| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09031070B2 |
Methods for controlling elections in a multicast network
Methods for controlling a Designated Forwarder (DF) election in a multicast network are described herein. The multicast network includes a plurality of multicast network devices, including a first network device and a second network device. A Designated Forwarder is determined. It is determined whether to initiate a Designated Forwarder election based on a comparison of a metric measuring a distance to a Rendezvous Point Address from a first network device and a metric measuring the distance to the Rendezvous Point Address from the second network device. |
| US09031067B2 |
Routing messages
This invention relates to a method of routing for a message via an IMS system is disclosed. A message is received at an ICSCF. Address information is obtained for one of an application server, server or gateway for which said message is intended. The message is sent to said application server, server or gateway in accordance with said address information. |
| US09031058B2 |
System for interconnecting standard telephony communications equipment to internet
Apparatus includes a communication predelivery receiver, configured to communicate with and relay both IP addressed overhead and IP addressed payload data from an originating communication device. The communication predelivery receiver includes a screener configured to, when the communication predelivery receiver is in communication with the originating communication device, receive certain data including first IP addressed data and second IP addressed data of corresponding first and second initiated communications. The communication predelivery receiver is configured and connected within a network so the first IP addressed data and the second IP addressed data are processed differently. For the first initiated communication, the first payload data is converted, after the point in time at which the screener received the first IP addressed data, from IP addressed first payload data to another network signal. For the second initiated communication, the second payload data is delivered without so converting the second payload data. |
| US09031052B2 |
Uplink transmission control method in system supporting an uplink multiple access transmission mode
Disclosed herein is a method of generating an uplink reference signal in a system supporting a plurality of uplink access schemes. The method includes, at a base station, transmitting reference signal configuration information indicating the configuration of a reference signal to be transmitted in uplink, which is generated according to the plurality of uplink access schemes, to a user equipment which is set to operate in an uplink access scheme corresponding to the information, and receiving a subframe including the reference signal generated based on the reference signal configuration information from the user equipment. The reference signal configuration information includes a cyclic shift value of a sequence of the reference signal. |
| US09031046B2 |
Methods and arrangements in a radio communication system
The present invention relates to uplink transmissions and scheduling of resources for uplink transmissions in connection with packet switched communication. A radio communication network schedules time slots for transmission of bursts of a first radio block on at least two different uplink packet data channels and transmits an Uplink State Flag, associated with a mobile station for which the first radio block was scheduled, on a first downlink packet data channel representing a first subperiod within a basic uplink period. The mobile station receives the Uplink State Flag, identifies the scheduled resources for transmission of the first radio block wherein the timing of the first subperiod is derived utilizing the fact that the Uplink State Flag was received on the first downlink packet data channel and transmits the first radio block utilizing the identified resources. |
| US09031045B2 |
Mobile station device, communication system, communication method and integrated circuit
A mobile station device set to communicate with a base station device over a plurality of subframes using a plurality of cells is provided. When ACK/NACK for reception of data transmitted from the base station device is to be transmitted to the base station device using a PUCCH and the PUCCH is set to select one resource from a plurality of PUCCH candidate resources to transmit with prescribed transmit power using the selected resource, the mobile station device determines a parameter value related to prescribed transmit power in accordance with the number of cells used for data communication in the plurality of subframes. |
| US09031044B2 |
Power control for wireless LAN stations
Techniques and apparatus for controlling the transmit power of an uplink (UL) signal from a user terminal in a wireless communications system in an effort to achieve some target characteristic, such as a target carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio, at an access point (AP) are provided. In this manner, such a user terminal may help avoid or compensate for imbalances in received radio frequency (RF) power between UL signals received from multiple user terminals by the AP. For example, the transmit power at each user terminal may be controlled in an effort to achieve a target post-processing C/I ratio of 28 dB per spatial stream in an effort to reduce large power imbalances and optimize throughput per user terminal. The user terminal and the AP may compose part of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system utilizing spatial-division multiple access (SDMA) techniques. |
| US09031043B1 |
Selection of wireless coverage areas and operating points of media codecs
A request to establish a call involving a wireless communication device (WCD) served by a radio access network (RAN) may be received. The WCD may receive signals from the RAN via a plurality of wireless coverage areas at respective signal strengths. The plurality of wireless coverage areas may be defined by the RAN. A media codec to use for the call and a target bitrate for the media codec to use during the call may be determined. Based on the target bitrate, a set of n wireless coverage areas through which the WCD and the RAN communicate during the call may be selected. The value of n may be between one and a predetermined maximum number. The set of n wireless coverage areas may be selected from the plurality of wireless coverage areas. |
| US09031042B2 |
Adapting a communication network to varying conditions
Systems and methods are disclosed for adapting a communication system to varying conditions. Using some form of discovery protocol, the communication standards supported by at least two communicants are determined. Each communicant may then periodically monitor the quality of the channel established by the communication standard and dynamically select a set of one or more communication standards to use for communicating. Further, when communicants share common non-standard parameterized implementations of communication standards, changes to the protocols which the communication standards comprise can be used to add options for a more dynamic response to changing conditions than is possible when adhering only to an established communication standard. |
| US09031039B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing handover procedure in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus of performing a handover procedure in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes receiving a handover request message from a relay node (RN), and determining whether a first X2 interface between the donor BS and a target BS is available or not. |
| US09031034B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication setting method, base station, mobile station, and program
A wireless communication system including a base station and a mobile terminal, includes a setting unit to set a number of sets of at least one or more resource blocks for the mobile terminal, the at least one or more resource blocks of each set being consecutive in frequency. An allocation unit allocates the resource blocks for a transmission channel so that the resource blocks are not contiguous in frequency. A controller generates a reference signal sequence corresponding to a bandwidth of the allocated resource blocks, and maps the reference signal sequence to subcarriers according to an allocation of the resource blocks. |
| US09031031B2 |
Method and apparatus for activating or deactivating secondary carriers in time division duplex mobile communication system using carrier aggregation
A method and an apparatus for activating or deactivating a primary carrier and secondary carriers in a Time Division Duplex Long Term Evolution (TDD LTE) system using carrier aggregation are provided. An apparatus includes an User Equipment employing the method corresponding the operation associated with the activation and deactivation of SCells, which thereby performs communication with eNBs without errors. |
| US09031029B2 |
Terminal apparatus and method for transmitting a reference signal
Provided are a radio communication terminal apparatus and a radio transmission method by which intersymbol interference of DM-RS of a CoMP terminal and a Non-CoMP terminal can be reduced. A CoMP set setting unit (102) sets the cell IDs of all cells in the CoMP set in a cell selection unit (104), and a serving cell setting unit (103) sets the cell ID of the serving cell in the cell selection unit (104). The cell selection unit (104) selects the cell ID having a number closest to the cell ID of the serving cell from the cells in the CoMP set. A sequence information calculation unit (106) derives a sequence group number from the selected cell ID, and the sequence information calculation unit (106) calculates a sequence number from the derived sequence group number and a transmission bandwidth of the DM-RS. |
| US09031025B2 |
Base station, terminal, search space setting method and decoding method
The invention provides a base station that does not cause the number of blind decodings to be increased and further can prevent the flexibility of resource allocation from degrading. A search space setting unit (103) sets search spaces each of which is constituted by one or more control channel elements (CCEs) and each of which is to be decoded in the terminals and each of which is defined by a plurality of to-be-decoded candidates. An allocating unit (108) places, in one of the plurality of to-be-decoded candidates included in the search space, a control channel. The number of connections of CCEs constituting the to-be-decoded candidate is associated with the number of to-be-decoded candidates. The search space setting unit (103) causes, in accordance with the control channel to be transmitted, the association of the number of connections of CCEs constituting the to-be-decoded candidate with the number of to-be-decoded candidates to differ. |
| US09031022B2 |
Base station, mobile station, coordinated mobile station, transmission method and reception method
A base station (BS) which communicates with a plurality of mobile stations (MSs) is configured so as to comprise a control signal generation unit which generates control signals showing information on the allocation of resources for each of the plurality of mobile stations (MSs), and a transmission unit which transmits the control signals to the plurality of mobile stations (MSs). A control signal for a given mobile station (MS) includes information relating to another mobile station (MS). |
| US09031021B2 |
Method and apparatus for indicating physical resource block pairs for EPDCCH
A method of specifying one or more sets of one or more physical resource block (PRB) pairs from among a plurality of PRB pairs in a subframe that a user equipment (UE) is to monitor for an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) includes sending, from a base station, a first representation of the PRB blocks, the representation including a plurality of bits, a total number of the plurality of bits being less than a product of total number of the plurality of PRB pairs and a total number of the one or more sets, the first representation indicating which of the plurality of PRB pairs are in at least one of the one or more sets of one or more PRB pairs the UE is to monitor for the EPDCCH. |
| US09031019B2 |
System access method and apparatus of a narrowband terminal in a wireless communication system supporting wideband and narrowband terminals
A system access method of a narrowband terminal is provided for supporting both wideband and narrowband terminals in a cellular radio communication system. The method includes broadcasting a Shared CHannel (SCH) for a terminal to acquire system synchronization; transmitting a Low-end Master Information Block (L-MIB) including control information on an L-subframe configuration for supporting a second type terminal and a sub-band configuration of the L-subframe; transmitting a Low-end System Information Block (L-SIB) including information on downlink reception and uplink transmission of the second type terminal; and performing a random access procedure, when an attach request is received from one of the first type terminals and the second type terminals. |
| US09031018B2 |
Methods selecting modulation/coding schemes mapped to multiple MIMO layers and related user equipment
A method of operating a user equipment communicating with a base station of a radio access network may include selecting a multiple-input-multiple-output, MIMO, rank and a MIMO precoding entity from a codebook of MIMO precoding entities for a downlink communication from the base station to the user equipment. A modulation/coding scheme to be mapped to first and second MIMO layers of the downlink communication may be selected using the MIMO precoding entity. Channel quality information may be communicated identifying the MIMO precoding entity and the modulation/coding scheme from the user equipment to the base station. Related user equipment nodes are also discussed. |
| US09031014B2 |
Method and device for aggregating a plurality of service data from machine terminal equipment
The invention proposes a method and device for aggregating a plurality of service data from a terminal equipment. A first network device in a radio access network encapsulates a plurality of service data from a machine terminal equipment into a non-access stratum data packet, performs a transmission process on the non-access stratum data packet to generate a processed signal and transmits the processed signal. The signal is forwarded by a base station to a second network device in a core network. The second network device recovers the data packet from the signal, extracts the plurality of service data from the data packet and then transmits the plurality of service data respectively to a corresponding destination server. A signaling overhead and thus radio resources in a radio access network can be saved, and preferably a period of time for a terminal equipment to wait for a feedback can also be shortened. |
| US09031011B2 |
Wireless communication terminal apparatus, wireless communication base station apparatus, and modulation method
A wireless communication terminal apparatus wherein even in a case of performing a wideband transmission using only a downstream line, CCE assignment can be flexibly performed without any collisions of ACK and NACK signals among a plurality of unit bands. In a wireless communication terminal apparatus (200) using a plurality of downstream unit bands to perform communications, a PDCCH receiving unit (207) blind-decodes CCE in a search space of the plurality of downstream unit bands, thereby acquiring resource assignment information of downstream line data addressed to the wireless communication terminal apparatus (200), and a modulating unit (209) modulates a response signal, which is responsive to the downstream line data in particular downstream unit bands, based on a modulation scheme in which the number of modulation multi-values corresponds to the number of those particular ones of the plurality of downstream unit bands in which the resource assignment information addressed to the wireless communication terminal apparatus (200) is assigned to CCE of the same CCE number. |
| US09031009B2 |
Transmitting/receiving device, wireless terminal device and wireless communication method for suppression of intra-system interference
The present invention provide a transmitting/receiving device that includes a sensing period information setting part for, in an interfering system that shares at least a part of a frequency band with an interfered system, setting sensing period information that shows a sensing period for a signal using a shared frequency band; and a transmission prohibition period information notifying part for notifying a terminal in the interfering system of transmission prohibition period information for prohibiting transmission processing in the interfering system until an end of the sensing period, a maximum transmission period for one transmission by the terminal in the interfering system prior to a start point of the sensing period. |
| US09031006B2 |
Apparatus and method for using guard band as data subcarrier in communication system supporting frequency overlay
A method and apparatus for using a guard band as a data subcarrier in a communication system supporting frequency overlay are provided. In a method of operating mobile station for using a guard band as a subcarrier for signal transmission in a communication system supporting frequency overlay, the method includes searching for a first center frequency located at a position corresponding to an integer multiple of a subcarrier spacing, after searching for the first center frequency, receiving information indicating the numbers n1 and n2 of first additional subcarriers, and performing a first network entry process by using all subcarriers including the first additional subcarriers. |
| US09031002B2 |
Devices for sending and receiving feedback information
An evolved Node B (eNB) for sending feedback information is described. The eNB includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The eNB determines configuration parameters related to an Enhanced Physical Hybrid-Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) Indicator Channel (EPHICH). The eNB also sends a configuration signal based on the configuration parameters. The eNB additionally receives data in a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH). The eNB further sends Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgement/Negative Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information based on the configuration parameters. |
| US09031001B2 |
Method and apparatus for accurate time synchronization in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for time synchronization and an OFDMA receiver thereof are provided. A preamble timing is obtained by a two-stage correlation in a time domain between a sequence of a received symbol and a reference preamble. The two-stage correlation is further simplified to perform a conjugate multiplication between a one-stage correlation and its correspondingly delayed result. A preamble boundary is adaptively determined by a peak value based on a result of the two-stage correlation. In this way, the time synchronization is achieved with a robust performance in a low SNR, high frequency offset or large delay spread fading channel. |
| US09030997B2 |
Load-adjustment factor notification method, data rate control (DRC)-pointing determination method, handover determination method and devices thereof
The present invention discloses a method for notifying a load-adjustment factor, including: a base station setting a load-adjustment factor of a sector and notifying a user terminal. The present invention also discloses a method for selecting and determining Data Rate Control (DRC) pointing, including: when selecting a sector which a DRC points towards, a user terminal calculating a difference value by deducting the received load-adjustment factor of the sector sent by a base station, from the measured signal measurement strength of the sector; the user terminal determining whether to point the DRC towards the sector according to the signal measurement strength resulted from the deduction. The present invention also discloses a method for determining sector handover. |
| US09030994B2 |
Initializing a communication between a mobile host and a correspondent node
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a router able to cooperate with a mobile host of a home network for initializing a communication between said mobile host and a correspondent node over at least a first and a second networks, said mobile host comprising at least a first and a second network interfaces able to connect respectively to said first and second networks, said router being further able to: attach the mobile host to said second network; receive a request for a communication address; transmit a communication address to said mobile host; and configure said mobile host with a predefined model indicator for enabling said mobile host to receive through its second network interface some data sent by the correspondent node towards the first network interface. Embodiments of the invention also relate to a mobile host with which the router cooperates. |
| US09030993B2 |
Communication device, connection method and storage medium
In order that even a wireless terminal whose an unique ID is not registered in the filter list can use simply the access point without a prior setting task by user, a communication device includes access point means, filtering disabling means, unique ID registration means and filtering enabling means. The access point means connects a wireless terminal with at least one of a lower network and an upper network. The filtering disabling means disables a filtering which prevents connecting with an unregistered wireless terminal whose an unique ID is not registered in a filter list. The unique ID registration means acquires the unique ID of the wireless terminal and registers the acquired unique ID in the filter list, upon a state where the filtering is disabling, if a connection request is received from the wireless terminal. The filtering enabling means enables the filtering after the unique ID of the wireless terminal is registered in the filter list. |
| US09030990B1 |
Paging a wireless communication device that uses multiple access networks
A first wireless network serves a wireless device and generates loading information. A second wireless network also serves the wireless device and also generates loading information. The first and second wireless networks share a plurality of wireless access points. A paging system receives a page request for the wireless device for delivery over the first network. The paging system processes the loading information to determine if paging assistance from the second network is applicable. If so, the paging system transfers a first page to the second network for delivery to the wireless device. The paging system receives a page response from the wireless device over the second network and processes the response to identify the shared wireless access point serving the wireless device. The paging system transfers a second page to the first wireless network for delivery to the wireless device through the identified shared wireless access point. |
| US09030976B2 |
Bi-directional digital interface for video and audio (DIVA)
A communication system, comprising a first node, a second node, a serial communication link between the first node and the second node, configured to transmit digital video data from the first node to the second node over one or more video channels of the link. The communication system further including a hybrid link between the first node and the second node, wherein the first node and the second node are configured to transmit at least one stream of data to the other through a hybrid channel over the hybrid link. In the communication system, the bandwidth of the serial communication link is scaled according to a video pixel frequency. Further, the initial locking of the serial communication link is aided by clock information delivered over the hybrid link. |
| US09030974B2 |
Transmission method and reception method for downlink signal, user equipment, and base station
The present invention provides a DL grant transmission/reception measure for a cross-CC scheduling, when cells operating in different TDD DL-UL configurations from each other are merged. In addition, the present invention provides a measure for transmitting/receiving uplink ACK/NACK information for DL data transmitted according the DL grant. |
| US09030968B2 |
System and method for processing a conference session through a communication channel
The invention relates to a system and method for controlling an aspect of a communication session. The method processes the session through a subscriber terminal that also controls a separate a video signal. The method comprises: analyzing call data for the session to determine whether a calling party can initiate the session with a called party; if the calling party is allowed to initiate the session, sending information about the session to the terminal; generating a GUI session from the information for a video monitor connected to the terminal; allowing further processing of the session through the terminal through the GUI session; if a command is received to further process the session, providing a message to the network to process the command; and if a command is received to change an aspect of the video signal, providing an appropriate message to the terminal to process the command. |
| US09030963B2 |
Analyzing a network topology
Systems, methods, and devices for analyzing a network topology are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include receiving data from a node in a node array with a locating device, determining a position of the locating device, determining a position of the node in relation to the locating device based on the data received from the node and the position of the locating device, comparing the position of the node to a defined layout of the node array, and determining whether the position of the node matches a defined position in the defined layout of the node array. |
| US09030956B2 |
Method, computer-readable medium, and apparatus for providing different services to different users of an aggregate endpoint in an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network
Different services are provided to different users or groups of users of an aggregate endpoint in an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network. The different users or groups of users are differentiated based on service profiles designated by different PUIDs for the different users or groups of users of each of the users or groups of users. Different services for transmission and/or receipt of packets for the different users or groups of users of the aggregate endpoint are provided, depending upon the differentiation between the different users or groups of users. |
| US09030955B2 |
Network access mechanism based on power
Systems and methods for accessing a contention-based communications network are provided. In systems and methods for accessing a contention-based communications network, an access point in the network is created. The access point is a first node connected to the network configured to receive a request from a second node to gain access to the network. A power of a signal transmitted between the access point and the second node is measured. A probability that the second node will access the network is determined based on the measured power of the signal transmitted between the access point and the second node. A determination of whether to permit the second node to gain access to the network is made based on the determined probability. |
| US09030952B2 |
Apparatus and method for precoding by limited cooperation in a wireless communication system
An apparatus and method are provided for precoding by limited cooperation in a wireless communication system. A method of data precoding by a Base Station (BS) in a wireless communication system includes determining a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) parameter indicating channel size information between the BS and a User Equipment (UE) served by the BS; transmitting the determined CQI parameter through a backhaul to a central unit; receiving, from the central unit, a weight factor based on a CQI parameter from each cell; and determining a precoding vector based on the weight factor. The weight factor represents a relative ratio of an inter-cell environment that is to be interfered by the BS. |
| US09030949B2 |
Downlink PMI coordination based on base station antenna configuration
A Mobile Station (MS) apparatus and a Base Station (BS) apparatus, and methods for their operation in a wireless communication system, are provided. The method for operating the MS includes receiving Precoding Matrix Index (PMI) subset information from a BS, determining downlink channel quality of the BS, determining a PMI for the BS based on the PMI subset information and the determined downlink channel quality of the BS, and transmitting the determined PMI to the BS. |
| US09030948B2 |
Encoding and decoding of control information for wireless communication
Techniques for sending control information in a wireless communication system are described. In one design, a user equipment (UE) may map first information (e.g., CQI information) to M most significant bits (MSBs) of a message and may map second information (e.g., ACK information) to N least significant bits (LSBs) of the message if the second information is sent, where M≧1 and N≧1. The UE may encode the message with a block code, e.g., encode the M MSBs with the first M basis sequences of the block code and encode the N LSBs with the next N basis sequences of the block code. The second information may include N ACK bits. The UE may set each ACK bit to a first value for an ACK or to a second value for a NACK. The second value may also be used for discontinuous transmission (DTX) of ACK information. |
| US09030946B2 |
Method of securing network access radio systems
A method of providing security for network access radio systems and associated access radio security systems used with the systems. The method includes connecting an access radio having a radio link to a network; communicating between the access radio and a computer over the network using a ping application having ping commands and unique encrypted codes; and enabling operation of the access radio when the access radio is receiving ping commands. Typically, the access radio and the computer are nodes on the network and the network is a local area network (LAN). The ping application sends packets of information from the computer to the access radio and receives a response from the access radio. The ping application must be functioning (i.e., sending and receiving commands between the computer and the access radio) to enable the access radio to communicate via the radio link with a remote network. |
| US09030942B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data using contention-based access in mobile communication system
A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting and receiving data using a Contention-Based (CB) access to prevent successive collisions due to an HARQ operation and improve the probability of successful reception in a mobile communication system. In a method for transmitting data using a CB access, it is determined whether it is possible to transmit data provided from an upper layer to a Node B using a CB access method. If it is possible to transmit the data using the CB access method, a CB grant is acquired from the Node B. Upon acquiring the CB grant, a transmit power is determined by selecting a smaller value among a value obtained by adding a predetermined first margin value to an uplink power Required_uplink_power required to transmit the data, and a maximum transmit power of a UE. |
| US09030940B2 |
Apparatus and method in a telecommunications network
An entity in a telecommunications network determines a threshold value relating to a channel switching parameter that is being used by the telecommunications network to trigger a channel switching operation, and uses this threshold value and monitored traffic information to prevent a channel change from occurring, i.e. to maintain channel occupancy. A network node is adapted to remove additional traffic that has been generated by an entity in the telecommunications network to maintain channel occupancy. |
| US09030938B2 |
Methods for transmitting and receiving data between a terminal and a gateway, in particular via a satellite link
A method for transmitting data between a terminal and a gateway, the data being transported by Ethernet frames comprising an Ethernet header and a payload, which are themselves encapsulated in lower level packets each comprising a header containing a medium access address, comprises the following steps: determining contexts common to frames whose Ethernet headers have identical fields, and defining an identifier of each the context; associating all or some of the frames with the corresponding context identifiers and suppressing the fields from their Ethernet headers; and introducing the context identifier of each frame for which the fields of the Ethernet header have been suppressed from the header of the lower level packet encapsulating it by replacing its medium access address. A method for receiving data transmitted by means of such a method. |
| US09030934B2 |
Host-based quality of service for wireless communications
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate providing quality of service (QOS) functionality on a host device or tethered processor to conserve resources on a network device. In particular, the host device/tethered processor can classify QOS data and manage QOS flows, transmitting data by flow to the network device. The data from the QOS flows can be tagged to identify the flow and/or characteristics thereof allowing the wireless device to simply route the data to its respective flow. Thus, the network device is saved from such classification and flow management freeing resources to provide increased performance and decreased power consumption. |
| US09030929B2 |
Redundant control device and network system
Network repeaters which each implement a redundant switching function previously grasp connection states of ports of a network system by using an inquiry frame and an exchange frame. At the time when a line is broken, when actively confirming a state of a port connected to a port in which a line is broken via a downstream device, the network repeaters each grasp that which portion of the line is broken and determine whether a switchover is required. Through the process, the network repeaters each prevent a useless switchover such as switching-back immediately after the switchover, and at the same time since a mechanism of waiting for a given length of times is not required, they each perform a fast switchover. |
| US09030926B2 |
Protocol independent multicast last hop router discovery
Disclosed is an apparatus comprising a first network node configured to transmit a first message to a second network node, wherein the first message comprises data designating the first network node as a member of a first multicast channel, and wherein the first message comprises data indicating a network address a third network node that is designated as a last hop router (LHR) of the first multicast channel. Also disclosed is a method comprising sending, by a first network node, a protocol independent multicast (PIM) join message, wherein the PIM join message comprises the network address of a PIM channel last hop router (LHR). |
| US09030924B2 |
Method for time division multiplex service protection
The present application provides a method for time division multiplex service protection. The method includes: on an OLT in a passive optical network, a working uplink port and a protection uplink port are set for a time division multiplex service and a protection group is created for the working uplink port and the protection uplink port; when a service flow protection for the time division multiplex service is triggered, the time division multiplex service flow is switched from the working uplink port to the protection uplink port, therefore realizing the protection for the time division multiplex service flow. The present application provides an uplink channel protection mechanism for important services in an access system, such as the time division multiplex service, which needs no protection switching protocol, and makes the service recovery time stand within 50 ms, thereby realizing fast and nondestructive recovery of the time division multiplex service. |
| US09030923B2 |
Power and connectivity aware switch
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with providing uninterrupted electrical power and data communications are described. One example method includes detecting primary electrical power loss to a network switch, and/or a loss of wired Internet connectivity to the network switch. The example method may also include controlling a backup power source to provide secondary electrical power to the network switch, and controlling a wireless access point to provide wireless Internet connectivity to the network switch. |
| US09030921B2 |
Increased spectral efficiency and reduced synchronization delay with bundled transmissions
Techniques are provided for increasing spectral efficiency over data channels in a storage or communication system. In some embodiments, data may be encoded and transmitted over multiple channels. The transmitted data from the multiple channels may be considered together as a channel bundle, thereby increasing the edge transitions of the group of signals to improve clock recovery and reduce coding constraints. In some embodiments, the channel bit size is reduced to maximize data rates based on the reduced coding constraints. Furthermore, the channel bundle has only one channel with timing markers, so that a receiver may receive information from the channel bundle and recover clocking based on the timing markers in the one channel. |
| US09030919B2 |
Combined broadband ocean bottom seismograph with single glass sphere
The invention provides a broadband ocean bottom seismograph with a single glass sphere. The seismograph comprises an anchor at its bottom having a frame structure with a rigid ring for accommodating a seismometer chamber. The seismometer chamber comprises a bell-shaped protective hood opening downward where a seismometer sealed chamber is suspended to the inner surface of the protective hood by cables. The bottom of the seismometer sealed chamber protrudes through the opening of the protective hood to be seated in direct contact with the seabed. A functional chamber comprises a plastic instrument chamber and a glass global instrument chamber secured in the plastic chamber. The plastic instrument chamber is fixedly mounted on top of the protective hood. A release mechanism is mounted on the top of the functional chamber, and connected to frame of the anchor via fusible tensioning steel wires. |
| US09030910B2 |
Jointly interpolating and deghosting seismic data
A technique includes representing actual measurements of a seismic wavefield as combinations of an upgoing component of the seismic wavefield and ghost operators. Interpolated and deghosted components of the seismic wavefield are jointly determined based at least in part on the actual measurements and the representation. |
| US09030906B2 |
Isolating, at least in part, local row or column circuitry of memory cell before establishing voltage differential to permit reading of cell
An embodiment may include local row and column circuitry that are local to a memory cell of a memory device. Either the local row circuitry or the local column circuitry may be electrically isolated, at least in part, from at least one remaining portion of the memory device during the establishing of a voltage differential between the local row circuitry and the local column circuitry that is to permit the memory cell to be read during a read of the memory cell. The read may occur subsequent to the establishing of the voltage differential. Many variations, modifications, and alternatives are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US09030904B2 |
Memory device and memory system having programmable refresh methods
A memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks, a setting circuit configured to set a first mode, in which a first number of memory blocks are refreshed at a time, and a second mode, in which a second number of memory blocks are refreshed at a time, under control of a memory controller, the second number being smaller than the first number, a storage circuit configured to store additional refresh information, and a refresh control unit configured to control the second number of memory blocks to be refreshed at a time whenever a refresh command is applied when the additional refresh information is deactivated, and to control the first number of memory blocks to be refreshed at a time whenever the refresh command is applied when the additional refresh information is activated in a case in which the second mode is set by the setting circuit. |
| US09030903B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for providing a memory refresh
A memory controller to implement targeted refreshes of potential victim rows of a row hammer event. In an embodiment, the memory controller receives an indication that a specific row of a memory device is experiencing repeated accesses which threaten the integrity of data in one or more victim rows physically adjacent to the specific row. The memory controller accesses default offset information in the absence of address map information which specifies an offset between physically adjacent rows of the memory device. In another embodiment, the memory controller determines addresses for potential victim rows based on the default offset information. In response to the received indication of the row hammer event, the memory controller sends for each of the determined plurality of addresses a respective command to the memory device, where the commands are for the memory device to perform targeted refreshes of potential victim rows. |
| US09030900B2 |
Semiconductor device, semiconductor memory device and operation method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a bit line sense amplification unit configured to sense/amplify data loaded on a bit line, and a driving control unit configured to supply a power line of the bit line sense amplification unit with an overdriving voltage in an overdriving period and supply an internal voltage line with a voltage of the power line of the bit line sense amplification unit in a discharge driving period. |
| US09030897B2 |
Memory and memory system for preventing degradation of data
A memory may comprise a first bank configured to include first to Nth word lines and first to Mth redundancy word lines to replace M number of word lines among the first to Nth word lines, a second bank configured to include first to Nth word lines and first to Mth redundancy word lines to replace M number of word lines among the first to Nth word lines, and a control circuit configured to activate, in the case where a word line corresponding to an inputted address among the first to Nth word lines in a bank selected between the first bank and the second bank is replaced with a Kth (1≦K≦M) redundancy word line among the first to Mth redundancy word lines during an operation in a first mode, at least one adjacent word line adjacent to the Kth redundancy word line of the selected bank. |
| US09030895B2 |
Memory device with pin register to set input/output direction and bitwidth of data signals
A random access memory includes a data signal line, a data-synchronization signal line for a data synchronization signal which provides a synchronization signal when data is transmitted to the data signal line, and a setting module. The setting module determines whether the data signal line is set to be a data signal line for common input/output use, a data signal line for output-only use, or a data signal line for input-only use, and further determines whether the data-synchronization signal line is set to be a data-synchronization signal line for common input/output use, a data-synchronization signal line for output-only use, or a data-synchronization signal line for input-only use. |
| US09030892B2 |
Data reading device
There is disclosed a data reading device in which data of a nonvolatile storage element is reflected in a circuit to be regulated, with a minimum necessary delay width after turning a power on or after reset cancellation, and wrong writing due to a static electricity is prevented. A delay circuit is additionally disposed to output a delayed data reading signal after a signal of turning the power on or a signal of the reset cancellation is generated. A delay time T2 and a static electricity convergence time T1 are set so as to keep a relation of T1 |
| US09030891B2 |
Charge pump circuit and memory
Charge pump circuit and memory are provided. The charge pump circuit includes a clock driving unit, a voltage boosting unit, a boosting swing control unit, a first and second NMOS tubes, a first and second current mirror units. The clock driving unit is adapted to form and output clock driving signals to the voltage boosting unit. The voltage boosting unit is adapted to boost voltage and output it to the boosting swing control unit and the first current minor unit. The boosting swing control unit is adapted to output boosting swing control signals to the first NMOS tube. The first current minor unit is to output first mirror current and the second current minor unit is to minor the first mirror current and output second minor current. Frequency of the clock driving signal varies with leakage current load, and size of the charge pump circuit and power consumption are reduced. |
| US09030890B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a sense amplifier driving control unit configured to be applied with first and second driving voltages, and generate first to third sense amplifier driving signals in response to a mat enable signal, a sense amplifier enable signal and a power-up signal; a sense amplifier driving unit configured to, in response to the first to third sense amplifier driving signals, connect first and second sense amplifier driving nodes to cause the first and second sense amplifier driving nodes to have substantially the same voltage level, or disconnect the first and second sense amplifier driving nodes to apply first and second sense amplifier driving voltages to the first and second sense amplifier driving nodes; and a sense amplifier configured to be applied with the first and second sense amplifier driving voltages, and sense and amplify a voltage difference of a bit line and a bit line bar. |
| US09030886B2 |
Memory device and driving method thereof
A memory device includes a memory array, an array gap, a voltage provider, and a voltage divider. The voltage provider is disposed in the array gap and coupled to a column of memory cells of the memory array for providing a first voltage to the column of memory cells when a memory cell of the column is selected at a write cycle. The voltage provider is coupled to the voltage provider and the column of memory cells for providing a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the column of memory cells when the memory of the column is half selected at the write cycle. |
| US09030884B2 |
Method and apparatus for pre-charging data lines in a memory cell array
Memories, pre-charge circuits, and methods for pre-charging memory are described. One such method includes providing a voltage to a data line and adjusting the voltage provided to the data line based at least in part on a voltage difference between a target voltage and a voltage of the data line being pre-charged. An example pre-charge circuit includes a voltage generator configured to generate an output voltage having a magnitude based at least in part on a reference voltage and a feedback signal, first and second drivers, and a voltage detector. The voltage detector is configured to determine a voltage difference between the reference voltage and a sample voltage of a data line coupled to the second driver and generate the feedback signal based at least in part on the difference. |
| US09030883B2 |
Adaptive erase recovery for non-volatile memory (NVM) systems
Methods and systems are disclosed for adaptive erase recovery of non-volatile memory (NVM) cells within NVM systems. The adaptive erase recovery embodiments adaptively adjust the erase recovery discharge rate and/or discharge time based upon the size of NVM block(s) being erased and operating temperature. In one example embodiment, the erase recovery discharge rate is adjusted by adjusting the number of discharge transistors enabled within the discharge circuitry, thereby adjusting the discharge current for erase recovery. A lookup table is used to store erase recovery discharge rates and/or discharge times associated with NVM block sizes to be recovered and/or operating temperature. By adaptively controlling erase recovery discharge rates and/or times, the disclosed embodiments improve overall erase performance for a wide range of NVM block sizes while avoiding possible damage to high voltage circuitry within the NVM system. |
| US09030882B2 |
Apparatuses and methods including memory array data line selection
Some embodiments include an apparatus having data lines coupled to memory cell strings and a selector configured to selectively couple one of the data lines to a node. The memory cell strings and the selector can be formed in the same memory array of the apparatus. Other embodiments including additional apparatus and methods are described. |
| US09030881B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises memory cells each which stores data with two or more levels. Each of the memory cells includes a semiconductor layer, a first insulating layer on the semiconductor layer, a charge storage layer on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer on the charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode on the second insulating layer, and the second insulating layer includes a ferroelectric layer. |
| US09030880B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor storage device
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array where memory cells are arranged in a cell well in a row direction and a column direction in a matrix; word lines which select the memory cell in the row direction; bit lines which select the memory cell in the column direction; a sense amplifier which determines a value stored in the memory cell based on a potential of the bit line; a peripheral transistor in the memory cell array which is arranged in the periphery of the memory cell array; and an enhancement type transistor which drives a gate of the peripheral transistor. |
| US09030877B2 |
Memory cell arrangement, method for controlling a memory cell, memory array and electronic device
In an embodiment of the invention, a memory cell arrangement includes a substrate and at least one memory cell including a charge storing memory cell structure and a select structure. The memory cell arrangement further includes a first doping well, a second doping well and a third doping well arranged within the substrate, wherein the charge storing memory cell structure is arranged in or above the first doping well, the first doping well is arranged within the second doping well, and the second doping well is arranged within the third doping well. The memory cell arrangement further includes a control circuit coupled with the memory cell and configured to control the memory cell such that the charge storing memory cell structure is programmed or erased by charging or discharging the charge storing memory cell structure via at least the first doping well. |
| US09030875B2 |
Non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell array in which a plurality of bit lines intersect a plurality of word lines and a non-volatile memory cell is disposed at each intersection, a page buffer which is provided for each bit line and which includes a latch configured to store data to be written to a memory cell connected to a word line selected from among the plurality of word lines or data read from the memory cell, and a control circuit configured to control a data input time from the bit line to the page buffer and a data detection time of the latch according to a voltage level of a common source line connected to sources of the respective bit lines during an operation of reading data from the memory cell. |
| US09030873B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of operating the same
A method of operating a semiconductor device includes storing a supplying condition of a read voltage inputted from an external source into an internal register to perform a read operation of memory cells, performing the read operation repetitively with changing levels of the read voltage according to the supplying condition of the read voltage in the event that the number of error bits in a data read from the memory cells exceeds an allowable range, and storing an iteration number of the read operation in the internal register in case the number of the error bits falls within the allowable range. |
| US09030871B2 |
Integrated circuit with programmable storage cell array and boot-up operation method thereof
An integrated circuit may include a first programmable storage cell group suitable for storing program validity information, second to N-th programmable storage cell groups suitable for storing a plurality of data, wherein N is an integer equal to or more than 3, and a validity determination unit suitable for determining whether the program validity information read from the first programmable storage cell group is valid or not so that read operations for the second to N-th programmable storage cell groups is performed or skipped based on the determined result. |
| US09030870B2 |
Threshold voltage compensation in a multilevel memory
Threshold voltages in a charge storage memory are controlled by threshold voltage placement, such as to provide more reliable operation and to reduce the influence of factors such as neighboring charge storage elements and parasitic coupling. Pre-compensation or post-compensation of threshold voltage for neighboring programmed “aggressor” memory cells reduces the threshold voltage uncertainty in a flash memory system. Using a buffer having a data structure such as a lookup table provides for programmable threshold voltage distributions that enables the distribution of data states in a multi-level cell flash memory to be tailored, such as to provide more reliable operation. |
| US09030868B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device, method for fabricating the same, and method for operating the same
A nonvolatile memory device includes bit and source lines alternately arranged parallel to each other and even strings and odd strings alternately arranged between the bit lines and the source lines and each including drain selection transistors, memory transistors, and a source selection transistor. The drain selection transistors include a first drain selection transistor with the same structure as the memory transistors and a second drain selection transistor with the same structure as the source selection transistor. The nonvolatile memory device further includes an even drain selection line connected to the first drain selection transistors of the even strings and the second drain selection transistors of the odd strings and an odd drain selection line connected to the second drain selection transistors of the even strings and the first drain selection transistors of the odd strings. |
| US09030865B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method of forming the same
In various embodiments, a circuit arrangement may be provided including a data cell. The circuit arrangement may further include a first transistor and a second transistor. The first controlled electrode of the first transistor and the first controlled electrode of the second transistor may be coupled to the first electrode of the data cell. The second controlled electrode of the first transistor may be configured to electrically connect to a first reference voltage such that the first electrode of the data cell is electrically connected to the first reference voltage when the first transistor is activated. The second controlled electrode of the second transistor may be configured to electrically connect to a second reference voltage, such that the first electrode of the data cell is electrically connected to the second reference voltage when the second transistor is activated. |
| US09030863B2 |
Read/write assist for memories
An integrated circuit includes one or more bit cells, a word line coupled to the one or more bit cells, and a dummy word line arranged with the word line to have a capacitance therebetween. The capacitance provides a voltage boost or reduction of the word line to assist read and write operations. |
| US09030859B2 |
Three dimensional non-volatile storage with dual layers of select devices
A three-dimensional array adapted for memory elements that reversibly change a level of electrical conductance in response to a voltage difference being applied across them. Memory elements are formed across a plurality of planes positioned different distances above a semiconductor substrate. Bit lines to which the memory elements of all planes are connected are oriented vertically from the substrate and through the plurality of planes. |
| US09030854B2 |
Method and apparatus for zero-sequence damping and voltage balancing
An exemplary method and an apparatus implementing the method for an arrangement having a three-phase, multi-level inverter, an output LCL-filter connecting the inverter to a grid, and a virtual-ground connection between the LCL-filter and the neutral point of the DC-link. The method includes determining a zero-sequence component of an LCL-filter inverter-side current, calculating a zero-sequence damping and balancing voltage term based on the LCL-filter inverter-side current zero-sequence component and voltages over the two halves of the DC-link, and adding the zero-sequence damping and voltage balancing term to the output voltage reference. |
| US09030853B2 |
Power conversion equipment having a capacitor failure detecting circuit
Power conversion equipment which can detect a short circuit failure of series connected smoothing capacitors is provided. The equipment includes a capacitor failure detecting circuit having switch units, exciting resistors, contact resistors, and diodes. A switch unit is provided with an exciting circuit and a contact circuit, and when a predetermined current flows through the exciting circuit, the contact circuit is closed. The exciting circuit and an exciting resistor are alternately connected in series, and the contact circuit and a contact resistor are alternately connected in series. These serially-connected circuits are connected in parallel with each capacitor. When excitation of a switch circuit having a lowest potential is turned OFF, it is judged that one or more of the series connected capacitors has failed via a short circuit. |
| US09030852B2 |
System for power conversion utilizing matrix converters
A power conversion device according to the aspects of the present technique is presented. The device includes a first converter and a second converter operatively coupled to the first converter. Moreover, the device includes a phase leg operatively coupled between the first converter, the second converter, where the phase leg includes a first unidirectional switch, a second unidirectional switch operatively coupled to the first unidirectional switch, and a first bidirectional switch, where a first end of the first bidirectional switch is operatively coupled to at least one of the first unidirectional switch and the second unidirectional switch. |
| US09030845B2 |
Power supply system and image forming apparatus
A power supply system includes: a switching power supply; and a control device, wherein the switching power supply includes: a transformer; a semiconductor switching element; a switch control unit; and a rectifying/smoothing circuit, the switch control unit is supplied with power from the main power supply, starts to control the switching of the semiconductor switching element, and oscillates a primary side of the transformer to induce a voltage on the secondary side of the transformer, the control device outputs a control pulse signal to the switch control unit to stop the oscillation of the transformer, thereby changing the mode of the switching power supply to an output stop mode, in an output mode in which the switching power supply smoothes the voltage induced on the secondary side and outputs the smoothed voltage. |
| US09030844B2 |
High bandwidth, high efficiency DC-DC multilevel converter topology
A multilevel DC-DC converter includes a voltage source that provides a voltage Vout1 to at least one charge converter circuit and an output filter capacitor having an associated output voltage Vout2. The at least one charge converter circuit includes a transformer having at least one primary winding and at least two secondary windings, a primary and secondary circuit each having at least two switching elements, and a control unit which receives a control signal, such as but not limited to an envelope tracking signal, which represents a desired output voltage. The control unit is arranged to provide output control signals to the respective switching elements of the primary and secondary circuits to activate and deactivate the respective switching elements to obtain a desired output voltage Vout2. The multilevel DC-DC converter can be arranged to operate as a boost converter or as a buck-boost converter. |
| US09030843B1 |
High frequency square-wave power distribution system
A minimalized power converter has a square-wave voltage source operating at 100 percent duty-ratio, a series inductance and a rectifier. A high frequency square-wave power distribution system comprises a plurality of minimalized power converters connected by a common ac power distribution link. Because the ac power distribution link carries current at a high frequency, the square-wave may be degraded by the stray inductance with distance. Re-squaring circuits along the length of the ac power distribution link operating synchronously restore and preserve the integrity of the square-wave. The minimalized power converter is very flexible and has very fast dynamic response, being able to make very fast controlled current transitions from any current to any other current, including zero or current reversal (same voltage, opposite current flow). |
| US09030842B2 |
Sealed overmolded circuit board with sensor seal and edge connector seal and production method of the same
An electronic apparatus partially overmolded with a overmold sealing material that seals the circuit board, protects the electrical components on the circuit board and provides seals between the circuit board and mating devices is disclosed. The electronic apparatus may be an engine controller. The electrical components may be an electrical edge connector, a sensor, and a heat sink. The sensor may be a pressure sensor. The controller may be connected to a throttle body such that the overmold sealing material provides a first seal between the controller and the throttle body allowing the pressure sensor to be in fluid communication with the interior of the throttle body. A wire harness may be connected to the controller such that the overmold sealing material provides a second seal between the wire harness and the controller protecting the electrical connection. The overmold sealing material may also be translucent. |
| US09030840B2 |
Arrangement comprising an electric and/or electronic module and a circuit carrier
The invention relates to an arrangement comprising an electric and/or electronic module (10) and a circuit carrier (12), wherein at least one electric connecting line (14) of the electric and/or electronic module (10) can be accommodated in a recess (16) of the circuit carrier (12). The arrangement comprises at least one clamping element (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) which immobilizes the at least one connecting line (14) in the recess (16) once it has been introduced into the recess (16). |
| US09030838B2 |
Package substrate and semiconductor package having the same
Provided is a package substrate and a semiconductor package. The package substrate includes a main body having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, a plurality of external terminals attached to the lower surface, and a plurality of grooves formed in regions of the lower surface to which the plurality of external terminals is not attached. The semiconductor package includes a package substrate, a semiconductor chip mounted on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a board providing a region mounted with the package substrate and being mounted with a plurality of mounting elements which are vertically aligned with the plurality of grooves and are inserted into the plurality of grooves. |
| US09030835B2 |
Method for welding a plastic housing
The main part of the melt produced during laser welding of two housing parts along a circumferential edge is made to flow towards the printed circuit board by a predefined geometry, thus fixing the board in a form-fitting manner. The basic geometry is modified to prevent the melt from distributing in both directions in an uncontrolled manner and make it flow towards the inside of the housing in a targeted manner. The printed circuit board can thus be fixed and the housing sealed in a single operation. Less space is required on the printed circuit board since the support surfaces only affect the peripheral zone of the printed circuit board. The peripheral zone is a barrier zone since the individual printed circuit board is cut out of a panel. Due to the larger contact surface, prestress losses caused by creep of the plastic have no adverse effect. |
| US09030834B2 |
Mounting structure of flexible printed circuit board and sliding-type electronic device
A mounting structure of a flexible printed circuit board and a sliding-type electronic device is provided by which a too large increase in thickness of devices can be avoided and a pair of housings can be slid relatively in a bending and slanting direction. In the mounting structure, an upper housing 12 and a lower housing 22 coupled in a freely slidable manner are electrically connected to each other by a flexible printed circuit board folded back to be routed between slide facing surfaces 12b and 22a of both the housings and the height of a side wall surface 12c and 22c of the upper housing and lower housing changes in a bending manner along the direction of freely sliding and, in the slide facing surfaces of the upper housing and lower housing, concave space portions 15 and 25 to accommodate the change in curvature and in position of a folding-back portion 31a caused by sliding motion between the upper housing and lower housing are disposed. |
| US09030832B2 |
Proximity sensor for electronic device
A compact proximity sensor for use in a portable computing device is described. In particular various embodiments of a proximity sensor which fits in an extremely small portion of a cellular phone, and accurately determine the presence of a user's head in close proximity to a surface of the cellular phone. In particular, a high yield assembly process for installing the compact proximity sensor is described. |
| US09030824B2 |
Dielectrophoretic cooling solution for electronics
At least one cooling channel is positioned adjacent to an electronic component. The cooling channel communicates with plenums at each of two opposed axial ends. A dielectric fluid is received in the cooling channel. The cooling channel is provided with at least one electrode. A potential is applied to the at least one electrode such that an electric field magnitude at the downstream end of the channel is less than an upstream electric field magnitude, and such that a dielectrophoretic force on a bubble in the cooling channel will force it downstream. |
| US09030816B2 |
Mounting apparatus for fan
A mounting apparatus includes a mounting member and a cage configured for receiving a fan. The cage includes two side plates. Each of the two side plates defines a pair of first locking openings. The mounting member includes a body and two first mounting portions extending from each of two opposite sides of the body. The two first mounting portions engage in the first locking openings of the two side plates to secure the mounting member to the cage, for preventing the fan from moving out of the cage. |
| US09030813B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a tablet PC, a base panel and two supports. Two opposite ends of each support are respectively pivoted to the tablet PC and the base panel through a first pivotal portion and a second pivotal portion. The second pivotal portion includes a shaft rod fastened on one end of the support, a retractable spring, a fixed cam fastened on the base panel, and a rotary cam. The retractable spring, the fixed cam and the rotary cam are sleeved on the shaft rod. The fixed cam includes three first peaks, and a first cave is formed between any two of the first peaks. The rotary cam is rotated along the supports, abutted against the fixed cam and the retractable spring. The rotary cam includes three second peaks, and a second cave is formed between any two of the second peaks. |
| US09030812B2 |
Joining structure of multi-segment housing and electronic device provided with that joining structure
A joining structure of superposed first to fourth segment housing of an electronic device each having a display screen equipped with two shafts arranged between first and second housing segments and third and fourth housing segments, a first hinge which joins end faces of the second and third housing segments to be able to rotate and a second hinge which joins opposite side end faces of the first and fourth housing segments, two shafts make the second and third housing segments slide with respect to the first and fourth housing segments, then make one rotate 180 degrees with respect to the other in the finished slid state, by using the first and second hinges to make the second and third housing segments and the first and fourth housing segments rotate about the shafts, and superposed first to fourth segment housing are opened to form a single flat display surface. |
| US09030808B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor and circuit board having the same
A capacitor and a circuit board having the same are provided. The capacitor includes a substrate, an oxide layer, a second electrode, an insulating layer, a plurality of conductive sheets and a plurality of vias. The substrate includes a first electrode and a porous structure. The porous structure in at least of two distribution regions has different depths. An oxide layer is disposed on the surface of the porous structure. The second electrode is disposed on the oxide layer and includes a conductive polymer material. The insulating layer disposed on the second electrode has a third and a fourth surfaces. The fourth surface of the insulating layer is connected with the second electrode. The conductive sheets are disposed on the first surface of the first electrode and the third surface of the insulating layer and electrically connected with the corresponding vias according to different polarities. |
| US09030807B2 |
Materials and methods for improving corner and edge coverage of solid electrolytic capacitors
A process for preparing a solid electrolytic capacitor comprising application of coverage enhancing catalyst followed by application of a conducting polymer layer wherein the conductive polymeric cathode comprises the coverage enhancement catalyst wherein the conductive polymeric layer has improved coverage of the corners and edges. Coverage enhancing catalyst is removed after coating and curing. |
| US09030800B2 |
Thin film capacitor
A thin film capacitor includes an under electrode, a plurality of dielectric body layers and a plurality of internal electrode layers that are alternately laminated on the under electrode, the internal electrode layers respectively including protrusion parts that each protrude from the dielectric body layers viewed in the lamination direction, and connection electrodes to which at least a portion of each of the protrusion parts contacts. Assuming that protrusion amounts of the protrusion parts of the internal electrode layers that are connected to the same connection electrode are regarded as L, a protrusion amount Ln of a protrusion part of nth (n≧2) internal electrode layer from the under electrode side is smaller than another protrusion amount Ln-1 of another protrusion part of (n−1)th internal electrode layer. |
| US09030798B2 |
Electrostatic chuck
An electrostatic chuck comprises: a dielectric substrate having a protrusion and a planar surface part. The protrusion is formed on a major surface of the dielectric substrate. An adsorption target material is mounted on the major surface. The planar surface part is formed in a periphery of the protrusion. The dielectric substrate is formed from a polycrystalline ceramics sintered body. A top face of the protrusion is a curved surface, and a first recess is formed in the top face to correspond to crystal grains that appear on the surface. The planar surface part has a flat part, and a second recess is formed in the flat part. A depth dimension of the first recess is greater than a depth dimension of the second recess. The electrostatic chuck can suppress the generation of particles and can easily recover a clean state of the electrostatic chuck surface. |
| US09030797B2 |
Thin substrate electrostatic chuck system and method
In various aspects of the disclosure, a semiconductor substrate processing system may include an electrostatic chuck for holding a semiconductor substrate attached to an electrically insulating carrier; and an AC power supply electrically coupled to the electrostatic chuck. |
| US09030796B2 |
System for supplying direct current and DC voltage protected by a current limiter, and method for protecting same
A system for supplying direct current and DC voltage is provided. The system comprise a first supply branch having a first DC voltage source and a power field-effect transistor of a current limiter which are connected in series, and a second supply branch having a second DC voltage source. The power transistor has a current/voltage characteristic with a first inverse polarization area without current limitation, and a second conduction area with current limitation based on a current threshold. The power field-effect transistor is connected to the first voltage source with an inverse polarization when the voltage source of the first branch is operating normally. |
| US09030795B2 |
Apparatus and method of adaptive electronic overload protection
A method provides electronic overload protection having a thermal trip level. The method executes a function by a processor; provides the electronic overload protection by the function executed by the processor; and adjusts the thermal trip level by the function executed by the processor in order to mimic adjusting a physical thermal characteristic of a thermal time constant of a fixed mechanical system. |
| US09030793B2 |
Method, device, and system for monitoring current provided to a load
A circuit protection device for monitoring a current flowing from an electrical distribution line through a trip mechanism to a load includes an input conductor configured to receive a current signal from a sensor. At least one resistor is arranged to receive the current signal from the input conductor, and provides a voltage signal proportional to the current signal. The circuit protection device includes a control circuit coupled in parallel with the resistor and a power supply that receives the current signal from the resistor and supplies power to the control circuit based on the current signal. The control circuit is configured to receive the voltage signal and determine an amplitude of the current flowing through the trip mechanism based on the voltage signal. The control circuit is also configured to determine whether a predetermined current threshold is exceeded and to generate a control signal to activate the trip mechanism. |
| US09030792B2 |
Overvoltage protection method using exposed device supply rail
A semiconductor device may be protected from over-voltages via a comparator-controlled, high-current FET coupled to the semiconductor device output and between circuit devices that carry high voltages. A three-terminal, N-channel field effect transistor (FET) may have its source coupled to the output of the semiconductor device to be protected from over voltage. The FET drain may be connected to the load to be driven by the semiconductor device. A transistor, or other voltage comparator, may be configured and connected in order to compare the voltage on the FET drain to a Vmax reference voltage. When a voltage on the FET drain exceeds Vmax, the comparator output may shut down the FET, thereby isolating the semiconductor device, which is connected to the FET source, from the overvoltage on the FET drain. |
| US09030785B2 |
Narrow read-gap head with recessed afm
The embodiments of the present invention relate to a magnetic read head with pinned layers extending to the ABS of the read head and in contact with an antiferromagnetic layer that is recessed in relation to the ABS of the read head. The recessed antiferromagnetic layer may be disposed above or below the pinned layer structure and provides a pinning field to prevent amplitude flipping in head operation. In these embodiments of the present invention, the read gap of the sensor, that is the distance between the highly permeable, magnetically soft upper and lower shield layers at the ABS, is reduced by the thickness of the antiferromagnetic layer. |
| US09030784B2 |
Magnetic head having a magnetoresistive junction and side oxide layers
A magnetic head including a magnetoresistive junction and an oxide layer. The magnetoresistive junction includes a pinned layer, a free layer, and a barrier layer residing between the pinned and free layer. The magnetoresistive junction includes at least one side having a smooth profile. The oxide layer is on the at least one side. The oxide layer is less than one nanometer thick at the free layer. |
| US09030781B1 |
Detecting stray magnetic fields in a storage device
Technologies are described herein for detecting an external magnetic field affecting a magnetic storage device through use of the read/write heads of the device. The magneto-resistive resistance (“MRR”) associated with a pair of read/write heads oriented to read and write opposite recording surfaces of the storage medium. If the change in the MRR associated with the first read/write head is in an inverse direction to the change in MRR associated with the second read/write head and the change in the MRR of either read/write head exceeds a threshold, then all operations of the storage device are halted and the read/write heads are parked. |
| US09030780B2 |
Method and apparatus for reading a non-volatile memory using a spin torque oscillator
A method and apparatus for reading electronic memory comprising a current source, a spin transfer oscillator, an external field source, coupled to the current source, for generating an RF signal, the spin torque oscillator positioned proximate a magnetic media comprising a plurality of bit regions of varying magnetic permeability, wherein a frequency of the RF signal varies in response to the permeability of a bit region in the plurality of bit regions being proximate the spin torque oscillator. |
| US09030775B2 |
Impact resistant rotating device with increased-thickness portion relationship and suction plate configuration
In a disk drive device, a magnetic recording disk is mounted on a hub. A base rotatably supports the hub via a bearing unit. The base has a ring-shaped wall that surrounds the bearing unit and that protrudes towards the hub. A laminated core is fixed to the base. The laminated core has a ring portion and twelve teeth that radially outwardly extend from the ring portion. Coils are wound around the twelve teeth. The base includes an increasing-thickness portion formed so that the less the distance between a part of the increasing-thickness portion and the ring-shaped wall is, the thicker the part of the increasing-thickness portion becomes. |
| US09030772B2 |
Variable data density for data storage
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses that provide for variable data density on a disc data storage medium, where the variable data density may have a circumferential definition and a radial definition. In some examples, devices and methods may include measuring a read or write performance attribute on a disc data storage medium and selectively setting a data density rate that may vary in a circumferential direction for the disc data storage medium based on the read or write performance attribute. In other examples, apparatuses can include a data storage device having a disc data storage medium and a controller configured to measure a performance attribute of the disc data storage medium and to selectively set different Bits Per Inch (BPI) for data storage within different areas of the disc. |
| US09030764B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens substantially consists of six lenses of a negative first lens, a negative second lens, a positive third lens, a positive fourth lens, a negative fifth lens and a positive sixth lens in this order from an object side. When a curvature radius of an object-side surface of the fourth lens is R8, and a curvature radius of an image-side surface of the fourth lens is R9, and an Abbe number of the material of the third lens for d-line is νd3, and an Abbe number of the material of the fifth lens for d-line is νd5, the following conditional formulas (1) and (6) are satisfied: −0.61<(R8+R9)/(R8−R9)<0.44 (1); and 38.1<νd3+νd5<45.1 (6). |
| US09030755B2 |
Zoom lens system, optical apparatus, and method for manufacturing zoom lens system
A zoom lens optical system includes, in order from an object side along an optical axis: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group having negative refractive power; and a fifth lens group having positive refractive power, wherein upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, the first lens group being moved with respect to an image plane, a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group increasing, a distance between the second lens group and the third lens group decreasing, a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group varying, and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group varying. |
| US09030753B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side, a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group and a positive third lens group, wherein, during magnification change from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, at least the first and second lens groups are moved such that the interval between the first and second lens groups decreases and the interval between the second and third lens groups increases. The first lens group includes a negative meniscus first-group first lens with a convex object-side surface, a negative meniscus first-group second lens with a convex object-side surface, and a positive first-group third lens with a convex object-side surface, and the second lens group includes a positive lens, a cemented lens formed by a positive lens and a negative lens, a positive lens and a negative lens, in order from the object side. The zoom lens satisfies given conditional expressions. |
| US09030752B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus
The zoom lens includes at least five lens groups including first, second, third, fourth and fifth lens groups respectively having positive, negative, negative, positive and positive refractive powers. At least four movable lens groups are moved during zooming. At least two movable lens groups placed further on an image side than an aperture. C1 and C2 lens groups are moved so as to draw mutually different loci and such that a distance therebetween becomes maximum at a middle zoom position. The C1 and C2 lens groups are located further on a same side at the telephoto end than at a wide-angle end. At least one of D1 and D2 lens groups is moved during the zooming so as to be located further on an object side at a telephoto end than at the wide-angle end. A distance therebetween at the telephoto end becomes larger than that at wide-angle end. |
| US09030751B2 |
Fluidic lens
A vari-focal fluidic lens is provided. The fluidic lens includes a frame, an first membrane, a second membrane, and an optical fluid. The frame defines an inner space of the fluidic lens including a driving portion and a lens portion that are connected to each other. The elastic membrane is attached to one side of the frame to cover at least the lens portion. The second membrane is attached to an opposite side of the frame to cover at least the driving portion and is deformable in response to temperature change to vary a volume of the inner space. Optical fluid is contained in the inner space. |
| US09030749B2 |
Bifocal head-up display system
A bifocal head-up display system includes a projector, at least one projection surface in an intermediate image plane, and relay optics to direct a display image to a reflector in a vehicle operator's field of view. The display image includes two image portions focused at different distances from the vehicle operator. A first image portion focused at a first distance may include information related to vehicle operation, and a second image portion focused at a second distance may include to information related to extra-vehicular objects. |
| US09030746B2 |
Fabrication method of microlens array and microlens array thereof
The present invention discloses a fabrication method of a microlens array (MLA) and an MLA fabricated using the same. The fabrication method of an MLA comprises: providing a substrate with an interface hydrophilic modified polymer layer; using light, gas or liquid with the property of converting the polymer' hydrophilicity to create a hydrophilic zone on the interface hydrophilic modified polymer layer; coating the substrate with a liquid material to condense a plurality of liquid microlenses in the hydrophilic zone; and curing the plurality of liquid microlenses to form a plurality of microlenses. Therefore, the fabrication method of an MLA has advantages of fast speed, low cost, no etch transfer and low temperature. |
| US09030743B2 |
Optical filter including ring-shaped electrode having a slit
An optical filter includes: a first substrate; a second substrate opposed to the first substrate; a first reflecting film provided to the first substrate; a second reflecting film provided to the second substrate and opposed to the first reflecting film; a first electrode provided to the first substrate in a peripheral area of the first reflecting film; a second electrode provided to the first substrate in a peripheral area of the first electrode; a third electrode provided to the second substrate and opposed to the first electrode; and a fourth electrode provided to the second substrate and opposed to the second electrode. |
| US09030741B2 |
Image stabilizing apparatus, lens barrel, and optical apparatus
An image stabilizing apparatus includes a shift member holding a lens, a first driver moving the shift member in a first direction in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis, and a second driver moving the shift member in a second direction in the plane orthogonal to the optical axis. The first driver includes a first magnet, a first coil, and a first yoke in order in an optical axis direction, the second driver includes a second magnet, a second coil, and a second yoke in order in the optical axis direction, the first yoke has a protrusion that protrudes in the first direction at least one of end portions extending in a direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the second yoke has a protrusion that protrudes in the second direction at least one of end portions extending in a direction orthogonal to the second direction. |
| US09030737B2 |
3D display device and method
A 3D display device that includes: a first optical section of focal distance f1 provided with a group of small lenses arrayed along a specific direction; and a second optical section of focal distance f2 that converges N beams of parallel light that are emitted from the first optical section and hit the individual small lenses by converging so as to offset the N beams from an optical axis. A distance d1 between the first optical section and the second optical section satisfies f2−f1≦d1≦f2 and a viewing distance d2 from the second optical section satisfies d2≈f2. |
| US09030736B2 |
Reflection screen and image display system
A reflection screen includes: a reflection layer provided on the back side and adapted to reflect light; and a surface shape layer provided on the reflection layer, at the image source side relative to the reflection screen, the surface shape layer having a plurality of unit optical shapes arrayed and deflecting image light toward the reflection layer side. The unit optical shape satisfies, in a section along the array direction of the unit optical shapes and orthogonal to a screen plane, the relationship of α+2φ−θ>90°, where θ is an angle that a total reflection surface makes with a plane parallel to the screen plane, φ is an angle that an incidence surface makes with a normal direction to the screen plane, and α is an angle that light incident on the incidence surface makes with the normal direction to the screen plane. |
| US09030732B2 |
Suppression of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) within laser planar waveguide devices
Described herein are devices and techniques for suppressing parasitic modes in planar waveguide amplifier structures. One or more of the side and end facets of a planar waveguide amplifier are angled with respect to a fast axis defined in a transverse plane perpendicular to a core region. A relationship between glancing in-plane angles of incidence and threshold bevel angles θT can be used to select side bevel angles θS to suppress parasitics by redirecting amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) from the core. It is possible to select the one or more bevel angles θS to be great enough to substantially redirect all but ballistic photons of any guided modes, effectively narrowing a numerical aperture of the planar waveguide amplifier along a slow axis, defined in a transverse plane perpendicular to the fast axis. Beneficially, such improvements can be realized for three part waveguide structures (e.g., cladding-core-cladding), with substantially smooth edge facets. |
| US09030728B2 |
Reflective display
A display element comprises a reservoir and a channel connected to the reservoir. The channel extends across an area including a visible area of the display element, and the reservoir is substantially outside the visible area. The display element further comprises at least one electrode and a luminescent fluid in the reservoir and movable, by means of signals applied to the at least one electrode, between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the luminescent fluid is substantially contained in the reservoir outside the visible area and in the second position, the luminescent fluid extends along the channel to occupy the visible area. The luminescent fluid absorbs light in a first color waveband and converts the absorbed light to light in a second color waveband different from the first color waveband. |
| US09030727B2 |
Electrowetting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A manufacturing method of an electrowetting display apparatus, in which a pixel electrode is formed on a substrate including pixel areas, a first mixture including a hydrophobic material and a solvent is disposed on the substrate to form a hydrophobic insulating layer, and a first heat process is performed to remove a portion of the solvent. Then, a second mixture including a material for a barrier and the solvent is disposed on the hydrophobic insulating layer, and the second mixture is patterned to form a barrier wall surrounding the pixel electrode in each pixel area. A second heat process is performed to remove the solvent in the hydrophobic insulating layer and the barrier wall, and a polar fluid and a non-polar fluid are disposed on the pixel electrode to form an electrowetting layer. |
| US09030726B2 |
Acousto-optic modulator for multi-layer display
A gaming system including an electronic gaming machine (EGM) having a multi-layer display is described. In particular, the EGM can be configured with a display that provides a 3D-like image. An acousto-optical modulator interstitial component can be positioned between two liquid crystal displays to mitigate moiré interference. A piezoelectric transducer can be attached to a glass interstitial component or to a display panel of a multi-layer display in order to control the moiré interference. |
| US09030724B2 |
Flexible and printable electrooptic devices
This invention discloses how electrooptic devices including electrochromic devices that can be fabricated as tags or labels; and further the materials used, device structures and how these can be processed by printing technologies and on flexible substrates. In addition, systems using displays of such devices and their integration with other components are described for forming labels and tags, etc, that may be actuated wirelessly or powered with low voltage and low capacity batteries. |
| US09030723B2 |
Asymmetric travel for MEMS light modulator
Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for increasing the aperture ratio of a display by increasing the total travel distance of respective light modulating bodies in a display while maintaining fast switching speeds. Increasing the total travel distance allows for a larger aperture ratio in a display, which provides greater power savings and increased display brightness. The total travel distance of a light modulating body includes the distance the body travels from an open position to a closed position, and vice-versa. In one example, the travel distance of a light modulating body (e.g., any of the light modulators as described above) is asymmetric: from a neutral position, the body travels a greater distance in a first direction than in a second direction. |
| US09030721B2 |
Mirror driving device and method of controlling the device
A mirror driving device can include: a mirror part having a reflection surface configured to reflect light; mirror support parts formed at portions of the mirror part diagonal to each other; and a first actuator and a second actuator placed so as to surround the mirror part, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator each have a structure in which a plurality of first piezoelectric cantilevers with a longitudinal direction oriented to a direction of a first axis and a plurality of second piezoelectric cantilevers with a longitudinal direction oriented to a second axis are coupled together so as to be folded, and each of the first actuator and the second actuator has one end connected to the mirror part via a relevant one of the mirror support parts and another end connected to a fixing part near the mirror support part to which the one end is coupled. |
| US09030720B2 |
Sheet conveying device, image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus
In a sheet conveying device, a first sensing portion is configured to output a first sense signal when a sheet is absent at a first sensing position determined in advance on a sheet placement portion, and output a second sense signal when the sheet is present at the first sensing position. A second sensing portion is configured to output the second sense signal when the sheet is absent at a second sensing position separated from the first sensing position in a width direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the sheet, and output the first sense signal when the sheet is present at the second sensing position. A sensing control portion is configured to sense a plurality of states in accordance with a combination of the first sense signal and the second sense signal. |
| US09030718B1 |
Book scanner
A book scanner includes a loading mechanism, a pickup mechanism, a page-turning mechanism, a page-pressing mechanism and an image capturing mechanism. The pickup mechanism is disposed at one end of the loading mechanism. The page-turning mechanism is disposed at the end of the loading mechanism. The page-turning mechanism includes a swing arm and a supporting arm. One end of the swing arm swings reciprocally and the other end of the swing arm is connected with the supporting arm. The supporting arm is capable of rotating into a gap between a ruckled uppermost page and the other pages of the book. The swing arm rotatably turns the ruckled uppermost page. The page-pressing mechanism is partially disposed above and facing the loading mechanism. The image capturing mechanism is disposed above and facing the loading mechanism. |
| US09030717B2 |
Image reading apparatus, compression-ratio determination method, and computer-readable, non-transitory medium
Provided are an image reading apparatus, a compression-ratio determination method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can determine a compression ratio such that the data amount after compression would be optimal. The image reading apparatus includes an image generator for generating an input image by reading a document, a document-type identification module for identifying a type of the document, and an image compressor for compressing the input image, wherein the image compressor determines a compression ratio for compressing the input image, based on the type of the document. |
| US09030716B2 |
Image forming apparatus to set wallpaper and method thereof
An image forming apparatus to set a wallpaper includes providing a user interface (UI) for wallpaper editing of each program, and changing and displaying a wallpaper of a respective program according to items selected from the UI. Accordingly, a user-desired wallpaper is applied to each widget program used according to a user's purpose. |
| US09030715B2 |
Sheet conveyance device that can detect sheet size
A sheet conveyance device is capable of detecting a sheet length in a conveyance direction correctly, and of detecting a length of a non-standard size sheet correctly. A detection unit detects front and rear ends of a sheet conveyed with a conveyance unit. A measurement unit measures sheet length in a conveyance direction based on a detection result of the detection unit. An acquisition unit acquires a reference length of the sheet. A computation unit computes a correction value that is used to correct a length measured by the measurement unit based on length measured and the reference length acquired in a correction mode. A storage unit stores the correction value computed. A determination unit determines sheet length corrected based on the correction value and the length measured at the time of conveyance of a sheet in a mode other than correction mode. |
| US09030712B2 |
Image processing apparatus, printing apparatus, and image processing method
Nozzles in a print head are arrayed in a density of 600 dpi. Moreover, a dither matrix has a size of 16 pixels×16 pixels in 600 dpi. The dither matrix is repeatedly used. In the meantime, each of rectangles represents an HS processing unit. WHS=3 pixels. As a consequence, the relationship of a least common multiple below is established in a nozzle array direction: 3×WD=16×WHS. In this case, the cycle of interference unevenness can be prolonged to the least common multiple between WD and WHS, that is, 48 pixels (3WD). In this manner, the size of the dither matrix is not an integral multiple of the HS processing unit width, so that the cycle of interference unevenness can be prolonged more than the size of the dither matrix. Thus, the interference unevenness can be hardly recognized. |
| US09030711B2 |
Controller, image forming apparatus, and computer program product for restricting total toner amount
According to an embodiment, provided is a controller that controls an image forming unit forming an image on a recording medium based on image data in which densities of a plurality of colors are specified for each pixel. The controller includes: a setting unit that sets a common representative value to a density of a specific color indicating one of the colors in each of a plurality of pixels included in a specific area indicating a specific area represented in the image data; and a determining unit that determines a density of each of the colors so that a sum of densities of the respective colors other than the specific color in the pixels included in the specific area becomes equal to or lower than a value acquired by subtracting the representative value from a reference value indicating a total amount restriction target of a total amount of toners. |
| US09030709B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer readable recording medium for print control
An information processing apparatus includes a drawing receiving unit to receive a page start command and a drawing command from an OS, a transparency processing unit to generate a bitmap upon receiving the page start command, to alpha blend a first image with a second image existing on the bitmap to generate a blended image upon receiving the drawing command that includes the first image with an alpha channel, and to duplicate the alpha blended image, and a drawing processing unit to convert the drawing command that includes the first image with the alpha channel, into a print command to draw the duplicated alpha blended image. |
| US09030708B2 |
Imposition apparatus, imposition method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
There are provided an imposition apparatus, an imposition method, and a non-transitory computer readable recording medium capable of setting a page box very easily. An instruction to change the relative position (or the relative size) of a frame image with respect to a page image in a preview image and an instruction to stop the change are given. The preview image is updated so that the frame image is in contact with a determined reference position (reference frame or reference line) by performing an additional change when a stop instruction is received. |
| US09030707B2 |
Log image creating system that creates log image of job in image forming apparatus
A log image creating system includes a job type determining unit and a log image creating unit. If the job type determining unit determines that the job is a heterogeneous multicasting transmission job for transmitting images created from the same draft by a plurality of communication methods, and is also a different-image heterogeneous multicasting transmission job, in which the plurality of communication methods include a plurality of communication methods in which at least one of a color and a resolution differs among images to be transmitted, the log image creating unit creates a log image in the different-image heterogeneous multicasting transmission job based on an image of a type selected under a specific condition from a plurality of types of images that are eligible for being transmitted in the different-image heterogeneous multicasting transmission job and mutually differ with respect to at least their color or resolution. |
| US09030705B2 |
Printing control apparatus and printing control method
A printing control method includes obtaining a size of a sheet to be used for printing, determining a size of a post-trimming sheet according to the obtained sheet size, specifying a print position of barcode information according to the determined sheet size, and controlling the barcode information to be printed in the specified position. |
| US09030704B2 |
Function expansion method using print data for a point-of-sale terminal
Various functions can be easily added using print data output from an existing application without modifying the existing application program. A function expansion method for executing a process that expands the functions of an application runs on a computer that operates according to an operating system on the operating system kernel layer, executes a specific process according to an application on an application layer, and has one or more communication ports, includes a step of acquiring print data output from the application on the operating system kernel layer, and a step of performing at the application layer a process expanding the function of the acquired print data, and outputs the print data after processing to a suitable communication port. |
| US09030703B2 |
Printing server, printing system, and printing method for creating image data representing an image based on print data and an additional image to be added to the image
When print data transmitted by a PC is accumulated in a printing server, the printing server creates display data for displaying on the PC an image based on the print data and an image corresponding to an advertisement image to be added to the image, and transmits the display data to the PC. When print data is created so that an image is printed on only the front side of a recording paper, image data is created so that an advertisement image is printed on the reverse side of the recording paper. The PC previews an image on the surface and an image on the reverse side based on the received display data on an LCD of a display section. |
| US09030702B2 |
Client apparatus, printing system, and display method for converting printing formats, generating preview images, and displaying preview images
Disclosed is a client apparatus connected to a printing server and configured to instruct the printing server to execute printing. The client apparatus includes a converting unit configured to convert a format of data to be printed into a printable format, an image generator configured to generate a preview image of the data to be printed adapted to a printing condition based on the data of the converted format, and a display unit configured to display the preview image. |
| US09030699B2 |
Association of a portable scanner with input/output and storage devices
A device identifier is scanned with a portable scanner and communicated to a service provider. The service provider associates the device with the portable scanner. Information is scanned from a printed source and communicated to the service provider and subsequent information is received in response at a device identified by the device identifier. In some embodiments, a communication session identifier is scanned with a portable scanner and communicated to the service provider rather than (or in cooperation with) the device identifier. |
| US09030695B2 |
Printing system, printing device, server, and printing method for setting expiration information for email address of printing device
The advantage of the invention is to prevent malicious use of a leaked e-mail address. A printing system has a printer, and a server device which causes the printer to conduct printing of print target data included in an e-mail when receiving the e-mail that designates the printer as a printing place. The printing system has an expiration date setting section that sets an expiration date in an e-mail address that uses the printer as the printing place, a mail address registering section that registers the generated e-mail address and the set expiration date by being associated with each other, and an expiration date managing section that manages the registered expiration date and disables the e-mail address whose expiration date has expired. |
| US09030694B2 |
Methods and systems for displaying a number of sheets allowed to be saved to an external storage
An information processing system includes at least one information processing apparatus; a connecting unit configured to enable a connection with at least one device via a network; an acquiring unit configured to acquire attribute information on at least one distribution destination that is a destination of data to be distributed from the distribution destination, the distribution destination allowing a user to designate in the device; an output unit configured to output the acquired attribute information to the device via the network; and a distribution control unit configured to perform a process of distributing the data to the distribution destination designated by the user in the device after the attribute information is output to the device. |
| US09030693B2 |
Communication apparatus, method of controlling the communication apparatus, and storage medium
A communication apparatus at a client side communicates with a server to update remote one-touch keys each time because a remote one-touch key can be deleted or added in a communication apparatus at the server side. However, a remote one-touch key selected to specify a transmission destination can be used to deselect the transmission destination. Consequently, the communication apparatus at the client side does not update the remote one-touch keys while the remote one-touch key is selected to specify the transmission destination. With the configuration, the one-touch keys provided from the communication apparatus at the server side can be used while the operability of the one-touch keys is maintained. |
| US09030690B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of changing execution order of jobs, method of controlling image forming apparatus, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus capable of changing the execution order of jobs to thereby suppress occurrence of downtime caused when an operator cannot replenish or replace a consumable. A print queue manages the execution order of jobs. A paper-out prediction section predicts a time at which replenishment or replacement of a consumable to be consumed by the execution of the jobs becomes necessary. An operator absence schedule input section receives an input of a time period during which an operator who is to replenish or replace the consumable cannot replenish or replace the consumable. A job order automatic changing section changes the execution order of the jobs such that the predicted time will not come during the time period, when possible. |
| US09030688B2 |
System for scalable processing of files in the cloud
A system for transmission of files, which files are generated by a first user at a first client station, which first client station is connected by a first computer network such as a Local Area Network (LAN) to one or more local servers, which first server performs communication to a number of computer systems connected to the first LAN. Worldwide net scalable files transferring processes without the need for transferring the files over the wide area net, but to retain the user's full access to any file are achieved and storage of large files at a plurality of servers during and after data transmission prevented. |
| US09030687B2 |
Printing system, job processing method, storage medium, and printing apparatus that restricts execution of a received printing job upon receiving a request for a non-printing job for post-processing
A printing system high in flexibility and/or user-friendliness which make it possible to use only post processing by a post-processing unit connected to a printing unit without requiring printing by the printing unit. An execution request receiving unit receives a request for execution of one of an inline job requiring post processing by the sheet processing unit after execution of printing by the printing unit, and an offline job requiring post processing by the sheet processing unit connected to the printing unit, without requiring printing by the printing unit. A controller performs control such that the offline job is executed by the sheet processing unit prior to an inline job associated with an execution request received earlier by the execution request receiving unit than an execution request associated with the offline job. |
| US09030682B2 |
Systems and methods for universal imaging components
A method of operating a cartridge chip installed in an imaging device includes: causing, by the cartridge chip, the imaging device to enter an error condition; monitoring the timing or sequence of communication signals received from the imaging device during at least a portion of the error condition; and operating, based on the timing or sequence of the communication signals received from the imaging device during at least a portion of the error condition, in a first mode of operation compatible with a first type of imaging device or in a second mode of operation compatible with a second type of imaging device. |
| US09030680B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method for controlling information processing apparatus, and program
An information processing apparatus includes a control unit that, in a case where it is determined that proxy response processing should be performed, performs control such that an inputted job is processed without causing the information processing apparatus to transition from a second power mode to a first power mode, and, in a case where it is determined that proxy response processing should not be performed, performs control such that inputted job is processed after causing the information processing apparatus to transition from the second power mode to the first power mode. |
| US09030677B2 |
Automatic environmentally friendly font substitution using print control policies and governance logs
A method and a system are disclosed for the automatic substitution of font with a toner saving font. Dynamic substitution of document specified fonts with a toner saving font can reduce the amount of toner used and minimize system resource usage that can slow printing speeds. Substitution software first determines whether a document print request matches a set of predefined conditions. If the document print request does not match all of the conditions, the inquiry ends. Substitution software then determines whether font substitution is selected or mandated at any level of print control. Where a document print request matches all of the predefined conditions and where font substitution is selected or mandated at any level of print controls, the substitution software performs a font substitution to replace original font with a toner saving font. |
| US09030674B2 |
Method and apparatus for secure control of a robot
A device according to the invention (1) for monitoring the safety of at least one robot (2), having a non-contact detection apparatus (3A, 3B) for monitoring a working space (A) of at least one robot (2) in a monitoring mode (FIG. 1), is characterized by a switching means (1) for switching the detection apparatus into a measuring mode (FIG. 2) to measure at least one robot (2). |
| US09030664B2 |
Apparatus for measuring transmissivity of patterned glass substrate
An apparatus for measuring transmissivity of a patterned glass substrate. A beam radiator radiates a laser beam. A collimation lens collimates the laser beam radiated from the laser beam radiator. A beam expander expands a size of the laser beam collimated by the collimation lens. A detector has a light-receiving section, which receives the laser beam that has passed through the patterned glass substrate after having been expanded by the beam expander. A measuring instrument measures a transmissivity of the patterned glass substrate using the laser beam received by the detector. |
| US09030660B2 |
Multi-band imaging spectrometer
One embodiment disclosed is a spectrometry system for collecting spatially and temporally co-registered hyperspectral data covering multiple spectral bands. The spectrometry system includes a single entrance slit for receiving light and a plurality of disperser elements operating over a plurality of distinct spectral bands to disperse the received light into constituent spectral channels. The system also includes a plurality of collimating and imaging optic elements that receive and re-image the dispersed light. The system also includes at least two focal plane arrays affixed in a common plane and configured to receive the re-imaged dispersed light, each of the at least two focal plane arrays being dedicated to sensing a distinct spectral band of the dispersed light. |
| US09030655B2 |
Closed loop atomic inertial sensor
An apparatus for inertial sensing is provided. The apparatus comprises at least one atomic inertial sensor, and one or more micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors operatively coupled to the atomic inertial sensor. The atomic inertial sensor and the MEMS inertial sensors operatively communicate with each other in a closed feedback loop. |
| US09030653B1 |
Multi point, high sensitive tactile sensing module for robots and devices
The features of the system are: fiber optic cables (instead of human sensory receptor) and low cost CMOS or CCD image sensor (which can be found in a conventional webcam, camcorder, digital camera etc.) are used by pairing each pixel of the image sensor with corresponding fiber optic cable, which is assured to transfer all light beams to the processor on a single photo frame where the coordinates and the level of displacements are detected precisely by the aid of image processing techniques, in order to provide tactile sensing. The system can work with a computer or it can work individually with an electronically circuit that contains an independent processor. |
| US09030651B2 |
Laser range finding device and distance measurement method thereof
A distance measurement method is provided that includes the steps of transmitting a laser signal to a target, receiving outside signals reflected by the target, converting the outside signals into an analog voltage signal, sampling the analogy voltage signal to obtain digital signals, storing the digital signals at storage addresses in a one-to-one relationship, repeating the above steps, accumulating numeral values at each storage addresses to obtain an accumulated value, outputting the accumulating value which exceeds a constant and corresponds to a time point, and calculating the distance between a laser range finding device and the target according to the time point corresponding to the output accumulated value. |
| US09030647B2 |
Optical imaging arrangement with vibration decoupled support units
An optical imaging arrangement includes an optical projection system and a support structure system. The optical projection system includes a group of optical elements configured to transfer, in an exposure process using exposure light along an exposure light path, an image of a pattern of a mask supported by a mask support structure onto a substrate supported by a substrate support structure. The mask support structure and the substrate support structure form a primary source of vibration. The support structure system includes a base support structure, an optical element support structure and at least one secondary vibration source support structure of a secondary vibration source other than the primary source of vibration. The optical element support structure supports the optical elements. |
| US09030645B2 |
Illumination optical system, exposure apparatus, and exposure method
In an illumination optical system, a light flux from a light source is made to come into a first fly's eye optical system, and an illumination area is illuminated, via a second fly's eye optical system and a condenser optical system, with light fluxes from a plurality of mirror elements which construct the first fly's eye optical system, wherein a reflecting surface of each of the mirror elements has a width in one direction narrower than a width of each of the mirror elements in a direction perpendicular to the one direction, and a reflectance distribution in the one direction of each of the mirror elements is trapezoidal. The intensity distribution of the illumination area can be set to be a nonuniform distribution, and respective points in the illumination area can be illuminated with the light fluxes having an approximately same aperture angle distribution. |
| US09030644B2 |
Projection exposure apparatus for semiconductor lithography including an actuator system
The disclosure relates to a projection exposure apparatus for semiconductor lithography which includes an actuator system to mechanically actuate a component of the projection exposure apparatus. The actuator system has at least one mechanism to reduce and/or dampen the heat input into the component that is due to heat arising during the operation of the actuator system. |
| US09030637B2 |
In-plane switching mode liquid crystal display and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating an in-plane switching (IPS) type liquid crystal display (LCD) device according to an embodiment includes forming gate lines arranged in a first direction and data lines arranged in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the gate lines and the data lines defining pixel regions on an array substrate; forming a storage electrode on the array substrate; forming common electrodes extending across each pixel region; forming pixel electrodes arranged to be substantially parallel to the common electrodes, the common electrodes and the pixel electrodes being alternately arranged to generate an in-plane field in each pixel region; and forming thin film transistors (TFTs) at intersection areas of the gate lines and the data lines, each TFT including a source electrode connected to the corresponding data line, a drain electrode connected to the corresponding pixel electrode and a gate electrode. |
| US09030635B2 |
Liquid crystal display device comprising a stage having an electrode formation surface
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes a first electrode, a stage including an electrode formation surface, a switching element, a second electrode and a first vertical alignment film. The second substrate includes a third electrode and a second vertical alignment film. The electrode formation surface is positioned closer to the second substrate than a portion of the first vertical alignment film, which opposes the first electrode. |
| US09030631B2 |
Liquid crystal displaying panel and manufacturing method thereof
The present disclosure provides a liquid crystal displaying panel, which includes a first substrate having a displaying area and a sealant-coating area surrounding the displaying area and a light-blocking layer arranged between the displaying area and the sealant-coating area. The light-blocking layer can absorb and block ultraviolet light to prevent the ultraviolet light from affecting the liquid crystal layer. Additionally, the light-blocking layer and the pixel electrode layer are formed in the same process, that is, the light-blocking layer is simultaneously formed when the pixel electrode layer is formed. A thickness of the light-blocking layer is equal to that of the pixel electrode layer. Since the thickness of the light-blocking layer is equal to that of the pixel electrode layer, the pixel electrode layer and the light-blocking layer can be formed in the same process, which simplifies the manufacturing process of the light-blocking layer and the needed equipment. |
| US09030627B1 |
Liquid crystal display with light guide
Devices such as electronic book readers, tablet computers, laptops, and so forth may use reflective liquid crystal display (“LCD”) technologies. Described herein are devices and methods for illuminating the reflective LCD with a light guide panel. The light guide panel is configured with diffractive or other optical features configured to distribute light to the reflective LCD. A directive reflector may be arranged behind the reflective LCD to improve overall reflectivity by directing impinging light such that optical obstructions such as transistors and electrical traces within the reflective LCD are avoided. |
| US09030624B2 |
Direct backlight module and liquid display with the same
A direct backlight module is disclosed. The direct backlight module includes: a backplane comprising a detachable sheet and a fixing sheet, and the detachable sheet connects to the fixing sheet; a direct light source arranged on the detachable sheet; an optical film set arranged on the direct light source, the optical film set faces toward a light emitting surface of the direct light source; and a liquid crystal panel arranged on the optical film set. In addition, a liquid crystal display includes the above direct backlight module is also disclosed. The assembly or maintaining process of the direct backlight module is convenient. In addition, the heat dissipation of the direct backlight module is also enhanced. |
| US09030623B2 |
Frameless liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a frameless liquid crystal display device, which includes a rear enclosure, a backlight module arranged inside the rear enclosure, a mold frame arranged on the backlight module and fixedly coupled to the rear enclosure, a liquid crystal display panel arranged on the mold frame, and a surface decoration arranged at a lower end of the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel includes a CF substrate and a TFT substrate laminated on the CF substrate and a top polarization plate and a bottom polarization plate respectively laminated to the CF substrate and the TFT substrate. The bottom polarization plate forms projections on upper and lower ends of the liquid crystal display panel. The mold frame forms retention slots in which the projections are received to mount the liquid crystal display panel to the mold frame. |
| US09030622B2 |
Electro-optic device and electronic apparatus
An electro-optic device including an electro-optic panel, a dust-proof substrate attached to one of surfaces of the electro-optic panel, and a holding member having a supporting portion that supports an end portion of the dust-proof substrate and a main body portion arranged so as to surround the electro-optic panel. |
| US09030615B2 |
Display substrate, method of manufacturing the same and display panel having the same
A display substrate includes a data line disposed on a base substrate, a first pixel electrode disposed at a first side of the data line, a second pixel electrode disposed at a second side of the data line and a storage electrode overlapping with the data line. The storage electrode overlaps with the first pixel electrode by a first overlapping width, and overlaps with the second pixel electrode by a second overlapping width larger than the first overlapping width. |
| US09030609B1 |
Segmented video data processing
A system transmits video content from a single video source or multiple independent video sources by transmitting at least one data information segment (DIS) followed by a plurality of video data information segments (VDIS). Each DIS includes information that corresponds to a video source and to the plurality of VDIS transmitted subsequently. A receiver system receives at least one DIS followed by a plurality of VDIS, and processes the received VDIS in accordance with the information in the received DIS. The receiver system stores processed video content of the processed VDIS into a memory queue, and a separate memory queue is used for each video source. A display interface receives and processes video content of each memory queue to generate video pixels of a respective output image in accordance with preselected preferences, e.g., corresponding video source, video format, resolution, and/or starting location of the respective output image. |
| US09030602B2 |
Image sensor module and camera module using same
An image sensor module includes a rigid-flex board, an image sensor, a supporting plate, and a glue. The rigid-flex board defines a through hole, and includes a plurality of connecting pads adjacent to the through hole. The image sensor is positioned on one side of the rigid-flex board, and includes an image surface and a plurality of pins adjacent to the image surface. The image surface faces the through hole, and the pins are connected to the connecting pads. The supporting plate defines a receiving recess. The supporting plate is positioned on the side of the rigid-flex board. The image sensor is received in the receiving recess. The glue fills between the supporting plate and the rigid-flex board. |
| US09030599B2 |
Photographing apparatus and image processing apparatus using coded light, and method thereof
A photographing apparatus includes a light source to continuously emit a light, a photographing unit to photograph an object, a control unit to control radiation of the light by turning the light source on and off according to a light control code during a shutter time of the photographing unit, and an image processing unit to restore an image of the object using a frequency component value of the data captured at the photographing unit during the shutter time. Accordingly, efficient de-blurring is provided. |
| US09030597B2 |
Interchangeable lens and camera body
An interchangeable lens including a fitting unit that can be fitted to and removed from a camera body; an imaging optical system that has an aperture, and whose focal length is variable over a range from a first focal length to a second focal length; and an MTF characteristic transmission unit that transmits MTF characteristic data specifying MTF characteristics of the imaging optical system to the camera body. |
| US09030596B2 |
Focus detection apparatus and image pickup apparatus that perform focus detection using phase difference method
A focus detection apparatus which is capable of estimating each of signals from a plurality of split PDs, which are included in a sum signal from split PDs, by performing a computation to thus detect saturation with respect to each split PD. With respect to each unit pixel cell having a plurality of PDs sharing one micro lens, saturation of a pixel signal read out in a non-destructive manner from one of the PDs is detected. Based on a first luminance signal and a sum pixel signal obtained by summing signals output from the PDs, another pixel signal output from another one of the PDs is estimated. Saturation of the estimated pixel signal is detected, and a second luminance signal is generated. Based on the first and second luminance signals, the amount of defocus for an optical unit is calculated. |
| US09030594B1 |
Applying phase transfer function
Systems and methods can be configured to perform operations related to digital image processing. In a general aspect, this disclosure describes systems and methods relating to processing digital images for imaging system characterization and image quality enhancement. In some implementations, a method for digital image processing includes measuring a first phase transfer function (PTF) of a first digital image and a second PTF of a second digital image. The second digital image captures a spatially shifted version of the first digital image. The first PTF and the second PTF are compared and a spatial shift of the second image to the first image is determined. |
| US09030585B2 |
Information communication method for obtaining information by demodulating bright line pattern included in image
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 method includes obtaining first image data by image capture with a first exposure time in the normal imaging mode. When an image is presented that prompts a user of a terminal device including the image sensor to move the terminal device to enable the information to be obtained, second image data is obtained by image capture with a second exposure time, shorter than the first 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 appearing in the second image data and corresponding to the exposure lines that is substantially perpendicular to the exposure lines. |
| US09030584B2 |
Image sensor with substrate noise isolation
A process including forming an a backside-illuminated (BSI) image sensor in a substrate, the image sensor including a pixel array formed in or near a front surface of the substrate and one or more circuit blocks formed in the substrate near the pixel array, each circuit block including at least one support circuit. An interconnect layer is formed on the front surface of the substrate that includes a dielectric within which are embedded traces and vias, wherein the traces and vias electrically couple the pixel array to at least one of the one or more support circuits. An isolation trench is formed surrounding at least one of the one or more circuit blocks to isolate the pixel array and other circuit blocks from noise generated by the at least one support circuit within the circuit block surrounded by the isolation trench. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US09030582B2 |
Solid state image sensor and method for driving the same
A transistor (24) which acts as a load-current source for a source follower amplifying transistor (22) for outputting a pixel signal to a pixel output line (40) is provided in each picture element (10), whereby a high bias current is prevented from passing through the high-resistance pixel output line (40), so that a variation in an offset voltage among picture elements is suppressed. Inclusion of the high-resistance pixel output line (40) into the source follower amplification circuit is also avoided, whereby the gain characteristics are prevented from deterioration. Thus, the S/N ratio of the picture element is improved so as to enhance the quality of the images. |
| US09030579B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method that corrects a signal level of a defective pixel
A direction being across the defective pixel and along which pixels used to calculate a signal level of a defective pixel are located, is determined. A ratio between signal levels of pixels that are adjacent to the defective pixel and that have a different color from the defective pixel, and signal levels of pixels that are adjacent to pixels being located along the determine direction with respect to the defective pixel and having the same color as the defective pixel and that have a different color from the defective pixel, is acquired. A value obtained by multiplying an average value of the signal levels of the pixels used to calculate the signal level of the defective pixel by the calculated ratio is output as the signal level of the defective pixel. |
| US09030576B2 |
Album creating apparatus, album creating method and program therefor
An album creating apparatus is provided to insert a title appropriate for the timing at which the image stored in the album is captured. The album creating apparatus includes: an image acquiring section for acquiring a plurality of images in association with image capturing times; a reference time acquiring section for acquiring a reference time indicative of the time and date of a main event in an album; an image capturing timing specifying section for specifying an image capturing timing indicative of a period for the reference time acquired by the reference time acquiring section; a title determining section for determining a title to be inserted into the album; and an album creating section for creating the album by laying out the title determined. |
| US09030572B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program for processing image
An apparatus, a method, and a program for processing an image are provided. The apparatus includes: a determiner which determines an area corresponding to a white-saturation area included in a raw image based on raw data representing the raw image, wherein the raw image is obtained by photographing and is not processed; and a converter which selectively performs an image space frequency distribution conversion on a portion of the raw data that corresponds to the determined area corresponding to the white-saturation area. The converter reduces luminance changes of pixels which are not a preset reference pixel in the area corresponding to the white-saturation area. |
| US09030571B2 |
Abstract camera pipeline for uniform cross-device control of image capture and processing
A system for acquiring digital images for a device having an integrated camera includes an Application Program Interface (API). The API is adapted to receive preprocessing and other instructions from a discrete application operating on the device. The API is also adapted to process multiple image capture requests using a pipeline configuration. |
| US09030568B2 |
Data processing apparatuses, data processing method, program, and camera system
Disclosed herein is a data processing apparatus including: a data sort block configured to sort, into multiple groups by information data of a same type, input data including information data of multiple types formed by multiple bits; a maximum value extraction block configured to extract a maximum value of the information data in each of the groups sorted by the data sort block; and a bit position decision and bit reduction block configured to determine a reduction position of bits common to the information data of the same type in each group on the basis of the maximum value extracted by the maximum value extraction block and reduce the common bits in accordance with the determination. |
| US09030565B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for evaluating video quality
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for evaluating video quality. In the embodiments of the present invention, a method in the prior art that the video quality is determined only according to the number of lost packets and a packet loss rate is modified, and the location of the most important lost packet is determined by analyzing the influence of the lost packet on other packets, and a damage degree or degree of intactness of the video frame is determined according to the most important lost packets, so as to determine the quality of the video frame. The method greatly improves the precision for evaluating the video quality. |
| US09030563B2 |
Video archival system
A video archival system for recording events of interest is disclosed. The system comprises: a video camera for providing video data for a location; a remote control device having user operable controls for enabling a user to identify the event of interest and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting event data; a receiver for wirelessly receiving the event data from the remote control device; and a data recorder for recording the video data provided by the video camera. The system is arranged to use the event data received by the receiver to identify the video data for the event of interest. |
| US09030562B2 |
Use of a two- or three-dimensional barcode as a diagnostic device and a security device
A building security system includes means for detecting human motion. An imaging device scans for a visible code in response to the detection of human motion by the detecting means. A security device deciphers the scanned code, determines an authorization level associated with the deciphered code, and provides the human with a level of access to the building commensurate with the authorization level. |
| US09030561B2 |
Image calibration method and image calibration device
To alleviate the strictness degree required for a relative positional relationship between a calibration index and a vehicle in an image calibration method and an image calibration device. The image calibration device includes a calibration index 20, four cameras 10, a distortion correction processing unit 30, a viewpoint transformation processing unit 40, and a calibration processing unit 50. The calibration index 20 includes two mutually parallel lines and a distance between which is known and one line orthogonal to the two lines. The cameras 10 take peripheral area images S1 to S4 of peripheral areas R1 to R4 including the calibration index 20. The distortion correction processing unit 30 corrects the peripheral area images S1 to S4 by using internal parameters M to obtain distortion-corrected images P1 to P4. The viewpoint transformation processing unit 40 performs viewpoint transformation processing on the distortion-corrected images P1 to P4 by using external parameters N to obtain a viewpoint-transformed composite image Q0. The calibration processing unit 50 performs calibration in the viewpoint transformation processing. The calibration processing unit 50 includes an internal parameter correction unit 51 and an external parameter correction unit 52. The internal parameter correction unit 51 corrects the internal parameters M. The external parameter correction unit 52 corrects the external parameters N. |
| US09030557B2 |
Camera unit in particular for surveillance in a transportation means
A camera unit (12) in particular for surveillance in a transportation means (10) includes a digital camera (30), an electronic control device (32) for controlling and reading out the camera (30), and an interface (34) for outputting image data to a digital data network (16). The camera unit (12) comprises an active network component (36) for data distribution. The control device (32) is adapted to determine an individual identification from an identification means (40) which is provided at the mounting side at the installation point of the camera unit (12), and to determine at least one network parameter from the identification. |
| US09030551B2 |
Ambient reflectivity absorption system for identifying precious or semi-precious materials and associated methods
A reflectivity absorption system for identifying a target precious or semi-precious material can include a detector, a filter system, and an output display. The detector system is capable of detecting a reflected electromagnetic radiation at a primary wavelength and a secondary wavelength. The reflected electromagnetic radiation can be produced from sunlight or other light source. The primary wavelength corresponds to an upper reflectivity of the target material while the secondary wavelength corresponds to a lower reflectivity of the target material. Reflectivity is a function of wavelength such that identifiable variations in wavelength can be observed for certain materials over specific wavelength ranges which are then compared to a known standard reflectivity response for the indicated wavelengths. These systems can be used in portable, handheld, or stationary configurations and can identify exposed target materials in real-time. |
| US09030546B2 |
Image processor, image processing method, program and microscope
An image processor, a program and a microscope enable a TIRF image and a confocal image to be superposed simply and accurately. A reference point detection unit 111 detects, reference points, three or more images respectively from a TIRF image of a predetermined surface of a sample obtained using a total internal reflection fluorescence microscope, and a confocal image of the predetermined surface of the sample obtained using a confocal microscope. A superposing unit superposes the TIRF image and the confocal image using a coordinate transformation coefficient. |
| US09030537B2 |
Image display observation system for alternatively displaying the right and left eye images continuously two or more times
An image display apparatus includes a signal control unit for receiving an input of an image signal, and converting to a signal for displaying each of a right eye image and a left eye image at least two times continuously; and a display panel, input with the signal converted by the signal control unit, for alternately displaying the right eye image continuing two or more times, and the left eye image continuing two or more times. |
| US09030534B2 |
Apparatus and method of displaying 3-dimensional image
An apparatus and a method of displaying 3-Dimensional image are disclosed. A camera unit serves to capture an image of a viewer. A position tracking device serves to detect a position of the viewer using a video frame included in the captured image and calculate a position of a non-transmissive region of a 3D image filter based on the detected position of the viewer. A display unit serves to move the non-transmissive region of the 3D image filter according to the calculated position of the non-transmissive region. Changing a sweet spot of the 3D image to suit movement of the viewer has the effects of enlarge a viewing angle of the viewer and preventing crosstalk and image flipping even when the viewer moves. |
| US09030533B2 |
Stereoscopic overlay offset creation and editing
Adjusting overlay positioning in stereoscopic video, including: receiving overlay data including a plurality of overlays, each overlay having a lateral axis value, a vertical axis value, and a depth value; receiving and displaying the stereoscopic video to a user as at least one of a video preview display and a stereoscopic display, each display including an overlay from the overlay data, wherein a position of the overlay in each display is based on the lateral axis value, the vertical axis value, and the depth value of the overlay, and wherein the video preview display includes interfaces for adjusting the position of the overlay in each display; receiving input from the user related to the depth value of the overlay; and adjusting the position of the overlay in the video preview display based on the input from the user. |
| US09030526B2 |
Transmitting apparatus, transmitting method, receiving apparatus, and receiving method
[Object] To allow the receiver side that receives a transport stream TS including a first video stream having two-dimensional image data inserted thereinto and a second video stream having the three-dimensional image data inserted thereinto in a time multiplexed manner to perform an appropriate and efficient process.[Solution] First identification information and second identification information are inserted into the transport stream TS. The first identification information is identification information indicating whether a video stream included in the stream TS is the first video stream or the second video stream. The second identification information is identification information indicating whether the first identification information has been inserted or not. 3D signaling information including the first identification information is inserted into a user data area of one of a picture header and a sequence header. The second identification information is included in a video stream descriptor inserted and placed under a video elementary loop of a PMT. |
| US09030514B2 |
Light scanning device and image forming apparatus
A light scanning device includes a scanning unit and a power consumption unit. The scanning unit faces a scan surface and performs scanning by dividing one scan area into segments by having multiple light-emitting-element groups arranged in a predetermined scanning direction. Each light-emitting-element group writes an image onto the scan surface by causing multiple light-emitting elements arranged in the scanning direction to emit light in a time-division manner based on image information. The power consumption unit operates during a non-writing period occurring between scanning processes repeatedly executed in each light-emitting-element group, so as to cause consumption of electric power corresponding to electric power consumed for light emission in the light-emitting-element group. |
| US09030512B2 |
Laser process alignment measuring method
A laser process alignment measuring method applicable to a reel-to-reel manufacturing process including a laser process stage, wherein before at least one laser process stage, marks, patterns or surfaces (4,9) are made with printing ink on the base or carrier material of the web (2), and on which the laser beam used can make a mark (7, 10), for example, by removing or changing the printing ink, whereby at the laser process stage, another mark is plotted with the laser beam on the mark et al. printed with printing ink, and the position of the mark et al. printed with printing ink (4, 9) and the mark plotted with the laser (7, 10) are read optically to measure the alignment of the printing ink stage and the laser process stage. |
| US09030510B2 |
Color erasing apparatus and method of controlling temperature of heat source in color erasing apparatus
A color erasing apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a paper feeding section configured to supply to a conveying path a paper on which images are formed by a heat-erasable coloring material, a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a thickness of the paper, and a paper thickness detector configured to determine the thickness of the paper based on the sensor signal. The color erasing apparatus further comprises a color erasing section including a heat source configured to heat the paper; and a heat source temperature controller configured to control the heat source in the color erasing section to a predetermined temperature based on the determined thickness of the paper. |
| US09030509B2 |
Display device and display control system
A display device 2 includes: a display panel 50 having a display area; and a plurality of position information patterns 3 arranged on the display area and each representing information regarding a position thereof on the display area. Each position information pattern 3 is formed of a plurality of optically readable marks 31 that are formed from a material that transmits visible light. On the display area, a plurality of sub-pixels 5R, 5G, and 5B whose colors are different from each other are repeatedly aligned in a determined alignment direction. A length L between both ends of the mark 31 in the alignment direction meets a relational expression of n×P+w≦L≦(n+1)×P−w (n is an integer of 0 or greater) where a width of the sub-pixel in the alignment direction is w and a pitch between the pixels 5 in the alignment direction is P. |
| US09030503B2 |
Anamorphic eyepiece with a microlens array for a panoramic field of view
An innovative anamorphic eyepiece is described, which uses a microlens array with complex surface features used in conjunction with a modified microdisplay to provide a high resolution image with a panoramic field of view. An optical system can be based on such an eyepiece with a microlens array and modified microdisplay that can provide a large, panoramic field of view to the user. The microdisplay is modified to increase the resolution in the horizontal axis. |
| US09030502B2 |
System and method for organizing documents
A system and method for organizing photos and other documents include a user interface for displaying photos and data nodes. A photo may be placed at a data node by selecting a facial image in the photo and then moving the facial image (e.g., using a drop and drag technique) to associate the facial image with the node. In alternative embodiments, a portion of a photo other than a facial image may be selected, or an entire photo may be selected, and then placed at the node. The user can identify nodes based on the person in the facial image and tag the photo with identifying information. In some embodiments, existing nodes (e.g., in a family tree) can be displayed in order to have photos placed therein. Relationship nodes can be suggested as facial images are associated with nodes. |
| US09030500B2 |
Object sharing system and non-transitory computer readable medium storing object input assistance program
An object sharing system includes a common terminal and a personal terminal. The common terminal includes a common screen for displaying an object handwritten in the personal terminal, and a control section configured to define a reference size and transmit the reference size to the personal terminal. The personal terminal includes a personal screen including a touch panel, and a control section configured to perform processes of determining a guide size based on the reference size, and displaying a guide of the determined size on the personal screen, and processes of calculating a display size on the common screen of an object which has been handwritten on the personal screen, and transmitting the handwritten object and the display size to the common terminal. Further, the control section of the common terminal is further configured to make the common screen display the handwritten object of the display size. |
| US09030499B2 |
Custom labeling of a map based on content
A system and method for generating a content based, custom labeled map is provided. A request for a map is received. The request includes a geographical area to be displayed in the map and a type of content item to be displayed in the map. A plurality of orientation points to display on the map is determined based on a ranking of locations in the geographical area, and one or more pieces of content to be associated with each orientation point is determined. Each orientation point is ranked based in part on ranks of the one or more pieces of content associated with each orientation point. A map is generated to display at the locations of the plurality of orientation points the pieces of content associated with each orientation point at a level of prominence that is based on the ranking of each orientation point. |
| US09030492B2 |
Method and device for determining optical overlaps with AR objects
A method for overlaying AR objects on an environmental image representing the environment includes recording a depth image of the environment from a point of vision; modifying the representation of an AR object to be placed in the environmental image in terms of how it appears from the point of vision at a pre-defined spot in the environmental image; determining how the parts of the AR object facing the point of vision are arranged in relation to an associated image point of the depth image, from the point of vision; modifying at least the representation of parts of the AR object in a pre-determined manner in relation to the apparent depth in the image; and overlaying the processed AR object on the environmental image. A device for overlaying AR objects on an environmental image displaying the environment operates according to the method steps. |
| US09030490B2 |
Generating composite medical images
The invention relates to generating a composite medical image combining at least first and second image data. Particularly, the invention relates to a medical imaging system for generating a composite medical view or image combining at least first and second image data as well as a method for generating a composite medical image. In order to provide a combination of image data providing improved perceptibility and enhancing the use of acquired image data, a medical imaging system for generating a composite medical view/image combining at least first and second image data, comprising an image acquisition device, a data processing unit and a display device, a medical imaging system and a method for generating a composite medical image combining at least first and second image data provided, the method comprising the following steps: a) selecting first image data of a first image (212) and second image data of a second image (214); b) registering the first and the second image data; c) determining a boundary connecting sector connecting adjacent boundaries of the first image and the second image; d) generating a separator (218) on behalf of the image data of the boundary connecting sector; e) combining image data of the first image and the second image with image data of the separator to a combined image data; and f) displaying the combined image comprising the separator (218). |
| US09030488B2 |
Method for making available a display of an object on a motor vehicle display device
In order to provide a display of an object on a display device of a motor vehicle, a basic shape of the object is first displayed and the display is then changed, this change simulating rotation, tilting and/or displacement only of a first part of the object. In respect of the remaining, second part of the object, a display on the basis of the basic shape is maintained at least in regions. In this way, space can be obtained on the display device and a significant portion of the object can nevertheless be displayed in an unchanged form at the same time. |
| US09030478B2 |
Three-dimensional graphics clipping method, three-dimensional graphics displaying method, and graphics processing apparatus using the same
A three-dimensional (3D) graphics clipping method, a 3D graphics displaying method, and a 3D graphics processing apparatus using the same are provided. The 3D graphics clipping method includes following steps. A plurality of vertexes of a triangle is obtained, wherein a 3D object is constructed by using a plane of the triangle. Whether a view point is located between a first near clipping plane and a far clipping plane is determined. A second near clipping plane is set according to the determination result, and a view field is set between the second near clipping plane and the far clipping plane. A near clipping procedure is executed on the triangle according to the second near clipping plane. In the 3D graphics clipping method, a correct view field is determined in advance so that a graphics processing procedure is efficiently sped up and the accuracy of the near clipping procedure is increased. |
| US09030477B2 |
Editable character action user interfaces
A system includes a computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The computing device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes defining at least one of a location in a virtual scene and a time represented in a timeline as being associated with a performance of an animated character. The method also includes aggregating data that represents actions of the animation character for at least one of the defined location and the defined time. The method also includes presenting a user interface that includes a representation of the aggregated actions. The representation is editable to adjust at least one action included in the aggregation. |
| US09030476B2 |
Dynamic graphics rendering scheduling
Aspects can be for ray tracing of 3-D scenes, and include dynamically controlling a population of rays being stored in a memory, to keep the population within a target, a memory footprint or other resource usage specification. An example includes controlling the population by examining indicia associated with rays returning from intersection testing, to be shaded, the indicia correlated with behavior of shaders to be run for those rays, such that population control selects, or reorders rays for shading, to prioritize shading of rays whose shaders are expected to produce fewer rays. |
| US09030474B2 |
Untransformed display lists in a tile based rendering system
A three-dimensional computer graphics rendering system allows a tile-based rendering system to operate with a reduced amount of storage required for tiled screen space geometry by using an untransformed display list to represent the screen's geometry. |
| US09030473B2 |
Computing device and method for determining distance between two curved surfaces
A computing device reads information in relation to a first curved surface and a second curved surface from a storage device, respectively meshes the first and second curved surfaces into a plurality of first and second triangles, and divides a parametric plane associated into a plurality of first grids, where each first grid corresponds to a small box in 3D space. The device determines associations between the first/second triangles of the two curved surfaces and the small boxes in the 3D space, determines a second triangle that is nearest to each first triangle of the first curved surface, and determines a distance between the first triangle and the second triangle as a minimum distance from the first triangle to the second curved surface. A minimum value from all of the minimum distances is determined as a minimum distance between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. |
| US09030472B2 |
Map display manipulation apparatus
A navigation apparatus has a display portion displaying a map that is controlled by a remote control as a manipulator. The remote control has a gravitation sensor. The gravitation sensor serves as a position detector to detect a three-dimensional coordinate set (x, y, z) of the remote control. A reduced scale for the displayed map is changed based on a displacement in z axis while the displayed map is moved based on a horizontal displacement in xy-coordinate plane. The remote control may move obliquely in a direction being neither parallel with z axis nor orthogonal to z axis, drawing a U-shaped locus. In this case, the reduced scale is designated as a subject reduced scale based on the lowest coordinate in z axis; the displayed map is moved based on a product obtained by multiplying the horizontal displacement by a unit distance according to the subject reduced scale. |
| US09030471B2 |
Information processing apparatus and display control method
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus sets, as the three-dimensional image display area, a first area corresponding to a window of a first application program such that a three-dimensional image is displayed in the first area. The apparatus sets as the three-dimensional image display area, if a 3D request is received from a second application program, one of the first area and a second area corresponding to a window of the second application program, and causes the other one of the first application program and the second application program to render a single two-dimensional image such that the single two-dimensional image is displayed in the other one of the first area and the second area. |
| US09030468B2 |
Method for depth map generation
A method for depth map generation is disclosed, capable of generating a depth map corresponding an image signal, for the application of a 2D to 3D image transformation system. In the depth map generated by the disclosed method, each of the plural image regions of the image signal is assigned with a depth value. Besides, by means of comparing the depth map with another depth map of the earlier time point, the disclosed method can generate a modulated depth map, for assigning a depth value to each of the plural image regions of the image signal more precisely. Thus, the transformation performance and efficiency of the 2D to 3D image transformation system are hereby improved. |
| US09030467B2 |
Electronic apparatus and method for displaying graphical user interface as 3D image
An electronic apparatus and a method for displaying a graphical user interface are disclosed. A position determination module determines the position of a user. A controller calculates a depth setting value based on a predetermined distance value and the determined position and adjusts depth values of a plurality of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) based on the calculated depth setting value. A display displays the plurality of GUIs with the adjusted depth values. The plurality of GUIs is displayed at respective output positions. |
| US09030463B2 |
Inspecting apparatus and method for inspection
An inspection apparatus inspects an application that is executed in a game device and displays a virtual space. The inspection apparatus comprises: an exposure indicator acquiring unit that acquires a first index relating to the exposure of an advertisement displayed in the virtual space from the game device, the index being calculated by the application that displays the virtual space from a user's point of view; an inspection image acquiring unit that acquires the virtual space, which is actually displayed on a screen on a frame by frame basis; an advertisement region extracting unit that extracts an advertisement displaying region from the image of the virtual space; an exposure indicator calculating unit that calculates a second index relating to the exposure of the advertisement based on the advertisement displaying region; and a verification unit that verifies the application by cross-checking the first index and the second index. |
| US09030460B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes pixels, a driver for providing a driving voltage, and conductive lines including a first line, a second line, and a third line. The display apparatus further includes a first circuit electrically connected to the driver for receiving the driving voltage and electrically connected to the pixels for controlling the pixels. The first circuit includes a first chip, a first inner line, a first pad, a second pad, a third pad, a fourth pad, and a fifth pad. The first chip is electrically connected to the driver through the third pad, the fourth pad, the fifth pad, the third line, the second line, the second pad, the first inner line, the first pad, and the first line. The fourth and fifth pads may contribute to consistent resistance for paths that transmit the driving voltage, for enabling desirable display quality of the display apparatus. |
| US09030458B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes a scanning line driving circuit, a data line driving circuit, a first VDD power supply wiring line that supplies power to the data line driving circuit, a second VDD power supply wiring line that supplies power to the scanning line driving circuit, and a common wiring line that electrically connects the first VDD power supply wiring line and the second VDD power supply wiring line to each other in an integrated manner. The common wiring line includes electrical conductors, a wiring line, and contact holes. |
| US09030455B2 |
Display device having a power line arrangement for reducing voltage drop
A display device includes: a pixel area comprising pixels in rows and columns; main power lines at a first side of the pixel area and a second side of the pixel area facing the first side; first sub-power lines coupled to a first main power line of the main power lines formed at the first side and extending into the pixel area in a column direction; and second sub-power lines coupled to a second main power line of the main power lines formed at the second side and extending into the pixel area in the column direction, wherein the first sub-power lines and the second sub-power lines extend in different columns of pixels, and wherein a column of pixels of the pixels are alternatingly coupled to a neighboring sub-power line of the first sub-power lines and a neighboring sub-power line of the second sub-power lines. |
| US09030454B2 |
Display device including pixels and method for driving the same
A display device includes an insulation substrate; a plurality of gate lines arranged on the insulation substrate in a first direction and including first group of gate lines and second group of gate lines; a plurality of data lines insulated from and crossing the plurality of gate lines; a gate driver applying gate-on voltages to the plurality of gate lines; and a data driver applying data voltages to the plurality of data lines, wherein at least one of the first group of gate lines is arranged between the second group of gate lines and the gate driver applies the gate-on voltages to the first group of gate lines during the first half of a frame and the gate-on voltages to the second group of gate lines during the second half of the frame. |
| US09030451B2 |
Display driving circuit, display apparatus having the same and method of driving the same
A display driving circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter configured to convert a digital image signal to an analog image signal, and a buffer circuit configured to receive the analog image signal and to output an output signal to be applied to a data line, where the buffer circuit includes an input stage configured to receive the analog image signal and to output a first signal, a first output stage configured to receive a first voltage and a second voltage and to output the output signal, a second output stage configured to receive a third voltage and a fourth voltage and to output the output signal, and a selection circuit configured to apply the first signal from the input stage to the first output stage or the second output stage in response to a mode signal. |
| US09030450B2 |
Display apparatus and method of displaying three-dimensional image using the same
A display apparatus includes a display panel and a liquid crystal lens. The display panel includes a first pixel displaying an N-th portion of a left image corresponding to an N-th position in the left image and a second pixel displaying an N-th portion of a right image corresponding to the N-th position in the right image. The second pixel is spaced apart from the first pixel with additional pixels disposed between the second and first pixels. The liquid crystal lens includes a unit lens directing the N-th left image to a left eye of an observer and the N-th right image to a right eye of the observer where N is a positive integer. |
| US09030448B2 |
Information storage medium and image control system for multi-touch resistive touch panel display
An image control system controls an image displayed on a display screen of a display section based on a detection value output from a detection section, the detection section outputting the detection value corresponding to a first position when an operation state of a touch operation performed on an operation surface is a first operation state in which a first touch operation is performed at the first position on the operation surface, and outputting the detection value corresponding to a midpoint between the first position and a second position when the operation state is a second operation state in which a second touch operation is performed at the second position on the operation surface in addition to the first touch operation. The image control system includes a correction section that calculates a corrected position when the operation state is the second operation state, one endpoint being indicated by a detected position acquired in the first operation state, a midpoint being indicated by a detected position acquired in the second operation state, and the other endpoint being indicated by the corrected position. |
| US09030442B2 |
Touch panel and method for manufacturing the same
A touch panel and a method for manufacturing the same are introduced and characterized by enhanced process yield of the touch panel. The manufacturing method includes stacking a first conductive layer on a substrate, stacking an electrode on the first conductive layer, stacking a first insulating transparent layer on the electrode and the first conductive layer, exposing the electrode from the first insulating transparent layer by exposure and development, stacking a second insulating transparent layer on the electrode, the first conductive layer, and the first insulating transparent layer, stacking a second conductive layer on the second insulating transparent layer, stacking a metal layer on the electrode and the substrate to form a first transmission line, and stacking the metal layer on at least a portion of the second conductive layer and the substrate to form a second transmission line. |
| US09030439B2 |
Capacitive touch sensor and capacitive pen
When a touch sensor is approached or touched by a capacitive pen in a small area, the corresponding approach or touch signal might be slightly less than the threshold originally used for normal detection. By comparing the sum of the corresponding approach or touch signal and some adjacent signals with the threshold, the approach or touch of a small-area object that otherwise would not be detected by the original method can be determined. The capacitive pen can be made of bonded conductive fibers. |
| US09030429B2 |
Touchscreen having a capacitance sensing apparatus
There is provided a capacitance sensing apparatus including: a driving circuit unit applying a driving signal having a common level potential and first and second level potentials different from the common level potential to a first capacitor; a sensing circuit unit detecting a change in capacitance generated in the first capacitor; and a gain controlling circuit unit controlling a gain of the sensing circuit unit, wherein the sensing circuit unit includes a second capacitor charged by the change in capacitance of the first capacitor when a level of the driving signal is changed from the first level potential to the common level potential or changed from the common level potential to the second level potential. |
| US09030418B2 |
Mobile terminal capable of sensing proximity touch
The present disclosure is related to a mobile terminal comprising: a touch screen configured to display a plurality of objects, and to generate a proximity signal or a direct touch signal by using an input medium; and a controller configured to display changed sizes of a plurality of selected objects located within a range from the input medium among the plurality of objects according to the proximity signal. |
| US09030410B2 |
Controller device, information processing system, and information processing method
A controller device is used for more information processes. The controller device is capable of wirelessly communicating with an information processing device. The controller device includes a communication unit, a display unit, and a program executing unit. The communication unit transmits, to the information processing device, operation data obtained based on an operation performed on the controller device, and receives, from the information processing device, image data generated in the information processing device through a process performed based on operation data. A display unit displays an image represented by the image data received from the information processing device. When a predetermined operation on the controller device is performed, the program executing unit executes a predetermined program and displays at least the image resulting from the execution of the program on the display unit. The communication unit transmits, to the information processing device, data indicating that the predetermined program is being executed. |
| US09030401B2 |
Three-dimensional display device and display control method thereof
The present invention provides a three-dimensional display device and display control method thereof, wherein controlling a plurality of backlight units to activate simultaneously when a lowermost display area receiving drive signal of an image frame and when the liquid crystal in the lowermost display area completely responded, and each of backlight units being closed when corresponding display area starting to receive another image frame; wherein drive current of the backlight unit corresponding to each display area being used to control the luminance of each display area. With this, the present invention can reduce the crosstalk caused by the three-dimensional display device, resulting in the reduction of residual image and improving the three-dimensional display effect and viewing experience. |
| US09030399B2 |
Gate driver stage outputting multiple, partially overlapping gate-line signals to a liquid crystal display
A gate driver for driving a TFT-LCD panel includes a number of gate-driver circuits arranged in groups and stages. Each gate-driver circuit has a main driver and an output section. The main driver is used to provide a charging signal to the output section which has two or more output circuits. Each of the output circuits is configured to provide a gate-line signal in response to the charging signal and a clock signal. The gate-driver circuit uses fewer switching elements, such as thin-film transistors, than the conventional circuit. When the gate driver is integrated in a TFT-LCD display panel and disposed within the periphery area around the display area, it is desirable to reduce or minimize the number of switching elements in the gate driver so that the periphery area can be reduced. |
| US09030397B2 |
Gate driver, driving circuit, and LCD
There is disclosed a gate driver, a driving circuit, and a liquid crystal display (LCD), wherein the gate driver comprises input terminals for inputting a CPV signal, an OE signal, and an STV signal, and output terminals for outputting a CKV signal and a CKVB signal, and a processing circuit is connected between the input terminals and the output terminals for processing the CPV signal, the OE signal, and the STV signal such that a preset time interval is present between the falling edge of the CKV signal and the rising edge of the CKVB signal during one period of the CKV signal, or a preset time interval is present between the rising edge of the CKV signal and the falling edge of the CKVB signal during one period of the CKVB signal. |
| US09030392B2 |
Display device
A display device is provided with: a first display panel for displaying an image; and a second display panel for forming a parallax by controlling a refractive index in a form of cylindrical lenses that run in a first direction and are aligned in a second direction, wherein the second display panel is provided with a first substrate having a first electrode and a second substrate having second electrodes, the first substrate and the second substrate face each other with a liquid crystal layer in between so as to provide a liquid crystal display panel, and a thickness of the liquid crystal layer is equal to or smaller than such a thickness that makes a rotational angle in a direction of a deflection angle of liquid crystal directors in a center portion of the liquid crystal layer in the direction of the thickness be 90° during three-dimensional display. |
| US09030389B2 |
Display device
A display device in which the current load of wirings are distributed and display variations due to voltage drop are suppressed. An active matrix display device of the invention comprises a first current input terminal, a second current input terminal, and a plurality of current supply lines extending parallel to each other. Each current supply line is connected to a plurality of driving transistors in a line. One end of each current supply line is connected to the first current input terminal via a first wiring intersecting with the current supply lines, and the other end thereof is connected to the second current input terminal via a second wiring intersecting with the current supply lines. Accordingly, a current is supplied to each current supply line from both the first and the second current input terminals. The first and the second current input terminals are provided separately from each other. |
| US09030384B2 |
OLED panel with partition plate
An OLED panel includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel and a third sub-pixel spaced from each other by a plurality of baffle plates. The first sub-pixel of each pixel is located adjacent to that of a neighboring pixel. The first sub-pixel of each pixel is spaced from that of the neighboring pixel by a partition plate. The partition plate has a height less than a height of each baffle plate. |
| US09030381B2 |
Parallax barrier panel and display apparatus having the same
A parallax barrier panel includes a first and second substrate and a fluidic layer disposed therebetween. The first substrate includes first electrode parts, a water-repellent layer and a partition wall. Each of the first electrode parts includes a main electrode and a first notch electrode and a second notch electrode. The main electrode extends in a first direction on a first base substrate. The first and second notch electrodes are adjacent to respective ends of the main electrode. The first and second notch electrodes extend along the main electrode in the first direction. The second substrate includes a second electrode part and a second base substrate, the second electrode part being disposed on the second base substrate. The second base substrate is disposed opposite to the first base substrate. The fluidic layer controls a light transmittance according to a voltage difference between the first and second electrode parts. |
| US09030378B2 |
Sharing display processing system, display processing system, and display method
In a sharing display processing system having a plurality of display processing systems each including one or a plurality of display apparatuses, each display processing system arranges display regions corresponding to the respective display apparatuses on a first memory region shared with another display processing system, arranges contents on a second memory region managed by the self system, extracts a part of the second memory region on which the contents are arranged as an extracted region, and arranges the extracted region on the first memory region. Each display apparatus displays the extracted region arranged within the range of the display region corresponding to itself on the first memory region. |
| US09030375B2 |
Electronic display tiling apparatus and method thereof
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for substantially eliminating the appearance of seams between tiled panels of a display. Non-imaging magnification may be used to substantially eliminate the appearance of seams. Additionally, the appearance of seams between the tiled panels of a display may be substantially eliminated by employing propagation based elimination. The methods disclosed can be used to generate substantially seamless 2D and 3D displays. Additionally, a method and apparatus for achieving substantially uniform panel brightness and color correction may be addressed. The substantially seamless tiled displays may employ specific data formats for use in displaying images on the individual displays which may be tiled together to form a larger, substantially seamless tiled display and may employ other techniques not utilized in known video wall applications. These functions may include an intensity envelope in addition to substantially complying with the Digital Cinema Initiative (“DCI”) security concerns. |
| US09030373B2 |
Transparent film for reducing electromagnetic waves and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a transparent film for reducing electromagnetic waves includes forming a first dielectric layer and forming a pattern layer on the first dielectric layer. The pattern layer is made of a transparent electrode material having surface resistance. |
| US09030363B2 |
Method and apparatus for tilting beams in a mobile communications network
An antenna array for a mobile communications network is disclosed which comprise mechanical devices for altering a direction of a first beam and electronic beam forming apparatus for shaping a second beam. A method for tilting radio beams in a mobile communications network using the antenna array is also disclosed. The method comprises mechanical tilting a first protocol radio beam and electronic tilting a second protocol radio beam. |
| US09030362B2 |
Electronic device equipped with antenna device and solar panel
Disclosed is an electronic device including an antenna device which is constituted by a plate like radiator being provided on a top surface side of a plate like dielectric and a plate like grounding conductor being provided on a back surface side of the plate like dielectric, a solar panel which is arranged on a top surface side of the antenna device and a circuit board which is arranged on a back surface side of the antenna device and electrically connected with an electrode formed at an outer circumference of the solar panel, and the outer circumference of the solar panel, excluding the electrode, is formed so as not to exceed outside from an outer circumference of the radiator, and the electrode projects outside from the outer circumference of the radiator and an outer circumference of the dielectric and is electrically connected with the circuit board at outside of the dielectric. |
| US09030361B2 |
Automatic signal, SAR, and HAC adjustment with modal antenna using proximity sensors or pre-defined conditions
A modal adaptive antenna system that dynamically samples proximity sensors or other sensors to determine the use case for the wireless device and then adjust the antenna radiating mode to optimize communication link performance. The modal adaptive antenna system is capable of modifying the antenna radiation pattern to improve communication link quality along with near-field parameters such as SAR and HAC. An algorithm and look-up table containing pre-measured electrical parameters to include TRP, TIS, and SAR are developed and integrated with hardware which includes an antenna and active components to dynamically modify the radiation pattern of the antenna as well as proximity sensors and or other sensing devices. |
| US09030357B2 |
Method for identifying transmitters by a terminal in a single-frequency network
A method for identifying transmitters by a terminal in a single-frequency network comprising a plurality of transmitters. The transmitters are synchronized and transmit with an artificial delay τi, specific to each transmitter. The method comprises at least one step of acquiring the approximate position of the terminal {circumflex over (p)}, the position pi of a list of transmitters {Tx} in the vicinity of the terminal and the delays τi associated with them, a step of measuring pseudo-distances ρi between the transmitters and the terminal and a step of associating the measurements ρi with the transmitters of known positions pi by minimizing a cost function, said cost function ν(ρi,{circumflex over (p)},σ) corresponding to the norm of the error between the measurements ρi and a model of measurements of the pseudo-distances applied to a permutation of the position of the transmitters σ. |
| US09030355B2 |
Location fix from unknown position
An apparatus for determining a location of a receiver by using signals received by the receiver from a number of satellites, the apparatus being configured to, when the receiver has been unable to decode a time-of-transmission from the satellite signals, determine a location for the receiver by use of an algorithm that takes an estimate of the location of the receiver as an input, and, when an estimate of the location of the receiver is unavailable, determine an approximate location of the receiver in dependence on the satellite signals and input that approximate location into the algorithm as the estimate of the location of the receiver. |
| US09030353B2 |
Information display device, information display method, and radar apparatus
This disclosure provides an information display device. The information display device includes an acquirer for acquiring positional information on one or more display targets including at least one of a landmark serving as a reference mark used when a movable body is in move, another movable body, and a location registered by an operator, and a controller for displaying positional information and circumferential information on the movable body in an information display area, associating at least one of the one or more display targets of which a position is outside the information display area with a direction to which the at least one of the one or more display targets is located centering on the movable body, and displaying the at least one of the one or more display targets in an outer circumferential area of the information display area. |
| US09030352B2 |
Sensor rotation bias removal
A method for determining rotation bias in a sensor using a cooperative target that includes receiving, via a processor, sensor data acquired in a field of view of a sensor at a plurality of points in time. The method also includes receiving, via the processor, position data for a cooperative target travelling along a path through the field of view of the sensor at the plurality of points in time. The method also includes determining, via the processor, a rotation bias in the sensor based on a maximum likelihood estimate performed over the path based on the sensor data and the cooperative target position data. |
| US09030351B2 |
Sensor suite and signal processing for border surveillance
A land-based Smart-Sensor System and several system architectures for detection, tracking, and classification of people and vehicles automatically and in real time for border, property, and facility security surveillance is described. The preferred embodiment of the proposed Smart-Sensor System is comprised of (1) a low-cost, non-coherent radar, whose function is to detect and track people, singly or in groups, and various means of transportation, which may include vehicles, animals, or aircraft, singly or in groups, and cue (2) an optical sensor such as a long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensor, whose function is to classify the identified targets and produce movie clips for operator validation and use, and (3) an IBM CELL supercomputer to process the collected data in real-time. The Smart Sensor System can be implemented in a tower-based or a mobile-based, or combination system architecture. The radar can also be operated as a stand-alone system. |
| US09030347B2 |
Preemptive signature control for vehicle survivability planning
Systems and methods for improving vehicle survivability. In some embodiments, threat information relating to at least one potential threat against at least one vehicle during a mission may be accessed. The threat information may comprise threat location information indicative of at least one likely location for the at least one potential threat and at least one model associated with the at least one potential threat. Prior to commencing the mission, the threat information may be used to assign a numerical measure to each potential action of a plurality of potential actions for the at least one vehicle based at least in part on at least one measure of the at least one vehicle resulting from executing the potential action. The plurality of potential actions may be compared based at least in part on the respective numerical measures assigned to the plurality of potential actions. |
| US09030346B2 |
Method and apparatus for self-test of successive approximation register (SAR) A/D converter
A single-ended SAR ADC includes an additional capacitor, a self-test engine, and independent control of sample and hold conditions, which allows for quick and accurate testing of the ADC. |
| US09030340B1 |
N-path interleaving analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with background calibration
A system and method are provided of performing background corrections for an interleaving analog-to-digital converter (ADC). An analog input signal s1(t) is accepted having a first frequency f1 and a bandwidth (BW). A clock at frequency fs creates n sample clocks with evenly spaced phases, each having a sample clock frequency of fs/2. A first tone signal s2(t) is generated at second frequency f2, outside BW. The analog input signal and the first tone signal are combined, creating a combination signal, which is sampled using the sample clocks, creating n digital sample signals per clock period 1/fs. The n digital sample signals are interleaved, creating an interleaved signal. Corrections are applied that minimize errors in the interleaved signal, to obtain a corrected digital output. Errors are determined at an alias frequency f3, associated with the second frequency f2, to obtain correction information for a rotating pair of digital sample signals. |
| US09030334B2 |
Locating utility metering devices
Disclosed are various embodiments for locating utility metering devices. Utility metering devices that are lost or stolen and that are facilitating unauthorized utility service access. Many AMI and/or AMR deployments lack the ability to remotely deactivate a meter. Accordingly, embodiments of this disclosure can generate a zone of interest in which an unauthorized utility metering device is located, and the unauthorized utility metering device can be subsequently located within the zone of interest. |
| US09030329B2 |
Smart methane monitor
A method and apparatus for the detection of methane gas including a low-cost low-power infrared methane sensor integrated with a smart energy network endpoint node, a volume corrector, or an electronic data recorder for transmission of alarm conditions and detector data between the instrument and a remote gas utility company. An independent gas calibration/verification cell may be included in the methane detector for periodically testing the functioning and calibration of the infrared sensor. An infrared carbon monoxide sensor and associated calibration/verification cell may also be installed with the methane sensor. |
| US09030326B2 |
Electronic apparatus and operation control method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing, a display on a surface of the housing, an infrared sensor in a first region of the surface of the housing, the first region facing one side of the display, an indicator in the first region and configured to emit light, a first controller, and a second controller. The first controller turns on and off the display in accordance with a detection output of the infrared sensor. The second controller is configured to blink the indicator in a first blinking pattern in which a ratio of an ON time to a blinking cycle is smaller than that of an OFF time to the blinking cycle, when an event of which a user is notified occurs. |
| US09030321B2 |
Cargo theft prevention using text messaging
Method for monitoring a cargo container in which a transmitter is arranged on the container and periodically transmits messages to a remote site or location according to a schedule of messages. When a message is not received according to the schedule, which may be the result of tampering with the transmitter or another nefarious action involving the container, it may be considered that the container has been stolen. A rate of transmission of the messages may be modified based on a condition of the vehicle, such as the presence of a driver inside the vehicle, a distance between a driver inside the vehicle and the vehicle, the vehicle being at rest after motion of the vehicle stops, a location of the vehicle, biometric identification of a driver of the vehicle and deviation of the vehicle from an expected route, and/or based on current time and weather around the vehicle. |
| US09030319B1 |
Digital electronic system for automatic shut off and turn on of electrical and gas operated appliances
A digital electronic system used for receiving an audio alarm from a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector and like detectors. The system amplifies and converts the alarm to a digital encoded radio frequency signal for shutting off power to a kitchen appliance. The system includes a microphone and an amplifier connected to a comparator circuit. This circuit provides for outputting a logic 0 or logic 1 and outputs a logic 1, in the form of the digital radio frequency signal, if an audio alarm is received. The comparator circuit is connected to a transmitter and encoder circuit, which receives the frequency signal and transmits it to a radio frequency receiver and decoder circuit. This circuit then decodes the signal and disconnects the power to the appliance. |
| US09030316B2 |
System and method of anomaly detection with categorical attributes
A method and apparatus where the method includes detecting a plurality of events related to the activities of users within a security system wherein the events are defined by a plurality of attributes, wherein at least one attribute is categorical and wherein a data distance between events is a function of event attributes, evaluating the detected events using a density based anomaly detection method f(r), where r is a size of a neighborhood around a data point, comparing a value of the evaluated expression with a margin threshold value (msg(r)) and setting an alarm upon detecting that the value exceeds the threshold value. |
| US09030313B1 |
Car seat alarm systems
A pressure sensitive mat to be installed directly within a child's car seat to provide an audible alert to consumers that they have inadvertently left a child unattended in a motor vehicle, enabling them to quickly retrieve the child or infant and effectively prevent tragic scenarios that can result when a child is left unattended in a vehicle. |
| US09030312B2 |
Diagnostic tool with global positioning system and alerts
A diagnostic tool and method are provided wherein the diagnostic tool includes a global positioning system that alerts a user when a condition is exceeded. Examples of conditions include that the user is speeding during the test drive or has driven passed a defined area. The user can be alerted to such conditions. The owner of the shop may also locate the diagnostic tool by using a location server. |
| US09030308B1 |
Piezoelectric haptic actuator integration
User interface experiences with electronic devices are enhanced with feedback cues such as haptic or vibrotactile output feedback. One or more piezoelectric actuators generate haptic output. The one or more piezoelectric actuators may be integrated onto a display substrate, a battery case, a device enclosure, or other component. Such integration may improve propagation of the haptic output to the user, reduce bulk of the electronic device, minimize parts count, and reduce production costs. |
| US09030300B2 |
Operational parameters based on proximity
A method is disclosed for controlling operational parameters of a wireless reader device and/or one or more other devices based on proximity of the wireless reader device to a wireless electronic circuit. At a first location, the wireless reader device and/or the one or more other devices are controlled based on a first operational parameter. At a second location, interrogation signals are transmitted from the wireless reader device, and response signals are received at the wireless reader device. The response signals are transmitted from the wireless electronic circuit in response to receiving the interrogation signals from the wireless reader device. The response signals convey a control parameter to the wireless reader device that is associated with a second operational parameter. Thereafter, the wireless reader device and/or the one or more other devices are controlled based on the second operational parameter. |
| US09030299B2 |
Method of operating a RFID system
The invention relates to a method of operating a RFID system comprising at least one reader (1) and a plurality of wireless data carriers (2), each of which comprise at least one data processing element with slow response (5), wherein the method controls the at least one reader (1) to continuously communicate with one of the plurality of wireless data carriers (2), while at least another one of the plurality of wireless data carriers (2) is processing data with its at least one slow response element (5). The invention further relates to a RFID system comprising at least one reader (1) and a plurality of wireless data carriers (2), each of which comprises at least one slow response element (5), wherein the system is capable to continuously communicate with at least one of the plurality of wireless data carriers (2), while at least another one of the plurality of wireless data carriers (2) is processing data with its at least one slow response element (5). |
| US09030298B2 |
Thin semiconductor device and operation method of thin semiconductor device
The present invention provides a thin semiconductor device in which its security such as prevention of counterfeit or information leakage is to be enhanced. One feature of the present invention is a thin semiconductor device in which a plurality of thin film integrated circuits are mounted and in which at least one integrated circuit is different from the other integrated circuits in any one of a specification, layout, frequency for transmission or reception, a memory, a communication means, a communication rule and the like. According to the present invention, a thin semiconductor device tag having the plurality of thin film integrated circuits communicates with a reader/writer and at least one of the thin film integrated circuits receives a signal to write information in a memory, and the information written in the memory determines which of the thin film integrated circuits communicates. |
| US09030297B2 |
RFID tags
We describe RFID tags that incorporate a nonlinear resonator that self-adapts to the driving frequency of a reader. More particularly we describe an RF tag for sending data to a tag reader by modulating energy drawn from an RF field of said tag reader, the tag comprising: an antenna; a resonant circuit coupled to said antenna to resonate at a frequency of said RF field; a local power store to store power extracted from said RF field; a modulation system to modulate one or both of the resonance amplitude and a relative phase of a signal in said resonant circuit with respect to said RF field; and a feedback circuit coupled to said resonant circuit and to said local power store to control one or both of said resonance amplitude and said relative phase to control transients in said resonance amplitude caused by said modulation. |
| US09030296B2 |
Arrow mounted tracking apparatus
An animal tracking device for tracking an animal shot with an arrow. The animal tracking device may include an antenna, a controller, an accelerometer switch, a battery powering the controller and/or accelerometer switch, an animal attachment component, and a housing physically connecting components of the animal tracking device. The accelerometer switch may measure an amount of G force it experiences and send an interrupt signal to the controller when the amount of G force measured is at or greater than a threshold amount for a threshold amount of time, indicating that the arrow has been shot. The controller may send wireless signals to a receiver via the antenna in response to receiving the interrupt signal. The housing may be detachably attached to the arrow. The animal attachment component may attach to an animal shot by the arrow and force the housing away from the arrow. |
| US09030295B2 |
RFID tag with environmental sensor
In a method for controlling pricing of a product, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having at least one processor is attached to a monitored product. A value indicative of a degree of exposure to an environmental condition is obtained. The obtained value is compared with a predetermined value range. A price of the monitored product is adjusted when the result of the comparison falls outside the predetermined value range. |
| US09030293B1 |
Secure passcode entry
Methods and devices for presenting a secure passcode system to a user are disclosed. The methods and devices may include a security prompt displayed to a user, wherein the prompt comprises a sequence of passcode elements. The passcode elements may comprise both response-eligible and response-ineligible passcode elements. The security prompt may receive an input from a user and determine whether the response is correct. A correct response may include each of the response-eligible passcode elements and none of the response-ineligible passcode elements. If a correct response is received, the security prompt may permit further access to a function. |
| US09030291B2 |
Apparatus for controlling vehicle opening/closing element
A system for controlling vehicle opening/closing element has a radiation block for irradiating near-infrared light to a peripheral region of an opening/closing element; a photographing block that photographs an image irradiated with the near-infrared light; a hand region extraction block that extracts a user's hand region from brightness of an image photographed by the photographing block; a motion detection block that detects motions of the user's hand from the extracted hand region; and a control block that determines whether or not the detected motions coincide with previously-set predetermined motions and that commands operation of the opening/closing element in accordance with the determined motions. |
| US09030289B2 |
Touch sensing apparatus
A touch sensing apparatus has a plurality of unit regions, and each of the unit regions includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a spacer structure. The first substrate has a first electrode layer thereon. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate and has a second electrode thereon. The spacer structure is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. In particular, there are plural of sensing units in each of the unit regions, and sensing trigger forces of the sensing units in the unit region are not completely the same. |
| US09030287B2 |
Common mode noise filter
A filter body of a common mode noise filter includes: a non-magnetic body; a first magnetic body and a second magnetic body sandwiching the non-magnetic body; and a first coil conductor and a second coil conductor of planar shape which are embedded in the non-magnetic body and positioned on the first magnetic body side and second magnetic body side in the non-magnetic body in a manner facing each other in a non-contact state; and also has a non-magnetic first protective part and second protective part which are made of a non-magnetic material whose strength is higher than the first magnetic body and second magnetic body and which are positioned on the outermost side of the filter body in a manner sandwiching the first magnetic body and second magnetic body. |
| US09030284B2 |
Combined structure of hollow bobbin and conductive sheet, hollow bobbin, and conductive sheet
A combined structure of hollow bobbin and conductive sheet for a transformer includes a hollow bobbin and at least one conductive sheet. The hollow bobbin includes an outer surface and at least one positioning structure formed on the outer surface. The conductive sheet is fit on the outer surface of the hollow bobbin and includes a main body and at least one engaging structure. The main body has a hollow portion, making the main body to have an inner circumference. The engaging structure is formed on the inner circumference of the main body and is engaged with the positioning structure of the hollow bobbin. The transformer includes at least one winding disposed on the outer surface of the hollow bobbin and abutting against the conductive sheet. |
| US09030283B2 |
Double helix conductor
An electrical system having an underlying structure resembling the double helix most commonly associated with DNA may be used to produce useful electromagnetic fields for various application. |
| US09030281B2 |
Magnetic trigger mechanism and associated control method
A magnetic trigger mechanism is provided. The magnetic trigger mechanism operates in conjunction with a plurality of magnetic sensors. The magnetic trigger mechanism includes: a magnet; a body, with its one side provided with a recess and its other side located near the plurality of magnetic sensors; and a moveable section, provided in the recess in a movable manner, comprising an accommodating space for restraining the magnet therein. |
| US09030280B2 |
Electromagnetically operated device and switching device including the same
An electromagnetically operated device includes: a moving member of the electromagnetically operated device; a drive coil that is energized to generate magnetic flux for driving the moving member; a permanent magnet provided between a stationary member and the moving member for holding the moving member; and a holding force adjusting member for adjusting the holding force applied to the moving member by the permanent magnet, wherein the holding force adjusting member is placed at a position that will not be included in the main magnetic path of the magnetic flux caused by the drive coil so as to be removable. |
| US09030275B2 |
RF monoblock filter with recessed top pattern and cavity providing improved attenuation
An electrical signal filter defined by a block of dielectric material with a top surface, a bottom surface, side surfaces, and through-holes extending between the top and bottom surfaces. In one embodiment, first and second walls protrude outwardly from the top surface and extend the length of first and second opposed longitudinally extending side surfaces. A surface-layer pattern of metallized and unmetallized areas is defined on selected surfaces of the block including an area of metallization that covers the top surface. In one embodiment, first and second surface-layer input/output electrodes are defined by first and second respective isolated strips of conductive material that extend from the top surface of the block and onto the first and second walls respectively. |
| US09030270B2 |
Cascaded diplexer circuit
A cascaded diplexer to create a cascaded diplexer leg with selectable passbands has a cascaded diplexer circuit. The diplexer circuit has a plurality of first bandpass filters, each having a passband. The diplexer circuit has a second bandpass filter having a passband and two terminals, coupled in series with a first bandpass filter. First and second switches are coupled in series with the second bandpass filter and the first bandpass filter, the first and second switches being configured to selectably switch the second bandpass filter into the circuit. The passband of the second bandpass filter is chosen to limit the passband of the first bandpass filters, such that when the second bandpass filter is switched into the circuit, the passband of the diplexer leg is reduced. The passband of the second bandpass filter may be a subset of, or overlaps with, the passband of the first bandpass filter. |
| US09030268B2 |
Multiple E-probe waveguide power combiner/divider
A power combiner/divider having a waveguide, a plurality of amplifiers disposed on a supporting structure, a plurality of probes, each one having a first end electrically coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and a second end projecting outwardly from the supporting structure and into the waveguide. The probes are disposed in a common region of the waveguide. The region has a common electric field maximum within the waveguide. A first portion of the probes proximate the sidewalls have lengths different from a second portion of the probes disposed in a region distal from the sidewalls of the waveguide. The waveguide is supported by the support structure. The power combiner is a monolithic microwave integrated circuit structure. |
| US09030259B2 |
System and method for pre-charging a current mirror
A system for pre-charging a current minor includes a controller configured to provide a first current and an additional current to a current minor to rapidly charge a capacitance associated with the current minor based on a reference voltage or control signals. A power amplifier module includes at least one current minor and a controller. A capacitor is coupled to the current minor. The controller provides a bias current in an amount proportional to an input to a voltage-to-current converter. The controller receives a control signal that directs the controller to apply one of a pre-charge voltage and a nominal voltage to the voltage-to-current converter. |
| US09030251B2 |
Mixer
A frequency converter, capable of obtaining resonance characteristics having a high Q factor and a high multiplication signal and having a narrow-band frequency selectivity function, is provided by the following configuration. A magnetoresistance effect element includes a pinned magnetization layer, a free magnetization layer, and a non-magnetic spacer layer disposed between the pinned magnetization layer and the free magnetization layer. In response to an input of a high frequency signal and a local signal, the magnetoresistance effect element generates a voltage signal (multiplication signal) by multiplying the signals by each other using a magnetoresistance effect. A magnetic field generated by a magnetic-field applying unit is applied to the free magnetization layer of the magnetoresistance effect element in a direction perpendicular to a film surface direction or by tilting an angle of the magnetic field from the film surface direction toward a direction perpendicular to the film surface direction. |
| US09030248B2 |
Level shifter with output spike reduction
A level shifter, or method, producing a final output from a driver supplied by a high-side source driver providing VDD or common, and a low-side source driver providing common or VSS. A delay is introduced to prevent a source driver output at common from beginning to transition toward a supply rail until a delaying source driver at a rail begins transitioning toward common. The level shifter may be single-ended or differential, and the delaying source driver may be coupled to the same final output driver as is the delayed source driver, or may be coupled to a different final output driver. The level shifter may have a second level shifter front end stage, which may have high-side and low-side intermediate source driver outputs coupled by a capacitor, and/or may couple one of the supplies to all intermediate source drivers via a common impedance or current limit Zs. |
| US09030246B2 |
Semiconductor device
The disclosed invention provides a semiconductor device capable of suitably controlling the level of an enable signal to resolve NBTI in a PMOS transistor. An input node receives an input signal alternating between high and low levels during normal operation and fixed to a high level during standby. A detection unit receives a signal through the input node and outputs an enable signal. The detection unit sets the enable signal to a low level upon detecting that the input node remains at a high level for a predetermined period. A signal transmission unit includes a P-channel MOS transistor and transmits a signal input to the input node according to control by the enable signal. |
| US09030240B2 |
Signal processing device, signal processing method and computer readable medium
A signal processing device enables a high quality enhanced signal to be obtained, and includes: a transform unit which transforms a mixed signal in which a first signal and a second signal are mixed, into a phase component and an amplitude component or a power component in each frequency; a first control unit which rotates the phase component in a predetermined frequency; a second control unit which compensates the amplitude component or the power component in the predetermined frequency according to the amount of change of the amplitude component or the power component rotated by the first control unit; and a synthesizing unit which synthesizes the phase component rotated by the first control unit, and the amplitude component or the power component compensated by the second control unit. |
| US09030239B1 |
Sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter
A potentiostat includes a voltage regulator, a current mirror, a capacitor, a comparator, a current source, and a counter. The voltage regulator maintains a voltage on a working electrode of an electrochemical sensor. The current mirror develops a mirror current that mirrors an input current from the working electrode. The capacitor is alternately charged by the mirror current, causing the capacitor voltage to increase at a rate related to the current's magnitude, and discharged by a control current, causing the capacitor voltage to decrease. The comparator outputs a waveform that includes upward and downward transitions based on the variations of the capacitor voltage. The current source produces the control current based on the waveform. The counter counts the number of upward or downward transitions in the waveform during a predetermined sampling period to produce a digital output. The digital output is representative of the magnitude of the input current. |
| US09030232B2 |
Isolator circuit and semiconductor device
An isolator circuit capable of two-way electrical disconnection and a semiconductor device including the isolator circuit are provided. A data holding portion is provided in an isolator circuit without the need for additional provision of a data holding portion outside the isolator circuit, and data which is to be input to a logic circuit that is in an off state at this moment is stored in the data holding portion. The data holding portion may be formed using a transistor with small off-state current and a buffer. The buffer can include an inverter circuit and a clocked inverter circuit. |
| US09030227B1 |
Methods and apparatus for providing redundancy on multi-chip devices
A multi-chip package may include first and second integrated circuit dies that are each partitioned into multiple logic regions. The logic regions of the first and second dies may be coupled via interconnects. Each integrated circuit die may include at least one spare logic region. Multiple logic groups may be formed with each logic group including logic regions from the first and second integrated circuit dies and the interconnects that couple those logic regions. The logic groups may be evaluated to identify defective logic groups. In response to identifying a defective logic group, the defective logic group may be repaired by configuring the first and second integrated circuit dies to stop using the defective logic group and to use a spare logic group. The spare logic group may include spare logic regions of the first and second dies that are coupled by spare logic region interconnects. |
| US09030224B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of dies, wherein each of the dies is configured to enable a power circuit provided therein according to a power control signal, in a state in which the die was determined to be a good die or a fail die. |
| US09030223B2 |
Test carrier
A test carrier includes a base member and a cover member between which a die is interposed. The base film of the base member has: first interconnect patterns which are formed in advance; and a printing region where second interconnect patterns which electrically connect to the first interconnect patterns are to be formed by printing. |
| US09030222B2 |
Sharpened, oriented contact tip structures
An apparatus and method providing improved interconnection elements and tip structures for effecting pressure connections between terminals of electronic components is described. The tip structure of the present invention has a sharpened blade oriented on the upper surface of the tip structure such that the length of the blade is substantially parallel to the direction of horizontal movement of the tip structure as the tip structure deflects across the terminal of an electronic component. In this manner, the sharpened substantially parallel oriented blade slices cleanly through any non-conductive layer(s) on the surface of the terminal and provides a reliable electrical connection between the interconnection element and the terminal of the electrical component. |
| US09030220B2 |
Voltage tester having alternatively attachable or separable probes
A tester includes a main body and a removable probe. The main body includes a main body probe and a front panel including selectable options for selecting a tester function. The removable probe may be coupled to the main body via a cord. The removable probe is fixable to the main body via a latch assembly. The latch assembly including a socket disposed on one of the removable probe or the main body and a mating protrusion disposed at the other of the removable probe or the main body, the main body having a probe support ridge associated therewith and the removable probe having an alignment ridge associated therewith, the alignment ridge and the probe support ridge lying in a same plane when the mating protrusion is inserted into the socket. |
| US09030218B2 |
Method for thermal stabilization of probe card and inspection apparatus
In a method for thermal stabilization of a probe card, a probe card is adjusted to a prescribed temperature in a short time by making a heat source directly contact the probe card and is accurately determined whether the probe card is thermally stable. A heat transfer substrate is mounted on a mounting table. The temperature of the heat transfer substrate is adjusted through the mounting table. The mounting table is raised, and a plurality of probes is brought into contact with the heat transfer substrate at a prescribed target load. The contact load between the heat transfer substrate and the probes, which changes according to the thermal changes in the probe card, is detected. The mounting table is controlled vertically through a vertical drive mechanism such that the contact load becomes the target load until the probe card is thermally stable. |
| US09030216B2 |
Coaxial four-point probe for low resistance measurements
Various exemplary embodiments provide probes, systems and methods for measuring an effective electrical resistance/resistivity with high sensitivity. In one embodiment, the measuring system can include an upper probe set and a similar lower probe set having a sample device sandwiched there-between. The device-under-test (DUT) samples can be sandwiched between two conductors of the sample device. Each probe set can have an inner voltage sense probe coaxially configured inside an electrically-isolated outer current source probe that has a large contact area with the sample device. The measuring system can also include a computer readable medium for storing circuit simulations including such as FEM simulations for extracting a bulk through-plane electrical resistivity and an interface resistivity for an effective electrical z-resistivity of the DUT, in some cases, having sub-micro-ohm resistance. |
| US09030207B2 |
Method for monitoring insulation faults in an electric network and vehicle comprising an insulation fault monitor
A method for monitoring an insulation fault in an electric network with at least one electric power system supplying electric power to one or more electric loads, and at least one insulation resistance monitor is provided, wherein the at least one electric power system includes at least one electrical power source, and wherein the at least one insulation resistance monitor monitors an insulation resistance between terminal leads of the at least one electric power source and at least one reference potential. The steps are performed of disconnecting the at least one electric power source from the one or more loads by opening each terminal lead; measuring the insulation resistance between the electric circuit of at least one electrical power source and the reference potential; measuring the insulation resistance for the total electric network; closing the second terminal lead with the first terminal lead open; and measuring the insulation resistance for the total electric network. |
| US09030206B2 |
Method and apparatus for characterizing process control equipment coupling integrity
In a process plant, a first series of measurements from a coupling interface are received. The first series of measurements are stored. A second series of measurements from a coupling interface are received. The second series of measurements. The first series and second series of measurements are compared. An indication of loss of clamping force is generated if the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements. |
| US09030204B2 |
Sensor device
A sensor device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a gap forming member and a functional element. The first electrode is composed of a first metallic material. The second electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode, and composed of a second metallic material. The gap forming member is arranged with a gap being formed between the gap forming member and a portion of a surface of the first electrode. The functional element is configured and arranged to measure a difference in electric potential between the first electrode and the second electrode so that a state of a measurement site to be measured is measured based on the difference in electric potential as measured by the functional element. |
| US09030201B2 |
System and method for independent manipulation of a fat and a water component in magnetic resonance imaging
An MR imaging system independently manipulates a fat and a water component of MR signals used for generating image data. An RF signal generator and a magnetic field gradient generator provide an RF pulse and magnetic field gradient sequence for acquisition of an MR signal discriminating between anatomical objects based on longitudinal relaxation time (T1). The sequence comprises, a first pulse sequence for selectively inverting a water component of the MR signal substantially exclusively of fat, a first time delay adjustable to discriminate between different anatomical elements, a second pulse sequence having a resonant frequency selected to invert a fat component of the MR signal substantially exclusively of water and a data acquisition magnetic field gradient for acquisition of the MR signal. An image shows enhanced visualization of discriminated anatomical elements. |
| US09030194B2 |
Position encoder apparatus
A scanning device for a position encoder is provided that comprises a plurality of sensor elements for generating a plurality of sensor signals. A summation unit is also provided for generating at least a first summation signal and a second summation signal that provide information on the relative alignment of the scanning device and an associated scale. The first summation signal is generated from a first subset of the plurality of sensor signals and the second summation signal is generated from a second subset of the plurality of sensor signals. The plurality of sensor elements are substantially evenly spaced apart from one another N and sensor elements are provided per period of an associated scale, wherein N is an integer value and a multiple of three and four. In this manner, the third harmonic contribution to the summation signals is suppressed. |
| US09030189B2 |
Quantum dot photo-field-effect transistor
Photo-field-effect transistor devices and associated methods are disclosed in which a photogate, consisting of a quantum dot sensitizing layer, transfers photoelectrons to a semiconductor channel across a charge-separating (type-II) heterointerface, producing a sustained primary and secondary flow of carriers between source and drain electrodes. The light-absorbing photogate thus modulates the flow of current along the channel, forming a photo-field effect transistor. |
| US09030188B2 |
Wide range, high resolution frequency monitor
A frequency monitor provides high resolution frequency monitoring over a range of input signal frequencies by measuring the time period of the signal to produce a raw frequency value and then filtering the raw frequency value with a low pass filter to remove an error component caused by quantization effects at high input signal frequencies. The system automatically accommodates changes in the input frequency eliminating a need for manual adjustment of the system based on anticipated measured frequencies. |
| US09030186B2 |
Bandgap reference circuit and regulator circuit with common amplifier
A bandgap voltage reference and voltage regulator system includes a bandgap voltage reference circuit and a voltage regulator circuit that share a single, common amplifier. The amplifier acts as a gain stage for the reference circuit and as an error amplifier for a driver stage of the regulator circuit. The regulator circuit has an input reference generated by the reference circuit, and the reference circuit acts as a load to the driver stage, obviating the need for a bias resistance network. By sharing the amplifier and obviating the need for a resistance network, the area and overall quiescent current of the system are reduced. The system can be implemented in CMOS/BiCMOS technology and is suited for low power applications. |
| US09030184B2 |
DC-DC converter and voltage conversion method thereof
A DC-DC converter and a voltage conversion method thereof are provided. The DC-DC converter includes an output unit, a control unit and a trigger unit. The output unit converts an input voltage into an output voltage. The control unit generates a control signal according to the input voltage, an output feedback voltage related to the output voltage and a reference voltage, so as to make the output unit generate the output voltage. The trigger unit generates a first trigger signal according to the control signal, the output feedback voltage and the reference voltage. When the output feedback voltage is less than the reference voltage by a preset voltage, the control unit controls the output unit to perform a voltage-regulating process to the output voltage in advance. |
| US09030183B2 |
Soft-start control techniques for a switched-mode power supply
A power supply system including switched-mode power supply circuitry configured to generate a DC output voltage from a DC input voltage and soft-start feedback circuitry configured to control the switched-mode power supply circuitry to generate a predefined output voltage during a soft-start period of operation. The soft-start feedback circuitry includes a controllable current source configured to generate a reference current and a reference voltage, wherein the reference current is based on a difference between the reference voltage and a feedback voltage proportional to the output voltage, and amplifier circuitry configured to compare the feedback voltage with the reference voltage and generate a control signal to control the operation of the switched-mode power supply during a soft-start period of operation. |
| US09030182B2 |
Controller for a DC to DC converter, a combination of a controller and a DC to DC converter, and a method of operating a DC to DC converter
A controller for a DC to DC converter, comprising first and second electrically controlled switches and an inductor, wherein placing the first switch in a low impedance state causes a current flow in a first direction through the inductor to increase, and placing the second switch in a low impedance state causes the current flow in the first direction to decrease. The controller can operate a DC to DC converter in a first mode when a current taken by a load supplied by the converter is above a first current threshold, and in a low power mode when the current taken by the load is below the first current threshold, wherein the controller uses information about a switching time of the first switch in the first mode to control a switching time of the first switch in the low power mode. |
| US09030178B2 |
Current control circuit and method thereof for a power converter
A power converter used in the current control circuit and control method, consisting of a converter, a voltage divider circuit, a current sampling circuit, a first gain circuit, a differential amplifier, a second gain circuit, a multiplier, a saw tooth wave generator, a modulation comparator, and a driver. The invention samples inductor current through the current sampling circuit and generates the current sense signal, then processes again. With the differential amplifier, it compares the feedback voltage from the voltage divider circuit with the reference voltage, and the results along a modulation comparator output a drive signal to control the duty cycle in order to avoid the generation of inrush current. The present invention avoids inrush current caused by the large drive signal and achieves a good response rate and better system stability. |
| US09030175B2 |
Tap changer with vacuum switch tubes
The invention relates to a stepping switch comprising vacuum switching tubes. The general inventive concept consists in providing one or more cam disks which have profiled circumferential contours both on the upper or lower face as well as on the lateral face, said contours being in the shape of cams for example, so that the vacuum switching tubes can be actuated by both the profiled circumferential contour of the lateral face as well as by the contour of the upper or lower face. |
| US09030173B2 |
Identifying and amerliorating a deteriorating condition for battery networks in-situ
A temperature is measured for each terminal of the battery unit. The magnitude and sign of a temperature differential is calculated from the temperatures. The temperature differential is then correlated to a deteriorating condition of the battery unit. |
| US09030170B2 |
Method and device for controlling hybrid functions in a motor vehicle
In a method and a device for controlling hybrid functions in a motor vehicle, including at least one control unit, hybrid functions of a motor vehicle are controlled by the control unit, the control unit switching off at least one hybrid function above a predetermined battery temperature. |
| US09030168B2 |
Power conversion device, power generation system and charge and discharge control method
A power conversion device includes: a DC/DC convertor (5) that performs DC/DC conversion on an output voltage of a direct-current power supply (for example, a solar battery module (1)); and a DC/AC invertor (6) that performs DC/AC conversion on an output voltage of the DC/DC convertor (5). The output power of the DC/AC invertor (6) is controlled such that the charge and discharge of a storage device (for example, a storage battery (3)) connected to a connection point between an output end of the DC/DC convertor (5) and an input end of the DC/AC invertor (6) are controlled. |
| US09030166B2 |
Electronic device, and method controlling electronic power supply
An electric device including: a connecting unit connected to a connection line supplying an electric power of a predetermined rating and transmitting and receiving an information; a charging unit conducting a charging of a charging battery connected to an own device, by the electric power supplied by the connection line; an electric supplying unit supplying an electric power to a recording medium storing an information; a reading-and-writing unit performing a reading-and-writing operation of the recording medium; and an electronic source controlling unit performing a control of the electric power supplied to the charging unit, when the reading-and-writing unit performs the reading-and-writing operation of the recording medium, according to an access request to the recording medium via the connection line. |
| US09030162B2 |
Battery charging system for a hybrid electric vehicle
A battery charging system and a method for a increasing endurance of a high voltage battery in a hybrid electric vehicle includes a high voltage battery for vehicle propulsion, a generator for charging the high voltage battery, a DC/DC converter for converting a high voltage to a low voltage, a low voltage battery charged with the low voltage, and an alternator, driven by an engine, and connected with the low voltage battery in parallel with the voltage converter. The method includes registering a parameter, where the parameter is at least one of a state of charge of said high voltage battery, and energy inflow/outflow to/from said high voltage battery to said vehicle drive motor or said generator, and controlling the low voltage in dependence of the registered parameter. |
| US09030159B2 |
Inductive charger with magnetic shielding
To recharge an implanted medical device, an external device, typically in the form of an inductive charger, is placed over the implant to provide for transcutaneous energy transfer. The external charging device can be powered by a rechargeable battery. Since the battery is in close proximity to the charge coil, the large magnetic field produced by the charge coil induces eddy currents that flow on the battery's metallic case, often resulting in undesirable heating of the battery and reduced efficiency of the charger. This disclosure provides a means of shielding the battery from the magnetic field to reduce eddy current heating, thereby increasing efficiency. In one embodiment, the magnetic shield consists of one or more thin ferrite plates. The use of a ferrite shield allows the battery to be placed directly over the charge coil as opposed to outside the extent of the charge coil. |
| US09030157B2 |
Universal charging detection device and universal charging detection method
A universal charging detection device and a universal charging detection method are disclosed herein. The universal charging detection device is provided for a charger that can be electrically connected to an electronic device via a universal serial bus (USB). The universal charging detection device includes a voltage output unit, a current sensing unit, a current level detector and a state machine. The voltage output unit is electrically connected to the electronic device. The current sensing unit can convert an output current into a sensing voltage, where the charger outputs the output current to the USB. The current level detector can output a detection signal according to a level of the sensing voltage. The state machine can order that the voltage output unit adjusts a voltage between a first data signal pin (D+) and a second data signal pin (D−) of the USB. |
| US09030153B2 |
Systems and methods for delivering energy to an electric vehicle with parking fee collection
A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle includes coupling the electric vehicle to an energy delivery point, delivering energy to the electric vehicle, determining a parking cost, and determining transaction costs based on at least one of an amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle and the parking cost. |
| US09030151B2 |
Solar cell pack and method for balancing output currents of solar cell modules
The present disclosure provides a solar cell pack and a method for balancing currents of solar cell modules. The solar cell pack includes a first solar cell module, a second solar cell module, a first balancer, a sampler and a controller. A negative pole of the first solar cell module is electrically connected to a positive pole of the second solar cell module. The first balancer is electrically connected to the first and the second solar cell modules in order to balance the current flowing through the both solar cell modules. An input terminal of the sampler is electrically connected to the first and the second solar cell modules. An output terminal of the sampler is electrically connected to an input terminal of the control unit. An output terminal of the control unit is electrically connected to an input terminal of the first balancer. |
| US09030148B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling electric motors
An electronic control module is provided. The electronic control module includes an input device, and a processor coupled to the input device. The processor is configured to generate a command signal in response to an input supplied by the input device, and transmit the command signal to a plurality of motors, wherein the command signal controls an operating point of each of the plurality of motors. |
| US09030143B2 |
Method and system of limiting current to a motor
A method of limiting current to a motor. The method comprising monitoring a speed of a motor, an input voltage of a controller, and a temperature of the controller. Determining a maximum current limit for the motor based on the monitored speed when the motor speed is below a speed threshold. Determining a maximum current limit for the motor based on the input voltage and the temperature when the motor speed is above the speed threshold and the input voltage is below an input voltage threshold. Determining a maximum current limit for the motor based on the temperature when the motor speed is above the speed threshold and the input voltage is above the input voltage threshold. Or determining a maximum current limit for the motor based on the monitored speed when the motor speed is above the speed threshold and the temperature is below a temperature threshold. |
| US09030141B2 |
Motor controlling circuit, motor driving device and method of driving motor
There is provided a motor controlling circuit including: a hall signal level detecting unit detecting a hall signal from a hall sensor; and a signal generating unit sensing a change in a level of the hall signal to generate a motor controlling signal according to the change in the level of the hall signal, wherein the signal generating unit determines that the hall signal is maintained at a high level in a case in which a high level maintaining time of the hall signal is equal to or shorter than a preset time. |
| US09030140B2 |
In-vehicle power supply system with multiple voltage-reducing devices
An in-vehicle power supply system includes a DC power source, a steering power converter, a steering drive control unit, a plurality of voltage-reducing devices, and a voltage-reducing control unit. The steering power converter converts electric power supplied from the DC power source, and provides the electric power converted to a steering assist motor. The steering drive control unit is supplied with electric power from the DC power source, and controls the steering power converter. The voltage-reducing devices are coupled in parallel to each other between the DC power source and the steering power converter. Each of the voltage-reducing devices reduces a power source voltage of the DC power source and generates a reduced voltage when being operated. The voltage-reducing control unit determines operation state or non-operation state of each of the voltage-reducing devices such that at least one of the voltage-reducing devices is in operation at a time. |
| US09030138B2 |
Method for driving an electric motor
A circuit configuration for driving an electric motor includes a signal evaluation module, which stores a number of output patterns. An input pattern is specified, and as a function of the input pattern, one of the output patterns is output, by which the electric motor is driven. |
| US09030136B2 |
Motor controlling apparatus
A motor controlling apparatus including an inverter, a voltage detector, a rotational speed detector, a command value calculating component, an inverter controller, a state detector and an offsetting component. The inverter converts direct-current power to alternating-current power supplied to a motor. The voltage detector detects a direct-current voltage, and the rotational speed detector detects a rotational speed of the motor. The calculating component calculates current and torque command values, and motor rotational speed. The controller provides a control signal to control the inverter based on the current command value. The state detector detects a control state of the inverter, and the offsetting component offsets the detected voltage or rotational speed by an offset amount. The calculating component modifies the current command value based on the offset detected voltage or rotational speed to increase on a negative side a d-axis current command value included in the current command value. |
| US09030135B2 |
Electrically operated power steering device
An electric power steering apparatus includes an EPS actuator that applies assist force to a steering system, and an ECU that controls operation of the EPS actuator. The ECU includes an inverter device, a gate driver circuit, a gate driver power source, a microcomputer, and the like. The microcomputer switches assist control to assist stop control, based on an indication of a voltage decrease in the gate driver power source. |
| US09030133B2 |
Method for operating high-pressure discharge lamps
In various embodiments, a method for operating high-pressure discharge lamps, in which high-pressure discharge lamps are operated at the same time in a different thermodynamic state, so that one high-pressure discharge lamp having an emission line emits at a spectral position and at the same time a different high-pressure discharge lamp having an absorption line emits light at the same spectral position, wherein at least some of the light emitted by each high-pressure discharge lamp is converged in a local area. |
| US09030131B2 |
Insulated power supply device and lighting device
An insulated power supply device includes: an electric power conversion unit, a rectifier, a filter, a detection unit, a control circuit, and a signal transmission unit. The control circuit generates and outputs a control signal for a switching element that controls a current to be flown through a primary side of the electric power conversion unit. The signal transmission unit transmits, to the control circuit, a detection signal by the detection unit for detecting an output current or an output voltage. An output control pulse signal having control information in a duty ratio can be supplied as an outputted control signal individually to both of the control circuit and a secondary side of the electric power conversion unit. The output current or the output voltage can be thereby controlled. |
| US09030130B2 |
High-pressure discharge lamp lighting device, high-pressure discharge lamp device using the same, projector using the high-pressure discharge lamp device, and lighting method for high-pressure discharge lamp
From a start of a lighting until a predetermined time period passes, a high-pressure discharge lamp is supplied with a constant current (Ib) until the lamp power reaches a predetermined wattage (Plow). When the lamp power reaches the wattage (Plow), current is supplied to maintain the lamp power at the wattage (Plow). After another predetermined time period passes, current is supplied to maintain the lamp power at a rated lamp wattage (Pr). While this lamp power is being maintained, the size of the lamp current is limited to a current limit (Ia). The current (Ib) and the wattage (Plow) satisfy a relationship Ia·0.7≦Ib≦Ia·0.9 and Pr·0.5 Plow≦Pr·0.9 to accelerate an initial building of luminous flux while reducing drainage to the electrodes. |
| US09030126B2 |
LED driving device
An LED driving device has a first constant current source circuit and a voltage control circuit. The first constant current source outputs a first constant current to a first node and the first constant current flows into a first LED module disposed between a driving node and the first node; wherein, the first constant current source circuit has a first detection node for generating a first detection signal in response to the voltage level of the first node. The voltage control circuit is coupled to the first detection node, for outputting a control signal in response to the first detection signal to a voltage regulator circuit in order to control and modulate the voltage regulator circuit to output a driving voltage to the driving node. |
| US09030124B2 |
Lighting system and method for PWM duty cycle control
A lighting system and method are provided for controlling a PWM duty cycle. The lighting system is provided with at least one device that is configured to emit light in response to receiving electrical power. The lighting system includes a power circuit and a feedback circuit. The power circuit is configured to selectively supply power to the device at a duty cycle corresponding to a first mode and a second mode, wherein the duty cycle of the first mode is less than 10% of the duty cycle of the second mode. The feedback circuit is configured to provide a feedback signal that is indicative of the energy provided to the device. The power circuit is further configured to disable power to the device during the first mode in response to the energy being greater than a threshold energy value, thereby adjusting the duty cycle. |
| US09030123B2 |
Illuminating apparatus and driving method thereof
An illuminating apparatus includes a drive circuit that generates a drive current, and an organic light emitting panel that receives the drive current and that emits light. The drive circuit is capable of controlling a color temperature of the emitted light from the organic light emitting panel by controlling a current strength of the drive current and is capable of controlling a brightness of the emitted light according to a pulse width of the drive current. |
| US09030121B2 |
Circuits and methods for driving light sources
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide circuits and methods for driving light sources, e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. In one embodiment, a lamp includes a rectifier rectifying an AC voltage to a rectified AC voltage, an LED light source, and a switch coupled to the LED light source in series controlling a current through the LED light source according to a predetermined current reference. The LED light source and the switch coupled in series receive the rectified AC voltage while the switch is controlled linearly. |
| US09030117B2 |
Method for feeding light sources and related device
In various embodiments, a method for powering light sources from a input power supply through a converter circuit is provided including a primary side and a secondary side separated by a galvanic barrier, wherein the primary side includes a power factor control block with an output capacitor. The method may include providing save circuitry on said secondary side for saving operational data of the converter upon failure of said input power supply; and powering said save circuitry during saving said operational data with energy derived from said output capacitor of said power factor control block. |
| US09030113B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting element drive device and lighting fixture with the same
If a dimming ratio of a light source unit is higher than a first ratio, an ON width of a first switching device is increased with a second switching device kept off when the dimming ratio is increased, and also the ON width of the first switching device is decreased with the second switching device kept off when the dimming ratio is decreased. If a dimming ratio of the light source unit is lower than the first ratio, the ON width of the second switching device is regulated with the ON width of the first switching device held at a lower limit. |
| US09030112B2 |
Illumination system, and driving device and signal transmitter device thereof
An illumination system includes: a signal receiver device configured to, in response to a coupling signal, generate a receiver-side signal frame including a control code portion based on control information of the coupling signal; a code extracting unit operable to extract the control code portion from the receiver-side signal frame; and a current providing unit operable to provide a driving current through a light emitting component according to the control code portion extracted from the code extracting unit. The driving current has a magnitude dependent on the extracted control code portion. |
| US09030107B2 |
Illumination apparatus
An illumination apparatus includes: a series circuit of a thyristor and at least one load circuit connected across an AC power source; a current control circuit for adjusting an input current to be maintained at a predetermined level during a part or the whole of an ON period of the thyristor; and a short circuit for short-circuiting input ports of the load circuit to have a predetermined resistance during a part of the ON period of the thyristor and a part or the whole of an OFF period of the thyristor. The current control circuit and the short circuit are connected in parallel to the load circuit. |
| US09030106B2 |
Driving circuit and LED backlight module using multiple references voltages
A driving circuit for a LED backlight module includes a brightness adjusting module, a current detector, a reference voltage adjusting module, and a comparing module. The current detector is capable of detecting the current of the brightness adjusting module and outputting a detecting result. The reference voltage adjusting module is capable of choosing the corresponding reference voltage corresponding to the detecting result of the current detector. Thus, the reference voltage outputted to the comparing module can be adjusted according to the change of the current of the brightness adjusting module. This reduces the power consumption and the amount of heat generated due to the power consumption, and improves the performance of the LED backlight module. |
| US09030101B2 |
Frequency enhanced impedance dependent power control for multi-frequency RF pulsing
Methods for processing a substrate in a plasma processing, chamber employing a plurality of RF power supplies. The method includes pulsing at a first pulsing frequency a first RF power supply to deliver a first RF signal between a high power state and a low power state. The method further includes switching the RF frequency of a second RF signal output by a second RF power supply between a first predefined RF frequency and a second RF frequency responsive to values of a measurable chamber parameter. The first RF frequency and the second RF frequencies and the thresholds for switching were learned in advance during a learning phase while the first RF signal pulses between the high power state and low power state at a second RF frequency lower than the first RF frequency and while the second RF power supply operates in different modes. |
| US09030099B2 |
High pressure discharge lamp with multiple arc tubes
A long life high pressure arc discharge lamp configuration is disclosed. In some embodiments, the lamp includes a first non-cycling high pressure arc tube having a first ignition aid and a second arc tube electrically connected in parallel to the first arc tube. A lamp envelope is provided about the first and second arc tubes. In some cases, each of the first and second arc tubes is a non-cycling high pressure sodium arc tube, and each is configured with an ignition aid strip running lengthwise down the corresponding arc tube. In some cases, the first and second arc tubes are oriented such that their respective ignition aid strips are effectively 180 degrees+/−90 degrees away from each other, or so that their respective ignition aid strips are effectively 180 degrees+/−5 degrees away from each other. In some such, the second arc tube is a low-pressure arc tube. |
| US09030098B2 |
Wireless electric power supply type light-emitting element and light-emitting device
A wireless electric power supply type light-emitting element 11 of the present invention includes a substrate 2; a light-emitting structure provided on the substrate 2; and a sealing layer 3 provided on the light-emitting structure, wherein the light-emitting structure includes an electric power receiving antenna 4 and an organic electroluminescence element provided on the installation surface of the substrate 2; and two connecting wires 61 and 62 for electrically connecting the electric power receiving antenna 4 and the organic electroluminescence element, the electric power receiving antenna 4 is covered with an insulating layer 7 exclusive of two terminals 41 and 42 of the electric power receiving antenna 4 to which the end parts of the two connecting wires 61 and 62 are connected, and the light-emitting structure is sealed between the substrate 2 and the sealing layer 3. |
| US09030097B2 |
Light emitting device, electronic appliance, and method for manufacturing light emitting device
To provide a light emitting device that has a structure in which a light emitting element is sandwiched by two substrates to prevent moisture from penetrating into the light emitting element, and a method for manufacturing thereof. In addition, a gap between the two substrates can be controlled precisely. In the light emitting device according to the present invention, an airtight space surrounded by a sealing material with a closed pattern is kept under reduced pressure by attaching the pair of substrates under reduced pressure. A columnar or wall-shaped structure is formed between light emitting regions inside of the sealing material, in a region overlapping with the sealing material, or in a region outside of the sealing material so that the gap between the pair of substrates can be maintained precisely. |
| US09030094B2 |
Light emitting device
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting device where periphery deterioration can be prevented from occurring even when an organic insulating film is used as an insulating film for the light-emitting device. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting device where reliability for a long period of time can be improved. A structure of an inorganic film, an organic film, and an inorganic film is not continuously provided from under a sealing material under a cathode for a light-emitting element. In addition, penetration of water is suppressed by defining the shape of the inorganic film that is formed over the organic film even when a structure of an inorganic film, an organic film, and an inorganic film is continuously provided under a cathode for a light-emitting element. |
| US09030093B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device and transparent impedance line
An organic electroluminescent device including an electrode line, a transparent impedance line, an insulating layer, a transparent electrode, an organic illumination layer and an electrode is provided. The electrode line is disposed on a substrate and next to a luminescent zone. The transparent impedance line is disposed in the luminescent zone on the substrate and electrically connected to the electrode line. The insulating layer completely covers the substrate and has a contact hole. The transparent electrode completely covers the luminescent zone and is disposed on the insulating layer. The transparent impedance line and the transparent electrode are electrically connected to each other through the contact hole. The organic illumination layer is disposed on the transparent electrode. The electrode is disposed on the organic illumination layer. Thus, the illumination of the organic electroluminescent device can be more uniform and the aperture ratio is increased. |
| US09030088B2 |
Induction fluorescent lamp with amalgam chamber
A fluorescent lamp has an amalgam chamber that is in communication with the interior of the lamp through an exhaust tube. The amalgam chamber is constructed as a three-way junction with the exhaust tube and is formed at a supplementary angle of 180 degree or less with respect to the exhaust tube. The construction of the chamber utilizes the force of gravity to keep the amalgam away from the opening of the exhaust tube leading to the interior of the lamp. The amalgam chamber is capable of effectively retaining the amalgam within the chamber and preventing it from penetrating into the interior of the lamp regardless of mounting direction. |
| US09030087B1 |
Magnetic electrical contact system
A system for completing an electrical circuit includes first and second base contacts electrically isolated from each other, each having a magnetic portion secured thereto, each magnetic portion having an opposite polarity, and each of said base contacts electrically connected to an electrical lead for transmitting an electrical signal through said base contacts. The system also includes first and second mating contacts electrically isolated from each other, each having a magnetic portion of opposite polarity secured thereto. |
| US09030082B2 |
Vibrator element, sensor unit, electronic apparatus, manufacturing method of vibrator element, and manufacturing method of sensor unit
A vibration gyro device has a base part and a pair of drive vibrating arms and a pair of detection vibrating arms respectively extended from both ends in a Y-axis direction of the base part. Further, adjustment vibrating arms extended from respective ends of connecting parts respectively extended from both ends in an X-axis direction of the base part in parallel to the drive vibrating arms are provided. At the end sides of the respective adjustment vibrating arms, spindle parts as wider parts are provided. On principal surfaces of the respective adjustment vibrating arms, adjustment electrodes as membranes for adjustment of leakage output of the vibration gyro device are provided. |
| US09030080B2 |
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonators and related apparatus and methods
Devices having piezoelectric material structures integrated with substrates are described. Fabrication techniques for forming such devices are also described. The fabrication may include bonding a piezoelectric material wafer to a substrate of a differing material. A structure, such as a resonator, may then be formed from the piezoelectric material wafer. |
| US09030073B2 |
Claw rotor equipped with insulator for an excitation coil and magnets, and rotary electrical machine equipped with rotor of this type
The claw rotor (2) comprises: an axial symmetry axis (X-X); two magnet wheels having a core and teeth (9); insulation (11′) for a field coil (10) mounted onto the core; and permanent magnets mounted between two adjacent teeth (9) belonging to one and the other of the magnet wheels, wherein the insulation (11′) comprises a hub and a flange on each end of the hub (110), each flange having a plurality of projecting petals for engaging with the angled inner periphery (90) of a tooth (9). At least some petals of a flange (120) corresponding to the permanent magnets (38) are split into a plurality of portions, namely, a main petal (121a) for engaging with the inner periphery (90) of a tooth of the magnet wheel (8) in question and at least one side secondary petal (121b) that is lower, when seen in the radial direction, than the main petal. The rotating electrical machine comprises such a rotor. The invention is of use in a claw rotor for motor vehicle alternator or alterno-starter. |
| US09030072B2 |
Rotor configured to be rotateably disposed in an electric rotating machine with a circumferential surface of a rotor core facing a stator of the electric rotating machine
A rotor includes a rotor core with a circumferential surface facing a stator and permanent magnets each received in a corresponding slot of the rotor core. Each of the permanent magnets has a first corner portion positioned closest to the circumferential surface of the rotor core and a first side surface that intersects an imaginary line, faces toward the stator side and makes up part of the first corner portion. The imaginary line extends in the magnetization direction of the permanent magnet through the center of the permanent magnet. Between the first side surface of the permanent magnet and the inner surface of the corresponding slot, there are formed a first gap, a second gap and an abutment area from the first corner portion side in this order. The first gap has a smaller width than the second gap in a direction perpendicular to the first side surface. |
| US09030071B2 |
Electrical machines
An electrical machine 20, 48 comprises a first stator 22 and a second stator 24 spaced from the first stator 22, at least one of the first stator 22 and the second stator 24 including a guide arrangement 26, 50. The electrical machine 20, 48 also includes a plurality of rotor elements 30, 46 located between the first stator 22 and the second stator 24 and cooperating with the guide arrangement 26, 50 for movement relative to the first stator 22 and the second stator 24. Adjacent rotor elements 30, 46 cooperate with each other so that the rotor elements 30, 46 form a rotor and at least one of the rotor elements 30, 46 includes a coupling element 32 to transfer force to or from the rotor. Each rotor element 30, 46 includes a first support surface 30a which faces towards the first stator 22 and defines a first air gap with the first stator 22, a second support surface 30b which faces towards the second stator 24 and defines a second air gap with the second stator 24, and one or more magnets 34 mounted on each of the first and second support surfaces 30a, 30b in the first and second air gaps. |
| US09030070B2 |
Magnetic and/or electrostatic pivot
A method and device for orienting a timepiece component on both ends of which two magnetic/electrostatic fields each attract it onto a pole piece, with an unbalance in the intensity of the fields around the component, in order to create a differential in the forces thereon and to press one of the ends onto a contact surface of one of the pole pieces, and to hold the other end at a distance from the other pole piece. A magnetic/electrostatic pivot includes such a component with two ends. It includes a guide device with surfaces of two pole pieces each attracted by a magnetic/electrostatic field transmitted by one of the ends, or generating a magnetic/electrostatic field attracting one of the ends, the magnetic/electrostatic forces exerted on the two ends are of different intensity, in order to attract only one end into contact with only one of the pole piece surfaces. |
| US09030068B2 |
Spindle motor and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a spindle motor including: a shaft connected directly or indirectly to a base member and having a depression groove formed in a central portion of an outer peripheral surface thereof; a sleeve rotatably installed on the shaft and having a communication hole formed so as to be connected to the depression groove; and a rotor hub fixedly installed on the sleeve to thereby rotate together therewith, wherein the communication hole is inclined so that lubricating fluid may be easily injected into the depression groove, and the sleeve has a fluid storage part formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, the fluid storage part being connected to the communication hole and temporarily storing the lubricating fluid therein. |
| US09030067B2 |
Bearing rotational lock
A bearing assembly for an electric motor is provided that includes a bearing having an inner race and an outer race, and a bearing float sleeve having an outer race engaging member. The outer race engaging member includes an outer surface sized for slip fit engagement with a bearing seat formed in a motor end member such that the bearing float sleeve can be displaced axially in relation to the bearing seat and an inner surface configured for engagement with the bearing outer race such that the bearing outer race is in a fixed rotational position with respect to the bearing float sleeve. The bearing float sleeve includes at least one feature operational to maintain a fixed rotational position of the bearing float sleeve with respect to the motor end member. |
| US09030062B2 |
Cooling structure of rotating electric machine
A cooling structure of a rotating electric machine includes a rotor core formed of a plurality of electromagnetic steel plates and a resin molding portion molding the rotor core with resin. The rotor core is provided with a through hole passing therethrough in the axial direction of the central axis that is a rotation axis. The rotor core is provided inside the through hole with an oil passage through which oil circulates. The resin molding portion has a cover portion covering the outer peripheral side of the oil passage. This configuration can provide the cooling structure of the rotating electric machine that achieves efficient cooling while suppressing occurrence of energy loss. |
| US09030061B2 |
Galvanoscanner and laser processing machine
A galvanoscanner including: a rotor including a shaft as a rotational center, and permanent magnets disposed around the shaft and polarized to a plurality of poles in a circumferential direction of the shaft; and a stator disposed in the outside of the rotor through a clearance and including coils, a yoke, and an outer casing so that the rotor swings in a predetermined angle range; wherein: the permanent magnets are provided with grooves which are formed in a direction of the rotation shaft so as to straddle circumferentially adjacent magnetic poles of the permanent magnets; and the permanent magnets are parted into at least two parts per pole by parting lines. Thus, the ratio of the torque constant to the moment of inertia can be improved so that the current required for driving can be reduced and reduction of power consumption at driving time can be attained. |
| US09030055B2 |
Electric circuit configuration for switching an electrical load
The invention relates to an electric circuit configuration for switching an electrical load (3), particularly a solenoid valve, by means of at least one switching means (5) associated with the consumer (3), particularly a transistor. The circuit configuration comprises at least one analysis circuit comprising at least one measuring resistor (17) connected in series with the switching means (5), at least one first analysis means (23) for determining a parameter corresponding to the short-circuit current, and at least one second analysis means (25) for determining a parameter corresponding to the consumer current. The circuit configuration is characterized in that the first analysis means (23) is connected in parallel with the measurement resistor (17). |
| US09030044B2 |
Methods and circuits for power switching
The present invention relates to a method and a circuit for power switching. The method comprises the steps of: providing a operation circuit; receiving a command from a Host and setting up a power mode of the operation circuit; supplying a first rated consuming power source and then a second rated consuming power source to the operation circuit via the power switching circuit according to power mode; detecting the transferring process form the first rated consuming power source to second rated consuming power source; and preventing over current according to detecting result. |
| US09030043B2 |
Method for setting an output voltage level of a wind power plant
The present invention addresses the problem of avoiding that wind turbine voltage levels within a wind power plant do not exceed predetermined overvoltage and/or undervoltage protection levels. In particular, the present invention relates to shifting of an output voltage level of a wind power plant in order to protect an internal power plant grid against overvoltages. |
| US09030036B2 |
Arrangement for a direct drive generator for a wind turbine and method for the assembly of the generator
The invention concerns an arrangement for a direct drive generator for a wind turbine, which generator comprises a stator with several stator segments each stator segment having at least one stator element for the power generation and which generator comprises a rotor pivotable around a center axis of the generator and relatively to the stator with several rotor segments each rotor segment having at least one rotor element for the power generation, wherein said arrangement comprises at least one stator segment and at least one rotor segment, and wherein the at least one stator segment and the at least one rotor segment are able to be at least temporarily supported against each other. The invention concerns further a direct drive generator comprising such an arrangement, a wind turbine comprising such a direct drive generator as well as a method for the assembly of the direct drive generator. |
| US09030033B2 |
Energy regeneration device of suspension system for vehicle
An energy regeneration device of a suspension system for a vehicle includes: a suspension link that connects a wheel carrier to a vehicle body; a bush unit that outputs hinge motion of the suspension link through an output gear; a one-way power transmission mechanism that receives the hinge motion transmitted from the output gear through an input gear, and outputs only one-way rotational power; a generator that is disposed at a side of the vehicle body and generates electricity while being rotated by the transmitted one-way rotational power; a speed-up mechanism that speeds up one-way rotational power transmitted from the one-way power transmission mechanism, and transmits the one-way rotational power to a rotary shaft of the generator; a rectifier that rectifies the electricity generated by the generator; and a battery that accumulates electric energy. |
| US09030032B2 |
Semiconductor device with peeling prevention marks and shield film
Provided is a technology capable of inhibiting a shield film formed over a surface of a sealing body from peeling from the surface of the sealing body, and inhibiting a part of the shield film from bulging from the surface of the sealing body. The present invention is characterized in that a peeling-prevention-mark formation region is provided so as to surround a product-identification-mark formation region, and a plurality of peeling prevention marks are formed in the peeling-prevention-mark formation region. That is, the present invention is characterized in that the region of the surface region of the sealing body which is different from the product-identification-mark formation region is defined as the peeling-prevention-mark formation region, and the peeling prevention marks are formed in the peeling-prevention-mark formation region. |
| US09030029B2 |
Chip package with die and substrate
An integrated chip package structure and method of manufacturing the same is by adhering dies on a silicon substrate and forming a thin-film circuit layer on top of the dies and the silicon substrate. Wherein the thin-film circuit layer has an external circuitry, which is electrically connected to the metal pads of the dies, that extends to a region outside the active surface of the dies for fanning out the metal pads of the dies. Furthermore, a plurality of active devices and an internal circuitry is located on the active surface of the dies. Signal for the active devices are transmitted through the internal circuitry to the external circuitry and from the external circuitry through the internal circuitry back to other active devices. Moreover, the chip package structure allows multiple dies with different functions to be packaged into an integrated package and electrically connecting the dies by the external circuitry. |
| US09030023B2 |
Bond pad stack for transistors
A method for forming bond pads on a semiconductor die includes forming a dielectric stack including a bottom and top dielectric layer having a contact hole therethrough over a bond pad. An outer edge of the bottom dielectric layer within the contact hole extends beyond an outer edge of the top dielectric layer to define a bond pad edge. A second metal layer on a first metal layer is deposited. A first photoresist layer is formed exclusively within the contact hole. The second metal layer is wet etched to recess the second metal layer from sidewalls of the bottom dielectric layer in the contact hole. A second photoresist layer is formed exclusively within the contact hole. The first metal layer is wet etched to recess the first metal layer from the top dielectric layer. The first metal layer extends over the bond pad edge onto the bottom dielectric layer. |
| US09030015B2 |
Three dimensional stacked structure for chips
A 3-D chip stacked structure is disclosed. Each chip layer is provided with plural single-layered conductive members where among the same chip layer the two adjacent conductive members are structurally formed in mirror symmetric way with each other along a chip longitudinal direction and the arrangements of the single-layered conductive members of the two adjacent chip layers are shifted by a test pad distance. The single-layered conductive members of the two adjacent chip layers are communicated through a vertical TSV (through silicon via). Therefore, a selection signal or an enabling signal might be transferred through this specific metal layer and related TSV to reach targeting chip layer and targeting circuit. |
| US09030012B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate provided with a lower interconnect layer formed thereon, and having a device region and a mark formation region, a CNT via structure formed in the device region such that it contacts the lower interconnect layer, a first mark formed in the mark formation region, formed by embedding carbon nanotubes, and formed in the same layer as the CNT via structure, a second mark formed in the mark formation region of the semiconductor substrate, formed with no carbon nanotubes, and formed in the same layer as the CNT via structure and the first mark, and an interconnect layer formed on the CNT via structure and the first and second marks, and electrically connected to the CNT via structure. |
| US09030008B2 |
Adhesion promoting composition for metal leadframes
A process for increasing the adhesion of a polymeric material to a metal surface, the process comprising contacting the metal surface with an adhesion promoting composition comprising: 1) an oxidizer; 2) an inorganic acid; 3) a corrosion inhibitor; and 4) an organic phosphonate; and thereafter b) bonding the polymeric material to the metal surface. The organic phosphonate aids in stabilizing the oxidizer and organic components present in the bath and prevents decomposition of the components, thereby increasing the working life of the bath, especially when used with copper alloys having a high iron content. |
| US09030005B2 |
Semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element that produces heat and a substrate on which the semiconductor element is mounted, functions of the substrate are divided between a heat dissipating substrate and a wiring substrate. The heat dissipating substrate has a relatively high thermal conductivity, and includes principal surfaces defined by electric insulators, one of which is provided with an outer conductor located thereon. The wiring substrate is mounted on the upper principal surface of the heat dissipating substrate, has a thermal conductivity lower than that of the heat dissipating substrate, and includes a wiring conductor made mainly of silver or copper and located inside the wiring substrate, the wiring conductor being electrically connected to the outer conductor. The semiconductor element is mounted on the upper principal surface of the heat dissipating substrate and disposed in a through hole of the wiring substrate. |
| US09030000B2 |
Mold cap for semiconductor device
A semiconductor package has a substrate with a solder mask layer, and upper and lower surfaces. Conductive traces and electrical contacts are formed on the substrate, and vias are formed in the substrate to electrically connect the conductive traces and electrical contacts. A semiconductor die is attached on the upper surface of the substrate. A mold cap is formed on the upper surface of the substrate and covers the die and the conductive traces. The mold cap includes a mold body having clipped corners and extensions that extend from each of the clipped corners. The extensions and clipped corners help prevent package cracking. |
| US09029998B2 |
Semiconductor package device
A semiconductor package device includes a lower package including a lower semiconductor chip mounted on the lower package substrate, a lower molding compound layer disposed on the lower package substrate, a first trench formed in the lower molding compound layer to surround the lower semiconductor chip, and a second trench connected to the first trench to extend to an outer wall of the lower package, the second trench being formed in the lower molding compound layer, an upper package disposed on the lower package. The upper package includes an upper package substrate and at least one upper semiconductor chip mounted on the upper package substrate and a heat transfer member disposed between the lower package and the upper package. |
| US09029995B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
To enhance the reliability of connection between a semiconductor chip and a metal plate by ensuring sufficiently the thickness of a conductive material interposed between the semiconductor chip and the metal plate. A lead frame is arranged over a jig and a clip frame is arranged over protruding portions provided on the jig. In this state, a heating process (reflow) is performed. In this case, high melting point solders filling first spaces are melted in a state in which the first space is formed between a High-MOS chip and a High-MOS clip and the first space is formed between a Low-MOS chip and a Low-MOS clip. At this time, even when the high melting point solder is melted in the first space, the size (in particular, the height) of the first space does not change and the first space is maintained. |
| US09029994B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a base plate having one main surface joined to an insulating substrate on which a semiconductor chip and the like are mounted and a transfer mold resin which is so provided as to cover the one main surface of the base plate, the insulating substrate, the semiconductor chip, and the like and expose the other main surface of the base plate. The coefficient of linear expansion of the base plate is lower than that of copper and the coefficient of linear expansion of the transfer mold resin is not higher than 16 ppm/° C. The transfer mold resin has such scooped shapes as to expose opposed short-side centers and the vicinity of the base plate, respectively. The base plate has mounting holes in portions exposed by the scooped shapes of the transfer mold resin. |
| US09029993B2 |
Semiconductor device including semiconductor chip mounted on lead frame
A semiconductor device includes a lead frame, a semiconductor chip, a substrate, a plurality of chip parts, a plurality of wires, and a resin member. The lead frame includes a chip mounted section and a plurality of lead sections. The semiconductor chip is mounted on the chip mounted section. The substrate is mounted on the chip mounted section. The chip parts are mounted on the substrate. Each of the chip parts has a first end portion and a second end portion in one direction, and each of the chip parts has a first electrode at the first end portion and a second electrode at the second end portion. Each of the wires couples the second electrode of one of the chip parts and one of the lead sections. The resin member covers the lead frame, the semiconductor chip, the substrate, the chip parts, and the wires. |
| US09029992B2 |
Electronic package structure with insulated adhesion portion for affixing and isolating lands spaced apart from land connect bar within a leadframe
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a leadframe structure. A semiconductor die is attached to a die pad. Land connect bars are spaced apart from the die pad and a plurality of lands are between the land connect bars and the die pad and are spaced apart therefrom. Insulation members are adhered to the land connect bars and the plurality of lands to hold the land connect bars and the plurality of lands together and to electrically isolate them. An encapsulant covers the semiconductor die and at least portions of the plurality of lands, the die pad, and the land connect bars and further fills spaces between the land connect bars and the plurality of lands. |
| US09029991B2 |
Semiconductor packages with reduced solder voiding
An example semiconductor package with reduced solder voiding is described, which has a leadframe having an I/O pad and a thermal pad, a fabricated semiconductor die having a bond pad, where the fabricated semiconductor die is attached to a top surface of the thermal pad, and a wire bond connecting the bond pad to the I/O pad, where a bottom surface of the thermal pad has channels. |
| US09029987B2 |
Laser machining method and chip
While reliably cutting an object to be processed, the strength of the resulting chips is improved. An object to be processed 1 is irradiated with laser light L, so as to form modified regions 17, 27, 37, 47 extending along lines to cut 5 and aligning in the thickness direction in the object 1. Here, modified regions 17 are formed such that modified region formed parts 17a and modified region unformed parts 17b alternate along the lines, and modified regions 47 are formed such that modified region formed parts 47a and modified region unformed parts 47b alternate along the lines. This can inhibit formed modified regions 7 from lowering the strengths on the rear face 21 side and front face 3 side of chips obtained by cutting. On the other hand, modified regions 27, 37 located between the modified regions 17, 47 are formed continuously from one end side of the lines 5 to the other end side thereof, whereby the cuttability of the object 1 can be secured reliably. |
| US09029986B2 |
Transistors with dual layer passivation
Semiconductor devices are provided with dual passivation layers. A semiconductor layer is formed on a substrate and covered by a first passivation layer (PL-1). PL-1 and part of the semiconductor layer are etched to form a device mesa. A second passivation layer (PL-2) is formed over PL-1 and exposed edges of the mesa. Vias are etched through PL-1 and PL-2 to the semiconductor layer where source, drain and gate are to be formed. Conductors are applied in the vias for ohmic contacts for the source-drain and a Schottky contact for the gate. Interconnections over the edges of the mesa couple other circuit elements. PL-1 avoids adverse surface states near the gate and PL-2 insulates edges of the mesa from overlying interconnections to avoid leakage currents. An opaque alignment mark is desirably formed at the same time as the device to facilitate alignment when using transparent semiconductors. |
| US09029981B2 |
Semiconductor device having a fuse
A semiconductor device comprises an active region including a core circuit forming region and a buffer forming region, and a fuse element forming region arranged on a corner of the active region and to be able to be electrically fused. It is possible to arrange the fuse element without forming the fuse in the core circuit forming region by arranging the fuse element forming region at the corner of the active region. |
| US09029977B2 |
Power conversion apparatus
The power conversion apparatus includes semiconductor modules and a circuit board on which a control circuit is formed. Each semiconductor module includes signal terminals electrically connected to the circuit board. The signal terminals of each semiconductor module are arranged in a line so as to form a terminal row along a first direction. The semiconductor modules are grouped into upper arm semiconductor modules and lower arm semiconductor modules each connected to a corresponding one of the upper arm semiconductor module. Upper arm terminal rows as the terminal rows of the upper arm semiconductor modules and lower arm terminal rows as the terminal rows of the lower arm semiconductor modules are arranged in a staggered manner along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and to a third direction in which the signal terminals of the semiconductor modules project, the first, second and third directions being perpendicular to one another. |
| US09029969B2 |
Imaging element, image pickup apparatus, manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method
There is provided an imaging element including a transmission channel region provided in an optical black pixel region shielded from light from an outside of a semiconductor substrate by a light shielding film, for transmitting a charge existing inside the semiconductor substrate of the optical black pixel region to an outside of the optical black pixel region. |
| US09029957B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device is formed by depositing a nitride material having a lower etch rate than an oxide material over or between buried gates when forming a metal contact at an end portion of a cell region, to prevent a lower substrate from being etched during an etching process forming a metal contact hole. The semiconductor device includes at least one buried gate formed in a device isolation film of a semiconductor substrate, an etch stop film formed over and between the buried gates, and a metal contact formed perpendicular to the buried gate in the etch stop film. |
| US09029952B2 |
Semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first well having a first conductive type, a second well having a second conductive type, a body region, a first doped region, a second doped region, a third doped region and a field plate. The first and second wells are formed in the substrate. The body region is formed in the second well. The first and second doped regions are formed in the first well and the body region, respectively. The second and first doped regions have the same polarities, and the dopant concentration of the second doped region is higher than that of the first doped region. The third doped region is formed in the second well and located between the first and second doped regions. The third and first doped regions have reverse polarities. The field plate is formed on the surface region between the first and second doped regions. |
| US09029951B2 |
Semiconductor device having well regions with opposite conductivity
A semiconductor device with an SRAM memory cell having improved characteristics. Below an active region in which a driver transistor including a SRAM is placed, an n type back gate region surrounded by an element isolation region is provided via an insulating layer. It is coupled to the gate electrode of the driver transistor. A p well region is provided below the n type back gate region and at least partially extends to a position deeper than the element isolation region. It is fixed at a grounding potential. Such a configuration makes it possible to control the threshold potential of the transistor to be high when the transistor is ON and to be low when the transistor is OFF; and control so as not to apply a forward bias to the PN junction between the p well region and the n type back gate region. |
| US09029947B2 |
Field device and method of operating high voltage semiconductor device applied with the same
A field device and method of operating high voltage semiconductor device applied with the same are provided. The field device includes a first well having a second conductive type and second well having a first conductive type both formed in the substrate (having the first conductive type) and extending down from a surface of the substrate, the second well adjacent to one side of the first well and the substrate is at the other side of the first well; a first doping region having the first conductive type and formed in the second well, the first doping region spaced apart from the first well; a conductive line electrically connected to the first doping region and across the first well region; and a conductive body insulatively positioned between the conductive line and the first well, and the conductive body correspondingly across the first well region. |
| US09029939B2 |
Method of manufacturing a vertical-type semiconductor device and method of operating a vertical-type semiconductor device
In a vertical-type semiconductor device, a method of manufacturing the same and a method of operating the same, the vertical-type semiconductor device includes a single-crystalline semiconductor pattern having a pillar shape provided on a substrate, a gate surrounding sidewalls of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern and having an upper surface lower than an upper surface of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern, a mask pattern formed on the upper surface of the gate, the mask pattern having an upper surface coplanar with the upper surface of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern, a first impurity region in the substrate under the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern, and a second impurity region under the upper surface of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern. The vertical-type pillar transistor formed in the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern may provide excellent electrical properties. The mask pattern is not provided on the upper surface of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern in the second impurity region, to thereby reduce failures of processes. |
| US09029938B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same
According to one embodiment, the stacked body includes a plurality of electrode layers and a plurality of insulating layers alternately stacked on the substrate. The plurality of contact parts are provided in a protruding shape on respective end parts of the plurality of electrode layers. The plurality of contact parts do not overlap each other in the stacking direction. The plurality of contact parts are displaced in a surface direction of the substrate. The plurality of plugs extends from the respective contact parts toward the respective circuit interconnections and electrically connects the respective contact parts with the respective circuit interconnections. |
| US09029928B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising a passive component of capacitors and process for fabrication
A semiconductor device includes a wafer having a frontside and a backside. The wafer is formed from at least one integrated circuit chip having an electrical connection frontside co-planar with the wafer frontside and a backside co-planar with the wafer backside. A passive component including at least one conductive plate and a dielectric plate is positioned adjacent the integrated circuit chip. An encapsulation block embeds the integrated circuit chip and the passive component, the block having a frontside co-planar with the wafer frontside and a backside co-planar with the wafer backside. An electrical connection is made between the electrical connection frontside and the passive component. That electrical connection includes connection lines placed on the wafer frontside and wafer backside. The electrical connection further includes at least one via passing through the encapsulation block. |
| US09029924B2 |
Antiblooming imaging apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods are described to assist in reducing dark current in an active pixel sensor. In various embodiments, a potential barrier arrangement is configured to block the flow of charge carriers generated outside a photosensitive region. In various embodiments, a potential well-potential barrier arrangement is formed to direct charge carriers away from the photosensitive region during an integration time. |
| US09029915B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer made of an AlxGa1-xN (0≦x<1); a second semiconductor layer provided on the first semiconductor layer and made of an undoped or first conductivity type AlyGa1-yN (0 |
| US09029914B2 |
Group III-nitride-based transistor with gate dielectric including a fluoride -or chloride- based compound
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe apparatuses, methods, and systems of an integrated circuit (IC) device. The IC device may include a buffer layer disposed on a substrate, the buffer layer including gallium (Ga) and nitrogen (N) and a barrier layer disposed on the buffer layer, the barrier layer including aluminum (Al) and nitrogen (N). The IC device may further include a gate terminal and a gate dielectric layer disposed between the gate terminal and the barrier layer and/or between the gate terminal and the buffer layer. In various embodiments, the gate dielectric layer may include a fluoride- or chloride-based compound, such as calcium fluoride (CaF2). |
| US09029912B2 |
Semiconductor substructure having elevated strain material-sidewall interface and method of making the same
A semiconductor substructure with improved performance and a method of forming the same is described. In one embodiment, the semiconductor substructure includes a substrate, having an upper surface; a gate structure formed over the substrate; a spacer formed along a sidewall of the gate structure; and a source/drain structure disposed adjacent the gate structure. The source/drain structures is formed of a strain material and is disposed in an recess that extends below the upper surface of the substrate. An interface between the spacer and the source-drain structure can be at least 2 nm above the upper surface of the substrate. |
| US09029904B2 |
High illumination efficiency light emitting diode
A light emitting diode includes a substrate, a first semiconductor layer, a luminous layer, a second semiconductor layer, a current diffusion layer, a third semiconductor layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulation layer. The first semiconductor layer is formed above the substrate. The luminous layer is formed on the first semiconductor layer, and exposes a portion of the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer is formed on the luminous layer. The current diffusion layer is formed on the second semiconductor layer. The third semiconductor layer is formed on the current diffusion layer. The first electrode is formed on the first semiconductor layer. The second electrode includes a base portion formed on the surface of the substrate, and plural comb structures extending upward vertically. Each tip of the comb structure is in the third semiconductor layer. The insulation layer exposes the tip of each comb structure. |
| US09029901B2 |
Electronic component
An electronic component has a housing body which comprises a semiconductor chip in a recess. The semiconductor chip in the recess is embedded in a casting compound made of a first plastic material having a first glass transition temperature. A cover element made of a second plastic material having a second glass transition temperature is arranged above the recess. The second glass transition temperature is lower than the first glass transition temperature. |
| US09029900B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display device and a method of its manufacture are provided, whereby manufacturing processes are simplified and display quality may be enhanced. The display device includes: an active layer of a thin film transistor (TFT), on a substrate and including a semiconducting material; a lower electrode of a capacitor, on the substrate, doped with ion impurities, and including a semiconducting material; a first insulating layer on the substrate to cover the active layer and the lower electrode; a gate electrode of the TFT, on the first insulating layer; a pixel electrode on the first insulating layer; an upper electrode of the capacitor, on the first insulating layer; source and drain electrodes of the TFT, electrically connected to the active layer; an organic layer on the pixel electrode and including an organic emission layer; and a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode, the organic layer between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode. |
| US09029898B2 |
Light emitting diode and illumination device using same
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED). The LED comprises an LED die, one or more metal pads, and a fluorescent layer. The characteristics of the present invention include that the metals pads are left exposed for the convenience of subsequent wiring and packaging processes. In addition, the LED provided by the present invention is a single light-mixing chip, which can be packaged directly without the need of coating fluorescent powders on the packaging glue. Because the fluorescent layer and the packaging glue are not processed simultaneously and are of different materials, the stress problem in the packaged LED can be reduced effectively. |
| US09029896B2 |
Light-emitting device
The present application is related to a light-emitting device. The present application illustrates a vertical light-emitting device in one embodiment, comprising: a conductive substrate includes a through-hole, a patterned semiconductor structure disposed on a first surface of the substrate, a first bonding pad and a second bonding pad disposed on a second surface of the substrate, a conductive line passing through the through-hole connecting electrically the semiconductor structure layer, and an insulation layer on at least one sidewall of the through-hole insulates the conductive line form the substrate. |
| US09029888B2 |
High efficiency light emitting diode and method of fabricating the same
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a high-efficiency light emitting diode (LED). The LED according to an exemplary embodiment includes a substrate, a semiconductor stack arranged on the substrate, wherein the semiconductor stack has a p-type semiconductor layer, an active layer and an n-type semiconductor layer, a first metal layer interposed between the substrate and the semiconductor stack, the first metal layer ohmic-contacted with the semiconductor stack, a first electrode pad arranged on the semiconductor stack, an electrode extension extending from the first electrode pad, wherein the electrode extension has a contact region contacting the n-type semiconductor layer, a first insulating layer interposed between the substrate and the semiconductor stack, wherein the first insulating layer covers a surface region of the p-type semiconductor layer under the contact region of the electrode extension, and a second insulating layer interposed between the first electrode pad and the semiconductor stack. |
| US09029887B2 |
Solid state lighting devices having improved color uniformity and associated methods
Solid state lighting (SSL) devices and methods of manufacturing SSL devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an SSL device comprises a support having a surface and a solid state emitter (SSE) at the surface of the support. The SSE can emit a first light propagating along a plurality of first vectors. The SSL device can further include a converter material over at least a portion of the SSE. The converter material can emit a second light propagating along a plurality of second vectors. Additionally, the SSL device can include a lens over the SSE and the converter material. The lens can include a plurality of diffusion features that change the direction of the first light and the second light such that the first and second lights blend together as they exit the lens. The SSL device can emit a substantially uniform color of light. |
| US09029884B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting device
A nitride semiconductor light emitting device includes a conductive substrate, a first metal layer, a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer, an emission layer, and a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer in this order. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device additionally has an insulating layer covering at least side surfaces of the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer, the emission layer and the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer. A method of manufacturing the same is provided. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device may further include a second metal layer. Thus, a reliable nitride semiconductor light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided in which short-circuit at the PN junction portion and current leak is reduced as compared with the conventional examples. |
| US09029877B2 |
Light-emitting diode package
Disclosed is a light-emitting diode package according to an embodiment, including; a body having a cavity formed therein, a lead frame placed in the cavity; and a light emitting diode electrically connected to the lead frame while having a slope angle relative to the bottom surface of the cavity, wherein a light emitting part and a non-light emitting part are present on the light emitting diode, and wherein a connection part is provided in a region of the cavity to be connected to at least a region of the non-light emitting part. |
| US09029876B2 |
Display panel with shield layer partially over gate line
There is provided a pixel structure of a liquid crystal panel including a transparent substrate, and a gate line, a data line, a switching transistor, a first electrode, a second electrode and a shield layer formed on the transparent substrate. The gate line is substantially perpendicular to the data line. The switching transistor is located adjacent to a crossing point of the gate line and the data line, and is configured to input a display voltage of the data line to the second electrode according to the control of the gate line. The first electrode and the second electrode are arranged in such a way that the display voltage forms a transverse electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode. The shield layer overlaps at least a part of the gate and is electrically isolated from the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US09029873B2 |
Semiconductor device including an aluminum nitride layer having a calculated area-averaged circularity and a method of manufacturing the device
The semiconductor device includes a SiC substrate; an aluminum nitride layer provided on the substrate and having an island-shaped pattern consisting of plural islands: a channel layer provided on the AlN layer and comprising a nitride semiconductor; an electron supplying layer provided on the channel layer and having a band gap larger than that of the channel layer; and a gate, source and drain electrodes on the electron supply layer. The AlN layer has an area-averaged circularity Y/X of greater than 0.2. Y is a sum of values obtained by multiplying circularities of the plural islands by areas of the plural islands respectively, X is a sum of the areas of the plural islands. The circularity are calculated by a formula of (4π×area)/(length of periphery)2 where the area and the length of periphery are an area and a length of periphery of each island. |
| US09029872B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
The present inventive concept has been made in an effort to improve the breakdown voltage of a silicon carbide MOSFET using a trench gate.A semiconductor device according to the present inventive concept includes a p type pillar region disposed below the trench, spaced apart from the trench or a first p type pillar region and a second p type pillar region disposed below the trench and corresponding to two corners of the trench. |
| US09029870B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a semiconductor layer composed of SiC, a metal layer directly bonded to one face of the semiconductor layer, and a high carbon concentration layer formed on a surface layer portion at one side of the semiconductor layer and containing more highly concentrated carbon than a surface layer portion of the other side. Further, a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device of the present invention includes the steps of forming, on a surface layer portion at one face side of a semiconductor layer composed of SiC, a high carbon concentration layer containing more highly concentrated carbon than a surface layer portion at the other face side by heat treatment and directly bonding metal to the high carbon concentration layer. |
| US09029865B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and method for manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate, a first electrode and an assistance electrode disposed on the substrate and separated from each other, an organic emission layer disposed on the first electrode, a contact hole which exposes the assistance electrode and is defined in the organic emission layer, and a second electrode disposed on the organic emission layer and electrically connected to the assistance electrode through the contact hole. |
| US09029864B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A transistor includes an island-like semiconductor film over a substrate, and a conductive film forming a gate electrode over the island-like semiconductor film with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The semiconductor film includes a channel forming region, a first impurity region forming a source or drain region, and a second impurity region. The channel forming region is overlapped with the gate electrode crossing the island-like semiconductor film. The first impurity region is adjacent to the channel forming region. The second impurity region is adjacent to the channel forming region and the first impurity region. The first impurity region and the second impurity region have different conductivity. The second impurity region and the channel forming region have different conductivity or have different concentration of an impurity element contained in the second impurity region and the channel forming region in a case of having the same conductivity. |
| US09029863B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A variation in electrical characteristics, such as a negative shift of the threshold voltage or an increase in S value, of a fin-type transistor including an oxide semiconductor material is prevented. An oxide semiconductor film is sandwiched between a plurality of gate electrodes with an insulating film provided between the oxide semiconductor film and each of the gate electrodes. Specifically, a first gate insulating film is provided to cover a first gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film is provided to be in contact with the first gate insulating film and extend beyond the first gate electrode, a second gate insulating film is provided to cover at least the oxide semiconductor film, and a second gate electrode is provided to be in contact with part of the second gate insulating film and extend beyond the first gate electrode. |
| US09029861B2 |
Thin film transistor and shift register
Thin film transistors having a high current drive capability and a suitable threshold voltage are provided. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, an insulating layer formed on the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer formed on the insulating layer, and source/drain electrodes formed on the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer includes a plurality of regions separated from each other in a longitudinal direction of the source/drain electrodes. |
| US09029856B2 |
Methods of forming a metal telluride material, related methods of forming a semiconductor device structure, and related semiconductor device structures
Accordingly, a method of forming a metal chalcogenide material may comprise introducing at least one metal precursor and at least one chalcogen precursor into a chamber comprising a substrate, the at least one metal precursor comprising an amine or imine compound of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a post-transition metal, or a metalloid, and the at least one chalcogen precursor comprising a hydride, alkyl, or aryl compound of sulfur, selenium, or tellurium. The at least one metal precursor and the at least one chalcogen precursor may be reacted to form a metal chalcogenide material over the substrate. A method of forming a metal telluride material, a method of forming a semiconductor device structure, and a semiconductor device structure are also described. |
| US09029851B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising an oxide semiconductor layer
As a display device has a higher definition, the number of pixels, gate lines, and signal lines are increased. When the number of the gate lines and the signal lines are increased, a problem of higher manufacturing cost, because it is difficult to mount an IC chip including a driver circuit for driving of the gate and signal lines by bonding or the like. A pixel portion and a driver circuit for driving the pixel portion are provided over the same substrate, and at least part of the driver circuit includes a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor interposed between gate electrodes provided above and below the oxide semiconductor. Therefore, when the pixel portion and the driver portion are provided over the same substrate, manufacturing cost can be reduced. |
| US09029850B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a thin film transistor including an active layer, a gate electrode, source and drain electrodes, a first insulating layer between the active layer and the gate electrode, and a second insulating layer between the gate electrode and the source and drain electrodes, a third insulating layer covering the source and drain electrodes, the third insulating layer being an organic insulating layer, a pixel electrode including a semi-transparent metal layer and having an end located in a trench formed around the first insulating layer, a fourth insulating layer including an opening exposing a top surface of the pixel electrode, the fourth insulating layer being an organic insulating layer, an organic light-emitting layer on the pixel electrode, and a counter electrode on the organic light-emitting layer. |
| US09029849B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device and method for driving the same
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device is provided. The OLED display device includes a first transistor configured to supply a data voltage to a first node, a second transistor connected between the first node and a second node, a third transistor configured to supply a reference voltage to the third node, a fourth transistor configured to supply an initialization voltage to the second node, a fifth transistor configured to supply the reference voltage to the second node, a driving transistor configured to include a drain receiving a high-level source voltage, a source connected to the second node, and a gate connected to the third node, a first capacitor connected between the first node and the third node, a second capacitor connected between the second node and the third node, and an OLED configured to include an anode connected to the second node. |
| US09029846B2 |
Display apparatus having improved bending properties and method of manufacturing same
Disclosed is a display apparatus. The display apparatus includes: a display module including a flexible substrate, a display panel, and an encapsulation film; a lower module disposed below the display module; an upper module disposed on the display module; and an elasticity-adjusting layer disposed on or below the display module to adjust a position of a neutral plane in bending of the display apparatus, wherein an elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting layer is less than that of at least one of the display module, the lower module, or the upper module, so as to position the neutral plane within or proximate to the display module. |
| US09029842B2 |
Organic electroluminescence element and method of manufacturing thereof
An organic light-emitting element comprising: an anode; a cathode; banks; a functional layer between the anode and the cathode; and a hole injection layer between the anode and the functional layer. The functional layer includes at least a light-emitting sublayer defined by the banks and that contains an organic material. The hole injection layer comprises tungsten oxide and includes a crystal of the tungsten oxide, whose particle diameter is on an order of nanometers. Tungsten atoms constituting the tungsten oxide include both tungsten atoms with a valence of six and tungsten atoms with a valence less than six. The hole injection layer has a surface facing the functional layer, and a portion of the surface overlapping with the light-emitting sublayer is located closer to the anode than other portions, thereby forming a recessed structure having a recessed portion whose inner surface is in contact with the functional layer. |
| US09029841B2 |
Carbon nanotube devices with unzipped low-resistance contacts
A method of creating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An end of a carbon nanotube is unzipped to provide a substantially flat surface. A contact of the semiconductor device is formed. The substantially flat surface of the carbon nanotube is coupled to the contact to create the semiconductor device. An energy gap in the unzipped end of the carbon nanotube may be less than an energy gap in a region of the carbon nanotube outside of the unzipped end region. |
| US09029838B2 |
Methods of forming inclined structures on insulation layers, organic light emitting display devices and methods of manufacturing organic light emitting display devices
An organic light emitting display device comprises a first substrate, an insulation layer having an inclined structure, a first electrode, a pixel defining layer defining a luminescent region and a non-luminescent region, an organic light emitting structure, a second electrode and a second substrate. Lateral portions of the first electrode, the second electrode and/or the pixel defining layer may have an inclination angle for preventing a total reflection of light generated from the organic light emitting structure, so that the organic light emitting display device may ensure a light efficiency substantially larger than that of the conventional organic light emitting display device by about at least 30 percent. |
| US09029836B2 |
Controlled synthesis of monolithically-integrated graphene structure
In a method for fabricating a graphene structure, there is formed on a fabrication substrate a pattern of a plurality of distinct graphene catalyst materials. In one graphene synthesis step, different numbers of graphene layers are formed on the catalyst materials in the formed pattern. In a method for fabricating a graphene transistor, on a fabrication substrate at least one graphene catalyst material is provided at a substrate region specified for synthesizing a graphene transistor channel and at least one graphene catalyst material is provided at a substrate region specified for synthesizing a graphene transistor source, and at a substrate region specified for synthesizing a graphene transistor drain. Then in one graphene synthesis step, at least one layer of graphene is formed at the substrate region for the graphene transistor channel, and at the regions for the transistor source and drain there are formed a plurality of layers of graphene. |
| US09029832B2 |
Group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and method for producing the same
The invention provides a Group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device in which the strain in the light-emitting layer is relaxed, thereby attaining high light emission efficiency, and a method for producing the device. The light-emitting device of the present invention has a substrate, a low-temperature buffer layer, an n-type contact layer, a first ESD layer, a second ESD layer, an n-side superlattice layer, a light-emitting layer, a p-side superlattice layer, a p-type contact layer, an n-type electrode N1, a p-type electrode P1, and a passivation film F1. The second ESD layer has pits X having a mean pit diameter D. The mean pit diameter D is 500 Å to 3,000 Å. An InGaN layer included in the n-side superlattice layer has a thickness Y satisfying the following condition: −0.029×D+82.8≦Y≦−0.029×D+102.8. |
| US09029831B2 |
Light emitting diode and method for manufacturing light emitting diodes
An exemplary light emitting diode includes a substrate and a first undoped gallium nitride (GaN) layer formed on the substrate. The first undoped GaN layer defines a groove in an upper surface thereof. A distributed Bragg reflector is formed in the groove of the first undoped GaN layer. The distributed Bragg reflector includes a plurality of second undoped GaN layers and a plurality of air gaps alternately stacked one on the other. An n-type GaN layer, an active layer and a p-type GaN layer are formed on the distributed Bragg reflector and the first undoped GaN layer. A p-type electrode and an n-type electrode are electrically connected with the p-type GaN layer and the n-type GaN layer, respectively. A method for manufacturing plural such light emitting diodes is also provided. |
| US09029830B2 |
Multi-quantum well LED structure with varied barrier layer composition
A group III nitride-based light emitting device includes an n-type group III nitride-based semiconductor layer, a p-type group III nitride-based semiconductor layer, and a group III nitride-based active region between the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer. The active region includes a plurality of sequentially stacked group III nitride-based quantum well layers interspersed with barrier layers. A plurality of the barrier layers have a variation in composition of a first element along a growth direction within a thickness of each of the plurality of barrier layers, and the variation in composition of the first element has at least one minimum and a position of the minimum varies in the plurality of barrier layers. The first element may be indium or aluminum, and the number of barrier layers including the composition variation may be at least three barrier layers. The composition variation may vary linearly or non-linearly. |
| US09029829B1 |
Resistive switching memories
A memory cell includes a first resistive switching device having a first terminal and a second terminal, a switching device having a first terminal and a second terminal, and an access device having a first access terminal and a second access terminal. The first access terminal is coupled to the first terminal of the first resistive switching device and the first terminal of the switching device. |
| US09029826B2 |
Phase change memory including ovonic threshold switch with layered electrode and methods for forming the same
Erosion of chalcogenides in phase change memories using ovonic threshold switch selectors can be reduced by controlling columnar morphology in electrodes used in the ovonic threshold switch. The columnar morphology may cause cracks to occur which allow etchants used to etch the ovonic threshold switch to sneak through the ovonic threshold switch and to attack chalcogenides, either in the switch or in the memory element. In one embodiment, the electrode may be split into two metal nitride layers separated by an intervening metal layer. |
| US09029821B2 |
Device for reading out especially flexible imaging plates
The invention relates to a device for reading out at least one especially flexible imaging plate. The readout device comprises a reader for reading out information stored on the imaging plate, and a transport device having at least one drive means for transporting the imaging plate relative to the reader along a guide means on the transport path. The shape of the transport path is adapted to the shape of a readout area of the reader. At least one substantially solid support for the imaging plate is provided. The shape and dimension of the support are adapted to the shape of the transport path. When the imaging plate is transported together with the support, the imaging plate does not come into contact with the drive means. The invention also relates to the support for the imaging plate. |
| US09029819B2 |
Gas detection system using intracavity fiber laser with loop cavity having saturated absorption fiber
A gas detection system with an inner ring cavity fiber laser using saturated absorption optical fiber is provided. The system comprising a ring fiber laser consisted of a pump source, a wavelength division multiplexer, a first active optical fiber, a first coupler, a fiber Bragg grating and a second coupler connected successively; an optical isolator coupled between said first active optical fiber and said first coupler; a second active grating connected between said fiber Bragg grating and said first coupler; a detection gas chamber connected between said first coupler and said second coupler; a first photoelectric detector for detecting the laser intensity outputted from said ring fiber laser to generate a first light intensity signal; a second photoelectric detector for receiving the intensity measuring beam passing through the detection gas chamber to generate a second light intensity signal; and a feedback control unit. |
| US09029813B2 |
Filter for material supply apparatus of an extreme ultraviolet light source
A filter is used in a target material supply apparatus and includes a sheet having a first flat surface and a second opposing flat surface, and a plurality of through holes. The first flat surface is in fluid communication with a reservoir that holds a target mixture that includes a target material and non-target particles. The through holes extend from the second flat surface and are fluidly coupled at the second flat surface to an orifice of a nozzle. The sheet has a surface area that is exposed to the target mixture, the exposed surface area being at least a factor of one hundred less than an exposed surface area of a sintered filter having an equivalent transverse extent to that of the sheet. |
| US09029807B1 |
Hybrid scintillators for neutron discrimination
A composition capable of producing a unique scintillation response to neutrons and gamma rays, comprising (i) at least one surfactant; (ii) a polar hydrogen-bonding solvent; and (iii) at least one luminophore. A method including combining at least one surfactant, a polar hydrogen-bonding solvent and at least one luminophore in a scintillation cell under vacuum or an inert atmosphere. |
| US09029806B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing luminescent films
A structure for testing a luminescent film includes a Lambertian light source, an integrating sphere having an input port, and a measuring device. The Lambertian light source includes a mixing chamber having an input port and an output port, and a light emitter coupled to the input port. During testing the luminescent film is positioned between the output port of the mixing chamber and the input port of the integrating sphere. The measuring device is optically coupled to the integrating sphere. |
| US09029805B2 |
Method for inspecting contact between mating gears
A method for inspecting contact between mating gears that includes applying a mixture to teeth of a first gear, teeth of a second gear, or the teeth of both the first and second gears. The mixture includes a lubricating oil and a fluorescing dye. The first gear is rotated to drive the second gear. While the second gear is being driven by the first gear, electromagnetic radiation, such as ultra-violet radiation, is applied to the teeth of at least one of the first and second gears to cause the teeth to fluoresce. The fluorescing teeth of the second gear are inspected to identify a tooth inspection zone that approximates a zone of contact between the teeth of the first and second gears. |
| US09029800B2 |
Compact analyzer with spatial modulation and multiple intensity modulated excitation sources
A compact analyzer includes a flow cell having a flow channel through which a sample is made to pass. First and second light sources are arranged to emit first and second excitation light into first and second overlapping portions of the flow channel, respectively. The first excitation light stimulates a first light emission from particles of a first particle type that may be present in the sample; the second excitation light stimulates a second light emission from particles of a second particle type. A detector receives the first and second light emission from the corresponding particles present in the sample in a detection portion of the flow channel, and provides a detector output based on the received light emission. The light sources are modulated at different frequencies so that a frequency analysis of the detector output can provide separate information about the first and second particle types. |
| US09029799B2 |
Self-aligning radioisotope elution system and method
A radioisotope elution system including a radioisotope generator having an alignment structure. The alignment structure may be configured to interface with a complementary alignment structure of an auxiliary radiation shield assembly. |
| US09029796B2 |
Drift tube manufacturing method and drift tube
A drift tube manufacturing method and a drift tube which can reduce cost while securing an adequate level of particle beam focusing performance. The method includes: a magnet housing stage of housing a predetermined number of permanent magnets in a housing, which has a through-hole at a center part and an annular magnet housing space on an outer circumferential side of the through-hole; a welding stage of setting a lid for covering the opening part on the opening part; and welding the lid and the housing by laser beam welding. At least a surface of the housing and a surface of the lid are formed of copper. |
| US09029794B2 |
X-ray matrix imager based on a multiple-gate-line driving scheme and a shared-gate-line driving scheme
An X-ray matrix imager is configured to operate based on a multiple-gate-line driving scheme and a shared-data-line driving scheme. The X-ray matrix imager includes a matrix with multiple pixels, multiple gate line sets, multiple data lines, multiple gate drivers, multiple row multiplexers, and multiple pull-down units. Each gate line sets includes a first gate line coupled to a first pixel and a second gate line coupled to a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel. Each data line is coupled to the multiple gate line sets for receiving charges accumulated on the pixels. Each row multiplexer is configured to selectively couple a corresponding gate driver to the first gate line or the second gate line in a corresponding gate line set. Each pull-down unit is configured to couple the first gate line to a constant voltage when the first gate line is not coupled to the corresponding gate driver. |
| US09029790B2 |
Method and system for imaging using nuclear medicine imaging apparatus, nuclear medicine imaging system, and radiation therapy control system
In imaging on the basis of list mode data of a list of radioactive count data detected by a nuclear medicine imaging apparatus for measuring radiation in a pulse mode, the processing from the measurement to imaging of radiation is accelerated substantially to the real time level by selecting the number of count data to be used for online imaging computations on the basis of the counting rate of radiation. |
| US09029788B2 |
Fast-neutron detector
The present invention provides a fast-neutron detector, comprising: a plastic scintillator array which includes at least one plastic scintillator unit, wherein sidewall surfaces of each plastic scintillator unit are covered or coated with a neutron-sensitive coating film. The fast-neutron detector based on such film-coated plastic scintillators according to the present invention advantageously addresses the mutual competition problem between a moderated volume and a measured volume in the prior art and can obtain a higher fast-neutron detecting efficiency. |
| US09029786B2 |
Nuclear medicine imaging apparatus, and nuclear medicine imaging method
According to one embodiment, a nuclear medicine imaging apparatus includes a detector, a calibrator, and an image reconstruction unit. The detector includes a plurality of detector modules, each counting light originating from a gamma ray. The calibrator unit calibrates time information of all of the plurality of detector modules by calibrating time information for determining each detection time of a pair of detector modules based on each detection time of the pair of the detector modules which approximately coincidentally count annihilation gamma rays and a distance between the pair of detector modules in a state in which a point radiation source including a positron emitting nuclide is installed in each position near a plurality of predetermined detector modules. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs a nuclear medicine image using a time difference between detection times of annihilation gamma rays corrected based on time information calibrated by the calibrator. |
| US09029785B2 |
Method of fabricating microlens, and depth sensor including microlens
A method of fabricating a microlens includes forming layer of photoresist on a substrate, patterning the layer of photoresist, and then reflowing the photoresist pattern. The layer of photoresist is formed by coating the substrate with liquid photoresist whose viscosity is 150 to 250 cp. A depth sensor includes a substrate and photoelectric conversion elements at an upper portion of the substrate, a metal wiring section disposed on the substrate, an array of the microlenses for focusing incident light as beams onto the photoelectric conversion elements and which beams avoid the wirings of the metal wiring section. The depths sensor also includes a layer presenting a flat upper surface on which the microlenses are formed. The layer may be a dedicated planarization layer or an IR filter, interposed between the microlenses and the metal wiring section. |
| US09029782B2 |
Method and apparatus for graphene-based chemical detection
A chemical sensor is provided. The sensor includes at least one lightguiding element having an optical core. The lightguiding element comprises a layer of graphene situated in sufficient proximity to the core to exhibit evanescent wave absorption of optical energy in at least one optical mode guided in the core. |
| US09029780B2 |
Electronic device with gesture detection system and methods for using the gesture detection system
A method in an electronic device, the method includes projecting infrared (“IR”) light from a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) disposed proximate to the perimeter of the electronic device, detecting, by a sensor, IR light originating from at least two of the plurality of LEDs reflected from off of a person, and carrying out a function based on the relative strength of the detected IR light from the LEDs. |
| US09029779B2 |
Tire surface anomaly detection
A tire surface anomaly detection system and method are disclosed. The system and method are generally based on the principle that a tire surface anomaly will have a different heat transfer rate than that of the uniform mass surrounding the tire surface anomaly. Embodiments of the present disclosure apply thermal energy to the surface of a tire and monitor the infrared energy at the surface of the tire to generate one or more infrared images of the surface of the tire. The infrared images are analyzed by an image processing system to determine and locate thermal gradients on the surface of the tire. The presence of a thermal gradient in the infrared images generally indicates the presence of an anomaly in the surface of the tire. In this manner, the present disclosure provides an objective technique for identifying, locating, and classifying tire surface anomalies. |
| US09029777B2 |
Imaging system and imaging method
Provided is an imaging system, including: a light source; an imaging device; a first optical system for irradiating an imaging object with light from the light source; a second optical system for causing one of light reflected from the imaging object and light transmitted through the imaging object to enter the imaging device; a control device for controlling the light source to irradiate the light with a predetermined period; and a processing device for acquiring time-series image data over a plurality of frames by controlling the light source to irradiate the light with the predetermined period, and allocating a maximum pixel intensity among the time-series pixel data of each pixel as pixel data of the each pixel to thereby obtain first image data when the light source irradiates the light. |
| US09029774B2 |
Single photon detector in the near infrared using an InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode operated with a bipolar rectangular gating signal
The present invention relates to a single photon detector (SPD) at telecom wavelength of 1.55 μm based on InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode (APD). In order to operate the SPD at a low after-pulse noise, a DC bias voltage lower than the breakdown voltage is applied to an InGaAs/InP APD. A bipolar rectangular gating signal is superimposed with the DC bias voltage and applied to the APD so as to exceed the breakdown voltage during the gate-on time of each period of the gate signal. The use of the bipolar rectangular gating signal enabling us to operate the APD well below the breakdown voltage during the gate-off time, thereby make the release of the trapped charge carriers faster and then reduces the after-pulse noise. As a result, it permits to increase the repetition rate of the SPD. |
| US09029772B2 |
Silicon photomultiplier and readout method
Silicon photomultiplier and readout method A silicon photomultiplier device is provided which comprises a first electrode arranged to provide a bias voltage to the device, a second electrode arranged as a ground electrode for the device, and a third electrode arranged to provide an output signal from the device using the second electrode as the output signal ground. |
| US09029769B2 |
Dose rate measuring apparatus
A radiation detector outputs an analog pulse for incident radiation, and a signal processing portion is furnished with a wave height measuring function of converting the analog pulse inputted therein to a digital form and then measuring a peak wave height of the analog pulse and a wave height spectrum measuring function of measuring a wave height spectrum on the basis of measured wave height data, computes a dose rate and mean energy on the basis of measured wave height spectral data, and outputs computation results. The signal processing portion computes the dose rate and the mean energy on the basis of the wave height spectral data in a same wave height range on a same time axis. It thus becomes possible to provide accurate information based on which to determine whether a rise in dose rate is contributed by natural radon and thoron or contributed by a reactor facility. |
| US09029768B2 |
Detector and charged particle beam instrument
A detector (100) is used to detect a charged particle beam (EB), and includes a first light emission portion (10) for converting the charged particle beam into light, a second light emission portion (20) for converting the charged particle beam transmitted through the first light emission portion (10) into light, and a light detector (30) for detecting the light produced by the first light emission portion (10) and the light produced by the second light emission portion (20). The first light emission portion (10) is a powdered scintillator. The second light emission portion (20) is a single crystal scintillator. |
| US09029767B2 |
Method for adjusting a stem equipped with an aberration corrector
The invention relates to a method for adjusting a Cs corrector in a STEM using a crystalline sample. The method comprises recording a through-focus series, converting the obtained images to Fourier space, thus forming a set of images alike diffraction images. By then determining the symmetry of the Fourier images, the corrector can be tuned for better symmetry, and the transfer limit can be determined by determining the maximum distance of the spots from the center. By repeatedly performing these steps, the corrector can be tuned to its optimum performance. |
| US09029761B2 |
Methods for analyzing substances containing one or more organosulfur compounds using an integrated computational element
The presence of organosulfur compounds in a substance may make analyses of the substance difficult, particularly in the presence of interfering compounds. Methods for analyzing a substance may comprise: providing a substance comprising an organosulfur compound; optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with the substance and an integrated computational element; and analyzing for the organosulfur compound in the substance using the integrated computational element. |
| US09029752B2 |
Solid state imaging apparatus including reference signal generator with a slope converting circuit
A solid-state imaging apparatus comprises a plurality of matrix pixels, a reference signal generator for generating a ramp signal, a counter for performing counting according to the ramp signal output, and an AD converter, arranged for each pixel column, for performing AD conversion by comparing a pixel signal from the pixel with the ramp signal. Further, the AD converter includes a comparator to which the pixel signal and the reference signal are input, a storage for storing the AD conversion result, and an slope converter, between the output terminal of the reference signal generator and the input terminal of the comparator, for changing a gradient of the ramp signal, so that the noise overlaid on the ramp signal changes depending on the gradient of the ramp signal. Thus, it is possible to prevent generation of a horizontal-line noise in the ramp signal. |
| US09029748B2 |
Method and apparatus for photon counting with optical space spreading
A method and apparatus for photon counting are disclosed. In an implementation, the present disclosure provides a dynamic-range photon-counting spectrometric sensor for low signal detection embedded in large parasitic background light signal. Rather than using a known forward illuminated imager approach of counting photons directly, embodiments of the present disclosure use a backward illuminated imager approach to generate a burst of electrons based on the photons, and perform photon detection by counting the generated burst of electrons using the plurality of CMOS chip pixels. An electronic circuit, in communication with the CMOS chip pixels, includes a fast clock enabling discrimination between electrons in time. The electronic circuit can be built on the face of a semiconductor wafer on which the CMOS chip pixels are provided. |
| US09029743B2 |
Heating apparatus for an appliance
A heating apparatus for heating a subcompartment in a compartment of an appliance is disclosed. The heating apparatus includes an electromagnetic member disposed in the compartment, and a metal member thermally coupled to the subcompartment. The metal member is magnetically coupled to the electromagnetic member to generate an eddy current in the metal member in response to a magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic member for heating the subcompartment. A related heating method and a refrigerator incorporating such a heating apparatus are also disclosed. |
| US09029739B2 |
Apparatus and methods for rapid thermal processing
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and methods for performing rapid thermal processing. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing a substrate. The apparatus includes a heating source disposed outside a chamber body and configured to provide thermal energy towards a processing volume. The substrate support defines a substrate supporting plane, and the substrate support is configured to support the substrate in the substrate supporting plane. The heating source includes a frame member having an inner wall surrounding an area large enough to encompass a surface area of the substrate, and a plurality of diode laser tiles mounted on the inner wall of the frame member. Each of the plurality of diode laser tiles is directed towards a corresponding area in the processing volume. |
| US09029737B2 |
Method and system for forming absorber layer on metal coated glass for photovoltaic devices
An apparatus for forming a solar cell includes a housing defining a vacuum chamber, a rotatable substrate support, at least one inner heater and at least one outer heater. The substrate support is inside the vacuum chamber configured to hold a substrate. The at least one inner heater is between a center of the vacuum chamber and the substrate support, and is configured to heat a back surface of a substrate on the substrate support. The at least one outer heater is between an outer surface of the vacuum chamber and the substrate support, and is configured to heat a front surface of a substrate on the substrate support. |
| US09029729B2 |
Reopening of cooling-air bores using a nanosecond laser in the microsecond range
A process for reopening cooling-air holes by a laser in order to remove coat down is provided. A nanosecond laser is provided and used for reopening the holes, wherein pulse times between 1 μs and 20 μs and a pulse frequency between 20 kHz and 40 kHz provided by the nanosecond laser are used. |
| US09029726B2 |
Gas blast circuit breaker
A circuit breaker includes a first contact and a second contact. An electric arc zone is disposed between the contacts. A feed channel opens into the electric arc zone, connecting the electric arc zone to a hot gas reservoir volume. The hot gas reservoir volume, in turn, is connected to a compression volume. An outflow opening is disposed in a wall of the compression volume. The outflow opening is permanently open, at least in a contacting state of the contacts. |
| US09029721B2 |
Controller with transformable surface topology
A control device includes an input mechanism having an actuation surface that is configurable by a user between at least two different surface topologies. In a first configuration, the surface topology may provide a first shape for receiving user input and in a second configuration provide a second shape for receiving user input. The actuation surface in one example includes the upper surface of an input pad having a plurality of input arms and the upper surface of a fill pad having a plurality of fill tabs. At least one of the input pad and the fill pad may be moved in a direction of an axis perpendicular to the face of the control device to change the distance between the upper surfaces. The actuation surface in one example is rotatable to cause translation of at least one of the pads in the direction of the perpendicular axis. |
| US09029719B2 |
Integrated electro-mechanical actuator
The present invention provides an integrated electro-mechanical actuator and a manufacturing method for manufacturing such an integrated electro-mechanical actuator. The integrated electro-mechanical actuator comprises an electrostatic actuator gap between actuator electrodes and an electrical contact gap between contact electrodes. An inclination with an inclination angle is provided between the actuator electrodes and the contact electrodes. The thickness of this electrical contact gap is equal to the thickness of a sacrificial layer which is etched away in a manufacturing process. |
| US09029716B2 |
Knockout for electrical box
A knockout structure for a wall of an electrical box includes a cutout that penetrates through the thickness of the wall to form a knockout on an interior of the cutout along a substantial perimeter of the knockout. The knockout structure also includes a first bridge section interrupting continuity of the cutout and maintaining a connection between the wall and the knockout. The knockout structure further includes a second bridge section interrupting continuity of the cutout and maintaining a connection between the wall and the knockout, the second bridge section being different than the first bridge section and on a same half of the perimeter of the knockout. |
| US09029712B2 |
Printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
Read wiring traces and write wiring traces are formed on an insulating layer that is formed on a support substrate. Connection terminals that are electrically connectable to external circuits are formed at parts of the read wiring traces and write wiring traces on the insulating layer, respectively. Openings are formed in the support substrate so as to partially or entirely surround overlap regions that overlap with the connection terminals and have the same plane shape as the connection terminals. Parts of the insulating layer are exposed in the openings. |
| US09029710B2 |
Tape package and display apparatus having the same
A tape package includes a base substrate, an input lead line disposed on the base substrate, the input lead line including a main input lead line and a sub input lead line, the sub input lead line branching off and extending from the main input lead line, an integrated circuit chip electrically connected to the sub input lead line, and a sealing part fixing the integrated circuit chip on the base substrate and overlapping a portion of the main input lead line. |
| US09029709B2 |
Transparent flexible printed wiring board and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a transparent flexible printed wiring board which is excellent in flexibility, heat resistance and adhesion between a transparent film and a transparent conductive film.A transparent polyimide film, whose dimension change rate in association with a baking process is not larger than ±0.2%, is prepared. ITO ink containing ITO fine particles and a binder is printed in the form of a predetermined pattern on the transparent polyimide film by an ink-jet method. The ITO ink is then baked at 230 to 300° C., thereby forming a transparent conductive film with a binder ratio of 5 to 10 wt %. |
| US09029705B2 |
Power cable with a water barrier laminate
A power cable having a water barrier laminate where the water barrier laminate has foil made of metal (1) laminated between at least two layers of non insulating polymer foils (2a, 2b) constituting a final laminate (3) that is non insulating. |
| US09029702B2 |
Connection assembly for a sensor assembly and sensor assembly
The disclosure relates to a connection assembly for a sensor assembly having a connection element which is electrically and mechanically connected to one end of at least one wire of a connection cable in a first contacting region and can be electrically and mechanically connected to a sensor element in a second contacting region, wherein the connection element is at least partially enclosed by a plastic overmold which has a window-shaped recess in a transition region between the first contacting region and the second contacting region which is sealed in the injection molding die during the injection process of the plastic overmold and a corresponding sensor assembly. According to the disclosure, a positioning opening is arranged in the transition region such that the connection element can be positioned in the injection molding die and the transition region surrounding the positioning opening is sealed flat in the injection molding die to create the window-shaped recess. |
| US09029700B2 |
Wire harness protector
A splice housing projects from a bottom wall in a space on a side portion of a main pathway of a wire harness, the main pathway being bounded by the bottom wall and a circumferential wall of a main body of a protector. The splice housing includes an outer framing wall having two squared U-shaped side walls and a connecting wall, and further includes a medial dividing wall provided parallel to the two side walls. At least one flat board-shaped dividing plate configured with an insulating resin is provided fitted within the outer framing wall, the dividing plate including a through-hole for the medial dividing wall. Perpendicular walls, configured by the two side walls and the medial dividing wall of the splice housing, and horizontal walls, configured by the dividing plate, delimit a plurality of splice housing chambers provided on a plurality of vertical levels and rows. |
| US09029698B2 |
Cable protection and guide device
A cable protection and guide device is provided, which prevents abrasion of the cable skin of a cable or the like and holds the position of a multi joint link with high precision. The cable protection and guide device is characterized in that the multi-joint link includes a link member and a holding member attached to the link member for holding the cable. The holding member includes a cylindrical base portion and a holding portion formed integrally with the cylindrical base portion, wherein the cylindrical base portion is engaged with a circular through hole of the link member, and the holding portion extends outward from the cylindrical base portion in a multi joint link width direction and is bifurcated for holding the cable from two sides, i.e. multi-joint link flexional inner side and multi-joint link flexional outer side. The holding member is rotatable with respect to the link member. |
| US09029695B2 |
Heteroaromatic semiconducting polymers
The present teachings relate to new semiconducting polymers. The polymers disclosed herein can exhibit high carrier mobility and/or efficient light absorption/emission characteristics, and can possess certain processing advantages such as solution-processability and/or good stability at ambient conditions. |
| US09029694B2 |
Photoelectric conversion element and solar cell
A photoelectric conversion element comprising a substrate, a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer comprising a semiconductor and a sensitizing dye, a hole transport layer and a second electrode, wherein the hole transport layer comprises a polymer having a repeat unit represented by Formula (1) or (2), |
| US09029693B2 |
Flexible solar cell photovoltaic assembly prepared with flexible substrate
This invention is directed to a flexible solar cell photovoltaic module with high light transmittance based on modified substrate, which belongs to the field of thin-film solar cell technology. The objective of the present invention to provide a technical solution for a transparent flexible solar cell module and its fabrication method. Technical features include using a stainless steel template to mold a modified polyimide PI substrate (the PI substrate). The PI substrate has light-passing through-holes, including draining holes and convergence holes, through and distributed on the PI substrate, a conductive film layer, and various stacked photoelectric conversion film layers. The creativeness of the present invention is obvious, such as reducing the short circuit and current leakage due to crystallization of the photoelectric layer interface caused by a subsequent process of laser etching the conductive film layer, reducing the composition on the surface of the solar cell, reducing steps of the fabrication process, and lowering the production cost. Further, the present invention significantly increases the conversion efficiency and load capacity of the solar cell and the quality-cost ratio. The transparent flexible solar cell photovoltaic module also has a broad range of applications. |
| US09029692B2 |
Tellurium inorganic reaction systems for conductive thick film paste for solar cell contacts
This disclosure relates to electroconductive paste formulations useful in solar panel technology. In one aspect, the disclosure relates to an inorganic reaction system for use in electroconductive paste compositions, wherein the inorganic reaction system comprises a lead containing matrix composition and a tellurium containing matrix composition. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to an electroconductive paste composition comprising a conductive metal component, an inorganic reaction system and an organic vehicle. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a solar cell produced by applying an electroconductive paste composition of the invention to a silicon wafer. Yet another aspect relates to a solar cell module assembled using solar cells produced by applying an electroconductive paste composition to a silicon wafer, wherein the electroconductive paste composition comprises an conductive metal component, an inorganic reaction system and an organic vehicle. |
| US09029689B2 |
Method for connecting solar cells
A method of connecting two solar cells is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises gripping an interconnect with a head of positioning device, heating the interconnect with the head of the positioning device to between two predetermined temperatures, where one is higher than the other, positioning the interconnect so as to overlay two adjacent solar cells, coupling the interconnect to each of the two adjacent solar cells, and releasing the interconnect from the head. |
| US09029686B2 |
Strain-enhanced silicon photon-to-electron conversion devices
Improved silicon solar cells, silicon image sensors and like photosensitive devices are made to include strained silicon at or sufficiently near the junctions or other active regions of the devices to provide increased sensitivity to longer wavelength light. Strained silicon has a lower band gap than conventional silicon. One method of making a solar cell that contains tensile strained silicon etches a set of parallel trenches into a silicon wafer and induces tensile strain in the silicon fins between the trenches. The method may induce tensile strain in the silicon fins by filling the trenches with compressively strained silicon nitride or silicon oxide. A deposited layer of compressively strained silicon nitride adheres to the walls of the trenches and generates biaxial tensile strain in the plane of adjacent silicon fins. |
| US09029684B2 |
Hybrid solar receiver and concentrating solar system comprising the same
The present disclosure relates to a hybrid solar receiver that generates electricity and heat simultaneously. The solar receiver comprises photovoltaic cells for converting concentrated light on the cells into electricity. The receiver also includes a heat pipe having a heat discharge area that serves as an evaporator for discharging heat accumulated on the photovoltaic cells to a dissipation area. A dual-function interface layer is positioned between the photovoltaic cells and the heat pipe. The interface layer electrically insulates the photovoltaic cells from the heat pipe and instantaneously transfer the heat accumulated on photovoltaic cells to liquid coolant in the heat pipe. A surface of the photovoltaic cells is coated with an encapsulation layer. A transparent plate is deposited on the encapsulation layer. |
| US09029682B2 |
Radiation-collecting device
A radiation-collecting device includes at least one radiation-collecting element and a scattering layer placed, in relation to the element, on that side on which the radiation is incident on the device. The scattering layer has a transparent fibrous structure and a transparent medium for encapsulating the fibers of the fibrous structure, the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the fibers of the fibrous structure and the refractive index of the encapsulating medium being equal to or greater than 0.05. |
| US09029680B2 |
Integration of a photovoltaic device
Methods and apparatus are provided for converting electromagnetic radiation, such as solar energy, into electric energy with increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells. A photovoltaic (PV) unit may have all electrical contacts positioned on the back side of the PV device to avoid shadowing and increase absorption of the photons impinging on the front side of the PV unit. Several PV units may be combined into PV banks, and an array of PV banks may be connected to form a PV module with thin strips of metal or conductive polymer formed at low temperature. Such innovations may allow for greater efficiency and flexibility in PV devices when compared to conventional solar cells. |
| US09029679B2 |
Electronic musical instrument, touch detection apparatus, touch detecting method, and storage medium
In a touch detection apparatus 50, the controller 51 predicts damper-on arrival time as time of arrival of generation of a damper-on event based on a period of time counted by a first counter 54 from when a second contact point 160b is turned off until when a first contact point 160a is turned off. The second counter 55 counts time to be compared to the damper-on arrival time. The comparator circuit 58 compares the time counted by the second counter 55 and the damper-on arrival time. If the time counted by the second counter 55 and the damper-on arrival time agree with each other, the comparator circuit 58 transmits a key release agreement signal triggering generation of a damper-on event to the controller 51. If the key release agreement signal is transmitted from the comparator circuit 58, the controller 51 executes control to generate a damper-on event. |
| US09029678B2 |
Digital piano
A digital piano includes a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys; LED prompting lights corresponding to and disposed on the keys; a mode selector for making the digital piano at least work in a LED rectifying mode; a sound engine configured to receive an input note information relative to a key pressed and convert the input note information into a first note data; a digital music sheet processor configured to receive the first note data in real time from the sound engine, to compare an input note corresponding to the first note data with the note of a preset music sheet based on the preset music sheet and the first note data when the mode selector selects the LED rectifying mode and to determine whether to continue to play; at least one speaker configured to send out a sound according to a sound signal corresponding to the first note data. |
| US09029676B2 |
Musical score device that identifies and displays a musical score from emitted sound and a method thereof
A reproduction apparatus (2) collects sounds on which spread codes are superimposed with a microphone (20) to calculate correlation values between the collected sound signals and the same spread codes as those of an apparatus which performed the superimposition to identify content reproduced by a reproduction apparatus (1) in accordance with the intensity of the peaks of the calculated correlation values. A control portion (22) identifies content which is correlated with the identified content and is necessary for the reproduction apparatus (2). The control portion (22) reads out the identified content data from a content data storage portion (25) to output the musical score data and the audio data to a display portion (23) and a reproduction portion (26), respectively. The display portion (23) displays the input musical score data on a screen, while the reproduction portion (26) reproduces the input audio data to generate sound signals. |
| US09029672B1 |
Bowed stringed musical instrument with movable bowing surface and orthogonal string displacement
A musical instrument includes a soundboard, a bridge in contact with the soundboard, vibratable strings in contact with the bridge, a movable member disposed adjacent to the vibratable strings, a driving mechanism engaged with the movable member and configured to cause the movable member to move relative to the vibratable strings, and actuators. Each actuator is configured to displace, when actuated, an associated vibratable string such that the string is caused to come into contact with the movable member at a point of contact. Displacement of the string corresponds to movement within a first plane that is orthogonal to a second plane, the second plane being tangential to the movable member at the point of contact. |
| US09029666B1 |
Maize inbred PH1DGK
A novel maize variety designated PH1DGK and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1DGK with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1DGK through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1DGK or a locus conversion of PH1DGK with another maize variety. |
| US09029665B2 |
Soybean variety A1036361
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036361. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036361. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036361 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036361 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09029663B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH832984
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH832984. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH832984, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH832984 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH832984. |
| US09029660B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV246752
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV246752. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV246752, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV246752 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV246752 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV246752. |
| US09029652B2 |
Soybean variety 01046873
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046873. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046873. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046873 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046873 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09029647B2 |
Soybean cultivar HI1110907
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety HI1110907 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety HI1110907 and its progeny, and methods of making HI1110907. |
| US09029643B2 |
Soybean variety A1036300
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036300. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036300. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036300 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036300 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09029641B2 |
Wuschel (WUS) gene homologs
This invention relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding WUS polypeptides. The invention further provides isolated WUS polypeptides. The invention also provides methods of using the polynucleotides to modulate the level of WUS, improve transformation efficiency, to stimulate plant cell growth, including stem cells, to stimulate organogenesis, to stimulate somatic embryogenesis, to induce apomixis, and to provide a positive selection for cells comprising the polynucleotide. The invention also relates to cells, plants and seeds comprising the polynucleotides of the invention or produced by the methods of the invention. |
| US09029639B2 |
Pyridazine compounds for controlling invertebrate pests
The present invention relates to pyridazine compounds of formulae I or II and the salts and N-oxides thereof, wherein A is a substituted or unsubstituted oxazole or thiazole or imidazole radical; V is C(Rv) or N; W is C(Rw) or N; with the proviso that either V or W is N; Rt, Ru, Rv, Rw are H, halogen, C1-C4-alkyl and the like; X1 is S, O or NR1a, wherein R1a is selected H, C1-C10-alkyl and the like; X2 is OR2a, NR2bR2c, S(O)mR2d, wherein m is 0, 1 or 2, R2a is C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl and the like, R2b, R2c are H, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl and the like, or R2b and R2c together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound form a heterocycle, and R2d is C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl and the like; and R1 is H, CN, C1-C10-alkyl and the like. The present invention further relates to a method for controlling invertebrate pests, to a method for protecting plant propagation material and/or the plants which grow therefrom, to plant propagation material, comprising at least one compound according to the present invention, to a method for treating or protecting an animal from infestation or infection by parasites and to an agricultural composition containing at least one compound according to the present invention. |
| US09029633B1 |
Maize inbred PH12KH
A novel maize variety designated PH12KH and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH12KH with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH12KH through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH12KH or a locus conversion of PH12KH with another maize variety. |
| US09029631B1 |
Maize inbred PH1M17
A novel maize variety designated PH1M17 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1M17 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1M17 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1M17 or a locus conversion of PH1M17 with another maize variety. |
| US09029627B2 |
Model animal for pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome, and treatment method therefor
A lentiviral vector was used to produce non-human animals that express human sFLT1 specifically in the murine placenta, to provide model animals of diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome that are close to the clinical conditions, methods for producing the model animals, methods of screening for candidate compounds as therapeutic agents for diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome by using the model animals, and therapeutic agents for diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome. As a result, the model animals were found to exhibit symptoms that are very close to the clinical conditions in human, which are presentation of hypertension as well as placental insufficiency, intrauterine growth retardation, glomerulosclerosis, and proteinuria during pregnancy, and improvement of those symptoms postpartum. Furthermore, when pravastatin was administered to this model animal, it was found that diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome were improved by the activation of placenta-derived growth factor (PIGF) which antagonizes sFLT1. |
| US09029619B2 |
Process to make alpha olefins from ethanol
The present invention relates to a process to make alpha olefins comprising: dehydrating ethanol to recover an ethylene stream, introducing said ethylene stream into an oligomerization zone containing an oligomerization catalyst and into contact with said oligomerization catalyst, operating said oligomerization zone at conditions effective to produce an effluent consisting essentially of 1-butene, 1-hexene, optionally heavier alpha olefins and unconverted ethylene if any, introducing the above effluent into a fractionation zone to recover a stream consisting essentially of 1-butene, a stream consisting essentially of 1-hexene, optionally a stream consisting essentially of heavier alpha olefins and an optional ethylene stream. In an advantageous embodiment the 1-hexene or at least one heavier alpha olefins, if any, are isomerized to an internal olefin and subsequently transformed by metathesis with the aid of additional ethylene into different alpha-olefins with even or odd number of carbons. By way of example 1-hexene is isomerized into 2-hexene and by methathesis with ethylene converted to 1-pentene and propylene.In another embodiment the oligomerization zone is only a dimerization zone and butene is produced. 1-butene is isomerized to 2-butene and sent to a methathesis zone in the presence of ethylene to be converted to propylene. In said embodiment the dehydration catalyst is selected in the group consisting of a crystalline silicate having a ratio Si/Al of at least about 100, a dealuminated crystalline silicate, and a phosphorus modified zeolite. |
| US09029618B2 |
Integrated hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor in a platforming process
A process for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process involves splitting a naphtha feedstream to at least two feedstreams and partially processing each feedstream in separate reactors. The processing includes passing the light stream to a combination hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor. The process reduces the energy by reducing the endothermic properties of intermediate reformed process streams. |
| US09029617B2 |
Process for 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene from trifluoropropene
The present invention provides routes for making 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233zd) from commercially available raw materials. More specifically, this invention provides several routes for forming HCFO-1233zd from 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (FC-1234zf). |
| US09029615B2 |
Energy efficient method and apparatus for the extraction of lower alcohols from dilute aqueous solution
The present invention relates to the energy efficient and selective extraction of dilute concentrations of C2-C6 alcohols from an aqueous solution using liquid phase dimethyl ether. |
| US09029612B2 |
Process for producing phenol
In a process for producing phenol, cyclohexylbenzene is contacted with oxygen in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising a cyclic imide under oxidation conditions effective to produce a product comprising cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide and unreacted cyclic imide catalyst. At least a portion of the product is contacted with a cleavage catalyst under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide into a second product comprising further unreacted cyclic imide catalyst, phenol, and cyclohexanone. A portion of the further unreacted cyclic imide catalyst may then be removed from the second product and optionally recycled back to the oxidation step. |
| US09029611B2 |
Dehydrogenation of cyclohexanone to produce phenol
In a process for the dehydrogenation of cyclohexanone to produce phenol, a feed comprising cyclohexanone is contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst under dehydrogenation conditions comprising a temperature of less than 400° C. and a pressure of less than 690 kPa, gauge, such 0.1 to 50 wt % of the cyclohexanone in said feed is converted to phenol and the dehydrogenation product contains less than 100 ppm by weight of alkylbenzenes. |
| US09029609B2 |
Phenol purification process
The present invention provides an easy process for purifying phenol by separating carbonyl compounds through selective hydrogenation of the compounds to the corresponding alcohols then distillation. The phenol purification process of the present invention comprises bringing phenol into contact with a copper-based catalyst in the presence of hydrogen to convert carbonyl compounds contained in the phenol to the corresponding alcohol compounds, and separating the alcohol compounds and phenol by distillation. |
| US09029606B2 |
Method for producing 2-chloromethylbenzaldehyde, 2-chloromethylbenzaldehyde-containing composition, and method for storing same
A process for obtaining an industrially useful 2-chloromethylbenzaldehyde-containing liquid composition at a high yield is provided. More specifically, a process for producing 2-chloromethylbenzaldehyde comprising step (A) of mixing 1-dichloromethyl-2-chloromethylbenzene and sulfuric acid having a concentration of 84.5% by weight or more; and step (B) of mixing a mixture obtained in step (A) and water is provided. |
| US09029605B2 |
Method for preparing menthone from isopulegol
The present invention relates to a method for preparing menthone, starting from isopulegol, using specific homogeneous catalysts. |
| US09029603B2 |
Process for preparing alkylated p-phenylenediamines
A process for preparing alkylated p-phenylenediamine having the steps of reacting aniline and nitrobenzene in presence of a complex base catalyst to obtain 4-aminodiphenylamine intermediates, hydrogenating the 4-aminodiphenylamine intermediates to 4-aminodiphenylamine in presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, and reductively alkylating the 4-aminodiphenylamine to alkylated p-phenylenediamine. |
| US09029600B2 |
Method for preparing high purity mono-hydrolyzed acyl halide compound
A method for preparing a high purity (e.g. greater than 70 wt. %) mono-hydrolyzed acyl halide compound as a precipitate from solution comprising the steps of preparing a solution comprising: i) at least 80 v/v % of a hydrocarbon solvent, ii) water at a molar concentration greater than its solubility limit within the solvent but less that its solubility limit in solution, iii) a tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate compound, and iv) a polyfunctional acyl halide compound at molar ratio to both water and the tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate compound of at least 1:1. |
| US09029598B2 |
Methods for production of arginine biocarbonate at low pressure
A method of producing arginine bicarbonate is provided including reacting an arginine slurry with a source of carbon dioxide gas under elevated temperature and low pressure to form a solution of at least 50% arginine bicarbonate, and recovering arginine bicarbonate from the solution. |
| US09029597B2 |
Method for the conversion of methylmercaptopropionaldehyde formed from crude acrolein and crude methyl mercaptan
A reactive rectification column suitable for the production of 2-hydroxy-4-methylmercaptobutyric acid and/or methionine contains a weir having a height of 100 mm or more. |
| US09029586B2 |
Silanes with embedded hydrophilicity, dispersible particles derived therefrom and related methods
The invention provides a silane compound that includes a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group for use as a surface treatment to an inorganic material, such as a pigment, the silane including a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group. The invention includes a coated particle including an inorganic material coated with the silane compound(s) and methods of improving the wettability and/or dispersibility of an inorganic material such as a pigment, wherein the method comprises depositing the silane compounds on the surface of a pigment. |
| US09029579B2 |
Method of synthesizing low color furan diesters
The present invention relates to a method of making low colored bis(2-ethylhexyl) furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (BEHFD) plasticizer via mild hydrogenation of highly colored BEHFD. |
| US09029577B2 |
Method for producing methylene-1,3-dioxolanes
The present invention relates to a novel method for preparing methylene-1,3-dioxolanes of the general formula (I) in which R1 and R2 have the meanings stated in the description. Methylene-1,3-dioxolanes are important intermediates for preparing pyrazoles and anthranilic acid amides, which may be used as insecticides. |
| US09029576B2 |
5-sec-butyl-2-(2-4-dimethyl-cyclohex-3-enyl)-5-methyl-[1,3]dioxane and process for making the same
The present invention is directed to 5-sec-butyl-2-(2,4-dimethyl-cyclohex-3-enyl)-5-methyl-[1,3]dioxane and a novel process for making the same. |
| US09029575B2 |
Process for preparation of acetals
A process for the preparation of 1,3:2,4-bis(4-methylbenzylidene)sorbitol (MDBS) and 1,3:2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene)sorbitol (DMDBS) via a dehydrocondensation reaction is disclosed. The reaction is carried out between an aldehyde and an alditol in a mole ratio of 2:1 wherein ionic fluid is used as the acidic catalyst and/or reaction medium. The ionic fluid used in accordance with the present invention is quaternary ammonium salt based ionic liquid. |
| US09029573B2 |
Halichondrin B analogs
The invention includes halichondrin B analogs having pharmaceutical activity; in some cases, crystalline forms thereof, and in some cases, halichondrin B analogs having a further utility as synthetic intermediate. |
| US09029568B2 |
Branched hetero polyfunctional polyoxyalkylene compound and intermediate thereof
A branched hetero polyfunctional polyoxyalkylene compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein Z represents a hydroxyl group-removed residue of pentaerythritol or dipentaerythritol, OA1 and OA2 represent an oxyalkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, L1, L2 and L3 represent an alkylene group or an alkylene group that contains an ester bond, a urethane bond, an amide bond, an ether bond, a carbonate bond, a secondary amino group or a urea bond, X and Y are different from each other and represent a functional group capable of a chemical reaction; m and n are an average number of moles of the oxyalkylene group added, m represents 5 to 1,000, n represents 0 to 1,000, and p, q and r represent 0 or 1; and s1 is an integer of 2 or more and s1+s2=4 or 6. |
| US09029566B2 |
Rosin derived epoxides and curing agents
An epoxide agent for an epoxy resin system, the epoxide agent comprising at least one non-acid functional rosin moiety and at least one epoxide moiety. Another embodiment is a curing agent for an epoxy resin system comprising at least one non-acid functional rosin moiety and at least one moiety that is reactive with an epoxy. |
| US09029560B2 |
Molecules having certain pesticidal utilities, and intermediates, compositions, and processes related thereto
This disclosure relates to the field of molecules having pesticidal utility against pests in phyla Nematoda, Arthropoda, and/or Mollusca, processes to produce such molecules and intermediates used in such processes, compositions containing such molecules, and processes of using such molecules against such pests. These molecules may be used, for example, as nematicides, acaricides, insecticides, miticides, and/or molluscicides. This document discloses molecules having the following formula (“Formula One”). |
| US09029558B2 |
Carbazole compound, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device
A novel carbazole compound is provided which can be used as a host material for a light-emitting substance (substance emitting fluorescence or substance emitting phosphorescence). A light-emitting element with high emission efficiency, and a light-emitting device, an electronic device, or a lighting device which has low power consumption are provided. A carbazole compound represented by General Formula (G1) below. (In the formula, Ar1 represents any of hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, and a carbazolyl group; R1 to R3 each independently represent any of hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyl group; α represents any of a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group and a substituted or unsubstituted biphenylene group; and n is any of 0, 1, and 2.) |
| US09029557B2 |
Labeled A4B2 ligands and methods therefor
Contemplated compositions and methods are employed to bind in vitro and in vivo to an α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in a highly selective manner. Where such compounds are labeled, compositions and methods employing such compounds can be used for PET and SPECT analysis. Alternatively, and/or additionally contemplated compounds can be used as antagonists, partial agonists or agonists in the treatment of diseases or conditions associated with α4β2 dysfunction. |
| US09029556B1 |
Process for the preparation of 3-(3-chloro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine
3-(3-Chloro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine is prepared by coupling 3-bromopyridine with commercially available 3-aminopyrazole, purifying the 3-(3-amino-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine by crystallization, and converting the amino group to a chloro group by a Sandmeyer reaction. |
| US09029549B2 |
Thiazol-4-carboxylic acid esters and thioesters as plant protection agents
The use of thiazole-4-carboxylic esters and thioesters of the formula (I) in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, Y1, Y2, Y3, W, X and G have the meanings given in the description, and also of agrochemically active salts thereof, as fungicides. |
| US09029548B2 |
Fatty acid lenalidomide derivatives and their uses
The invention relates to fatty acid lenalidomide derivatives; compositions comprising an effective amount of a fatty acid lenalidomide derivative; and methods for treating or preventing a metabolic disease comprising the administration of an effective amount of a fatty acid lenalidomide derivative. |