency operational; a constant voltage mode controller processes the voltage input signal and generates output control signals for converter peak current and/or switching frequency operational parameters; a primary peak current adjuster processes primary current input and output control signals from the current and voltage mode controllers to configure the switch control signal to turn off the switch; a switching frequency adjuster processes output control signals from the current and voltage controllers to configure the switch control signal to turn on the switch. The constant current controller is enabled if the constant voltage controller signals represent operation with maximum peak current and switching frequency. |
| US09019727B2 |
Temperature compensation of output diode in an isolated flyback converter
An isolated flyback converter having temperature compensation (TC) uses primary side sensing and an output diode, the output diode having a variable voltage drop related to its temperature. A feedback voltage VFB, proportional to the output voltage VOUT, in a feedback loop is compared to a fixed reference voltage VREF for setting a duty cycle of a power switch, wherein VFB is caused to approximately equal VREF. A TC circuit has a voltage source configured to generate a proportional-to-absolute-temperature voltage VPTAT, wherein VPTAT is at approximately VREF at a calibration temperature T0 and rises as a temperature exceeds T0. The voltage source is connected to the VFB node via a TC resistor RTC, so that at T0 no current flows through RTC. Therefore, the selection of the optimal RTC does not affect the selection of a scaling resistance for generating VFB. The current through RTC at elevated temperatures compensates VOUT. |
| US09019717B2 |
Device with an integrated circuit
A device having an integrated circuit and a circuit package. A first terminal contact, a second terminal contact, and a third terminal contact are brought out of the circuit package. The first terminal contact and the second terminal contact are each connected to terminals of the integrated circuit for power supply. The third terminal contact is connected to a terminal of the integrated circuit in the circuit package for signal transmission. A first capacitor is connected to the first terminal contact and a second capacitor is connected to the third terminal contact, wherein a fourth terminal contact and a fifth terminal contact are brought out of the circuit package, and the first capacitor is connected to the fourth terminal contact, and the second capacitor is connected to the fifth terminal contact. |
| US09019713B2 |
Portable electronic apparatus
A portable electronic apparatus includes a first body, a rotating structure, a supporting element, and a second body. The first body includes an upper surface. The rotating structure combines with the first body and rotates relative to the first body around a first axis which is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface. The supporting element combines with the rotating structure and rotates relative to the rotating structure around a second axis which is substantially parallel to the upper surface. The supporting element includes a main structure and at least one sliding portion disposed at the main structure. The second body includes at least one corresponding sliding portion disposed corresponding to the at least one sliding portion. The second body movably combines with each sliding portion of the supporting element through each of the corresponding sliding portions, such that the second body slides relative to the supporting element. |
| US09019712B2 |
Electrical subsea node
An electrical subsea node for communicating data between at least one sensor at a sea bottom and a topside unit above the sea surface may include: a water tight container; a first electronic module extending in a first area of a first area size in a plane of a maximal spatial extent of the first electronic module; and at least one second electronic module extending in a second area of a second area size in a plane of a maximal spatial extent of the second electronic module, wherein the first and second electronic modules are coupled for data communication and arranged inside the container to form a module arrangement extending in an arrangement area of an arrangement area size in a plane of a maximal spatial extent of the module arrangement, wherein the arrangement area size is smaller than a sum of the first and second area sizes. |
| US09019710B2 |
Devices having flexible printed circuits with bent stiffeners
A flexible printed circuit may be laminated to a metal stiffener. The stiffener may be bent to hold the flexible printed circuit in a desired position. Openings may be formed in the stiffener. Metal traces on the flexible printed circuit may be accessed through the openings. Test points in the metal traces may be accessed through the openings or components may be mounted to the metal traces on the flexible printed circuit through the openings. The stiffener may have bends. The bends may be used to shape the stiffener and flexible printed circuit to form an enclosure. The openings in the stiffener may overlap the bends or may be located away from the bends. Flexible printed circuits mounted on bent stiffeners may be used to form elongated tubes with planar sides. |
| US09019704B2 |
Heat storage by phase-change material
Methods and means related to rejecting heat through thermal storage are provided. A heat sink includes internal cavities containing a phase-change material. Heat from a thermal load is rejected by flowing fluid coolant at a normal operating temperature. Failure of the fluid coolant system causes heat storage within the phase-change material at a temperature slightly greater than the normal operating temperature. Restoration of the fluid coolant system results in stored heat rejection and a return to a normal operating temperature. Normal operation of the thermal load can be performed while efforts are made to restore the fluid coolant system. |
| US09019700B2 |
Method of operating an energy center
Methods are provided for creating and operating data centers. A data center may include an information technology (IT) load and a fuel cell generator configured to provide power to the IT load. |
| US09019699B2 |
Mass storage device with elastomeric material and related portable computing device and method
Absorbers for a mass storage device are provided. The absorbers may be configured to protect the mass storage device from drop events and reduce the transmission of vibrations from and/or to the mass storage device. Additionally, the absorbers may occupy a smaller amount of space than traditional snubber mounting arrangements. The absorbers may include major surface absorbers formed from a first elastomeric material that engage major surfaces of the mass storage device. Corner absorbers formed from a second elastomeric material may engage the corners of the mass storage device and the side walls of a compartment in a case. The major surface absorbers and the corner absorbers may distribute and absorb load applied during a drop event. A related portable computing device and a related method are also provided. |
| US09019696B2 |
Protection of flexible displays
According to one aspect, the invention provides a device with a flexible display screen. The flexible display screen is rollable around an axis between a rolled-up state and an unrolled state. For stiffening the screen, stiffening elements are attached to the flexible display screen. The stiffening elements are compressible. They are compressed when the display screen is in a rolled-up state, so as to decrease the size of the rolled-up display device. Therefore, the invention strengthens the display, while at the same time retains a reasonable size of the display in the rolled-up state. |
| US09019693B2 |
Electronic device and peripheral element ejecting method thereof
An electronic device capable of ejecting a peripheral element is disclosed, including a housing, a first wheel and a driving unit. The housing has a chamber, wherein the peripheral element is stored in the chamber. The first wheel is disposed in the housing, wherein the first wheel contacts the peripheral element. The driving unit is disposed in the housing, the driving unit rotates the first wheel, and the first wheel moves the peripheral element from a first position to a second position. |
| US09019690B2 |
Conductive resin composition, multilayer ceramic capacitor having the same, and method of manufacturing the multilayer ceramic capacitor
There is provided a conductive resin composition including 10 to 50 wt % of a gel type silicon rubber such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and 50 to 90 wt % of conductive metal powder particles. |
| US09019689B2 |
Power factor correction capacitors
An apparatus includes a case capable of receiving a plurality of capacitive elements, each capacitor element having at least two capacitors, and each capacitor having a capacitive value. The apparatus also includes a cover assembly with a peripheral edge secured to the case. The cover assembly includes, for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly generally at a central region of the cover assembly. Each cover terminal is connected to one of the at least two capacitors of the respective one of the plurality of capacitive elements. The cover assembly also includes, for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly at a position spaced apart from the cover terminal generally at the central region of the cover assembly. |
| US09019681B2 |
Component module for a reduced pressure treatment system
A reduced pressure treatment system includes a control unit having a control system and a reduced pressure source. The reduced pressure treatment system further includes a manifold unit in fluid communication with the reduced pressure source and a component module to augment treatment. The component module is configured to communicate with the control system of the control unit, and the component module includes a first mounting region configured to be coupled to a complimentary mounting region of the control unit. The component module further includes a second mounting region identical to the complimentary mounting region of the control unit to allow a second component module to be coupled to the first component module. |
| US09019680B2 |
Horn spark gap with a deion chamber
The invention relates to a horn spark gap with a deion chamber (8) with a non-blowout design having a multi-part insulating housing as supporting and accommodating body for the horn electrodes (1, 2) and the deion chamber (8) and means for conducting the arc-induced gas flow, wherein the insulating housing is divided in the plane spanned by the horn electrodes and forms a first and a second half-shell. According to the invention, the horn electrodes (1, 2) have an asymmetrical form. The arc running region (11) between the electrodes is delimited in the direction of the deion chamber by a plate-shaped insulating material (20), wherein the plate-shaped insulating material (20) is inserted into a respective first shaped portion of the respective half-shell in a form-fitting manner. Furthermore, the first shaped portions accommodate a ferromagnetic deposit (21) of the arc running region (11). |
| US09019675B2 |
Method and structure for detecting an overcurrent in a triac
A method comprising: a) during at least part of a conduction phase of the triac, measuring the gate potential of the triac; and b) comparing a value based on said measurement with a reference threshold and deducing the presence or the absence of an overcurrent based on said comparison. |
| US09019672B2 |
Chip with electrostatic discharge protection function
A chip with electrostatic discharge protection function includes two power rails, a pin, a P-type FinFET, an N-type FinFET, two Fin-resistors, two diodes and an ESD unit. The pin is electrically connected to one power rail sequentially through one Fin-resistor and the P-type FinFET and electrically connected to the other power rail sequentially through the other Fin-resistor and the N-type FinFET. The two FinFETs are configured to have the control terminals thereof for receiving a transmission signal. The pin is further electrically connected to the two power rails through the two diodes, respectively. The ESD unit, electrically connected between the first and second power rails, is configured to provide an ESD path between the first and second power rails. |
| US09019671B2 |
Electronic device comprising RF-LDMOS transistor having improved ruggedness
The invention relates to an electronic device comprising an RF-LDMOS transistor (1) and a protection circuit (2) for the RF-LDMOS transistor. The protection circuit (2) comprises: i) an input terminal (Ni) coupled to a drain terminal (Drn) of the RF-LDMOS transistor (1); ii) a clipping node (Nc); iii) a clipping circuit (3) coupled to the clipping node (Nc) for substantially keeping the voltage on the clipping node (Nc) below a predefined reference voltage, wherein the predefined reference voltage is designed to be larger than the operation voltage on the drain terminal (Drn) and lower than a trigger voltage of a parasitic bipolar transistor (100) that is inherently present in the RF-LDMOS transistor; iv) a capacitance (Ct) coupled between the clipping node (Nc) and a further reference voltage terminal (Gnd), and v) a rectifying element (D1, D2) connected with its anode terminal to the input terminal (Ni) and with its cathode terminal to the clipping node (Nc). The invention provides an RF-LDMOS transistor having an improved RF ruggedness, while not, or at least to a much lesser extent, compromising the RF performance of the RF-LDMOS transistor. |
| US09019670B2 |
Bi-directional ESD protection circuit
A structure is designed with an external terminal (100) and a reference terminal (102). A first transistor (106) is formed on a substrate. The first transistor has a current path coupled between the external terminal and the reference terminal. A second transistor (118) has a current path coupled between the external terminal and the substrate. A third transistor (120) has a current path coupled between the substrate and the reference terminal. |
| US09019669B1 |
Distributed electrostatic discharge protection circuit
A distributed electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is provided. At frequencies beyond 10 GHz, the parasitic capacitance of primary ESD protection voltage clamping devices, such as diodes, hampers adequate insertion and return loss, in spite of lumped inductor tuning. An ESD protection circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure solves the problem by distributing the diode, or voltage clamping device, capacitance among several sections of an artificial transmission line. The power and ground ESD return paths are also distributed to ensure a constant current density in the voltage clamping segments, even for fast charged-device model (CDM) discharge events. By sharing the ESD return paths between differential inputs (or outputs), these return paths have no impact on differential return or insertion loss. |
| US09019667B2 |
Protection device and related fabrication methods
Protection device structures and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary protection device includes a first bipolar junction transistor, a second bipolar junction transistor, a first zener diode, and a second zener diode. The collectors of the first bipolar junction transistors are electrically coupled. A cathode of the first zener diode is coupled to the collector of the first bipolar transistor and an anode of the first zener diode is coupled to the base of the first bipolar transistor. A cathode of the second zener diode is coupled to the collector of the second bipolar transistor and an anode of the second zener diode is coupled to the base of the second bipolar transistor. In exemplary embodiments, the base and emitter of the first bipolar transistor are coupled at a first interface and the base and emitter of the second bipolar transistor are coupled at a second interface. |
| US09019665B2 |
Reader sensor, magnetic head, head gimbal assembly and disk drive unit with the same
A reader sensor comprises a first shielding layer, a second shielding layer, a read element formed therebetween, and a pair of permanent magnet layer respectively placed on two sides of the read element; and it further comprises a magnetic field generating means formed beside the read element and arranged for providing a magnetic field with a direction perpendicular to the first shielding layer and the second shielding layer, thereby stabilizing the reading performance of the reader sensor. The invention can stabilize the reading performance, ameliorate the unstable defective reader sensor, and decrease the waste and the manufacturing cost. The present invention also discloses a magnetic head, a HGA and a disk drive unit. |
| US09019663B2 |
Tolerance ring
A tolerance ring is formed of a plate member, in a ring shape that is substantially circular along a predetermined direction, and provided with a plurality of protrusions projected radially in a circumferential direction, wherein an even number of the protrusions are arranged along the circumferential direction, and a plurality of straight lines that pass through a central portion of the plurality of protrusions and a center of a circle that circumscribes the tolerance ring cross one another. |
| US09019659B1 |
Write pole with varying bevel angles
A magnetic element can have at least a write pole configured with a write pole tip that has a tip surface oriented at a first angle with respect to an air bearing surface (ABS), a first bevel surface extending from the ABS and oriented at a second angle with respect to the ABS, and a second bevel surface extending from the ABS and oriented at a third angle with respect to the ABS. The first, second, and third angles may be configured to be different and non-orthogonal to each other. |
| US09019650B1 |
Multi-stage actuator with writer position determination capability
Apparatus and method for determining a position of a writer supported by a multi-stage actuator. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a multi-stage actuator which supports a transducer adjacent a data recording surface. The multi-stage actuator has a coarse actuator and a microactuator. The transducer includes a write element and a read element. A controller is adapted to determine a position of a write element of the transducer with respect to the data recording surface responsive to a position of a read element of the transducer and a displacement distance of the microactuator away from a neutral position. |
| US09019646B2 |
Heat assisted magnetic recording device with pre-heated write element
An apparatus includes a write element configured to apply a magnetic field to write data on a portion of a heat-assisted magnetic recording media in response to an energizing current. An energy source is configured to heat the portion of the media being magnetized by the write element. A preheat energizing current is applied to the write element during an interval before writing the data to the portion of the media. The preheat energizing current does not cause data to be written to the media and brings at least one of the write element and driver circuitry into thermal equilibrium prior to writing the data on the portion. |
| US09019645B1 |
Applying digital frequency offset to timing loop
A system for providing an accumulated phase to an interpolator of a read channel, the interpolator configured to provide a digital clock signal. A frequency accumulator is configured to generate a frequency offset based on a difference between the digital clock signal and a desired clock signal. A zero phase start module is configured to, during a zero phase start, output an incremental phase jump. A phase accumulator is configured to generate the accumulated phase based on the difference between the digital clock signal and the desired clock signal, and, during the zero phase start, the incremental phase jump output by the zero phase start module, or the frequency offset generated by the frequency accumulator or a predetermined frequency offset. |
| US09019644B2 |
Systems and methods for data addressing in a storage device
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for format efficient data storage. As an example, a data storage device is described that includes: a storage medium, a read/write head assembly, and a read channel circuit. The read/write head assembly is disposed in relation to the storage medium and operable to sense information corresponding to an encoded codeword. The read channel circuit is operable to receive the encoded codeword. The read channel circuit includes a missing symbols insertion circuit, a codeword de-scramble circuit, an address insertion circuit, and a data decoder circuit. The missing symbols insertion circuit, the codeword de-scramble circuit, and the address insertion circuit together are operable to pad a derivative of the encoded codeword with a plurality of symbols, to de-scramble the derivative of the encoded codeword, and to insert address information corresponding to the derivative of the encoded codeword to yield a modified encoded codeword. The data decoder circuit is operable to apply a data decoding algorithm to the modified encoded codeword to yield a decoded output. |
| US09019643B2 |
Method and apparatus to reduce access time in a data storage device using coded seeking
Data blocks to be stored on a disk-based data storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive, etc.) are coded together to form a plurality of linearly independent network coded blocks. The network coded blocks are then stored on the data storage device. Coded seeking may then be used to retrieve the original data blocks from the data storage device in a time-efficient manner. A read request may be sent to the data storage device requesting an innovative coded packet associated with the original data blocks. In response to the read request, the data storage device may read an innovative coded packet from the disk that is closest to current position of a read element of the device. |
| US09019641B2 |
Systems and methods for adaptive threshold pattern detection
The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting patterns in a data stream. In one case, a data processing system is disclosed that includes: a pattern detector circuit operable to generate a pattern value based upon a comparison of a defined pattern to a first portion of a received input; and a comparator circuit operable to compare the pattern value to an adapted threshold, and to selectively assert a pattern found signal based at least in part on the comparison of the pattern value and the adapted threshold, where the adapted threshold is adjusted based at least in part on a noise component of a second portion of the received input. |
| US09019638B1 |
Systems and methods for performing timing acquisition in a read/write channel module
A read/write channel module including a sampling module configured to sample a read signal corresponding to data stored on a disk. A first preamble is encoded with a first timing recovery pattern on a first track of the disk. The first timing recovery pattern includes a first pattern that changes every x bits. A second preamble is encoded with a second timing recovery pattern on a second track of the disk adjacent to the first track. The second timing recovery pattern includes a second pattern that changes every y bits. A data processing module is configured to process the read signal to remove inter track interference from the read signal based on a difference between the first timing recovery pattern and the second timing recovery pattern. |
| US09019637B2 |
Plastic lens barrel and method for manufacturing the same
A plastic lens barrel and method for manufacturing the plastic lens barrel are provided. The plastic lens barrel includes a front portion, a rear portion, a side portion, and at least three gate vestiges formed on at least one of the front portion, the rear portion, and the side portion. The front portion has a front opening. The rear portion has a rear opening. The side portion connects the front portion and the rear portion. An outermost diameter of the plastic lens barrel is Dmax and Dmax<10 mm. The method for manufacturing the plastic lens barrel by injection molding with a plurality of injection channels includes the steps of providing an injection mold of a plastic lens barrel structure having at least three injection channels and injecting a molding material into the injection mold through the injection channels to obtain the plastic lens barrel. |
| US09019635B2 |
Optical imaging lens assembly and optical imaging device
An optical imaging lens assembly includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface in a paraxial region. The fourth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface in a paraxial region. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power has a convex image-side surface in a paraxial region. The sixth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface in a paraxial region, a concave image-side surface in a paraxial region and at least one convex shape in the off-axial region of the image-side surface of the sixth lens element. The fifth lens element and the sixth lens element are aspheric lens elements. |
| US09019630B2 |
Lens assembly of optical imaging system
A lens assembly of optical imaging system includes a first lens element, a second lens element, and a third lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface near an optical axis. The second lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface near the optical axis, and is made of plastic. The object-side surface and the image-side surface of the second lens element are aspheric. The third lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave near the optical axis and convex away from the optical axis, and is made of plastic. The object-side surface and the image-side surface of the third lens element are aspheric. |
| US09019624B2 |
Lens driving apparatus
Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus includes a base formed at a center thereof with a first opening; a housing coupled with the base and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening; a yoke installed on the base and including a horizontal plate having a third opening corresponding to the first opening and a vertical plate protruding upward from the horizontal plate; a bobbin movably installed in the yoke and coupled with a lens module; a coil fixedly disposed around the bobbin; a plurality of magnets provided at the vertical plate of the yoke to face the coil; and a spring installed on at least one of upper and lower portions of the yoke to return the bobbin, which has moved up due to interaction between the magnet and the coil, to its initial position. |
| US09019617B2 |
Plastic lens
A plastic lens includes a first surface and a second surface. The second surface is opposite to the first surface. At least one of the first surface and the second surface includes an optically effective portion and an outer portion. The outer portion surrounds the optically effective portion. The outer portion includes a rugged region and an abutting region. The rugged region has a plurality of protrusions thereon. The abutting region is disposed farther from a center of the plastic lens than the rugged region. |
| US09019605B2 |
Optical isolator capable of creating a large buffer area for optical beams and methods of manufacturing and using the same
An optical isolator capable of creating a larger safe buffer area for optical beam(s) and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The optical isolator includes a sandwich type wafer, a first polarizer, a Faraday rotator and a second polarizer. The first polarizer works as the incident plane of the FSI (free space isolator), while the second polarizer works as the outgoing plane of the FSI. The direction in which the second polarizer passes the polarized beam is at a 45° angle with respect to the first polarizer. The manufacturing method includes marking the edge of the second polarizer. FSIs processed by this method provide a larger buffer area for the optical beam(s) and/or a lower manufacturing cost, even though the size of the FSI is unchanged. |
| US09019604B2 |
Stereoscopic image viewing device
A stereoscopic image viewing device to be attached for stereoscopic image viewing to eyeglasses, which includes: a pair of light shutters for right and left eyes; a driver circuit for the light shutters; a power source unit for driving the light shutters; a support for supporting the light shutters; and a first binding portion for removably binding the stereoscopic image viewing device to the eyeglasses, the first binding portion being integrally formed with the support. The power source unit and the driver circuit are connected to the support by a flexible connecting member without being fixed to the light shutters. |
| US09019603B2 |
Two-parallel-channel reflector with focal length and disparity control
A two-parallel-channel reflector (TPCR) with focal length and disparity control is provided. The TPCR is connected to an imaging device, so that an image of a scene is captured to generate a stereoscopic image. The TPCR has two parallel channels that allow the imaging device to generate a left side view image and a right side view image of the shot scene synchronously. Each parallel channel includes an outward reflecting unit and an inward reflecting unit, which are designed to ensure that light rays in the parallel channels are reflected in a collimated and parallel manner. During imaging, a position and an angle of the outward reflecting unit can be adjusted to fulfill the function of controlling the disparity and the focal length. |
| US09019601B2 |
Light harvesting lens module
A light harvesting lens module for collecting an ambient light includes a plurality of annular lenses. The annular lenses are arranged in order from center to outside to form a disc-structure. Each annular lens has a light-input curved surface and a light-output curved surface. The light-input curved surface is in opposition to the center. The light-output curved surface is in opposition to the light-input curved surface, and faces the center. The light is incident on the light-input curved surface, and is refracted and tend to concentrate by the light-input curved surface. Then, the light is emitted from the annular lens, and is refracted to the direction of the center by the light-output curved surface. The ambient light is able to be compressed into a point light by the lens module, so as to increase the concentration ratio and the compression ratio to further get the effective advantage. |
| US09019594B2 |
Control method and measuring method of semiconductor optical amplifier, and semiconductor optical amplifier device
A control method of a semiconductor optical amplifier includes: controlling a driving current of the semiconductor optical amplifier in a region where a light output intensity decreases in accordance with increasing of the driving current, a drive current in the region being higher than a drive current in a region where a light output intensity increases in accordance with increasing of the driving current. |
| US09019589B2 |
Electrowetting device
An electrowetting display device comprising a picture element comprising a first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid. At least one wall comprises a first surface and a second surface at different locations on a perimeter of a display area, the first surface being less wettable to the second fluid than the second surface. |
| US09019587B2 |
Display device provided with MEMS light valve and forming method thereof
A display device provided with an MEMS light valve, comprising: a substrate, a fixed grating located on the substrate, an MEMS light valve for controlling the opening and closing of the fixed grating; a guide is disposed on the substrate. The MEMS light valve comprises: a movable grating, a movable electrode and fixed electrodes; the moveable grating is located in the guide and is electrically connected to the guide when contacting the guide; one end of the movable electrode is fixedly connected with the movable grating, and the other end is suspended; and the fixed electrodes and the movable electrode form a capacitor. When a potential difference forms between the fixed electrodes and the movable electrode, the movable electrode drives the movable grating to move in the guide, thereby opening and closing the fixed grating. Therefore, the MEMS light valve sensitivity can be enhanced and reliability is improved. |
| US09019586B2 |
Device for generating optical vortex
A device for generating optical vortex of desired topological charge is disclosed. The device comprises a circular mirror having hole at its centre and a radial slit. The mirror comprises a piezoelectric actuator. The actuator comprises a hollow tube having inner diameter equal to the diameter of the hole of the mirror, a through cut extending along the length of the tube from an inner till an outer diameter, and an inner and outer electrode being formed on inner and outer wall of the tube respectively, wherein the length of the electrode increases continuously in the azimuth direction across said outer wall. The Actuator is coaxially joined to the mirror such that the slit formed between the inner and outer diameter of the tube overlaps with the radial slit. Shape of the mirror undergoes azimuthal expansion upon applying excitation voltage across electrodes forming single turn helix to generate optical vortex. |
| US09019582B2 |
Image reading apparatus
When the two same CIS are used for a first image sensor and a second image sensor and they are arranged to face opposite sides of an original document with longer sides (i.e., a main scanning direction) thereof being aligned, if an arrangement order of the array of the imaging elements and the light guiding unit in a document conveying direction is the same, the connectors are located at opposite side ends in a front-rear direction. Thus, an electric cable connected to the connector of the second image sensor is arranged above the second image sensor and extends in a longitudinal direction. Additionally, a horizontal portion of the electric cable is supported on an upper surface of a casing accommodating the second image sensor. |
| US09019578B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image reading apparatus having a conveyed document reading function and a placed document reading function includes: a moving mechanism for moving an imaging unit; a hinge mechanism for swingably connecting a document cover to a document platen; a conveyance mechanism provided to the document cover for conveying a document upon operation of the conveyed document reading function; a driving force transmission mechanism for selectively transmitting a driving force generated from a driving source to the moving mechanism or the conveyance mechanism; a first gear rotatable by receiving the driving force from the driving force transmission mechanism; and a second gear rotatable with being meshed with the first gear for transmitting the driving force to the moving mechanism or the conveyance mechanism, a rotating center line of which coincides with a swinging center line of the hinge mechanism. |
| US09019577B2 |
Image processing device and image reading apparatus
An image processing device includes a width specifying part, a parameter value specifying part, and a density correcting part. The width specifying part specifies a width between both ends of an input image of a book about each line of the input image. The parameter value specifying part specifies a value of a density correcting parameter corresponding to the width specified by the width specifying part. The density correcting part corrects density of each line on the basis of the value of the density correcting parameter specified by the parameter value specifying part. |
| US09019575B2 |
Image reading apparatus and multifunction printing apparatus
An embodiment of this invention is directed to reading an original at a high resolution with high quality by an image reading apparatus using a 3-line CCD and white LED. The image reading apparatus according to the embodiment includes a 3-line CCD, a white LED, and a light guide configured to guide light from the LED to an original. A surface of the light guide from which light emerges toward the original is formed into a concave shape. Light from the light guide almost uniformly irradiates the reading region of an image placed on a platen glass. |
| US09019570B1 |
Systems and methods for computationally distinguishing handwritten pencil marks from preprinted marks in a scanned document
A method, system, and algorithm detects graphite responses in optical mark recognition documents using inexpensive visible-light scanners. The invention is invariant to the numerous background colors and artwork in typical optical mark recognition documents. A superposition of a graphite response image and a background image is modeled. The background image in turn is modeled as a superposition of screening, artwork, lines, and machine text components. A sequence of image processing operations and a pattern recognition algorithm is used to isolate the graphite response image from a test document by systematically removing the components of the background image. The image processing operations consist of grayscale and color segmentation and the application of the Hough transform. Components that are not removed by image processing operations are identified by calculating their texture features, and removed using a multivariate Gaussian classifier. |
| US09019569B2 |
Image reading apparatus having multiple types of holding units and cutting apparatus
An image reading apparatus including an image reading unit configured to read an image of a workpiece; a plurality of holding members each configured to hold the workpiece while image reading is performed by the image reading unit and each including an indicator identifying a type of holding member; an identification unit configured to identify the type of holding member based on a result of reading of the indicator by the image reading unit; and a correction unit configured to perform a shading correction of the image read by the image reading unit based on a result of identification by the identification unit. |
| US09019568B2 |
Accurately extracting information based on orthogonal images
During an information-extraction technique, a user of an electronic device may be instructed by an application executed by the electronic device (such as a software application) to acquire images, with different orientations (which are known to the user), of a target location on a document using an imaging sensor, which is integrated into the electronic device. After the user has taken a first image and before the user takes a second image in a different orientation of the electronic device (and, thus, the imaging sensor), the electronic device captures multiple images of the document. Then, the electronic device stores the images with associated timestamps. Moreover, after the user has taken the second image, the electronic device analyzes one or more of the first image, the second image and at least a subset of the images to extract information proximate to the target location on the document. |
| US09019562B2 |
Image forming apparatus that performs color conversion specific to a particular graphic form
An image forming apparatus includes a specific graphic form storage section, an image determination section, and determination color conversion processing section. The specific graphic form storage section is configured to store a visual image of a specific graphic form and attribute information specific to the specific graphic form as a reference image and reference attribute information, respectively. The image determination section is configured to determine at least one of (i) whether or not an image matching with the reference image is included in target data and (ii) whether or not an image having the reference attribute information is included in the target data, and detect the image identified through the determination as an image corresponding to the specific graphic form. The color conversion processing section is configured to perform specific color conversion processing for the image corresponding to the specific graphic form. |
| US09019557B2 |
Color processing method and color processing apparatus
A gloss characteristic measurement unit obtains measurement values regarding the gloss characteristic of a plurality of patches formed based on patch data in which the amount of clear color material is changed with respect to an output value from a color separation table for color materials. A color separation table generation unit selects one measurement value for each color or gray level indicated by the patch data, and generates, based on the selected measurement value and the color separation table for color materials, a color separation table in a case where the color materials and the clear color material are used. |
| US09019554B2 |
Display apparatus and method, image forming apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A display apparatus includes a display and a display controller. The display displays an image formed by an image forming apparatus. The display controller controls the display to reduce size of at least part of an image serving as a to-be-formed image formed by the image forming apparatus and to display the size-reduced image, in accordance with content of post-processing performed on a recording medium on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus. |
| US09019548B2 |
Print intent type
A system can include a page type classifier to determine a page type of a file. The system can also include a print intent identifier to map the page type of the file to a print intent subtype of the file. The print intent identifier can also map the print intent subtype of the file to a print intent type of the file. The print intent type of the file can characterize a reason to at least one of print and store the file. |
| US09019546B2 |
Image processing of digital slide images based on a macro
Method, systems, and media for processing a digital slide image. In an embodiment, an identification of a macro, representing a plurality of algorithms, and an identification of digital slide image(s) are received over a network. Parameter data is obtained for the identified macro, and the digital slide image(s) are retrieved. The plurality of algorithms represented by the identified macro are executed on the digital slide image(s) according to the parameter data. |
| US09019538B2 |
Image forming system sharing resources
An image forming system includes a print server, a request unit configured to cause the print server to request, from an image forming apparatus recently connected to a network, a resource relating to image forming processing available to the image forming apparatus, a providing unit configured to provide the resource from the image forming apparatus to the print server, through the network, in response to the request from the request unit, and a registration unit configured to store the provided resource in a storage unit and register, in a database, resource information relating to the provided resource, in the print server. |
| US09019535B1 |
Secure mobile printing from a third-party device
In some embodiments, an interface is provided that allows a user to view, identify, select, and/or contact one or more remote printing locations (e.g., in proximity to the user). In some embodiments, documents queued for remote and/or mobile printing may be released and/or printed based on proximity of a user to the printing device, or based on a release command provided by the user via the Internet and/or SMS, and/or based on other print-release triggers and/or rules. |
| US09019532B2 |
Device messaging
An apparatus includes a messaging client and a server. The messaging client is configured to receive, utilizing a first protocol, a first communication, extract a request from the first communication, and send, utilizing a second protocol, the request to the server. The server is configured to receive the request, return, utilizing the second protocol, a response to the messaging client; and forward a job instruction included in the request, The messaging client is also configured to send, utilizing the first protocol, a second communication that includes the response to a source of the first communication. |
| US09019530B2 |
Storage medium having printing program stored therein and printing apparatus
A printing program can be executed by a processing apparatus connected to a printing apparatus including a recording head transfer section for reciprocating, in a main scanning direction, a recording head for discharging ink, and a recording medium transfer section for moving the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction. The program determines total movement distances of an image at angles relative to an original position according to a first movement distance by which the recording head would move in the main scanning direction from a start of movement of the recording head to an end of discharging the ink medium if printing were performed and a second movement distance by which the recording medium would move in the sub-scanning direction if printing were performed. The program causes the printing apparatus to print the image at the angular position of the image corresponding to the smallest total movement distance. |
| US09019529B2 |
Print server and control method for facilitating printing with an unregistered device
A print server receives a print instruction from a client terminal and causes printing to be performed by a print device selected by the client terminal out of print devices registered with the print server. If a print device unregistered with the print server is selected, the print server acquires device information about the unregistered print device via the client terminal. The print server generates a print setting screen for the unregistered print device from the acquired device information and transmits the print setting screen to the client terminal. The print server further generates print data for the unregistered print device from print settings set by the client terminal on the transmitted print setting screen, and causes the printing to be performed. |
| US09019525B2 |
Printing system, control method for printing system, and storage medium
A print service server of a printing system manages information included in the print job to be transmitted and that is specific information required for specifying a user ID, and a user ID that has been registered with the print service server, an image processing apparatus transmits, to a counting server, the number of printed sheets used upon printing based on the print job and the specific information included in the print job, and the counting server queries the managing unit based on the transmitted specific information of the user ID that has been registered with the print service server and saves a user corresponding to the user ID acquired as the result of the query by the query unit, and the number of printed sheets transmitted by the transmission unit by associating them with each other. |
| US09019522B2 |
Printing apparatus and method for controling a plurality of sheet storage units
A printing apparatus according to this invention includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes. Upon receiving a print job which designates a paper feed cassette, the printing apparatus determines whether the paper size of the paper feed cassette designated by the print job that is stored in a memory matches the paper size needed for executing the print job. If the printing apparatus determines that these paper sizes do not match each other, it restricts execution of the print job. If a feeding unit is set while execution of the print job is restricted, the printing apparatus decides the set feeding unit as a feeding source of paper used to execute the print job. The printing apparatus feeds paper contained in the decided feeding unit, and executes the print job. |
| US09019517B2 |
Image reading apparatus, image forming system, and method for performing image and transport calibration
A printing medium on which a read and transport correction pattern whose longitudinal direction extends along the main scanning direction (the direction intersecting the forming and transporting direction) of a printer engine is set as a document M. The printing medium is transported such that the reading and transporting direction extends along the main scanning direction of the printer engine and is read, and read correction information for use in correcting a transport displacement of the document is set on the basis of a result of the reading. |
| US09019516B2 |
Image forming apparatus and methods used in the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus in which applications can be installed is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes an application information obtaining part for obtaining application information that is used for determining whether an application is installable in the image forming apparatus. |
| US09019515B2 |
Display input device having a program function, image forming apparatus having a program function, and display method for display input device having a program function
Provided is a display input device including a display portion for displaying a screen for setting a function, a storage portion for storing a program to be invoked and used, and an input portion for receiving inputs of selection of the function and setting of a setting value of the selected function and inputs of registration of the program and invocation of the program, and the display portion performs such security protected display as to inhibit a predefined part of contents of the registered program from being displayed as registered. |
| US09019506B1 |
Phase control for dual atom interferometers
A system for controlling a phase measurement in an atom interferometer comprising one or more lasers, a processor, and a memory. The one or more lasers are for providing interrogating beams. A first group of atoms and a second group of atoms traverse an interrogating region of the atom interferometer in substantially opposite directions. The interrogating beams interact substantially simultaneously with both atoms in the first group and atoms in the second group. The first group of atoms and the second group of atoms interact with each of the interrogating beams in a different order. The processor is configured to determine a phase adjustment offset of at least one interrogating beam based at least in part on one or more past interactions of one or more interrogating beams with either the first group of atoms or the second group of atoms. |
| US09019496B2 |
Method for estimating the amount of entities deposited on microparticles in suspension in a solution, associated device and use of said device
The invention relates to a method for estimating the amount of entities deposited on microparticles in suspension in a solution, and also to an associated device. The method comprises the following steps: (a) the solution is illuminated with a light source; (b) an optical signal formed by the scattering, in the solution, of the illuminating light is detected; (c) the optical signal obtained in step (b) is analyzed in order to obtain an indicator relating to this signal; (d) the indicator obtained in step (c) is compared with a reference indicator, obtained for a reference solution, the comparison making it possible to estimate the amount of entities deposited on the microparticles. |
| US09019494B2 |
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate and a trace detection method of a biological and chemical analyte using the same
The invention provides a surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate and a trace detection method of a biological and chemical analyte using the same. The substrate includes: a substrate having a periodic nanostructure; a reflection layer formed on the substrate; a dielectric layer formed on the reflection layer; and a metal thin film layer formed on the dielectric layer. |
| US09019487B2 |
Method for detecting parfocality of zoom-stereo microscope
A method for detecting a parfocality of a zoom-stereo microscope includes: acquiring four highest definitions corresponding to a plurality of images with a cooperation of four definition judging functions, acquiring a relatively clearest position according to the four highest definitions, comparing a definition in the relatively clearest position with a definition in a parfocal position to judge whether the relatively clearest position is the parfocal position, then adjusting a magnification of the zoom-stereo microscope to acquire the parfocal positions at a finite number of the discrete magnifications, and finally fitting a parfocal curve at the continuous magnifications. The method according to the present invention implements a parfocality detection of the stereo microscope automatically and effectively and increases a productivity, and has a high detecting precision. In addition, the method according to the present invention has a good robustness, so that users needn't intervene and adjust frequently. |
| US09019483B2 |
Method to extend single wavelength ellipsometer to obtain spectra of refractive index
Methods are provided to use data obtained from a single wavelength ellipsometer to determine the refractive index of materials as a function of wavelength for thin conductive films. The methods may be used to calculate the refractive index spectrum as a function of wavelength for thin films of metals, and conductive materials such as conductive metal nitrides or conductive metal oxides. |
| US09019479B2 |
Imaging apparatus and image processing method
Disclosed is an imaging apparatus for generating data of a phase image based on an interference pattern acquired by a shearing interferometer, including: a differential phase data calculating unit that calculates first differential phase data expressing a change of a phase in a first direction and second differential phase data expressing a change of a phase in a second direction, based on interference pattern data generated by an electromagnetic wave transmitted through a subject; a second-order differential phase data calculating unit that calculates first second-order differential phase data by differentiating the first differential phase data in the first direction, and calculates second second-order differential phase data by differentiating the second differential phase data in the second direction; and a phase data calculating unit that calculates the phase image by solving a second-order differential equation including the first and second second-order differential phase data as functions. |
| US09019473B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with an energy beam via a projection system and liquid and an immersion member forms an immersion area under the projection system with the liquid. A controller controls a stage system having first and second substrate holding members that hold first and second substrates, (i) to execute a relative movement between the first and second substrate holding members such that, while one of the substrate holding members is arranged opposed to the projection system, the other of the substrate holding members comes close to the one substrate holding members, and (ii) to move the close substrate holding members relative to the immersion member below the projection system such that the other of the substrate holding members is arranged opposite to the projection system in place of the one substrate holding members while substantially maintaining the immersion area under the projection system. |
| US09019472B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus is equipped with an encoder system which measures positional information of a wafer stage by irradiating a measurement beam using four heads installed on the wafer stage on a scale plate which covers the movement range of the wafer stage except for the area right under a projection optical system. Placement distances of the heads here are each set to be larger than width of the opening of the scale plates, respectively. This allows the positional information of the wafer stage to be measured, by switching and using the three heads facing the scale plate out of the four heads according to the position of the wafer stage. |
| US09019465B2 |
Liquid crystal lens
Provided are a liquid crystal lens, an optical filter, and a display device. The exemplary liquid crystal lens may exhibit optical anisotropy and optical isotropy according to a polarization state of incident light. When the liquid crystal lens is applied to a display device capable of generating a 2D image and a 3D image, the 3D image may be seen without glasses in the state of the optical anisotropy, and the 2D image can be seen in the state of the optical isotropy. |
| US09019459B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel which can prevent an electric short circuit (leakage) between a pair of substrates with no additional production step in the case where a multilayer spacer is used. The present invention is a liquid crystal display panel comprising: a pair of substrates; and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, wherein a first substrate of the substrates has a support substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes, transparent colored layers of plural colors overlapping with the pixel electrodes, and a multilayer spacer formed of a stacked body of three or more resin layers including transparent colored layers of plural colors, and a second substrate of the substrates has a supporting substrate and a common electrode. |
| US09019456B2 |
Touch sensitive in-plane switching (IPS) liquid crystal display comprising an electric interference shielding layer attached onto a liquid crystal layer
A touch sensitive in-plane switching (IPS) liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a liquid crystal layer, an active-matrix transistor layer with an electrode pair, a color filter substrate, and a sensing electrode layer. The sensing electrode layer may be disposed above or below the color filter substrate, and the sensing electrode layer may include two parts that are disposed above and below the color filter layer respectively. |
| US09019450B2 |
Optical compensation film and method for manufacturing the same
An optical compensation film for a liquid crystal display is provided and comprises a liquid crystal layer which is disposed on a substrate and has a plurality of first stripe-structure regions with a first thickness and a plurality of second stripe-structure regions with a second thickness, wherein each of the second stripe-structure regions is contiguous to at least one of the first stripe-structure region and the second thickness is greater than the first thickness. The method for manufacturing the optical compensation film is provided. |
| US09019449B2 |
Liquid crystal lens and display including the same
A liquid crystal lens which controls an optical path and a display which includes the liquid crystal lens. The liquid crystal lens includes a first electrode and a second electrode facing each other, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and having flat top and bottom surfaces, and a dielectric layer interposed between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer. The dielectric layer includes a section in which capacitance between top and bottom surfaces of the dielectric layer changes along a horizontal direction. |
| US09019448B2 |
Display apparatus having improved outdoor visibility
A display apparatus includes a light guide plate to emit light that enters through a side surface of the light guide plate through an upper surface of the light guide plate, a light source arranged on at least one side of the light guide plate, a reflection plate arranged under the light guide plate, a color filter layer arranged above the light guide plate, and an optical shutter arranged above the color filter layer to transmit or block at least a part of light according to electric control, wherein the color filter layer includes a transmission type color filter to transmit light in a particular wavelength band and reflect light in other wavelength bands. |
| US09019442B2 |
Stereoscopic image display device and manufacturing method thereof
A stereoscopic image display device includes a back bezel, a backlight module disposed on the back bezel, a frame set surrounding and positioning the backlight module, and a liquid crystal panel receiving light emitted from the backlight module; wherein the liquid crystal panel is surrounded and supported by the frame set and has a transparent plate attached to the display surface of the liquid crystal panel. There is a stereoscopic image producing layer formed at a side of the transparent plate facing the display surface of the liquid crystal panel. The transparent plate, the frame set, and the back bezel constitute the outward appearance of the stereoscopic image display device. |
| US09019441B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, and method and device for manufacturing same
A liquid crystal display device includes at least one engagement structure for fixing a bezel (10) to a chassis (40). The engagement structure includes a recessed portion (42) formed in a side surface (41) of the chassis and a pair of arms (50a, 50b) formed in a side wall (11) of the bezel. The pair of arms is each cantilevered and placed such that the fixed ends (51a, 51b) are positioned outward relative to the free ends (52a, 52b), respectively. The pair of arms can mutually support each other by being elastically deformed toward the chassis, and the free ends of the arms are at least partially fitted in the recessed portion of the chassis when the pair of arms is in the mutually supporting state, thus fixing the bezel to the chassis. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the width of the frame area and to automate the process of fixing the bezel. |
| US09019432B2 |
Video/audio playing method and television thereof
After a television transmits an audio signal, which is generated by decoding an audio stream, to a mobile electronic device located within a detectable range of the television in a wireless manner, the mobile electronic device plays the audio signal received from the television for fulfilling surround sound performance. |
| US09019429B2 |
Apparatus for automatic observation of climatic conditions of the sky
An automatic observation apparatus of sky climate conditions is provided in which an opening and closing device is designed such that a lid moves upward and downward by an elevator so as to open and close the upper portion of an observer and thus, although it snows in winter, the lid moves upward and downward while maintaining a state in which snow is accumulated on the lid, the snow does not collapse due to movement of the lid and does not fall onto a transparent cover of the observer, and thereby obstruction of a visual field of a camera by snow is prevented. |
| US09019428B2 |
Electronic device camera module with alignment structures
An electronic device may include a camera module. Control circuitry within the electronic device may use an image sensor within the camera module to acquire digital images. The camera module may have lens structures that are supported by lens support structures such as a lens barrel and lens carrier. An actuator such as a voice coil motor may control the position of the lens support structures relative to internal support structures such as upper and lower spacer members. Springs may be used to couple the lens support structures to the internal support structures. Outer wall structures in the camera module such as a ferromagnetic shield structures may surround and enclose at least some of the internal support structures. The outer wall structures may have openings. The internal support structures may have pins or other alignment structures that protrude through the openings. |
| US09019426B2 |
Method of generating image data by an image device including a plurality of lenses and apparatus for generating image data
A method for generating image data includes adjusting an angle formed by each of a plurality of lenses attached to the imaging device relative to a reference plane based on a photography mode, obtaining at least one first image data using the plurality of adjusted lenses, and generating second image data corresponding to the photography mode using the at least one first image data. |
| US09019425B2 |
Image pickup unit and image pickup display system
An image pickup unit includes: an image pickup section having a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion device and a field effect transistor; and a driving section, by using the transistor, that executes read driving and reset driving on a signal charge stored in the pixel. The driving section intermittently executes the reset driving a plurality of times in a one-frame term, and executes on-operation of the transistor by applying, to the transistor over at least one resetting term in the one-frame term or over a partial term in the at least one resetting term, a second voltage that is lower than a first voltage applied in a resetting term in the one-frame term other than the at least one resetting term. |
| US09019424B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, control method thereof, and program
An image pickup apparatus which can perform an AF of a high speed and a high focusing precision by simultaneously realizing a phase difference AF and a contrast AF, decides a range where a contrast evaluation can be performed on the basis of a correspondence relation between each pixel of an image pickup element which is restricted by pupil division means provided for restricting light of an optical image of an object which enters each pixel of the image pickup element to light from a specific exit pupil area of a photographing lens and the specific exit pupil area of the photographing lens, and decides a focus evaluation value of the object in accordance with the decided range from a contrast focus position or a correlation focus position. |
| US09019423B2 |
Apparatus and method of controlling drive of camera module
The present invention discloses a drive control apparatus of a camera module and a method of controlling camera module drive. The drive control apparatus of the camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a lens module movable along an optical axis; a first and a second stoppers defining maximum moving section of the lens module; and a controller for determining an available moving section by applying a first determined correction value to the maximum moving section so as to make the lens module to move between locations spaced from the first and second stoppers with a predetermined distance. According to the present invention, it is advantageously possible to reduce the electric current consumption when performing auto-focusing function. |
| US09019421B2 |
Method of manufacturing a miniaturization image capturing module
A method of manufacturing a miniaturization image capturing module includes adhesively placing a double side adhesive element onto a carrier board; adhesively placing an image capturing chip onto the double side adhesive element; adhesively placing a substrate unit onto the double side adhesive element, the substrate unit including a hollow substrate body adhered to the double side adhesive element and surrounding the image capturing chip; forming a fixing glue between the hollow substrate body and the image capturing chip to fix the position of the image capturing chip relative to the hollow substrate body; electrically connecting the image capturing chip to the substrate unit; positioning a lens unit on the top side of the hollow substrate body, the lens unit including a lens group disposed above the image capturing chip; and then removing the carrier board to expose the double side adhesive element. |
| US09019419B2 |
Lens apparatus and image pickup apparatus
The lens apparatus includes a first member having a first cam, a second member having a first cam follower engaging with the first cam and a second cam follower, which rotates in a circumferential direction and is moved in an optical axis direction by the first cam, a third member provided with a second cam engaging with the second cam follower and rotating the second member, and biasing members generating between the first and second members a biasing force in a direction oblique to the optical axis direction. The biasing force presses the first and second cam followers respectively against the first and second cams. A biasing force generation direction changes with rotation of the second member, and the biasing force presses the first and second cam followers respectively against same cam surfaces of the first and second cams in an entire second member rotation range. |
| US09019418B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, including a fixing member, and having image pickup device package mounted thereon
A mechanism enabling reduction of the size of a structure for mounting an image pickup device without affecting the amount of movement of an optical system even when screw insertion holes of a sensor plate are arranged closer to the optical axis. The sensor plate of an image pickup apparatus is mounted to a lens barrel with screws, and includes an attachment surface to which the image pickup device is attached and contact surfaces which are fixed to the lens barrel. The attachment surface is protruded from the contact surfaces. By bringing the attachment surface to the lens barrel in the optical axis direction, the device has an image pickup surface positioned with respect to the lens barrel in the optical axis direction. The sensor plate has an opening formed between the attachment surface and each contact surface, for absorbing deformation of the sensor plate. |
| US09019414B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for selecting operation mode based on reference photographing setting
A digital photographing apparatus controlling method includes: providing menus for respectively adjusting a reference photographing setting value and first group photographing setting values; and setting an operation mode according to which one of the reference photographing setting value and the first group photographing setting values a user has selected. |
| US09019412B2 |
Information communication method for selecting between visible light communication mode and normal imaging mode
An information communication method selects between a visible light communication mode in which information is obtained from a subject using an image sensor having a plurality of exposure lines and a normal imaging mode. The information communication method includes obtaining first image data by image capture with a first exposure time in the normal imaging mode by sequentially starting exposure of each of the exposure lines of the image sensor at different times. Second image data is obtained by image capture with a second exposure time in the visible light communication mode. The information is obtained by demodulating data specified by a direction in a pattern of a bright line corresponding to the exposure lines, the second exposure time being shorter than the first exposure time. The second image data is obtained by capturing light emitted from the subject and spread by an optical system. |
| US09019408B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of driving the same
To provide a semiconductor device and a driving method of the same that is capable of enlarging a signal amplitude value as well as increasing a range in which a linear input/output relationship operates while preventing a signal writing-in time from becoming long. The semiconductor device having an amplifying transistor and a biasing transistor and the driving method thereof, wherein an electric discharging transistor is provided and pre-discharge is performed. |
| US09019402B2 |
Dynamic range extension by combining differently exposed hand-held device-acquired images
Two or more digital images of a same scene are captured with different exposure levels. Image pairs are generated that have a same exposure level from the image data of differently exposed images by adjusting the exposure of at least one of the pair of images. A ghosting map is generated based on differences between the pair of images adjusted to the same exposure. A blurred ghosting map is generated and alpha blending is performed. |
| US09019397B2 |
Modular digital camera
Modular digital camera systems, such as modular digital still and motion cameras are disclosed. Individual modules may be removed from the system and replaced, such as to benefit from upgraded technology, while preserving the remaining modules in the system. |
| US09019396B2 |
Wireless communication device, memory device, wireless communication system, wireless communication method, and program recordable medium
A wireless communication device, a memory device, a wireless communication system, a wireless communication method, and a program recordable medium are possible to attach positional information to image data without changing a hardware configuration of a device such as a digital camera capable of outputting image data. A memory I/F unit receives the image data to which positional information is attached from another device. A memory unit stores the image data input to the memory I/F unit. A storage data analyzing unit extracts the positional information from the image data when image data is stored in the memory unit. A system control unit causes the extracted positional information to be wirelessly transmitted from an RF unit to another wireless communication device. |
| US09019389B2 |
Image pickup apparatus that performs exposure calculation for close-up shooting, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus that reduces a camera shake and a motion blur during close-up shooting performed by increasing shooting magnification and depth of field. A control unit determines an aperture value and a shutter speed based on information on shooting magnification and a photometry result. In a situation where luminance information based on photometry result is the same, the aperture value is set larger when the shooting magnification is larger than a first value than when not larger than the same, and in a situation where the shooting magnification is larger than the first value and the luminance information is the same, the aperture value is set larger and the shutter speed is set lower when neither a camera shake nor a motion of an object within an imaging screen has occurred than when either has occurred. |
| US09019385B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method, recording medium, and image sensing system
An object is to efficiently set an image processing parameter for a connected image sensing apparatus. In this specification, the image processing parameter for a developed image is set while displaying the developed image received from the image sensing apparatus. The set image processing parameter is transmitted to the image sensing apparatus and also held in a storage region. Upon detecting that the communication connection with the image sensing apparatus was disconnected and then reconnected, the information processing apparatus transmits the image processing parameter held in the storage region to the image sensing apparatus. |
| US09019373B2 |
Monitoring device, method thereof
A monitoring device includes an indicating unit configured to indicate an object to be monitored; a camera to acquire time-series images; a predicting unit configured to predict the position of destination of the characteristic points belonging to a first aggregation including characteristic points having an amount of movement larger than a reference amount of movement set in advance; a detecting unit configured to detect the position of center of gravity of the changed area; a determining unit configured to determine the positions of destination as an indicating position when representative amount of movement is larger than a first threshold value and determine the position of center of gravity as the indicating position when the representative amount of movement is smaller than the first threshold value; and a control unit configured to control the indicating unit to cause the indicating unit to indicate the indicating position are provided. |
| US09019370B2 |
ATM including enhanced privacy features
A method for minimizing glare and/or increasing privacy for a user of a self-service device is provided. The method may include mechanical means such as a fixed visor and/or hood or a user operated hinged glare reducing overlay screen. The method may further include as using sensors that detect the user's eyes and other sensors to detect a source of light that produces glare. Information from these sensors may be sent to a computer controlled system that operates system of actuators. The actuators are operated by the computer in response to sensor inputs to adjust the screen angle relative the user to minimize glare for that user and/or increase privacy from surreptitiously observing eyes or cameras. |
| US09019367B2 |
Method for dynamically detecting the fill level of a container, container therefor, and system for dynamically monitoring the fill level of a plurality of containers
The application pertains to detecting the fill level of a container for transporting and/or storing objects. This is achieved by determining an estimate of the number of objects in the container with the aid of a value of the container volume occupied by the objects or the already emptied container volume, on the basis of an average object volume of one or of a predetermined number of the objects, as long as the container bottom is covered by objects situated in the container. When a predetermined portion of the container bottom is visible, the objects in the container are counted, by identifying the individual objects on the container bottom. In addition, a container that is particularly suitable for the proposed methods and a system with a plurality of such containers are proposed. |
| US09019366B2 |
Laser pointer system for day and night use
A novel eye-safe, long range laser pointer system for use in day or night conditions is described. The system uses a short pulse laser and a gated camera to detect the laser spot at long ranges in the presence of a strong solar background. The camera gate is synchronized with incident laser pulses using a separate large area, fast photodiode to detect the high peak power pulses. Alternately, gate synchronization using a GPS-disciplined clock can be used. Eye-safe systems operating in the near-UV or SWIR band are described. |
| US09019362B2 |
Charged particle beam device and a method of improving image quality of the same
The invention relates to a technique of improving a contrast of a lower-layer pattern in a multi layer by synthesizing detected signals from a plurality of detectors by using an appropriate allocation ratio in accordance with pattern arrangement. In a charged particle beam device capable of improving image quality by using detected images obtained from a plurality of detectors and in a method of improving the image quality, a method of generating one or more output images from detected images corresponding to respective outputs of the detectors that are arranged at different locations is controlled by using information of a pattern direction, an edge strength, or others calculated from a design data or the detected image. In this manner, a detection area of the detected signals can be expanded by using the plurality of detectors, and the image quality such as the contrast can be improved by synthesizing the detected signals by using the pattern direction or the edge strength calculated from the design data or the detected images. |
| US09019361B2 |
Microscope apparatus and control method
A microscope apparatus and control method. An image processing unit obtains an image on a plane observation cross-section inside a sample. A drive control unit controls a galvano-scanner and a z drive unit, and inclines the entire observation cross-section in a direction where the cross-section of an observation target that appears in the image becomes long. When an edge portion of the cross-section of the observation target is detected in the observation cross-section while gradually inclining the observation cross-section, the drive control unit uses an axis passing through the edge portion as the center to incline a part of the observation cross-section located on a side, where the cross-section of the observation target does not appear, from among the sides having this axis as a boundary, in a direction where the cross-section of the observation target appears, so as to form the observation cross-section having a profile which is folded. |
| US09019358B2 |
Method for classifying a pixel of a hyperspectral image in a remote sensing application
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for simultaneous spectral decomposition suitable for image object identification and categorization for scenes and objects under analysis. The present system captures different spectral planes simultaneously using a Fabry-Perot multi-filter grid each tuned to a specific wavelength. A method for classifying pixels in the captured image is provided. The present system and method finds its uses in a wide array of applications such as, for example, occupancy detection in a transportation management system and in medical imaging and diagnosis for healthcare management. The teachings hereof further find their uses in other applications where there is a need to capture a two dimensional view of a scene and decompose the scene into its spectral bands such that objects in the image can be appropriately identified. |
| US09019349B2 |
Automated collective camera calibration for motion capture
A motion-capture system is provided. The motion-capture system includes a host computing system and a plurality of motion-capture cameras that are operatively coupled with the host computing system. Each of the motion-capture cameras is disposed in a different location and orientation relative to a motion-capture space and includes a marker-tracking optical filter to provide a marker-tracking mode and thereby relatively enhance light from markers on a moving body in the motion-capture space. One or more of the motion-capture cameras is remotely controllable to selectively interchange the marker-tracking optical filter with a scene-view optical component, so as to selectively transition the motion-capture camera between the marker-tracking mode and a scene mode, in which light from the markers is less enhanced than in the marker-tracking mode. |
| US09019346B2 |
Image processing device and method, and program
There is provided an image processing device including capturing portions that respectively capture a first image and a second image that form an image for a right eye and an image for a left eye which can be stereoscopically viewed in three dimensions, a comparison portion that compares the first image and the second image captured by the capturing portions, a determination portion that determines, based on a comparison result of the comparison portion, which of the first image and the second image is the image for the right eye and which is the image for the left eye, and an output portion that outputs each of the first image and the second image, as the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye, based on a determination result of the determination portion. |
| US09019340B2 |
Content aware selective adjusting of motion estimation
Systems, apparatus, articles, and methods are described including operations for content aware selective adjusting of motion estimation. |
| US09019335B2 |
Abstracting bridge control in a videoconferencing system
Controlling a bridge in a videoconferencing system through a remote endpoint. The endpoint may receive a generic menu-navigation user input command, such as a navigation command from a simple remote control device. The endpoint may then convert the user input into a bridge control command comprising at least one of a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal or a far-end camera control (FECC) signal. The use of DTMF and FECC signals is transparent to the user. |
| US09019330B2 |
Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
Optical scanning device includes as follows. Light emitting element emits light beam in First direction and Second direction. Mirror unit reflects light beam emitted in First direction. First light receiving element receives light beam reflected by Mirror unit. Reference signal generator generates BD signal based on signal output from First light receiving element. Second light receiving element receives light beam emitted in Second direction. Light quantity controller measures signal output from Second light receiving element and automatically controls the light quantity of light beam emitted during APC period. Light quantity controller starts the automatic control at a timing at which light beam reflected by Mirror unit passes through the position of Second light receiving element and is received by First light receiving element and completes the automatic control before light beam reflected by Mirror unit reaches the position of Second light receiving element next. |
| US09019325B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal display unit including pixels and displaying an image based on an input image signal; a drive unit that applies a voltage based on the input image signal to the pixels while inverting a polarity of the voltage for each of frames; a luminance determination unit that determines whether a detected average luminance has changed, between the frames, by an amount equal to or more than a reference luminance; and a signal generation unit that generates a phase inversion enabling signal for inverting a phase of the polarity of the voltage applied to the pixels, in a case where the luminance determination unit determines that the average luminance has changed by the above amount, wherein the drive unit inverts the phase of the polarity of the voltage applied to the pixels when the phase inversion enabling signal is generated. |
| US09019324B2 |
Display apparatus and electronic device
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including: a display section; and a light-beam control section configured to control a light beam coming from the display section or a light beam propagating to the display section; the display apparatus having a first display mode for displaying a plurality of observing-point images on the display section wherein the observing-point images include two or more first observing-point images, and one or a plurality of second observing-point images, and the number of pixels included in each of the second observing-point images is smaller than the number of pixels included in each of the first observing-point images. |
| US09019321B2 |
Gradation voltage generator and display device having the same
Embodiments may be directed to a gradation voltage generator and a display device having the same. The display device may include a gradation voltage generator including a first reference voltage selecting unit, which selects a highest reference voltage, a second highest reference voltage, a lowest reference voltage, and a second lowest reference voltage from among a plurality of first voltages between a first power voltage and a second power voltage; a second reference voltage selecting unit, which receives the highest reference voltage and the lowest reference voltage and selects and outputs a first gradation voltage and a N−1th gradation voltage; a gamma voltage selecting unit, which receives the second highest reference voltage and the second lowest reference voltage and generates a plurality of gamma voltages; and a gradation distributing unit, which receives the plurality of gamma voltages and generates second through N−1th gradation voltages. |
| US09019319B2 |
Display device for vehicle
A display device for a vehicle includes: a self-luminous indicator which has a display screen with a plurality of pixels; a display control unit that displays image information indicating at least a given display pattern on a display screen of the self-luminous indicator; a display time measuring unit that measures a display time of the self-luminous indicator; and a brightness adjusting unit that adjusts the brightness of the display screen on the basis of at least the display time measured by the display time measuring unit in order to suppress non-uniform brightness deterioration of the display screen when the non-uniform brightness deterioration occurs on the display screen. The display control unit displays the image information on the display screen of the self-luminous indicator with the brightness adjusted by the brightness adjusting unit. |
| US09019317B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method for driving the same
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel including data lines and gate lines, a data driving circuit configured to drive the data lines, a gate driving circuit configured to drive the gate lines, a timing controller configured to divide a unit frame period into a first sub-frame period and a second sub-frame period, a backlight unit configured to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel wherein the backlight unit includes a plurality of light sources, and a light source driving circuit configured to turn off all the plurality of light sources during the first sub-frame period and turns on all the plurality of light sources at a turn-on time within the second sub-frame period. |
| US09019313B2 |
Flexible display device
A display device includes a flexible display including a flexible display panel and a flexible touch panel, and a housing configured to enclose the flexible display while allowing the flexible display to move relative to the housing such that a portion of the flexible display is drawn out of the housing and retracted into the housing. The display device further includes a marker configured to contact a location of the flexible touch panel when a portion of the flexible display is drawn out of the housing. The marker is provided such that the contact location changes as the flexible display moves relative to the housing. The display device also includes at least one processor configured to compute the contact location on the flexible display and to adjust the size of an image displayed on the flexible display panel based on the computed contact location. |
| US09019309B2 |
Adaptive image manipulation
Shadows, reflections, and other image effects for use with high-resolution display screens may be quickly and efficiently generated to maximize resources available for other applications and programs. These effects may be quickly and efficiently created by identifying a region surrounding an image, distorting the image in the region, applying a uniform blur and/or other effect to the distorted image, and then undoing the distortion. By selectively applying effects to distorted images, it is possible to create the appearance of a non-uniformly applied blur and other effects without using the computing resources required to actually calculate and apply a non-uniform blur on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Systems, methods, and media are provided. |
| US09019301B2 |
Medical image display apparatus in which specification of a medical image enables execution of image processing
A medical image display apparatus 1 having a display component 9, an image data storage part 31, an information storage component 32, an operation component 10, and a control part 2. The display component 9 displays a medical image display screen P on which image display regions P1 to P4 are defined. The image data storage part 31 stores image data of medical images. The information storage component 34 stores process associating information 32a for associating combinations of the image display regions P1 to P4 with the processing content of image data of medical images. The control part 2, when two medical images displayed on different image display regions of the image display regions P1 to P4 have each been designated using the operation component 10, instructs to execute, for at least one image data of said two medical images, the process indicated in the processing content associated with the combination of the image display regions in which these two medical images are displayed by the process associating information 32a. |
| US09019300B2 |
Framework for graphics animation and compositing operations
A framework for performing graphics animation and compositing operations has a layer tree for interfacing with the application and a render tree for interfacing with a render engine. Layers in the layer tree can be content, windows, views, video, images, text, media, or any other type of object for a user interface of an application. The application commits change to the state of the layers of the layer tree. The application does not need to include explicit code for animating the changes to the layers. Instead, an animation is determined for animating the change in state. In determining the animation, the framework can define a set of predetermined animations based on motion, visibility, and transition. The determined animation is explicitly applied to the affected layers in the render tree. A render engine renders from the render tree into a frame buffer for display on the computer system. Those portions of the render tree that have changed relative to prior versions can be tracked to improve resource management. |
| US09019298B2 |
Importance sampling for hair scattering
A technique for rendering an image of hair in a computer-generated scene is described. The scene includes a virtual light source and a hair virtual object comprising a material model. A hair shading function partly defining the material model is accessed. A set of random values is generated. The hair shading function is importance sampled by converting the set of random values into a set of light direction samples based on a Cauchy distribution. The probability density function of each converted light direction sample uses a Cauchy distribution. A light color value and a hair color value are computed for each light direction sample of the set of light direction samples. The light color values and the hair color values are weighted to determine a set of weighted values. A characteristic of a pixel representing part of the virtual object is determined based on the set of weighted values. |
| US09019295B1 |
Personalized tagging of media on mobile devices
A processor-implemented method and mobile device for tagging media with personalized information is disclosed. An input component of the mobile device receives selection for one or more first media and passes the selection to the processor. The input component receives a request to tag the selected first media with personalized information, where the personalized information includes second media, which may include images or textual information. The second media corresponding to the personalized information is displayed and an input selection is received. The processor in the mobile device processes copies of the selected first media and of the selected second media using a blending computer code, thereby creating a blended media. The copy of the selected first media is a background feature and the copy of the selected second media is a foreground feature. The blended media is stored and displayed on the mobile device. |
| US09019293B2 |
Image display device, method of driving the same, image display program executed in the same, and gradation converter included in the same
Disclosed herein is an image display device, including: a display block displaying thereon an image by using pixels disposed in a two dimensional matrix; and a gradation converting block executing gradation converting processing by using an error diffusion method, wherein the gradation converting block partitions an area in which the pixels are disposed into virtual partitions, and carries out the error diffusion when the gradation converting processing is executed with respect to the pixels within the virtual partition exclusively within the virtual partition, thereby carrying out gradation conversion for the image which is displayed on the display block. |
| US09019287B2 |
Client-server visualization system with hybrid data processing
The invention comprises a system of client-server visualization with hybrid data processing, having a server digital data processor, that allows for server side rendering and processing image data, and client digital data processors simultaneously connected to the server, which receives messages from the clients, creates rendered images of data sets or other data processing results and sends those rendered images and results to the clients for display or further processing. Performing certain image rendering operations on either the server or the client according to which is better suited for the tasks requested by the user at any point in time, and possibly adjusting this division of work dynamically, improves rendering speed and application responsiveness on the clients. |
| US09019286B2 |
Remote GPU programming and execution method
User-specified GPU kernel functions and input data sets are sent over a Web service to a remote computer equipped with a programmable GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) for execution. The Web service then returns resulting data to a client, which uses the same Web service. This is accomplished by incorporating a serialized request formed from the GPU kernel function code and input data set by using JavaScript® Object Notation (JSON) serialization. The request is then sent to the remote computer and programmable GPU, where the request is deserialized, kernel code is compiled, and input data copied to the GPU memory on the remote computer. The GPU kernel function is then executed, and output data is copied from the GPU memory on the remote computer and reserialized using JSON to form a serialized response. The serialized response is then returned to the client via the web service. |