最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US09071761B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and imaging apparatus including optical microscope
An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition section and a correction section. The acquisition section acquires information of lightness distribution of a first image captured by an imaging section capable of capturing an image of an observed area provided on an optical path of an optical system of an optical microscope, the image of the observed area being obtained by the optical microscope, the first image being an image of the observed area in a state where no sample is placed therein, the lightness distribution resulting from the optical system of the optical microscope. The correction section corrects, based on the information of lightness distribution acquired by the acquisition section, lightness unevenness of a second image captured by the imaging section, the second image being an image of the observed area in a state where the sample is placed therein.
US09071758B2 Image capture apparatus having image stabilization function and control method for same
The present disclosure relates to an image capture apparatus and a control method for the same, with which a moving picture captured for a specific length of time before or after the capture of a still picture can be recorded during still picture capture. The image capture apparatus has a first image stabilization mode and a second image stabilization mode in which a shake component not corrected in the first image stabilization mode can be corrected, and has an image stabilization function that performs image stabilization on the basis of shake of the image capture apparatus. The image stabilization function performs image stabilization without using the second image stabilization mode when the moving picture is buffered, which allows stable image stabilization to be utilized during the capture of a recorded moving picture.
US09071751B2 Image processor method and program for correcting distance distortion in panorama images
An image processor includes a synthesis processing unit adapted to generate a panoramic image by clipping images from a plurality of captured images and connecting the clipped images together and a processing unit adapted to correct image distortions of a subject in the panoramic image due to varying distances to the subject by modifying the panoramic image on the basis of distance information obtained by measuring the distances to a plurality of positions of the subject.
US09071746B2 Embedded appliance for multimedia capture
A multimedia device includes input ports dedicated to receiving a real-time media signal and a processor system dedicated to capturing the real-time media signal. The processor system defines an embedded environment. The input ports and the processor system are integrated into the multimedia capture device. The input ports include an audio input port and at least one of a visual-capture input port or a digital-image input port.
US09071743B2 Camera module including function of shaking compensation
Disclosed is a camera module. The camera module includes: a lens barrel disposed in a housing to receive a lens assembly; an elastic member in at least one of the housing and the lens barrel; a driving unit moving the lens barrel relative to the housing; and a sensor unit fixed to the housing.
US09071741B2 Methods and apparatus for providing portable photographic images
Methods and apparatus for providing portable photographic images are described. The present invention includes a small, portable electronic display unit that may be placed within a wallet or purse. The display unit may include an input port for downloading digital images from a computer or digital camera. The display unit may also include one or more buttons to provide a user with the ability to select an image for display from a given set of digital images that have been stored in memory. The display unit may be preloaded with one or more digital images, or it may be configured to be loaded by a user. The digital images may, for example, include still digital photographs or short video clips that have been captured from a digital camera.
US09071735B2 Name management and group recovery methods and systems for burst shot
Name management and group recovery methods and systems for burst shot are provided. In name management, a burst shot is performed to continuously capture a group of images in sequence. Each of the images in the group is named with a same prefix, and a respective infix, wherein the infixes of the respective images are progressively increased along the period of the burst shot. One of the images within the group is selected as a cover image of the group, and a specific postfix is added to the name of the selected image. In group recovery, if a specific image having a name comprising the specific postfix is in the electronic device, images having a name comprising at least one predefined text in an infix corresponding to the specific image are retrieved and grouped, and the burst bit of each grouped image is enabled.
US09071732B2 Distortion correcting sensors for diagonal collection of oblique imagery
A vehicle collects oblique imagery along an intercardinal nominal heading using rotated camera-groups with distortion correcting electronic image sensors that align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground, thereby improving collection quality, efficiency, and/or cost. In a first aspect, the camera-groups are rotated diagonal to the nominal heading. In a second aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground. In a third aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors are rotated around the optical axis of the camera. In a fourth aspect, cameras collect images in strips and the strips from different cameras overlap, providing large-baseline, small-time difference stereopsis.
US09071726B2 Videocast service architecture
A videocast service may include at least one computing device configured to provide operations including: receiving an indication, from a videocast subscriber device connected to a communications network of network service provider, to begin providing a videocast from the videocast subscriber device according to selection of a videocast control from a user interface of the videocast subscriber device; validating the subscriber device as having opted into use of the videocast service by way of the network service provider; and if the subscriber device is opted in, initiating the videocast without requiring further user interface interaction from the videocast subscriber device.
US09071720B2 Image reading apparatus and sheet processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, an image reading apparatus includes an illumination unit to irradiate a sheet that is conveyed by a conveyance unit with visible light and infrared light, an imaging unit to receive visible light and infrared light reflected from the sheet and to capture a visible image and an infrared image, and a background member including an infrared light low reflective part that is positioned within an imaging range of the imaging unit so as to overlap at least a side edge portion of the sheet and that diffusely reflects visible light and reflects infrared light at a lower reflectance than the sheet.
US09071718B2 Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium storing program, and information processing method
An information processing apparatus includes an execution unit that executes a program, a main storage unit that includes a first non-volatile memory which is readable and writable and is capable of retaining stored information even when no power is supplied and is provided with a first storage area which stores the program executed by the execution unit and a second storage area which stores data generated by the execution of the program by the execution unit, a connection unit that connects the execution unit and the main storage unit, and a condition storage unit that includes a second non-volatile memory which is readable and writable and is capable of retaining stored information even when no power is supplied and stores conditions which are set by the connection unit to transmit and receive the program and the data between the execution unit and the main storage unit.
US09071717B2 Electronic apparatus
Provided is Electronic apparatus having a function of first power mode and a function of second power mode where power consumption is smaller than first power mode. A plurality of detecting units detects a plurality of trigger operations in second power mode, each of the trigger operations serving as a trigger that causes Electronic apparatus to return from second power mode to first power mode. Mode switching unit causes Electronic apparatus to return from second power mode to first power mode when any one of the plurality of trigger operations is detected by the plurality of detecting units. Power control unit supplies power to the plurality of detecting units in second power mode while performing control of repeating a supply period where power is supplied to the detecting unit and a non-supply period where power is not supplied to it in respect to each of the plurality of detecting units.
US09071702B2 Mobile terminal and method for controlling the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal includes a memory configured to store a prior usage pattern of at least one application, the prior usage pattern being used to control when the at least one application is executed. The controller further includes a controller configured to apply at least one setting related to execution of the at least one application in accordance with the prior usage pattern or provide a menu for applying the at least one setting related to execution of the at least one application in accordance with the prior usage pattern and execute the at least one application after the at least one setting is applied.
US09071698B2 Charging devices for portable electronic devices
The present invention provides a charging device (100) for a portable electronic device (200), the charging device (100) arranged to provide power to the portable electronic device (200) upon physical coupling with the portable electronic device (200), the charging device (100) comprising one or more charging couplings to provide physical coupling (110, 210, 120, 220) of the charging device (100) to a portable electronic device (200), wherein the charging device (100) is arranged to transmit power and data via one or more of the couplings.
US09071696B2 Devices and methods for power transmission level indication
Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to a wireless communications device comprising a wireless power transmission detector and a wireless power transmission indicator for displaying to a user the current level of wireless power transmission. A voltmeter and ammeter take readings from the wireless transceiver circuit while the wireless communications device is on. A power logic stored on a memory within the wireless communications device converts the readings into a wireless power transmission level. The wireless power transmission level is output to an indicator on the wireless communications device where a user can view it. Exemplary embodiments include a true battery life indicator on the wireless communications device. The true battery life indicator gives an amount of time a battery powering the wireless communications device will last at the current wireless power transmission level.
US09071695B2 Antenna optimization dependent on user context
Systems, apparatuses, devices, and methods for wireless communications are disclosed. A detection system is used to detect a usage mode or orientation of a wireless communication device. The usage mode or orientation is used to vary the radiation pattern of the antenna of the wireless communication device. By varying the radiation pattern based on the usage mode or orientation, battery life and the quality of transmission and reception can be increased, while the size and cost of the device can be reduced. Embodiments of the invention may be used in numerous applications, such as mobile phones, PDA's, and laptops.
US09071688B2 Method and system for managing interactive communications campaigns with call pacing
A Web-based hosted system through which business entities create and manage communications campaigns. The system carries out a communications campaign on behalf of a client. A campaign is a series of calls to a contact list using one or more sub-campaigns. A sub-campaign associates a list of contacts, a script, and a timeframe. An agent typically is a contact center operator. A skill group is a set of agents that are trained to handle a given script. Call pacing enhancements are implemented to allow simultaneous progress on multiple sub-campaigns under a skill group. The techniques enable control over the pacing of individual sub-campaigns when multiple sub-campaigns are running under a single skill group. The service also provides a framework by which a set of “pluggable” pacing models are provisioned and managed, preferably on a per-model basis.
US09071684B2 Media forking
In an example embodiment, a Voice over IP (VoIP) system that provides for media forking at the caller's (ingress) gateway. The gateway receives data with a first address on a recording server for sending forked caller stream media and a second address on the recording server for sending forked called party stream media. The gateway sends forked media from the caller stream to the first address and forked media from the called party media to the second address. This provides a recording from the caller's perspective. By using this technique, the recording can include for example call transfer data and interactive voice response (IVR) data.
US09071683B1 Methods and systems for determining whether an identity associated with a telephone call is fake
A network traffic monitoring system detects an identity associated with a telephone call that enters a network and queries a first identity source list that includes entries representative of illegitimate identities and a second identity source list that includes entries representative of legitimate identities to determine whether the detected identity associated with the telephone call matches an entry included in the first identity source list or an entry included in the second identity source list. If the detected identity matches the entry included in the first identity source list, the network traffic monitoring system automatically determines that the detected identity is fake. If the detected identity matches the entry included in the second identity source list, the network traffic monitoring system analyzes one or more attributes of the telephone call other than the detected identity to determine whether the detected identity is fake.
US09071682B2 Methods and device for providing dynamic communication options
A method and device for providing dynamic communication options on a communications device are provided. The communications device is configured to provide communication services using a plurality of communication methods. The method for providing dynamic communication options comprises: monitoring communications with a contact associated with the communications device and obtaining communication method usage information based on the communication methods used for the communications with the contact; ranking communication methods for the contact based on the communication method usage information; and displaying at least two of the communication methods in an ordered list, wherein the respective positions of the displayed communication methods in the list are determined in accordance with the rankings.
US09071680B2 Information communication apparatus having indicator display function, and indicator display method executed by the information communication apparatus
An information communication apparatus having a display section, includes: a sensor section used for communication between an information communication terminal and another apparatus; a terminal information storing section configured to store information about a position of the sensor section in the information communication terminal and information about a position and a size of the display section in the information communication terminal; and a control section configured to calculate a relative positional relationship of the sensor section and the display section, based on the information stored in the terminal information storing section, generate an indicator that allows the position of the sensor section to be specified, and display the indicator on the display section.
US09071677B2 Enhanced data capture, analysis, and reporting for unified communications
The present disclosure includes descriptions of various aspects of unified communication (UC) systems, including UC management and analysis systems and related tools and techniques. Described systems, tools, and techniques are adapted for enhanced UC data capture, analysis, and reporting; enhanced UC monitoring services; and a user survey service that can be used for conducting user surveys related to UC services. Embodiments disclosed herein include computer systems and methods that can be used for analyzing service level objectives for call quality, classifying calls into distinct categories, and real-time user notification of call quality and reliability issues.
US09071676B2 Component illumination apparatus, systems, and electronic devices and methods of manufacturing and using same
Apparatus for illuminating one or more components of an electronic device having a visual display (e.g., a backlit display), such as one or more keys of keyboards, one or more interface ports, or one or more external surfaces are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a component illumination apparatus has a visual display and a light guide optically coupled to the visual display and that is adapted to illuminate one or more components external to the visual display. Methods of component illumination and illumination systems are described, as are other embodiments.
US09071668B2 Apparatus, system, and method for multi-bitrate content streaming
An apparatus for multi-bitrate content streaming includes a receiving module configured to capture media content, a streamlet module configured to segment the media content and generate a plurality of streamlets, and an encoding module configured to generate a set of streamlets. The system includes the apparatus, wherein the set of streamlets comprises a plurality of streamlets having identical time indices and durations, and each streamlet of the set of streamlets having a unique bitrate, and wherein the encoding module comprises a master module configured to assign an encoding job to one of a plurality of host computing modules in response to an encoding job completion bid. A method includes receiving media content, segmenting the media content and generating a plurality of streamlets, and generating a set of streamlets.
US09071665B2 Method, device and system for obtaining rich media files
The present disclosure provides a method, device and system for obtaining a rich media file. The method includes: monitoring that a user has selected a rich media file link, sending a download request to a network server to download a rich media file corresponding to the rich media file link, in which the download request carries a terminal device identifier, a rich media file identifier and display screen information of a terminal device; obtaining and displaying the rich media file sent by the network server, in which the rich media file displayed is searched out and obtained by the network server according to the rich media file identifier, the rich media file is adjusted by the network server according to the display screen information of the terminal device, and is sent by the network server according to the terminal device identifier.
US09071663B2 Apparatus and method for processing an interactive service
A method of processing an interactive service and an apparatus thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving uncompressed audio contents or uncompressed video contents from an external decoding unit, extracting an identifier of a frame from the received content, sending a request containing the identifier to a server and receiving a trigger for the content from the server based on the request, wherein the trigger indicates the current time of the contents and references a particular interactive event in an application parameter table or signals that the event is to be executed now or at a specified future time and the application parameter table includes information about at least one of applications.
US09071660B1 System and method for PoC session substitution
The present invention provides a method in which when receiving an invitation request to a new PoC session, a PoC client participating in multiple sessions for which a maximum limit is set determines whether it is now participating in the maximum number of sessions, the PoC client notifies a user that the maximum number of sessions are used if the maximum limit is reached, and releases one of an existing session or the last requested session according to user selection.
US09071651B2 Dynamic content delivery to network-enabled static display device
An image service uses a uniform resource locator (URL) or other identifier to retrieve dynamic content presentations from the Internet. The image service uses a set of imaging parameters to render HTML files into a static image, sized appropriately, that can be presented on a static display device. A user enters URLs identifying locations of dynamic content within a configuration interface on the image service. The image service then dynamically pulls the selected content from the identified web sites, converts the web pages, or portions thereof, into static digital image files, and downloads the image files for display on a static display device.
US09071644B2 Automated security policy enforcement and auditing
An approach for managing a connection to or from a device is presented. Connections of the device are identified. Based on the connections, the device is determined and classified based on security zones to which the device is or has been connected, a quality of service requirement for one or more applications within the device, or a level of information technology service management for the device. Whether an existing or proposed connection of the device is consistent with the classification of the device is determined, and if not, an indication is displayed or a notification is sent that the existing or proposed connection is inconsistent with the classification of the device.
US09071643B2 Personal security system
A personal security system takes advantage of location determination capabilities of a mobile communication services to provide personal security features to one or more communities of users. One method includes a user initiating a security period from a mobile device and specifying an end condition for that security period. If the user does not terminate the security period, at the end of the security period a notification is sent with information characterizing the user and a location associated with the user.
US09071641B2 Mapping system that displays nearby regions based on direction of travel, speed, and orientation
An information providing system includes a terminal and a server. The information providing system includes: an information database configured to record registration data in relation to position data; a position data acquiring section configured to acquire a position data of the terminal; a state acquiring section configured to acquire a state data indicative of a state of the terminal; and a region determining section configured to determine a specified retrieval region of the registration data based on the state data. An information extracting section is configured to extract the registration data in the specified retrieval region from the information database as browser data, and a display section is configured to display the browser data.
US09071640B2 Method of selecting an application installed on a secured module, an associated terminal and an associated security module
The invention consists in a method of selecting an application from a plurality of applications installed in a security module, which method is adapted to dialogue with a communicating device and includes a preliminary configuration step (E0) including a step of determining at least one group of applications with which a group identifier is associated, a step of determining one application per group, and a step of storing configuration information representing the association of a particular application and the identifier of the corresponding group, step (E1) of receiving a selection instruction containing a group identifier sent by the communicating device, and a step (E2) of selecting the application associated with the received group identifier as a function of the stored configuration information. The invention also consists in a security module and a terminal.
US09071638B1 System and method for malware containment
Systems and methods for malware containment on connection is provided. In exemplary embodiments, digital devices are quarantined for a predetermined period of time upon connection to the communication network. When a digital device is quarantined, all network data transmitted by the digital device is temporarily directed to a controller which then analyzes the network data to identify unauthorized activity and/or malware within the newly connected digital device. An exemplary method to contain malware comprises detecting a digital device upon connection with a communication network, temporarily redirecting network data from the digital device, and analyzing the network data to identify malware within the digital device.
US09071633B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for storing communication session data at a network interface module
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for storing communication session information at a network interface module. One method described herein includes receiving a plurality of RTCP packets associated with a communication session at a network interface module. RTCP information is extracted from at least one of the packets. The extracted RTCP information is stored in memory local to the network interface module.
US09071628B2 Method and apparatus for managing bandwidth by managing selected internet access by devices in a Wi-Fi linked audience
A central controller associated with a performance interacts with portable interactive devices such as smartphones in a venue to provide a shared user experience. The controller may be linked to portable interactive devices by a Wi-Fi link in the venue. Additionally, the controller may need to interface with the outside world via the Internet to add information to the experience. In order to prevent excessive bandwidth demands on the Internet connection, a URL filter is coupled to block all requests for connection to the Internet except those required for running the interactive system or device and transferring information. The filter permits access to a limited number of specific URLs for selected social networks, e.g., Facebook®. Permitted data is throttled to a low data rate so that it is acquired over time. It is unnecessary to gather the data in real time. Consequently, bandwidth requirements are minimized.
US09071627B2 Method and system for cloning applications from an electronic source device to an electronic target device
Security is enhanced for a user of electronic devices by providing a method for providing an application to an electronic device. According to an embodiment, an application in a source electronic device can be cloned from the source electronic device to a target electronic device. According to an embodiment, when the application is selected, the source device can be configured to automatically collect the selected application and configuration information, state information and/or application data associated with the selected application. The collected information is referred to as “cloning data.” Once the cloning data is collected, the source device can be configured to transmit at least a portion of the cloning data to the target electronic device, which can utilize the cloning data to clone the application into the target electronic device.
US09071626B2 Method and apparatus for surveillance system peering
A security installation positions a peering ability with a peer installation by establishing a peering agreement to define the conditions constituting a situation for which peering applies, and identifies the resources and assets which will be shared, as well as the duration of the peering, typically until the resolution of the exigent situation or circumstances that prompted the peering. Peering selectively couples security installations for monitoring a particular upon determining that a situation responsive to mediation has occurred within an area monitored by the security installation for monitoring an area. The security installation initiates a peering invitation to a peer installation, in which the peer installation is configured to share resources with the security installation for mitigating the cause of the situation. The resulting peered access provides communication between the peer installation and the security installation, the access being temporary and conditional on the exigency of the determined situation.
US09071621B2 Security management system and method for location-based mobile device
A method and a system of managing information security for a mobile device in a restricted area based on location information regarding the mobile device are provided. The method includes receiving, by the mobile device, a request for the execution of an application program in a restricted area from a server managing the restricted area, executing, by the mobile device, the application program requested for execution when the program was set to be executable according to a security policy set to the restricted area, encrypting, by the mobile device, a file, created according to the execution of the application program, based on location information regarding the mobile device, and storing the encrypted file.
US09071619B2 Hierarchical closed-loop control of policy, goal, and resource allocation in bandwidth management using both service-specific and network monitor observations
A Unified Bandwidth Manager that functions as a multi-service bandwidth manager to interface with and hierarchically manage a plurality of service-specific bandwidth reservation and session management systems for at least one associated network resource is described. The Unified Bandwidth Manager includes a hierarchical control structure, and an interface for providing observed information relevant to policy, goal, and observed resource usage to the hierarchical control structure. At least one service-specific observation element and at least one network monitor observation element provide observation information relating to network conditions imposed on and observed in the associated network resource. The hierarchical control structure is provided with a plurality of feedback inputs that are responsive to associated ongoing observation information from each of an associated observation reporting element. The hierarchical control structure uses the plurality of feedback inputs, together with policy information or goal information, to produce at least one element of outgoing control information.
US09071613B2 Dynamic allocation of workload deployment units across a plurality of clouds
A method of selectively allocating a plurality of deployment units among a plurality of clouds. The method can include identifying a first context of a first deployment unit of a workload and identifying a second context of a second deployment unit of the workload. Based on the first context, a first of the plurality of clouds that satisfies at least one requirement indicated by the first context can be identified and the first deployment unit can be automatically allocated to the first cloud. Based on the second context, a second of the plurality of clouds that satisfies at least one requirement indicated by the second context can be identified, wherein the first cloud does not satisfy the requirement indicated by the second context, and the second deployment unit can be automatically allocated to the second cloud.
US09071611B2 Integration of network admission control functions in network access devices
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a communication from an endpoint device at a network access device located within a data path between the endpoint device and a network, identifying a network admission control policy for the endpoint device, enforcing at the network access device, the network admission control policy for traffic received from the endpoint device, and forwarding at the network access device, traffic from the endpoint device to the network in accordance with the network admission control policy. An apparatus is also disclosed.
US09071607B2 Virtual dispersive networking systems and methods
A method for network communications from a first device to a second device includes communicating data from the first device to the second device by spawning a first virtual machine for a first network connection that virtualizes network capabilities of the electronic device, and using the virtualized network capabilities of the first virtual machine, transmitting a plurality of packets for communication to a first network address and port combination associated with the second device. The method further includes repeatedly changing to a respective another network address and port combination by repeatedly spawning a respective another virtual machine for a respective another network connection that virtualizes network capabilities of the electronic device, and using the virtualized network capabilities of the spawned respective another virtual machine, transmitting a plurality of packets for communication to the respective another network address and port combination associated with the second device.
US09071606B2 Managing cloud service with community invitations
An illustrative system for managing a plurality of cloud services that includes a first cloud service, a second cloud service, a relational database, a cloud management console, a global user profile, an invitation, and a synchronization module. Each cloud service includes an LDAP directory configured to manage end users accessing the corresponding cloud service. The relational database is communicatively coupled to each LDAP directory. The cloud management console manages the relational database, which identifies a maximum number of end users that can access each cloud service and an end date for accessing each cloud service. The global user profile is stored on the relational database. The invitation communicated from the cloud management console enables an end user to access the cloud service. The synchronization module enables the relational database to synchronize with each of the LDAP directories according to each end user's accepted invitations.
US09071605B2 Relay device, relay method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A relay device includes an identification information acquisition unit, a privilege information acquisition unit, a memory, and a controller. The identification information acquisition unit acquires user identification information for allowing the relay device to identify a user. The privilege information acquisition unit acquires privilege information indicating that access to the service providing device is authorized from a service providing device which provides a service to a client device used by the user. The memory stores the user identification information and the privilege information in association with each other. Upon receiving a service processing request made to the service providing device and transmitted together with the user identification information from the client device, the controller controls the service providing device to perform communication processing corresponding to the service processing request using the privilege information stored in association with the user identification information.
US09071601B2 Authority delegate system, server system in authority delegate system, and control method for controlling authority delegate system
An authority delegate system including a first server system to manage specific information, a second server system to provide a service, an authentication device, and a client operated by a first user who is authorized to use the service, includes a reception unit, a transmission unit, a management unit, a determination unit, and a provision unit. The reception unit receives an authorization token shared range for authorizing specific information usage. The transmission unit transmits to the client a setting screen for setting whether to permit users within the shared range to share the authorization token. The management unit manages the setting screen set shared range, and the authorization token issued by the authentication device. The provision unit provides, in response to determining that the second user is included in the shared range and confirmation that the authorization token is valid, the service to the second user using the specific information.
US09071600B2 Phishing and online fraud prevention
Phishing and online fraud prevention in one aspect includes a user computer implementing operations such as establishing a VPN tunnel between the user computer and a network operations center, activating a website launcher, reading user credentials from a smartcard, launching a browser in a sandboxed execution environment, and requesting a whitelisted webpage from the network operations center, via the VPN tunnel. The network operations center comprises one or more servers implementing operations such as determining if a user requested webpage is listed for access by the user, and loading and sending the requested webpage to the user, via the VPN tunnel, if the requested webpage is listed for access by the user. The user computer supplies the user credentials to the website and presents a webpage, a homepage, or a one-time password entry page for the website.
US09071599B2 Method and device for securely configuring a terminal
A method of configuring a terminal including initializing the terminal, and which automatically triggers at least: detecting presence of a memory by a basic input/output system of the terminal, accessing the memory by the basic input/output system, starting up an operating system stored in the memory, and starting up a driver of a telecommunication network access module, the driver of the access module being stored in the memory and configured to drive the access module through a communication link between the terminal and a telecommunication device including the access module.
US09071598B2 Cryptographic authentication and/or establishment of shared cryptographic keys, including, but not limited to, password authenticated key exchange (PAKE)
A server (120) uses a password (π) to construct a multiplicative group (ZN*) with a (hidden) smooth order subgroup (), where the group order (Pπ) depends on the password. The client (110) uses its knowledge of the password to generate a root extraction problem instance (z) in the group and to generate data (y) allowing the server to construct a discrete logarithm problem instance (y′) in the subgroup. The server uses its knowledge of the group order to solve the root extraction problem, and solves the discrete logarithm problem efficiently by leveraging the smoothness of the subgroup. A shared key (sk) can be computed as a function of the solutions to the discrete logarithm and root extraction problem instances. In some embodiments, in an oblivious transfer protocol, the server queries the client (at 230) for data whose position in a database (210) is defined by the password. The client provides (240) such data without knowing the data position associated with the server's query. The client obtains the data position independently from the password. The data positions and/or the respective data are used for authentication and shared secret key generation. Other embodiments are also provided.
US09071597B2 Secure instant messaging system
A secure instant messaging (IM) system integrates secure instant messaging into existing instant messaging systems. A certificate authority (CA) issues security certificates to users binding the user's IM screen name to a public key, used by sending users to encrypt messages and files for the user. The CA uses a subscriber database to keep track of valid users and associated information, e.g. user screen names, user subscription expiration dates, and enrollment agent information. A user sends his certificate to an instant messaging server which publishes the user's certificate to other users. Users encrypt instant messages and files using an encryption algorithm and the recipient's certificate. A sending user can sign instant messages using his private signing key. The security status of received messages is displayed to recipients.
US09071594B2 Application identity design
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing user credentials over a network to a remote computer application. User credentials for the remote computer application are stored in a central repository that is accessible through the network. A request is sent to a service to perform, on behalf of a user, a particular task involving the remote computer application. It is determined whether the service has been granted permission to act on behalf of the user with respect to the remote computer application. When the service has permission to act on behalf of the user, the service is used to retrieve the user's credentials for the remote computer application from the central repository and to supply the retrieved user credentials to the remote computer application.
US09071592B1 Systems and methods for generating scripts to interact with web sites
Interaction with a web site may be driven by a script. The script may be generated through automated analysis of a web site. A web site may be analyzed by evaluating labels associated with data entry fields, links, and/or other elements of the pages that make up the web site. Moreover, a web site may be analyzed by co-browsing the web site along with a human, and observing the actions that a human takes to operate the web site. The scripts that are generated may be used to perform a transaction at a web site on behalf of a principal, to gather information from a web site, or to perform any other type of action.
US09071590B2 Apparatus and method for registering personal network
A method for a Personal Network Entity (PNE) to individually join a desired Personal Network (PN) is provided. When the PNE transmits a PN connection request message to a PN gateway, the PN gateway inserts its information into the connection request message and forwards the connection request message to a Converged Personal Network Service (CPNS) server. The CPNS server, upon receipt of the connection request message through the PN gateway, generates and manages information about a PN related to the PN gateway. The information about the PN is provided to the PNE at execution of authentication with the PNE, such that the PNE can determine whether to join the PN.
US09071589B1 Encryption key management for storage area network devices
An encryption key management system is provided for storage area network devices. A create key request is received at a storage area network switch. The key is created at the storage area network switch and the created key request is transmitted to a key management center. The key object is stored in the key management center and includes a unique identifier, an encrypted key, a wrapper unique identifier, and a key entity. The encrypted key can later be decrypted to generate a decrypted key. The encrypted key is decrypted using keying material accessed using the wrapper unique identifier that identifies another key object.
US09071588B2 Secure group communications
A device for use in a system with multiple receiving units, and multiple intermediate units each configured to communicate with the device and at least some of the multiple receiving units, includes a communication module configured to send information toward and receive information from the receiving units and the intermediate units, a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and the communication module. The processor is configured to: cause the communication module to send information toward each of the receiving units sufficient for the receiving units to obtain a key chain corresponding to that receiving unit, each key chain containing a plurality of keys, each key in each key chain being related to other keys in the respective key chains by at least one inverse of a one-way function; select a key from a key chain associated with a particular receiving unit and stored in the memory; and cause the communication module to send the selected key, and an indication of which receiving unit the selected key is associated with, toward the intermediate unit associated with the particular receiving unit.
US09071587B2 Optimizing deployment of virtual machines by pre-generating a virtual machine's first-boot metadata by cloud controller
A method, system and computer program product for optimizing virtual machine deployment. A cloud controller pre-generates and stores a virtual machine's first-boot metadata (e.g., a RSA key) prior to the deployment of the virtual machine so that the virtual machine does not need to generate such metadata at deployment time thereby reducing the deployment time of the virtual machine. Instead, after the deployment and activation of the virtual machine, an activation agent running on the virtual machine requests the pre-generated first-boot metadata from the cloud controller. The cloud controller retrieves the requested pre-generated first-boot metadata to be transmitted to the requesting virtual machine and implements public-key cryptography so that the requesting virtual machine can verify the authenticity of the transmitted first-boot metadata. By reducing the deployment time for the virtual machine, cloud resources can be used for other activities.
US09071584B2 Multi-tier bandwidth-centric deduplication
Example apparatus and methods concern multi-tier bandwidth-centric deduplication. One example apparatus supports inline bandwidth-centric deduplication with post-processing space-centric deduplication to improve inline bandwidth-centric deduplication and thereby reduce bandwidth requirements. One example method may include determining whether a bandwidth-centric deduplication device can satisfy a deduplication request associated with a data communication and then deciding whether to engage a space-centric deduplication device to co-operate in attempting to satisfy the request. More generally, the method includes controlling a first deduplication device to participate in bandwidth reduction and selectively controlling a second deduplication device to also participate in the bandwidth reduction.
US09071583B2 Provisioned configuration for automatic wireless connection
Systems and methods for provisioned configuration of wireless devices to allow access to restricted wireless networks are provided. Using an open wireless or wired network, a user of a wireless device may be authenticated. A configuration application, which includes the parameters and policies of the provisioned configuration, is generated, transferred to, and executed on the wireless device. Following configuration by the application, the wireless device is allowed to access the restricted wireless network within the parameters and policies of the provisioned configuration.
US09071569B1 System, method, and computer program for content metadata and authorization exchange between content providers and service providers
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for content metadata and authorization exchange between content providers and service providers. In use, content metadata from each of a plurality of content providers is stored in a central repository for use in identifying to each of a plurality of service providers content of the content providers that is accessible to the service provider. Furthermore, communications between the content providers and the service providers associated with authorizations for content access are proxied via a central proxy.
US09071566B2 Retrieving conversations that match a search query
A server having one or more processors and memory receives a search query from a client. The server identifies a conversation relevant to the search query, where the conversation has two or more messages sharing a common set of characteristics that meet predefined criteria and a respective conversation identifier. Identifying a conversation relevant to the search query comprises identifying a conversation that, as a whole, is relevant to the search query. The server returns to the client for display, as a search result for the search query, conversation information corresponding to the identified conversation.
US09071564B2 Data synchronization using mail and push notification services
Systems, methods, and computer program products for data synchronization across multiple devices using mail and push notification services is disclosed.
US09071557B2 System and method for intelligent caching
As mobile subscribers increasingly employ their wireless devices to perform an ever expanding range of activities, it has become more and more important for all of the different entities in a wireless ecosystem (e.g., wireless carriers, intermediaries, service providers, etc.) to complete their processing activities in the most efficient, expeditious, flexible, etc. manner possible. An intelligent caching mechanism, through which for example various of the results of a preparatory step may be preserved for subsequent reuse, can inter alia incrementally reduce processing time, reduce system and network resource consumption, save money, etc.
US09071555B1 Search tree algorithms
An information packet preclassification system and method are provided. The method receives a packet of information and differentiates the packet into segments. Using a decision tree with multiple levels, segments in the packet are compared to a node at a tree level, where each node includes a plurality of node reference segments and corresponding node comparison operators. The reference segment may be a different segment from the packet, or a predetermined segment value stored in memory. One, or more classification attributes are accessed in response to comparing segments, and the classification attributes are assigned to the packet. Then, the packet is processed in response to the classification attributes.
US09071554B2 Timestamp estimation and jitter correction using downstream FIFO occupancy
First, a packet may be received and a timestamp value may be placed on the packet. The timestamp value may comprise a place time value comprising a time when the timestamp was placed on the packet plus a delay time value comprising an estimated time delay between when the timestamp was placed on the packet and when the packet leaves a port exit. Next, the packet may be sent to a first in first out (FIFO) memory. The packet may then be sent from the FIFO memory out the port exit.
US09071552B2 Migrating a web hosting service between a one box per client architecture and a cloud computing architecture
An automated tool for migrating a website hosting service from a first website hosting architecture to a second website hosting architecture, the first architecture comprising a server architecture that serves the services necessary for a specific website from a single machine and the second web hosting architecture comprising a server architecture that serves a plurality of common services from a plurality of machines to a plurality of unaffiliated websites using a cloud computing architecture.
US09071548B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for effecting movement of virtual switch interfaces between virtual switches connected to different physical ports of a device under test
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for effecting movement of virtual switch interfaces between virtual switches connected to different physical ports of a device under test are disclosed. One method includes operating a virtual switch interface behind a first edge relay on a protocol emulator to send packets to a first physical port of a device under test. The method further includes determining whether sufficient resources exist on a second physical port of the device under test to support the virtual switch interface. The method further includes, in response to determining that sufficient resources exist on the second physical port of the device under test to support the virtual switch interface, moving the virtual switch interface to a second edge relay on the protocol emulator connected to the second physical port of the device under test.
US09071540B2 Proxy server, hierarchical network system, and distributed workload management method
A proxy server and a hierarchical network system and a distributed workload management method. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the proxy server includes: a rate controller configured to, based on measured request-related information and service quality parameters relative to service levels of requests, periodically determine a dispatch rate for requests of each service level, wherein the sum of the dispatch rate for respective service levels is less than or equal to a predetermined rate; and a request dispatcher configured to dispatch the requests of the corresponding service level in accordance with the dispatch rate determined by the rate controller. One aspect of the disclosure realizes a low overhead, highly scalable, simple and efficient workload management system to achieve QoS assurance and overload protection.
US09071538B2 Method for dynamically adjusting switching loop and network equipment
The disclosure provides a method for dynamically adjusting a switching loop. The method comprises the following steps: a network equipment in the switching loop determines current link costs of all links connected with the network equipment, wherein the network equipment determines the current link costs of the links according to initial link costs and link adjustment parameters of the links (S201); then the network equipment acquires the current link costs of all the links in the switching loop, and determines a main link of the switching loop, wherein the current link cost of the main link is less than or equal to a preset link cost (S203). The disclosure also provides a network equipment. With the solution of the disclosure, the link actually having an optimal link cost can be determined as the main link according to the current link cost, thus the problem in the related art that the transmission efficiency of the whole network is influenced by reason of determining the link having a worse current link cost as the main link is avoided, and the transmission efficiency and reliability of the main link and the whole network are improved.
US09071537B2 Systems and methods for propagating health of a cluster node
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for propagating port state to intermediary devices of a cluster in a static link aggregation environment. The methods and systems include a cluster comprising a plurality of intermediary devices in communication with a network device via a static link aggregation comprising aggregated ports from different intermediary devices of the cluster. A first device of the static link aggregation is configured to detect that a health of the first device is below a predetermined threshold and, responsive to the detection, identify one or more ports in the aggregated ports as down. A second device of the link aggregation is configured to, responsive to the identification, remove the ports from a distribution list for the static link aggregation. Upon detection that a health of a device is above a predetermined threshold, the first device may identify the ports as up.
US09071528B2 General input/output architecture, protocol and related methods to implement flow control
An enhanced general input/output communication architecture, protocol and related methods are presented.
US09071527B2 Method and apparatus for providing a centralized subscriber load distribution
A method and apparatus for providing subscriber load distribution in networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives capacity data and user equipment (UE) resource consumption data from a plurality of devices that process call control signaling messages within the communication network. The method receives a first request from one of the plurality of devices to re-register one or more selected user equipment, and selects at least one available device from the plurality of devices. The method then re-registers the one or more selected user equipment on the at least one available device.
US09071524B2 Network bandwidth control for network storage
Network bandwidth is allocated to storage access requests as a function of a client system activities. Client system activities that produce network access requests and remote storage access requests are monitored. The network bandwidth allocation between network access requests and storage access requests is modified as a function of the monitored client system activities.
US09071522B2 Policy engine for cloud platform
A policy engine is situated within the communications path of a cloud computing environment and a user of the cloud computing environment to comply with an organization's policies for deploying web applications in the cloud computing environment. The policy engine intercepts communications packets to the cloud computing environment from a user, such as a web application developer, for example, in preparation for deploying a web application in the cloud computing environment. The policy engine identifies commands corresponding to the communications packets and directs the communications packets to appropriate rules engines corresponding to such commands in order to execute rules to comply with an organization's policies. Upon completion of execution of the rules, the communications packets are forwarded to the cloud computing environment if they comply with the policies.
US09071518B2 Rules based actions for mobile device management
Utilizing a server-based rules-based action framework, methods and systems gather status and configuration information about each of a plurality of mobile devices, which include devices from different mobile platforms. At the server, software processes monitor status information and respond automatically to changes, causing administrator-selected rules to be evaluated to determine if an action should automatically be initiated.
US09071516B2 Server-side protocol configuration of accessing clients
A method for configuring a client-side communications protocol stack includes a mapping to be consulted to determine a set of client-side protocol stack components which correspond to a set of protocol stack components in a server side protocol stack instance. Subsequently, a listing can be created of the determined set of client-side protocol stack components. Finally, the listing can be published for access by externally disposed client computing processes. The listing can be reversed. Also, the consulting step further can include determining at least one attribute to be applied to at least one of the client-side protocol stack components when enabling a client-side protocol stack to interoperate with the server-side protocol stack instance.
US09071515B2 Method and device for the validation of networks
A method is provided for the validation of a network by a checking module, the network comprising a plurality of routers, each of the routers comprising a plurality of output ports, each of the output ports of the routers being associated with a bandwidth budget, a priority latency budget and a plurality of network budget grains. The method comprises, for each of the ports of each of the routers, steps of: calculation of a latency consumed on the output port of the router on the basis of the network budget grains and the bandwidth budget; checking of the compatibility of the latency consumed on the output port with the priority latency budget grains of the output port of the router; and, transmission by the checking module of a signal indicating the result of the check.
US09071514B1 Application-specific connectivity loss detection for multicast virtual private networks
An egress network device of a point-to-point (P2P) tunnel can receive an LSP Ping message via the P2P tunnel from an ingress network device of the P2P LSP, wherein the LSP Ping message specifies a label that the egress network device associates with a service provided to the egress network device via the P2P tunnel. In response to receiving the LSP Ping message, the egress network device can store an association between the label and the P2P tunnel. The egress network device also uses a fault detection network protocol session over the P2P tunnel to monitor a state of the P2P tunnel. In response to detecting based on the fault detection network protocol session that the state of the P2P tunnel is down, the egress network device determines the service is unavailable from the ingress network device via the P2P tunnel, and selects a new source to provide the service.
US09071506B2 Accessing web services using network management information
A method is provided of accessing a web service by means of a service client in an IT-network. The method includes determining a set of access information data indicating different possibilities of how the web service may be accessed. The different access possibilities indicated by the access information data using network management information relating to the access possibilities are evaluated. Access information data according to the evaluation result is selected, and the web service is accessed.
US09071503B2 Highly scalable OSPF routing in support of full mesh optical networks
A method for enabling Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) routing in a transport network. The method comprises defining a network segment template; instantiating a respective network segment template for each node+link segment of the transport network; and connecting the link area of a first template instance to the node area of a second template instance using a remote ABR. The network segment template comprises a node area for enabling OSPF routing between addresses within a node of the transport network; a link area for enabling OSPF routing between the node and an adjacent neighbor node in the transport network; and a host Area Boarder Router (ABR) connected to the node area and the link area. The host ABR is configured to generate summary Link State Advertisement (LSA) messages containing a summary of addresses in the node area, and forward the summary LSA messages through the link area. The remote ABR is configured to generate summary LSA messages containing a summary of addresses reachable in the node area of the second template instance, and forward the summary LSAs through the link area of the first template instance.
US09071500B2 Ownership transfer of a label switched path
Control of a label switched path established in a network is transferred between a management plane and a control plane of the network. A node (e.g., node C) receives a message indicating a change in control of the label switched path, the message identifying the label switched path by a cross-connection identifier corresponding to an entry in the control data stored at the node which identifies data plane ingress and egress segments cross-connected at the node. Control data at the node is updated based on the identified label switched path. The message includes a list of cross-connection identifiers for nodes (e.g., nodes C, E, and F) along the label switched path. The cross-connection identifier can be an mplsXCIndex.
US09071499B2 Systems and methods for emulating a NIC for packet transmission on hardware RSS unaware NICs in a multi-core system
Emulating a NIC for packet transmission on hardware RSS unaware NICs in a multi-core system enables each of a plurality of slave packet engines to emulate a NIC for packet transmissions locally even though the actual NIC transmissions from the queue are handled by a master packet engine only. Each slave packet engine treats a local software-implemented transmission queue as a device queue and uses the local queue to keep track of status of data from the packet engine in the device output queue, handled by the master packet engine on behalf of the slave packet engines. As the master packet engine transmits the data from the queue and the status of the queue changes, the master packet engine and the slave packet engines may use pointers to keep track of which data packets are transmitted, which data packets are drained and which data packets are still in the queue.
US09071498B2 Systems and methods for fractional routing redundancy
Systems and methods for fractional routing are described. An exemplary method may include receiving, by a first router, data information regarding routing by a first portion of a third router, receiving, by a second router, data information regarding routing by a second portion of a third router, wherein the data information regarding routing by the first portion and data information regarding routing by the second portion is not the same, routing, by the first router, data associated with the routing by the first portion of the third router, and routing by the second router, data associated with the routing by the second portion of the third router.
US09071497B2 Apparatus and method for modulation classification in wireless communication system
An apparatus is used for modulation classification of unknown input signal in a wireless communication system. The apparatus includes a signal classification unit configured to classify the input signal into a PSK signal and an FSK signal and a modulation index decision unit configured to decide a modulation index for the PSK signal and the FSK signal classified by the signal classification unit.
US09071494B2 Systems and methods for fast and precise frequency estimation
Systems and methods are provided for fast and precise estimation of frequency with relatively minimal sampling and relatively high tolerance to noise.
US09071492B2 Reduced latency channel-estimation
A first error-correcting decoder, adapted to decode the data bits of a received OFDM symbol; a re-encoder, to receive decoded bits and adapted to re-encode a leading portion of the decoded bits; a mapper, to receive the re-encoded leading portion of bits, map these bits to a corresponding subset of the plurality of sub-carriers, and thereby estimate a modulation symbol that was applied to each sub-carrier of said subset a channel estimator, to produce a channel estimate by comparing the sub-carrier modulation symbols with the corresponding sub-carriers actually received by the receiver; and an equalizer, to process the received signal to remove distortions introduced by the transmission channel, using the channel estimate, the re-encoder is adapted to begin re-encoding the leading portion of the bits before a trailing portion of the bits has been decoded by the decoder.
US09071490B2 Apparatus and method for transceiving data
A data transmitting apparatus generates a plurality of pilot signals to be used for channel estimation by a data receiving apparatus, performs symbol mapping of a plurality of input data signals and a plurality of pilot signal into a plurality of data symbols and a plurality of pilot symbols, converts input symbols in the frequency domain including the plurality of data symbols and the plurality of pilot symbols into a real signal in the time domain, and performs angle modulation of the real signal. The data transmitting apparatus controls the amplitude of the sine component of the angle-modulated real signal by a gain that varies with a control signal and then transmits the real signal.
US09071489B2 System and method for preambles in a wireless communications network
A method for transmitting a frame includes generating an omni portion of the frame, the omni portion including a non-beamformed long training field and a signal field, the non-beamformed long training field including channel estimation information used to decode the signal field, the non-beamformed long training field configured to be transmitted through one of multiple antennas and multiple streams. The method also includes generating a multi-stream portion of the frame, the multi-stream portion including a data field and a multi-stream long training field, the multi-stream long training field including station-specific decoding information for station-specific data in the data field. The method further includes applying a beamforming indicator to the signal field of the omni portion, and transmitting the frame.
US09071487B2 Power amplification system, device and method
Embodiments of the present invention may include power amplifier architectures and systems for use in wireless communication systems. The systems may include a first circuit path for receiving an input signal and decomposing the signal into two vector signals using an out-phasing generator, modifying the vectors based on predetermined value limit, amplifying the vectors using power amplifiers, and combining the vectors to provide an amplified output. The system may include a second circuit path for generating an estimate of an envelope of the input signal and using the envelope to modulate the voltage supplies of the power amplifiers when amplifying the vector signals. The system may also include a feedback path for sending information regarding the envelope of the input signal into the out-phasing generator, which may modify the vector signals in response thereto.
US09071483B1 Presenting VOP call trace data
An embodiment of a method, system, and medium provide for determining information about a communications call. The method includes receiving call data associated with establishing a communications path to communicate at least a portion of data using a voice-over-packet technology, and formatting at least a portion of said call data such that a source identifier and a destination identifier are viewable in a common area along with two or more of the following call-identifier information; physical-termination information and possible release codes. The format can be filterable.
US09071482B2 Power estimation for wireless communication devices in code division multiple access systems technical field
A wireless communication device for a CDMA system is configured to generate power estimates with reduced estimation bias. The power estimates may be used for delay estimation, MMSE channel estimation, demodulation, or other purposes. The wireless communication device produces first set of power estimates for a first set of delays and generates a model of the signal powers at the first set of delays as a function of the power leakage from non-aligned signal images in the received signal into the first set of delays. The wireless communication device then computes a second set of power estimates with reduced estimation bias based on the first set of power estimates and the model of the signal powers.
US09071480B2 Unified interference power estimation
A communication device, such as a smart phone, includes logic to determine a noise power estimate. In an example, a frequency domain calculation may be used to determine noise components within the noise power estimate. Further, a product of a channel estimate and equalizer effect may be used in the determination of the levels noise components, such as, inter-symbol interference power and neighbor cell interference power.
US09071479B2 High-speed parallel decision feedback equalizer
A decision-feedback equalizer (DFE) can be operated at higher frequencies when parallelization and pre-computation techniques are employed. Disclosed herein is a DFE design suitable for equalizing receive signals with bit rates above 10 GHz, making it feasible to employ decision feedback equalization in silicon-based optical transceiver modules. One illustrative embodiment includes a front end filter to reduce leading intersymbol interference in a receive signal; a serial-to-parallel converter and at least one pre-compensation unit that together convert the filtered signal into grouped sets of tentative decisions, the sets in each group being made available in parallel; a set of pipelined DFE multiplexer units to select a contingent symbol decision from each set of tentative decisions to form groups of contingent symbol decisions based on a presumed sequence of preceding symbol decisions; and an output multiplexer that chooses, based on preceding symbol decisions, one of said groups of contingent symbol decisions.
US09071477B2 Method and associated processing module for interconnection system
A method and associated processing module for an interconnection system, providing a pre-tap tuning directing and a post-tap tuning directing. The interconnection system includes a transmitter filter and a receiver equalizer; the transmitter filter performs filtering according to a pre-tap and a post-tap, and the receiver equalizer performs equalization according to an equalizer tap. The pre-tap tuning directing includes: forming an indicative pattern with a plurality of data samples and a transition sample from an equalized signal, comparing if the indicative pattern matches predetermined pattern(s), and accordingly directing whether the pre-tap is incremented/decremented. The post-tap tuning directing selects whether the post-tap is incremented/decremented according to a positive/negative sign of the equalizer tap.
US09071474B1 Systems and methods for suppressing interference in a wireless communication system
Receiving devices and methods for suppressing interference from a data signal received at a receiving device are provided. The receiving device has m receive antennas, and a training signal set transmitted from a first transmitting device is received at the receiving device. The training signal set includes data for each transmit antenna of n transmit antennas included on the first transmitting device and includes information sufficient to determine a channel estimate corresponding to a communication channel between the first transmitting device and the receiving device. The channel estimate is determined based on the training signal set, where the channel estimate includes an m-by-n description of the communication channel. The data signal received at the receiving device is filtered based on the channel estimate to suppress the interference in the data signal. The data signal is transmitted from a second transmitting device that is different from the first transmitting device.
US09071472B1 Method and apparatus for signal parameter estimation
According to the teachings herein, one or more signal parameters for received data symbols are estimated by determining a statistical representation for the data symbols based on the magnitude distribution of initial symbol estimates. The statistical representation is compared to a number of reference representations that were formed in like manner from respective sets of data symbols parameterized according to the signal parameters to be estimated for the received data symbols, or according to signal parameters from which the parameters of interest can be derived. Basing the comparison on symbol magnitude distributions provides robust operation at low symbol qualities. Further, one or more embodiments disclosed herein increase the estimation robustness by using a pilot-assisted approach, whereby the reference representations used in the comparison are selected from a larger set in dependence on a quality range estimated from reference symbols received in conjunction with the data symbols of interest.
US09071470B2 Low-complexity digital radio interface
A radio integrated circuit includes, in part, an analog front end block, an analog-to-digital converter responsive to the analog-front end block, a digital signal processor responsive to the analog-to-digital converter and adapted to generate in-phase and quadrature signals, and a serial communication interface configured to receive and transmit the in-phase and quadrature signals. The serial communication interface supplies a gain control signal to the analog front end block when a switch disposed in the radio integrated circuit is in a first position. When the switch is in a second position, a gain control block disposed in the radio integrated circuit receives a gain control signal from the analog-to-digital converter and supplies the gain control signal to the analog front end block. The digital signal processor may be configured to interleave the in-phase and quadrature signals.
US09071468B2 Apparatus and methods for a scalable communications network
A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, transmitting a first request for a name authority pointer to a first in-region name server of a plurality of in-region name servers of a first geographic region responsive to determining that a telephone number of a call is located in the first geographic region, transmitting a second request for the name authority pointer to an out-of-region name server associated with a second geographic region responsive to determining that the telephone number is located in the second geographic region, and receiving the name authority pointer from at least one of the in-region name server or the out-of-region server. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09071465B1 Method and system for SMS services and bind scaling
Method and system for message service via network connections, for example, in the context of a mobile communication network. A request is received by a message server located in a cluster of one or more message servers to send a message to a specified recipient. A bind request mechanism accesses an available bind from a bind pool managed in accordance with, at least in part, an operational parameter of a routing entity. Using the available bind, the message server sends the message, through a routing entity interface via a network, to the routing entity which subsequently forwards the message to the specified recipient.
US09071462B2 Method and apparatus for displaying message in mobile communication terminal
A method for displaying a message in a mobile communication terminal in which includes: when a message is received (or transmitted), a keyword is extracted from received (or transmitted) message contents; a determination is made whether a counterpart's (or one's own) sender information of the received (or transmitted) message exists, wherein when the counterpart's (or one's own) sender information exists, a determination is made whether a representative photo image exists in the counterpart's (or one's own) sender information, and when the representative photo image exists, a face detection feature is extracted from the representative photo image, and a keyword is extracted from the received message contents, and wherein a photo image that meets at least one of the extracted face detection feature and the keyword is searched for from an internal device or an external device.
US09071461B2 Changing of channel capabilities
In a telecommunications system, in which a connection comprises a part with an interworking function at both ends, a channel is allocated to the connection between the interworking functions. The required channel capabilities may vary during the connection, whereby the channel capabilities should be changed. When the first interworking function detects that a channel capability must be changed, a first message, which indicates the desired capability change, is transmitted (2-1) to the second interworking function; and the channel capability is changed (2-3,2-5) into the desired one at both ends of the part.
US09071460B1 Methods and apparatus for mapping data packets to a multi-packets cell
A network method and apparatus configured to increase bandwidth efficiency using multiple packets cells (“MPC”) is disclosed. MPC, in one embodiment, includes a header, a payload, a first cell packet indicator (“CPI”) and a second CPI. The first CPI includes a first start of packet (“SOP”) field, a first end of packet (“EOP”) field, and a first length field. The first SOP field is used to indicate that the payload contains the first portion of a first packet and the first EOP field indicates that the payload contains the last portion of the first packet. The first length field indicates total number of bytes associated with the first packet that are stored in the payload. Similarly, the second CPI includes a second SOP field, a second EOP field, and a second length field, and it is used to track the second packet.
US09071459B2 Methods and systems for establishing electronic communications in a hosted VoIP PBX using two tiered load balancing
A system and method is provided for two-tiered load balancing on a hosted voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) private branch exchange (PBX). The system includes a plurality of client devices, at least one device load balancer, and at least one call load balancer. The device load balancer identifies a device group to which each client device belongs; and a cluster of computing resources for processing calls for the device group. The cluster is assigned to the device group based on prescribed conditions. In response to a communications request, call load balancers in communication with the device load balancers dynamically determine if predefined conditions are currently being met within an identified cluster of computing resources. If the predefined conditions are currently being met, then the communications request for a primary client device associated with the request is established via one of a plurality of server nodes within the cluster of computing resources.
US09071456B2 Method and device for realizing optical channel data unit shared protection ring
A method and a device for realizing an optical channel data unit (ODU) shared protection ring (SPRing) are disclosed by the present invention. The method includes: A first ODU of a first service transmitted in an optical line is taken as a protection granularity, where the first ODU is an ODUk that is directly multiplexed to the optical line; the first ODU is monitored, and a monitoring result is obtained; when the monitoring result indicates that a failure occurs, a switching is performed through cross of a second ODU of the first service, where the second ODU is an ODUm that is multiplexed to the first ODU, and m is smaller than or equal to k. Through the embodiments of the present invention, a protection switching speed may be accelerated.
US09071450B2 Charging and policy for services at the edge of a mobile data network
Mobile network services are performed at the edge of a mobile data network in a way that is transparent to most of the existing equipment in the mobile data network. The mobile data network includes a radio access network and a core network. A first service mechanism in the radio access network breaks out data coming from a basestation, and performs one or more mobile network services at the edge of the mobile data network based on the broken out data. A second service mechanism in the core network receives data monitored during attach and Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context activation, and establishes sessions with components in the mobile data network that support charging and policy control for sessions broken out by the first service mechanism.
US09071445B2 Method and system for generating implicit certificates and applications to identity-based encryption (IBE)
The invention relates to a method of generating an implicit certificate and a method of generating a private key from a public key. The method involves a method generating an implicit certificate in three phases. The public key may be an entity's identity or derived from an entity's identify. Only the owner of the public key possesses complete information to generate the corresponding private key. No authority is required to nor able to generate an entity's private key.
US09071444B2 Trusted message storage and transfer protocol and system
An electronic content storage and exchange system includes an interface configured to send and receive messages; a database and a controller. The database includes a plurality of records, each record representing a respective virtual storage media and including at least: a respective unique identifier assigned to the virtual storage media; a respective Private key and certificate assigned to the virtual storage media; a current content value, and a log of content transfers. The controller executes transfer-in and transfer-out processes in respect of each of the virtual storage media. The transfer-in process includes steps of: receiving a content transfer message including at least a message content to be transferred and the respective identifier assigned to a recipient virtual storage media; accessing the record representing the recipient virtual storage media; and storing the message content in the current content of the recipient virtual storage media. The transfer-out process includes steps of: receiving a content transfer request message including at least at least a message content to be transferred and the respective identifier assigned to a sending virtual storage media; accessing the record representing the sending virtual storage media; removing the message content from the current content; generating a content transfer message including the message content; and returning the content transfer message.
US09071438B2 System for efficiently handling cryptographic messages containing nonce values in a wireless connectionless environment
A secure communication module that accepts a cryptographic message if a nonce value for the received message is greater than the largest nonce value yet seen. If the received nonce value is not the largest nonce value yet seen, the secure communication module compares the received nonce value with a nonce acceptance window. If the nonce value falls outside the nonce acceptance window, the secure communication module rejects the received message and assumes a replay attack. Alternatively, if the nonce value falls within the nonce acceptance window, the secure communication module compares the received nonce value with a replay window mask. If comparison with the replay window mask indicates that the received nonce value has been seen before, the secure communication module rejects the received message and assumes a replay attack. Otherwise, the secure communication module accepts the message and adds the received nonce value to the replay window mask.
US09071437B2 Methods for identifying the guarantor of an application
Third-party applications for platforms are linked to identified individuals that guarantee the security of the applications. The linkage is achieved by acquiring one or more biometric records of the individual guarantor, storing those records as a signature in a database, assigning a unique identifier to the signature, and embedding that unique identifier in the executable file of the application. The signature of the guarantor can be compared to other stored signatures of other guarantors to check for individuals posing under multiple aliases. The signature of a guarantor linked to a malicious application can be flagged so that a subsequent application guaranteed by the same individual can be disapproved.
US09071431B1 Dynamic provision of hybrid-ARQ repetition factor based on subscription service class
Disclosed is a method and corresponding apparatus to make use of hybrid-ARQ repetition factors as a way to differentiate service quality to various mobile terminals. Depending on a mobile terminal's subscription service class, such as the mobile terminal's PLMN, the mobile terminal may be made to use a particular hybrid-ARQ repetition factor. For instance, a mobile terminal of a high service class may be made to use a low hybrid-ARQ repetition factor, which may help the mobile terminal experience less downlink transmission delay and thus a higher downlink data rate. Whereas, a mobile terminal of a low service class may be made to use a high hybrid-ARQ repetition factor, which may cause the mobile terminal to experience more downlink transmission delay and thus a lower downlink data rate, and may further free up downlink transmission resources to facilitate better service for other mobile terminals.
US09071429B1 Revocable shredding of security credentials
Customers accessing resources and/or data in a multi-tenant environment can obtain assurance that a provider of that environment will honor only requests associated with the customer. A multi-tenant cryptographic service can be used to manage cryptographic key material and/or other security resources in the multi-tenant environment. The cryptographic service can provide a mechanism in which the service can receive requests to use the cryptographic key material to access encrypted customer data, export key material out of the cryptographic service, destroy key material managed by the cryptographic service, among others. Such an approach can enable a customer to manage key material without exposing the key material outside a secure environment.
US09071428B2 Methods and systems for hardware piracy prevention
Provided are methods, systems, and devices for preventing hardware piracy.
US09071424B1 Token-based key generation
One embodiment is directed to a method performed by a computing device. The method includes (a) engaging in a handshake procedure with a remote second computing device to establish a secure channel, (b) generating a first encryption key using a first token having a secret seed, the first encryption key being the same as a second encryption key generated by the second computing device using a second token having the same secret seed, and (c) using the first encryption key to engage in encrypted communications with the second computing device. Other embodiments are directed to a computerized apparatus and a computer program product for performing a method similar to that described above.
US09071421B2 Encrypted content streaming
Encrypted content streaming is provided by a method comprising holding an encrypted content stream that is cryptographically encrypted from a content stream with a content key, and holding an encrypted content key that is cryptographically encrypted from the content key with one or more intermediate encryption keys. The method further comprises serving the encrypted content stream to a plurality of content consumption devices, wherein the encrypted content stream is embedded with a leaf license comprising the encrypted content key, and wherein the encrypted content stream is cryptographically decryptable by a content consumption device having a scalable root license providing one or more intermediate root keys from which the content consumption device derives the one or more intermediate decryption keys paired to the one or more intermediate encryption keys.
US09071412B2 Method of scheduling transmissions in a communication system
In a telecommunication system, a method of controlling and implementing uplink transmission schemes specifically for user equipment having multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) capability, including initializing said scheme at a network element; forwarding a message from said network element to said terminal indicating said scheme; transmitting uplink signals according to said scheme. It may include selecting a pre-coding arrangement such as a Transmitted Precoding Matrix Indicator or other scheduling grant information.
US09071410B2 Simultaneous transmission of clock and bidirectional data over a communication channel
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to simultaneous transmission of clock and bidirectional data over a communication channel. An embodiment of a transmitting device includes a modulator to generate a modulated signal including a clock signal and a data signal, the clock signal being modulated by a first signal edge of the modulated signal and the data signal being modulated by a position of a second signal edge of the modulated signal; a driver to drive the modulated signal on a communication channel; an echo canceller to subtract reflected signals on the communication channel; and a data recovery module to recover a signal received on the communication channel, the received signal being encoded by Return-to-Zero (RZ) encoding, the signal being received simultaneously with driving the modulated signal on the communication channel.
US09071409B2 Interpolation circuit and receiving circuit
An interpolation circuit includes: a first circuit that generates first interpolation data from a plurality of pieces of data among data inputted in time series; a second circuit that generates second interpolation data from the plurality of pieces of data in timing when a part of the data inputted in time series in the first circuit lacks; and a third circuit that adds the second interpolation data to a location in the first interpolation data where the part of the data inputted in time series has lacked.
US09071407B2 Receiver clock test circuitry and related methods and apparatuses
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of receivers, each having a clock and data recovery circuit. A first local clock recovery circuit in a first receiver can be caused to produce a test clock which simulates a condition to be tested, and while a second receiver in the plurality of receivers that includes a second local clock recovery circuit is caused to use the test clock in place of the reference clock while receiving a test data sequence at its input. The clock and data recovery circuits in the receivers can include clock control loops responsive to loop control signals to modify the selected reference clock to generate the local clock in response to selective one of (i) a corresponding data signal for normal operation or during a test, and (ii) a test signal applied to the clock control loop in which case the test clock is produced.
US09071406B2 Apparatus and method using matrix network coding
Provided are a communication apparatus and method using a matrix network coding scheme. The communication apparatus includes a reception unit to receive a corrupted packet including a plurality of corrupted words, and a controller to estimate a first decoded word corresponding to the corrupted words based on the corrupted words and a generator matrix. The controller generates a second decoded word corresponding to the corrupted words based on a codebook and the estimated first decoded word. The codebook is based on the generator matrix. The controller generates a message based on a plurality of second decoded words respectively corresponding to the plurality of corrupted words.
US09071405B2 Optical line terminal, optical network unit and passive optical network system
The invention discloses are an optical line terminal, an optical network unit, a passive optical network system, an upstream bandwidth allocation method and a rate adaptation method. The OLT comprises: an optical module, a clock and data recovery module, a media access control chip and a control module, wherein, the optical module is configured to receive upstream data sent by ONUs having different transmission rates; the clock and data recovery module is configured to receive the upstream data, recover a clock signal according to the upstream data, and send the upstream data and the clock signal to the media access control chip; the media access control chip is configured to save the upstream data and the clock signal; the control module is configured to, according to the clock signal, acquire an upstream rate of the upstream data, and allocate an upstream bandwidth to the ONU according to the upstream rate.
US09071401B2 Pilot-less noise estimation
Presented herein are pilot-less noise estimation techniques that utilize a correlation between attributes of a received signal and the noise to generate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimate for the signal. More specifically, an interval of a digital signal is received a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) value is calculated for a plurality of bits in the interval of the signal. A scalar value that relates to a distribution of the calculated LLR values is computed. The SNR for the interval of the signal is determined based on a predetermined correlation between the scalar value and noise within the received interval of the signal.
US09071399B2 Method for operating a transceiver circuit and transceiver circuit
A method for operating a transceiver circuit includes receiving an information indicating at least one of a transmission and a reception in a guard band region of a frequency band supported by a communications network and allocating at least a part of the guard band region of the supported frequency band of the communications network for at least one of a transmission and a reception of at least one physical channel.
US09071398B2 Apparatus and method for transmit/receive of image data
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving image data. The method for transmitting image data includes classifying each pixel of image data into upper bits and lower bits, enabling the classified upper bits to be included in a payload of a Most Significant Bit (MSB) packet, and also enabling the classified lower bits to be included in a payload of a Least Significant Bit (LSB) packet, generating a header of the MSB packet and a header of the LSB packet, combining the payload and the header to respectively generate the MSB packet and the LSB packet, and transmitting the generated MSB packet and the LSB packet.
US09071397B2 Detection and characterization of laser clipping within communication devices
Detection and characterization of laser clipping within communication devices. Identification of one or more harmonics associated with a fundamental frequency by which signaling is effectuated within the communication system for laser clipping identification. Appropriate spectral signal analysis is made to identify the presence of characteristic(s) (e.g., energy, amplitude, phase, and/or other characteristic(s)), if any, at one or more harmonic frequencies within a received signal. Appropriate time correlation is performed to distinguish whether or not characteristic(s) associated with at one or more of these harmonic bands is a result of laser clipping or from some other source (e.g., such as other signals within a communication system that happened to reside at those respective harmonic bands). Such appropriate identified correlation between characteristic(s) corresponding to a fundamental frequency band of the communication signal and characteristic(s) corresponding to one or more harmonics (e.g., of that fundamental frequency band) indicates laser clipping.
US09071393B2 Hitless modulation changes in double capacity links using adaptive coding modulation (ACM)
An outdoor communication unit (ODU) for implementation within a dual channel microwave backhaul system, is provided. The ODU includes an radio frequency (RF) module, having digital capabilities, which is configured to utilize the digital capabilities to perform adaptive adjustments to correct errors in data in a digital domain, a conversion block configured to convert the data between an analog domain and the digital domain, and a processing module configured to adaptively adjust a characteristic of the data and a characteristic of a dual channel wireless link, and to facilitate a transmission of the data over the dual channel wireless link by performing mathematical manipulation techniques. In particular, the characteristic of the data and of the dual channel wireless link are adaptively adjusted, according to a detected condition, using a hitless adaptive coding modulation (ACM) technique to optimize the transmission of the data over the dual channel wireless link.
US09071391B2 Pilot transmitting apparatus and method for SC-FDMA system
Provided are a pilot transmitting apparatus and method capable of selectively using an OFDMA scheme and an SC-FDMA scheme. The pilot transmitting apparatus includes a pilot inserter for inserting a pilot signal in a modulated symbol and inserting a cyclic prefix code for the inserted pilot signal, an FFT processor for receiving symbols with a pilot inserted thereto from the pilot inserter and performing an FFT process on the received symbols, an IFFT processor for receiving the transformed data from the FFT processor and performing an IFFT process on the transformed data, a mapping processor for mapping the output of the FFT processor to input positions of the IFFT processor to load the frequency domain transformed data on predetermined sub-carriers, and a cyclic prefix inserter for inserting a cyclic prefix code for the output of the IFFT processor.
US09071390B2 Adjusting physical layer transmission properties
A transmitting device may determine a physical layer transmission properties based upon an amount of data to transmit via a communications channel. The physical layer transmission properties may comprise a derated tone map that has a lower physical layer transmission throughput capability than an original tone map. An indication regarding the derated tone map may be included in a first message, a portion of a physical layer framing protocol, a physical layer control transmission (such as a frame control symbol), or other transmissions such that the receiving device can derive the derated tone map without significant added overhead.
US09071389B2 Method for communicating in a MIMO network
The present invention relates to a method for communicating in a network, said network comprising a primary station and at least a first secondary station, wherein the first secondary station transmits to the primary station an indication of a first plurality of precoding vectors, wherein the number of first precoding vectors is greater than a preferred rank of transmission from the primary station to the first secondary station.
US09071386B2 System and method for communication
A communication system includes an omnidirectional antenna to receive a wideband primary signal, a nulling antenna to receive a secondary signal and a controller. The nulling antenna is oriented to place a null in a direction of a desired communication signal and the controller subtracts a processed secondary signal from a processed wideband primary signal to produce a jamming cancelled signal.
US09071385B2 Method for jamming communications in a closed-loop control network
A method is provided for selectively, dynamically and adaptively jamming the third-party radio communications that are external to a radio communication network to be protected, which optimizes the effectiveness of the jamming of P predefined areas or positions in a network of transmitters, and which uses closed-loop control to limit fratricidal effects on certain platforms having telecommunication transmitters/receivers to be preserved.
US09071382B2 Method of optical data transmission using polarization division multiplexing
Proposed is a method of optical data transmission. A first data signal and a second data signal are received at a same sampling rate. A third data signal and a fourth data signal are generated, using the first and the second data signal, wherein the two data signals are delayed to each other by a delay time that is varied over time. The phase of a first optical signal is modulated in dependence on the third data signal, and the phase of a second optical signal with a same wavelength is modulated in dependence on the fourth data signal. The first optical signal is transmitted in a first polarization plane into an optical fiber, and the second optical signal is transmitted in a second polarization plane orthogonal to the first polarization plane into the optical fiber.
US09071380B2 Multi-point control protocol proxy architecture in a network with optical and coaxial domains
A method of registering a coax network unit (CNU) in a network is performed at an optical-coax unit (OCU). In the method, a first discovery message is broadcasted to a plurality of CNUs. In response, a first registration request is received from a first CNU of the plurality of CNUs. In response to the first registration request, a proxy entity corresponding to the first CNU is implemented in the OCU. A second discovery message is received from an optical line terminal (OLT). In response to the second discovery message, a second registration request is transmitted to the OLT requesting registration of the proxy entity with the OLT.
US09071378B2 Superimposed signal detection circuit and optical node equipment
A superimposed signal detection circuit detects a signal superimposed on an optical signal in a WDM system. The superimposed signal detection circuit includes: an optical filter having wavelength-dependent loss to filter a plurality of optical signals on which a corresponding superimposed signal is superimposed by frequency modulation; a photo detector to convert the plurality of optical signals filtered by the optical filter into an electric signal; and a detector to obtain information indicated by the superimposed signal respectively superimposed on the plurality of optical signals from the electric signal obtained by the photo detector.
US09071368B2 Mixing board for audio signals
A mixing board for sound signals received on at least two channels, which can include the following circuits: a circuit for pre-listening to the sound signals through headphones that can be connected, a circuit for changing the timbre by means of a sound filter, and a circuit for cross-fading and/or mixing sound signals of the channels by means of a cross-fader, and which comprises several outputs, wherein the sound signals received on the channels are headphone output signals of players, the relevant channels are divided by means of circuitry and the signals are passed on to the outputs in parallel and without amplification: a) through a passive sound filter and subsequently a passive cross-fader to an output to which an amplifier can be connected, and b) via a switch (6, 7) of the relevant channel to a headphone output of the mixing board, wherein the channels can be selected by means of the switches.
US09071361B2 Extended reach XFP transceiver with integrated forward error correction
Integrated performance monitoring (PM); optical layer operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning (OAM&P); alarming; amplification, or the like is described in optical transceivers, such as multi-source agreement (MSA)-defined modules. An optical transceiver defined by an MSA agreement can include advanced integrated functions for carrier-grade operation which preserves the existing MSA specifications allowing the optical transceiver to operate with any compliant MSA host device with advanced features and functionality. An XFP module can include integrated circuitry configured to provide forward error correction encoding and decoding; a transmitter communicatively coupled to the integrated circuit; a receiver communicatively coupled to the integrated circuit; and a module housing in which the integrated circuitry, the transmitter, and the receiver are disposed, wherein the module housing is pluggable in a host device configured to operate the pluggable optical transceiver, and wherein the forward error correction encoding and decoding is performed transparently to the host device.
US09071353B2 Optical module, optical transmission device and method of manufacturing optical transmission device
An optical module includes a circuit board having flexibility, a photoelectric conversion element mounted on a mounting surface of the circuit board, a semiconductor circuit element mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board and electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element, a plate-shaped optical connection member having a groove into which an end part of an optical fiber is pushed so as to be housed and optically connecting the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element, and a supporting member arranged so as to sandwich the optical connection member between the circuit board. The groove is formed between the semiconductor circuit element and the supporting member so as to have an opening into which the optical fiber is pushed at the supporting member side. The semiconductor circuit element has a height from the mounting surface of the circuit board higher than the photoelectric conversion element.
US09071349B2 Optical transceiver performance monitoring and alarming systems and methods
Performance monitoring (PM); optical layer operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning (OAM&P); and alarming are provided in optical transceivers, such as multi-source agreement (MSA)-defined modules. The present disclosure provides an optical transceiver defined by an MSA agreement with integrated PM and alarming for carrier-grade operation. The integration preserves the existing MSA specifications allowing the optical transceiver to operate with any compliant MSA host device. Further, the host device can be configured through software to retrieve the PM and alarming from the optical transceiver. The optical transceiver can include XFP, XPAK, XENPAK, X2, XFP-E, SFP, SFP+, 300-pin, and the like. The optical transceiver is configured to frame incoming signals to provide overhead and FEC. The transceiver provides access to all alarms in ITU-T G.709, all Tandem Connection Monitoring (TCM) bytes in G.709, far end monitoring as specified in G.709, loopbacks, historical and real-time PM values, and the like.
US09071346B2 Receiver and receiving method
A receiver for receiving a frame including a pilot signal and a data signal, referring to an impulse response of a propagation path estimated from the pilot signal, and performing compensation processing on the data signal, the receiver includes: an extraction unit configured to extract the pilot signal of the frame; and an estimation unit configured to execute orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) method which is a decoding algorithm for compressive sensing and to estimate the impulse response from the pilot signal, wherein the estimation unit refers to a pilot signal of a first frame, estimates an impulse response, determines position information on the estimated impulse response, refers to a pilot signal corresponding to the determined position information, of a second frame subsequent to the first frame, estimates an impulse response, and determines position information on the estimated impulse response.
US09071344B2 Reverse link interference cancellation
A method and system for reverse link interference cancellation. One method comprises demodulating and decoding at least one signal sent from at least one access terminal and received by a first base station, sending demodulated, decoded information of the signal to a second base station, reconstructing the signal at the second base station, and subtracting the reconstructed signal from a buffer at the second base station.
US09071343B2 Method and apparatus for avoiding interference
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, a method that determines at least one threshold for detecting signal interference in a first plurality of segments occurring in a first radio frequency spectrum of a first wireless communication system, detecting a pattern of recurrence over time of signal interference in a segment of the first plurality of resource blocks according to the at least one threshold, and performing one or more mitigation steps to mitigate the signal interference without filtering the signal interference where the one or more mitigation steps include at least one of transmitting signals out of phase from the signal interference, adjusting transmit power, increasing power in a resource block of a long term evolution communication session, performing beam steering, or changing time parameters for the resource block without changing to a new resource block. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09071336B2 Adjustable wireless circuitry with antenna-based proximity detector
An electronic device such as a portable electronic device has wireless communications circuitry. Antennas in the electronic device may be used in transmitting radio-frequency antenna signals. A coupler and antenna signal phase and magnitude measurement circuitry may be used to determine when external objects are in the vicinity of the antenna by making antenna impedance measurements. In-band and out-of-band phase and magnitude signal measurements may be made in determining whether external objects are present. Additional sensors such as motion sensors, light and heat sensors, acoustic and electrical sensors may produce data that can be combined with the proximity data gathered using the antenna-based proximity sensor. In response to detecting that an external object such as a user's body is within a given distance of the antenna, the electronic device may reduce transmit powers, switch antennas, steer a phased antenna array, switch communications protocols, or take other actions.
US09071334B2 Far-end crosstalk canceling method and device
A method for reducing far-end crosstalk in an xDSL system is provided. The method includes transmitting, by a first DSL transceiver over a first line to a second DSL transceiver, a noise statistic related value that reflects a signal-to-noise ratio of the first line and receiving, by the first DSL transceiver over the first line from the second DSL transceiver, a synthesized signal pre-coded on the second DSL transceiver using filtering parameters associated with the noise statistic related value. The method further includes transmitting, by the first DSL transceiver over the first line to the second DSL transceiver in response to the reception of the synthesized signal, an updated noise statistic related value. A corresponding device for remote crosstalk cancellation is also provided.
US09071331B2 Communication apparatus, communication method, and storage medium
A communication apparatus detects a radio signal from another communication apparatus which performs radio communication in another apparatus station, estimates a producing period and signal timing of the another apparatus station using the detected radio signal, determines, based on the detected radio signal, a communication apparatus which has transmitted the signal, and stores, in association with each other, the determined communication apparatus and the producing period and signal timing of the another apparatus station, wherein at least one of the stored producing period and signal timing of the other apparatus station is updated using the detected radio signal.
US09071330B2 Peer-to-peer communication initiated by shared physical experience
Apparatus and methods for pairing communication devices are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes at least one sensor to produce a data signal responsive to sensing physical characteristics of an environment of the communication device, and a capture component to capture portions of the data signal to generate local data indicative of the physical characteristics. A peer interface component receives, via the wireless transceiver, remote data from at least one other communication device that is indicative of physical characteristics of an environment of the other communication device. A data correlation component compares the local data with the remote data and initiates, when the comparison indicates the communication device and the other communication device are sensing the same physical characteristics, a pairing of the communication device with the other communication devices.
US09071329B2 Customizable and upgradable devices and methods related thereto
A customizable and an upgradable remote control is provided which may be customized or upgraded via a Web site or through other remote, and preferably interactive, processes. A database is provided which includes a plurality of functions of a consumer electronic device, such as a TV and/or a DVD player. A user selects among the plurality of functions at least one of the desired functions. In response to the user selection a virtual configuration is created to virtually configure the customizable remote control. The virtual configuration may be downloaded to the customizable remote control.
US09071328B2 Transceiver with automatic detection of unshielded twisted pair or shielded twisted pair cabling
Typical transceivers have multiple near-end and multiple far-end crosstalk cancellation filters. Crosstalk cancellation is one of the largest contributors to power dissipation in the DSP portion of high speed Ethernet transceivers. By detecting the cable type, a transceiver could automatically turn off its crosstalk cancellation filters when driving shielded twisted pair (STP) cables and substantially reduce the overall power dissipation in this configuration. Adaptive digital crosstalk cancellers automatically adjust the coefficients of a digital filter to match the coupling function between two channels. The impulse response of an optimal crosstalk cancellation filter can be used to determine a metric indicating the amount of coupling between the two channels. STP cables will have a much lower amount of coupling between wire-pairs than unshielded twisted pair cables.
US09071327B2 Efficient frequency estimation
Methods are presented herein for estimating at least a frequency (offset) for a block of received symbols using two or more estimation stages. These methods may allow reducing the computational complexity of a frequency estimator while maintaining large frequency offset coverage and high frequency estimation accuracy. Also presented herein are satellite communication systems employing a burst transmission or continuous transmission, and configured to estimate at least a frequency (offset) for a received burst or a block of received symbols using two or more estimation stages. In some embodiments, a received burst or a received block of symbols may include a Unique Word located at or about the center of the received burst or the block of symbols.
US09071318B2 Techniques for determining covariance measures based on correlation criteria
A method includes providing a plurality of sets of equalizer taps, wherein each set is coupled to a respective one of a plurality of antenna ports; assigning a first plurality of equalizer taps of the sets of equalizer taps to a first subset; determining a first covariance measure associated with the first plurality of equalizer taps of the first subset based on a first correlation criterion; assigning a second plurality of equalizer taps of the sets of equalizer taps to a second subset; and determining a second covariance measure associated with the second plurality of equalizer taps of the second subset based on a second correlation criterion.
US09071317B2 Nullification of transmitter noise at receive signal frequency
According to one exemplary embodiment, a transceiver for nullification of a noise component in a transmitter comprises a noise nullification module loading a selected node in the transmitter. The noise nullification module comprises a mixer that receives inputs from the selected node and a local oscillator, where the mixer is also coupled to a filter such that the noise nullification module presents a low impedance at an approximate frequency of a noise component so as to nullify the noise component. In one embodiment, the noise nullification module results in band-pass filtering of an approximate receive signal frequency so as to nullify a noise component at the receive frequency. In another embodiment, the noise nullification module results in notch filtering of an approximate transmit signal frequency so as to nullify a noise component at a receive signal frequency.
US09071307B2 Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus, program and transmission method
A wireless communication system includes a first wireless communication apparatus, which includes a plurality of transmission antennas and transmits signals in an MIMO scheme, and a second wireless communication apparatus, which receives the signals. The first wireless communication apparatus performs the same frequency allocation for transmission antennas from which the same data is transmitted in case that transmission is performed in a rank less than the number of transmission antennas.
US09071306B2 Transmission apparatus, reception apparatus, communication system, circuit apparatus, communication method, and program
A communication apparatus, method, and system that reduce adverse effects caused by coupling between a transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus. The transmission apparatus includes a monitoring section that monitors an index value for a total amount of bias of a signal level in signals, a symbol identifying section that identifies a target symbol to be changed in a transmission symbol sequence comprising the signals, based on the index value for the total amount of bias of the signal level, a symbol position changing section that changes a position of the target symbol to a position of a signal point serving to reduce the bias of the signal level, and a transmission section that transmits signals included in the changed transmission symbol sequence to a reception apparatus.
US09071303B2 Level de-multiplexed delta sigma modulator based transmitter
This specification discloses a level de-multiplexed DSM based transmitter and a method for providing the same. Broadly embodiments of the present specification enable wireless transmitters that are based on multi-level de-multiplexed DSM. A three-level de-multiplexed DSM based transmitter is disclosed as an example. More generally, the use of m-level de-multiplexed DSM is also taught, the specification thereby being enabling for broader applications to a person skilled in the art. At least one of the efficiency and linearity of transmitters can be enhanced as required for specific applications by a person of skill in the art in view of this specification and the teachings of its disclosed embodiments.
US09071301B2 Precoding with a codebook for a wireless system
A method of precoding implemented in a base station used in a wireless communications system having codebooks for multiple transmission ranks is disclosed. The method includes precoding data in one or more layers with a precoding matrix obtained from one of the codebooks, and transmitting the precoded data to a user equipment, wherein entries of said one of the codebooks are accessed through a first description and a second description, wherein the precoding matrix is determined according to the first description and the second description, which are unique to the precoding matrix, and wherein the second description provides a finer description of said one of the codebooks than the first description. Other methods, systems, and apparatuses also are disclosed.
US09071300B2 Signal transceiver with enhanced return loss in power-off state
A signal transceiver with enhanced return loss in a power-off state includes a connector, a band-pass filter, a front-end module and an impedance transformation circuit. The impedance transformation circuit is coupled between the band-pass filter and the front-end module for transforming an input impedance of the signal transceiver, and includes an input terminal coupled to the band-pass filter for receiving a signal; an output terminal coupled to the front-end module for outputting the signal to the front-end module; an impedance transforming unit; and a power source input circuit coupled to the impedance transforming unit for providing a power source; wherein the impedance transforming unit is coupled between the power source input circuit and the input terminal, for transforming the input impedance of the signal transceiver.
US09071299B1 HDTV compatible precoding for multi-user MIMO in a wireless home network
A wireless access point including: a station grouping module for selecting station nodes for concurrent multi-user (MU) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication links, for retrieving ‘sounding’ packets therefrom which characterize the associated communication channels; a precode selector for determining whether an aggregate number of receive antennas on the at least two station nodes exceeds in number the plurality of antenna on the WAP; a post-equalization precoder responsive to an affirmative determination by the precode selector to perform a similarity transform of the inner products of the associated communication channels using ‘Q’ as a transform matrix where ‘Q’ block diagonalizes the associated communication channels; and a spatial mapper for precoding all concurrent transmissions to the selected at least two station nodes using “Q” as a precode matrix.
US09071296B2 Communication system and method using space division multi-user multiple input multiple output (SD-MIMO) communication method
Provided is a communication system using a space division multi-user multiple input multiple output (SD-MIMO) communication method. A transmission apparatus may transmit, to each of terminals included within a coverage, common control information commonly transmitted to the terminals and individual control information individually transmitted to each of the terminals. The transmission apparatus does not precode the common control information and transmits the non-precoded common control information. The transmission apparatus precodes the individual control information and transmits the precoded individual control information.
US09071295B1 Method and apparatus for receiving signals in a MIMO system with multiple channel encoders
In a method for decoding plurality of information streams corresponding to a plurality of layers, where the plurality of information streams have been transmitted via a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication channel, a plurality of received signals are processed to decode information corresponding to a first layer. A plurality of modified received signals are generated using the decoded information corresponding to the first layer and the plurality of received signals. Bit metric values are generated for a second layer using MIMO maximum likelihood (ML) demodulation and using the plurality of modified received signals and channel and modulation information for interfering signals. Information corresponding to the second layer is decoded using the generated bit metric values.
US09071291B2 Method and apparatus for MIMO-based multiple base station collaborative communication
A solution for multiple base station collaborative communication in TDD (Time Division Duplex) and FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) systems is provided. To be specific, a serving base station and coordinating base station transmit detection signals with specific Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) features on one or more communication resources. The mobile station measures the detection signals on the one or more communication resources and generates indication information of the recommended collaborative communication modes based on the measurement results. Preferably the indexes of the time-frequency resources corresponding to the recommended collaborative communication modes are reported to the serving base station. Then the serving base station schedules at least one of the one or more mobile stations according to the indication information reported by the one or more stations and provides MIMO communication manner for the mobile station scheduled. The coverage of the cells is improved, the cell edge user throughput is increased and the inter-cell interference between neighboring base stations is decreased by exploiting the invention. Preferably the amount of uplink feedback information is decreased and the uplink bandwidth is saved.
US09071290B2 COMP operation in cellular communication networks
A supporting radio base station (100) comprises an IQ sample provider (110) for extracting, in a selected subset of the available frequency band (A) and/or from a selected subset of the available antennas (B), so-called complementary IQ samples based on received radio signals including a radio signal originating from an uplink transmission of at least one UE served by a serving radio base station (200). The supporting radio base station (100) comprises an IQ sample transmitter (120) for transmitting the complementary IQ samples to the serving radio base station (200) to enable the serving radio base station to decode user data of the uplink transmission based on the complementary IQ samples together with own IQ samples provided by the serving radio base station (200). This will provide significant savings of bit rate for the exchange of IQ samples between the radio base stations.
US09071288B2 Inductive-coupling system and method with compensation to prevent interference
A transmitting circuit that includes a driving circuit that drives an inductor to transmit data to a semiconductor chip insulated from a semiconductor chip on which the transmitting circuit is mounted. The driving circuit receives an outgoing data, compensates wave distortion of the outgoing data generated from the self-resonance of the inductor, generates a compensated outgoing data, and outputs the compensated outgoing data to drive the inductor, such that the outgoing data is transmitted at a data rate higher than the self-resonant frequency of the inductor.
US09071287B2 Near field communication (NFC) educational device and application
Disclosed are an apparatus and method of initiating an educational application user interface. One example method of operation may include receiving a near field communication signal from a passive near field tag at an active near field communication device operating an educational application user interface. The passive tags may be used to provide educational segment triggers which offer educational content pertaining to the particular lesson being conducted.
US09071282B1 Variable read rates for short-range communication
In general, techniques and systems for selecting a read rate for short-range communication with a computing device are described. In one example, a method includes detecting, by a computing device, a trigger event. The method may also include, responsive to the detection of the trigger event, changing a near-field communication (NFC) read rate from a first read rate to a second read rate by multiplying the first read rate by a predetermined value. The method may also include generating, by the computing device, NFC signals at the second read rate. In some examples, the trigger event may include an acceleration or velocity of the computing device exceeding a threshold, detecting the computing device within a predetermined geographical location, or detecting an ambient light intensity exceeding a threshold.
US09071280B1 Method and apparatus for controlling a number of decoding iterations of a decoder based on a temperature of an integrated circuit that includes the decoder
An integrated circuit including a first decoder, a second decoder, a sensor, and a controller. The first decoder generates first data by performing a first number of decoding iterations and generates second data after performing all of the first number of decoding iterations. The second decoder performs a second number of decoding iterations and generates soft information based on input samples and/or the second data. Each of the second number of decoding iterations is performed after all of the first number of decoding iterations. The first decoder generates the first data based on the soft information and/or the first data from one of the first number of decoding iterations. The sensor senses a temperature of the integrated circuit. The controller controls, based on the temperature of the integrated circuit, at least one of the first number of decoding iterations or the second number of decoding iterations.
US09071274B2 Systems, methods, apparatus and computer program products for highly reliable file delivery using compound and braided FEC encoding and decoding
Systems, methods, apparatus and computer program products provide highly reliable file delivery using a combination of packet-level FEC on source data packets which are arranged in matrices, where encoding is performed on both rows and columns or on rows, columns and diagonals.
US09071270B2 Time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter bandwidth matching
A time-interleaved Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) includes a set of time multiplexed sub-ADC circuits, each sub-ADC circuit comprising a sample-and-hold circuit. Each sample-and-hold circuit includes a bootstrap circuit for maintaining a constant voltage level between an input terminal of a switch and a gate terminal of the switch, the switch for switching between a track mode and a hold mode, and a capacitor bank associated with the bootstrap circuit such that a setting of the capacitor bank affects the voltage level.
US09071269B2 Encoding data for storage in a data storage device
A data storage device includes a memory and a controller. A method performed in the data storage device includes performing a first transformation of a unit of data to generate a first transformed unit of data. Performing the first transformation includes sorting permutations of the unit of data. The method includes performing a move-to-front transformation of the first transformed unit of data to generate a second transformed unit of data. The method includes performing a weight-based encoding of the second transformed unit of data to generate an encoded unit of data. The encoded unit of data has a same number of bits as the unit of data.
US09071266B2 MTR and RLL code design and encoder and decoder
An array f(n) is received for n=1, . . . , N where N is a length of a codeword. An array g(n) is received for n=1, . . . , N where N is a length of a codeword. Input data is encoded to satisfy an MTR constraint and a RLL constraint using the array f(n) and the array g(n).
US09071264B2 Microcontroller with sequencer driven analog-to-digital converter
An automated sequencer for a microcontroller is provided which makes a CVD conversion process a hardware function. The sequencer controls the charging/discharging of the sensor and ADC sample-and-hold capacitances, as well as the voltage division process. It also initiates the ADC conversion, with an optional second conversion for greater resolution, or a differential conversion.
US09071259B2 A/D conversion system
An input signal is quantized by a quantizer after being passed through plural loop filters. A last-stage loop filter is formed of an operational amplifier for generating an output signal, a sampling capacitor for sampling the input signal, an integrating capacitor for integrating the signal sampled by the capacitor and plural switches for switching over signal paths. A control circuit controls on/off states of the switches to discharge the sampling capacitor and the integrating capacitor and causes the loop filter to repeat a sampling operation and an integrating operation plural times. The control circuit lastly connects the sampling capacitor and the integrating capacitor to a state, which is opposite to the state of the integrating operation time and turns on a converting switch so that the A/D converter A/D-converts the output signal of the loop filter.
US09071258B1 Parallel-serial converter circuit
A parallel-serial converter circuit has a frequency divider configured to generate a frequency-divided signal by dividing a frequency of a reference clock signal by a dividing ratio depending on a logic of a speed control signal, a timing pulse generator configured to generate a timing pulse signal based on the frequency-divided signal, a load signal generator configured to generate a load signal based on the speed control signal and the timing pulse signal, a bit clock generator configured to generate a bit clock signal based on the speed control signal and the timing pulse signal, and a parallel-serial converter configured to newly load the parallel data in synchronization with the load signal and convert the loaded parallel data into serial data in synchronization with the bit clock signal.
US09071254B2 Oscillator and self-calibration method thereof
An oscillator and a self-calibration method thereof are provided. The oscillator includes: an oscillation unit for generating an oscillation signal; a converting unit for converting frequency of the oscillation signal into a voltage signal; a comparison unit for comparing the voltage signal with a first voltage corresponding to a higher frequency and a second voltage corresponding to a lower frequency, and outputting a comparison result signal; an adjusting unit for storing a calibration value, adjusting the calibration value based on the comparison result signal and outputting a calibration signal corresponding to the adjusted calibration value; and a calibration unit for calibrating the frequency of the oscillation signal based on the calibration signal. Self-calibration for the frequency of the oscillation signal may be achieved, which may ensure the stability of the frequency of the oscillation signal.
US09071247B2 Semiconductor device for performing preemphasis operation
A semiconductor device includes: a main driving unit configured to receive an output data and to drive the received data to a data output pad; a pre-emphasis data generation unit configured to compare a delayed data obtained by delaying the output data by one data period with the output data, to delay the comparison result by one data period, and to output the delayed data as pre-emphasis data; and a pre-emphasis driving unit configured to receive the pre-emphasis data and to drive the received data to the data output pad.
US09071246B2 Memory controller for heterogeneous configurable integrated circuits
A system including a configurable memory controller, a memory interface, and a configurable high speed communications fabric comprising a plurality of interconnect stations arranged in an array and operable to implement a plurality of pipelined buses, where the configurable memory controller is operably coupled to the configurable high speed communications fabric using a first interconnect station of the plurality of interconnect stations, where the memory interface is operably coupled to the configurable high speed communications fabric using a second interconnect station of the plurality of interconnect stations, where the plurality of interconnect stations are configured to satisfy a timing requirement of the memory interface, and where the configurable memory controller, the memory interface, and the configurable high speed communications fabric are associated with a configurable integrated circuit.
US09071234B2 High-resolution link-path delay estimator and method for estimating a signal-path delay
Embodiments of a high-resolution link-path delay estimator and method are generally described herein. The high-resolution link-path delay estimator may estimate a signal-path delay of a signal path between a master and remote device. The high-resolution link-path delay estimator may phase-shift a transmit signal of alternating symbols by phase-shift values and may sample a loopback signal. A noise-reduced version of the sampled signal output may be correlated with a step function to generate a correlation value for each of the phase-shift values. One of the phase-shift values may be selected to generate a fine-delay estimate which may be added to a coarse delay estimate to determine the signal-path delay. The coarse delay estimate may be an estimate of the signal-path delay to a nearest symbol period of the transmit signal and the fine-delay estimate may be an estimate to within a fraction of the symbol period.
US09071232B2 Integrated circuit with ring oscillator
An integrated circuit includes a ring oscillator including delay cells having a delay value and configured to generate two or more periodic waves, a first phase controller configured to compare the phase of a first selected periodic wave to the phase of a reference wave and change the delay value of the delay cells from a first delay value to a second delay value based on a first comparison signal corresponding to a phase difference between the first selected periodic wave and the reference wave, and a second phase controller configured to compare the phase of a second selected periodic wave to the phase of the reference wave and restore the delay value of the delay cells from the second delay value to the first delay value based on a second comparison signal corresponding to a phase difference between the second selected periodic wave and the reference wave.
US09071226B2 Micromechanical resonator and method for manufacturing thereof
The invention relates to a temperature compensated micromechanical resonator and method of manufacturing thereof. The resonator comprises a resonator element comprising a semiconductor crystal structure, which is doped so as to reduce its temperature coefficient of frequency, transducer means for exciting to the resonator element a vibrational mode. According to the invention the crystal orientation and shape of the resonator element are chosen to allow for a shear mode having a saddle point to be excited to the resonator element, and said transducer means are adapted to excite said shear mode to the resonator element. Accurate micromechanical resonators with now temperature drift can be achieved by means of the invention.
US09071223B2 At least first and second order temperature-compensated resonator
A temperature compensated resonator including a body used in deformation, the core of the body including a first material. The body includes at least a first and second coating allowing the resonator to have substantially zero first and second order temperature coefficients. The temperature compensated regulator can be used in the field of time and frequency bases.
US09071222B2 Method for forming an electrode
A microacoustic component includes an active layer and an electrode. The electrode includes a first metal layer facing the active layer, a second metal layer facing away from the active layer, and a third layer arranged between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. The third layer serves as a diffusion barrier.
US09071220B2 Efficient N-factorial differential signaling termination network
A termination network circuit for a differential signal transmitter comprises a plurality of n resistance elements and a plurality of differential signal drivers. A first end of each of the resistance elements is coupled at a common node, where n is an integer value and is the number of conductors used to transmit a plurality of differential signals. Each differential signal driver may include a positive terminal driver and a negative terminal driver. The positive terminal driver is coupled to a second end of a first resistance element while the negative terminal driver is coupled to a second end of a second resistance element. The positive terminal driver and the negative terminal driver are separately and independently switchable to provide a current having a magnitude and direction. During a transmission cycle each of the resistance elements has a current of a different magnitude and/or direction than the other resistance elements.
US09071218B2 Electronic device audio volume reduction in response to audio communication request
Presented is a method of facilitating use of an audio communication device, such as a telephone, in the presence of an electronic device capable of generating sound, such as a television or audio receiver. In the method, a message is received from the audio communication device, wherein the message indicates the audio communication device has received a request for an audio communication, such as a telephone call, from a second audio communication device. In response to receiving the message, an audio volume of the electronic device is reduced.
US09071216B2 Signal processing device and signal processing method
A signal processing device includes a first amplifier, a converter, a signal processor, a controller, and a second amplifier. The first amplifier amplifies a level of an externally input analog audio signal with a first gain whose value is variable. The converter converts the analog audio signal amplified by the first amplifier into a digital audio signal. The signal processor that performs tone control signal processing on the digital audio signal. The controller detects a level of the digital audio signal before the signal processing and controls the value of the first gain in accordance with the detected level. The second amplifier detects a level of the digital audio signal after the signal processing and amplifies the digital audio signal after the signal processing with a second gain determined in accordance with the detected level and the first gain whose value has been controlled by the controller.
US09071215B2 Audio signal processing device, method, program, and recording medium for processing audio signal to be reproduced by plurality of speakers
An audio signal processing device capable of separating audio signal components which enhance the sence of presense from two channels of audio signals and increasing or decreasing pressure for the components is provided. The audio signal processing device (illustrated as an audio signal processing portion 20) is provided with a signal extraction portion (illustrated as a signal separation and extraction portion 23) for extracting, from input audio signals of two channels, uncorrelated signals derived from the signals; an uncorrelated signal increase/decrease portion (illustrated as gain adjustment portions 25a and 25b) for increasing or decreasing signals extracted at the signal extraction portion; and an audio signal summing portion for summing the signals that have been increased or decreased at the uncorrelated signal increase/decrease portion and the input audio signal.
US09071214B2 Audio signal controller
The present invention relates to an audio signal controller adapted to receiving first and second digital audio signals and estimating a signal feature of the first or second digital audio signal. The estimated signal feature is compared with a predetermined feature criterion and the audio signal controller switches from conveying the first digital audio signal to conveying the second digital audio signal to a controller output, or vice versa, at a zero-crossing of the first digital audio signal or the second digital audio signal based on the comparison between the estimated signal feature and the predetermined feature criterion.
US09071211B1 Compact doherty combiner
A combiner coupled to output terminals of a Doherty amplifier, the combiner comprising an inverter circuit and a transformer circuit. The inverter circuit comprising at least a first network and a second network, wherein each of the first network and the second network includes lumped elements. The transformer circuit comprising at least a third network and a fourth network, wherein each of the first third and the fourth network includes the lumped elements, wherein the lumped elements are selected from the group of capacitors and inductors.
US09071209B1 Systems and methods for a current sensing patch-clamp amplifier
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, and methods for sensing currents conducted via an electrode. In various embodiments, an apparatus may include an operational amplifier including a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The first input terminal may be configured to electrically couple with the electrode. The apparatus may further include a feedback circuit coupling the output terminal of the operational amplifier to the first input terminal. The feedback circuit may comprise a plurality of transistor devices configured to generate a feedback current based on a voltage value of the output terminal. The plurality of transistors may be further configured to provide the feedback current to the first input terminal. The apparatus may also include a voltage source coupled to the second input terminal and configured to maintain a substantially constant voltage at the second input terminal.
US09071208B2 Signal amplification circuit and signal amplification determination circuit including the signal amplification circuit
A signal amplification circuit includes an input terminal; a first chopper modulation circuit; a first amplifier having an amplification circuit and a chopper demodulation circuit, a capacitance feedback circuit having a second chopper modulation circuit, a first switch constituting a voltage follower circuit with the amplification circuit; a second switch; a second amplifier to convert the differential output signal from the second output terminal into a single-end signal; and a filter to pass at least a predetermined frequency component of the chopping frequency from the single-end signal from the second amplifier to output an output signal of the signal amplification circuit.
US09071206B2 Anti-glitch system for audio amplifier
An audio amplification circuit comprises an amplifier having an input and an output, as well as an audio output to which a load can be connected. It additionally comprises a first driver stage having an input and an output which is not coupled to the audio output, and a second driver stage having an input and an output which is coupled to the audio output. The output from the amplifier is selectively coupled to the input of the first driver stage in a first phase of operation and then selectively to the input of the second driver stage in a second phase of operation following the first phase of operation.
US09071205B2 Single input class-AB rail-to-rail output stage
An amplifier with a single-input class-AB output stage comprises an input stage providing a signal to an output stage. The output stage comprises a current-splitting stage having a bias current and providing at least two intermediate output currents, and a drive stage receiving the two intermediate output currents and driving an output signal having a positive side and a negative side.
US09071204B2 Digital polar and ZVS contour based hybrid power amplifier
A power amplifier (PA) which improves dynamic range of previous ZVS contour-based power amplifier architectures is presented. The inventive circuit combines ZVS contour-based power amplification with a current mode digital-to-analog converter (DAC) based digital polar power amplifier. The inventive elements interoperate to provide high efficiency even at large peak power back-off levels and increased dynamic range. The invention is particularly well-suited for use in modulation schemes (e.g., WLAN/LTE/WIMAX) having large peak-to-average output power ratios. Utilizing the inventive PA in generating modulation in these systems can increase RF transmitter efficiency of by approximately two-fold.
US09071203B2 CMOS cascode power cells
A circuit includes a first CMOS device forming a gain stage of a power amplifier and a second CMOS device forming a voltage buffer stage of the power amplifier. The first CMOS device includes a first doped well formed in a substrate, a first drain region and a first source region spaced laterally from one another in the first doped well, and a first gate structure formed over a first channel region in the first doped well. The second CMOS device includes a second doped well formed in the semiconductor substrate such that the first doped well and the second is disposed adjacent to the second doped well. A second drain region and a second source region are spaced laterally from one another in the second doped well, and a second gate structure formed over a second channel region in the second doped well.
US09071201B2 Low dissipation amplifier
A low dissipation, low distortion amplifier includes a driver amplifier stage and a main output stage, with a plurality of impedance networks providing, among other things, feedback paths from outputs of the driver and main output stages to the input of the driver stage. The impedance networks also provide coupling paths from the outputs of the driver and main output stages to the load. The impedance networks can all be formed of resistors, capacitors, or network combinations thereof. An additional feedback path can be added from the load to the driver stage to flatten out the frequency response at low frequencies. The driver and main output stages may be operated in Class AB and B modes respectively, and/or in Class G or H modes. An intermediate amplifier driver stage may be added between the driver and main output stages.
US09071197B2 Harmonic rejective passive up converter
Methods and apparatuses are presented for harmonic reject upconverting a baseband signal using at least one quadrature passive upconversion mixer. In some embodiments, an apparatus may include a first quadrature passive mixer configured to receive a first baseband input and a first LO input, and a second quadrature passive mixer configured to receive a second baseband input and a second LO input. A first output of said first passive mixer may be directly connected to a first output of said second passive mixer and together coupled to a first amplifier input. A second output of said first passive mixer may be directly connected to a second output of said second passive mixer and together coupled to a second amplifier input. The transmitter may be configured to output an upconverted signal with at least one rejected harmonic spurious mixing product based on the first and second amplifier inputs.
US09071196B2 Double balanced mixer with switching pairs complementary to each other
A double balanced mixer has a DC detection circuit connected to receive the output of the mixer core. The detected level is applied to adjust the duty cycle of the transistors of the mixer core. In one example, this adjusting level is added to the local oscillator signals that are applied to the core. In another example, the level is applied to adjust the threshold of the transistors of the mixer core. In a further example, the duty cycle of the local oscillator signals is adjusted before it is applied to the mixer core Also provided is an input stage for a double balanced mixer core, which comprises a transistor having a low pass filter as a feedback circuit.
US09071191B2 Prefabricated solar array system
In one embodiment, a solar array system is described. The example solar array system is prefabricated as a single unit. The solar array system includes a plurality of solar panels. The solar panels of the plurality of solar panels are configured to be electrically connected to one another. At least one solar panel of the plurality of solar panels is electrically connected to a mini-inverter. The mini-inverter is configured to perform maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and apply a load to at least one solar panel of the plurality of solar panels. The mini-inverter is also configured to convert direct current (DC) power generated by the plurality of solar panels to alternating current (AC) power. The solar array system further includes a plurality of locking hinges. The locking hinges are configured to allow the plurality of solar panels to be folded on top of one another.
US09071190B2 Actuation control and control method, particularly for electrical disconnectors
An actuation control, for electrical disconnectors, including a device for driving the actuation motor of a movable element of an electrical disconnector, elements for detecting operating parameters of the disconnector, a device for processing the operating and control parameters of the driving device, elements for storing the operating parameters, which are connected to the processing and control device in order to receive from it and store the processed operating parameters, and interface elements of the actuation control, for its activation for opening or closing the disconnector.
US09071188B2 Protective redundant subsystem for power tools
A protective redundancy circuit is provided for a power tool having an electric motor. The protective redundant subsystem is comprised of: a motor switch coupled in series with the motor; a motor control module that controls the switching operation of the motor switch; and a protective control module that monitors switching operation of the motor switch and disables the power tool when the switching operation of the motor switch fails. In the context of an AC powered tool, the switching operation of the motor switch is correlated to and synchronized to the waveform of the AC input signal. During each cycle or half cycle, the motor control module introduces a delay period before closing the motor switch and the protective control module determines the operational status of the motor switch by measuring the voltage across the motor switch during the delay period.
US09071187B2 Method and apparatus for increasing a current sensing range in a polyphase motor system
A method of increasing a current sensing range for a vehicle or other polyphase motor system includes measuring phase currents delivered to a motor of the system. A controller calculates an absolute value of each phase current, compares each calculated absolute value to a saturation limit to determine whether only one sensor is saturated, and extrapolates a phase current value of the saturated sensor. The calculated temporary phase current is used as the extrapolated phase current value for the saturated sensor, and a control action is executed using the extrapolated phase current value only when the calculated temporary phase current value exceeds the measured value for the saturated sensor and a sign of the calculated temporary phase current value matches that of the measured value for the saturated sensor. A system includes the motor, a power inverter module, phase current sensors, and a controller which executes the method.
US09071186B2 Method and apparatus for controlling an alternating current machine
In one example embodiment, a device for controlling an alternating current (AC) machine is disclosed. The device includes a processor configured to determine a plurality of instantaneous voltages corresponding to a plurality of phase voltages of an inverter, the inverter driving the AC machine. The processor is further configured to determine an actual line-to-line voltage of the inverter based on the plurality of instantaneous voltages. The processor is further configured to determine a terminal voltage feedback for controlling the AC machine, based on the determined actual line-to-line voltage and a terminal voltage threshold.
US09071182B2 Motor drive device with alarm level setting unit
A motor drive device includes a converter which mutually converts power between AC power and DC power, an inverter which converts the DC power into AC power for driving a motor to output to a motor side, and converts regenerated AC power from the motor side into DC power to output to the DC side, a DC link unit which connects a DC side of the converter and a DC side of the inverter, a voltage detecting unit which detects a DC voltage value, an alarm level setting unit which sets an alarm level of the DC voltage value, an alarm determining unit which determines whether or not the DC voltage value exceeds the alarm level, and an alarm reporting unit which instructs the inverter to stop conversion operation when it is determined that the voltage value exceeds the alarm level.
US09071181B2 Three phase brushless DC motor sensor-less control using sinusoidal drive method and apparatus
Back electromotive force (BEMF) of a brushless DC (BLDC) motor may be determined when using continuous sinusoidal drive by computing the voltage to common (ground) of each phase (3) thereof when a phase current is substantially zero. These phase voltages may be computed from the DC supply voltage and the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation (PWM) drive to each of the motor phases. From the three phase voltages computed at a zero phase current occurrence, each coil voltage may be calculated. The BEMF of that coil is substantially equal to the coil voltage when at zero current. The phase voltages, when computed at a zero current instance, may be used in determining the BEMF. Once the BEMF is determined it may further be used to regulate the motor speed using a K factor of the BLDC motor.
US09071178B2 Continuously variable dynamic brake for a locomotive
This disclosure is directed to a traction motor drive system. The traction motor drive system may include a field winding subsystem comprising a field winding associated with a traction motor. The traction motor drive system may also include an armature subsystem arranged in parallel with the field winding subsystem. The armature subsystem may include an armature having first and second armature terminals and a grid resistor selectively electrically coupled in series with the armature. The armature subsystem may also include an armature chopper arranged in parallel with the grid resistor and electrically coupled in series with the armature. The armature chopper may be configured, when the grid resistor is electrically coupled to the armature, to conditionally conduct current to the armature.
US09071177B2 Method for controlling the resisting torque of a motor vehicle alternator, and system for implementing this method
A method is disclosed to produce a supply voltage (B+) in an on-board system of a vehicle in response to an excitation current (I_ROTOR) applied to a rotor of the alternator. The method is of the type that consists in: limiting the resisting torque by determining a maximum cyclic ratio (DC_C_LIMIT) of the excitation current as a function of variables taken from a group containing a rotational speed (V_ROTOR) of the rotor, a temperature of the rotor, the excitation current and the supply voltage (B+). The maximum cyclic ratio is determined as a function of at least two of the variables in the group. According to one specific embodiment, the variables are rotational speed and temperature. According to another embodiment, the variables are rotational speed and excitation current.
US09071171B2 Power generation devices and methods having a locking element for releasably locking an elastic element storing potential energy
A power generation device including: a housing; an elastic element disposed in the housing in a preloaded state; a power source operatively connected to the elastic element such that release of the elastic element from the preloaded state converts potential energy in the elastic element to electric power by the power source; and a locking element for releasably locking the elastic element in the preloaded state such that removing the locking element causes the potential energy preloaded in the elastic element to be converted to electric power by the power source.
US09071168B2 Power inverter circuit for adjusting symmetry of the AC-voltage without load-coupling
The invention relates to a power inverter circuit for coupling a power station to a power supply system. The invention addresses the problem to reduce the risk of damages to components of the power station and the power supply system in the course of coupling action by providing a power inverter circuit for adjusting symmetry of the AC voltage before coupling the inverter output to a load, comprising: first switching means for selectively connecting a positive voltage to the inverter circuit output, second switching means for selectively connecting a negative voltage to the inverter output, and ohmic resistance means coupled in parallel to the inverter output, a controller for selectively switching the first and second switching means with a switching frequency to produce an AC voltage from the positive and negative voltage, wherein the controller is adapted to alter the duty ratio of the switching frequency to adjust the symmetry of the AC voltage produced by the inverter.
US09071158B2 Power supply apparatus for an electrical appliance
A power supply apparatus includes a power supply circuit and a power-on circuit. The power-on circuit detects a remotely transmitted control signal and causes a transition of the power supply circuit to a turned on state. The power-on circuit includes a transducer configured to provide a power-on signal in response to the remote control signal. The transducer triggers transition to the turned on state through a switch driven by the power-on signal output from the transducer and arranged to supply a power supply circuit enable signal. A DC blocking capacitor is connected between an output of the transducer and a control terminal of the switch.
US09071156B2 Switching power supply device and image forming apparatus with switching power supply device
A current resonance type switching power supply device controls an ON/OFF operation of two switching elements according to an amount of change in voltage of a current resonance capacitor.
US09071153B2 Method and apparatus for power converter fault condition detection
A controller includes a control, a sensor, and a fault detector. The control is configured to control a switch to regulate an output of the power converter. The sensor receives a signal from a terminal of the controller that is representative of an input voltage during an ON state of the switch and is representative of an output voltage during an OFF state of the switch. The sensor is configured to sample the signal from the terminal during the ON state to generate a first sample signal and to sample the signal from the terminal during the OFF state to generate a second sample signal. The fault detector detects a fault condition in response to either the first or the second sample signals. The control inhibits the switching of the switch to reduce a power output level of the power converter in response to the fault condition.
US09071151B2 Systems and methods for source switching and voltage generation
System and method for regulating a power conversion system. An example system controller for regulating a power conversion system includes a first controller terminal associated with a first controller voltage and coupled to a first transistor terminal of a first transistor, the first transistor further including a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal, the second transistor terminal being coupled to a primary winding of a power conversion system, a second controller terminal associated with a second controller voltage and coupled to the third transistor terminal, and a third controller terminal associated with a third controller voltage. The first controller voltage is equal to a sum of the third controller voltage and a first voltage difference. The second controller voltage is equal to a sum of the third controller voltage and a second voltage difference.
US09071145B2 Power stealing circuitry for a control device
A power stealing circuit for stealing power to operate a control device is disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, power may be periodically or intermittently diverted from a power source to a power stealing block. When power is diverted to the power stealing block, the power stealing block may steal power from the power source and store the stolen power on a storage device. The storage device may then provide operating power to a control device. In some embodiments, the power stealing block may include a first path for charging the storage device when a switch is ON, and a second path for charging the storage device when the switch is off.
US09071141B2 Two-stage single phase bi-directional PWM power converter with DC link capacitor reduction
DC link capacitance in a bi-directional AC/DC power converter using a full-bridge or H-bridge switching circuit can be greatly reduced and the power density of the power converter correspondingly increased by inclusion of a bi-directional synchronous rectifier (SR) DC/DC converter as a second stage of the power converter and controlling the second stage with a control loop having a transfer function common to both buck and boost modes of operation of the bi-directional SR DC/DC converter and a resonant transfer function to increase gain at the ripple voltage frequency (twice the AC line frequency) to control the duty cycle of the switches of the bi-directional SR DC/DC stage and controlling the duty cycle of the switches of the full-bridge or H-bridge switching circuit using a control loop including a notch filter at the ripple voltage frequency.
US09071140B2 Current mode buck-boost DC-DC controller
A current mode DC-DC controller operates with high efficiency even when the input and output voltages are close. Switches selectively connecting an input, ground and an output to inductor terminals are controlled in a buck/boost region to alternate between operation as a buck converter and operation as a boost converter. The number of switches repeatedly changing state is thus reduced, lowering switching losses and improving conversion efficiency. Current through the inductor during operation is sensed and compared to an error value to control switching from buck mode operation to boost mode operation and back.
US09071137B2 Driving circuit and error amplifier thereof
An error amplifier and a driving circuit are disclosed herein. The error amplifier is configured to charge a compensation capacitor with an error current. The error amplifier includes an input stage, a main output stage, and an auxiliary output stage. The input stage is configured to provide a first differential output signal and a second differential output signal in response to a comparison between a reference voltage and a feedback voltage. The main output stage is configured to charge the compensation capacitor. The auxiliary output stage is configured to be activated to charge the compensation capacitor. a first operation, both the main output stage and the auxiliary output stage charge the compensation capacitor. In a second operation, the main output stage charges the compensation capacitor, and the auxiliary output stage is deactivated and does not charge the compensation capacitor.
US09071132B2 Decomposition and mitigation of a disturbance being present at an electric connection between an electric power generating system and a power grid
A disturbance on an electric signal at an electric connection between an electric power generating system and a power grid is decomposed into a first disturbance with a first strength assigned to the electric power generating system and a second disturbance with a second strength assigned to the power grid. A voltage value of a voltage of the electric signal is measured. A current value of a current of the electric signal is measured. A value of an open circuit voltage of an equivalent voltage source is calculated based on the measured voltage value, the measured current value and a characteristic equivalent impedance of the electric power generating system so that the electric power generating system is in a harmonic model. The strength of the first disturbance is determined based on the calculated value of the open circuit voltage of the equivalent voltage source.
US09071131B2 Conversion system for multi direct current voltage
A conversion system includes a transformer, a rectifier element, a filter circuit, a voltage regulator circuit, and a divider circuit. The voltage regulator circuit includes a first option switch, a first regulator, and a second regulator. The transformer outputs an AC voltage, and the rectifier element converts the AC voltage to a pulsating DC voltage. The filter circuit converts the pulsating DC voltage to a ripple DC voltage. The divider circuit outputs a first DC voltage of a constant positive value when the first option switch connects to the first regulator, and the divider circuit connects to the first regulator to control value of the first DC voltage value. The divider circuit outputs a second DC voltage of a constant negative value when the first option switch connects the second regulator, and the divider circuit is connected to the second regulator to control value of the second DC voltage.
US09071127B2 Direct current voltage conversion circuit having multiple operational configurations
The invention proposes a direct current voltage conversion circuit which can operate as a step-up circuit, a step-down circuit, or operate as a step-up or step-down circuit depending on the modes of operation.
US09071125B2 Switching regulator, control method thereof and power-supply device
A switching regulator configured to convert an input voltage input to an input terminal into a predetermined constant voltage by switching with at least two elements including a pair of switching elements or a switching element and a rectifying element, and output the converted voltage as an output voltage from an output terminal includes a comparison unit configured to compare a signal showing an oscillating frequency of the switching regulator with a signal showing a constant frequency, and a driver configured to delay a pulse signal generated by feeding-back a control signal and an output signal of the switching regulator according to the comparison result by the comparison unit with a predetermined time, and switch the input voltage by using the at least two elements based on the pulse signal after the delay.
US09071122B2 Drive unit with a first and a second motor
A drive unit, which has a first motor and a second motor, for rotationally and linearly moving a working element with respect to a first housing element In order to permit a design and a mounting and to reduce the required axial installation space and cost, the drive unit has bearing arrangement which, in the case of a linear movement of the working element with respect to the first housing element, permits a primary part and a secondary part of the first motor and/or of the second motor to be arranged in an axially non-displaceable fashion.
US09071119B2 Adjusting device for an electric motor
A device for reversing the direction of rotation and/or for adjusting the carbon brushes for a reversible electric motor, in particular for an electric hand tool, with a base and with a mount, which is mounted pivotably on the base and on which brushholders for the carbon brushes wiping over the collector of the electric motor are arranged. The electric motor can be driven by means of power electronics, such as a pulse width controller, a phase gating controller, a phase chopping controller or the like. The power electronics are arranged on the base and/or on the mount. The device furthermore has fixed contacts and switching contacts, which interact with alternate contact-making for reversing the direction of rotation of the electric motor as the mount is pivoted.
US09071117B2 Electric machine—flux
An electric machine (10; 100) comprises a rotor (14) having permanent magnets (24) and a stator (12) having coils (22) wound on stator bars (16) for interaction with the magnets across an air gap (26a, b) defined between them. The rotor has two stages (14a, b) arranged one at either end of the bars. The bars have a shoe (18a, 8) at each end of each bar that links magnetic flux through the bars with said magnets on each stage. Adjacent shoes facing the same stage of the rotor have a high-reluctance shoe gap (27) between them; adjacent magnets on each stage of the rotor have a high-reluctance magnet gap (25) between them; and the shoe and magnet gaps (25, 27) are angled with respect to each other such that they engage progressively as the rotor rotates. Alternatively, the shoes facing each stage are in a ring of connected shoes such that the magnets experience a continuous reluctance that is at least 90% constant as a function of rotor position. The bars (16) and shoes (18) are formed separately from one another and at least a part of each is formed by moulding soft-iron particles so that the particles have a short dimension that is arranged transverse a reluctance-plane. The bars and shoes are assembled so that the reluctance-plane of the bar is parallel a longitudinal axis (16a) of the bar and said reluctance-plane of the shoe is transverse said longitudinal axis.
US09071115B2 Method for producing the coil of a rotary electric machine stator and stator thus obtained
A stator which comprises a core, slots provided in the core and a coil comprising a plurality of windings, in which each winding consists of at least one conductor which is arranged in slots of the core associated with the winding, forming axial ripples and forming overall a spiral coaxial to axis A of the core which consists of a set of turns radially superimposed, wherein each conductor comprises a pair of electrical lead wires which are adjacent and which are arranged at the same radial dimension relative to one another, at each point of the conductor. The invention also proposes a method for constructing the stator.
US09071112B2 Squirrel-cage rotor and production method thereof
A squirrel-cage rotor and a production method thereof, the rotor having conductors with sufficient strength. In the invention, conductor particles are sprayed onto a core and/or conductive bars in a solid-state. As a result, in the coating material, the enlargement of the crystal grain of the conductors is significantly restricted, whereby conductive end rings are connected to the core and/or the conductive bars. Since conductor particles do not melt, a gap formed by thermal contraction when the conductor melts between different kinds of members is prevented from being formed. Therefore, the deterioration of the conductor may be limited, and the conductor may have sufficient strength. The reliability of the rotor is improved.
US09071103B2 Color wheel driving motor and digital-light-processing projector
A color wheel driving motor includes a magnet arranged radially outward of a rotor holder. The ring-shaped magnet includes n number of N-pole and n number of S-pole and magnetic pole changeover portions arranged between the poles. The magnetic pole changeover portions are arranged at an angular interval of 360°/2n, the n being a positive integer. On an imaginary plane perpendicular to the center axis, a first straight line passing through the center axis and at least one of the 2n magnetic pole changeover portions makes a specified angle θ with respect to a second straight line extending from the center axis toward the ring-shaped magnet. A first mark is arranged in a region of a surface of the ring-shaped magnet where the second straight line overlaps with the ring-shaped magnet, the specified angle θ being equal to or larger than 0° and equal to or smaller than 360°/2n.
US09071100B2 Centrifugal heat dissipation device and motor using same
A centrifugal heat dissipation device and a motor using same are disclosed. The centrifugal heat dissipation device includes a main body having a shaft hole, a heat-absorption zone and a heat-transfer zone. The heat-transfer zone has a radially outer side connected to the heat-absorption zone and a radially inner side connected to the shaft hole. The shaft hole axially extends through the main body for receiving a shaft of a motor therein. A centrifugal force generated by the rotating shaft and accordingly, the heat dissipation device enables enhanced vapor-liquid circulation of a working fluid in the heat dissipation device, so that heat generated by the operating motor is absorbed by the centrifugal heat dissipation device and transferred to the shaft for guiding out of the motor, allowing the motor to have largely upgraded heat dissipation performance.
US09071099B2 Fan unit
The invention relates to a blower (99), in particular for an engine cooling blower in a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (10) having a cooling air guide device (200), wherein the housing (10) is designed for mounting a drive unit (102, 103) and the cooling air guide device (200) in the motor vehicle, and for guiding a cooling air flow (20, 30, 31, 32) to the drive unit (102, 103), wherein the cooling air guide device (200) is designed as one piece with the housing (10).
US09071097B2 Electric generator
The invention relates to an electric generator, comprising a rotor; a stator enclosing the rotor; a housing; a water-operated cooling device, comprising a water inlet and a water outlet and channels in the rotor and stator for guiding cooling water through the same; the housing is enclosed; the water-operated cooling device is the only cooling device of the generator.
US09071095B2 High performance power generation apparatus
A high performance power generation apparatus includes a first rotary member and a second rotary member. The first rotary member has a spindle and a rotor fastened to the spindle. The spindle has a first gear coupled thereon. The rotor has a first electromagnetic portion. The second rotary member has an internal gear ring and a second electromagnetic portion. The first gear and internal gear ring are interposed by at least one transmission gear. When the spindle drives the rotor and first gear to spin, the first gear drives the second rotary member to spin in the direction opposite to the first rotary member via the transmission gear so that the induction coil and magnet can interact at greater relative spinning speed to generate a greater amount of electric power output.
US09071094B2 Securing device for use in an electric machine
An electric machine includes a housing, a bearing and a securing device. The housing defines a bearing seat and a support surface. The bearing cooperates with the bearing seat and defines a bearing clamping surface. The securing device is connected to the housing and includes a fastener and a member defining a member clamping surface. The member and the fastener secure the bearing to the housing. The securing device has a first position for assembly of the bearing into the bearing seat and a second position for constraining the bearing in the housing. The member clamping surface overlies the bearing clamping surface when the member is in the second position. The member provides continuous movement from the first position to the second position. The support surface engages the member when the member is in the second position.
US09071091B2 Rotor can
A rotor can for a wet running electric motor includes an inner layer (2) made from a thermoplastic material which is at least partly surrounded by a supporting layer (4) in form of a thermoplastic tape layer attached to the outside of the inner layer (2).
US09071089B2 Bushing for a drive unit and drive unit
The invention relates to a bushing (30) for a drive unit, in particular an eccentric bushing (30) for a wiper drive of a windshield wiper, having an axial mounting section (32) and a radial flange section protruding therefrom, wherein the bushing (30) can be mounted having the mounting section (32) and having the flange section in/on a component, wherein the bushing (30) has a relief channel (322, 342) such that a fluid can flow through the relief channel (322, 342) upon mounting of the bushing (30) in/on the component and/or in a mounted state on/in the component. The invention furthermore relates to a drive unit, in particular a wiper drive for a windshield wiper of a motor vehicle, having a bushing (30) according to the invention.
US09071085B2 System for wireless power transmission and reception using in-band communication
A wireless power transmitter and receiver using an in-band communication and a method thereof are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transmitter using an in-band communication may include: a source resonance unit including a source resonator that is configured to transmit wireless power to one or more in-band resonators; a source controller configured to control a resonance frequency and an impedance of the source resonator, to detect an in-band resonator located in a location corresponding to a wireless power receiver among the in-band resonators, and to generate a control signal of the detected in-band resonator; and an in-band resonance unit configured to receive and demodulate identification information associated with the wireless power receiver via the one or more in-band resonators, and to transmit the wireless power and transmission data via the in-band resonator corresponding to the wireless power receiver.
US09071084B2 Neutral point clamped converter control systems and methods
A control system includes first and second fundamental control units for generating first and second fundamental commands, and a compensation control unit. The compensation control unit includes first and second calculation elements and a comparator for comparing first and second modulation indexes. When the first modulation index is less than the second modulation index, the first calculation element generates a first source-side compensation command. When the first source-side compensation command is not sufficient to balance the neutral point voltage, the first calculation element further generates a first line-side compensating command. When the first modulation index is greater than the second modulation index, the second calculation element generates a second line-side compensation command. When the second line-side compensation command is not sufficient to balance the neutral point voltage, the second calculation element further generates a second source-side compensating command.
US09071083B2 Super capacitor supplemented server power
Super capacitor supplemented server power is described. In embodiments, a power system manager is implemented to monitor the capability of one or more power supplies to provide power for a server system. The power system manager can determine that the capability of the power supplies to provide the power is deficient, and then engage one or more super capacitor power modules to provide supplemental power for the server system to mitigate the power deficiency.
US09071082B2 Charge/discharge determination apparatus, charge/discharge determination method and charge/discharge determination program
One embodiment provides a charge/discharge determination apparatus for performing a charge/discharge control of a battery based on instructions given from charge/discharge instruction apparatuses, including: a battery information storage unit which stores battery information concerned with the battery; a charge/discharge information storage unit which stores charge/discharge information for charging/discharging the battery; a communication unit which receives a communication message concerned with an access request from each charge/discharge instruction apparatus; and a control unit which controls access from each charge/discharge instruction apparatus based on the battery information, the charge/discharge information and contents of the access request.
US09071080B2 Power supply unit, processing system, and control method
A power supply unit includes a communication unit and a control unit. The communication unit is capable of communicating with a different power supply unit. The control unit determines a number of processing units connected thereto, controls powers of the processing units connected thereto so that one of a turn-on operation and a turn-off operation is performed on the powers of the processing units in sequence, and controls the powers of the processing units connected thereto so that one of the turn-on operation and the turn-off operation is performed on the powers in a predetermined priority order in a relationship with processing units connected to the different power supply unit through communication with the different power supply unit.
US09071079B2 Power supply system with multiple power sources in parallel
The present disclosure provides a power supply system. The power supply system includes a plurality of power supply devices connected in parallel. Output terminals of the plurality of power supply devices are coupled to a common supply line. Each of the plurality of power supply devices includes a DC-to-DC converter, a transformer, a switching control device, a rectifying device, and a judging device. The judging device receives a feedback voltage, an error signal and a second AC voltage to determine whether the power supply device is normal, wherein the feedback voltage is a voltage division of an output voltage on the common supply line, the error signal is an output of the switching control device, and the second AC voltage is retrieved from a second winding set of the transformer.
US09071078B2 Enclosure housing electronic components having hybrid HVAC/R system with power back-up
An enclosure or shelter having an interior chamber for housing electronic components and equipment is provided with an HVAC/R system configured with a rechargeable DC power source for power back-up to maintain substantially uninterrupted power in the case of a main power failure. The system includes one or more variable frequency drives (VFD) controlled by a VFD controller and configured to provide three-phase power to one or more three-phase AC motors and single-phase power to one or more single-phase AC motors. The system also includes a power source controller configured to select and power sources based on availability of one or more power sources and other logic.
US09071073B2 Household device continuous battery charger utilizing a constant voltage regulator
Charging at least one rechargeable battery includes regulating a voltage applied to the at least one rechargeable battery by coupling a circuit between an output of a rectifier circuit and the at least one rechargeable battery, limiting the charging current to be within a first predetermined range and when a predetermined battery charging voltage is reached, dropping the charging current to be within a second predetermined range.
US09071071B2 Diffusion-limited adaptive battery charging
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that adaptively charges a battery, wherein the battery is a lithium-ion battery which includes a transport-limiting electrode governed by diffusion, an electrolyte separator and a non-transport-limiting electrode. During operation, the system determines a lithium surface concentration at an interface between the transport-limiting electrode and the electrolyte separator based on a diffusion time for lithium in the transport-limiting electrode. Next, the system calculates a charging current or a charging voltage for the battery based on the determined lithium surface concentration. Finally, the system applies the charging current or the charging voltage to the battery.
US09071070B2 Charge controller and charging system
A charge controller for controlling the charging of a battery provided inside a vehicle using a control signal supplied from an external power source apparatus via a power cable includes a control section for controlling the charging of the battery and an activating section for activating the control section inside the vehicle. The external power source apparatus switches the control signal from a non-oscillation state to an oscillation state when the preparation for power supply is completed. The activating section has an oscillation state judgment section for judging whether the input control signal is in the oscillation state or the non-oscillation state and for outputting an oscillation state judgment signal and an activating signal generation section for generating an activating signal for activating the control section when the oscillation state judgment signal is switched from a state indicating non-oscillation to a state indicating oscillation.
US09071067B2 Fast battery charging system and method
A system and method includes detecting whether a fast charger is coupled to a system having a processor and a memory, providing current to a battery from an internal charger circuit if no fast charger is detected, and providing current to the battery from the fast charger if the fast charger is detected.
US09071057B2 Contactless power transmitting system having overheat protection function and method thereof
Disclosed herein are a contactless power transmitting system having an overheat protection function, which protects a battery cell module from damage due to overheating while the battery cell module is being charged, and a method thereof. In the contactless power transmitting system, a contactless power transmitting apparatus transmits a first power to a contactless power receiving apparatus through a power transmitting coil to charge the battery cell module with the first power, and transmits a second power, of lower wattage than the first power, to the contactless power receiving apparatus through the power transmitting coil to charge the battery cell module with the second power if an overheat alarm signal is received from the contactless power receiving apparatus, thereby making it possible to fully charge the battery cell module while preventing overheating of the battery cell module.
US09071055B2 Charging scheme
Mobile devices have limited power sources. In some cases, such as camera flash operations in cell phones or digital cameras, the power required to provide bright illumination is significant and exceeding the battery voltage level. In order to supply burst power or continuous high power to light sources, such as white LEDs (light emitting diodes), mobile devices typically employ charge storage functioning as energy reservoir that can supply the required power. One such charge storage is a supercapacitor that can supply the needed power repeatedly by discharging and recharging. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for providing the charge energy and controlling the charge and discharge operations.
US09071053B2 Electrical safety system with timer
An electrical safety system with an integrated timer is disclosed. The electrical safety system may have an input line connected to an output via one or more communication paths. The electrical safety system may also have a ground fault circuit interrupter module including a sensor coil for monitoring current passing from the input line to the electrical load and producing a current signal and a ground fault circuit interrupter circuit. Further, the electrical safety system may have one or more switches for opening or closing the one or more communication paths between the input line and the output, and a solenoid for operating the one or more switches. Additionally, the electrical safety system may have a timer module comprising a timer circuit configured to generate a timer signal and a selector switch in electrical communication with the timer circuit and a visual display.
US09071051B2 Overvoltage protection unit with AC input current sensors
An overvoltage protection unit includes a power circuit module and a controller module. The power circuit module receives power from a power source on an AC input and includes a rectifier that converts voltage on the AC input into a DC Link output voltage, and an AC input current sensor that senses a current on the AC input. The controller module provides an output to terminate power from the power source based upon the DC Link output voltage and a sensed current from the AC input current sensor.
US09071044B2 Conduit body cover screw retention
An improved mechanism for retaining screws for a conduit body cover is disclosed. The screws are retained by a layer of PVC lining the inner surface of holes in the cover.
US09071038B2 Segmented distributed feedback laser
The present invention provides for a semiconductor laser having a narrow linewidth and low power consumption for optical communication applications. According to various embodiments of the invention, a semiconductor laser is provided which includes a grating layer comprising a plurality of segmented gratings, each including a non-grating portion and a grating portion. The segmented gratings are configured to enhance a fundamental mode of the semiconductor laser while sufficiently suppressing modes other than the fundamental mode, providing a narrow linewidth for example. The segmented gratings are also configured to provide an effective length longer than an actual length of the semiconductor laser, leading to smaller device areas and corresponding lower power consumption. A photonic integrated circuit is also provided which includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers, consistent with the present invention, as well as additional optical elements, all provided on a single substrate.
US09071035B2 Optical amplifier and method of controlling optical amplifier
An optical amplifier comprising: a pumping light source supplying a pumping light to an optical fiber as an amplification medium; an ASE light power detector detecting an ASE light power including an external ASE power flowing from an upstream side outside an amplification signal band; and a control unit setting a gain within the amplification signal band by using the ASE light power detected by the ASE light power detector outside the amplification signal band. The control unit controls the pumping light source by compensating for an influence of the external ASE power, obtained by measuring a relationship between the gain within the amplification signal band and the ASE light power outside the amplification signal band, to set initially the gain within the amplification signal band.
US09071033B2 Lasers and amplifiers having tapered elements
A laser system for generating optical pulses at an operating wavelength of the laser system. The system has an optical resonator comprising first and second reflectors, and a tapered optical fiber disposed between the first and second reflectors. The tapered optical fiber has a core which has a tapered input section which tapers from single mode to multimode at the laser operating wavelength, an inner section of substantially constant diameter capable of supporting multiple modes at the laser operating wavelength. The tapered optical fiber can include a tapered output section wherein the core tapers from a first diameter to a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter.
US09071031B2 RF-excited laser assembly
A radio frequency (RF) excited laser assembly includes a pair of opposed electrodes defining an inter-electrode gap and a conductive termination bridge in electrical contact with both electrodes. The termination bridge mechanically supports and positions the electrodes relative to each other and provides a termination impedance for an RF voltage applied to the electrodes. A conical spiral inductor includes one or more metals windings, and one or more concentric terminals, such that the conical spiral inductor defines an inter-winding spacing sufficient to mitigate ionization of a gas medium between windings. A radio frequency (RF) feed-through assembly configured to apply an RF voltage to a pair of opposing electrodes such that a conductor is isolated from a metal sleeve position around the conductor by ion sheath discharge barrier.
US09071019B2 Push-on cable connector with a coupler and retention and release mechanism
A cable connector comprising a coupler and a retainer having a base with an internal channel and a latching assembly is disclosed. The coupler has a first end, a second end, and a bore extending therethrough. The latching assembly comprises a beam having a first end and a second end. The latching assembly pivotably connects to the base and has a plurality of teeth extending radially inwardly through a latch slot towards the bore of the coupler. A spring clip radially inwardly biases the coupler. The coupler has at least one compression slot that responds to the radially inwardly bias of the coupler, compressing the coupler radially inwardly and, thereby, providing a resiliently friction fit function to the coupler.
US09071015B1 Electrical connector
An electrical connector having a squib connector and a squib assembly for mating by moving them together in a mating direction. A retaining means is provided for retaining the squib connector and squib assembly in a fully mated condition. A spring, acting in a direction opposite the mating direction, provides a resisting force to oppose mating. During the application of a mating force to overcome the resisting force of the spring and move the squib connector and squib assembly in the mating direction, and prior to the squib connector and squib assembly reaching the fully mated condition, removal of the resisting force of the spring is triggered and the mating force is instantly applied to moving the squib connector and squib assembly to the fully mated condition, whereat the retaining means is activated. The spring is molded to have features that assure dependable operation of the connector.
US09071012B1 Coaxial cable connector
Embodiments of the present invention provide a coaxial cable connector. A coaxial cable connector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention provides a connector member which is soldered to a coaxial cable to provide an electrical interface for the coaxial cable, and a mating shell having an electrically insulating shell which protects the connector member. The insulating shell is threadably mateable over an externally threaded portion of the connector member, and an internally threaded portion of an outer shell is threadably mateable over the insulating shell.
US09071009B2 Strain relief members for cables and methods for making the same
Aesthetically pleasing strain-relief members for cables and methods for making the same are disclosed. The strain-relief members are constructed to have one or more tuning members that provide selective strain relief for the cable. Each tuning member can vary the wall thickness of the strain relief member, and depending on several factors such as how many tuning members are present, their shape, and their positions within the strain-relief member, the strain-relief member can be specifically tailored to meet desired strain relief characteristics.
US09071001B2 Electrical connector and assembly
An electrical connector includes a plurality of electrical cable terminations for mating with a corresponding plurality of contact pins and a planar insulative connector body. Each of the electrical cable terminations includes a tubular housing, an inner housing, and at least one electrical contact. The tubular housing is of electrically conductive material and has inner walls defining an opening and first and second opposed open ends. The inner housing is of electrically insulating material and is inserted into the tubular housing from at least one of the open ends thereof. The inner housing comprises at least one inner space configured to receive an electrical contact in a fixed relative position. The electrical contact is positioned in the inner housing and configured to be connected to an electrical cable. The planar insulative connector body has an upper surface and an opposing lower surface. The upper and lower surfaces are defined by a front edge, a back edge, and two longitudinal side edges. The upper surface includes a plurality of longitudinal channels. Each channel contains one of the plurality of electrical cable terminations. The front edge of the connector body has a plurality of openings for guiding the contact pins into the mating electrical cable terminations positioned within the channels. An electrical connector assembly may include a plurality of the electrical connectors secured in a stacked configuration.
US09071000B2 Input/output module and mobile electronic device having the same
An input/output module comprises a module body, a circuit board, and an input/output port. The circuit board is coupled to the module body and has a first surface and a second surface. A second connection portion is disposed on the second surface and electrically connected to a mobile electronic device body. The input/output port is disposed on the first surface and electrically connected to the second connection portion. The input/output port has an insertion end corresponding in position to an opening of the module body and connected to an external transmission connector. Further provided is a mobile electronic device having an input/output module, wherein the input/output module is replaceable such that the mobile electronic device has a transmission interface function and is expandable in applicability.
US09070999B2 Electric connector and terminal used therefor
An electric connector includes a housing including a groove into which a terminal is inserted, and a first engagement portion engageable to a first engagement section formed at the terminal, a rear holder including a second engagement portion engageable to a second engagement section formed at the terminal, the rear holder being formed integrally with the housing such that the rear holder is rotatable at one end thereof relative to the housing, and a connector system for detachably fixing the housing and the rear holder to each other when the rear holder is rotated onto the housing.
US09070996B2 Connector
In a connector, a flange portion is provided at an end portion of an electric wire fixing portion. A rib is provided on outer surface of the electric wire fixing portion. A biding band winding space is provided between an end of the rib and the flange portion. An interval therebetween has a width equal to a width of the binding band. The electric wire is fixed by the binding band wound on the binding band winding space. A band passing hole is formed between the end of the rib and the flange portion. A plurality of side ribs are symmetrically provided at both sides of the rib. The binding band is inserted through the band passing hole, in response to a volume of the electric wire or in response to a size of a radius of curvature of the electric wire led out from the connector housing.
US09070993B2 Connector
A connector includes a housing having an insertion portion an upper part of which is opened so as to insert a connection end portion of a connection target having a plurality of contact portions, and at least one confirmation groove for viewing a tip end position of the connection end portion of the connection target inserted into the insertion portion from above, an actuator rotatably attached to the housing between an open position where the upper part of the insertion portion is opened and a closed position where the upper part of the insertion portion is covered, and a portion of the actuator which is located right above the confirmation groove of the housing when the actuator is located at the open position is cut out, and a plurality of contacts fixed to the housing.
US09070987B2 Connector with secure wafer retention
A connector includes a connector body, a plurality of wafers arranged within the connector body, and a weld tab defined by a unitary member that includes a plurality of weld tab legs and a plurality of weld tab arms. The plurality of weld tab arms are arranged to engage with corresponding weld tab arm holes included in the connector body, and the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged to engage with a circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board. The weld tab prevents the plurality of wafers from withdrawing from the connector body when the plurality of weld tab arms are engaged with the corresponding weld tab arm holes.
US09070986B2 Coaxial connector with visible post
A coaxial cable connector includes a shell having an inner side wall defining a bore and an end opening at a first end of the shell, and a post is slidably mounted in the bore. The post includes a base engaging the shell inner side wall and a tube projecting from the base, the tube having an interior and an end aperture, and at least one of the post and the shell has a first detent for releasably holding the post in a first position in the bore and a second detent for securing the post at a second position in the bore.
US09070984B2 Mobile communication device and communication control method
Provided are a mobile communication device and a communication control method which can perform communication by using a stable high-quality antenna while suppressing a power consumption. The mobile communication device includes: a first antenna (31); a second antenna (32); a communication unit (33) which performs a continuous communication by using the first antenna (31) and intermittently receives a signal by using the second antenna (32); an analysis unit (34) which analyzes the communication quality of the second antenna (32) according to the information on the signal intermittently received via the second antenna (32) by the communication unit (33); and a control unit (35) which performs control so as to perform a continuous communication by using the second antenna (32) while intermittently receiving a signal by using the first antenna (31) if the communication quality of the second antenna (32) analyzed by the analysis unit (34) reaches a predetermined communication quality level.
US09070983B2 Wireless communication system
A wireless communication system, comprises a tower-shaped antenna includes a leaky coaxial cable that leaks a radio wave and a reflective member that reflect the radio wave leaked from the leaky coaxial cable in the direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the leaky coaxial cable.
US09070978B2 Dipole antenna for safety helmets
Substantially-linear dipole antenna for safety helmets, of the type comprising two conductive branches arranged to be electrically connected, at one of their ends, to respective radio equipment, the two conductive branches being disposed substantially aligned. The two conductive branches have a length essentially equal to ¼ of the expected operative wavelength of the radio equipment. The dipole antenna further comprises at least two conductive arms, each having a length essentially equal to ½ of said operative wavelength, each of which is electrically connected respectively to the free end of both of the two conductive branches, both having a length essentially equal to ¼ of the operative wavelength.
US09070977B2 Wireless antenna array system architecture and methods to achieve 3D beam coverage
Embodiments of wireless antenna array systems to achieve three-dimensional beam coverage are described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09070976B2 Antenna apparatus for radio-based electronic devices
An antenna apparatus is proposed, which can be operated outside in the vicinity around the antenna apparatus despite a shielding effect of an electrically conducting frame or electrically conducting housing. In the process, the electrically conducting frame or electrically conducting housing encloses a housing volume inside the housing, within said volume an electrically conducting connection being produced from a first to a second location of the electrically conducting frame or the electrically conducting housing. The first and the second locations are selected such that a radio resonance chamber is separated by a parallel radio resonance at a working frequency of the electronic device inside the enclosed housing volume by means of the electrically conducting connection.
US09070974B2 Antenna switching devices, methods, and systems for simultaneous communication
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for antenna switching for simultaneous communication. One apparatus embodiment includes a plurality of antennas including a first antenna, a second antenna, and a third antenna. The wireless communication apparatus further includes a plurality of receive circuits including a first receive circuit, at least two of the plurality of receive circuits each configured to simultaneously receive, with respect to the other, wireless communications from a different one of at least two networks relating to different radio access technologies. The wireless communication apparatus further includes a controller configured to selectively switch the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna based on one or more performance characteristics of at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
US09070971B2 Dual circularly polarized antenna
A dual circularly polarized antenna is described. In some embodiments, the antenna includes a waveguide having an aperture at a first end and a conducting component at a second end, the conducting component shorting the waveguide. A first driven dipole is substantially orthogonal to a second driven dipole, and both the first and second driven dipoles are located near the aperture of the waveguide. The first and second driven dipoles are connected to the conducting component by one or more plates and configured to be fed in quadrature. A resonator is positioned near the first and second driven dipoles.
US09070970B2 Antenna device and mobile terminal
This disclosure provides an antenna device and a mobile terminal equipped with the antenna device. The antenna device includes a coil conductor spirally wound to have a conductor opening portion at the center of winding and is formed on a flexible substrate. A magnetic sheet is disposed near, or proximal to the flexible substrate and between the coil conductor and a flat conductor of a circuit board. A side of the antenna coil that is near an edge of the flat conductor is bent toward the circuit board.
US09070965B2 Hybrid metamaterial antenna structures
A wireless device having a CRLH antenna structure incorporates a meander line at the feed and adds a three dimensional conductive structure to shift a meander mode resonance frequency.
US09070964B1 Methods and apparatus for volumetric coverage with image beam super-elements
Methods and apparatus for a super-element assembly for a phased array radar aperture, the super-element assembly having a first port and a second port to receive a first signal at the first port to generate a main beam, and receive a second signal at the second port to generate an image beam for generating scan volume coverage using the main and image beams.
US09070963B2 Duplexer
A duplexer includes: a reception filter connected between a reception terminal and an antenna terminal; a transmission filter connected between a transmission terminal and the antenna terminal; and a wiring substrate including the reception filter and the transmission filter on an upper surface, the reception terminal, the transmission terminal and the antenna terminal being formed on a lower surface, and a reception electrode electrically connected to the reception terminal, a transmission electrode electrically connected to the transmission terminal, an antenna electrode electrically connected to the antenna terminal, and a circular metal layer surrounding the reception, transmission and antenna electrodes, and electrically connected to a ground being formed on an upper surface, wherein a shortest distance between a side of the circular metal layer closest to the reception and transmission terminals and the reception electrode is larger than a width of the side of the circular metal layer.
US09070960B2 TM mode dielectric resonator filter including a dielectric resonant column secured within a resonant cavity by elastic deformation
The present invention relates to a resonator and discloses a transverse magnetic mode dielectric resonator, a transverse magnetic mode dielectric filter, and a base station. By using the present invention, good contact between contact surfaces and convenient assembly can be achieved. Moreover, the transverse magnetic mode dielectric resonator according to the embodiments of the present invention has good structure stability, convenient assembly, and strong realizability, thereby being suitable for mass production and having good mass production consistency.
US09070956B2 Battery assembly
Disclosed is a battery assembly. The battery assembly includes a battery, a front cover enclosing a front end of the battery, a back cover enclosing a back end of the battery and an antenna assembled with the battery. The battery includes a core, and includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface connecting the top surface and the bottom surface. The antenna includes a first output end and a second output end attached to the side surface of the battery, and a loop extending from the first and second output ends.
US09070954B2 Safety shutdown separators
The present invention pertains to electrochemical cells which comprise (a) an anode; (b) a cathode; (c) a solid porous separator, such as a polyolefin, xerogel, or inorganic oxide separator; and (d) a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein the separator comprises a porous membrane having a microporous coating comprising polymer particles which have not coalesced to form a continuous film. This microporous coating on the separator acts as a safety shutdown layer that rapidly increases the internal resistivity and shuts the cell down upon heating to an elevated temperature, such as 110° C. Also provided are methods for increasing the safety of an electrochemical cell by utilizing such separators with a safety shutdown layer.
US09070952B2 Cable-type secondary battery
The present disclosure provides a cable-type secondary battery, comprising: an inner electrode supporter; and a sheet-form laminate of inner electrode-separation layer-outer electrode, spirally wound on the outer surface of the inner electrode supporter, wherein the laminate of inner electrode-separation layer-outer electrode is formed by carrying out compression for the integration of an inner electrode, a separation layer for preventing a short circuit, and an outer electrode. In the cable-type secondary battery of the present disclosure, since the electrodes and the separation layer are adhered to each other and integrated, the separation layer coming into contact with the electrodes absorbs an electrolyte solution to induce the uniform supply of the electrolyte solution into the outer electrode active material layer, thereby enhancing the stability and performances of the cable-type secondary battery.
US09070948B2 Lithium secondary battery
A lithium secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, a separator interposed between the cathode and the anode, and a non-aqueous electrolytic solution obtained by dissolving lithium salt to a non-aqueous solvent. The separator includes a porous substrate having pores; and a porous coating layer located on at least one surface of the porous substrate and having inorganic particles and a binder polymer, the inorganic particles being connected and fixed to each other by means of the binder polymer, the porous coating layer having pores therein formed by interstitial volumes among the inorganic particles. The non-aqueous solvent is a high-viscous non-aqueous solvent having a viscosity of 1.4 cP or above at 25° C. This lithium secondary battery gives improved safety and excellent charging/discharging characteristics since it has the high-viscous non-aqueous solvent and the separator with good wettability against the solvent.
US09070935B2 Multilayer porous film
Provided is a multilayer porous film having a porous film comprised of a resin composition comprising a polypropylene and one or more polyolefins other than polypropylenes and an inorganic filler-containing porous layer stacked on at least on one side of the porous film. The multilayer porous film is capable of preventing short circuit between two electrodes even when a heat generation amount is large at the time of abnormal heat generation and therefore satisfying both excellent heat resistance and good shutdown function.
US09070930B2 Organic/inorganic composite electrolyte and electrochemical device prepared thereby
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an electrode having an organic/inorganic composite porous coating layer comprising porous inorganic particles and a binder polymer, wherein the porous inorganic particles have pores having such a size that lithium ions (Li+) solvated in an electrolyte solvent can pass therethrough. The method comprises the steps of dispersing inorganic precursors and heat-decomposable compounds in a dispersion medium, misting the inorganic precursor solution, and performing a thermal decomposition and a crystallization processes, to thereby prepare porous inorganic particles, adding and mixing the porous inorganic particles to a polymer solution in which a binder polymer is dissolved, and coating the mixture onto a preliminarily formed electrode and drying the coating layer.
US09070929B2 Secondary battery having zigzag-shaped sealing part
Disclosed is a secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is accommodated in a battery case, wherein the battery case is made of a laminate sheet including a resin layer and a metal layer and hermetically sealed through sealing of an outer circumferential surface thereof in a state of accommodating the electrode assembly, and at least one of sealing parts at the outer circumferential surface of the battery case is provided with at least two continuously formed recessed portions.
US09070928B2 High temperature-proof device for lithium battery
The present invention discloses a high temperature-proof device for a lithium battery, which is installed in a casing of a lithium battery. The casing has a sealing board on one face thereof. The sealing board has at least one through-hole where a pressure relief module is installed. The pressure relief module has a top cover protruding from the sealing board. The top cover has at least one exhaust hole and an engagement member arranged inside the top cover. The engagement member has a first exhaust channel. A low-melting point compound is arranged inside the first exhaust channel. The present invention releases the high-temperature gas generated by inappropriate chemical or electric reaction inside a lithium battery. Thus, the present invention can prevent a lithium battery from burning or explosion caused by the high-temperature gas. Therefore, the present invention can effectively promote safety of lithium batteries.
US09070920B2 Solid oxide fuel cell device
The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell 1 including a reforming section 94, disposed inside a fuel gas supply flow path 20 above a vaporizing section 86 to surround the upper portion of a fuel cell stack 14, for steam reforming raw fuel gas F introduced from a fuel gas introducing portion 90a using steam S produced in a vaporizing section; and a circulating flow path portion 156 disposed in a fuel gas supply flow path between the vaporizing section and the reforming section for circulating rising raw fuel gas introduced from a fuel gas introducing section into a fuel gas supply flow path and rising steam produced in the vaporizing section along the circumferential direction of the fuel gas supply flow path so as to form a flow supplying mixed raw fuel gas and steam uniformly over the entire circumference of the reforming section.
US09070919B2 Positive electrode tab lead, negative electrode tab lead, and battery
The present invention is to provide a positive tab lead capable of being connected with each other with a sufficient connection strength at a low energy cost. It is constituted such that a partial coating layer (13) made of nickel, tin or solder is formed on at least a part of a region of an aluminum plate (11) exposed to an outside of an outer cover. It is preferable to form a chitosan layer (14) containing one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of chitosan and chitosan derivatives on the surface of the tab lead.
US09070916B2 Method for controlling fuel cell system
A method includes: determining whether or not an elapsed time since stopping of power generation of a fuel cell until an operation start instruction to start a fuel cell system is detected is shorter than a specified time, if the operation start instruction to start the fuel cell system is detected after the power generation of the fuel cell is stopped; setting, as a first amount, an amount of replacement of a fuel gas on an anode side, if it is determined that the elapsed time is shorter than the specified time; and setting, as a second amount, an amount of replacement of the fuel gas on the anode side, if it is determined that the elapsed time is longer than the specified time. The first amount is larger than the second amount.
US09070912B2 Fuel cell system having an integral turbine/compressor unit
A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell having an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, a hydrogen pressure reservoir, a recirculation line connecting an outlet of the anode chamber to an inlet of the anode chamber, a recirculation conveyor with a compressor wheel in the region of the recirculation line, and a turbine for expanding the hydrogen that is under pressure before entry into the anode chamber. The recirculation conveyor is driven at least partially by the turbine. The turbine and the compressor wheel are formed in one component.
US09070902B2 Patterned LED device, method of generating a patterning, system and method of calibrating the system
A patterned light emitting diode device includes a layer of light emitting material between an anode and a cathode. Further, a light-reflective layer is visible through a light-emission window of the patterned light emitting diode device. The light-reflective layer includes a pattern formed by local deformations of the light-reflective layer. The pattern may be generated via impinging condensed light beam which may enter via a rear-wall of the light-reflective layer, or via impinging the condensed light beam through the light-emission window on the light-reflective layer. The deformations may be generated without significantly altering the conductivity of the light-reflective layer. An effect of this patterned light emitting diode device is that the pattern remains clearly visible both during an on-state and during an off-state of the light emitting diode device.
US09070897B2 Display panel
A display panel includes a substrate, a TFT device, a patterned dielectric layer, a patterned metal layer and a bridge line. The TFT device is disposed in a display region. The patterned dielectric layer includes an ILD layer disposed over the TFT device, and a sealant stage disposed in a peripheral region. The patterned metal layer includes a signal line disposed on the ILD layer, and a first connecting line and a second connecting line. The first connecting line is disposed in an inner side of the sealant stage facing the display region, and the first connecting line is electrically connected to the signal line. The second connecting line is disposed in an outer side of the sealant stage opposite to the display region. The bridge line is disposed under the sealant stage, and the first connecting line and the second connecting line are electrically connected through the bridge line.
US09070896B2 Organic light emitting diode display
An OLED display includes: a substrate; a first signal line provided on the substrate; a second signal line crossing the first signal line; a thin film transistor connected to the first signal line and the second signal line; a pixel electrode connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor; an emission layer formed on the pixel electrode; a common electrode formed on the emission layer and formed of a reflective material; and a capacitor overlapping the pixel electrode.
US09070893B2 Organic light-emitting device
An organic light-emitting device including a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; an emission layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; a first hole transport layer between the first electrode and the emission layer; and a second hole transport layer between the first hole transport layer and the emission layer, wherein the first hole transport layer includes a first compound represented by Formula 1 and the second hole transport layer includes a second compound represented by Formula 2:
US09070892B2 Organic electroluminescent device
An organic electroluminescent device includes at least two light-emissive units provided between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode opposed to the cathode electrode, each of the light-emissive units including at least one light-emissive layer. The light-emissive units are partitioned from each other by at least one charge generation layer, the charge generation layer being an electrically insulating layer having a resistivity of not less than 1.0×102 Ωcm.
US09070886B2 Electroactive fluoroacylated arylamines
Fluoroacyl arylamines are disclosed for use in an electronic applications, such as, in photoresponsive and electroresponsive devices.
US09070883B2 Anthracene derivative, and light-emitting material, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, and electronic device using the same
Novel anthracene derivatives, novel materials capable of blue light emission with high color purity, and a light-emitting element, a light-emitting device, and an electronic device using any of the novel materials. The anthracene derivative represented by general formula (1) is provided. With the anthracene derivative, a light-emitting element with high emission efficiency can be provided. With the anthracene derivative, a light-emitting element emitting blue light with high color purity can be provided. In the formula, A1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, B1 represents any of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, α represents any of a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyl-4,4′-diyl group, and R1 to R9 individually represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group.
US09070878B2 Pinched center resistive change memory cell
The present invention is a method for forming a vertically oriented element having a narrower area near its center away from either end. The present invention will find applicability in other memory cell structures. The element will have a narrow portion towards its center such that current density will be higher away from the ends of the element. In this way, the heating will occur away from the ends of the storage element. Heating in a phase-change or resistive change element leads to end of life conditions, including the condition whereby contaminants from the end point contacts are enabled to migrate away from the end point and into the storage element thereby contaminating the storage element material and reducing its ability to be programmed, erased and/or read back. By keeping the greatest heating towards the center of the element where it is surrounded by more of the same material and away from the ends of the element where end point contact material can be heated and potentially activated, the lifetime of the element will be increased.
US09070877B2 Memory elements and methods with improved data retention and/or endurance
A method can include forming at least one memory layer over a first electrode, the memory layer having at least one element formed therein that oxidizes in the presence of an electric field to form conductive paths within the memory layer; and forming an inhibiting layer within the memory layer that increases an oxidation energy for the at least one element, as compared to the oxidation energy for the at least one element in the memory layer without the inhibiting layer.
US09070874B2 Memory cell structures
The present disclosure includes memory cell structures and method of forming the same. One such memory cell includes a first electrode having sidewalls angled less than 90 degrees in relation to a bottom surface of the first electrode, a second electrode, including an electrode contact portion of the second electrode, having sidewalls angled less than 90 degrees in relation to the bottom surface of the first electrode, wherein the second electrode is over the first electrode, and a storage element between the first electrode and the electrode contact portion of the second electrode.
US09070872B2 Method for manufacturing three-dimensional semiconductor memory device
The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional semiconductor memory device. In the method, a storage array is divided into a plurality of storage sub-arrays. As a result, a respective via of each storage sub-array can be etched respectively, which is different from the prior art, where a via for a bottom electrode of a plurality of layers of resistive cells is etched at one time. The vias are filled with metal so that storage sub-arrays are connected with each other. The method for manufacturing the three-dimensional semiconductor memory device according to the present disclosure can substantially reduce process complexity and difficulty of etching process in high-density integration, and also improve a number of layers of the resistive cells integrated in the storage array.
US09070869B2 Fabrication method for high-density MRAM using thin hard mask
Embodiments of the invention are described that use a thin metallic hard mask, which can be a bi-layer film, to increase the incident IBE angle for MTJ sidewall cleaning without losing the process margin for the subsequent interconnection process. The patterned metallic hard mask pads also serve as the top electrode for the MTJ cells. Using a thin metallic hard mask is possible when the hard mask material acts as a CMP stopper without substantial loss of thickness. In the first embodiment, the single layer hard mask is preferably ruthenium. In the second embodiment, the lower layer of the bi-layer hard mask is preferably ruthenium. The wafer is preferably rotated during the IBE process for uniform etching. A capping layer under the hard mask is preferably used as the etch stopper during hard mask etch process in order not to damage or etch through the upper magnetic layer.
US09070866B2 Magnetoresistive effect element and manufacturing method thereof
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a tunnel barrier formed on the first ferromagnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer formed on the tunnel barrier layer. The tunnel barrier includes a nonmagnetic oxide having a spinel structure. Oxides forming the spinel structure are combined such that a single phase is formed by a solid phase in a component ratio region including a component ratio corresponding to the spinel structure and having a width of not less than 2%.
US09070862B2 Piezoelectric transducers using micro-dome arrays
An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer device includes a transducer array consisting of an array of vibrating elements, and a base to which the array of vibrating elements in the transducer array are attached. The base include integrated electrical interconnects for carrying driving signals and sensed signals between the vibrating elements and an external control circuit. The base can be an ASIC wafer that includes integrated circuitry for controlling the driving and processing the sensed signals. The interconnects and control circuits in the base fit substantially within an area below the array of multiple vibrating elements.
US09070860B2 Resistance memory cell and operation method thereof
A resistance memory cell is provided and includes a first electrode, a tungsten metal layer, a metal oxide layer, and a second electrode. The tungsten metal layer is disposed on the first electrode. The metal oxide layer is disposed on the tungsten metal layer. The second electrode includes a first connection pad, a second connection pad, and a bridge portion electrically connected between the first connection pad and the second connection pad. The bridge portion is disposed on the metal oxide layer or surrounds the metal oxide layer. The resistance memory cell adjusts a resistivity of the metal oxide layer through a first current path, passing through the metal oxide layer and the tungsten metal layer, or a second current path extending from the first connection pad to the second connection pad.
US09070858B2 Method, system, and device for storage cell, such as for memory
Embodiments disclosed herein may relate to forming an interface between a selector transistor and a phase change material storage cell in a memory device.
US09070848B2 Array substrate and liquid crystal display
An array substrate, comprising a substrate and a data line and a gate line formed on the substrate. The data line and gate line cross each other to define a pixel region and the pixel region comprises a reflective region and a transparent region. The pixel region further comprises: a pixel electrode, formed with a transparent conductive film on the substrate and provided at least in the transparent region; a thin film transistor, formed on the substrate, the transparent conductive film being retained below the gate line and a gate electrode of the thin film transistor; a planarization film, covering the thin film transistor on the substrate; and a reflective layer, formed on the planarization film and disposed in the reflective region of the pixel region. A method of manufacturing the array substrate is provided.
US09070847B2 Ultraviolet semiconductor light-emitting element that emits ultraviolet light from one surface side
An ultraviolet semiconductor light-emitting element comprises a light-emitting layer which is arranged between an n-type nitride semiconductor layer and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer, an n-electrode that is in contact with the n-type nitride semiconductor layer, and a p-electrode that is in contact with the p-type nitride semiconductor layer. The p-type nitride semiconductor layer is provided with a p-type contact layer that has a band gap smaller than that of the light-emitting layer and is in ohmic contact with the p-electrode. A depressed part is formed in a reverse side surface of a surface of the p-type nitride semiconductor layer that faces the light-emitting layer so as to avoid a formation region on which the p-electrode is formed. A reflective film that reflects ultraviolet light emitted from the light-emitting layer is formed on an inner bottom surface of the depressed part.
US09070845B2 Optical semiconductor lighting apparatus
An optical semiconductor lighting apparatus including: a substrate in which a single LED chip or a plurality of LED chips are disposed; a first mold portion disposed on the substrate to cover the plurality of LED chips; and a second mold portion extending from an edge of the first mold portion and disposed on the substrate. The respective LED chips can improve adhesive strength with respect to the substrate through the first and second mold portions. Peeling, surface cracking and damage caused by moisture permeation can be prevented by the first and second mold portions. A fluorescent material included in the second mold portion can improve a wavelength conversion rate.
US09070844B2 Semiconductor light emitting element and method for manufacturing same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting element includes: a first conductive pillar extending in a first direction; a second conductive pillar extending in the first direction; a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type provided on the first conductive pillar; a light emitting layer provided on the first semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided on the light emitting layer and on the second conductive pillar; a sealing unit covering a side surface of the first conductive pillar and a side surface of the second conductive pillar; and a light transmissive layer provided on the second semiconductor layer and having light transmissivity, a hardness of an upper surface portion of the light transmissive layer being higher than a hardness of a lower portion between the upper surface portion and the second semiconductor layer.
US09070837B2 Semiconductor light-emitting device and method for manufacturing same
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes: a laminated structure, a first electrode, a second electrode and a dielectric laminated film. The laminated structure includes, a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a light-emitting layer provided between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, in which the second semiconductor layer and the light-emitting layer are selectively removed and a part of the first semiconductor layer is exposed to a first main surface on the side of the second semiconductor layer. The first electrode is provided on the first main surface of the laminated structure and connected to the first semiconductor layer and has a first region including a first metal film provided on the first semiconductor layer of the first main surface, and a second region including a second metal film provided on the first semiconductor layer and having a higher reflectance for light emitted from the light-emitting layer than the first metal film and having a higher contact resistance with respect to the first semiconductor layer than the first metal film. The second electrode is provided on the first main surface of the laminated structure and connected to the second semiconductor layer. The dielectric laminated film is provided on the first and second semiconductor layer being not covered with the first and second electrode and has a plurality of dielectric films having different refractive indices being laminated.
US09070835B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device including a light emitting structure including a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer; a first electrode connected to the first conductivity type semiconductor layer; a second electrode including a contact layer connected to the second conductivity type semiconductor layer, a capping layer disposed on the contact layer, and a metal buffer layer disposed on the capping layer, the metal buffer layer encompasses an upper and lateral surface of the capping layer; a first insulating layer disposed on the light emitting structure such that the first and second electrodes are exposed; and a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer such that at least a portion of the first electrode and at least a portion of the metal buffer layer are exposed.
US09070833B2 Distributed current blocking structures for light emitting diodes
An LED device includes a strip-shaped electrode, a strip-shaped current blocking structure and a plurality of distributed current blocking structures. The current blocking structures are formed of an insulating material such as silicon dioxide. The strip-shaped current blocking structure is located directly underneath the strip-shaped electrode. The plurality of current blocking structures may be disc shaped portions disposed in rows adjacent the strip-shaped current blocking structure. Distribution of the current blocking structures is such that current is prevented from concentrating in regions immediately adjacent the electrode, thereby facilitating uniform current flow into the active layer and facilitating uniform light generation in areas not underneath the electrode. In another aspect, current blocking structures are created by damaging regions of a p-GaN layer to form resistive regions. In yet another aspect, current blocking structures are created by etching away highly doped contact regions to form regions of resistive contact between conductive layers.
US09070831B2 Light-emitting device each having variable distances between pairs of electrode pads with respect to Zener diodes and lighting apparatus using the same
A light-emitting device including: a substrate; LEDs arranged on the substrate in a row; electrode pad pairs each including electrode pads at opposite sides of a corresponding LED in a row direction; Zener diodes (protective elements) in one-to-one correspondence to circuits (groups) U1 to U8 each including nine consecutive LEDs, each protective element being located between adjacent electrode pads; and a sealing member sealing the LEDs, the electrode pad pairs, and the Zener diodes, wherein, in each circuit, a distance between electrode pads included in an electrode pad pair corresponding to an LED located closest to the Zener diode is the shortest, and a distance between electrode pads varies between two electrode pad pairs other than the electrode pad pair corresponding to the closest LED.
US09070830B2 Electrode contact structure of light-emitting diode with improved roughness
An LED electrode contact structure for an LED is provided. The LED includes a plurality of N-type electrodes, an N-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, a P-type semiconductor layer, a mirror layer, a buffer layer, a binding layer, a permanent substrate and a P-type electrode that are stacked in sequence. The N-type semiconductor layer has an irregular surface and a plurality of contact platforms. The contact platforms are formed and distributed on the N-type semiconductor layer in a patterned arrangement, and the irregular surface is formed at areas on the N-type semiconductor layer without the contact platforms. The N-type electrodes are respectively formed on the contact platforms. The contact platforms have roughness between 0.01 μm and 0.1 μm, such that not only voids are not generated but also good adhesion is provided to prevent carrier confinement and disengagement. Therefore, satisfactory electrical contact is ensured to thereby increase light emitting efficiency.
US09070828B2 III nitride semiconductor substrate, epitaxial substrate, and semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device 100, it is possible to prevent C from piling up at a boundary face between an epitaxial layer 22 and a group III nitride semiconductor substrate 10 by the presence of 30×1010 pieces/cm2 to 2000×1010 pieces/cm2 of sulfide in terms of S and 2 at % to 20 at % of oxide in terms of O in a surface layer 12 with a front surface 10a having a specific plane orientation. Accordingly, a high-resistivity layer is prevented from being formed at the boundary face between the epitaxial layer 22 and the group III nitride semiconductor substrate 10. Consequently, it is possible to improve the emission intensity of the semiconductor device 100.
US09070825B2 Thermoelectric conversion module and method for manufacturing thermoelectric conversion module
A thermoelectric conversion module includes a pair of substrates, electrodes formed on the facing surfaces of a pair of the electrodes, a thermoelectric element disposed between the electrodes, and a joining layer that joins the electrodes and the thermoelectric element, in which the thickness of the joining layer is 30 μm or more, and is formed by sintering paste including metal particles smaller than 100 nm.
US09070823B2 Method for making a light emitting diode having three dimensional nano-structures
A method for making a LED comprises following steps. A substrate having a surface is provided. A first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor pre-layer is formed on the surface of the substrate. A patterned mask layer is applied on a surface of the second semiconductor pre-layer. A number of three-dimensional nano-structures is formed on the second semiconductor pre-layer and the patterned mask layer is removed. The substrate is removed and a first electrode is formed on a surface of the first semiconductor layer away from the active layer. A second electrode is formed to electrically connect with the second semiconductor pre-layer.
US09070820B2 Method for heat-treating a silicon substrate for the production of photovoltaic cells, and photovoltaic cell production method
The invention relates to a method for treating a silicon substrate for the production of photovoltaic cells against reduction in yield during the illumination of said photovoltaic cells. The invention also relates to a method for producing photovoltaic cells from the treated substrate. To said end, the invention relates to a method for treating a silicon substrate for the production of photovoltaic cells, said method including the following steps: a) providing a silicon substrate obtained from a metallurgically purified load, and b) annealing said substrate by heating the substrate to a temperature between 880° C. and 930° C. for a duration of between one and four hours, preferably at a temperature of 900° C., give or take 10° C., for two hours, give or take 10 minutes.
US09070817B2 Photocoupler and semiconductor light emitting element
A photocoupler includes: a light emitting element; a light receiving element; and a bonding layer. The light emitting element includes a semiconductor stacked body, and a first and a second electrode. The semiconductor stacked body includes a light emitting layer. The light receiving element includes a first and a second electrode on a side of a light receiving surface. The bonding layer bonds the light emitting element and the light receiving surface, and has transparency and insulating property.
US09070814B2 LED sapphire substrate with groups of three projections on the surface
The sapphire substrate has a principal surface for growing a nitride semiconductor to form a nitride semiconductor light emitting device and comprising a plurality of projections of the principal surface, wherein an outer periphery of a bottom surface of each of the projections has at least one depression. This depression is in the horizontal direction. The plurality of projections are arranged so that a straight line passes through the inside of at least any one of projections when the straight line is drawn at any position in any direction in a plane including the bottom surfaces of the plurality of projections.
US09070813B2 Method for detecting polarized light
A method for detecting polarized light is disclosed. Providing a polarized light detection system including a photoresistor, a power source and a detection apparatus. The photoresistor includes a first electrode layer and a photosensitive material layer. The detection apparatus includes a current detection device and a computer analysis system. An incident light is irradiated onto a surface of the photoresistor. Polarization information of the incident light is identified by the photoresistor. Current change in the photoresistor is detected by the current detection device. The polarization information of the incident light is analyzed by the computer analysis system.
US09070812B2 Active matrix substrate, method for fabricating the same, and display device
An active matrix substrate includes: an electrode layer formed on the insulating substrate within a display region; a mark disposed on the insulating substrate within a non-display region, and made of a same material as the electrode layer; a first insulating film directly covering each of the electrode layer and the mark; and a second insulating film covering a part of the first insulating film. Within at least a part of the sealing region, the second insulating film is removed from the insulating substrate. The mark is disposed in the at least the part of the sealing region in which the second insulating film is removed, and is provided to overlap at least a part of the sealing region. A protective film is formed on the insulating substrate to cover a side surface and a surface of the first insulating film covering the mark, the surface of the first insulating film being located opposite from the insulating substrate.
US09070811B2 Multi-crystalline II-VI based multijunction solar cells and modules
Multi-crystalline group II-VI solar cells and methods for fabrication of same are disclosed herein. A multi-crystalline group II-VI solar cell includes a first photovoltaic sub-cell comprising silicon, a tunnel junction, and a multi-crystalline second photovoltaic sub-cell. A plurality of the multi-crystalline group II-VI solar cells can be interconnected to form low cost, high throughput flat panel, low light concentration, and/or medium light concentration photovoltaic modules or devices.
US09070810B2 Multiple solar cell and method for manufacturing the same
A multi-junction solar cell having a Ge or GaAs substrate, as well as a solar cell structure having several subcells deposited on the substrate, the substrate having peripheral side faces, and the solar cell structure having a peripheral circumferential surface, which runs spaced apart from the side faces. To prevent oxidation and penetration of moisture, the circumferential surface of the solar cell structure is coated with a protective, electrically insulating first coating under essential exclusion of the upper surface facing the rays, or that without encroaching on the solar cell structure, the side faces of the substrate are coated with a protective, electrically insulating second coating or that both the side faces of the substrate as well as the circumferential surface of the solar cell structure are coated with a third coating by essential exclusion of the upper surface facing the rays.
US09070805B2 Nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and method for producing the same
A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device has a first conductive-type nitride semiconductor layer, a superlattice layer provided on the first conductive-type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer provided on the superlattice layer, and a second conductive-type nitride semiconductor layer provided on the active layer. An average carrier concentration of the superlattice layer is higher than an average carrier concentration of the active layer.
US09070801B2 Method to texture a lamina surface within a photovoltaic cell
It is advantageous to create texture at the surface of a photovoltaic cell to reduce reflection and increase travel length of light within the cell. A method is disclosed to create texture at the surface of a silicon body by reacting a silicide-forming metal at the surface, where the silicide-silicon interface is non-planar, then stripping the silicide, leaving behind a textured surface. Depending on the metal and the conditions of silicide formation, the resulting surface may be faceted. The peak-to-valley height of this texturing will generally be between about 300 and about 5000 angstroms, which is well-suited for use in photovoltaic cells comprising a thin silicon lamina.
US09070797B2 Photovoltaic installation
A photovoltaic installation includes a photovoltaic generator, electrical connector lines, an enabling signal source, and an arc discharge detector. The generator is configured to generate a DC voltage when an enable signal is applied to the generator. The electrical connector lines connect the generator to a voltage converter for the voltage converter to receive the DC voltage from the generator. The enabling signal source is configured to apply the enable signal to the generator. The arc discharge detector is configured to detect for an arc discharge by detecting for the presence on the connector lines of an AC voltage signal having characteristics indicative of an arc discharge. The arc discharge detector is further configured to cause the enabling signal source to stop applying the enable signal to the generator when an arc discharge is detected.
US09070796B2 Solid-state imaging device and imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging device generates signals by photoelectric conversion elements included in a first substrate in which circuit elements of a plurality of pixels are arranged. The solid-state imaging device outputs, from the plurality of pixels via output circuits, the signals that are generated by the photoelectric conversion elements and are via connection parts that electrically connect the first substrate with a second substrate, the output circuits being included in the second substrate.
US09070795B2 III-V heterojunction light emitting diode
A method for forming a light emitting device includes forming a monocrystalline III-V emissive layer on a monocrystalline substrate and forming a first doped layer on the emissive layer. A first contact is deposited on the first doped layer. The monocrystalline substrate is removed from the emissive layer by a mechanical process. A second doped layer is formed on the emissive layer on a side from which the substrate has been removed. The second doped layer has a dopant conductivity opposite that of the first doped layer. A second contact is deposited on the second doped layer.
US09070794B2 Method for making light emitting diode
A method for making light emitting diode, the method includes the following steps. A substrate having an epitaxial growth surface is provided. A carbon nanotube layer is suspended above the epitaxial growth surface. A first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor layer are grown on the epitaxial growth surface in that order. A third semiconductor layer is formed on a surface of the second semiconductor layer, wherein the third semiconductor layer includes a plurality of spaced protrusions. A portion of the first semiconductor layer is exposed by etching a portion of the third semiconductor layer, the second semiconductor layer, and the active layer. A first electrode is formed to electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer and a second electrode is formed to electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer.
US09070788B2 Integrated circuit with a thin body field effect transistor and capacitor
An circuit supporting substrate includes a transistor and a capacitor. The transistor includes a first semiconductor layer and a gate stack located on the first semiconductor layer. The gate stack includes a metal layer and a first high-k dielectric layer. A gate spacer is located on sidewalls of the gate stack. The first high-k dielectric layer is located between the first semiconductor layer and the metal layer and between the gate spacer and sidewalls of the metal layer. A first silicide region is located on a first source/drain region. A second silicide region is located on a second source/drain region. The capacitor includes a first terminal that comprises a third silicide region located on a portion of the second semiconductor. A second high-k dielectric layer is located on the silicide region. A second terminal comprises a metal layer that is located on the second high-k dielectric layer.
US09070787B2 Package-on-package assembly and method
A package-on-package (PoP) assembly is provided. The package-on-package (PoP) assembly includes a first integrated circuit package and an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) disposed on a top surface of the first integrated circuit package, wherein the anisotropic conductive film comprises a plurality of conductive particles. The package-on-package (PoP) assembly also includes a second integrated circuit package disposed on a top surface of the anisotropic conductive film.
US09070786B2 Methods for forming transistors
A hybrid transistor is produced to have a substrate with a first (e.g., P type) well region and a second (e.g., N type) well region with an NP or PN junction therebetween. A MOS portion of the hybrid transistor has an (e.g., N type) source region in the first well region and a gate conductor overlying and insulated from the well regions. A drain or anode (D/A) portion in the second well region collects current from the source region, and includes a bipolar transistor having an (e.g., N+) emitter region, a (e.g., P type) base region and a (e.g., N type) collector region laterally separated from the junction. Different LDMOS-like or IGBT-like properties are obtained depending on whether the current is extracted from the hybrid transistor via the bipolar transistor base or emitter or both. The bipolar transistor is desirably a vertical hetero-junction transistor.
US09070785B1 High-k / metal gate CMOS transistors with TiN gates
An integrated circuit with a thick TiN metal gate with a work function greater than 4.85 eV and with a thin TiN metal gate with a work function less than 4.25 eV. An integrated circuit with a replacement gate PMOS TiN metal gate transistor with a workfunction greater than 4.85 eV and with a replacement gate NMOS TiN metal gate transistor with a workfunction less than 4.25 eV. An integrated circuit with a gate first PMOS TiN metal gate transistor with a workfunction greater than 4.85 eV and with a gate first NMOS TiN metal gate transistor with a workfunction less than 4.25 eV.
US09070776B2 Semiconductor device and driving method thereof
The circuit includes a first wiring for supplying a power supply potential to a signal processing circuit, a transistor for controlling electrical connection between the first wiring and a second wiring for supplying the a power supply potential, and a transistor for determining whether or not the first wiring is grounded. At least one of the two transistors is a transistor whose channel is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer. This makes it possible to reduce power consumption due to cutoff current of at least one of the two transistors.
US09070775B2 Thin film transistor
A thin film transistor comprises a semiconductor layer; first and second dielectric layers disposed on opposite sides of the semiconductor layer; a first metal layer forming first and second terminals on the opposite side of the first dielectric layer from the semiconductor layer, one of said first and second terminals extending through said first dielectric layer into contact with the semiconductor layer, the first and second terminals and the first dielectric layer forming a capacitor; and a second metal layer forming a third terminal on the opposite side of the second dielectric layer from the semiconductor layer. The first and second terminals may be source and drain terminals, and the third terminal may be a gate terminal. The first metal layer may be divided to form the first and second terminals. The third terminal may be shared with one of the first and second terminals.
US09070773B2 Semiconductor device including a thin film transistor and a capacitor
A semiconductor device and a method for preparing the same that can solve crack of a semiconductor film, capacitance electrodes and the like due to stress when forming a source electrode and a drain electrode in a semiconductor device having a thin film transistor and a holding capacitance with three or more capacitance electrodes is provided. Before forming the source electrode and the drain electrode, a crystalline silicon film for relaxing the stress is formed, then a contact hole connecting to the semiconductor film of the thin film transistor is opened, and a metal film to be the source electrode and the drain electrode is formed.
US09070771B2 Bulk finFET with controlled fin height and high-k liner
A method of forming a semiconductor device that includes forming a material stack on a semiconductor substrate, the material stack including a first dielectric layer on the substrate, a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer on the second dielectric layer, wherein the second dielectric layer is a high-k dielectric. Openings are formed through the material stack to expose a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor material is formed in the openings through the material stack. The first dielectric layer is removed selectively to the second dielectric layer and the semiconductor material. A gate structure is formed on a channel portion of the semiconductor material. In some embodiments, the method may provide a plurality of finFET or trigate semiconductor device in which the fin structures of those devices have substantially the same height.
US09070769B2 Semiconductor device with a depletion channel and method of manufacturing the same
According to embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and an element isolation insulating film which isolates a element formation region in a surface portion of the semiconductor substrate. A depletion-type channel region of a first conductivity type is formed in an inner region which is in the element formation region of the semiconductor substrate and is a predetermined distance or more away from the element isolation insulating film. A gate electrode is formed above the element formation region with a gate insulating film located in between in such a manner as to traverse over the channel region and to overlap with portions of the element isolation insulating film which are located on both sides of the element formation region. Source/drain regions of the first conductivity type are formed in the channel region respectively on both sides of the gate electrode.
US09070766B1 Semiconductor device and method of forming the same
Provided is a semiconductor device including a substrate, an isolation structure, a gate structure, source and drain regions and a conductive layer. The source and drain regions are disposed in the substrate. The isolation structure is disposed between the source and drain regions. The gate structure is disposed on the substrate between the source and drain regions. The conductive layer is disposed on the substrate, extends from above the source region to above the isolation structure and is electrically connected to the source region. The substrate has first and second areas. The source region in the second area has a border curvature greater than that in the first area. The width of the portion of the conductive layer covering the isolation structure in the second area has a width greater than that in the first area.
US09070764B2 Epitaxial lift off stack having a pre-curved handle and methods thereof
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to epitaxial lift off (ELO) thin films and devices and methods used to form such films and devices. In one embodiment, a method for forming an ELO thin film is provided which includes depositing an epitaxial material over a sacrificial layer on a substrate, adhering a flattened, pre-curved support handle onto the epitaxial material, and removing the sacrificial layer during an etching process. The etching process includes bending the pre-curved support handle to have substantial curvature while peeling the epitaxial material from the substrate and forming an etch crevice therebetween. Compression is maintained within the epitaxial material during the etching process. The flattened, pre-curved support handle may be formed by flattening a pre-curved support material.
US09070757B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a superlattice buffer layer formed on a substrate. A first semiconductor layer is formed by a nitride semiconductor on the superlattice buffer layer. A second semiconductor layer is formed by a nitride semiconductor on the first semiconductor layer. A gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed on the second semiconductor layer. The superlattice buffer layer is formed by alternately and periodically laminating a first superlattice formation layer and a second superlattice formation layer. The first superlattice formation layer is formed by AlxGa1-xN and the second superlattice formation layer is formed by AlyGa1-yN, where a relationship x>y is satisfied. A concentration of an impurity element serving as an acceptor doped into a portion or a whole of the second superlattice formation layer is higher than a concentration of the impurity element serving as an acceptor doped into the first superlattice formation layer.
US09070751B2 Semiconductor device channels
A semiconductor device and a method of manufacture are provided. The semiconductor device includes one or more layers having channels adapted to carry signals or deliver power. The semiconductor device may include at least two channels having a substantially equivalent cross-sectional area. Conductors in separate channels may have different cross-sectional areas. A spacer dielectric on a side of a channel may be included. The method of manufacture includes establishing a signal conductor layer including a first channel and a second channel having a substantially equivalent cross-sectional area, introducing a spacer dielectric on a side of the second channel, introducing a first conductor in the first channel having a first cross-sectional area, and introducing a second conductor in the second channel having a second cross-sectional area where the second cross-sectional area is smaller than the first cross-sectional area.
US09070745B1 Methods and systems for forming semiconductor laminate structures
In one embodiment, a method for forming a direct fusion bond between fractional components of a semiconductor laminate structure can include generating one or more direct bonding surfaces on each of a plurality of semiconductor wafers. A first fractional component and a second fractional component can be cut from at least one of the plurality of semiconductor wafers. A second direct bonding surface of the second fractional component can be placed into contact with a first direct bonding surface of the first fractional component to define an initial contact area. An angle of approach between the second direct bonding surface of the second fractional component and the first direct bonding surface of the first fractional component can be closed to create a direct fusion bond of a semiconductor laminate structure. The direct fusion bond can be larger than the initial contact area.
US09070739B2 Packaging or mounting a component
A method includes forming a slot in a sheet through a conductive layer thereof, the slot having width in a first direction between first and second edges and length in a second, transverse direction between first and second ends, providing a non-conductive layer on the sheet, the non-conductive layer having at least one window including a first window with length greater than the slot length and width less than the slot width, the first window positioned with respect to the slot such that edges of the first window are inside the edges of the slot and ends of the first window are outside the ends of the slot, placing a component on the conductive layer within the first window so as to bridge the slot and cutting through the sheet and the non-conductive layer along first and second lines outside sides of the component and within the edges the slot.
US09070738B2 SCR component with temperature-stable characteristics
An SCR-type component of vertical structure has a main upper electrode formed on a silicon region of a first conductivity type which is formed in a silicon layer of a second conductivity type. The silicon region is interrupted in first areas where the material of the silicon layer comes into contact with the upper electrode, and is further interrupted in second areas filled with resistive porous silicon extending between the silicon layer and the main upper electrode.
US09070735B2 Lateral power semiconductor transistors
The invention generally relates to a lateral power semiconductor transistor for example in integrated circuits. In particular the invention relates to Lateral Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors or other lateral bipolar devices such as PIN diodes. The invention also generally relates to a method of increasing switching speed of a lateral bipolar power semiconductor transistor. There is provided a lateral bipolar power semiconductor transistor comprising a first floating semiconductor region of the first conductivity type located laterally spaced to an anode/drain region and a second floating semiconductor region of the second conductivity type located laterally adjacent the first floating semiconductor region, and a floating electrode placed above and in direct contact to the first and second floating semiconductor regions.
US09070734B2 Heterojunction bipolar transistors with reduced parasitic capacitance
Fabrication methods, device structures, and design structures for a heterojunction bipolar transistor. A trench isolation region and a collector are formed in a semiconductor substrate. The collector is coextensive with the trench isolation region. A first semiconductor layer is formed that includes a of single crystal section disposed on the collector and on the trench isolation region. A second semiconductor layer is formed that includes a single crystal section disposed on the single crystal section of the first semiconductor layer and that has an outer edge that overlies the trench isolation region. The section of the first semiconductor layer has a second width greater than a first width of the collector. The section of the second semiconductor layer has a third width greater than the second width. A cavity extends laterally from the outer edge of section of the second semiconductor layer to the section of the first semiconductor layer.
US09070729B2 Wafer processing method and method of manufacturing semiconductor device by using the same
A wafer processing method, by which a device wafer may be aligned and bonded to a carrier wafer to perform a back grinding process for the device wafer and may be separated from the carrier wafer after performing the back grinding process, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device by using the wafer processing method are provided. The wafer processing method includes: disposing a first magnetic material on a front side of a wafer and disposing a second magnetic material on a carrier wafer, wherein a surface of the first magnetic material and a surface of the second magnetic material, which face each other, have opposite polarities; aligning and bonding the wafer to the carrier wafer by magnetic attraction between the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material; grinding a back side of the wafer to make the wafer thin; and separating the wafer from the carrier wafer.
US09070724B2 Vacuum processing apparatus and plasma processing apparatus with temperature control function for wafer stage
A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a wafer table, a refrigerant passage disposed inside the wafer table in which a refrigerant flows, a refrigeration cycle comprising the refrigerant passage in the wafer table as a first evaporator in which the refrigerant is evaporated as a result of a heat-exchange therein, a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve, a second evaporator, and a controlling unit which adjusts a number of rotations of the compressor based upon a degree of dryness of the refrigerant at a position on the refrigeration cycle after passing through the first evaporation in a range in which dry-out does not occur in the first evaporator, and the dryness of the refrigerant being determined based upon an amount of a heat exchange during the evaporation of the refrigerant in the second evaporator.
US09070720B2 Tunnel field effect transistor device and method for making the device
A Tunnel Field Effect Transistor device (TFET) made of at least following layers: a highly doped drain layer, a highly doped source layer, a channel layer, a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode layer, the gate dielectric layer extending along the source layer, and a highly doped pocket layer extending in between and along the gate dielectric layer and the source layer, characterized in that the pocket layer extends to between and along the source layer and the channel layer.
US09070716B2 Thin film transistor and method of fabricating the same
A thin film transistor including a substrate having first and second regions, a semiconductor layer pattern formed in the first region and the second region, and a first gate insulating layer pattern formed on a channel region of the semiconductor layer pattern of the first region. A second gate insulating layer is formed on the substrate, a first conductive layer pattern is formed above the channel region of the first region and above the semiconductor layer pattern of the second region, and an inter-layer insulating layer is formed on the substrate. A second conductive layer pattern is formed in the first region and above the first conductive layer pattern of the second region. The second conductive layer pattern of the first region is coupled to the semiconductor layer pattern of the first region through the second gate insulating layer and the inter-layer insulating layer.
US09070711B2 Methods of forming cap layers for semiconductor devices with self-aligned contact elements and the resulting devices
One method disclosed herein includes forming an etch stop layer above recessed sidewall spacers and a recessed replacement gate structure and, with the etch stop layer in position, forming a self-aligned contact that is conductively coupled to the source/drain region after forming the self-aligned contact. A device disclosed herein includes an etch stop layer that is positioned above a recessed replacement gate structure and recessed sidewall spacers, wherein the etch stop layer defines an etch stop recess that contains a layer of insulating material positioned therein. The device further includes a self-aligned contact.
US09070708B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device including a substrate, a heterojunction body, a passivation layer, a source contact, a drain contact, and a gate contact. The heterojunction body disposed on or above the substrate includes a first semiconductor layer, a mask layer, a regrowth layer, and a second semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer is disposed on or above the substrate. The mask layer is disposed on or above a portion of the first semiconductor layer. The regrowth layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer and adjacent to the mask layer includes a main portion and at least one inclined portion. The second semiconductor layer is disposed on the mask layer and the regrowth layer. The passivation layer is disposed on the second semiconductor layer. The gate contact is disposed on the passivation layer, between the source contact and the drain contact, and at least above the inclined portion of the regrowth layer.
US09070706B2 Semiconductor device including a gate electrode on a protruding group III-V material layer and method of manufacturing the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including a group III-V barrier and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, the semiconductor device including: a substrate, insulation layers formed to be spaced apart on the substrate, a group III-V material layer for filling the space between the insulation layers and having a portion protruding higher than the insulation layers, a barrier layer for covering the side and upper surfaces of the protruding portion of the group III-V material layer and having a bandgap larger than that of the group III-V material layer, a gate insulation film for covering the surface of the barrier layer, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulation film, and source and drain electrodes formed apart from the gate electrode. The overall composition of the group III-V material layer is uniform. The barrier layer may include a group III-V material for forming a quantum well.
US09070699B2 Micromachined structures
A micromachined structure includes a substrate and a suspended structure. The substrate has a cavity formed thereon. The suspended structure is formed on the cavity of the substrate. The suspended structure includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and a first dielectric layer positioned between the first and second metal layers, wherein the first dielectric layer has a first opening in communication with the cavity through an opening formed in the first metal layer.
US09070698B2 Through-substrate via shielding
A semiconductor apparatus includes a substrate structure including a silicon substrate layer, a conductive through-substrate via extending through the silicon substrate layer. The apparatus further includes a semiconductor device located in the substrate structure and a conductive wall located between the through-substrate via and the semiconductor device. The conductive wall is in electrical contact with the silicon substrate layer.
US09070694B2 Manufacturing of electronic devices in a wafer of semiconductor material having trenches with different directions
A method for integrating a set of electronic devices on a wafer (100; 200a; 200b) of semiconductor material having a main surface includes forming a plurality of trenches extending into the wafer from the main surface. At least one layer of electrically insulating material is formed within each trench. At least one layer of electrically conductive material is formed within each trench superimposed on the at least one layer of insulating material. The formation of the plurality of trenches includes forming the trenches partitioned into sub-sets of trenches. The trenches of a first sub-set are oriented along a first common direction that is different from the orientation of the trenches of a second sub-set.
US09070693B2 Semiconductor package and manufacturing method thereof
There are provided a semiconductor package and a manufacturing method thereof, capable of increasing integration by mounting electronic devices on both surfaces of a substrate. The semiconductor package includes a first substrate having mounting electrodes on both surfaces thereof; a plurality of electronic devices mounted on both surfaces of the first substrate; and a second substrate exposed in cavities and bonded to a bottom surface of the first substrate so as to accommodate the electronic devices mounted on the bottom surface of the first substrate in the cavities.
US09070688B2 Method of patterning a semiconductor device having improved spacing and shape control and a semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first active region in the semiconductor substrate, and a second active region in the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first conductive line over the semiconductor substrate electrically connected to the first active region and having a first end face adjacent to the second active region, and the first end face having an image log slope of greater than 15 μm−1.
US09070687B2 Semiconductor device with self-protecting fuse
A semiconductor device with the metal fuse is provided. The metal fuse connects an electronic component (e.g., a transistor) and a existing dummy feature which is grounded. The protection of the metal fuse can be designed to start at the beginning of the metallization formation processes. The grounded dummy feature provides a path for the plasma charging to the ground during the entire back end of the line process. The metal fuse is a process level protection as opposed to the diode, which is a circuit level protection. As a process level protection, the metal fuse protects subsequently-formed circuitry. In addition, no additional active area is required for the metal fuse in the chip other than internal dummy patterns that are already implemented.
US09070677B2 Semiconductor packages including graphene layers
A semiconductor package comprises a lower package comprising a lower substrate, a lower semiconductor chip on the lower substrate, a lower graphene layer on the lower semiconductor chip, and a lower molding layer between the lower substrate and the lower graphene layer. An upper package is on the lower substrate, the upper package spaced apart from the lower package, the upper package comprising an upper substrate, an upper semiconductor chip, and an upper molding layer. Lower conductive bumps are positioned between the lower substrate and the upper substrate, the lower bumps comprising a ground bump and a signal transmitting bump.
US09070669B2 Wettable lead ends on a flat-pack no-lead microelectronic package
Methods of manufacturing a flat-pack no-lead microelectronic package (2100) coat exposed base metal at a cut end of a lead frame of the package with solder (1001). One method coats the exposed base metal with solder when the package is in a strip (200, 300). Another method coats the exposed base metal with solder after the package is singulated. As a result, all portions of leads of the package that may receive solder during mounting of the package to a printed circuit board are solder wettable. A solder wettable lead end (504) on the package facilitates formation of a solder fillet during mounting of the package.
US09070667B2 Peripheral electrical connection of package on package
Various embodiments of mechanisms for forming a die package using through sidewall vias (TsVs), which are formed by sawing through substrate via (TSV) in half, at edges of dies described enable various semiconductor dies and passive components be electrically connected to achieve targeted electrical performance. Redistribution structures with redistribution layers (RDLs) are used along with the TsVs to enable the electrical connections. Since the TsVs are away from the device regions, the device regions do not suffer from the stress caused by the TSV formation. In addition, electrical connections between upper and lower dies by the TsVs increases the efficiency of the area utilization of the die package.
US09070665B2 High-voltage switch with a cooling device
A high-voltage switch comprises one or more high-voltage transistors and a cooling substrate which may be manufactured from an electrically insulating material and on and/or through which a cooling medium can flow, wherein the one or more high-voltage transistors are mounted on at least one surface of the cooling substrate.
US09070657B2 Heat conductive substrate for integrated circuit package
An integrated circuit package includes a substrate having a heat conducting portion integrally formed with a heat dissipating portion. First and second integrated circuit dies are mounted to opposite sides of the heat conducting portion of the substrate. The first and second integrated circuit dies may each be packaged as flip-chip configurations. Electrical connections between contact pads on the first and second integrated circuit dies may be formed through openings formed in the heat conducting portion of the substrate. The heat dissipating portion may be positioned externally from a location between the first and second integrated circuit dies so that it dissipates heat away from the integrated circuit package into the surrounding environment.
US09070654B2 Smoothing method for semiconductor material and wafers produced by same
A smoothing method for semiconductor material and semiconductor wafers produced by the method are disclosed. Semiconductor wafers with reduced atomic steps, as well with reduced scratches and subsurface defects can be produced. Such wafers feature an improved growth surface that can provide for the growth of an epilayer with reduced macroscopic defects and defect densities. A method of smoothing the surface of a wafer according to example embodiments of the invention includes planarizing the surface of a semiconductor wafer, and then oxidizing the wafer to achieve a specified thickness of oxide on the surface of the wafer. The oxide can then be stripped from the surface of the semiconductor wafer.
US09070651B2 Non-linear kerf monitor and design structure thereof
A non-linear kerf monitor, methods of manufacture and design structures are provided. The structure includes a coplanar waveguide provided in a kerf of a wafer between a first chip and a second chip. The structure further includes a shunt switch and a series switch coupled to the coplanar waveguide.
US09070648B2 Electronic devices with display-integrated light sensors
An electronic device is provided with a display and a display-integrated light sensor. The display includes a transparent cover layer, light-generating layers, and a touch-sensitive layer. The display-integrated light sensor is interposed between the transparent cover layer and a display layer such as the touch-sensitive layer or a thin-film transistor layer of the light-generating layers. The light-generating layers include a layer of organic light-emitting material. The display-integrated light sensor can be implemented as an ambient light sensor or a proximity sensor. The display-integrated light sensor may be a packaged light sensor that is integrated into the display layers of the display or may be formed from light-sensor components formed directly on a display circuitry layer such as the touch-sensitive layer or the thin-film transistor layer.
US09070643B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including: a base material portion that includes a semiconductor substrate and an insulating film that is formed on one face of the semiconductor substrate and on which a vertical hole is formed along the thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate; a vertical hole wiring portion that includes a vertical hole electrode formed on a side wall of the base material portion that forms the vertical hole; a metallic film that is formed within the insulating film and that is electrically connected to the vertical hole wiring portion; and a conductive protective film that is formed to be in contact with the metallic film within the insulating film and that is formed in a region that includes a contact region of a probe during a probe test that is performed in the middle of manufacture on a film face of the metallic film.
US09070642B2 Electronic module
An electronic module includes a first semiconductor chip and a passive component, wherein the first semiconductor chip is arranged on a surface of the passive component.
US09070633B2 Method and apparatus for high efficiency gas dissociation in inductive coupled plasma reactor
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to method and apparatus for providing processing gases to a process chamber with improved plasma dissociation efficiency. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a baffle nozzle assembly comprising an outer body defining an extension volume connected to a processing chamber. A processing gas is flown to the processing chamber through the extension volume which is exposed to power source for plasma generation.
US09070632B2 Aqueous polishing composition and process for chemically mechanically polishing substrates having patterned or unpatterned low-k dielectric layers
An aqueous polishing composition comprising (A) abrasive particles and (B) an amphiphilic nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of water-soluble or water-dispersible surfactants having (b1) hydrophobic groups selected from the group consisting of branched alkyl groups having 10 to 18 carbon atoms; and (b2) hydrophilic groups selected from the group consisting of polyoxyalkylene groups comprising (b21) oxyethylene monomer units and (b22) substituted oxyalkylene monomer units wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl, alkyl-cycloalkyl, alkyl-aryl, cycloalkyl-aryl and alkyl-cycloalkyl-aryl groups, the said polyoxyalkylene group containing the monomer units (b21) and (b22) in random, alternating, gradient and/or blocklike distribution; a CMP process for substrates having patterned or unpatterned low-k or ultra-low-k dielectric layers making use of the said aqueous polishing composition; and the use of the said aqueous polishing composition for manufacturing electrical, mechanical and optical devices.
US09070631B2 Metal liftoff tools and methods
In certain embodiments the metal liftoff tool comprises an immersion tank for receiving a wafer cassette with wafers therein, the immersion tank including an inner weir, a lifting and lowering mechanism capable of raising and lowering the wafer cassette while submerged in fluid in the immersion tank, low pressure high velocity primary spray jets for stripping the metal, the primary spray jets positioned at opposing sides of the immersion tank parallel to the wafer surfaces planes, and secondary spray jets for pressure equalization force, positioned at the bottom of the immersion tank. A wafer lift insert is positioned at the bottom of the immersion tank to receive and periodically lift the wafers within the cassette.
US09070627B2 Interposer package-on-package structure
An integrated circuit (IC) package includes an IC die having a first surface and a second surface opposite of the first surface. The IC package includes first contact members coupled to the second surface of the IC die. The IC package includes a bottom substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite of the first surface, where the first surface of the bottom substrate is coupled to the second surface of the IC die via the first contact members. The IC package includes an interposer substrate coupled to the first surface of the IC die via an adhesive material, where the adhesive material is disposed on at least a surface of the interposer substrate. The IC package includes second contact members coupled along a periphery of the interposer substrate, where the interposer substrate is coupled to the first surface of the bottom substrate via the second contact members.
US09070623B2 Controlling gate formation for high density cell layout
Methods of forming a semiconductor structure and the semiconductor structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a gate dielectric layer over a substrate, forming a gate electrode layer over the gate dielectric layer, and etching the gate electrode layer and the gate dielectric layer to form a horizontal gate structure and a vertical gate structure, wherein the horizontal gate structure and the vertical gate structure are connected by an interconnection portion. The method further includes forming a photoresist covering the horizontal gate structure and the vertical gate structure, with the photoresist having a gap exposing the interconnection portion between the horizontal gate structure and the vertical gate structure, and then etching the interconnection portion.
US09070616B2 Method of fabricating packaging substrate
A packaging substrate includes a first dielectric layer; a plurality of first conductive pads embedded in and exposed from a first surface of the first dielectric layer; a first circuit layer embedded in and exposed from a second surface of the first dielectric layer; a plurality of first metal bumps disposed in the first dielectric layer, each of the first metal bumps having a first end embedded in the first circuit layer and a second end opposing the first end and disposed on one of the first conductive pads, a conductive seedlayer being disposed between the first circuit layer and the first dielectric layer and between the first circuit layer and the first metal bump; a built-up structure disposed on the first circuit layer and the first dielectric layer; and a plurality of second conductive pads disposed on the built-up structure. The packaging substrate has an over-warpage problem improved.
US09070615B2 Method for making a sensor device using a graphene layer
A graphene layer is generated on a substrate. A plastic material is deposited on the graphene layer to at least partially cover the graphene layer. The substrate is separated into at least two substrate pieces.
US09070613B2 Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a first section and a second section. The first section includes a first semiconductor layer doped with a first dopant, a second semiconductor layer doped with a second dopant, and a first active layer between the first and second semiconductor layers, and the second section includes a third semiconductor layer disposed on the first section, and the third semiconductor layer having an exposed region, a fourth semiconductor layer disposed on the third semiconductor layer except for the exposed region, and a second active layer between the third and fourth semiconductor layers, a first electrode disposed on the first semiconductor layer, a second electrode disposed on the fourth semiconductor layer and a third electrode inserted into a hole in the exposed region and disposed on the exposed region and the second semiconductor layer, the third electrode electrically connected to the second and third semiconductor layers.
US09070610B2 Solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes an image sensor chip and a signal processing chip, which are electrically connected. A low thermal conductivity region is positioned between the image sensor chip and the signal processing chip. The low thermal conductivity region is configured to insulate the image sensor chip from heat, which may be generated by the signal processing chip.
US09070609B2 Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device that includes at least one pixel. The pixel includes a photodiode, a floating diffusion element in a region of the photodiode and a read out gate electrode at least partially surrounding the floating diffusion element in plan view.
US09070606B2 Terminal structure and semiconductor device
The present invention relates to a terminal structure comprising: a base material 10; an external electrode 20 formed on the base material; an insulating coating layer 30 formed on the base material and on the electrode and having an opening exposing at least part of the electrode; an under-bump metal layer 70 filling the opening and covering part of the insulating coating layer; and a dome-shaped bump 85 covering the under-bump metal layer, wherein in a cross section along a lamination direction, a height Hbm at which the bump has a maximum diameter (Lbm) is lower than a maximum height Hu of the under-bump metal layer.
US09070601B2 Display device, electro-optical element driving method and electronic equipment
The present invention permits a capacitance value of an electro-optical element such as organic EL element to be arbitrarily set without changing the light extraction efficiency of a pixel. That is, the present invention permits a capacitance value Coled of an organic EL element (21) to be arbitrarily set by adjusting the light emission area of the organic EL element (21) without changing the light extraction efficiency of a pixel (20) in an organic EL display device. The organic EL display device has the pixels (20) arranged in a matrix form. A light extraction opening (56) is formed on the surface of the pixel with a light-shielding film (black matrix) (57). The light extraction opening (56) has an opening area smaller than the light emission area of the organic EL element (21).
US09070598B2 Thin film transistor array panel and organic light emitting diode display including the same, method for cutting wire in thin film transistor array panel
A thin film transistor display panel includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix format, the plurality of pixels include thin film transistors, respectively, a plurality of first signal lines connected with the pixels, a plurality of second signal lines connected with the pixels, the plurality of second signal lines cross the first signal lines in an insulated manner, at least one of the second signal lines includes a cut portion, and an organic repairing member overlaps the cut portion
US09070596B2 Display device
One object is to provide a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film which is used for the pixel portion of a display device and has high reliability. A display device has a first gate electrode; a first gate insulating film over the first gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film over the first gate insulating film; a source electrode and a drain electrode over the oxide semiconductor film; a second gate insulating film over the source electrode, the drain electrode and the oxide semiconductor film; a second gate electrode over the second gate insulating film; an organic resin film having flatness over the second gate insulating film; a pixel electrode over the organic resin film having flatness, wherein the concentration of hydrogen atoms contained in the oxide semiconductor film and measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry is less than 1×1016 cm−3.
US09070593B2 Liquid crystal display device and electronic device
To provide a circuit used for a shift register or the like. The basic configuration includes first to fourth transistors and four wirings. The power supply potential VDD is supplied to the first wiring and the power supply potential VSS is supplied to the second wiring. A binary digital signal is supplied to each of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. An H level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VDD, and an L level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VSS. There are four combinations of the potentials of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. Each of the first transistor to the fourth transistor can be turned off by any combination of the potentials. That is, since there is no transistor that is constantly on, deterioration of the characteristics of the transistors can be suppressed.
US09070586B1 Method of forming surface protrusions on an article and the article with the protrusions attached
A method of forming surface protrusions on an article, and the article with the protrusions attached. The article may be an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip, a test probe for the IC chip or any suitable substrate or nanostructure. The surface protrusions are electroplated to a template or mold wafer, transferred to the article and easily separated from the template wafer. Thus, the attached protrusions may be, e.g., micro-bumps or micro pillars on an IC chip or substrate, test probes on a probe head, or one or more cantilevered membranes in a micro-machine or micro-sensor or other micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) formed without undercutting the MEMS structure.
US09070585B2 Electronic device including a trench and a conductive structure therein and a process of forming the same
An electronic device can include a transistor structure, including a patterned semiconductor layer overlying a substrate and having a primary surface. The electronic device can further include first conductive structures within each of a first trench and a second trench, a gate electrode within the first trench and electrically insulated from the first conductive structure, a first insulating member disposed between the gate electrode and the first conductive structure within the first trench, and a second conductive structure within the second trench. The second conductive structure can be electrically connected to the first conductive structures and is electrically insulated from the gate electrode. The electronic device can further include a second insulating member disposed between the second conductive structure and the first conductive structure within the second trench. Processing sequences can be used that simplify formation of the features within the electronic device.
US09070582B2 Semiconductor device, method of forming semiconductor device, and data processing system
A semiconductor device includes the following elements. A semiconductor substrate includes an isolation region. The semiconductor substrate has a groove in the isolation region. A pad electrode is disposed in the groove. A pad contact plug is disposed in the groove. The pad contact plug is disposed on the pad electrode. A gate contact plug is disposed on the pad contact plug. The gate contact plug is electrically coupled through the pad contact plug to the pad electrode. An insulating side wall is disposed in the groove. The insulating side wall covers side surfaces of the pad contact plug and a lower portion of the gate contact plug, and the insulating side wall covers a part of an upper surface of the pad electrode.
US09070579B2 Gate strain induced work function engineering
A stack of a gate dielectric layer and a workfunction material layer are deposited over a plurality of semiconductor material portions, which can be a plurality of semiconductor fins or a plurality of active regions in a semiconductor substrate. A first gate conductor material applying a first stress is formed on a first portion of the workfunction material layer located on a first semiconductor material portion, and a second gate conductor material applying a second stress is formed on a second portion of the workfunction material layer located on a second semiconductor material portion. The first and second stresses are different in at least one of polarity and magnitude, thereby inducing different strains in the first and second portions of the workfunction material layer. The different strains cause the workfunction shift differently in the first and second portions of the workfunction material layer, thereby providing devices having multiple different workfunctions.
US09070567B2 Silicon carbide substrate and method of manufacturing silicon carbide substrate
A SiC substrate includes a first orientation flat parallel to the <11-20> direction, and a second orientation flat being in a direction intersecting the first orientation flat and being different from the first orientation flat in length. An alternative SiC substrate has a rectangular plane shape, and a main surface of the substrate includes a first side parallel to the <11-20> direction, a second side in a direction perpendicular to the first side, and a third side connecting the first side to the second side. A length of the third side projected in a direction in which the first side extends is different from a length of the third side projected in a direction in which the second side extends.
US09070566B2 High density composite focal plane array
A composite focal plane assembly with an expandable architecture has a multi-layer, double-sided aluminum nitride (AlN) substrate and vertical architecture to achieve the dual function of focal plane and electronics backplane. Imaging dice and other electrical components are mounted and wire bonded to one surface and then direct backplane connectivity is provided on the opposing surface through a matrix of electrical contacts. In one embodiment, a flexible connector is sandwiched between the AlN focal plane and a FR-4 backplane is used to compensate for differences in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the AlN and commercially available high density circuit card connectors that are commonly manufactured from materials with CTE properties more closely approximating FR-4. In an alternate embodiment, the FR-4 and flexible connectors are eliminated by using high density circuit card connectors that are fabricated out of materials more closely matching the CTE of AlN.
US09070565B2 Power RF amplifiers
A power transistor circuit uses first and second power transistors in differential mode. An inductor arrangement of inductors is formed by wire bonds between the drains. The transistors are in a mirrored configuration, and the inductor arrangement comprises wire bonds which extend between the drain connections across the space between the mirrored transistors.
US09070561B2 Semiconductor device and die bonding structure thereof
Provided are a semiconductor device and a bonding structure thereof, in which an inter-metal compound is not formed with a semiconductor die or a lead frame, thereby improving electrical and mechanical properties and wettability and suppressing conglomeration of a die bonding material. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die, a barrier layer formed on a surface of the semiconductor die, a first metal layer formed on the barrier layer, a central metal layer formed on the first metal layer, and a second metal layer formed on the central metal layer. Here, the first and second metal layers have a first melting temperature, and the central metal layer has a second melting temperature lower than the first melting temperature.
US09070536B2 Plasma reactor electrostatic chuck with cooled process ring and heated workpiece support surface
Undesirable heating of a semiconductor process ring is prevented by thermally isolating the process ring from the insulating puck of an electrostatic chuck, and providing a thermally conductive and electrically insulating thermal ring contacting both the semiconductor process ring and an underlying metal base having internal coolant flow passages.
US09070535B2 Proximity mask for ion implantation with improved resistance to thermal deformation
A proximity mask for ion implantation that is configured to resist thermal deformation in a direction normal to an ion beam projected on and through the mask. The mask may include a frame defining a central aperture and a plurality of ribs disposed within the aperture. The ribs may define a doping pattern and may be configured to deform in a direction normal to an ion beam projected thereon and to resist deformation in a direction orthogonal to an ion beam projected thereon upon being heated. Particularly, at least one of the ribs may include a bridge member, first and second perpendicular support legs extending perpendicularly from the bridge member, and first and second parallel support legs that extend perpendicularly from the first and second perpendicular support legs, respectively. The first and second parallel support legs may be attached to the frame.
US09070531B2 X-ray generator tube having improved cooling container and X-ray imaging apparatus including the same
Provided is an X-ray generator comprising an X-ray tube including a cylindrical body; an electron source in the body; a target at an end of the X-ray tube facing the electron source, the target generating X-rays by irradiation with electrons; a container in which the X-ray tube is arranged; insulating liquid filled between the X-ray tube and the container; and a holding member holding the body of the X-ray tube in the container, with a channel for the insulating liquid around the X-ray tube. The distance between the holding member and the end face at the end of the body in the direction in which the electron source and the target face is twice or more as large as the minimum width of the channel that is in contact with the outer surface of the X-ray tube at the end face side with respect to the holding member. This allows heat in the target to be quickly radiated, thus allowing X-rays to be generated stably for a long time.
US09070530B2 X-ray tube and X-ray fluorescence analyser utilizing selective excitation radiation
An X-ray tube includes a cathode, an anode with an electron receiving surface, and a window facing the electron receiving surface of the anode. On the electron receiving surface of the anode it includes a layer of anode material. Deeper in the anode than the layer of anode material, there is a block of attenuator material. The atomic number of the attenuator material is less than one third of the atomic number of the anode material.
US09070529B2 Radiation generating apparatus and radiation imaging apparatus
In a radiation imaging apparatus, an envelope has a first window for transmitting radiation and is filled with an insulating liquid, and a radiation tube in the envelope has, at a position facing the first window, a second window for transmitting the radiation, and a shielding member. A solid insulating member is arranged between the shielding member and the inner wall of the envelope, and an opening is formed at a position on the insulating member corresponding to the first window. The shortest distance from the shielding member to the first window or the inner wall of the envelope through the opening of the insulating member without the insulating member is made to be longer than the shortest distance from the shielding member to the first window or the inner wall of the envelope through the insulating member, thereby improving withstand voltage performance without reducing an radiation amount.
US09070526B2 Light source device, light irradiating apparatus equipped with light source device, and method of patterning self-assembled monolayer using light irradiating apparatus
A light source device is disclosed that can be regarded as a point light source and that emits vacuum ultraviolet light at a sufficiently high optical intensity. The device has a lamp housing to house a flash lamp and a parabolic mirror. Light emitted from the flash lamp is converted to parallel light by the parabolic mirror, and the parallel light exits the lamp housing from a quartz window. The flash lamp has a pair of electrodes, and the distance between the electrodes is 12.5 mm or less. The filler gas pressure is between 2 atm and 8 atm. A current is fed to the flash lamp from an electricity feeding unit. This current requires 8 μs or less from the start of discharge until the current value reaches the peak value. The peak current value is 1500 A or more. The flash lamp emits light including vacuum ultraviolet light.
US09070524B2 RF MEMS switch with a grating as middle electrode
The present invention provides a capacitive MEMS device comprising a first electrode lying in a plane, and a second electrode suspended above the first electrode and movable with respect to the first electrode. The first electrode functions as an actuation electrode. A gap is present between the first electrode and the second electrode. A third electrode is placed intermediate the first and second electrode with the gap between the third electrode and the second electrode. The third electrode has one or a plurality of holes therein, preferably in an orderly or irregular array. An aspect of the present invention integration of a conductive, e.g. metallic grating as a middle (or third) electrode. An advantage of the present invention is that it can reduce at least one problem of the prior art. This advantage allows an independent control over the pull-in and release voltage of a switch.
US09070523B2 Relay module for vehicle battery system
Disclosed herein is a relay module for a vehicle battery system. The relay module includes a movable unit configured to be moved by a magnetic field generated by a coil and a return spring within a relay. This movable unit controls a state of an electrical connection between relay electrodes. A microsensor installed between the movable unit and a fixed unit maintains a fixed location relative to the movable unit and is configured to induce a variation in an electrical physical quantity depending on a variation in a location of the movable unit relative to the fixed unit.
US09070519B2 Switchgear and operation mechanism for the same
The circuit opening operation section of an embodiment of switchgear operation mechanism comprises: a circuit opening electromagnetic solenoid having a fitting structure that is provided with a step; and a solenoid spacer for adjusting the distance between a circuit opening trigger mechanism and the circuit opening electromagnetic solenoid. The circuit opening solenoid has: a solenoid housing fixed in position by way of the solenoid spacer; a plunger; and a stopper fitted to the solenoid housing so as to limit the sliding motion of the plunger in the plunger returning direction when the coil is not supplied with electric power. The limiting position of the stopper is adjustable.
US09070517B2 Vacuum interrupter and linear disconnect switch
Switchgear which combines a visible disconnect switch and a circuit breaker or interrupter capable of interrupting fault currents. The switchgear includes a carriage and a switch actuator connected to the carriage for moving the carriage between a switch-closed position and a switch-open position. A circuit breaker module includes circuit breaker contacts, as well as first and second contactor terminals. The circuit breaker module provides selective electrical connection between the contactor terminals depending on the state of the circuit breaker contacts. A fixed disconnect switch contact us attached to or comprises one of the first and second contactor terminals, and a movable disconnect switch contact is mounted to the carriage so as to move with the carriage. The fixed disconnect switch contact and the movable disconnect switch contact are positioned for selective engagement with each other as the carriage moves to the switch-closed position.
US09070514B2 High density capacitor array patterns
A thin-film device system includes a substrate and a plurality of pillars. The plurality of pillars project from a surface of the substrate. Each of the plurality of pillars have a perimeter that includes at least four protrusions that define at least four recessed regions between the at least four protrusions. Each of the at least four recessed regions of each of the plurality of pillars receives one protrusion from an adjacent one of the plurality of pillars. A thin-film device is fabricated over the plurality of pillars.
US09070512B2 Electrophoretically deposited cathode capacitor
An electrolytic capacitor includes a metal case, a porous pellet anode disposed within the metal case, an electrolyte disposed within the metal case, and a cathode element formed of an electrophoretically deposited metal or metal oxide powder of a uniform thickness disposed within the metal case and surrounding the anode. A method of manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor includes providing a metal case, electrophoretically depositing on the metal can a refractory metal oxide to form a cathode element, and placing a porous pellet anode and an electrolyte within the can such that the cathode element and the anode element being separated by the electrolyte.
US09070508B2 Method producing rare earth magnet
A method of producing an R-T-B rare earth magnet that include forming an R-T-B (R: rare-earth element, T: Fe, or Fe and partially Co that substitutes for part of Fe) rare earth alloy powder into a compact and performing hot working on the compact, wherein the hot working is performed in a direction that is different from the direction in which the forming was performed.
US09070504B2 Transformer and fabricating method for transformer
A transformer and a fabricating method for transformer. The transformer includes a stand, two primary-sides, a secondary-side and multiple pins. The stand has a top-portion, a bottom-portion and a middle-portion connecting the top-portion and the bottom-portion. The primary-sides are disposed on the middle-portion and the secondary-side is disposed on the middle-portion between and insulated from the two primary-sides. The pins are plugged under the bottom-portion and electrically connected to the primary-sides and the secondary-side, wherein each of the primary-sides and secondary-side has multiple thread-ends respectively connecting one pin. The bottom-portion has multiple slots corresponding to the pins. The slot length is greater than a safety-standard distance, no insulating sleeve is disposed on the thread-ends, and the thread-ends are electrically connected to the pins along the slots so that a distance between the electrical connection joint and the primary-sides or the secondary-side on the middle-portion is greater than the safety-standard distance.
US09070503B2 Dry type economizer
A dry type economizer includes an economizing unit formed of a plurality of bodies, each body including a silicon-steel layer, an insulating layer surrounding the silicon-steel layer, a plurality of windings surrounding the insulating layer, and reactance elements and reactance filter converters respectively electrically connected to the windings, each winding being formed of a wire material having an increased wire diameter larger than a standard wire diameter of 3.5 mm. Thus, each body eliminates the use of any insulating oil, and has an increased volume to provide a large surface area in contact with the atmosphere for quick dissipation of heat during operation of the reactance elements.
US09070499B2 Light emitting key
A light emitting key is disclosed. A through hole is made through piezoresistive layer; a light source is arranged under the bottom of the light emitting key. When the light source is turned on, light beams shall emit out of the top substrate. The light emitting effect of the key facilitates it to be used in a dark area such as an aircraft flying in the night sky.
US09070489B2 Mixed phase lithium metal oxide compositions with desirable battery performance
Mixed phase complex lithium metal oxides are described with an overall stoichiometry represented by a formula Li1+aNibCocMndOx, −0.05≦a≦0.14, 0.1≦b≦0.25, 0≦c≦0.2, 0.45≦d≦0.8, a+b+c+d=1 and (1+a)/(b+c+d)≦1.325. The compositions are generally very high in manganese content. The compositions can have x-ray diffractograms and differential capacity profiles suggesting the presence of a layered (Li2MnO3)—layered (LiMetalO2)—spinel crystal structure. The compositions can exhibit surprisingly low first cycle irreversible capacity losses while maintaining high specific discharge capacities, even at high discharge rates. Stabilizing coatings have been found to further significantly improve performance.
US09070485B2 Reactor vessel repair method
In a reactor vessel (20) covered by cooling water (2), a tubular frame (10) with a bottom is hung within the cooling water (2) while still having an air environment in the interior, and the bottom section of the frame (10) is disposed within the reactor vessel (20), thereby achieving an air environment within the reactor vessel (20). Furthermore, since repairs to the reactor vessel (20) are performed by using the frame (10) while still having the air environment in the interior, this leads to the prevention of contamination and achieves improvements in working conditions such as preventing the generation of dust and reducing decontamination work. Accordingly, repairs can be performed in an air environment without draining the cooling water (2) within the reactor vessel (20), even in a state in which the reactor vessel (20) is covered by the cooling water (2).
US09070484B2 Reactor servicing platform
A servicing platform for a nuclear reactor refueling floor is provided. In various embodiments, the servicing platform includes a base structured to be anchored to a refueling floor of the nuclear reactor. The servicing platform additionally includes a telescoping mast having a mounting collar at a first end that is rotationally attached to the base, and a personnel work basket pivotally coupled to a second end of the mast.
US09070481B1 Internal current measurement for age measurements
A method of operation in a non-volatile memory device, including executing a memory operation with respect to a portion of a non-volatile memory device, and measuring a current corresponding to current drawn by at least the portion of the non-volatile memory device during the memory operation. An age metric is determined for at least the portion of the non-volatile memory device based on age criteria including a characteristic of the measured current. In accordance with a determination that the age metric satisfies one or more predefined threshold criteria, one or more configuration parameters associated with the non-volatile memory device are adjusted. After the adjusting, data is read from and data to the portion of the non-volatile memory device according to the one or more adjusted configuration parameters.
US09070477B1 Bit interleaved low voltage static random access memory (SRAM) and related methods
A method can include applying a device power supply voltage to an integrated circuit including a static random access memory (SRAM) with transistors having at least a first threshold voltage (Vt); applying an array power supply voltage to cells of the SRAM that is near or below Vt; and in a write operation, reading data from at least a first group of the cells that is interleaved with a second group of the cells, and applying the read data to the bit lines of the first group of cells, while write data is applied to the bit lines of the second group of cells.
US09070476B2 Refresh circuits
A refresh circuit includes a period signal generation circuit configured to drive a control node according to a level of the control node, discharge first and second currents from the control node in response to the first temperature signal, and generate a period signal, a division signal generator configured to divide the period signal to generate a first division signal and a second division signal, and a selector configured to select one of the first and second division signals in response to a second temperature signal and for outputting the selected division signal as a refresh signal.
US09070473B2 Refresh architecture and algorithm for non-volatile memories
Methods and systems to refresh a non-volatile memory device, such as a phase change memory. In an embodiment, as a function of system state, a memory device performs either a first refresh of memory cells using a margined read reference level or a second refresh of error-corrected memory cells using a non-margined read reference level.
US09070470B1 Sensing memory cells coupled to different access lines in different blocks of memory cells
In an embodiment, a target memory cell in a first block of memory cells of a memory device and a target memory cell in a second block of memory cells of the memory device are sensed concurrently while a read voltage is applied to a selected access line coupled to the target memory cell in the first block of memory cells and while a read voltage is applied to another selected access line coupled to the target memory cell in the second block of memory cells.
US09070462B2 Memory element and memory apparatus with a plurality of magnetic layers and an oxide layer
A memory element has a layered structure, including a memory layer that has magnetization perpendicular to a film face in which a magnetization direction is changed depending on information, and includes a Co—Fe—B magnetic layer, the magnetization direction being changed by applying a current in a lamination direction of the layered structure to record the information in the memory layer, a magnetization-fixed layer having magnetization perpendicular to a film face that becomes a base of the information stored in the memory layer, and an intermediate layer that is formed of a non-magnetic material and is provided between the memory layer and the magnetization-fixed layer, a first oxide layer and a second oxide layer.
US09070460B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory
A non-volatile semiconductor memory includes a memory array. In a programming operation, programming pulses are applied to a page of the memory array to program data to the page. In an erase operation, erase pulses are applied to a block of the memory array to erase data in the block. The non-volatile semiconductor memory performs a pre-program operation before the erase operation and a post-erase operation after the erase operation. In the pre-program operation, each page of the block is programmed according to voltage information relating programming pulses. In the erase operation, data in the block is erased according to the voltage information relating programming pulses.
US09070459B2 Erase operation control sequencing apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive an external erase command at a control circuit coupled to an erasable memory array located on a substrate. A global select gate voltage may thereafter be enabled for application to wordline transistors coupled to the erasable memory array after a voltage applied to the substrate has reached a preselected initiation voltage level between about zero volts and an ultimate erase voltage.
US09070457B2 Magnetic tunnel junctions with perpendicular magnetization and magnetic random access memory
In magnetic tunnel junctions manufactured with use of a ferromagnetic material having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, a difference in record retention time depending on stored information due to an imbalance in thermal stability between a parallel state and an anti-parallel state of magnetization, which correspond to bit information, is alleviated. A reference layer and a recording layer which constitute a magnetic tunnel junction are made different in area from each other so as to correct the difference in record retention time corresponding to stored information.
US09070454B1 Flash memory
This disclosure describes techniques for using environmental variables to improve calibration of flash memory by adapting to changing threshold-voltage distributions. These techniques effectively increase the speed and/or accuracy at which flash memory can be written or read.
US09070451B1 Modifying data stored in a multiple-write flash memory cell
Flash memory stored data modification is described. In embodiments, a flash memory system includes flash memory and a memory controller that manages data write and erase operations to the flash memory. The flash memory includes a first flash memory region of single-write flash memory cells that are each configured for a data write operation and a corresponding erase operation before a subsequent data write operation. The flash memory also includes a second flash memory region of multiple-write flash memory cells that are each configured for multiple data write operations before an erase operation.
US09070445B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes a memory cell array having a plurality of electrically rewritable memory transistors arranged therein; and a control unit configured to govern control that repeats a voltage application operation and a step-up operation, the voltage application operation applying an applied voltage to a selected memory transistor to change a threshold voltage at which the selected memory transistor is conductive, and the step-up operation, in the case where a threshold voltage of the selected memory transistor has not changed to a desired value, raising the applied voltage by an amount of a certain step-up value. The control unit is configured to control the step-up operation to monotonically decrease the step-up value as the number of times of the voltage application operations increases.
US09070444B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including memory cells arranged therein. A first latch circuit temporarily holds data to perform a read operation and a write operation on the memory cell array. The second latch circuit temporarily holds a control signal. A control circuit controls the memory cell array, the first latch circuit and the second latch circuit. The control circuit limits an operation of the first latch circuit in a state after an operation on the memory cell array has been finished, and limits an operation of the second latch circuit based on a command supplied from external.
US09070443B2 Embedded solid state disk as a controller of a solid state disk
A Solid State Disk (SSD) includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory devices storing data, and an embedded solid state disk controlling the plurality of nonvolatile memory devices. The SSD uses an embedded SSD (eSSD) as a controller. Thus, the SSD can be embodied in a small area. Also, since the SSD does not need an additional process for manufacturing a controller, manufacturing cost per unit may be reduced.
US09070442B2 Memory devices with local and global devices at substantially the same level above stacked tiers of memory cells and methods
In an embodiment, a memory device includes a stack of tiers of memory cells, a tier of local devices at a level above the stack of tiers of memory cells, and a tier of global devices at substantially a same level as the tier of local devices. A local device may provide selective access to a data line. A global device may provide selective access to a global access line. A tier of memory cells may be selectively coupled to a global access line by the global device of the tier of global devices.
US09070440B2 Resistance change memory
According to one embodiment, a resistance change memory includes a first memory cell, a word line, a first bit line, first and second inverters, first to sixth MOS transistors, and a control circuit. The first transistor is connected to the first output terminal of the first inverter. The second transistor is connected to the second output terminal of the second inverter. The fifth transistor has a first current path whose one end is connected to the first voltage terminal of the first inverter. The sixth transistor has a second current path whose one end is connected to the third voltage terminal of the second inverter. The control circuit makes the first and second transistors a cutoff state by a first signal and makes the fifth and sixth transistors the cutoff state by a second signal in a standby state.
US09070438B2 Programming of phase-change memory cells
Methods and apparatus are provided for programming a phase-change memory cell having s>2 programmable cell states. At least one control signal is applied to produce a programming pulse for programming the cell. At least one control signal is varied during the programming pulse to shape the programming pulse in dependence on the cell state to be programmed and produce a selected one of a plurality of programming pulse waveforms corresponding to respective programming trajectories for programming the cell states. The selected programming pulse waveform corresponds to a programming trajectory containing the cell state to be programmed.
US09070436B2 Memory controller using crisscross error-correcting codes
A method is provided to manage access to a memory array. The method includes encoding a bit string with a rank metric encoder to generate an encoded binary array, modifying the encoded binary array so each row has at most half of the row with a bit value and each column has at most half of the column with the bit value, and storing the modified binary array into corresponding memory devices of the memory array.
US09070429B2 Data input circuit
A data input circuit includes a clock sampling unit, a final clock generation unit, and a write latch signal generation unit. The sampling unit is configured to generate a shifting signal including a pulse generated after a write latency is elapsed, and generate a sampling clock by sampling an internal clock during a burst period from substantially a time when the pulse of the shifting signal is generated. The final clock generation unit is configured to generate a level signal by latching the shifting signal in synchronization with the sampling clock and generate a final clock from the level signal in response to a burst signal. The write latch signal generation unit is configured to generate an enable signal by latching the final clock and generate a write latch signal for latching and outputting aligned data in response to the enable signal.
US09070423B2 Single package dual channel memory with co-support
A microelectronic package can include a support element having first and second surfaces and substrate contacts at the first or second surface, zeroth and first stacked microelectronic elements electrically coupled with the substrate contacts, and terminals at the second surface electrically coupled with the microelectronic elements. The second surface can have a southwest region encompassing entire lengths of south and west edges of the second surface and extending in orthogonal directions from the south and west edges one-third of each distance toward north and east edges of the second surface, respectively. The terminals can include first terminals at a southwest region of the second surface, the first terminals configured to carry address information usable by circuitry within the microelectronic package to determine an addressable memory location from among all the available addressable memory locations of the memory storage arrays of at least one of the zeroth or first microelectronic elements.
US09070422B2 Apparatus and method for sense amplifying
A sense amplifier includes four sub-circuits: pre-charge, sense enable, sense output, and buffer. The pre-charge sub-circuit provides a voltage between zero volts and the positive power supply (denoted VDD) to the sense enable sub-circuit. The sense enable sub-circuit is configured to adjust the received voltage based on the sensed value of bit lines and sends the adjusted voltage to the sense output sub-circuit. The sense output sub-circuit removes interference, inverts and amplifies the adjusted voltage, and sends an output voltage to the buffer sub-circuit. The buffer sub-circuit amplifies the output voltage of the sense output sub-circuit and provides it to an output bus.
US09070419B1 Electronic apparatus with first and second sliding tray modules
An electronic device includes a chassis, first and second sliding tray modules, first and second cables, and first and second cable-protecting members. The chassis includes a main sliding rail and has a bottom surface. The first and second sliding tray modules respectively contain a plurality of first and second storage modules. The first and second cables are respectively electrically connected to the first and second storage modules. The first cable-protecting member includes a plurality of first connecting units pivotally connected one by one. The first connecting units retain the first cable to move at a first height relative to the bottom surface. The second cable-protecting member includes a plurality of second connecting units pivotally connected one by one. The second connecting units retain the second cable to move at a second height relative to the bottom surface. The first height is different from the second height.
US09070416B2 Methods and apparatus for hard disk drive system operation monitoring and self-adjustment
Methods and architecture for monitoring hard disk drive operation is provided. The hard disk drive system provided includes a spindle, a head and a disk with a disk medium including a buried servo layer having a first frequency of data on a first track and a second frequency of data on a second track, the second track adjacent to the first track. The method includes the steps of writing a wide track pattern having a predetermined frequency on a track of a hard disk drive medium, generating a readback signal by reading the pattern from the track, processing the readback signal by mixing the readback signal with a reference signal to obtain a mixed signal having a summed signal and a difference signal, and filtering the mixed signal by a filter centered around the difference signal to generate a measurement signal corresponding to a relative speed change of the spindle and a head-to-disk motion. In addition, filtering a readback signal generated by the head when positioned at the middle of the first track and the second track with a first filter centered at the first frequency and a second filter centered at the second frequency is used to generate signals for determining spindle speed variation, spindle speed jitter, and relative head-disk vibration in the downtrack direction, for synchronizing writing in Two Dimensional Magnetic Recording (TDMR) and for measuring continuous flying height information based on Wallace equations.
US09070415B2 Collaborative production asset management
In an approach, a method of spotting music for a motion picture comprises: receiving music editor (MXE) cue related data defining a plurality of cues each having a start timecode value and an end timecode value; based on the MXE data, creating and storing an MXE timecode path, a composer (CMP) timecode path, and a cue sheet timecode path; copying one or more of the MXE cue related data to CMP cues in the CMP timecode path in a CMP spotting dataset; receiving one or more changes to the CMP cues without also modifying the MXE cue related data; applying an editing lock to the CMP cues; auto-populating the CMP cues to cue sheet cues in the cue sheet timecode path; receiving one or more changes to the cue sheet cues without also modifying the CMP cues; finalizing and distributing a cue sheet based on the cue sheet cues; wherein the method is performed by one or more special-purpose computing devices.
US09070412B2 Channel bitword processor, PRML decoder, and optical information recording/reproducing device
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a technique, when using fixed-length run-length limit codes based on enumeration, that generates fixed-length channel bit words satisfying maximum run-length limitation using a simple configuration. A channel bit word processor according to the present invention includes an avoidance list that describes a difference between a user bit word satisfying a maximum run-length limitation of run-length limit code and a user bit word not satisfying the maximum run-length limitation. The channel bit word processor, if a user bit word does not satisfy the maximum run-length limitation, generates a channel bit word using a user bit word after the difference is added.
US09070408B2 Closed loop analog signal processor (“CLASP”) system
A system, device, and method for recording audio with the character and sonic benefits of a genuine analog recording is disclosed. More specifically, an electro-mechanical-software controlled closed loop analog signal processor (“CLASP”) system which is comprised of a CLASP unit containing firmware, a latency detection module, and CLASP hardware display and controls. The CLASP system further comprises CLASP software operably running on a digital audio workstation (“DAW”) which is also in operable communication with the CLASP unit. The CLASP unit is also in operable communication with an analog recordable medium. An analog audio signal is recorded on the analog recordable medium, which may consist of a coated tape, cup, cylinder, drum, or disk, and then immediately played back and routed to the DAW via an analog to digital converter, thus providing for digitally recorded analog audio. The CLASP system may also include converters and a mixing console.
US09070406B1 Disk drive configuring one-dimensional and two-dimensional recording areas based on read element spacing
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of tracks, and a head comprising a first read element and a second read element. A spacing of the first and second read elements is measured, and based on the measured spacing, the tracks are grouped into radial bands that define at least one one-dimensional recording area on the disk and at least one two-dimensional recording area on the disk. When the head is within a first two-dimensional recording area, data recorded on the disk is detected by processing a first read signal generated by the first read element and by processing a second read signal generated by the second read element using a two-dimensional demodulation algorithm. When the head is within a first one-dimensional recording area, data recorded on the disk is detected by processing the first read signal using a one-dimensional demodulation algorithm.
US09070405B2 Signal noise rejection
An implementation of a system disclosed herein provides a method of determining a frequency of baseline noise in a target or read sensor signal and rejecting a band of signals from the target or read sensor signal substantially around the frequency of the baseline noise, including devices to implement this method.
US09070403B2 Processing of scalable compressed video data formats for nonlinear video editing systems
Accessing only the lower bandwidth data in video data stored in a scalable format requires skipping around within a data file to locate the desired data for a specified progression dimension for each image. This causes seek and rotational latency to occur for each image, increasing access time per image and lowering the available bandwidth for reading motion video from the storage system. Such increases in access time significantly degrade performance of local and shared storage systems, particularly for video editing and other video playback systems used in production, post-production and broadcast operations. To improve the performance of such systems, motion video data stored in a scalable format is processed so as to copy the lower bandwidth data into a separate file. These separate files can be accessed by video editing systems, media management systems and other devices or computer programs that use the lower bandwidth data.
US09070402B2 3D model presentation system with motion and transitions at each camera view point of interest (POI) with imageless jumps to each POI
An interactive 3D presentation system that utilizes a collection of shots or motion views where each shot can include a combination of a camera view and camera action. A visual transition, such as a fade, can be presented at the end and beginning of sequential shots. Between the end point of a first shot and the beginning of a sequential shot, the scene is not shown. The system allows interactive authoring and/or viewing a 3D visual experience composed by defining a collection of shots where each shot is a combination of a camera view point of interest (POI) plus a camera motion path. The POI is placed on the path in a variety of ways where it can be at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of the path. A collection of predefined, cinematically styled camera motion paths, such as a crane and track shots, can be made available to the author. The pacing and duration of each shot can be adjusted. A graphical user interface showing the scene is provided and includes thumbnails of the POI or sets of POIs where the user can select a thumbnail to play an associated shot or set. The interface allows for the arrangement and ordering of shots to be used in a presentation. The system allows a shot to be retrieved from a collection of shots by indexing the 3D locations of each shot's camera path and using this index to find the nearest neighbors to a user specified mouse cursor position. Variations in the scene can also be selected using the interface.
US09070401B2 Selectively lowering resistance of a constantly used portion of motor windings in disk drive
Dynamic reconfiguration-switching of motor windings in a disk drive is optimized between winding-configurations by selectively lowering resistance of a constantly used portion of one of the motor windings. Acceleration is traded off in favor of higher velocity upon detecting the electric motor in the electric vehicle is at an optimal angular-velocity for switching to an optimal lower torque constant and voltage constant. The total back electromotive force (BEMF) is prohibited from inhibiting further acceleration to a higher angular-velocity.
US09070396B1 Method and apparatus for initial self-servo writing based on writing timing tracks on a disk
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of self-servo writing, the method comprising actions of positionally tracking a selected timing track of a data storage disk, wherein the selected timing track has one or more timing segments; synchronizing an angular position signal to rotation of the data storage disk based on at least one of the one or more timing segments of the selected timing track; specifying servo sector positions relative to the synchronized angular position signal; writing servo sectors to the data storage disk at the specified servo sector positions relative to the synchronized angular position signal; detecting one or more positional errors in timing segments of a next timing track of the data storage disk based at least in part on the synchronized angular position signal; and accounting for the detected one or more positional errors in writing subsequent servo tracks. Other embodiments are also described.
US09070391B1 Reduced-thickness baseplate
A baseplate for attaching at least two elements includes a flange having at least one first portion with a first uniform thickness and having at least one second portion with a second uniform thickness. The second uniform thickness is less than the first uniform thickness. The baseplate further includes a boss tower that protrudes from and is contiguous with the flange. The boss tower protrudes from the at least one second portion of the flange.
US09070379B2 Data migration for data storage device
Migration of data in a data storage device (DSD). A spindle motor of the DSD is controlled to rotate a disk of the DSD to perform at least one operation on the disk and an operational activity level is determined for performing the at least one operation. It is determined whether the operational activity level is greater than a target level, and if it is determined that the operational activity level is not greater than the target level, data is transferred between a solid state memory of the DSD and the disk while the disk rotates.
US09070371B2 Method and system for peak limiting of speech signals for delay sensitive voice communication
A method and system for peak limiting of speech signals for delay sensitive voice communication is disclosed. In an embodiment, a position of a sample with highest magnitude within a current block of samples is determined. Further, a peak gain to be applied for the current block of samples to bring down the highest magnitude to a predetermined threshold value is determined. Furthermore, a gain delta by which an old gain is updated to the peak gain is computed. Then, a gain factor is computed for the current block of samples based on the position of the sample with highest magnitude and the gain delta. Subsequently, the gain factor is set to a predetermined minimum gain factor when the computed gain factor is less than the predetermined minimum gain factor. In addition, gain is applied to the current block of samples using the gain factor.
US09070368B2 Method and system for providing an automated web transcription service
A system, method and computer readable medium that provides an automated web transcription service is disclosed. The method may include receiving input speech from a user using a communications network, recognizing the received input speech, understanding the recognized speech, transcribing the understood speech to text, storing the transcribed text in a database, receiving a request via a web page to display the transcribed text, retrieving transcribed text from the database, and displaying the transcribed text to the requester using the web page.
US09070367B1 Local speech recognition of frequent utterances
In a distributed automated speech recognition (ASR) system, speech models may be employed on a local device to allow the local device to process frequently spoken utterances while passing other utterances to a remote device for processing. Upon receiving an audio signal, the local device compares the audio signal to the speech models of the frequently spoken utterances to determine whether the audio signal matches one of the speech models. When the audio signal matches one of the speech models, the local device processes the utterance, for example by executing a command. When the audio signal does not match one of the speech models, the local device transmits the audio signal to a second device for ASR processing. This reduces latency and the amount of audio signals that are sent to the second device for ASR processing.
US09070364B2 Method and apparatus for processing audio signals
An audio signal processing method is disclosed. The audio signal processing method includes receiving a residual and long term prediction information, performing inverse frequency mapping with respect to the residual to generate a synthesized residual, and performing long term synthesis based on the synthesized residual and the long term prediction information to generate a synthesized audio signal of a current frame, wherein the long term prediction information comprises a final prediction gain and a final pitch lag, the final pitch lag has a range starting with 0, and the long term synthesis is performed based on a synthesized audio signal of a frame comprising a preceding frame.
US09070361B2 Method and apparatus for encoding a wideband speech signal utilizing downmixing of a highband component
A method and apparatus for encoding a signal is provided herein. During operation a wideband signal that is to be encoded enters a filter bank. A highband signal and a lowband signal are output from the filter bank. Each signal is separately encoded. During the production of the highband signal, a downmixing operation is implemented after preprocessing, and prior to decimating. The downmixing operation greatly reduces system complexity. In fact, it will be observed that the highest sample rate in the prior-art implementation is 64 kHz whereas the sample rate in the system described above remains at 32 kHz or below. This represents a significant complexity saving, as do the reduced number of processing blocks.
US09070360B2 Confidence calibration in automatic speech recognition systems
Described is a calibration model for use in a speech recognition system. The calibration model adjusts the confidence scores output by a speech recognition engine to thereby provide an improved calibrated confidence score for use by an application. The calibration model is one that has been trained for a specific usage scenario, e.g., for that application, based upon a calibration training set obtained from a previous similar/corresponding usage scenario or scenarios. Different calibration models may be used with different usage scenarios, e.g., during different conditions. The calibration model may comprise a maximum entropy classifier with distribution constraints, trained with continuous raw confidence scores and multi-valued word tokens, and/or other distributions and extracted features.
US09070358B2 Parametric encoding and decoding
An encoder for a multi-channel audio signal which comprises a down-mixer (201, 203, 205) for generating a down-mix as a combination of at least a first and second channel signal weighted by respectively a first and second weight with different amplitudes for at least some time-frequency intervals. Furthermore, a circuit (201, 203, 209) generates up-mix parametric data characterizing a relationship between the channel signals as well as characterizing the weights. A circuit generates weight estimates for the encoder weights from the up-mix parametric data; and comprises an up-mixer (407) which recreates the multi channel audio signal by up-mixing the down-mix in response to the up-mix parametric data, the first weight estimate and the second weight estimate. The up-mixing is dependent on the amplitude of at least one of the weight estimate(s).
US09070355B2 Acoustic generator, acoustic generation device, and electronic device
An object is to flatten a frequency characteristic. For achieving the object, an acoustic generator according to an embodiment includes a piezoelectric element (exciter) and a film (film-like vibrating body). The piezoelectric element receives input of an electric signal and vibrates. The piezoelectric element is bonded to the film through a bonding material and the film vibrates together with the piezoelectric element with the vibration of the piezoelectric element. Furthermore, the acoustic generator in the embodiment has voids in the bonding material.
US09070351B2 Adjustment of song length
A system for automatic rearrangement of a musical composition includes a process of assigning metadata to an existing piece of music to divide it into sections and identify sections of the same type, and logic to remove and rearrange sections to produced a customized playback with a desired duration and additional options for including or removing specific sections or instruments under the control of a user.
US09070348B2 Cymbal stand and method for setting up the same
A cymbal stand for mounting at least one cymbal. The cymbal stand comprises a base assembly including a base pipe, a support pipe assembly including a first support pipe, and a first locking clamp for releasably locking said first support pipe and said base pipe together. The base pipe has an upper end and a longitudinal axis. The first support pipe has a length, opposite terminal ends and a first longitudinal axis along the length. The first support pipe is telescopically and coaxially movable relative to the base pipe. The first support pipe is connected to the base pipe along the longitudinal axis of the first support pipe by the first locking clamp at a nodal point of the first support pipe.
US09070346B2 White key for keyboard instrument
A white key for a keyboard instrument, which makes it possible to improve yield and marketability and reduce manufacturing costs. The white key for a keyboard instrument includes a wooden key body, a synthetic resin-made upper cover bonded to the key body, and a synthetic resin-made front cover bonded to a front end face of the key body. The upper cover has a protrusion protruding downward from a front end thereof, and the protrusion and an upper end of the front cover are in contact with each other via respective inclined surfaces formed on the protrusion and the upper end of the front cover.
US09070341B2 Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
An LCD device and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The LCD device includes a data driver, a detection unit, and a power mode control option generation unit. The data driver controls a consumption power of an output buffer which outputs an image data signal to a liquid crystal display panel. The detection unit detects a low power driving mode interval for driving the data driver at a first consumption power. The power mode control option generation unit transfers a second power mode control option to the data driver during an interval other than the low power driving mode interval, and transfers a first power mode control option to the data driver during the low power driving mode interval.
US09070340B2 Driving device of display device
There is provided a driving device of a display device, including: a first switching portion; a second switching portion; and a control section that, when the potential of a drive signal line is lower than a target potential, operates the first switching portion by using, as a first reference potential, a potential that is less than or equal to the target potential and that is closest to the target potential, among predetermined n types (n≧1) of potentials, and, when the potential of the drive signal line is higher than the target potential, operates the second switching portion by using, as a second reference potential, a potential that is greater than or equal to the target potential and that is closest to the target potential, among the n types of potentials.
US09070337B2 Display device with improved driver for array of cells capable of storing charges
Provided is a display device including a driver circuit for controlling supply of charges to an array of cells capable of storing the charges. In the driver circuit, a preceding electrically connecting part (SW221) controlled by a clock signal (CLK1) electrically connects an output signal line of a first circuit (211) having a positive polarity which is a potential higher than a reference potential and an output signal line of a second circuit (212) having a negative polarity which is a potential lower than the reference potential. After a predetermined time period has elapsed, a subsequent electrically connecting part (SW222) controlled by a clock signal (CLK2) electrically connects an output signal line of a third circuit (213) having the positive polarity and an output signal line of a fourth circuit (214) having the negative polarity.
US09070332B2 Display device with a power saving mode in which operation of either the odd-line gate driver or the even-line gate driver is halted
A display device includes: an insulation substrate; a plurality of gate lines on the insulation substrate and divided into a first group and a second group; a plurality of data lines insulated from and intersecting the gate lines; a gate driver which applies a gate-on voltage to the gate lines and operates in one of a first mode and a second mode; and a data driver which applies a data voltage to the data lines, where the first group and the second group of the gate lines are applied with the gate-on voltage when the gate driver is in the first mode, and where the first group of the gate lines is applied with the gate-on voltage and the second group of the gate lines is in an off state when the gate driver is in the second mode.
US09070328B2 Address-selectable charging of capacitive devices
A drive circuit for a capacitive device that comprises a first operational state and a second operational state. The drive circuit comprises a capacitor and preferably two or more transistors. The capacitive device is caused to transition from a first operational state to a second operational state by a row pulse being asserted on a row line and a column pulse asserted on a column enable signal commensurate with the assertion of the row pulse. If the column pulse is deasserted before the row pulse is deasserted, the capacitive device is caused to transition from the first operational state to the second operational upon deassertion of the row pulse. In some embodiments, a precisely controlled variable voltage can be applied to the capacitive device.
US09070323B2 Chiplet display with multiple passive-matrix controllers
A display device includes a substrate having a display area; row electrodes formed over the substrate in the display area extending in a row direction and column electrodes formed over the substrate in the display area extending in a column direction different from the row direction, the row and column electrodes overlapping to form pixels; wherein the pixels are divided into two or more separate pixel groups, each pixel group having group row electrodes and separate group column electrodes; two or more spaced column driver chiplets located in the display area, each column driver chiplet uniquely connected to a different pixel group wherein in at least one of the column driver chiplets is located between pixel groups, and the two or more spaced column driver chiplets adapted to drive the group column electrodes of the one pixel group; and one or more row driver(s) connected to the row electrodes.
US09070322B2 Electrofluidic chromatophore (EFC) display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a plurality of electrofluidic chromatophore (EFC) pixel cells. Each pixel cell includes a fluid holder for holding a polar fluid and a non-polar fluid having differing display properties, the fluid holder including a reservoir having an orifice with a small visible area projected in the direction of a viewer onto the polar fluid, and a channel with a geometry having a large visible area projected in the direction of a viewer onto the polar fluid. The channel is connected to the reservoir via said orifice so as to enable free movement of the polar fluid and non-polar fluid between the channel and the reservoir. The reservoir is formed in a laminated resin structure of homogenous resin film layers, including an orifice film layer and a reservoir film layer.
US09070319B1 Selective transformation of overlapping image objects
Method, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for selective transformation of overlapping image objects. One method includes identifying, in a computer graphics illustration, an overlapping region formed by a region of an overlapping image object having transparency positioned over a region of an overlapped image object, wherein the overlapping image object and the overlapped image object are resolution independent image objects, combining the region of the overlapping image object and the region of the overlapped image object to form a transformed region that is resolution independent, and storing the transformed region and other regions of the computer graphics illustration, which other regions are not combined to form the transformed region to provide for further processing.
US09070315B2 Display device
A display device is disclosed which includes: a control substrate configured to include a timing controller; a data connector configured to transfer signal from the control substrate to a display panel; a data driver mounted to the data connector; at least one outer connector disposed by at least one of both sides of the data connector and loaded with a driver chip, wherein the driver chip and the data driver are loaded on the outer connector and the data connector using the same bonding system, respectively.
US09070313B2 High strength cosmetic logo construction
A cosmetic logo insert is adapted for fitting into an opening in the housing of an associated computing device, is formed from a single piece of metal, has a thickness less than about 0.8 mm, and provides by itself adequate shock impact and fire enclosure protection at the opening for internal device components. The insert can include a lower portion having a first circumferential shape in the form of a logo and an outer surface that is substantially flat and polished to a mirrored finish, and also an upper portion integrally formed with the lower portion and having a second circumferential shape that is larger than the first circumferential shape. A computing device can include an outer housing having a wall with a stepped and logo shaped opening, a processor located within the housing, and a cosmetic housing insert fitted into the wall opening.
US09070308B2 Labeled armored electrical cable
Flexible indicia bearing labels are placed on armored electrical cable at spaced apart intervals while the cable is being moving continuously from an armoring station to a takeup reel or accumulator. A label dispenser places labels in a U shaped recess of a body which is moveable toward engagement with the cable. Opposed rollers fold one edge of the label over into engagement with the surface of the cable and the other edge of the label over onto itself in overlapping relationship. The cable is passed through a heat tunnel to shrink the labels into tight engagement with the cable. A controller monitors movement of the cable and controls actuators for applying and folding labels onto the cable at spaced apart intervals.
US09070307B2 Surgical simulation device and assembly
A system for simulating a surgical procedure, which includes a housing covering an anatomical model. The model is made up of simulated tissue supported on a base assembly that allows pivoting and rotation of the simulated tissue. The simulated tissue includes a portion that represents soft tissue, such as dermal tissue, muscle, connective tissue and the like, and a portion that represents hard tissue, such as osseous tissue. The housing includes apertures through which a surgical instrument may be inserted for simulating a procedure on the simulated tissue. Cannulas may be set within the apertures.
US09070305B1 Traffic light detecting system and method
Systems and methods are provided for determining the status of traffic lights through a mobile device and communicating the status to the user of the device. The mobile device detects its geographical location, direction and elevation. The mobile device also receives information related to traffic lights, such as location and type. The device calculates positional deviation from the device to the traffic light and generates one or more prompts in the form of audible or tactile cues that progressively guide the user to point the device at the traffic light. The mobile device detects the image and color of the traffic light and determines the illumination and sign status of the traffic light. Then the mobile device communicates the traffic light status to the user.
US09070301B2 System and method for improved human learning through multi-sensory stimulus
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for improving human learning by providing multi-sensory stimulus. A system narrates a text to a user at a narration pace, while determining a focal point of the user's gaze using both a camera and eye tracking analysis. The system determines a user pace based on a shift in the gaze focal point during narration of the text, then adjusts the narration pace based on the user pace. The adjustment is performed based on a selection of a retention mode and a development mode. The retention mode maintains the narration pace with the user pace for maximal user retention of the text. The development mode increases the narration pace with respect to the user pace for user reading rate acceleration.
US09070295B2 Systems and methods for monitoring location of a vehicle or freight carried by the vehicle by correlating the vehicle or the freight carried by the vehicle to a communications device
A system for providing location information of a vehicle includes a communications interface and a correlation logic that correlates location information of a communications device to location of the vehicle. The communications interface communicates electronic signals including: a first signal including data representing a request for the location of the vehicle, a second signal transmitted to a location information provider corresponding to a party or device other than the communications device including data representing a request for location information of the communications device, a third signal received from the location information provider corresponding to the party or device other than the communications device including data representing the location information of the communications device, and a fourth signal including data representing the location of the vehicle.
US09070294B2 Automated warning methods and systems for the prevention of animal-vehicle accidents
Methods and systems for preventing collisions between vehicles and moving hazards include the use of active signs, a network of sensors, and a controller. Such sensors can be placed adjacent to a roadway and are used to detect the presence of animals. The active signs display a local speed limit. The controller accepts the sensor signals as input and outputs display commands to the active signs. The controller maintains a rolling window of recent detections in histogram form. The recent data, together with a control law specified by the municipal authority, can be used to specify updated local speed limits to influence driver behavior.
US09070291B2 Method for predicting a travel time for a traffic route
A system for predicting a travel time for a traffic route is disclosed. The traffic route comprises one or more road segments. A predicted travel time for each of those segments is calculated based, in part, on traffic speed data for each of the one or more road segments. A total travel time is then calculated for the route, the total travel time including a predicted travel time for each of the one or more road segments.
US09070290B2 Apparatus and system for monitoring and managing traffic flow
An apparatus and system for monitoring and managing traffic flow. The system includes a plurality of remote sensor devices arranged in a plurality of vehicles, a plurality of remote communication devices arranged along one or more roadways and in communication with the plurality of remote sensor devices, a central server, a network interface in communication with the central server and the plurality of remote communication devices over a network, and a shared database in communication with the central server. The central server is configured to receive traffic data from the plurality of remote sensor devices over the network, update traffic data in the shared database, periodically calculate an optimal traffic flow for one or more of vehicles traveling along the one or more roadways based on the updated traffic data, and transmit timing adjustments over the network to one or more traffic light intersections based on the optimal traffic flow calculations. The network interface is configured to send and receive traffic data, wherein the traffic data includes vehicle location information.
US09070289B2 System and method for detecting, tracking and estimating the speed of vehicles from a mobile platform
A method and system for measurement of ground based vehicle speed includes a movable platform that includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) located in proximity to a roadway, the UAV operates under control and navigation of a UAV control unit, and the UAV also carries camera and monitoring equipment, the camera and monitoring equipment including an onboard computing system, and a camera with a wide angle lens and a camera with a telephoto lens, the cameras being mounted on a pan/tilt device. An algorithm operated by the on-board computing system is used to detect and track vehicles moving on a roadway. The algorithm is configured to detect and track the vehicles despite motion created by movement of the UAV. The cameras mounted on the pan/tilt device are moved under the direction of the computer vision algorithm to maintain a target vehicle of the detected moving vehicles in view, and the speed of the target vehicle is measured.
US09070282B2 Smartphone control of electrical devices
In some implementations a non-transitory storage device on a smartphone having a multi-sensory-recognition engine stored thereon is coupled to a microcontroller, a device-controller for an electrical device that is wirelessly coupled to the microcontroller, and at least one of a plurality of sensors is operably coupled to the microcontroller.
US09070280B2 Remote and controller synchronization for automated furniture controls
A system and method for automatically pairing wireless remotes to the control components of automated furniture items is provided. In embodiments, a pairing mode selection indication is received, indicating a universal mode selection or a normal mode selection. In universal mode, the control component and the remote device are automatically paired based on commands received from the remote device. In normal mode, the control component and the remote component are automatically paired upon confirmation that the unique ID of the remote device corresponds to an ID database. Having paired the control component with the remote device, the control component may execute commands received from at least one remote device. In embodiments, the pairing method includes applying priority rules for particular remote devices. Further, the automatic pairing of remote devices may include varying levels of authorization for different users.
US09070275B1 Mobile entity tracking and analysis system
Method and apparatus for mobile entity tracking and analysis. In some embodiments, a multi-dimensional geophysical area is divided into a first layer of zones. Each zone encompasses a contiguous portion of the geophysical area and has at least one rule assigned thereto. Geoposition values from a sensor attached to a mobile entity are accumulated in a memory, the geoposition values indicative of successive geopositions of the mobile entity. For each accumulated geoposition value, the associated zone in which the geoposition of the mobile entity is located is identified, and the at least one rule assigned to the zone is applied. A second layer zone is subsequently generated responsive to an input signal, and an alarm limit is output based on a subsequently accumulated geoposition value indicating the geoposition of the mobile entity is located within the second layer zone.
US09070274B2 Method for early detection of cooling-loss events
A method of detecting cooling-loss event early is provided. The method includes defining a relative humidity limit and change threshold for a given space, measuring relative humidity in the given space, determining, with a processing unit, whether the measured relative humidity is within the defined relative humidity limit, generating a warning in an event the measured relative humidity is outside the defined relative humidity limit and determining whether a change in the measured relative humidity is less than the defined change threshold for the given space and generating an alarm in an event the change is greater than the defined change threshold.
US09070271B2 Apparatus and method for detecting unauthorized removal of asset tracking device
An asset tracking device includes a mounting bracket and a housing attached to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes a magnetic portion, first apertures that receive first fasteners for attaching the mounting bracket to the asset, and second apertures that receive second fasteners. Third apertures in the housing, aligned with the second apertures in the mounting bracket, receive the second fasteners for attaching the housing to the mounting bracket. When the housing is attached to the mounting bracket, the housing makes the fasteners in the mounting bracket inaccessible so that the mounting bracket cannot be removed from the asset. When the housing is removed from the mounting bracket, a magnetic switch changes state and triggers a controller to generate a tamper alert with location information indicating the location of the tracking device. A wireless transmitter wirelessly transmits the tamper alert and location information to a central monitoring station.
US09070266B2 Operation management support apparatus for power plant
Provide an operation management support apparatus for power plant, supporting a maintenance work and preventing a user from violation of the operational safety programs, caused by a human error in case where a power plant temporarily deviates from LCO. The operation management support apparatus for power plant includes: an alarm device 12 that compares a plant data measuring by sensors 3a-3x installed in a nuclear power plant 2 with preset alarm the value and generates an alarm output instruction signal for instructing an alarm output in case of determining that the power plant is abnormal; an operational safety program DB 14 that stores an information in relation to an operational safety program of the power plant; an support device 13 that extracts an information in relation to the operational safety program of which the alarm output represents a conflict from the operational safety program DB 14 based on the plant data in relation to the alarm output in case of receiving the alarm output instruction signal; and a display device 15 (16) that displays the plant data and the information in relation to the operational safety program, extracted by the support device.
US09070265B2 Security tag for application to footwear
Systems (100) and methods (1500) for operating a security tag (132) of an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) system. The methods involving: attaching a clip (210) to a curved sidewall (202) of an article (102) such that a central body (304) of the security tag is vertically aligned with a central axis of the curved sidewall; maintaining the vertical alignment by locating first and second flanges (306, 502) of the security tag against respective opposing surface areas of the curved sidewall; wrapping a securement member (212) of the security tag around an elongate structure (204) of the article which is offset from the curved sidewall in at least one direction and which protrudes away from a main body (218) of the article; and locking the securement member in a position wrapped around the elongate structure of the article using a mechanical locking mechanism (214) of the security tag.
US09070257B1 Systems and methods for betting pools
Various embodiments described herein provide systems and methods that establish a betting pool associated with a plurality of pool participants and associated with a plurality of real-life events scheduled to occur over a time period. For a first participant of the plurality of pool participants, the systems and methods may receive a first points wager on a first predicted outcome of a first real-life event of the plurality of real-life events, update the points balance in the points account based on the first points wager and on a first actual outcome of the first real-life event, receive a second points wager on a second predicted outcome of a second real-life event of the plurality of real-life events, and update the points balance in the points account based on the second points wager and on a second actual outcome of the second real-life event.
US09070255B2 Tournament gaming machine
Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods, gaming machines, and gaming systems capable of simultaneously presenting two independent games for play. According to one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a cabinet for housing a display that simultaneously presents a first game that is independent from a second game. The first and second games are primary games, and a trigger event in either the first game or the second game initiates play of a tournament game. The gaming machine also includes a first set of player input devices for the first game and a second set of player input devices for the second game. The gaming machine also includes a player input device that allows a player to play both the first and second game simultaneously.
US09070254B2 Wagering game with incremental unlocking of content
A gaming system includes a credit detector adapted to detect a wager to play a wagering game, one or more displays adapted to display, in response to the wager, a base game and a secondary game, the base game providing a trigger that provides an opportunity to play the secondary game, the secondary game including a plurality of decision points, each decision point requiring a selection of one of a plurality of paths and a controller operative to respond to the selection of the path at the one decision point and provide a next decision point for a subsequent selection of another path, a state of the secondary game remaining persistent during repeated plays of the base game so that selected paths in the secondary game are combined to provide non-linear unlocking of a bonus award.
US09070250B2 Wireless real-time gaming system
A gaming system that provides game play in exchange for monetary input per game played is disclosed. The gaming system includes a game server and a plurality of game units connected to the game server via a network. In this gaming system, at least a portion of the network is a wireless network, and wherein the game system enables wireless real time gaming.
US09070248B2 Mechanical wheels for game machines
Electronic gaming machines having mechanical or electro-mechanical wheel devices are described herein. The gaming machines include a cabinet, a display coupled to the cabinet, and a wheel coupled to the cabinet. The wheel includes a plurality of wheel segments positioned axially about a center point of the wheel. The plurality of wheel segments may be configured to rotate about the center point and to transform an appearance of the wheel. The wheel further includes an indicator configured to indicate an indicated wheel segment. The indicator may be configured to rotate about the center point.
US09070245B2 Cash box with a partially plate-shaped closing unit and device for handling notes of value
The invention relates to a cash box (10) which comprises a housing (12) with an opening (16) for supplying notes of value to a storing compartment for storing notes of value and/or for removing notes of value from the storing compartment. Moreover, the cash box (10) has a closing unit (18) that comprises a jalousie part (32) and a plate-shaped part (34). The plate-shaped part (34) has a first engaging element (38) which is shaped in such a manner that, when the cash box (10) is being inserted in a device (102) for handling notes of value, the first engaging element (38) engages with the second engaging element (126) of the device (102) so that the closing unit is moved from a closing position to an open position. Moreover, the invention relates to a device (102) for handling notes of value.
US09070244B2 Power management for an automated banking machine
An automatic banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records corresponding to authorized user or financial account data. The machine includes a card reader for reading data from user cards. The automated banking machine causes financial transfers related to financial accounts that correspond to data read from user cards. The automated banking machine also includes devices that control the supply of power to included devices to avoid exceeding power supply capacity.
US09070242B2 Techniques for controlling game event influence and/or outcome in multi-player gaming environments
Various aspects described or referenced herein are directed to different methods, systems, and computer program products for facilitating and/or enabling user controllable granularity in multi-player gaming environments for enabling a user (e.g., Target Player) to selectively allow/prevent game event influence/outcome by other players and/or groups of players participating in a multi-player game. At least a portion of the game event influence/outcome techniques disclosed herein may be operable to provide event influence/outcome functionality for facilitating user controllable granularity in multi-player gaming environments for enabling individual players of that game to granularly and selectively control the degree and/or type of influence other players of the game may have on game event outcomes relating to the game being played by that individual player.
US09070239B2 Paper sheets inspection apparatus
According to one embodiment, a paper sheets inspection apparatus includes a transfer mechanism configured to transfer paper sheets through an inspection position, a guide member including a guide surface opposed to the paper sheet at the inspection position, a standard plate on the guide member, including a reflection surface exposed on the guide surface at the inspection position, an air supply device configured to spout air flowing from a lateral position of the standard plate along the reflection surface, and form an air curtain between the standard plate and the paper sheet, a light source configured to radiate inspection light toward the reflection surface, and a photoreceptor configured to receive the inspection light reflected from the reflection surface of the standard plate and the inspection light reflected from a surface of the paper sheet at the inspection position.
US09070229B2 Manipulation of graphical objects
One or more graphical objects are displayed in a fixed orientation with reference to a sensed reference direction. Manipulation is achieved by fixing the orientation or position of a displayed graphical object with reference to an apparatus, such as the display itself or a proxy device, detecting a change in orientation of that apparatus and editing the orientation of the graphical object based on the detected change.
US09070228B2 Instanced hair database for use in a hair/fur pipeline
A surface definition module of a hair/fur pipeline may be used to define a surface. An instancing module is used to instance hairs. An instanced hair database coupled to the instancing module is used to store hair data. The instancing module retrieves hair data from the instanced hair database to allow for a relatively large number of hairs to instanced. A display module is used to display the instanced hairs with respect to the surface.
US09070223B2 Image processing device, image processing method, and image processing program
An image processing device includes a map filtering processing unit which applies filtering to a parallax map based on a parallax value with respect to each pixel of an image; a blurred image generation unit which generates a blurred image of the image from the image; and an image composition unit which generates a composite image which is obtained by compositing the image and the blurred image based on the parallax map after the filtering by the map filtering processing unit.
US09070218B2 Reconstructing an image of a scene captured using a compressed sensing device
A method for reconstructing an image of a scene captured using a compressed sensing device. A mask is received which identifies at least one region of interest in an image of a scene. Measurements are then obtained of the scene using a compressed sensing device comprising, at least in part, a spatial light modulator configuring a plurality of spatial patterns according to a set of basis functions each having a different spatial resolution. A spatial resolution is adaptively modified according to the mask. Each pattern focuses incoming light of the scene onto a detector which samples sequential measurements of light. These measurements comprise a sequence of projection coefficients corresponding to the scene. Thereafter, an appearance of the scene is reconstructed utilizing a compressed sensing framework which reconstructs the image from the sequence of projection coefficients.
US09070216B2 Four-dimensional augmented reality models for interactive visualization and automated construction progress monitoring
A method for monitoring construction progress may include storing in memory multiple unordered images obtained from photographs taken at a site; melding the multiple images to reconstruct a dense three-dimensional (3D) as-built point cloud model including merged pixels from the multiple images in 3D space of the site; rectifying and transforming the 3D as-built model to a site coordinate system existing within a 3D as-planned building information model (“as-planned model”); and overlaying the 3D as-built model with the 3D as-planned model for joint visualization thereof to display progress towards completion of a structure shown in the 3D as-planned model. The processor may further link a project schedule to the 3D as-planned model to generate a 4D chronological as-planned model that, when visualized with the 3D as-built point cloud, provides clash detection and schedule quality control during construction.
US09070214B1 Systems and methods for data and model-driven image reconstruction and enhancement
Systems and methods are disclosed for image reconstruction and enhancement, using a computer system. One method includes acquiring a plurality of images associated with a target anatomy; determining, using a processor, one or more associations between subdivisions of localized anatomy of the target anatomy identified from the plurality of images, and local image regions identified from the plurality of images; performing an initial image reconstruction based on image acquisition information of the target anatomy; and updating the initial image reconstruction or generating a new image reconstruction based on the image acquisition information and the one or more determined associations.
US09070212B2 Medical imaging apparatus and imaging slice determination method
There is provided an imaging slice setting technique capable of reducing the burden on the operator and having high accuracy and a high degree of freedom. In order to do so, a standard imaging slice is registered in the system in advance, and a GUI allowing the operator to appropriately adjust the standard imaging slice is provided. The standard imaging slice is displayed on a standard image configured to include two-dimensional images in three directions similar to a positioning image, and can be adjusted on the image. At the time of main imaging, the standard image is fitted to the positioning image to specify an imaging slice on the positioning image.
US09070206B2 Providing a visible light source in an interactive three-dimensional compositing application
Some embodiments provide a three dimensional (3D) compositing application that provides a set of lighting tools for the user to better visualize the effects of a light in a 3D space by allowing a user to incorporate interactive visible light sources into a 3D scene that may be a part of a 3D project. The visible light source can be incorporated along each one of three axes independently of the other two of the three axes. The light tools allow the visible light sources that are incorporated into the 3D scene to be rendered for the final composited project, or to be rendered and displayed only during the 3D scene's compositing process to assist the user's visualization. Interactive rendering of the objects, including visible light sources, allow for any adjustments to the 3D scene to be displayed with minimal user-perceivable delay.
US09070201B2 Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a buffer unit which stores image data of one input image, an input control unit which causes the buffer unit to store the image data of the input image, a processing operation unit which outputs image data of a processed image generated by performing image processing based on one of a plurality of set processing conditions, a plurality of output control units corresponding to the processing conditions, wherein each output control unit causes the image data necessary when image processing is performed in a corresponding processing condition to be output from the buffer unit to the processing operation unit and causes the image data of the processed image to be output to a subsequent-stage processing circuit, and an output arbitrating unit which determines which processing condition is used to perform the image processing and permits the corresponding output control unit to perform output control.
US09070200B2 Graphics processing systems
A tile-based graphics processing system comprises a host processor 1 and a graphics processing pipeline 3. The graphics processing pipeline 3 includes a rasterizer, a renderer, a tile buffer comprising an allocated amount of memory for use as the tile buffer, and a write out stage configured to write data stored in the tile buffer to an external memory. The driver 4 for the graphics processing pipeline 3 on the host processor 1 determines the tile data storage requirements for each render target to be generated for a render output to be generated by the graphics processing system and allocates portions of the memory allocated for use as the tile buffer to respective ones of the render targets based on the determination.
US09070197B2 Object based segmentation method
This invention is related to a method that enables the object based segmentation of especially air/satellite images that are displayed in high resolution. The aim of the invention is to determine automatically the borders of objects by using statistical, spatial and structural relationships/characteristics and also by using high resolution air/satellite image data. Another aim of the invention is to develop a method that can operate by being minimally affected by limiting aspects such as ambient light, weather conditions or resolution and that can provide the determination of an object as a whole instead of sensing it in pixels.
US09070192B1 Implementing rich color transition curve tracking for applications
A method of finding unique targets arranged in a unique sequence of targets in a color image applies ratio space rich colored filtering to identify a band of pixels that form a transition curve from one rich color to another. A set of transition curves with simple geometric and color properties for the entire image, are compared to a database of target properties to identify a target in an image. The targets are provided on a carrier that is attached to a surface to enable processor to identify the surface location and orientation by the targets.
US09070191B2 Aparatus, method, and recording medium for measuring distance in a real space from a feature point on the road
A storage medium storing a distance calculation program that causes a computer to execute operations, the operations includes; obtaining a first image captured by an image pickup device disposed on a vehicle; extracting a first feature point which satisfies an extraction condition used to determine a point on a road surface in the first image; and calculating a first distance from the first feature point to the image pickup device in a real space in accordance with data obtained by associating a position of the point in the first image and a first angle of the point viewed from a center of the image pickup device in the real space, and setting information including an angle of depression of the image pickup device and a distance between the image pickup device and the road surface.
US09070174B2 Providing a diagnosis of a system of a building
Devices, methods, and systems for providing a diagnosis of a system of a building are described herein. One method includes displaying a system of a building, wherein the display of the system includes an identification of a particular component of the system, identifying, within the display of the system, a number of components of the system related to the particular component, and identifying, within the display of the system, a relationship between the particular component and the number of components and a relative operational status of the particular component and the number of components.
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