Document Document Title
US08141116B2 Time management apparatus and time management method
According to one embodiment, a content playback apparatus includes a read module which reads information that is recorded in a recording medium, a clock module which is managed such that tampering is prevented, and a control module which controls the read module and the clock module. Content information and time management information is recorded in the recording medium. The time management information includes date/time recording information indicative of a date/time at which previous playback of the content information is stopped, playback allowable period information, start date/time information of a playback allowable period and end date/time information of the playback allowable period. The control module includes a time management module which corrects the start date/time information of the playback allowable period and the end date/time information of the playback allowable period, with use of time information which is acquired from the clock module.
US08141112B2 Video signal content indexing and linking to information sources
A method for identifying object images in a display of a video signal, storing object identification information in an overlay directory, and extracting object information relevant to identified objects from respective information databases is disclosed. Overlay directories from several video signals and associated object information are assembled in an overlay server accessed by computers directly or through a telecommunication network. Object images are selected by users of authoring computers accessing the overlay server. An overlay directory for a video recording indicates temporal and spatial coordinates of images of selected objects, a network address of a video source providing the video recording, descriptions of the selected objects, and addresses of servers providing detailed information of the selected objects. The objects may include commercial products, services, or educational material. The disclosed method therefore may be used for advertising or general information dissemination purposes.
US08141110B2 Light-source holder and optical pickup having same
A light-source holder used to hold a light source disposed in an optical pickup comprises: a holder main body portion; a through hole which penetrates the holder main body portion and in which a light source is fitted; a first hold potion that holds a first light source if the first light source is fitted in the through hole from a first side, one of first and second sides of the holder main body portion which are opposite to each other with respect to the holder main body portion; and a second hold portion that holds a second light source if the second light source is fitted in the through hole from a second side, one of the first and second sides of the holder main body portion which are opposite to each other with respect to the holder main body portion.
US08141090B1 Automated model-based provisioning of resources
Resources are provisioned in an automated manner for shared services in a resource-on-demand system. A model representing an observed state of resources in the resource-on-demand system allocated to the shared services and a model representing a desired state of the shared services are stored. At least one policy applicable to provisioning the resources for the shared services is determined. The policy and information from the models are applied to automatically provision the resources for satisfying the desired state of the shared services.
US08141084B2 Managing preemption in a parallel computing system
This present invention provides a portable user space application release/reacquire of adapter resources for a given job on a node using information in a network resource table. The information in the network resource table is obtained when a user space application is loaded by some resource manager. The present invention provides a portable solution that will work for any interconnect where adapter resources need to be freed and reacquired without having to write a specific function in the device driver. In the present invention, the preemption request is done on a job basis using a key or “job key” that was previously loaded when the user space application or job originally requested the adapter resources. This is done for each OS instance where the job is run.
US08141050B2 Deadlock detection by lock classification
Systems and methods for detecting a potential deadlock in a computing execution environment are provided. A plurality of locks taken during one or more test runs are monitored. A runtime identity and a code location for each of the plurality of locks are identified during each test run. One or more locks among the plurality of locks are classified as same locks based on the runtime identity and code location identified for each lock.
US08141030B2 Dynamic routing and load balancing packet distribution with a software factory
A system decision engine enables a software factory to effectively handle intelligent load balancing and distribution to workers on a software assembly line through the use of pre-configured rules. The pre-configured rules are based on a projected availability of workers based on past traffic analysis of work packets being sent to particular workers on the software assembly line.
US08141024B2 Temporally-assisted resource sharing in electronic systems
Methods and apparatuses to optimize integrated circuits by identifying functional modules in the circuit having similar functionality that can share circuit resources and producing a modified description of the circuit where the similar functional modules are folded onto common circuit resources and time-multiplexed using an original system clock or a fast clock.
US08141009B2 Preparing data for hybrid exposure using both electron beam exposure and reticle exposure in lithographic process
A method for preparing data for exposure includes forming a first plurality of rectangular patterns from a reticle preparing rule; lining an object pattern for performing reticle exposure with the first rectangular patterns, and extracting a second plurality of rectangular patterns, disposed in an N×N matrix, from the first plurality of rectangular patterns in the object pattern; and performing a violation detecting treatment and a correcting treatment of the pattern width and the pattern distance of the reticle exposure pattern on the basis of the distance between the second plurality of rectangular patterns.
US08141006B2 Photomask data processing method, photomask data processing system and manufacturing method
A computer-implemented method, of processing design data to obtain photomask data, includes: selecting, amongst design data, data representing a first cell; selecting a first area in said first cell for which a configuration of a corresponding first pattern is influenced by patterns arranged outward relative to said first cell area; selecting a second area other than said first area in said first cell; constructing a hierarchical structure for said data representing said first cell area that includes said first area and said second area; subjecting the first area to optical proximity correction on the basis of a relationship between the first pattern and the patterns arranged around said first cell area; performing optical proximity correction in said second area on the basis of the first pattern; and synthesizing the corrected first area and the corrected second area, according to the hierarchical structure, to obtain photomask data.
US08140997B2 Manipulating display of multiple display objects
A method for manipulating display of multiple ordered and at least partially overlapping display objects on a display device includes: recording the current position in a stacking order of each of the multiple display objects in an object identifier table in association with a corresponding object identifier; changing the position in the stacking order of a first object in response to a first user action for selecting the first object; recording the position in the stacking order of the first object before the position is changed in the object identifier table as a previous position in the stacking order; and changing the position in the stacking order of the first object with the previous position in the stacking order of the first object in response to a second user action for restoring the changed position in the stacking order of the first object to the previous position in the stacking order.
US08140985B2 Transactions for an application domain manager
Through one or more transaction calls, an application domain manager enables a host application to create, initialize, customize, and otherwise manage an isolation construct within the application.
US08140982B2 Method and system for splitting virtual universes into distinct entities
Systems and methods for allowing an administrator or program to select a region or set of avatars in a virtual universe grid for splitting into another, separate and distinct virtual universe grid. If a region is selected, all of the avatars and virtual universe resources associated with the region are locked, their data is retrieved, and another separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create and insert the avatars and resources in it. If avatars are selected, all of the resources, scripts, histories, and information regarding the selected avatars are retrieved, and the avatars are locked in the source universe. Then, another, separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create universe user identifiers for the avatars, and they are inserted into the separate VU grid. Cleanup includes deleting the region and/or avatars from the first (source) virtual universe grid.
US08140981B2 Method and apparatus for enhancing instant messaging systems
The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for organizing threads in an instant messaging session. Instant messages are received from a list of contacts. Each of these messages are stored in a set of folders, wherein each folders in the set of folders stores messages for a contact in the number of contacts. Each file is linked for access though a graphical user interface. Message threads are handled by displaying a primary dialog window, wherein the primary dialog window includes an ongoing conversation pane and an outgoing message pane. Responsive to a user input identifying a new thread, a secondary dialog window is displayed, wherein the secondary dialog window includes an ongoing conversation pane and an outgoing message pane. Responses to outgoing messages sent from the outgoing message pane are displayed in the primary dialog window in the ongoing conversation pane in the primary dialog window. Responses to outgoing messages sent from the outgoing message pane in the secondary dialog window are displayed in the ongoing conversation pane in the secondary dialog window, wherein the primary dialog window and the secondary dialog window.
US08140980B2 Method and system for providing conferencing services
An approach is provided for supporting multi-media conferencing. Textual information (e.g., text associated with a presentation) is received for display during a conference session to multiple participants. For a particular participant, configuration information corresponding to the participant specifies language assistance for the textual information. Language assistance involves augmenting the textual information according to the configuration information for comprehension of the textual information by the particular participant. In one embodiment, the augmented textual information includes language translation of the textual information. Additionally, the augmented textual information can encompass definitions of terms, including acronyms. The augmented textual information is forwarded for display to the participant during the conference session.
US08140979B2 System and method for managing computer operations according to stored user preferences
A system and method for managing computer operations according to stored user preferences is disclosed. The system includes a calendar module for scheduling an event and centrally storing the user preferences regarding the computer operations during the event, and a controller module for retrieving the user preferences centrally stored in the calendar module and centrally controlling the computer operations according to the user preferences during the event.
US08140974B2 Presenting secondary media objects to a user
Systems, methods, computer-readable media, and graphical user interfaces for presenting secondary media objects are provided. A primary media presenting module presents primary media. Upon detecting an indication to initiate the presentation of a secondary media object, the primary media object may be delayed and the secondary media object may be initiated. In embodiments, an indication to initiate the presentation of a secondary media object may comprise a selector hovered over a song title associated with the secondary media object. At a later instance, the primary media object may resume such that it resumes at the point at which the primary media object was delayed. In embodiments, a user may initiate the resuming of the primary media object by removing the selector from the song title.
US08140973B2 Annotating and sharing content
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to annotating and sharing content. In aspects, an annotation tool presents a user interface that allows a user to enter and view annotations associated with content such as a video. The annotation tool allows the user to associate each annotation with a particular time segment of the video such that when that time segment is played in a video player, its associated annotation is presented. The annotation tool also presents a user interface that allows the user to share the video as annotated with other users as desired. Other users receiving the annotated video may further annotate the video and share it with others.
US08140966B2 Computer system, method and program for generating caption based computer data
A computer system, method and program is generated for editing text data, which have been created on a basis of a voice or a video image. In one embodiment, a first computer for outputting voice or video image(s), and for identifying a part of text data, which needs to be edited, in response to a received instruction is provided. A second computer for outputting voice or video image, and for editing the part, which has been identified by the first computer, in response to said received instruction is also provided. A mouse and keyboard can also be incorporated into the invention.
US08140950B2 Hybrid automatic repeat request system and method
A data communication method for puncturing of parity bits defining all parity data for a minimum code rate generated by an encoder is disclosed. The method initializes an accumulator associated with the parity bits to an initial value, and for each parity bit increments the accumulator by a increment value and determines if the accumulator has overflowed. If the accumulator overflows, at least one of the parity bits is selected for transmission.
US08140942B2 System, method and storage medium for providing fault detection and correction in a memory subsystem
A memory subsystem with a memory bus and a memory assembly. The memory bus includes multiple bitlanes. The memory assembly is in communication with the memory bus and includes instructions for receiving an error code correction (ECC) word in multiple packets via the memory bus. The ECC word includes data bits and ECC bits arranged into multiple multi-bit ECC symbols. Each of the ECC symbols is associated with one of the bitlanes on the memory bus. The memory assembly also includes instructions for utilizing one of the ECC symbols to perform error detection and correction for the bits in the ECC word received via the bitlane associated with the ECC symbol.
US08140941B2 Data receiving apparatus, data receiving method, and computer-readable recording medium
A data receiving method according to the present invention includes: storing received packets in a data storing unit; storing, in a data-storage-information storing unit, information indicating data portions are stored; specifying FEC parameters of column FEC packets and row FEC packets; specifying a leading FEC packet using at least SNBase of a first column FEC packet and SNBase of a second column FEC packet or a row FEC packet; specifying an FEC packet group corresponding to a matrix same as a matrix of the leading FEC packet; selecting one FEC packet from the FEC packet group; judging whether restoration processing can be performed by using the selected FEC packet; storing, when a lost data packet is restored, the restored data packet in the data storing unit; and storing, in the data-storage-information storing unit, information indicating that the restored data packet is present.
US08140940B2 Method and apparatus for controlling memory
A memory control apparatus includes a reading unit, an inserting unit, an identifying unit, a determining unit, and an outputting unit. The reading unit reads data from the memory. The inserting unit inserts a dummy error at an insertion position in the data thereby obtaining error data. The identifying unit identifies an error position at which an error has occurred in the error data. The determining unit determines whether the insertion position matches the error position. When the insertion position matches the error position, the outputting unit outputs corrected data obtained by correcting an error at the error position.
US08140937B2 Memory initialization time reduction
A method and apparatus to improve memory initialization in a memory of a computer system. Memory units in the memory comprise a plurality of ranks, each rank having a unique rank select. A parity generator outputs a parity bit corresponding to whether an encoded rank select has an even or odd number of “1”s. The parity bit is used by an Error Checking and Correcting (ECC) unit that generates ECC bits that are stored in a rank having an active rank select. During a first interval in a memory initialization period, ranks having an even number of “1”s in their encoded rank select are initialized in parallel. During a second interval in the memory initialization period, ranks having an odd number of “1”s in their encoded rank select are initialized in parallel.
US08140936B2 System for a combined error correction code and cyclic redundancy check code for a memory channel
A memory system is provided that performs error correction at a memory device level. The memory system comprises a memory hub device integrated in the memory module and a link interface integrated in the memory hub device that provides a communication pathway between the memory hub device and an external memory controller. The link interface comprises first error correction logic integrated in the link interface that performs error correction operations on first data that is received from the external memory controller via a first memory channel to be transmitted to a set of memory devices. The first error correction logic generates a first error signal to the external memory controller in response to the first error correction logic detecting a first error in the first data. Link interface control logic integrated in the link interface controls the transmission of the first data to the set of memory devices.
US08140929B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving the Hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK signal in mobile communication system
An apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) Acknowledge/Negative acknowledge (ACK/NACK) signal in a mobile communication system. The apparatus and method distribute a CDM segment, to which an ACK/NACK signal is mapped, in the frequency domain of an OFDM symbol, and repeatedly transmits the CDM segment, thereby providing diversity gain in the time-frequency domain. Further, the apparatus and method provide a mapping rule for distributing transmit power between OFDM symbols to which the ACK/NACK signal is mapped and transmitted, thereby preventing a particular OFDM symbol power-overload, and thus contributing to improvement of the entire system performance.
US08140926B2 Die selectively connecting TAP leads to second die
An IC includes an IEEE 1149.1 standard test access port (TAP) interface and an additional Off-Chip TAP interface. The Off-Chip TAP interface connects to the TAP of another IC. The Off Chip TAP interface can be selected by a TAP Linking Module on the IC.
US08140911B2 Dynamic software tracing
A method, computer program product and system for dynamically changing a trace level, and optionally the trace size, depending on a recognized critical path. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of dynamic software tracing includes identifying one or more critical patterns of a software code which can influence its execution; allocating a software logging metric to each identified critical pattern; searching for one or more critical patterns in the software code to determine one or more actual critical patterns; and attributing the software logging metric associated with each identified critical pattern to the actual critical pattern to discover areas in the software code that may impact performance.
US08140908B2 System and method of client side analysis for identifying failing RAM after a user mode or kernel mode exception
A process executing on a computing system may encounter an exception. Pointers or other references created by the exception may identify portions of the computing system's memory containing the binary code that was executing at the time of the exception. The exception-causing code from the system memory may be compared to an original version of the code from a non-volatile source. If the comparison identifies a hardware corruption pattern, the computing system may communicate information about the process and the exception to an error analysis server. Using historical exception data, the error analysis server may determine if the identified corruption pattern is most likely the result of corrupt hardware at the computing system. If corrupt hardware was the most likely result of the exception, then the server may communicate with the computing system to recommend or initiate a hardware diagnostic routine at the computing system to identify the faulty hardware.
US08140894B2 Transaction regions in graphical computer-implemented methods of processing data
A method including: displaying operation icons representing operations to be performed, a user selecting and arranging the operation icons to define a flow of data between operations and to form a graphical representation of a process, the user specifying an operation icon as a transaction boundary node at the end of a transaction region, and compiling instructions to execute the arranged operations wherein the beginning of a transaction region acts as a roll back point in the event of an error occurring in the transaction region.
US08140892B2 Configuration of memory management techniques selectively using mitigations to reduce errors
Techniques for performing memory management to mitigate memory errors. In accordance with the principles described herein, a memory management module may be implemented that acts in different modes of operation for each of one or more software modules that are instances of applications. In one mode of operation, memory operations may be performed in accordance with one or more mitigation actions, and in another mode of operation, the memory management module performs memory operations as requested, without performing mitigation actions. A memory management module may maintain a record in a data store associated with the memory management module that may be used to determine whether to enable the mitigations. In some implementations, records maintained by each of a plurality of computing devices may be aggregated at a central server and this aggregated information may be used to adjust the entries on each of the computing devices.
US08140891B2 Method of determining defects in information storage medium, recording/reproducing apparatus using the same, and information storage medium
A method of determining whether a defect exists on an information storage medium is provided along with a recording/reproducing apparatus using the same. Such a method comprises: seeking a defect entry whose state information indicates that a defect block or a replacement block has been re-initialized without certification from a defect list for managing an information storage medium and including state information of the defect block and state information of the replacement block, wherein the medium includes a spare area for recording the replacement block to replace the defect block occurring in a user data area on the medium; and certifying the defect block or the replacement block registered in the sought defect entry. As a result, defect information can be effectively rearranged for quick re-initialization without certification in order to improve the performance of a drive system.
US08140887B2 System and method for providing data services via a network
A method and system are provided for performing an activity. Accordingly, an activity to be performed is determined, a stored hierarchy is examined indicating a first alternate component for performing the activity first and a second alternate component for performing the activity if the first alternate component fails. The first alternate component is invoked to perform the activity, and when a failure of the first alternate component to perform the activity is detected, the second alternate component is invoked to perform the activity. A revised hierarchy is stored indicating that the second alternate component is to be invoked to perform the activity before the first alternate component is invoked to perform the activity.
US08140886B2 Apparatus, system, and method for virtual storage access method volume data set recovery
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for Virtual Storage Access (VSAM) Volume Data Set (VVDS) recovery. A store module stores a data set name and data set characteristics for a data set in a recovery table when the data set is defined under a Z/OS® operating system. The recovery table indexed by the data set name. A retrieve module retrieves a Z/OS® Volume Table of Contents (VTOC) entry indexed by the data set name. In addition, the retrieve module retrieves the data set characteristics from the recovery table using the data set name. A recover module combines the data set characteristics and the VTOC entry to recover a Z/OS® VVDS entry.
US08140881B2 Circuitry and method for detection of network node aging in communication networks
The network node includes a local crystal oscillator for providing a time reference derived from the clock signal produced by the local crystal oscillator, a reset stage for resetting the network node in response to a bus reset pulse received through the network and a control means for issuing a bus reset pulse of a predetermined length substantially greater than a clock period of the clock signal of the local crystal oscillator. Further the network node includes a bus reset detector for determining a length of the received bus reset pulse based on the local time reference. The bus reset detector in the network node is also adapted to adjust the local time reference based on the determined length of the received bus reset pulse.
US08140876B2 Reducing power consumption of components based on criticality of running tasks independent of scheduling priority in multitask computer
A method, apparatus, and program product are provided for managing power consumption in a computer system based on the degree with which performance of tasks can be degraded in order to save power. A criticality value controls the degree with which performance of a task may be degraded is associated with tasks within a computer system. Power consumption of the computer system is then managed based on the criticality values associated with tasks executing within the computer system. A reduction in computer system power consumption can be realized by degrading the performance of non-critical tasks, which is accomplished by reducing the power consumed by at least a portion of the computer system. Power can also be reduced by scheduling non-critical tasks to portions of the computer system and reducing power consumption of other portions of the computer system.
US08140871B2 Wake on Lan for blade server
A computer implemented method, a tangible computer medium, and a data processing system are provided for waking a blade server from an operational state of reduced power. When server blade enters the state of reduced power, a service firmware configures a multi-port blade switch of the server blade to direct incoming packets to the service firmware. The service firmware then polls for receipt of a Wake-on-Lan magic packet. When the Wake-on-Lan magic packet is received by the service firmware, the service firmware reconfigures the multi-port blade switch to direct incoming packets to a network interface card of the server blade. The service firmware then initiates a reboot of the server blade.
US08140845B2 Scheme for authentication and dynamic key exchange
A scheme for authentication, dynamic key generation and exchange provides means for authentication of mobile nodes and networks, and for generation of per session, per node, security association and encryption keys for encrypting/decrypting communications between a mobile node and an access point in wireless local area networks. The scheme utilizes the same infrastructure and authentication information for both data link layers (layer 2) and network layers (layer 3). This scheme is particularly applicable to networks adhering to the IEEE 802 LAN family of standards.
US08140842B2 Client identification and authorization in an asynchronous request dispatching environment
The present invention provides client and server identity validation in an asynchronous request dispatching environment with client-side aggregation. An application server receives an asynchronous include request from a client. A first unique identifier associating the client with the asynchronous include is generated and sent to a results server. A second unique identifier identifying the results server is generated and sent to the application server. Results of the asynchronous include are stored in the results server. The application server sends the first and second unique identifiers to the client, which polls the results server and sends the second unique identifier to the results server. The results server uses the second unique identifier to verify the identity of the client. The results server sends the first unique identifier to the client. The client uses the first unique identifier to validate the identity of the results server.
US08140834B2 System, method and computer program product for providing a programmable quiesce filtering register
A system, method and computer program product for providing a programmable quiesce filtering register. The method includes receiving a quiesce interruption request at the processor. The processor is executing in a mode. A filtering zone associated with the mode is identified. It is determined if the quiesce interruption request can be filtered by the processor. The determining is responsive to the filtering zone and to contents of a programmable filtering register for indicating exceptions to filtering performed by the receiving processor. The quiesce interruption request is filtered in response to determining that the request can be filtered.
US08140824B2 Secure code authentication
A computer program product comprises a computer useable medium having a computer readable program for authentication of code, such as boot code. A memory addressing engine is employable to select a portion of a memory, as a function of a step value, as a first input hash value. The step value allows for the non-commutative cumulative hashing of a plurality of memory portions with a second input hash value, such as a previous hash value that has been rotated left. An authenticator circuit is employable to perform a hash upon the portion of memory and the second input hash value. A comparison circuit is then employable to compare an output of the authenticator circuit to an expected value.
US08140814B2 Resource reclamation in data storage
Managing resource reclamation in data storage systems is provided. A volume deletion metadata recorder records metadata for one or more deleted volumes. A policy engine, responsive to a predetermined policy rule, applies the policy rule to the metadata. The policy engine initiates policy-controlled data storage space reclamation for the one or more deleted volumes. A volume reclaimer, responsive to the policy engine, reclaims data storage space from the one or more deleted volumes. A resource allocator allocates the data storage space to satisfy a minimum requirement for available zeroed extents that comprise a minimum requirement to satisfy needs of late allocated storage volumes.
US08140807B2 System and computer program product for dynamically resizing file systems
Methods (100), systems (300) and computer program products are disclosed for uninterrupted execution of an application program (110). The method (100) comprises: receiving a write operation call to a native file system from an application program (110) being executed on an operating system; and dynamically allocating (120, 122) free data blocks to the native file system from at least one other file system in a group of file systems until completion of execution of the application program (110) thereby completing the write operation call. The group of file systems is configured to allow sharing of free data blocks amongst the group of file systems.
US08140805B2 Memory component having write operation with multiple time periods
A memory component includes a memory core, a control transport block to receive a write command from external control lines, and a write control buffer to store the write command for a first time period after the write command is received at the transport block. A data buffer receives data from external data lines, the data to be stored in the memory core in response to the write command, wherein receipt of the data occurs based on a second time period that follows the first time period, such that receipt of the write command and the data are separated by a delay time that includes both the first time period and the second time period. A write mask buffer receives write masking information from an external write mask line. Receipt of the write command and the write masking information are separated by the delay time.
US08140803B2 Structure for reducing latency associated with read operations in a memory system
A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a design is provided. The design structure generally includes a processor memory system, which may include a processor and a memory controller in communication with the processor through a bus. The memory controller may include a delay circuit to receive an early read indicator corresponding to read data from a memory, the delay circuit to delay the early read indicator in accordance with a pre-determined delay such that the early read indicator is passed to the bus in advance of the read data, and a delay adjustment circuit to dynamically adjust the pre-determined delay associated with the delay circuit responsive to a change in operational speed of the processor or the bus.
US08140785B2 Updating metadata in a logical volume associated with a storage controller for data units indicated in a data structure
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for updating metadata in a logical volume associated with a storage controller. A data structure is generated indicating data units in a volume whose metadata is to be updated. An operation is initiated to update the metadata for data units indicated in the data structure. Indication is made in the data structure that the metadata for one data unit has been updated in response to updating the metadata for the data unit. An Input/Output (I/O) request is received to one data unit in the volume while the metadata for the data units indicated in the data structure is being updated. A determination is made, in response to the I/O request, from the data structure whether the metadata for the requested data unit was updated. The metadata for the requested data unit is updated in response to determining that the metadata for the requested data unit has not been updated. The I/O request is executed against the requested data unit.
US08140784B2 Storage control device and image processing device
A storage control device includes an obtaining unit that obtains data; a recognition unit that recognizes an area among areas in a storage unit, as a recordable area, the area to be recognized being where the data obtained by the obtaining unit is stored and overwriting has been executed a predetermined number of times; a recording unit that records data obtained by the obtaining unit onto the recordable area recognized by the recognition unit; a first overwriting unit that executes the overwriting on an area where data has been recorded by the recording unit and the overwriting has not yet been executed the predetermined number of times; and a specifying unit that specifies a remaining count for each of the areas in the storage unit, the remaining count indicating a difference between the predetermined number of times and a number of times the overwriting has been executed.
US08140781B2 Multi-level page-walk apparatus for out-of-order memory controllers supporting virtualization technology
The invention relates generally to computer memory access. Embodiments of the invention provide a multi-level page-walk apparatus and method that enable I/O devices to execute multi-level page-walks with an out-of-order memory controller. In embodiments of the invention, the multi-level page-walk apparatus includes a demotion-based priority grant arbiter, a page-walk tracking queue, a page-walk completion queue, and a command packetizer.
US08140780B2 Systems, methods, and devices for configuring a device
Disclosed are methods and devices, among which is a method for configuring an electronic device. In one embodiment, an electronic device may include one or more memory locations having stored values representative of the capabilities of the device. According to an example configuration method, a configuring system may access the device capabilities from the one or more memory locations and configure the device based on the accessed device capabilities.
US08140779B2 Method of storing data on a secondary storage device
A backup method relies on a single secondary storage device, such as a tape storage device, which emulates multiple secondary storage devices. The emulated secondary storage devices are coupled to data sources. Data which is received from the data sources is tagged with respective unique identifiers, interleaved and stored on a removable storage medium, such as a tape. This facilitates maximum usage of the media access bandwidth of the single secondary storage device.
US08140777B2 Billing system for information dispersal system
An apparatus includes a processing module and a network interface. The processing module is operably coupled to: access user level metadata based on account identifier to identify a plurality of files associated with a user and retrieve user level metadata for the plurality of files; access file level metadata associated with the plurality of files to retrieve, for each of the plurality of files, file level metadata and determine, for each of the plurality of files, a plurality of file slices associated with a corresponding file of the plurality of files; and generate billing transaction information based on the user level metadata and the file level metadata of the plurality of files. The network interface is operably coupled to: convert the billing transaction information into a network billing transaction information message and transmit it.
US08140773B2 Using ephemeral stores for fine-grained conflict detection in a hardware accelerated STM
A method and apparatus for fine-grained filtering in a hardware accelerated software transactional memory system is herein described. A data object, which may have any arbitrary size, is associated with a filter word. The filter word is in a first default state when no access, such as a read, from the data object has occurred during a pendancy of a transaction. Upon encountering a first access, such as a first read, from the data object, access barrier operations including an ephemeral/private store operation to set the filter word to a second state are performed. Upon a subsequent/redundant access, such as a second read, the access barrier operations are elided to accelerate the subsequent access, based on the filter word being set to the second state to indicate a previous access occurred.
US08140771B2 Partial cache line storage-modifying operation based upon a hint
In at least one embodiment, a method of data processing in a data processing system having a memory hierarchy includes a processor core executing a storage-modifying memory access instruction to determine a memory address. The processor core transmits to a cache memory within the memory hierarchy a storage-modifying memory access request including the memory address, an indication of a memory access type, and, if present, a partial cache line hint signaling access to less than all granules of a target cache line of data associated with the memory address. In response to the storage-modifying memory access request, the cache memory performs a storage-modifying access to all granules of the target cache line of data if the partial cache line hint is not present and performs a storage-modifying access to less than all granules of the target cache line of data if the partial cache line hint is present.
US08140768B2 Jump starting prefetch streams across page boundaries
A method, processor, and data processing system for enabling utilization of a single prefetch stream to access data across a memory page boundary. A prefetch engine includes an active streams table in which information for one or more scheduled prefetch streams are stored. The prefetch engine also includes a victim table for storing a previously active stream whose next prefetch crosses a memory page boundary. The scheduling logic issues a prefetch request with a real address to fetch data from the lower level memory. Then, responsive to detecting that the real address of the stream's next sequential prefetch crosses the memory page boundary, the prefetch engine determines when the first prefetch stream can continue across the page boundary of the first memory page (via an effective address comparison). The PE automatically reinserts the first prefetch stream into the active stream table to jump start prefetching across the page boundary.
US08140767B2 Cache management through delayed writeback
The illustrative embodiments provide a method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing a number of cache lines in a cache. In one illustrative embodiment, it is determined whether activity on a memory bus in communication with the cache exceeds a threshold activity level. A least important cache line is located in the cache responsive to a determination that the threshold activity level is exceeded, wherein the least important cache line is located using a cache replacement scheme. It is determined whether the least important cache line is clean responsive to the determination that the threshold activity level is exceeded. The least important cache line is selected for replacement in the cache responsive to a determination that the least important cache line is clean. A clean cache line is located within a subset of the number of cache lines and selecting the clean cache line for replacement responsive to an absence of a determination that the least important cache line is not clean, wherein the each cache line in the subset is examined in ascending order of importance according to the cache replacement scheme.
US08140764B2 System for reconfiguring cache memory having an access bit associated with a sector of a lower-level cache memory and a granularity bit associated with a sector of a higher-level cache memory
A method for reconfiguring a cache memory is provided. The method in one aspect may include analyzing one or more characteristics of an execution entity accessing a cache memory and reconfiguring the cache based on the one or more characteristics analyzed. Examples of analyzed characteristic may include but are not limited to data structure used by the execution entity, expected reference pattern of the execution entity, type of an execution entity, heat and power consumption of an execution entity, etc. Examples of cache attributes that may be reconfigured may include but are not limited to associativity of the cache memory, amount of the cache memory available to store data, coherence granularity of the cache memory, line size of the cache memory, etc.
US08140763B2 Techniques for managing data in a write cache of a storage controller
A technique for limiting an amount of write data stored in a cache memory includes determining a usable region of a non-volatile storage (NVS), determining an amount of write data in a current write request for the cache memory, and determining a failure boundary associated with the current write request. A count of the write data associated with the failure boundary is maintained. The current write request for the cache memory is rejected when a sum of the count of the write data associated with the failure boundary and the write data in the current write request exceeds a determined percentage of the usable region of the NVS.
US08140751B1 Power-aware redundant array of independent disks (PARAID) and related methods
A system defining a power-aware redundant array of identical disks (PARAID) is provided. The PARAID includes multiple data-storing disks that store multiple data blocks in a skewed stripping pattern. The PARAID further includes a PARAID disk manager for selectively powering on the plurality of disks based upon user demand. A PARAID disk driver is also provided. The PARAID disk driver includes a PARAID level module for instantiating a PARAID to operate within a computing environment by segmenting data among the array of independent disks in a skewed striping pattern. The skewed striping pattern creates multiple distinct sets of the array of independent disks, each set defining a unique gear in which the PARAID can operate. Additionally, the PARAID disk driver includes a PARAID gear-shifting logic module for selectively causing the PARAID to operate in a particular gear. The PARAID disk driver further includes a PARAID monitoring module for determining in which gear the PARAID operates.
US08140744B2 Method and system for increasing data storage reliability and efficiency via compression
A method and a system is provided for increasing reliability of data stored in storage segments by increasing redundancy data and by permitting user data to fit around defective locations in the storage segment. User data is compressed and reserved for a portion of a storage segment having a data size corresponding to an uncompressed size of the user data. The compressed user data is written to the reserved portion of the storage segment and a pad byte pattern is written to any remaining portion of the reserved portion of the storage segment. The remaining portion of the reserved portion of the storage segment is designated as unused.
US08140739B2 Flash memory based storage devices utilizing magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) to store files having logical block addresses stored in a write frequency file buffer table
A flash memory based storage device may utilize magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) as at least one of a device memory, a buffer, or high write volume storage. In some embodiments, a processor of the storage device may compare a logical block address of a data file to a plurality of logical block addresses stored in a write frequency file buffer table and causes the data file to be written to the high write volume MRAM when the logical block address of the data file matches at least one of the plurality of logical block addresses stored in the write frequency file buffer table. In other embodiments, upon cessation of power to the storage device, the MRAM buffer stores the data until power is restored, after which the processor causes the buffered data to be written to the flash memory under control of the flash memory controller.
US08140718B2 Status notifications
A status notification method includes providing a forwarding manager for a status notification. The forwarding manager enables the status notification to be directed to a second target. Following a presentation of the status notification with respect to a first target, the status notification is directed to a second target as at least an indirect result of a utilization of the forwarding manager.
US08140714B2 Media management and routing within an electronic device
A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed.
US08140704B2 Pacing network traffic among a plurality of compute nodes connected using a data communications network
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for pacing network traffic among a plurality of compute nodes connected using a data communications network. The network has a plurality of network regions, and the plurality of compute nodes are distributed among these network regions. Pacing network traffic among a plurality of compute nodes connected using a data communications network includes: identifying, by a compute node for each region of the network, a roundtrip time delay for communicating with at least one of the compute nodes in that region; determining, by the compute node for each region, a pacing algorithm for that region in dependence upon the roundtrip time delay for that region; and transmitting, by the compute node, network packets to at least one of the compute nodes in at least one of the network regions in dependence upon the pacing algorithm for that region.
US08140701B2 Scalable dynamic content delivery and feedback system
In an embodiment, a computer system instantiates an intermediary software application configured to intermediate between an event controller and a content delivery network (CDN). The event controller is configured to administer a real-time event involving multiple meeting participants. The CDN is configured to distribute dynamic, real-time content to a plurality of event participants. The intermediary software application joins the event as an event participant such that the intermediary software application receives a real-time stream of media content associated with the event from the event controller. The intermediary software application also transmits the received media content stream to computer systems of the CDN, where each CDN computer system is configured to distribute the real-time media content stream to the participants communicatively connected to the CDN.
US08140695B2 Load balancing and failover of distributed media resources in a media server
A method and a system for load balancing media resources among a plurality of servers. A first request can be received from a client requesting a first media processing resource, the request being formatted in accordance with a first protocol. The first request can be morphed into a first morphed request formatted in accordance with a second protocol. A first server that is least loaded can be selected from a first server partition including a plurality of servers, each of which provides the requested first media processing resource. The first morphed request can be forwarded to the first server in accordance with the second protocol.
US08140694B2 Method and apparatus for effecting secure communications
A technique to effect secure communications with a server application, such as server applications that are accessible on the Internet. In one embodiment, a client connection is detected at a first port. The client is provided with a decoy port number. A server provides services to the client on a second port that is mapped to the decoy port number.
US08140693B2 Method and system for allocating on-demand resources using a connection manager
A method and system provide a user-friendly mechanism that allows the user to access remote on-demand resources through a network only when the resources are required. These on-demand resources are accessed using a connection manager that is enabled on a client when, for example, the user moves a mouse cursor to an active edge of the client computer screen. Once enabled, the connection manager allows the user access to any on-demand resources to which the user has authorization. These on-demand resources can be freed from the user when they are no longer needed, so that these resources can be used by other users.
US08140689B2 Establishing unique sessions for DNS subscribers
A system establishes virtual DNS servers that are supported by a DNS server. Target IP addresses are assigned for the virtual DNS servers. Network capable devices are uniquely assigned to the virtual DNS servers for domain name resolution. Each network capable device accesses the communication network through a corresponding network device associated with a corresponding source IP address. A client's service plan is assigned to a first network capable device used by the client. The service plan is implemented through a DNS request under a session established between the first network capable device and its assigned first virtual DNS server. The session is uniquely identified by a first source IP address of a first network device used by the first network capable device to access the communication network and a first target IP address of the first virtual DNS server.
US08140687B2 Performance enhancing proxy handover
An approach is provided for graceful shutdown and startup of spoofing when a handover procedure is performed. A handover of a performance enhancing proxy (PEP) session associated with a transport connection is detected. A shutdown procedure is initiated to stop spoofing of the transport connection in response to the detected handover. The shutdown procedure avoids teardown of the transport connection during the handover from a first link to a second link of a communication system.
US08140684B2 Voice activated system for dynamically re-connecting user computer operation sessions
A system enables clinicians to use naturally spoken voice commands from a small, wearable, wireless badge (or other portable device) to trigger events including, application session transfer, wireless communications (such as voice calls) and control of electronic devices. A system for managing user operation sessions on multiple servers includes an interface for receiving, from a first workstation, a request to initiate a current session of operation of a particular executable application on a first server and user identification information from a particular user. A session processor, in response to the received particular user identification information, identifies an active session of operation of the particular user on a second server previously initiated via a second workstation and re-attaches connection of the previously initiated active session of operation to the first workstation as the current session in response to a user voice command.
US08140682B2 System, method, and apparatus for server-storage-network optimization for application service level agreements
A computer-implemented method for determining, from a system including a plurality of data center resources, at least one configuration of data center resources for an implementation of an application. The method includes receiving application information and receiving information regarding known internal features up the data center resources. The method also includes provisioning the system of data center resources and creating possible configurations of data center resources for implementing application. The method also includes correlating models and data center resources to create an interrelated representation of the models and the data center resources. The models predict a relationship of parameters for the possible configurations. The method also includes creating a multiple dimensional analysis of parameters for the possible configurations of data center resources using the interrelated representation and selecting a configuration of data center resources from the possible configurations using the multiple dimensional analysis of parameters.
US08140680B2 Machine-processable semantic description for resource management
A method and associated apparatus is provided for generating a machine-processable semantic description of a first manageable resource of an application domain. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the first manageable resource is characterized by a set of aspects. Accordingly, an ontology is provided for the application domain that provides a terminology and rules for describing the set of aspects of the first manageable resources of the application domain in a semantic way. The semantic description of the first manageable resource is then generated compliant to the terminology and the rules of the ontology to describe semantically the set of aspects.
US08140668B2 Pre-scheduling the timelines of virtual machines
A host controller pre-schedules the timelines of virtual machines that run on a host cluster. In one embodiment, the host controller uses a plurality of timers to determine the start times of the virtual machines. The host controller starts the virtual machines on the host cluster over a time span according to the configurable timelines recorded in the timers. The start times of the virtual machines can be spread over the time span to prevent a load spike at any particular time instance. The virtual machines are up and running on the hosts by a pre-determined time to provide virtual desktops to remote clients. The timers may be configured as a calendar.
US08140667B2 Method and apparatus for inexpensively monitoring and controlling remotely distributed appliances
A method and associated apparatus are described that enables unattended, remotely distributed appliances, such as vending machines, utility meters, thermostats and kitchen appliances (ovens, washing machines, refrigerators, etc.) to be connected inexpensively to each other and to a centrally located server. The apparatus 1) uses relatively simple “personality” modules to adapt the apparatus to the application in combination with a sophisticated core module that provides the intelligence needed to process data locally, to format that data and to transfer it to a remote server and 2) uses existing Internet-based communication links, thereby avoiding the costly proprietary links used with current state-of-the-art solutions.
US08140664B2 Graphical user interface based sensitive information and internal information vulnerability management system
A system and method provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for users to monitor and manage sensitive information within an enterprise network. The GUI can provide users with information, such as the presence of input/output devices (I/O device), the location of documents containing sensitive information (sensitive documents), and the status of local security policy. The GUI can also provide users with real-time information, such as the occurrence of local security policy violations, the life-cycle of sensitive documents, and the sensitive information dynamic flow within the enterprise network.
US08140662B2 Communications network elements and methods of monitoring communications networks
A network element is provided with the capability to perform monitoring and/or measurement functions on the element and the network of which it is a part. The monitoring/measurement functionality is implemented by programmable devices to enable the functionality to be modified and updated without removing the network element from service.
US08140657B2 Method and system to connect multiple SCSI initiators to a fibre channel fabric topology using a single N-PORT
A method and system for connecting multiple initiators to a storage area network (SAN) via a Fiber channel fabric using a single N_port fiber channel switch. The multiple initiators are associated with a common domain identification (DID), each initiator having a unique source identification (SID). The method includes initiating a communication exchange between at least one of the initiators and the SAN, the exchange including transmission of a command frame. The method also includes monitoring the initiated exchange communication exchange, and replacing the unique SID of one of the initiators with an SID of the fiber channel switch.
US08140656B2 Ager ring optimization
A device provides an ager ring that ages entries associated with managed resource of a device, and determines whether a particular entry associated with a particular managed resource of the device is to be updated. The device also updates, when the particular entry is to be aged out in a particular time frame, the particular entry in the ager ring based on a bucket offset and a current time bucket associated with the particular entry and based on a current time, a refresh timeout, and a maximum timeout associated with the ager ring. The device further updates, when the particular entry is being aged during processing, the particular entry in the ager ring based on a new bucket, the current time bucket, and the bucket offset associated with the particular entry and based on the maximum timeout associated with the ager ring.
US08140652B2 Energy-efficient server location determination for configuration changes
At a data center controller, a first server location is determined from a set of available server locations at which to change a server active state for a data center. A time and configuration change for the data center are forecasted. A second server location is determined from the set of available server locations at which to change the server active state based upon the forecasted configuration change for the data center. An available server location is selected at which to change the server active state based upon the first server location, the second server location, and the forecasted time associated with the forecasted configuration change for the data center.
US08140647B1 System and method for accelerated data uploading
A method and system are provided for accelerated data uploading to a remote service device destination. An on-line (third party) storage device receives an upload request message from a network-connected client device. A unique first descriptor in a descriptor field of the upload request message is accessed and compared to a list of descriptors maintained by the on-line storage device. If the accessed first descriptor is on the list, a first file is read that is stored in the on-line storage device and associated with the accessed first descriptor. The first file is then sent to a network-connected remote service device.
US08140645B2 Index server support to file sharing applications
An index server support for file sharing applications is disclosed. A way of retrieving an index server includes sending a request for investigating a hierarchical structure of index servers in a network to a known index server, intercepting the investigation request by the first index server that becomes aware of the investigation request, notifying an originator of the investigation request of the intercepting index server identity, dropping the intercepted request is dropped by the intercepting index server. The originator of the investigation request then registers the intercepting index server as addressee for future file querying requests.
US08140643B2 Managing user personal information across web sites
A method of managing user personal information across a set of service provider sites is implemented, preferably as a web browser plug-in function. As a user navigates to a service provider web site and performs an interaction involving user identity attribute data, the interaction is recorded for later replay. Typically, the interaction is a graphical user interface (GUI) interaction. At a later time, previously-recorded interactions at service provider sites are replayed automatically, i.e., without requiring the user to navigate back to the individual sites and perform the interactions, and (during the replay operation) the user's previously-entered identity attribute data is located and retrieved. A display of the identity attribute data collected from the service provider sites then can be examined, e.g., for any inconsistency among the data. If the user then updates identity attribute data for a given service provider site, the identity attribute data for the site is automatically updated, once again without requiring the user to navigate to the site and re-enter the update directly. The method enables the user to ensure that his or her personal data stored at the service provider sites is up-to-date and synchronized.
US08140636B2 Instant messenger subset management
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and provide a method, system and computer program product for instant messenger subset management. In an embodiment of the invention, an instant messenger subset management method can be provided. The method can include selecting a set of names for different open chat sessions of an instant messenger, providing a single responsive posting to the selected set, and persisting the set for subsequent processing. Additionally, the method can include annotating the single responsive posting in a chat log to indicate the names in the selected set having received the single responsive posting.
US08140635B2 Data processing environment change management methods and apparatuses
An apparatus is provided with a change management module adapted to manage making changes to a data processing device of a data processing environment.
US08140634B2 Interactive text communication system
A communication system quarantines text and then automatically transmits the text across a network at the end of a quarantine time period. This text quarantine period gives a user the chance to edit or delete text for a brief amount of time after the text has been entered. This allows editing or deletion of spelling errors, and inadvertent or indiscriminate text responses before the text is sent to a remote user. Since the text characters are automatically transmitted after the quarantine period, normal human communications and interactions are maintained allowing a receiver to interject or interrupt with text comments in the middle of a received text message. Thus, the communication system maintains the interactive advantages of TTY/TDD systems while also providing the editing flexibility of instant messaging systems. In another aspect of the text system, characters are buffered until they form a complete expression. Upon detection of the completed expression, the buffered characters are sent to the destination endpoint.
US08140614B2 Distributed computing environment with remote data collection management
Aspects of a distributed computing environment with remote data collection management include a management server, and a plurality of computer systems networked to and managed by the management server. Each of the plurality of computer systems includes a listening agent to receive process code from a management server and to control the periodic execution of the process code to collect data from the plurality of computer systems. The periodic execution occurs without requiring a connection to be maintained between the plurality of computer systems and the management server. Further, the data collected includes data collected from problem determination activities.
US08140609B2 Congruency and similarity of information technology (IT) structures and associated applications
A method and system for consolidating N elements of an enterprise IT structure that consists of L elements (N≦L). All combinations of M elements of the N elements are generated (M
US08140604B2 Method, system, and apparatus for creating an archive routine for protecting data in a data protection system
A method for creating an archive protection plan for archiving a backup of data is provided. An indication of an archive data protection kind and an archive data protection duration are received. In response to receiving the archive data protection kind and the archive data protection duration, an archive scheme is determined and an archive protection plan representative of the archive scheme is generated.
US08140602B2 Providing an object to support data structures in worm storage
An object storage system provides a storage object to support index structures, logs, and audit trails in WORM storage. The storage object includes a mutable object, an immutable object, or an appendable object. For each storage object, the system maintains an indication of type, such as mutable, immutable, or appendable object type. A mutable object can be arbitrarily modified, an immutable object cannot be modified, and the contents of the appendable object cannot be modified but can be appended with new data. Appended data becomes immutable. The system enables a protection level represented by the object type to be upgraded but not downgraded. Consequently, data committed to be immutable cannot be changed by changing the type of the storage object.
US08140596B2 System and method for the derivation and application of sub-iteration contexts in a transformation operation in a data integration system
Methods and systems for improving a data transformation operation that converts a source data instance containing repeating elements into a target data instance having a user-specified structure, based solely on a user's specification of a target template. The methods and systems derive and calculate sub-iteration contexts by applying a selected heuristic to the source data instance and the target template, and use these sub-iteration contexts to create a target data instance having a repeating structure that agrees with the user-specified target template. The methods and systems can be customized by the selection of heuristic, and by the specification of explicit sub-iteration contexts that may override the derived contexts.
US08140595B2 Linked logical fields
A method, system and article of manufacture for linking logical fields abstractly describing data in a database and, more particularly, for creating an abstract query using linked logical fields. One embodiment provides a method of linking logical fields abstractly describing data in a database. The method includes creating link information for a first logical field from the plurality of logical fields. The link information identifies at least one second logical field from the plurality of logical fields and an associated link type operation. The first and second logical fields are linked using the link information.
US08140584B2 Adaptive data classification for data mining
A method and system for adaptive classification during information retrieval from unstructured data are provided. The method includes receiving input from a user defining a classification. A sample set of unstructured data based on the user defined classification defined is determined. The sample set of unstructured data is analyzed to determine a classification mapping that maps attributes of the sample set of unstructured data to class labels for the classification. The attributes of a set of data objects in a second set of unstructured data are indexed and one or more data objects in the set of data objects are mapped to the class label based on the classification mapping. Feedback based on the user's response to an interaction with results is determined using the class label. Finally, adaptive classification mapping is performed based on analysis of feedback by adjusting the sample set of data objects.
US08140578B2 Multilevel hierarchical associations between entities in a knowledge system
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing multilevel hierarchical structured information in disparate knowledge repositories. An association data structure is created for an entity as metadata in a metadata repository. The association data structure is populated with association information about the entity. A process data structure is created for the entity as metadata in the metadata repository. The process data structure is populated with process information about the entity. Information about a multi-phased process is then collected by extracting process information from each entity of the multi-phased process across the disparate knowledge repositories. The collected information comprising information about the multi-phased process is then stored in the process data structure in the metadata repository.
US08140566B2 Open framework for integrating, associating, and interacting with content objects including automatic feed creation
Information regarding a mobile user's context including but not limited to current mobile activity, social relations and associations history, and past mobile, search and browsing history is identified and converted to metadata. Metadata is also applied to content sources delivering content to a search engine or personalized content engine. The metadata is used in part to determine the relative display of content objects delivered to the mobile user as search results or a personalized aggregated information resource, e.g., home page. The user may select information, from one or more entities or search results or as presented to the user in other contexts, to be automatically delivered to the user's home page as a content feed including multiple content objects or content feeds associated with an entity. Information regarding mobile user activity is compiled and used to permit publishers and advertisers to identify target candidates to receive advertisements or marketing materials.
US08140565B2 Autonomic information management system (IMS) mainframe database pointer error diagnostic data extraction
A method and system for autonomic Information Management System (IMS) mainframe database pointer error diagnostic data extraction. A receiving module may receive a database name and an error detection time. An error detection module may locate database pointer errors on the failed IMS database. A list module may generate an Image Copy (IC) list corresponding to the failed database. A code generation module may generate Job Control Language (JCL) code for the selected entries in the IC list. An execution module executes the JCL code which operates a pointer checker utility on each clean IC. A log list module locates log data sets recorded in the time between the error and when the error was detected and an extraction module extracts an evaluation log list which comprises evaluation log data sets.
US08140560B2 Process and apparatus for selecting an item from a database
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting database items from a database, where the database items are indexed by a list of item identifiers. The item identifiers may be in the form of text. An initial display is generated which includes one or more parts of the item identifiers. Selection of the one or more parts may be made and results in the generation of a display of a further one or more parts for selection. The further one or more parts may be selected in order to add to the selected one or more parts to build a larger part or whole of an item identifier. Selection from a large list of item identifiers may be carried out in a relatively short time period.
US08140556B2 Techniques for automated generation of queries for querying ontologies
Techniques for simplifying querying of ontologies. In one embodiment, one or more queries for querying an ontology are automatically generated in a language suitable for querying the ontology. A user may enter a query in a simple language such as a natural language query. In response, one or more queries capable of querying the ontology are automatically generated in a second language. The automatically generated queries may, for example, be in SPARQL or PL/SQL. The one or more automatically generated queries may then be used to query one or more ontologies.
US08140547B2 Systems, methods and computer products for a monitoring context generator
Systems, methods and computer products for generating calculation context classes from a relationship between structured data and a calculation procedure, the context classes having parent-child relationships. Exemplary embodiments include a method including searching the calculation procedure for a first data definition, generating a first context from a first scope applied to the first data definition, tracing back the calculation procedure to obtain a second data definition for calculating the first data definition and to which the first scope is applied, copying the calculation procedure into the first context until the second data definition is obtained, obtaining a second scope applied to the second data definition, obtaining a second context generated from the second scope, determining an existence of an order comparison of the first scope with the second scope and obtaining order from the structured data.
US08140537B2 Block level tagging with file level information
Embodiments for data tagging in a computing environment are provided. A write operation in an operating system (OS) file system level storage layer is intercepted. A set of signatures in a sub-chunk level is calculated. The set of signatures are aligned to the beginning of an OS file system-level object and stored in a memory location, such as a cache, along with file system information relating to the write operation and to the file system-level object that the data is written into. Following file system processing, and as the data is written into storage in blocks, the write operation is intercepted in the block level storage layer. A secondary set of signatures in a sub-block level is calculated using a common algorithm used to create the original set of signatures. The sets of signatures are compared against each other, and blocks of the data having matching signatures are tagged with the file system information stored in the memory location.
US08140527B2 Retrieving personal user information for storage in a device
This invention relates to a method for retrieving personal user information from a user of a device, wherein personal user information retrieved from said user is stored in the device, the method including automatically deciding if retrieving of the personal user information is required; and taking action to retrieve the personal user information if it has been decided that the retrieving is required. The invention further relates to a computer program, a computer program product, a device and a module for retrieving personal user information from a user of a device.
US08140518B2 System and method for optimizing search results ranking through collaborative gaming
The present invention provides a method and system for optimizing search result rankings through use of a game interface. The method and system includes providing a game interface to at least two users, the game interface comprising at least one search query and at least two search result sets. The method and system further includes detecting the selection of one of the two search result sets by the users based on competition criteria and updating ranking data in response to the selection of one of the two search results. The method and system further includes selecting ranking data associated with a given query, determining an optimum ranking based on aggregating the selected ranking data, and storing the optimum ranking.
US08140515B2 Personalization engine for building a user profile
Users of electronic documents are classified for profiling and targeting of additional relevant content. Behavioral data is gathered from user registration information and user activity, and user documents and actions are categorized. Registration information is combined with collaborative and editorial data to provide user profile information. Author-generated document classification information is analyzed and assigned a first taxonomic noun to characterize the document. User-generated tags characterizing a portion of the document are assigned a second taxonomic noun. Search terms that resulted in the user accessing the document are identified and assigned a third taxonomic noun. Attributes related to how the document was accessed are evaluated and assigned a fourth taxonomic noun. The document is processed using pattern rules to extract a fifth taxonomic noun. The taxonomic nouns are aggregated to determine a composite set of taxonomic nouns, and the user is categorized using the taxonomic nouns, and/or the author-generated classification.
US08140514B2 Automatic classification of defects
A method of automatically classifying defects. The method generally includes the steps of (A) receiving information for a current defect, (B) extracting field values from the current defect, (C) counting a number of occurrences of one or more keywords in the current defect, (D) determining one or more new keywords occurring in the current defect and storing the one or more new keywords in a database and (E) creating one or more linkages in the database between a first record corresponding to the current defect and one or more second records corresponding to previous defects based upon one or more similarities between the first and the second records.
US08140512B2 Consolidated information retrieval results
Systems and methods are disclosed for consolidating information retrieval results. According to some embodiments of the invention, a computer system can be used to retrieve and rank results in a first result set, in response to a query. The computer system can then perform a more in-depth comparison of the results with the query to determine a more complete correlation of the data in a result with the terms in the query. Each result can then be scored according to its correlation with the search query, and results that do not meet minimum threshold score can be dropped, the remaining results comprising a second result set. Results in the second result set can then be compared with each other to determine whether they contain information regarding a single object or entity, in which case the records are consolidated and redundant data is removed. The computer system can then present the consolidated result on a display.
US08140504B2 Report generation system and method
A method, computer program product, and system for receiving a natural language query. The natural language query is parsed into a plurality of base concepts. One or more base concepts chosen from the plurality of base concepts is processed to define a selected report template. The selected report template is selected from a plurality of default report templates. At least one of the base concepts chosen from the plurality of base concepts is mapped to a data field within data via a mapping dictionary. The data includes a plurality of records. A query is executed on at least a portion of the data to identify a result record set. The result record set defines at least a portion of the plurality of records.
US08140503B2 Information processing apparatus having process units operable in parallel
An information processing apparatus according to an exemplary aspect of the invention includes a plurality of process units operable in parallel and a cache unit. The information processing apparatus executes a series of processes including access to a database through pipelining of the plurality of process units. The plurality of process units corresponds to a plurality of block process on a one-by-one basis. The series of processes are divided into the plurality of block processes such that reference of a content of data stored in the database by one of the plurality of process units is not followed by update of the data by any of others of the plurality of process units. Each of the plurality of process units executes one of the plurality of block processes at a predetermined timing. The plurality of block processes include a first block process including update of first data in the database. The plurality of process units includes a first process unit corresponding to the first block process. Updated contents of the first data are obtained in executions of the first block process by the first process unit. The cache unit is provided to be associated with the first process unit and holds the updated contents in a format by which an order of additions of the updated contents is recognizable.
US08140502B2 Preserving individual information privacy by providing anonymized customer data
A method of preserving individual information privacy for each of a plurality of customers while providing aggregated information about the plurality of customers includes storing static customer data and dynamic customer data of the plurality of customers in a protected database. The method includes restricting shared access to the static customer data and the dynamic customer data to a set of approved privacy-preserving queries. The privacy preserving queries include a privacy-preserving aggregation query that uses one or more parameters to indicate a characteristic of interest for which aggregation of the static customer data and the dynamic customer data is requested. The privacy-preserving aggregation query may be configured to retrieve aggregated customer data related to the characteristic of interest. The aggregated customer data may be returned in response to the privacy-preserving aggregation query not including any personally identifiable information of any particular one of the plurality of customers.
US08140500B2 Spectral measurement with assisted data analysis
A system is provided wherein spectrometer measurements, and/or measurements from other analytical instruments, are transmitted to a processing station which determines the component substances of the sample(s) subjected to the measurements. The names of the component substances are then inserted into database search queries related to matters such as handling precautions, causes/sources of the substances, remedies and neutralizing agents for the substances, regulations related to the substances, etc. The results of the search queries are then provided to the personnel who made the measurements, preferably wirelessly and almost immediately after the measurements were made. The system therefore provides nearly immediate guidance as to what substances are present and how to handle them, which can be useful for inexperienced personnel in hazardous response, contraband detection, industrial process control, and other situations.
US08140499B2 Context based cache infrastructure to enable subset query over a cached object
A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a context based cache infrastructure to enable subset query over a cached object. Responsive to detecting a query to a root context of a context tree, the tree is traversed for a parent context of a subcontext corresponding to the name and value pair, which is identified by a user in the query. If the parent context caches all query results, the query results are iterated and the remaining name and value pairs are filtered out. However, if the parent context does not cache all query results, the traversing step is repeated for next parent context of the subcontext until a root context is encountered. If a root context is encountered, a query is issued to the database for the name and value pair and the result of the database query is cached in a new context.
US08140475B1 Dynamic configuration archival and retrieval
The present invention is a method and system for retrieving and retaining data relating to the configuration of a storage system. Data relating to the configuration of a storage system may be retrieved and stored in an accessible file, stored locally or remotely. When a loss of configuration data event occurs, such as a catastrophic failure of a storage system, a configuration file in accordance with the present invention may be retrieved and loaded into the computing system of the storage system in order to rebuild the storage system with the set of configuration settings stored on the configuration file of the present invention. A detection module of the present invention may also detect a change of configuration data such that the configuration file may reflect the most current configuration for a storage system.
US08140474B2 Aggregation of file/directory structures
In general, in one aspect, a method is disclosed that includes storing a superset of data available to a client having non volatile memory (NVM) on a distant hard drive. A subset of the data is maintained in the NVM on the client. The client controls the data stored on the distant hard drive and the data maintained in the NVM. A single merged directory/file tree image is generated for the content maintained in the NVM and the distant hard drive that is accessible to a user of the client and applications running thereon.
US08140472B2 Method for allocating logical unit inside storage system to logical volume and storage controller
A storage controller comprises a creation module that creates a logical volume, a management module that manages a plurality of types of logical units inside a storage system, a measurement module that measures an access characteristic, which is a characteristic related to an access to the logical volume, a decision module that decides the type of a logical unit to be allocated to the logical volume based on the measured access characteristic, and an allocation module that allocates to the logical volume a logical unit, of the plurality of types of logical units, of the type decided by the decision module.
US08140467B2 Quantum state estimation method, quantum state estimation device and computer program
A control section virtually divides a surface of an adsorbing material into a plurality of regions (cells) in accordance with a computer program. Further, the control section-allocates a normal distribution function to each of the divided cells, and sets a linear combination of the normal distribution functions allocated to all cells to a trial function. Moreover, the control section solves a Schrödinger equation based upon a potential on the surface of the adsorbing material by a numerical variational method, to calculate a wave function. Then, based upon the calculated wave function, the quantum state of the atom or the molecule adsorbed on the surface of the adsorbing material is estimated.
US08140453B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for otoacoustic protection of autonomic systems
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments an autonomic unit transmits an otoacoustic signal to counteract a potentially harmful incoming signal.
US08140450B2 Active learning method for multi-class classifiers
A method trains a multi-class classifier by iteratively performing the following steps until a termination condition is reached. The probabilities of class membership for unlabeled data obtained from an active pool of unlabeled data are estimated. A difference between a largest probability and a second largest probability is determined. The unlabeled data with the lowest difference is selected, labeled and then added to a training data set for training the classifier.
US08140447B2 Method for regression from interval target values by alternating linear gaussian and expectation-maximization
Methods, computing devices, and computer program products for regression from interval target values are provided. Training data having an interval output are read. An initial model is estimated. Representative values for the interval output are assigned using the initial model. A regression model is estimated using the representative values for the interval output. A determination is made whether the regression model converges. The step of assigning representative values for the interval output is iterated and the step of estimating the regression model using the representative values for the interval output iterated, in response to the regression model not converging. In response to the regression model converging, the regression model is output.
US08140446B2 Application of brokering methods to operational support characteristics
This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of operational support characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the operational support characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents.
US08140442B2 Matching residential buyers and property owners to initiate a transaction for properties which are currently not listed for sale
Methods, devices, and systems are provided for property transactions. One device embodiment includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and user interface coupled to the memory and processor. The device includes program instructions storable in memory and executable by the processor to coordinate a buyer electronic indicator and a seller electronic indicator associated with a piece of property in order to culminate a transaction.
US08140433B2 Method for making secure transactions carried out with cards provided with an owner identification number
The invention concerns a method for carrying out a transaction comprising prior steps of identifying the card by reading its number and authenticating the bearer optionally by writing in the secret code using a keyboard. The invention is characterized in that the secret code and/or the card number, comprise(s) in a specific position at least a character modified at each transaction. The modified character(s) (N) of the secret code and/or the card is/are modified in accordance with at least a character of a predetermined parameter.
US08140430B2 Escrow accommodation system
An escrow accommodation system adapted for deployment in the offices of brokers, mortgage companies, lending institutions and title insurers to facilitate remote video-conferencing of potential buyers and sellers with independent escrow agents. The system includes a first client subsystem disposed in a first office. The first client subsystem includes a microprocessor, software running on the microprocessor for facilitating an escrow arrangement, a camera coupled to the microprocessor, and a display coupled to the computer. A second client subsystem is provided in a second office. The second client subsystem includes a microprocessor, software running on the microprocessor for facilitating an escrow arrangement, a camera coupled to the microprocessor, and a display coupled to the microprocessor. The first and second client subsystems are connected via a network. In the illustrative embodiment, the software includes code for receiving customer escrow data and displaying a list of escrow companies. In various alternative embodiments, the list is customized based on user data and/or broker data. As taught herein, the software includes code for establishing a videoconference between the first client and the second client via the network. The network may be either a public network such as the Internet or a private or virtually private network. The software further includes code for facilitating an escrow opening meeting online. Code is also included for running customized applications based on input from an escrow agent, a customer, a broker or other third party.
US08140428B2 System and method for graphically displaying market related data using fixed size bars
A system and method are provided for displaying market related data, such as traded volume at each price level, or any other trader-selected values, using one or more fixed size bars. In one preferred embodiment, a graphical display interface is provided and includes a plurality of fixed size bars that display traded volume at different price levels. In such an embodiment, the length of each bar may correspond to a predefined maximum value, and each bar may be progressively color-coded using a first graphical format to represent traded volume that is lower than the maximum value. If the traded volume exceeds the maximum value, the overflow value may be represented by progressively color-coding the bar using a second graphical format that may be used in relation to the first graphical format color-coding.
US08140408B2 Systems and methods for facilitating internet shopping
Systems and methods for facilitating online comparison shopping, including a similarity engine, a navigational system, and a step skipping system. The systems and methods according to the invention include a method for determining similarity between two preferably disparate products. The systems and methods also preferably include a method of increasing efficiency of navigation in a comparison shopping site based on product coverage and product entropy. The systems and methods further include a method of step-skipping to quicken user navigation through a comparison shopping site.
US08140398B1 Apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of digitally transferable goods
A system comprises: a) storage and distribution means; b) inventory upload means; c) product information download means; d) order upload means; and e) delivery download means. A method comprises: (a) digitally transferring the goods and pertinent product information from a provider of the goods to a storage and distribution means; (b) storing the goods, pertinent product information, order information, sales information, or marketing information on the storage and distribution means; (c) digitally transferring product information to a shopper; (d) digitally transferring order information from a buyer of goods to the storage and distribution means; and (e) digitally transferring the goods to the buyer. The storage and distribution means may be provided with a network connection for access by providers, shoppers, and buyers.
US08140397B2 System and method for monitoring production of agricultural products
In harvesting an agricultural product from a field to allow for later identification of a specific section of field where the harvesting occurred, harvest source information is inputted. A first Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinate corresponding to a first location in the specific section of field is captured. The agricultural product is harvested from the first location to a second location in the specific section of field. The harvested agricultural product is stored in a set of containers. A second GPS coordinate corresponding to the second location is captured. A unique Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) value is associated to each container of the set of containers to create a set of RFID values. The source information, the first GSP coordinate, and the second GPS coordinate are associated to the set of RFID values.
US08140394B2 Payment system
A payment system transfers funds from a purchaser to a supplier of goods and services. A single use transient credit code provided to the purchaser effects the transfer. The transient credit code is redeemable to a value limited to said transfer of funds thereby preventing subsequent fraudulent use of the code. The payment system apparatus transfers a payment from a purchaser to a supplier of goods and services. The apparatus incorporates a code issue device which keeps track of and generates a list of limited-value, single-use credit codes. The device issues the codes on request, receives notification of use of the codes and marks respective, ones as used. The transfer is done by single-use transient credit codes provided to the purchaser. The codes are redeemable to the value limited to a payment.
US08140389B2 Methods and apparatuses for pay for deal advertisements
Methods and apparatuses for advertising where the advertisement performance is determined via tracking the deals made as a result of communication leads generated from the advertisements. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement containing a communication reference to a customer on behalf of a party; providing a connection via the reference for real time communications between the customer and the party; and charging an advertisement fee in response to an action of a predetermined type being performed by the customer (or an agreement between the customer and the party being reached) as a result of the real time communications.
US08140382B1 Modifying an estimate value
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for modifying an estimate value includes determining a first estimate value based on a plurality of values relating to a first entity. The method includes determining a second estimate value for at least one second entity identified as a peer of the first entity. The method includes modifying the first estimate value using the second estimate value.
US08140379B2 Predicting shopper traffic at a retail store
Mathematical models for predicting shopper traffic at a shopper region useful for developing inter alia a metric for measuring impressions to in-store advertising.
US08140377B2 System for predictive analytics using real-world pharmaceutical transactions
A system for predictive analytics using real-world pharmaceutical transactions includes a computer having a processor and memory, a data collection component configured to aggregate data for a plurality of pharmaceutical transactions, and a data reduction module configured to eliminate non-compliant transactions to generate a reduced transaction data set. An analysis module applies multiple linear regression analysis to a portion of the reduced transaction data set to identify key regression variables that correlate with an excess total return to shareholders. The analysis module also applies logistic regression analysis to a portion of the reduced transaction data set to identify key regression variables that correlate with an increased probability of regulatory agency approval. A report generator provides a graphical output of the identified key regression variables and a probability value corresponding to a likelihood of regulatory agency approval.
US08140376B2 System and method for optimization of viral marketing efforts
A system and method for improving the performance of a viral marketing program develops a plurality of trials of a viral marketing program having a business objective with each trial having a plurality of attributes at least one of which differs from an attribute of the other of the plurality of trials, exposes a first plurality of users to a first trial and a second plurality of users to a second trial, collects data indicative of the users response to the trial to which they were exposed that is reflective of the likelihood of the trial obtaining the business objective, compares the data to identify a trial more likely to achieve the business objective than a non-identified trial and continues to utilize the identified trial in the viral marketing program while ceasing use of a non-identified trial.
US08140374B2 Method for evaluating provision of commodity information
A commodity-information provision evaluation method for visualizing information contributing to evaluating of commodity information provided by a commodity provider, includes performing, according to an operator's selection operation, process display processing that includes superimposing and displaying at least two of intention information, expectation information and practical information on a screen in a matrix format, to visualize a gap between the commodity information provision media, or image display processing that includes superimposing at least two of target image information, design image information and user image information on an image map screen in which information regarding image is allocated to each of regions into which a display screen is divided so that the at least two are displayed in regions to which the at least two are allocated.
US08140372B2 Planning production for complementary demands
Method, system and program product for planning production for complementary demands are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining complementary demand values including at least one daily going rate (DGR) demand and a service demand; running a first planning production model in which the at least one DGR demand is included and the service demand is excluded; and running a second planning production model in which DGR related variables are fixed to values determined in the first planning production model and the service demand is included. Demands that are only considered by one of the planning production models are considered complementary demands.
US08140371B2 Providing computing service to users in a heterogeneous distributed computing environment
For providing a service-centric approach to allocating computing service power to users in a heterogeneous distributed computing environment such as a grid, a grid service broker comprises a central service broker and distributed service brokers. Service power is measured in resource-independent service units defined and used by the service broker. The central service broker uses meta-scheduling for distributing service requests to the distributed service brokers, based on projected service units needed to process the service requests.
US08140367B2 Open marketplace for distributed service arbitrage with integrated risk management
A method, system, and computer-readable medium that support an open marketplace for distributed service arbitrage with an integrated risk management is presented. Orders for work packets, which are processed within a software factory, are allowed to be bid upon only by software factories that have been previously ranked by a centralized marketplace portal, thus ensuring that only qualified software factories are allowed to service such orders.
US08140358B1 Vehicle monitoring system
A data logging device tracks the operation of a vehicle or driver actions. The device includes a storage device, which may be removable or portable, having a first memory portion that may be read from and may be written to in a vehicle and a second memory portion that may be read from and may be written to in the vehicle. The second memory portion may retain data attributes associated with the data stored in the first removable storage device. A processor reads data from an automotive bus that transfers data from vehicle sensors to other automotive components. The processor writes data to the first memory portion and the second memory portion that reflect a level of risk or safety. A communication device links the storage device to a network of computers. The communication device may be accessible through software that allows a user to access files related to a level of risk or safety and other software that may be related to those files.
US08140357B1 Point of service billing and records system
A billing and records system software application that places responsibility for billing and coding accuracy upon the provider of services and is used on a front-end computer which allows the provider to update, edit, and input data. The front-end computer is linked to a back-end computer. The back-end computer program stores the necessary databases for use on the front-end computer. The reference databases have all of the current coding required for the provider. The back-end computer also contains a linkage component and a billing program which uses data from the front-end computer to prepare a bill for the encounter.
US08140354B2 Ordering clinical orders associated with future events
Computerized methods and systems for permitting clinicians and other healthcare providers to designate performance locations for clinical orders having one or more phases associated therewith, and for presenting order catalog content that is flexed based upon the designated performance location for the clinical order are provided. Further provided are computerized methods and systems for permitting clinicians and other healthcare providers to designate a performance location for each phase of a multi-phase clinical order, and for presenting order catalog content for each phase that is flexed based upon the designated performance location for the phase. Systems and methods for providing control of plan and phase initiation based at least upon a location associated with the chart encounter are also provided.
US08140350B2 System and method for integrating ancillary data in DICOM image files
The invention comprises a system and method for integrating electronic patient information with an electronic medical image file. In one embodiment, at least one information processor is provided that is operable to communicate over a communication network. A database is provided on the at least one information processor, wherein the database is operable to store electronic patient information representing a plurality of patients, and further to store respective image files representing patient medical examinations. A receiving module is preferably included that receives an image file representing a patient medical examination. The image file is preferably formatted with a respective filename. Also, a converting module is provided that is operable to convert the image file to be associated with at least one tag, wherein the converting module refers to at least the respective filename to associate the image with the tag(s), and further the tag(s) are associated with the image file to associate the medical image record with the electronic patient information for a respective patient. A storage module is further operable to store the converted image to the database. Preferably, the modules operate substantially without human intervention.
US08140336B2 Speech recognition system with huge vocabulary
The invention deals with speech recognition, such as a system for recognizing words in continuous speech. A speech recognition system is disclosed which is capable of recognizing a huge number of words, and in principle even an unlimited number of words. The speech recognition system comprises a word recognizer for deriving a best path through a word graph, and wherein words are assigned to the speech based on the best path. The word score being obtained from applying a phonemic language model to each word of the word graph. Moreover, the invention deals with an apparatus and a method for identifying words from a sound block and to computer readable code for implementing the method.
US08140334B2 Apparatus and method for recognizing voice
An apparatus and method for recognizing voice. The apparatus includes a feature vector extraction unit dividing an input voice signal into predetermined unit regions, and extracting feature vectors corresponding to each of the unit regions; a predicted node extraction unit extracting a list of second nodes whose travels to a first node corresponding to the extracted feature vectors are predicted, with reference to a network of one or more nodes; a single waveform similarity calculation unit calculating degrees of single waveform similarity of the first node and the second nodes of the list by substituting the extracted feature vectors into single waveform probability distributions that constitute voice signals corresponding to the second nodes; a multiple waveform similarity calculation unit calculating degrees of multiple waveform similarity by substituting the extracted feature vectors into multiple waveform probability distributions that constitute single waveform probability distributions usable to calculate the degrees of single waveform similarity in a preset range; and an output unit outputting a function-performing signal corresponding to a multiple waveform probability distribution that enables calculation of a highest of the calculated degrees of multiple waveform similarity.
US08140331B2 Feature extraction for identification and classification of audio signals
Characteristic features are extracted from an audio sample based on its acoustic content. The features can be coded as fingerprints, which can be used to identify the audio from a fingerprints database. The features can also be used as parameters to separate the audio into different categories.
US08140326B2 Systems and methods for reducing speech intelligibility while preserving environmental sounds
An audio privacy system reduces the intelligibility of speech in an audio signal while preserving prosodic information, such as pitch, relative energy and intonation so that a listener has the ability to recognize environmental sounds but not the speech itself. An audio signal is processed to separate non-vocalic information, such as pitch and relative energy of speech, from vocalic regions, after which syllables are identified within the vocalic regions. Representations of the vocalic regions are computed to produce a vocal tract transfer function and an excitation. The vocal tract transfer function for each syllable is then replaced with the vocal tract transfer function from another prerecorded vocalic sound. In one aspect, the identity of the replacement vocalic sound is independent of the identity of the syllable being replaced. A modified audio signal is then synthesized with the original prosodic information and the modified vocal tract transfer function to produce unintelligible speech that preserves the pitch and energy of the speech as well as environmental sounds.
US08140304B2 Method of cloth simulation using linear stretch/shear model
Deformations occurring in cloth can be decomposed into two components: the in-plane and the out-of-plane deformations. Stretch and shear are in-plane deformation, and bending is out-of-plane deformation. In the method, the numerical simulation can be done in real-time, and the models fix some flaws that existed in previous real-time models, leading to conspicuous reduction of artifacts. The (|x|−C)2 in the energy function is replaced with |x−x*|2 for some constant vector x*, such that the force Jacobian becomes a constant, which obviates solving the large system of linear equations at every time step. The method uses simplified physical models for both edge-based and triangle-based systems.
US08140302B1 Method for using variable structure in physical modeling
A method and apparatus programmatically define structure within a physical modeling environment. The system and corresponding method of modeling, provides a computationally based modeling environment in which a physical entity can be modeled parametrically and hierarchically, if desired. A physical component of the physical entity is identified. The physical component is defined by a structural physical parameter and a behavior. The definitions combine to form a model element with the structural physical parameter using structural variables, and behaviors, that can be defined functionally.
US08140298B2 System and method for diagnosing aircraft components for maintenance purposes
The invention relates to a process for determining a diagnostic for a breakdown of an avionic system, the avionic system comprising a plurality of functional units and surveillance units, each capable of performing surveillance of at least one functional unit, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: acquisition of diagnostics from at least one surveillance unit, a diagnostic emitted by one surveillance unit relating to the said at least one functional unit subjected to surveillance by the surveillance unit, construction of possible diagnostics on the basis of the acquired diagnostics, determination of a likelihood criterion for each constructed possible diagnostic, the likelihood criterion for a possible diagnostic being determined on the basis of a unitary criterion determined for each functional unit associated with the possible diagnostic, selection of the possible diagnostic among the possible diagnostics according to the likelihood criterion.
US08140297B2 Three dimensional chip fabrication
A three-dimensional (3D) chip is fabricated from components that have been cut out of a two-dimensional (2D) chip. The components from the 2D chip are layered and coupled to create the layers of the 3D chip. By testing the 2D chip first, the layers of the 3D chip have been pre-tested, thus reducing testing and production costs.
US08140278B2 Intelligent fuse holder and circuit protection systems
A circuit protection device includes: (i) a housing configured to hold a fuse; (ii) a first contact configured to connect the fuse to a power source; (iii) a second contact configured to connect the fuse to a load; and (iv) a sensing circuit placed in parallel with the fuse, the sensing circuit configured to operate on a leakage current running through the circuit after the fuse opens.
US08140275B2 Calculating insulin on board for extended bolus being delivered by an insulin delivery device
A system and method may be used to calculate insulin on board (IOB) for an extended bolus being delivered by an insulin infusion pump. In general, the system and method calculates an extended bolus IOB value for the extended bolus, which takes into account the insulin currently on board from the extended bolus and the insulin scheduled to be delivered by the extended bolus over a subsequent time period equivalent to a duration of insulin action. The extended bolus IOB value may be used to calculate a suggested bolus.
US08140270B2 Methods and systems for medical sequencing analysis
Disclosed are methods of identifying elements associated with a trait, such as a disease. The methods can comprise, for example, identifying the association of a relevant element (such as a genetic variant) with a relevant component phenotype (such as a disease symptom) of the trait, wherein the association of the relevant element with the relevant component phenotype identifies the relevant element as an element associated with the trait, wherein the relevant component phenotype is a component phenotype having a threshold value of severity, age of onset, specificity to the trait or disease, or a combination, wherein the relevant element is an element having a threshold value of importance of the element to homeostasis relevant to the trait, intensity of the perturbation of the element, duration of the effect of the element, or a combination. The disclosed methods are based on a model of how elements affect complex diseases. The disclosed model is based on the existence of significant genetic and environmental heterogeneity in complex diseases. Thus, the specific combinations of genetic and environmental elements that cause disease vary widely among the affected individuals in a cohort. The disclosed model is an effective, general experimental design and analysis approach for the identification of causal variants in common, complex diseases by medical sequencing. The disclosed model and the disclosed methods based on the model can be used to generate valuable and useful information.
US08140267B2 System and method for identifying similar molecules
A vectorization process is employed in which chemical identifier strings are converted into respective vectors. These vectors may then be searched to identify molecules that are identical or similar to each other. The dimensions of the vector space can be defined by sequences of symbols that make up the chemical identifier strings. The International Chemical Identifier (InChI) string defined by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is particularly well suited for these methods.
US08140266B2 Vehicle positioning information updating system
Based on positioning accuracy of an own vehicle required for appropriately carrying out assistance control carried out according to a position of the own vehicle, an execution condition for map matching correcting the position of the own vehicle is set. Specifically, setting is made in such a manner that, as the positioning accuracy is higher and an error thereof is smaller, an execution frequency of map matching becomes higher. Then, map matching is carried out according to the thus-set execution condition.
US08140260B2 System for enhancing a vehicle operator's orientation and ability to navigate
A system for enhancing a vehicle operator's orientation and ability to navigate a vehicle includes, but is not limited to, a display unit, a data storage unit, a position determining unit and a processor communicatively connected to the display unit, the data storage unit and the position determining unit. The processor is configured to obtain a position and heading of the vehicle from the position determining unit, to obtain terrain data from the data storage unit, and to control the display unit to display a three-dimensional representation of a terrain representative of an actual terrain proximate the vehicle. The processor controls the display unit to overlay a three-dimensional compass onto the three-dimensional representation of the terrain to display both the heading of the vehicle and the location of the vehicle with respect to the actual terrain.
US08140259B2 Location device with a gravity measuring device
A location device has a gravity measurement instrument in communication with a database which has the locations relative to time of an astronomical object. The location device also has a timepiece indicating the time which may be used to determine the location of the astronomical object.
US08140251B2 Management of traffic signals at road intersection to avoid blocking vehicles
A computer controlled system for managing traffic signals at the intersection of at least two traffic lanes to avoid collisions between motor vehicles in intersecting lanes. An implementation with means for controlling traffic signals at the intersection to permit vehicles in each of the intersecting traffic lanes a time period to pass through the intersection, means for detecting the presence of a vehicle in the intersection beyond said permitted time period, and means responsive to a detection of the presence of the vehicle, for controlling the traffic signals to stop other vehicles from passing through the intersection.
US08140250B2 Rail vehicle identification and processing
A solution for further automating the identification, processing, and/or routing of rail vehicles is provided. Each individual rail vehicle in a series of rail vehicles is identified and measurement data is acquired for the rail vehicle. The measurement data is analyzed and the rail vehicle is automatically routed based on the analysis. The rail vehicle can be routed to an outbound track based on a destination, to a maintenance shop for repair, and/or to a local track for repair and/or re-measurement. The solution can further incorporate expert systems and data mining to reduce the number of rail vehicles that are unnecessarily routed for repair and/or inadvertently allowed to pass with one or more unsafe conditions.
US08140237B2 Method and system for determining a brake pressure predefined by a vehicle control system
A method and system for determining a brake pressure which is predefined by a vehicle control system involve effecting a vehicle braking process initiated by an electronic braking system and/or the vehicle driver, determining a vehicle deceleration a, and a brake pressure pestim, comparing the brake pressure pestim against a reference pressure pB, terminating the braking process triggered by the electronic braking system when pestim is less than the reference pressure pB, or continuing the braking process triggered by the electronic braking system when pestim is greater than or equal to the reference pressure pB.
US08140235B2 Methods and apparatus for a brake controller autoswitch
An autoswitching brake controller is provided for a vehicle having a first brake controller system and a second brake controller system. The controller includes an autoswitch relay coupled to the first brake controller system and the second brake controller system. The autoswitch relay is configured to receive an ignition signal from the first brake controller system. When the second brake controller system is connected, and the ignition signal is received, the autoswitch relay autodetects its presence and disables the first brake controller system, at the same time enabling the second brake controller system.
US08140231B2 Abnormal-period automatic shift control apparatus of automated manual transmission
In an abnormal-period automatic shift control apparatus of an automated manual transmission (AMT), a controller includes a first state detecting section configured to detect whether the AMT is in a first state where the AMT is thrown into a shift stage during an engine starting period, and a second state detecting section configured to detect whether the AMT is in a second state where a clutch failure that an automatic clutch, employed in the AMT for engine power transmission, remains engaged undesirably, occurs. Also provided is a neutral-range-period abnormality countermeasure section configured to inhibit a supply of working oil from an engine-drive oil pump, serving as a working medium for automatic-clutch engagement-and-disengagement control and automatic gear shifting, for preventing an automotive vehicle from beginning to move, while a selected operating range is a neutral range, under a condition where the first and second states occur simultaneously.
US08140229B2 Transmission control device of motorcycle
A transmission control device of a motorcycle can detect a predetermined traveling state based on the difference in rotational speed between a front wheel and a rear wheel, and can execute a shift-change control suitable for the traveling state. A transmission control device of a motorcycle includes a shift-change control instruction part that performs an automatic shift change of an AMT (automatic manual transmission) in response to at least vehicle-speed information. A first sensor detects a rotational speed of a front wheel, which constitutes a driven wheel. A second sensor detects a rotational speed of a rear wheel, which constitutes a drive wheel. A rotational-speed-difference detector detects the difference in rotational speed between the front wheel and the rear wheel. The control part inhibits the automatic shift change when the rotational speed of the rear wheel becomes larger than the rotational speed of the front wheel by a predetermined value or more.
US08140226B2 Security system and a method to derive a security signal
This invention relates to a security system for vehicles that have a side-looking pre-crash sensor for anticipating impact by a closing object, such as another motor vehicle, from a direction that is non-parallel to the direction of travel of the host vehicle. Such a system employs optical recognition for acquiring closing objects and for easing classification of the objects. The invention relates further to a method to derive a signal used for example to activate a side air back or to be used and further security systems of a vehicle.
US08140223B2 Multiple-antenna GNSS control system and method
A global navigation satellite sensor system (GNSS) and gyroscope control system for vehicle steering control comprising a GNSS receiver and antennas at a fixed spacing to determine a vehicle position, velocity and at least one of a heading angle, a pitch angle and a roll angle based on carrier phase position differences. The roll angle facilitates correction of the lateral motion induced position errors resultant from motion of the antennae as the vehicle moves based on an offset to ground and the roll angle. The system also includes a control system configured to receive the vehicle position, heading, and at least one of roll and pitch, and configured to generate a steering command to a vehicle steering system. The system includes gyroscopes for determining system attitude change with respect to multiple axes for integrating with GNSS-derived positioning information to determine vehicle position, velocity, rate-of-turn, attitude and other operating characteristics. A vehicle control method includes the steps of computing a position and a heading for the vehicle using GNSS positioning and a rate gyro for determining vehicle attitude, which is used for generating a steering command. Alternative aspects include multiple-antenna GNSS guidance methods for high-dynamic roll compensation, real-time kinematic (RTK) using single-frequency (L1) receivers, fixed and moving baselines between antennas, multi-position GNSS tail guidance (“breadcrumb following”) for crosstrack error correction and guiding multiple vehicles and pieces of equipment relative to each other.
US08140221B2 Motor vehicle having a vehicle body and a chassis
A motor vehicle has a vehicle body and a chassis that has at least one wheel suspension device for two opposing wheel. An adjusting device is assigned to each of the wheels. The adjusting devices are coupled to one another by a stabilizer. At least two stabilizer bearings are provided for rotatable support of the stabilizer, and at least one coupling device is provided on the vehicle body for variable torque support of the stabilizer. Accordingly, a reliable level lifting function is provided, based on a sturdy configuration that is both space-saving and weight-saving. The coupling device for torque support of the stabilizer on the vehicle body may have a switchable blocking device and/or at least one spring mechanism.
US08140217B2 Damage control system and method for a vehicle-based sensor
A damage control system for a vehicle-mounted sensor comprises at least one sensor frame. At least one sliding mechanism is coupled to the at least one sensor frame and configured to provide a path for the sensor frame to move forwards or backwards, or both. At least one height-adjustment mechanism is coupled to the sliding mechanism and configured to raise, lower, or both, the sensor frame.
US08140208B2 Electric drive vehicle
In an electric drive vehicle equipped with a power generating unit that is detachable, the power generating unit includes a power-generating-unit side ECU capable of controlling an operation of the power generating unit solely, and the electric drive vehicle includes a vehicle-side ECU capable of managing a state of charge of a battery used for running, and in a case where the power generating unit is installed in the electric drive vehicle and power is supplied to the battery from the power generating unit, an instruction by the vehicle-side ECU is given priority to an instruction by the power-generating-unit side ECU, and the vehicle-side ECU controls the operation of the power generating unit.
US08140206B2 Engine load management for traction vehicles
An electric drive system includes a fuel-driven engine (202) driving an electrical power generator (204) that provides power to one or more electric drive motors (210). A method of load management in the electric drive system includes receiving an actual fuel signal, an engine speed (920) signal, a throttle position signal, a motor speed (712) signal, an intake air pressure, a barometric pressure signal, and an intake air temperature signal. These values are used to determine a torque limit. The torque limit is used to limit a torque command to the electric drive motors (210) such that the torque command is consistent with the operating capabilities of the engine (202).
US08140198B1 Slew guidance method for spacecraft
A method is adapted for slewing a body from an initial state to merge with a desired state profile. In an embodiment, the method includes the steps of (a) obtaining data indicative of a time profile of desired future states for the body; (b) searching sequentially through the time profile of desired future states; (c) calculating several slews for the body from the initial state to each of the desired future states; (d) determining the earliest future state to which the body can actually slew; (e) choosing the minimum-energy slew to that state; and (f) causing the body to perform that chosen slew.
US08140195B2 Reducing maximum power consumption using environmental control settings
A fan controller causes a fan assembly to flow air through a computer system at a variable airflow rate to cool the computer system. The ambient air temperature to the computer system is detected, and the controller varies the airflow rate as a function of the ambient temperature within an ambient temperature range having an upper limit. The upper limit on the defined ambient temperature range that is used by a fan speed control algorithm may be selectively reduced from a default value in response to electronic input, such from a user or a software object. Correspondingly, the controller limits the air flow rate to a reduced value corresponding to the reduced upper limit. The reduction in stranded power that results from reducing the upper limit on the ambient temperature may be re-allocated, such as to other racks in the data center.
US08140179B2 Method and apparatus for repairing turbine components
The present invention includes an apparatus and method by which the three-dimensional form or configuration of a distorted workpiece, such as a turbine component, is reverse engineered, and then this reverse engineering capability is combined with welding equipment, preferably a laser powder fusion welder, all integrally carried within a single machine, whereby a tool path unique to each workpiece is created and the welding machine accurately replaces lost material on the workpiece. The present invention consists of a series of operations or steps, preferably carried out by a single machine.
US08140169B2 Induction heating for the delivery of thermal therapy
An induction heating apparatus includes a first interventional device and a second interventional device. The first interventional device includes an electrically conductive material. The first interventional device is adapted for implantation inside a body and for receiving an alternating current. The second interventional device comprises a magnetically conductive material. The second interventional device is adapted for implantation inside the body in close proximity to the first interventional device. With both devices placed inside the body, the second interventional device magnetically couples with the first interventional device and the second interventional device generates heat upon the application of the alternating current to the first interventional device thereby heating the body site.
US08140166B2 Activating a non-isometric functional movement through electrical stimulation
A system that activates a muscle to produce a functional movement in a subject through electrical stimulation is described. During operation, the system first obtains a non-isometric model which defines a functional movement associated with the muscle in response to electrical stimulation of the muscle. Next, the system uses the non-isometric model to compute an electrical stimulation which produces a desired functional movement in the subject. The system then applies the computed electrical stimulation to the muscle to produce the desired functional movement in the subject.
US08140159B2 Safe-mode operation of an implantable medical device
A method, system, and apparatus for implementing a safe mode operation of an implantable medical system using impedance adjustment(s) are provided. A first impedance is provided to a lead. An indication of a possibility of a coupled energy is received. Based upon said indication, a second impedance associated with the lead to reduce the coupled energy is provided.
US08140156B2 Heart sound sensing to reduce inappropriate tachyarrhythmia therapy
Techniques for detecting heart sounds to reduce inappropriate tachyarrhythmia therapy are described. In some examples, a medical device determines that a cardiac rhythm of the patient is treatable with a therapy, such as a defibrillation pulse, based on a cardiac electrogram (EGM). The medical device analyzes detected heart sounds, and withholds or allows the therapy based on the analysis of the heart sounds.
US08140148B2 Readable probe array for in vivo use
A disposable high-density, optically readable polydeoxynucleotide array with integral fluorescence excitation and fluorescence emission channels is described. The compact array size allows integration into several types of interventional devices such as catheters, guidewires, needles, and trocars and may be used intraoperatively. Highly sensitive monitoring of the metabolic and disease pathways of cells in vivo under varying chemical, genetic, and environmental conditions is afforded.
US08140147B2 Determination of a measure of a glycation end-product or disease state using a flexible probe to determine tissue fluorescence of various sites
Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus with a flexible probe suitable for determining properties of in vivo tissue from spectral information collected from various tissue sites. An illumination system provides light at a plurality of broadband ranges, which are communicated to a flexible optical probe. Light homogenizers and mode scramblers can be employed to improve the performance in some embodiments. The optical probe in some embodiments physically contacts the tissue, and in some embodiments does not physically contact the tissue. The optical probe receives light from the illumination system and transmits it to tissue, and receives light diffusely reflected in response to the broadband light, emitted from the in vivo tissue by fluorescence thereof in response to the broadband light, or a combination thereof. The optical probe can communicate the light to a spectrograph which produces a signal representative of the spectral properties of the light. An analysis system determines a property of the in vivo tissue from the spectral properties.
US08140145B2 Position detection apparatus and medical-device-position detection system
A position detection apparatus and a medical-device-position detection system that have improved position detection accuracy are provided by setting high amplification for the position detection apparatus. The position detection apparatus includes a circuit that has at least one embedded coil (10a) and that is provided inside an object (10) to be detected; a first magnetic-field generating unit (11) for generating a first magnetic field in the region where the embedded coil (10a) is disposed; a magnetic-field detecting unit (5, 12) for detecting an induced magnetic field generated at the embedded coil (10a) by the first magnetic field; and a second magnetic-field generating unit (23) for generating a second magnetic field having a phase substantially opposite to the phase of the first magnetic field.
US08140143B2 Washable wearable biosensor
A washable, wearable biosensor that can gather sensor data, communicate the sensed data by wireless protocols, and permits the analysis of sensed data in real-time as a person goes about their normal lifestyle activities. The biosensor can be worn in multiple positions, can be put on or removed quickly without having to apply or remove gels and adhesives, and provides a snug, comfortable fit to gather data with minimal motion artifacts. The textile, wearable device can support integrated photoplethysmography, skin conductance, motion, and temperature sensors in a small wearable package. The supported sensors may be coupled to utilization devices by channel-sharing wireless protocols to enable the transmission of data from multiple users and multiple sensors (e.g. both sides of body, wrists or hands and feet, or multiple people). An on-board processor, or the receiving utilization device, can map patterns of the physiological and motion data to signals or alerts such as a likely seizure, drug craving, or other states that the wearer may exhibit or experience. The sensor data may be sent by wireless transmission and received by a mobile phone or other personal digital device, a computer, a favorite toy, or another wearable device. The sensors may include multiple photoplethysmographs and/or one or more EDAs which perform a time-domain measurement of skin conductance.
US08140141B2 Devices and methods for fluorescent inspection and/or removal of material in a sample
An apparatus is provided that includes a light-emitting component, a light-detecting component, a lock-in amplifier, a frequency generator that is operatively linked to the lock-in amplifier and the light-emitting component, a speaker capable of emitting an audio signal wherein the output audio signal varies depending on the detected fluorescence in the sample, and a visible output of relative fluorescent intensity where the visible output varies depending on the detected fluorescence in the sample. The apparatus may also include a laser that is operatively coupled to the lock-in amplifier through a control switch, and focusing lens or an additional type of filter such as an interference filter, a short-pass filter, a notch filter, a long-pass filter or an infrared filter. The apparatus may be used to identify and/or to remove fluorescent or non-fluorescent material from a sample. Associated methods are also disclosed.
US08140127B2 System and method for controlling notification characteristics of a mobile communication device
A system and method for controlling user notification characteristics of a mobile communication device. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise transmitting a wireless signal from a wireless transmitter. Such a wireless signal may, for example, comprise a characteristic designed to control user notification characteristics of mobile communication devices receiving the wireless signal. Such a wireless signal may, for example, be transmitted to an area in which control of user notification characteristics is desired. Various aspects of the present invention may also comprise receiving a wireless signal at a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may, based at least in part on a characteristic of the received signal, select one or more user notification characteristics. The mobile communication device may then receive a communication from a communication system and generate a user notification to notify a user of the communication, wherein the user notification comprises the selected characteristic(s).
US08140126B2 Mobile terminal and control method thereof
Disclosed are a mobile terminal capable of automatically displaying information relating to specific objects among objects displayed on a screen according to a user's manipulation, and a control method thereof. The method comprises: detecting a manipulated state of a mobile terminal by a controller; and automatically displaying information relating to specific objects among objects displayed on a screen based on the detected manipulated state of the mobile terminal. Accordingly, a user's convenience is enhanced, and even a novice not accustomed to functions of the mobile terminal can easily handle the mobile terminal.
US08140123B2 Method for displaying speed dial settings and mobile communication device using the method
A method for displaying speed dial settings is disclosed. The method is used for a mobile communication device, comprising the steps: detecting whether a speed dial setting operation is implemented to a button of a keypad of a mobile communication device, and displaying an indicator for the button if the speed dial setting operation is detected.
US08140120B2 Apparatus and method for providing network service in a portable communication system
An apparatus and method for providing a network service in a portable communication system are provided. A portable terminal for providing a network service includes at least two Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards for supporting networks different from each other, a network performance testing unit for measuring performance of network servers supported by the SIM cards, and a controller for identifying the performance of the network servers measured by the network performance testing unit and for selecting a SIM card supporting a network server having better performance.
US08140119B2 Storage medium and conflict control method
Disclosed herein is a storage medium to be attached to a mobile phone for use, the storage medium including: a contact type connection section configured to connect with the mobile phone; a wireless communication section configured to connect with a controller located outside; a subscriber information storage section configured to store subscriber information about a subscriber using the mobile phone; and a conflict control section configured to control access to the subscriber information storage section by the mobile phone through the contact type connection section, and access to the subscriber information storage section by the controller through the wireless communication section.
US08140118B2 Location information erase on SIM cards
A method and system of erasing at least part of the location information stored on a subscriber identity module (SIM) of a mobile phone. The SIM stores the most recently used service provider in its location information. Either at power down or power up, the location information is erased so during the power up routine, the service provider search schedule will not find a service provide, when it first searches the most recently used service provider stored in the location information. In this case, the service provider search routine will appropriately choose either the home service provider or a preferred service provider rather than the service provider stored in the location information. The method of erasing at least part of the location information may be carried out by a program stored on the SIM card or by a wireless network transmitting an instructive signal to the wireless device. The method and system may also provide that if the service provider stored in the location information corresponds to the home service provider or a preferred service provide, then none of the location information is erased.
US08140117B2 Circuit board with adaptive, electromagnetic coupler
The invention relates to a circuit board such as an SIM card for use in an apparatus such as a mobile telephone. The circuit board comprises an adaptive electromagnetic coupler, and is arranged to find the different resonance modes for the surrounding metallic structure of the apparatus, which may be of arbitrary geometry and character. The different resonance modes and resonance frequencies are influenced, and the resonance mode that gives the most efficient radiation of electromagnetic energy is selected on the desired frequency. The circuit board can be adapted to combined transmitters and receivers by the ability to put it into transmission or receiving mode with a selector switch. By connecting electromagnetic energy to the surrounding metallic structure, the electromagnetic coupler can be made small, viewed in connection with the frequency employed. This permits it to be designed as a small SIM card. New functionality can be supplied to the existing apparatus by an ordinary SIM card being replaced by an SIM card according to the invention. Additional communication is thereby achieved on other frequencies and protocols than those regularly handled by the apparatus.
US08140116B2 Duplex audio for mobile communication device and accessory
Duplex audio is provided for a mobile communication device and an accessory. In some embodiments, the accessory can selectably operate in a duplex audio mode, concurrently sending audio to and receiving audio from the mobile communication device, or in another audio mode. In duplex audio mode, the accessory can enable its internal audio processing operations (e.g., echo cancellation) while the mobile communication device disables its corresponding internal operations or vice versa. The mobile communication device can control when the accessory transitions into and/or out of duplex audio mode.
US08140106B2 Peak factor reduction device and base station
The function of comparing power of a signal obtained by multiplying an input signal by an EVM target value and power of a peak suppression signal, and automatically adjusting a peak factor threshold value Vt in such a manner that the values of both power become equal to each other, is added to the peak factor reduction device. The peak factor reduction device is also added with the function of comparing instantaneous amplitude values of a signal Sout after a peak factor reduction and the peak factor threshold value Vt, and automatically calculating a peak detection width N so as to suppress the residual of each peak.
US08140104B2 Rapid search for optimal wireless network configuration
A search algorithm to find a globally optimal radio plan for a wireless network, including assignments of frequency and transmission power to multiple access points. Two different evaluation metrics are used in order to provide an optimal solution in a reasonable time period. Frequency searches are performed using a special rapid evaluation metric. Transmission powers are selected using a more refined metric that estimates data throughput. The search results are deterministic and execution time is also substantially deterministic.
US08140101B1 Dynamic adjustment of forward-link traffic-channel power levels based on forward-link RF conditions
Methods and systems are provided for dynamic adjustment of forward-link traffic-channel power levels based on forward-link RF conditions. In an exemplary embodiment, a base station provides service on a carrier in a wireless coverage area. The base station computes an Ec/Ior value for the carrier. Based at least in part on the computed Ec/Ior value, the base station adjusts at least one of an initial traffic-channel power level, a minimum traffic-channel power level, and a maximum traffic-channel power level for the carrier. As an example, if Ec/Ior is above a certain threshold, the base station may increase all three of the power levels, so as to improve service quality and coverage of its traffic channels, among other advantages.
US08140093B2 Wireless landmark-based operation of a wireless device
A technique configures a wireless device to perform operations based on the wireless device being within or near a particular physical environment. A wireless signal source identifier (e.g., a cell site identifier) serves as a wireless landmark for the particular physical environment. When the wireless device detects the wireless landmark, the wireless device performs operations previously associated with the wireless landmark. To define a wireless landmark for a particular physical environment, the wireless device detects wireless communications signals and decodes the signals to determine wireless signal source identifiers. A user selects a particular wireless signal source identifier and associates the selected wireless signal source identifier with an indication of the physical environment, such as a character string representation of the physical environment. The user indicates one or more operations for the wireless device to perform in response to subsequent detection of the wireless landmark.
US08140079B2 System and method to facilitate handover
A method to facilitate handover includes detecting that a mobile unit resides within at least one predetermined zone where a handover event from a first radio technology to a second radio technology may need to occur, the second radio technology being different from the first radio technology.
US08140076B2 Method for facilitating a mobile station to perform a fast handoff
A method for facilitating a mobile station to perform a fast handoff in a wireless communication system allows a handoff procedure to be anticipated (by the mobile station, its serving base station, or both) based on historical information regarding prior successful handoff procedures. In operation, the mobile station receives a neighbor list from a serving base station and determines whether a member base station of the neighbor list is a successful target base station based on historical data. If the member base station is not a successful target base station, the mobile station scans the member base station, measures a signal quality associated with the member base station, and sends a measurement report for the member base station when the signal quality meets a standard signal quality threshold. If the member base station is a successful target base station, the mobile station sends the measurement report for the member base station when the measured signal quality meets a lower signal quality threshold.
US08140072B1 Border zone paging in wireless communication networks
What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication system that serves mobile communication devices. The method includes, in a first plurality of wireless access nodes, broadcasting a first paging zone identifier (ID), wherein the mobile communication devices report the first paging zone ID to a page control system when registering to use one of the first plurality of wireless access nodes. The method also includes, in a second plurality of wireless access nodes, broadcasting a second paging zone identifier (ID), wherein the mobile communication devices report the second paging zone ID to the page control system when registering to use one of the second plurality of wireless access nodes. The method also includes, in a third plurality of wireless access nodes, broadcasting the first paging zone ID and the second paging zone ID, wherein the mobile communication devices do not report to the to the page control system when registering to use one of the third plurality of wireless access nodes if currently using either the first paging zone ID or the second paging zone ID. The method also includes, in the page control system, transferring a first set of pages to the first plurality of wireless access nodes and third plurality of wireless access nodes for delivery to the mobile communication devices reporting the first paging zone ID, and transferring a second set of pages to the second plurality of wireless access and third plurality of wireless access nodes for delivery to the mobile devices reporting the second paging zone ID.
US08140067B1 Systems and methods for call analysis
A method of operating a computer system comprises receiving per call measurement (PCM) data associated with a radio access network, processing the PCM data to perform a rolling average analysis of dropped calls by the radio access network, processing the rolling average analysis to determine if a location analysis is required, in response to determining that the location analysis is required, processing the PCM data to perform the location analysis of the dropped calls, and processing the location analysis to determine if a response is required.
US08140066B2 Power consumption reduction logic for unscheduled APSD and real time services
A system and method for more efficiently scheduling and implementing unscheduled automatic power save delivery service periods between a terminal and an access point. An triggering interval is set for an untrigger flag, the untrigger flag not permitting the implementation of an automatic power save delivery period. Automatic triggering is used unless a plurality of criteria are met, in which case the triggering interval is calculated based upon a plurality of variables. Untrigger flags are set for selected frames based upon the triggering interval, and unscheduled automatic power save delivery service periods are implemented for frames for which the untrigger flag is not set and for which the terminal receives an indication of additional data from a remote source such as an access point.
US08140062B1 Mobile device monitoring and control system
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for surreptitiously installing, monitoring, and operating software on a remote computer controlled wireless communication device are described. One aspect includes a control system for communicating programming instructions and exchanging data with the remote computer controlled wireless communication device. The control system is configured to provide at least one element selected from the group consisting of: a computer implemented device controller; a module repository in electronic communication with the device controller; a control service in electronic communication with the device controller; an exfiltration data service in electronic communication with the device controller configured to receive, store, and manage data obtained surreptitiously from the remote computer controlled wireless communication device; a listen-only recording service in electronic communication with the device controller; and a WAP gateway in electronic communication with the remote computer controlled wireless communication device.
US08140047B2 System including receiver front ends
A system including an output node and receiver front ends. The receiver front ends are configured to receive an input signal. Each of the receiver front ends is configured to receive the input signal and provide an output signal at the output node. At least one of the receiver front ends is configured to selectively consume less power.
US08140042B2 Distributing apparatus and method for communication using the same
A distributing apparatus distributes a high-frequency signal received from a transmitting-and-receiving module of a first wireless terminal to transmitting-and-receiving modules of other wireless terminals with a wiring scheme. The apparatus has at least three signal transmission lines each transmitting the high-frequency signal. It also has a connecting node that connects an end of each of the signal transmission lines to each other, and an attenuator on each of the signal transmission lines and positioned near the connecting node, the attenuator on each signal transmission line attenuating the high-frequency signal on that signal transmission line. An input or output terminal of each of the transmitting-and-receiving modules of the wireless terminals is connected to any one of the signal transmission lines with a wiring scheme. One of the transmitting-and-receiving modules then transmits a communication signal. A signal obtained by attenuating the communication signal is uniformly distributed to the transmitting-and-receiving modules of the other wireless terminals through the connecting node.
US08140040B1 Method and apparatus for a temperature compensated phase locked loop supporting a continuous stream receiver in an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit including a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) configured for use with a continuous stream receiver is disclosed. A control voltage line is configured to deliver a control voltage with a capacitive load delivered by a capacitor array to the control voltage based upon an add signal and a subtract signal. A threshold generator generates a high threshold voltage and a low threshold voltage using and including at least one process dependent resistor and at least two temperature and process dependent current sources. The PLL responds during calibration to the control voltage being above the high threshold voltage by asserting the add signal directing the capacitor array to increase the capacitive load on the control voltage line, and to the control voltage being below the low threshold voltage by asserting the subtract signal to decrease the capacitive load.
US08140030B2 Adaptive impedance converter adaptively controls load impedance
A transmitter generates first and second constant-envelope radio frequency (RF) component signals having first and second phase angles. The first and second phases are controlled by a phase controller. First and second nonlinear power amplifiers (PAs) are modulated by an amplitude-modulated power supply signal as the first and second constant-envelope RF component signals are amplified. The phase controller controls the first and second phases of the first and second constant-envelope RF component signals, in response to a power control signal, and, in so doing, controls an effective load impedance seen at the outputs of the first and second nonlinear PAs. By controlling the effective load impedance in response to a power control signal, rather than in response to rapid amplitude variations in an input signal envelope, the output power of the transmitter is efficiently controlled over a wide dynamic range even at low output powers.
US08140026B2 All-digital selectable duty cycle generation
All-digital techniques for generating periodic digital signals having selectable duty cycles. In one aspect, a computation block is provided for computing the product of a selected duty cycle and a discrete ratio between a reference clock period and a high-frequency oscillator period. The computation block may be coupled to a pulse width generator for generating signals having pulse widths that are integer multiples of the high-frequency oscillator period. In another aspect, a pulse width generator may also accommodate mixed fractional multiples of high-frequency oscillator periods by tapping the individual inverter stages of a delay line matched to the individual inverter stages of a ring oscillator exemplary embodiment of the high-frequency oscillator.
US08140022B2 Radio communication device and radio communication method
A radio communication device capable of lightening the influence of a frequency selective fading in the wide-band transmission of a single carrier thereby to prevent deterioration of error rate characteristics. In this device, an FFT unit (13) subjects a modulated signal inputted from a modulation unit (12) to a Fourier transformation. A pilot insertion unit (14) inserts a pilot symbol into a plurality of individual frequency components (1-N) of the modulated signal. Weight multiplication units (15-1, 15-2) multiply the individual frequency components (1-N) and the pilot symbols inserted into the individual frequency components (1-N), by weight coefficients (W11-W1N, W21-W2N) set at a weight coefficient setting unit (54). IFFT units (16-1, 16-2) subject the frequency components (1-N) to an inverse Fourier transformation, thereby to convert the frequency components (1-N) into time domains.
US08140017B2 Signal detection in cognitive radio systems
A cognitive radio wireless device (114) dynamically manages signal detection in a cognitive radio system (100). Spectrum sensing is performed for a first sensing frame on at least one communication channel. At least one observed signal is received (204) on the at least one communication channel. A detection decision (210) is performed to determine if the observed signal is noise or an active signal associated with an active user. The detection decision (210) is performed by comparing observed signal energy estimation with a current detection threshold. The current detection threshold can be an arbitrarily defined threshold or a detection threshold based on a previous detection decision for a sensing frame immediately prior to the first sensing frame.
US08140014B2 Social interaction tracking
A device may include a communication interface configured to transmit and receive communications from a second device. The device may further include logic configured to determine whether a user of the device is in a social interaction with a user of the second device, obtain identification information associated with the second device when the user of the device is in a social interaction with the user of the second device, and store the obtained identification information associated with the second device to track the social interaction with the user of the second device.
US08140003B2 Method and apparatus for supporting multi-hop communications in a peer to peer communication system
Methods and apparatus for wireless communications in networks, e.g., regional ad hoc peer to peer networks, are described. A communications node, e.g., a third node monitors for wireless communications between other peer communication nodes, e.g., a first node and a second node, in its local vicinity. The third node determines from the monitored wireless communication an indication of link quality corresponding to a communication link between the communication nodes which are communicating or seeking to establish a communications link. The third node generates an estimate of a link quality for a communications link between itself and the first node. Based on the indication of link quality and generated estimate of link quality, the third node decides whether or not to send a signal indicating availability to relay communication between the first and second nodes. The third node, when acting as an intermediary node after indicating its availability to so act, may receive traffic data e.g., user data communicated in a peer to peer traffic segment, from the first node. The third node communicates the received traffic data to the second node by transmitting the traffic data.
US08140002B2 Apparatus and method for controlling radio frequency in portable communication system
Provided is an apparatus and method for altering a frequency of a radio broadcast. The apparatus includes a communication unit, a memory, a radio frequency management unit, and a controller. The communication unit receives a radio broadcast including information on a channel of the radio broadcast and a transmission intensity of the radio broadcast. The memory stores a threshold of an intensity of radio wave for determining a quality of the radio broadcast.
US08139997B2 Image formation device
An image formation device includes an image formation unit, a paper feed unit, a paper discharge unit and a guide unit. The image formation unit prints an image on a recording paper conveyed along an image formation path. The paper feed unit feeds the recording paper to the image formation unit along a paper feed path. The paper discharge unit discharges the recording paper along a paper discharge path. The guide unit is disposed adjacent to a branching point where the paper feed path and the paper discharge path diverge. The guide unit includes a first guide portion and second guide portion. The first guide portion is disposed above the paper feed path and below the paper discharge path and guides the recording paper along the paper feed path and the paper discharge path. The second guide portion is disposed above the paper discharge path and guides the recording paper along the paper discharge path. The first guide portion and the second guide portion are formed integrally.
US08139996B2 Image forming device having detachable drum unit
There is provided an image forming device that forms images on recording sheets. The image forming device includes a frame having an opening, a cover movable for opening and closing the opening, a drum unit, a belt unit and a pair of registration rollers. The drum unit is disposed in the frame and having plurality of photosensitive drums each defining an axis, the plurality of photosensitive drums being juxtaposed in line in a direction orthogonal to the axis. The belt unit is accommodated in the frame and having a plurality of rollers and an endless belt mounted over the plurality of rollers under tension, the endless belt having a first running part running in a sheet conveying direction and in direct confrontation with each of the photosensitive drums, the first running part extending in a first direction, the drum unit being movable in the first direction and accessible through the opening. The pair of registration rollers nips the recording sheets therebetween to correct skew in the recording sheets and to convey each recording sheet toward the belt unit, the pair of registration rollers being supported to the frame and disposed at a side opposite to the drum unit with respect to an imaginary plane which is an extension of the first running part, the pair of registration rollers defining a nip point therebetween where the recording sheet is nipped, the nip point being located at a position aligned with the belt unit.
US08139995B1 Image forming apparatus
To remove also VOC gas generated from the discharged sheets, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet; a tray on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked; a suction device which sucks air from the surrounding space of sheets stacked up on the tray; and a VOC removing unit which removes VOC contained in the air sucked by the sucking device.
US08139992B2 Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of treating marking material on media
Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of treating marking material on media are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful for printing includes a continuous belt including an inner surface and an outer surface, a first roll including a first outer surface forming a nip with the outer surface of the belt, and a radiant energy source disposed internal to the belt. The radiant energy source is adapted to emit radiant energy onto the inner surface of the belt at the nip.
US08139983B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus with liquid developer coating members
A developing device includes a developer storage portion that stores a liquid developer including toner and carrier liquid. A first coating member rotates and coats the liquid developer stored in the developer storage portion. A second coating member contacts the first coating member and rotates in a direction opposite to that of the first coating member. A developer supporting body contacts the second coating member and rotates in the same direction as that of the second coating member. A contact member contacts the liquid developer coated on the second coating member by the first coating member.
US08139982B2 Image formation apparatus and printed item
The invention provides an image formation apparatus having at least a first toner image-forming unit that forms a first toner image which directly contacts a surface of a recording medium, a second toner image-forming unit that forms a second toner image which is disposed on the first toner image without directly contacting the recording medium, and a fixing unit. The invention further provides a printed item having at least a recording medium, a first toner image directly contacting a surface of the recording medium, and a second toner image residing on the first toner image without directly contacting the recording medium. A contact angle θ1 of the first toner and the first toner image with respect to an aqueous de-inking solution, is smaller than a contact angle θ2 of the second toner and the second toner image with respect to the aqueous de-inking solution.
US08139981B2 Spring-loaded web cleaning apparatus for electrographic printer
A cleaning station for removing particulate material from a moving web in an electrographic printer/copier includes a customer-replaceable web-cleaner device with a support bracket/backup shoe assembly. A quick disconnect feature enables the cleaner cover to be de-coupled from the cleaner body to allow the debris to be easily removed with replacing the web-cleaner. The cleaner has a cleaner sump that is spring loaded to force contact of four strategically placed stops in the sump with a stationary back up shoe assembly allowing for higher precision of blade engagement with a transport web or a photoconductor. The web-cleaner has two wiper blades, each having each having a distinguishment such that the distinguishment distinguishes one wiper blade from the other wiper blade when the blades are locked into the cleaner sump by springs, to facilitate material removed from the web. The wiper cleaning blades and the cover assembly are easily replaceable by the operator in the correct order.
US08139978B2 Image forming apparatus and developing agent cartridge
An image forming apparatus may include a casing, and a plurality of image carriers parallelly arranged along one direction in the casing and formed with an electrostatic latent image. The apparatus can further include a plurality of developing agent carriers opposed to the image carriers, for visualizing the electrostatic latent image by feeding a developing agent to the image carriers, and a plurality of developing agent cartridges, parallelly arranged in the one direction to be opposed to the developing agent carriers in the longitudinal direction of the developing agent carriers, and configured to be together attachable/detachable to/from the casing along the one direction, for accommodating the developing agent fed to the developing agent carriers.
US08139976B2 Developing apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developing apparatus comprises: a housing having an opening that opens towards an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developer storing unit in which a developer is stored; a developer carrier that carries the developer stored in the developer storing unit and transports the developer to a developing region in opposition to the image carrier; a partitioning frame arranged in a groove formed between the developer carrier and the developer storing unit of the housing, that is provided with a connecting hole which enables connect between the developer storing unit and the opening; a partition arranged on a side surface of the partitioning frame; and a closely contact section that causes the partitioning frame to closely contact to the groove.
US08139973B2 Air discharging apparatus and image forming apparatus
An air discharging apparatus to discharge pressurized air at a predetermined timing is disclosed. The disclosed air discharging apparatus includes an air pump including a cylinder and a piston configured to reciprocate in the cylinder; an opening and closing member provided at an air discharge opening of the air pump and configured to open and close the air discharge opening; and a switching mechanism providing mechanical coupling between the piston and the opening and closing member. The mechanical coupling keeps the opening and closing member in a closed state until the piston reaches a predetermined position in a compression stroke and switches the opening and closing member to an opened state when the piston reaches the predetermined position.
US08139971B2 Image heating apparatus operable in stand-by-mode
An image heating apparatus has a coil; a rotatable image heating member capable of generating heat by a magnetic flux generated by the coil to heat an image; a temperature detecting member; an electric power supply controller for controlling electric power supply to the coil; and an execution portion for executing a stand-by mode operation in which the image heating member is at rest, and the apparatus waits for input of an image formation signal while the electric power supply controller carries out its power supply control operation such that in the stand-by mode, along no longitudinal line on said image heating member, the temperature of the image heating member exceeds Curie temperature on an entirety of the longitudinal line.
US08139967B2 Image forming apparatus having an image carrying area switching part which switches image carrying areas on an intermediate transfer part
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image carrier, an intermediate transfer part, a primary transfer part, a secondary transfer part, and a transfer area change part. The image carrier is configured to carry a visible image formed with developer. The primary transfer part is configured to transfer the visible image from the image carrier to a transfer area on the intermediate transfer part. The secondary transfer part is configured to transfer the visible image from the intermediate transfer part to a recording medium. The transfer area change part is configured to change the transfer area.
US08139957B2 High sensitivity optical receiver employing a high gain amplifier and an equalizing circuit
An optical receiver includes a light receiving element for converting an optical signal to an electrical signal having a first bandwidth and an amplifier for amplifying the electrical signal. The amplifier has a first gain response that yields a second bandwidth that is less than the first bandwidth. The optical receiver also includes an equalizing circuit operationally coupled to the amplifier. The equalizing circuit has a second gain response that compensates for the first gain response of the amplifier so that a substantially constant net gain is imparted by the amplifier and the equalizing circuit to the electrical signal over the first bandwidth.
US08139949B2 Electrical signal transmission module, method of transmitting electric signals and electrical inspection apparatus having the same
An electrical signal transmission module includes a plurality of optical signal lines and a plurality of electrical signal lines. The plurality of optical signal lines converting a first externally input electrical signal into an optical signal, transmitting the optical signal, converting the optical signal back into the first electrical signal, and outputting the first electrical signal. The plurality of electrical signal lines transmitting a second externally input electrical signal and outputting the second electrical signal.
US08139945B1 Methods and systems for synchronized infrared real time location
Methods and systems for determining a location and an identity of a portable device are provided. The system includes apparatus for transmitting timing synchronization information, a plurality of stationary infrared (IR) base stations and a plurality of portable devices. Each IR base station is configured to receive the timing synchronization information and to transmit a corresponding IR location code in a time period based on the received timing synchronization information. Each portable device is configured to: 1) receive the timing synchronization information, 2) detect the IR location codes from the IR base stations and 3) transmit an output signal including a portable device ID representative of the portable device and the detected IR location code. Each portable device is synchronized to detect the IR location code in the time period based on the received timing synchronization information.
US08139942B2 Remote controlling system, electronic device, and controlling method
A remote controlling system is disclosed. An infrared remote controller generates a first serial signal containing a command corresponding to a user's operation and outputs the first serial signal by infrared communication. A radio remote controller generates a code signal containing a key number corresponding to a user's operation and outputs the code signal by radio communication. An electronic device includes a light receiving section, a radio receiving section, a selecting section, and a controlling section.
US08139934B2 Close-up photograph device
A photograph device is provided. The photograph device includes a body, a lens device mounted on the body, and an illuminating device mounted on the body and surrounding the lens device.
US08139931B1 Method and apparatus for preventing ice formation in a wet saw basin
A saw bath ice formation preventing method includes the positioning of a heating member in a basin having water positioned therein. A wet saw is mounted to the basin. The heating element is turned on when the wet saw is being used in temperatures below 0° Celsius to prevent the water from freezing.
US08139919B2 Light table editor for video snippets
A light table video application includes a stackable video snippet player control, a filmstrip video snippet player control, and a timeline video snippet player control. A user may edit indicate the sequence of an edited video clip by placing one or more stackable video snippet players in a stacked fashion. A user may change the display of a stackable video snippet player control to a filmstrip video snippet player control by resizing the stackable video snippet player control. A timeline video snippet player control provides functionality for a user to drag a video player control into a sequence and place the digital video file associated with the video player at a location indicated by an insert indicator.
US08139917B2 Information recording medium, information recording device and method, information reproduction device and method, information recording/reproduction device and method, recording or reproduction control computer program, and data structure containing control signal
An information record medium comprises video information for indicating a main-video, sub-video information for indicating a sub-video which can be displayed at least partially over the main-video, and sub-video control information including (i) a plurality of types of control information elements for display control of the sub-video information in various methods set in advance and (ii) type indicating information to indicate presence or absence, or effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the control information elements by each of the types.
US08139910B2 Systems and methods for control of ultra short pulse amplification
A method of controlling an ultra-short pulse system is described comprising controlling an optical power within the ultra-short pulse system and control-system controlling a width of an optical pulse. In some embodiments, the method also comprises tuning a compressor by controlling a number of passes of the optical pulse through a Bragg grating to control the width of the optical pulse output from the compressor. In other embodiments, the method may comprise tuning a multi-pass stretcher by controlling a number of passes of the optical pulse through a loop of the multi-pass stretcher to control the width of the optical pulse output from the multi-pass stretcher. A method of controlling an ultra-short pulse system may also comprise accessing a control system from a remotely located command station, communicating status information from the control system to the command station, and communicating information from the command station to the control system.
US08139907B2 Optoelectronic device and method of forming the same
An optoelectronic device including a substrate, a half-boat-shaped material layer, a deep trench isolation structure, and an optical waveguide is provided. The substrate has a first area. The half-boat-shaped material layer is disposed in the substrate within the first area. The refractive index of the half-boat-shaped material layer is lower than that of the substrate. A top surface of the half-boat-shaped material layer is coplanar with the surface of the substrate. The deep trench isolation structure is disposed in the substrate within the first area and located at one side of a bow portion of the half-boat-shaped material layer. The optical waveguide is disposed on the substrate within the first area. The optical waveguide overlaps a portion of the deep trench isolation structure and at least a portion of the half-boat-shaped material layer.
US08139903B2 Driving circuit of optical gate switch
A driving circuit of a semiconductor optical amplifier type gate switch constituting a matrix optical switch is provided with an operation amplifier into which a driving signal is input and from which a current corresponding to the driving signal is output, an inductance element provided at an output terminal of the operation amplifier, and a circuit composed of a diode element and a resistor element connected in parallel and provided between the inductance element and the semiconductor optical amplifier.
US08139897B2 Detecting tilt in an image having different resolutions in different directions
An image processing device includes an acquiring unit that acquires, from image data, processing image data having a first resolution in a first direction and a second resolution in a second direction different from the first direction; a receiving unit that receives input of a first theoretical resolution in the first direction and a second theoretical resolution in the second direction; and a tilt detecting unit that detects tilt of the image data in accordance with the processing image data and the first theoretical resolution and the second theoretical resolution.
US08139893B2 Online image processing systems and methods utilizing image processing parameters
The present invention allows for online image processing. A sample embodiment of the system comprises an Image Processing Means with one or more predetermined graphical layers, residing on the Image Processing Means. The Image Processing Means has the ability to obtain one or more substitute layers and repeat a set of predetermined steps using predetermined layers, substitute layers, and image processing parameters to create a new image. A sample embodiment of the method comprises the steps of determining graphical layers (predetermined graphical layers), steps (predetermined steps), and image processing parameters for creating an image. A substitute layer maybe obtained from a remote User. The predetermined steps may be repeated using predetermined graphical layers and the substitute layer, thus, creating a new image. The image may be further delivered to the User. Described systems and methods may allow users to create complex digital images using remote servers, without the use of graphical tools on the user's computer. Even users without substantial technical or artistic skills may create complex digital images.
US08139886B2 Blur estimation
A two-dimensional blur kernel is computed for a digital image by first estimating a sharp image from the digital image. The sharp image is derived from the digital image by sharpening at least portions of the digital image. The two-dimensional blur function is computed by minimizing an optimization algorithm that estimates the blur function.
US08139879B2 Method and apparatus for encoding image by exponential Golomb binarization using optimal threshold, and method and apparatus for decoding image by exponential Golomb binarization using optimal threshold
A method and apparatus for coding an image by using exponential Golomb binarization are provided. The method comprises: performing entropy coding on an input image by performing exponential Golomb binarization using a plurality of predetermined thresholds; measuring a bit rate of a bit stream which is generated by performing the entropy coding using each threshold; and determining an optimal threshold by comparing bit rates with regard to the thresholds.
US08139876B2 Image processing apparatus, control method for image processing apparatus, program, and storage medium
When an original image containing a code image is lossy-compressed, the image quality of the code image is deteriorated. Thus, due to the deterioration of the image quality of the code image, information contained in the code image cannot be acquired. Thus, a portion corresponding to the code image is not lossy compressed, and the portion corresponding to the code image, which has not been subjected to lossy compression, is stored in a storage unit.
US08139868B2 Image processing method for determining matching position between template and search image
An inspection apparatus and method outputs an accurate matching position even if a search image contains a pattern similar to a template. An image search unit includes a relative position comparing unit which compares the relative position of a template in a template selection image with the relative position of a location currently being searched for in a search image and outputs the amount of position mismatch between the relative positions. A matching position determining unit determines a matching position by taking into consideration the amount of position mismatch in addition to search image similarity distribution information.
US08139859B2 Method for automatic detection of data in in-vivo images
A method for detecting, in single time-point, in-vivo imaging data related to artifacts in the imaging of objects, includes acquiring at least one in-vivo image with imaging apparatus. A background image corresponds to imaged air of the in-vivo image. The background image is obtained in two steps. A first step includes establishing an object-air boundary and a second step is an atlas-based refinement of a background volume of interest. A histogram reflects an intensity distribution of the background image. The background image is formed of a set of voxels where artifacts are detected. Intensities above a definable intensity value provide an initial estimate of a range of artifacts intensities. A modified morphological opening operation is executed, formed of an erosion of a set of voxels and a dilation, performed iteratively and constrained to voxels intensity above the intensity value, so that the opening operation provides natural definition of artifacts regions.
US08139843B2 Methods and systems for utilizing design data in combination with inspection data
Various methods and systems for utilizing design data in combination with inspection data are provided. One computer-implemented method for binning defects detected on a wafer includes comparing portions of design data proximate positions of the defects in design data space. The method also includes determining if the design data in the portions is at least similar based on results of the comparing step. In addition, the method includes binning the defects in groups such that the portions of the design data proximate the positions of the defects in each of the groups are at least similar. The method further includes storing results of the binning step in a storage medium.
US08139838B2 System and method for generating MR myocardial perfusion maps without user interaction
A method for automatically generating a myocardial perfusion map from a sequence of magnetic resonance (MR) images includes determining a region of interest (ROI) in a reference frame selected from a time series of myocardial perfusion MR image slices, registering each image slice in the time series of slices to the reference frame to obtain a series of registered ROIs, and using the series of registered ROIs to segment endo- and epi-cardial boundaries of a myocardium in the ROI.
US08139833B2 Analyzing large data sets using a computer system
A method and/or system for making determinations regarding samples from biologic sources. A computer implemented method and/or system can be used to automate parts of the analysis.
US08139832B2 Processing medical images of the breast to detect anatomical abnormalities therein
Methods, systems and related computer program products are provided for processing a medical image of a breast to detect anatomical abnormalities therein, including anatomical abnormalities that may be associated with breast cancer. The medical image of the breast, which includes a background region bordering a breast tissue region along a skinline thereof, is processed to detect an inward-facing retraction along the skinline, which can be potentially indicative of an anatomical abnormality in the breast tissue. In one preferred embodiment, a display monitor displays first information representative of the medical image of the breast and second information identifying a location of the detected inward-facing retraction on the medical image of the breast. In another preferred embodiment, one or more metrics characterizing the detected inward-facing retraction are used as features in the classification of potential CAD detections in the breast tissue region.
US08139831B2 System and method for unsupervised detection and gleason grading of prostate cancer whole mounts using NIR fluorscence
A method for unsupervised classification of histological images of prostatic tissue includes providing histological image data obtained from a slide simultaneously co-stained with NIR fluorescent and Hematoxylin-and-Eosin (H&E) stains, segmenting prostate gland units in the image data, forming feature vectors by computing discriminating attributes of the segmented gland units, and using the feature vectors to train a multi-class classifier, where the classifier classifies prostatic tissue into benign, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and Gleason scale adenocarcinoma grades 1 to 5 categories.
US08139827B2 Biometrical object reader having an ultrasonic wave manipulation device
Devices and methods of creating an image of a biological object are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention there is a plane wave ultrasonic pulse generator, an ultrasonic wave manipulation device, an ultrasonic detector and an image generator. In a method according to the invention, a biological object is imaged by emitting an unfocussed ultrasonic energy wave front, reflecting at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy wave front from the object, altering a direction of the ultrasonic energy, detecting that energy, and using the detected energy to create an image of the object.
US08139825B2 Authentication apparatus and authentication method
An authentication apparatus includes: a first determination section that determines whether a condition for determining that there is a possibility of an erroneous determination is satisfied based on information indicating the similarity between the shape of a biological part included in a biological image to be authenticated and the shape of a biological part included in a registration biological image; a change section that changes an aspect ratio of the biological image to be authenticated and registration biological image in the case where the above condition is satisfied; and a second determination section that determines whether a person to be authenticated is a registrant based on the similarity between the shape of a biological part included in a biological image to be authenticated whose aspect ratio has been changed and the shape of a biological part included in a registration biological image whose aspect ratio has been changed.
US08139819B2 Eye open/close recognizing apparatus and recording medium
A computer (30) obtains a facial image acquired by picking up an image of a person subjected to image pickup from a camera (10), and estimates a facial expression of the person subjected to image pickup based on the obtained facial image. Next, the computer obtains an eye open level of the person subjected to image pickup based on the facial image, and sets a threshold of the eye open level based on the estimated facial expression of the person subjected to image pickup. When the eye open level exceeds the threshold, the computer (30) determines that the eye of the person subjected to image pickup is opened. Moreover, when the eye open level does not exceed the threshold, the computer determines that the eye of the person subjected to image pickup is closed.
US08139818B2 Trajectory processing apparatus and method
A trajectory processing apparatus comprises a trajectory database configured to store a position coordinate of a movable body detected from a camera image in association with data that specifies the camera image from which the movable body is detected, and a camera image database configured to store the camera image. A control section fetches the position coordinate of the movable body and the specifying data for the camera image from which the movable body is detected from the trajectory database. Further, the position coordinate of the movable body fetched from the trajectory database is displayed in a display section as a trajectory of the movable body. Furthermore, the control section acquires from the camera image database the camera image specified by the specifying data fetched from the trajectory database. Moreover, this camera image is displayed in the display section.
US08139816B2 Acoustic transducer
This invention relates to acoustic drivers with stationary and moving coils. Time varying signals are applied to the moving and stationary coils to control the movement of a diaphragm, which produces audible sound. The time varying signals correspond to an input audio signal such that the sound corresponds to the input audio signal. Some of the described embodiments include multiple moving coils, multiple stationary coils or both. Some embodiments include feedback for adjusting one or more of the signals based on a characteristic of the acoustic driver. Various compensation and other features of the invention are also described in relation to various embodiments.
US08139814B2 Audio speaker with radial electromagnet
An audio speaker with at least two electric coils on opposite sides of at least one ferro-magnetic plate, the coils and plate forming a radial electro-magnet. A radial electro-magnet can offer many advantages in stereo loudspeakers. The coils are electrically driven in opposite directions. Multiple sets of two coils and intervening ferro-magnetic plate may be provided, adjacent sets being separated by a non-magnetic plate.
US08139811B2 Speaker
A speaker 1 includes: a frame 4; a magnetic circuit 2; and a vibrating unit 3. The magnetic circuit 2 is attached to the frame 4. The vibrating unit 3 is received in the frame 4, and includes a drive cone 14 and a diaphragm 15 vibrated by the magnetic circuit 2. A space surrounded by the drive cone 14, the diaphragm 15 and the frame 4 is sealed. An edge unit 17 is attached to an outer edge of the drive cone 14. The edge unit 17 is in an arc sectional shape, and integrally includes two roll parts 47 arranged coaxially to each other.
US08139800B2 Hearing apparatus with a magnetically attached battery holding device
A hearing apparatus is to be provided, with which the battery can be exchanged in an almost wear-free fashion. Provision is thus made to magnetically attach a battery compartment or a battery holding device in the housing of the hearing apparatus or hearing device. The battery holding device is inserted into an opening in the housing. A detachable magnetic connection realized by magnetic elements thus exists between the housing and the battery holding device, the principle force component of which runs in the insertion direction. It is thus possible to dispense with plug or snap connections for instance.
US08139791B1 Ground referenced audio headphone amplifier with low standby current
A ground-referenced headphone amplifier includes left and right channel audio amplifiers, each including a standby mode trigger control input. A sense comparator circuit samples each audio input signal and, upon the detection of audio signals below a threshold voltage, the sense comparator supplies an indication of the low-level signal to a sense logic circuit. The sense logic circuit determines if the duration of the low-level signal is greater than a predetermined duration, and if so sends a control signal to the amplifiers to enter a standby mode. Once the low-level signal condition alleviates, the sense comparator indication changes, and the sense logic controls the amplifiers to exit the standby mode. During standby the ground-referenced headphone amplifier draws about 1.2 mA of power.
US08139786B2 Plop noise avoidance for an amplifier
The invention concerns a method and signal conversion device for avoiding undesirable noise in the start up of an amplifying device, as well as to an amplifying device including such a signal conversion device. The signal conversion device (12) comprises a variable gain providing unit (Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6), a voltage to current converter (Q1, Q2, R1, R2), a variable gain control unit (22) controlling the variable gain of the variable gain providing unit, and a bias current control unit (20) for controlling a first biasing current (IB1) of the voltage to current converter, for avoiding DC offset originating noise as well as noise originating from components of the signal conversion device.
US08139782B2 Modular amplification system
A system is provided for amplifying audio signals from an audio source for use on a motorcycle or other personal motorized vehicles that includes a control module configured to receive audio input signals from a source and a plurality of outputs to send amplified audio output signals to a plurality of satellite amplifiers, a plurality of satellite amplifiers configured to receive an audio signal from a source and a plurality of control cables configured to connect the components.
US08139775B2 Concept for combining multiple parametrically coded audio sources
According to the present invention, multiple parametrically encoded audio signals can be efficiently combined using an audio signal generator, which generates an audio output signal by combining the down-mix channels and the associated parameters of the audio signals directly within the parameter domain, i.e. without reconstructing or decoding the individual input audio signals prior to the generation of the audio output signal. This is achieved by direct mixing of the associated down-mix channels of the individual input signals. It is one key feature of the present invention that the combination of the down-mix channels is achieved by simple, computationally inexpensive arithmetic operations.
US08139774B2 Multi-element directional acoustic arrays
An audio system including a left input channel signal, a right input channel signal, and a discrete center input channel. Circuitry removes correlated content from the left input channel signal and the right input channel signal and inserts the correlated content into the center input channel signal to provide a modified left input channel signal, a modified right input channel signal, and a modified center input channel signal. The modified left input channel signal is radiated by a directional loudspeaker so that radiation in a direction toward a listening area is less than radiation in other directions. The modified right channel input channel signal is radiated by a directional loudspeaker so that radiation in a direction toward a listening area is less than radiation in other directions.
US08139772B1 System and method for estimating channel condition based on filtered pilot energy signal
A receiver may estimate a channel condition based on a difference between a pilot energy signal and a filtered pilot energy signal. The receiver may further switch to a stereophonic mode when both the difference and an energy level of the pilot energy signal satisfy a predetermined requirement of the receiver, and switch to a monophonic mode when either the difference or the energy level of the pilot energy signal fail to satisfy the predetermined requirement of the receiver.
US08139768B2 Encrypting content in a tuner device and analyzing content protection policy
A tuning device uses a counter mode encryption cipher to encrypt counters associated with media content in order to protect the media content when it is sent to requesting device or controller. The encrypted counters are decrypted in order to consume the media content. The controller may send particular direction to the tuning device as to how the media content, encrypted counters, and other associated data are sent to the controller.
US08139764B2 Closed galois field cryptographic system
A cryptographic system (CS) comprised of generators (502), (504), (510), an encryption device (ED), and a decryption device (DD). The generator (502) generates a data sequence (DS) including payload data. The generator (504) generates an encryption sequence (ES) including random numbers. The ED (506) is configured to perform a CGFC arithmetic process. As such, the ED is comprised of a mapping device (MD) and an encryptor. The MD is configured to map the DS and ES from Galois field GF[pk] to Galois extension field GF[pk+1]. The encryptor is configured to generate an encrypted data sequence (EDS) by combining the DS and ES utilizing a Galois field multiplication operation in Galois extension field GF[pk+1]. The generator (510) is configured to generate a decryption sequence (DS). The DD (508) is configured to generate a decrypted data sequence by performing an inverse of the CGFC arithmetic process utilizing the EDS and DS.
US08139761B2 Network interface device, apparatus, and methods
A line module includes a plurality of pivoting insulation displacement connector holders, an insulation connector (IDC) positionable in at least one holder when the holder is in a connected position, and a gel-less jack in electrical communication with at least one IDC.
US08139751B1 System and method to communicate information to an employee
Disclosed are systems and methods to communicate information to an employee using an electronic display area. The electronic display area may include a variety of placements in an employment area, a call center, and/or a mobile device. An employer may communicate information to the employee through any or all the display areas based on attributes of the display placement, the employee, and the employee location.
US08139748B2 Communication assistance system and method
A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a means for receiving incoming communications from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers and a database directory listing storing information corresponding to each one of the subscribers. The information includes a pre-announcement field containing information indicating whether a requester is pre-announced before a connection to a subscriber is made.
US08139736B2 Destination device billing according to call recipient
A destination telephony device, responsive to detecting a call between a caller at an origin telephony device and a callee at the destination telephony device within a trusted telephone network, authenticates an identity of the callee with a callee voice authenticated identifier through a voice sample provided by the callee during the call. The destination telephony device receives an order form from the origin device for an order placed with the caller by the callee from the destination telephony device. The destination telephony device controls output of the order form from at least one output interface of the destination telephony device. The destination telephony device, responsive to receiving a single entry by a callee to complete the order, generates an authorization for the billing service to bill for the order from the billing plan according to the callee voice authenticated identifier in the order form, wherein authorized access to the billing plan is allowed according to the callee voice authenticated identifier and not according to account numbers.
US08139710B2 Systems, methods and apparatus to image objects
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments a time series is generated from a plurality of X-ray projections of an object that were acquired under limited angular conditions with a flat-panel X-ray detector, and thereafter the plurality of X-ray projections in the time series are displayed in reference to a pivot point.
US08139704B2 Phase compensated renormalizable dynamic phase locked loop
A variable bandwidth phase locked loop (PLL) includes renormalizable circuitry configured to allow a gain of the PLL to be changed without causing a disturbance, and a phase compensation circuit configured to adjust a final output phase of the PLL based on parameter changes supplied to the PLL.
US08139702B1 Clock and data recovery locking technique for large frequency offsets
Techniques and apparatus for a clock and data recovery circuit to lock to data having frequency offsets relative to a local clock reference are disclosed. One embodiment includes a multi-step frequency tracking system in which each step is used to track a sub-range of frequency deviation from local clock reference. The frequency tracking sub-range of each step is selected so that the clock and data recovery system is relatively assured of achieving lock when the frequency of the incoming data lies within or is relatively near the frequency tracking sub-range of the selected step. Embodiments may use control signals to select the sub-ranges, and hence guide the frequency tracking portion of the clock and data recovery circuit to operate in a frequency tracking range that is optimized for achieving and maintaining lock.
US08139694B2 Method for reducing power consumption when receiving paging channel information at a mobile communication device
A mobile communication device (100) includes a receiver (102) which is normally shut off when the mobile communication device is idle. Upon the arrival of a paging time slot to which the mobile communication device is assigned, the mobile communication device turns on the receiver and begins receiving a composite signal including frequency diverse subchannels. The mobile communication device measures the delay spread of the subchannels (406). The receiver then adjusts the receiver on time for the next time slot based on the delay spread of the present time slot.
US08139686B2 Radio communication method, radio transmitting apparatus, and radio receiving apparatus
A duplicating section duplicates a bit sequence to be input, and a 16 QAM section modulates a bit sequence of a duplicating source to form a symbol, a 16 QAM section modulates the duplicated bit sequence to form a symbol, an S/P section parallel converts the symbol sequence input in series, an S/P section parallel converts the symbol sequence input in series, and an IFFT section 15 provides IFFT processing to the input symbol sequence. Since each of multiple same bits duplicated by the duplicating section is included in a different symbol, each of the multiple same bits is allocated to each of multiple subcarriers each having a different frequency by IFFT processing. As a result, a multicarrier signal including the multiple same bits each having a different frequency is generated.
US08139681B2 Frequency error correction by using remodulation
A communications signal is received through a propagation channel, down-converted in frequency and then converted into a digital signal. The samples of the digital signal are processed to estimate the information conveyed by the communications signal. The estimated information is then used with knowledge about the propagation channel to model the samples of the digital signal. The modeled samples are compared with actual samples of the digital signal to deduce phase errors in the digital signal. The phase errors are then used to deduce a frequency error in the digital signal that can be used to correct the samples of the digital signal and to correct the down-conversion process.
US08139675B2 Multi-tone system with oversampled precoders
A multi-tone system includes a data transmission circuit with an interface for receiving a data stream for transmission, a data steam splitter that splits the data stream to produce multiple substreams and a plurality of parallel data preparation circuits. Each data preparation circuit prepares a respective substream for transmission and generates a respective sub-channel signal. At least a first data preparation circuit of the plurality of parallel data preparation circuits includes a first analog filter for filtering a first substream. The first analog filter operates at a sample rate greater than the respective symbol rate of the first substream. The first analog filter provides pre-emphasis of the respective sub-channel signal and attenuation of signals outside of a respective band of frequencies corresponding to the respective sub-channel signal. The data transmission circuit also includes a combiner for combining respective sub-channel signals to generate a data transmission signal.
US08139674B2 Spaceflight high data rate radiation hard Ka-band modulator
A Ka-band transmitter. The transmitter is in a self-contained module that contains a radio frequency (RF) channel. A phase lock oscillator drives an RF signal path in the RF channel at a fundamental frequency. In-phase data (I-data) and Quadrature data (Q-data) difference signals are converted to single ended signals and filtered in a pair of low pass filters and passed as inputs to a Quadriphase Shift Keying (QPSK) vector modulator in the RF signal path, e.g., an in-line even-harmonic modulator. The output of the QPSK vector modulator, is a Ka-band signal that is passed to a driver which may drive a load, e.g., an antenna.
US08139664B2 Reception apparatus, reception method and program
Disclosed herein is a reception apparatus, including, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal reception section, a first filter section, a subtraction section, a second filter section, a coefficient production section, and a Fast Fourier Transformation mathematic operation section.
US08139660B2 Methods and apparatus related to using a wireless terminal scrambling identifier
User specific modulation-symbol scrambling is implemented for various uplink segments, e.g., uplink traffic acknowledgement channel (ULTACH), uplink state request channel (ULSRCH), and uplink dedicated control channel (ULDCCH) segments. A wireless terminal is assigned a wireless terminal scrambling identifier. A set of ordered input modulation symbols are determined for an uplink dedicated segment to which user specific scrambling is to be applied. One bit of the assigned wireless terminal scrambling identifier is associated with each of the ordered input modulation symbols of a segment in accordance with a predetermined mapping. For each input modulation symbol a scrambling operation, e.g., a phase rotation of the input modulation symbol, is performed as a function of the associated user specific scrambling identifier bit to obtain a corresponding output modulation symbol. A value of (0,1) for a scrambling ID bit is associated with a (first, second) amount of phase rotation, e.g., (0, 180) degrees, respectively.
US08139637B2 Moving picture coding apparatus and moving picture decoding apparatus
A video encoder (70) for coding moving pictures comprising a buffer (16c) with a plurality of memory areas capable of storing frames composed of top fields and bottom fields, a motion estimation unit (19) operable to code, field by field, inputted pictures performing moving estimation and moving compensation by referring, field by field, to the picture data stored in a memory area, a motion compensation unit (16d), a subtractor (11), a transformation unit (13) and a quantization unit (14), a memory management unit (71) operable to manage, frame by frame, a plurality of memory areas, an inverse quantization unit (16a) and inverse discrete cosine transform unit (16b) operable to decode picture data in coded fields and store the picture data in the decoded field in any of the plurality of memory areas under the management by the memory management unit (71).
US08139635B2 Method for efficient encoding and decoding quantized sequence in Wyner-Ziv coding of video
A computer-based method for encoding and decoding quantized sequences in Wyner-Ziv coding of video, bi-partite graph is used in an iterative process. The method takes as input to an encoder a sequence of quantized data from a finite alphabet, the sequence comprising a video frame. Another sequence of data, decoded from the prior video frame, is input to a decoder. A statistical model describing the statistical relationship between the quantized input sequence to the encoder and the input sequence to the decoder is input to both the encoder and the decoder. A minimum field size is estimated from the statistical model at the encoder and the decoder separately.
US08139629B2 Adaptive controller
An adaptive controller includes an adaptive-signal generator for generating an adaptive signal, which includes a first amplitude filter coefficient and a first phase filter coefficient, in a first transfer path based on an angular frequency of a cyclic signal, which a vibration generation source generates; a first residual-error detector for detecting a first residual error at a first observation point in the first transfer path; an observation-point target-value setter for setting a residual-error target value, which includes an amplitude target value complying with the angular frequency; and a first filter-coefficient updater for updating the first amplitude filter coefficient and the first phase filter coefficient based on the angular frequency, the first residual error and the residual-error target value. Thus, when adding the adaptive signal to the cyclic signal, the adaptive controller can make the residual error, which results from the addition, not equal to zero intentionally.
US08139623B2 Method of controlling operation of at least one transmitter and/or one receiver, communication system and use of such a method or such a system
Method of and communication system for controlling operation of at least one transmitter and/or one receiver in a communication system, e.g. a system for transmission of control signals, request signals, interrogation signals etc. wherein a signal comprising a message frame transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver comprises a message part indicative of the time of transmission for a later signal.
US08139622B2 System and method for generating and detecting the identifier sequence of the bandwidth-limited transmitter
A system and method for generating and detecting identifier sequence of a bandwidth-limited transmitter are disclosed, comprising an identifier sequence generating portion and a detection portion. The identifier sequence generating portion comprises: generating a frequency-domain random sequence; generating a frequency-domain orthogonal sequence; performing frequency-domain truncation; performing frequency-time transformation; and performing cycle extension. The identifier sequence receiving portion comprises: truncating the time-domain for the received signal; performing time-frequency domain transformation to obtain a frequency-domain signal; generating frequency-domain random sequence; generating a frequency-domain orthogonal sequence; correlating the frequency-domain orthogonal sequence with the frequency-domain signal de-scrambled by the frequency-domain random sequence; and detecting an output from a frequency-domain correlator by a threshold detecting device and determining the transmitter identifier sequence. The random sequence bandwidth generated by the system and the method of the present invention can be configured flexibly according to transmission bandwidth requirement, and the sequence may be arbitrarily allocated at the power of each frequency point inside the bandwidth. The present invention may be widely applied to multimedia broadcasting, terrestrial radio broadcasting, cable broadcasting and the like.
US08139610B1 Method for framing data for transmission over an encoded channel
A serializer is provided to serialize combined synchronization information and data blocks for transmission over the high-speed channel. A gearbox combines synchronization information with data blocks to present to the serializer. A scrambler scrambles data blocks to present to the gearbox. An encoding device stores a program that contains instructions to format the data blocks for sending over the high-speed channel. The formatting reduces a number of operations used to receive the data blocks by a receiver.
US08139609B2 Method and apparatus for supporting segmentation of packets for uplink transmission
A method and apparatus for segmenting medium access control (MAC) service data units (SDUs) creates enhanced MAC-es PDUs in the enhanced MAC-e/es sub-layer by concatenating MAC SDUs received from the logical channels. An enhanced transport format combination (E-TFC) selection entity controls the concatenation of MAC SDUs into enhanced MAC-es PDUs. When a MAC SDU is received that is too large to fit into a selected enhanced MAC-es PDU payload, a segmentation entity segments the MAC SDU such that the MAC SDU segment fills the remaining payload available in the selected enhanced MAC-es PDU. The enhanced MAC-es PDU is then assigned a transmission sequence number (TSN) and multiplexed with other enhanced MAC-es PDUs to create a single enhanced MAC-e PDU that is transmitted on the E-DCH in the next transmission time interval (TTI). A HARQ entity stores and, if necessary retransmits the enhanced MAC-e PDU when a transmission error occurs.
US08139605B2 Upgrade resilient multi-transport optical network terminal
This disclosure is directed to devices and methods for facilitating the upgrade of optical networks. An optical network terminal (ONT) that terminates an optical fiber link of an optical network comprises two or more transport engines that each converts data transmitted via different transports to data corresponding to a service. For example, the ONT may include a first transport engine and a second transport engine. The first transport engine converts data received over the optical network via a first transport, e.g., a legacy transport, into data corresponding to a service for one or more subscriber devices. The second transport engine converts the data received over the optical network via a second transport, e.g., a next generation transport, into the data corresponding to the service for the subscriber devices. The ONT is selectively configurable to select one of the first and second transport engines, thereby making the ONT upgrade-resilient.
US08139596B2 Communicating prioritized messages to a destination queue from multiple source queues using source-queue-specific priority values
There is disclosed a method, apparatus and computer program for communicating messages between a first messaging system and a second messaging system. The messaging system comprises a set of source queues with each source queue owning messages retrievable in priority order. It is determined that a message should be transferred from the first messaging system to the second messaging system. A source queue is selected which contains a message having at least an equal highest priority when compared with messages on the source queues. A message having the at least equal highest priority from the selected source queue of the first messaging system is then transferred to a target queue at the second messaging system.
US08139591B1 Methods and apparatus for range matching during packet classification based on a linked-node structure
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a key associated with a portion of a data packet, comparing the key to a first range extreme, selecting a second range extreme, and comparing the key with the second range. The first range extreme is associated with a first range and the second range is associated with a second range. The second range is selected based on the comparing the key to the first range extreme. The method includes producing a policy vector associated with the first or second range.
US08139584B2 Frame transmission device and loop judging method
A frame transmission device having a port for transmitting and receiving a frame and a learning table for storing a transmission source address included in the frame received at the port and the receiving port in association with each other includes: a port detector for detecting whether learning data coincident with the transmission source address included in the frame received at the port is stored in the learning table; a port judging unit for comparing a port learned in the learning data detected by the port detector to the receiving port; and a loop judging unit for judging on the basis of a time lapse from the storage of the learning data whether the frame is in a loop or not when the port learned in the learning data is not coincident with the receiving port.
US08139572B1 Method for bi-directional symmetric routing in multi-homed networks with stateful firewalls
There are provided systems and methods for symmetric bi-directional routing in multi-homed IP networks which includes sending an IP packet having a source address from a first host and substituting the source address with an exterior routing address by a first network address translation gateway or firewall of the first host using conditional substitution. The IP packet, with the exterior routing address, is optionally routed via intermediate networks and firewalls and received by a first gateway or firewall of a second host. The second host responds to the first host along a route which traverses the same set of firewall gateways as the initial IP packet by using the exterior routing address as a destination address. The exterior routing address is converted back to the source address by the first network address translation gateway of the first host.
US08139570B2 Balanced bufferless switch
A high capacity distributed switching system comprises electronic edge nodes connected to a balanced bufferless switch which may be electronic or optical. The balanced bufferless switch comprises a balanced connector and a switch fabric. The balanced connector comprises an array of temporally cyclic rotator units having graduated rotation shifts and each having a prime number of output ports. The switch fabric may be a mesh interconnection of switch modules. Due to the use of the balanced connector, establishing a path through the switch fabric requires at most a second-order time-slot matching process for a high proportion of connection requests with a much reduced need for a third-order time-slot matching process required in a conventional mesh structure.
US08139565B2 Telecommunications system and method for connecting a CSTA client to several PBXS
The presently disclosed Demultiplexer Application associated with a server or other processor (S) (collectively “Demultiplexer”) enables a computer telephony Client Application (CA), for example a Computer-Supported Telecommunications Application (CSTA) Client Application, to connect to several Communication Devices (PBX1, . . . , PBXn) simultaneously, even though the Client is designed to only connect to a single Communication Device. The Demultiplexer provides an interface between the single access Client Application and the multiple Communication Devices simultaneously connected to the Demultiplexer via computer telephony, for example, using CSTA. When the Client Application attempts a an association with a target Communication Device, the Demultiplexer establishes two parallel processes: (1) a dialogue process between the Client Application and the Demultiplexer, and (2) a dialogue process between the target Communication Devices and the Demultiplexer.
US08139548B2 Method and apparatus for removing interference from uplink signal in Time Division Duplex (TDD) system
A method and apparatus for removing interference from a UpLink (UL) signal in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) system are provided. The method includes determining whether a section for receiving an UpLink (UL) signal from the MS overlaps with sections for sending a DownLink (DL) signal of neighbor BSs in service, the neighbor BSs sending the DL signal to another MS, when the UL signal section overlaps with the DL sections of the neighbor BSs, detecting DL transmit signal information from the neighbor BSs transmitting in the overlapping sections, and removing interference from the UL signal using the detected transmit signal information. Accordingly, the accuracy of detecting the signal from the MS can be raised without having to adopt the complex resource allocation scheme to avoid the interference of the neighbor BSs.
US08139537B2 Advanced technology frame structure with backward compatibility
An advanced technology frame structure is described herein. The advanced technology frame structure can enhance a first technology frame structure in dimensions of time, frequency, or a combination of time and frequency. A second technology frame structure time division multiplexes second technology subframes with the first technology downlink and uplink subframes. The first technology downlink subframe can be divided into a first technology downlink subframe and one or more second technology downlink subframes. Similarly, the first technology uplink subframe can be divided into a first uplink subframe and one or more second technology uplink subframes. These principles can be expanded upon and can be applied in many communication systems.
US08139529B2 TD-SCDMA based SFN network and associated methods
Networking methods of a Single Frequency Network (SFN) in communication systems are disclosed.
US08139527B2 Wireless system with reduced effect of IQ imbalance
In a wireless communication system, information is exchanged between a base station and a client station. The base station grants at least one allocation unit to a client station. The base station receives data from the client station using the allocation unit over the wireless link. The allocation unit substantially comprises mirror image pairs of subcarriers. Each mirror image pair of subcarriers includes a first subcarrier and a second subcarrier which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of a DC subcarrier by an equal frequency amount.
US08139525B1 Carrier selection based on type of packet flow
Methods and systems are provided for carrier selection based on type of packet flow. Service is provided to access terminals on a plurality of carriers in a wireless coverage area. A request is received from a first access terminal. The request indicates that the first access terminal is requesting a packet flow, and the request comprises a packet-flow-type indication. It is determined whether the packet-flow-type indication is associated with an expedited-forwarding quality of service (QoS). If the packet-flow-type indication is associated with an expedited-forwarding QoS, it is further determined that, among the plurality of carriers, a first carrier has the fewest ongoing packet flows having the packet-flow-type indication; responsively, the first access terminal is instructed to conduct the requested packet flow on the first carrier.
US08139521B2 Wireless nodes with active authentication and associated methods
A wireless communications network includes access points and wireless nodes. Each access point and each wireless node has a respective authentication token and address associated therewith. The access points and wireless nodes communicate using packets, where each packet includes an authentication token, an origination address and a destination address. During the communications, the access points read and store the respective authentication tokens and origination addresses in the packets wirelessly transmitted from the wireless nodes for defining an allowed wireless node list. Likewise, each wireless node reads and stores the respective authentication tokens and origination addresses wirelessly transmitted from the access points for defining an allowed access point list. The wireless nodes and access points do not associate with an attacker if both an authentication token and an address associated with the attacker are not on the respective allowed access point and wireless node lists.
US08139519B2 Method for transmitting and identifying transmit power value in multi-user MIMO
A method for transmitting and identifying a transmit power value in a multi-user MIMO scheme is disclosed. The transmit power value transmission method includes calculating available transmit power ratios for respective layers, reducing a number of bits used to represent entire transmit power ratio values by allocating same bit value to a plurality of same transmit power ratio values among the calculated transmit power ratio values for the respective layers; quantizing a transmit power ratio values of symbols to be transmitted to the UE using the entire transmit power ratio values of the reduced number of bits; and transmitting the quantized transmit power ratio values to the UE.
US08139491B2 Communication method, node, and control program
A scheduled transmission path of each packet to be transmitted is so determined that the order of predicted arrival time at a reception node is equal to the order of arrival time at a transmission node from estimate values of delay and velocity of each path. Only a packet predicted to arrive within the maximum permissible delay of each path is transmitted among the packets. This enables both of optimum allocation of the load between the paths and the prevention of a delay increase due to multiplexing.
US08139490B2 Deadlock prevention in direct networks of arbitrary topology
Aspects of the invention pertain to routing packets in a computer system while avoiding deadlock. A turn rule is set according to unique identifiers associated with switches in the system. Numeric values of switches in possible turns are compared to determine whether a turn is permissible. The rule applies to all nodes in the system. The rule may be violated when using virtual channels. Here, a violation is permissible when using monotonically increasing virtual channel numbers or monotonically decreasing virtual channel numbers. Alternatively, the violations of the turn rule may be allowed if they force a packet to change to a later virtual channel in some fixed ordering of virtual channels. Deadlock can thus be avoided in many different types of architectures, including mesh, torus, butterfly and flattened butterfly configurations.
US08139473B2 Radio communication mobile station apparatus and radio communication method
Provided is a mobile station capable of effectively reporting control information in RACH. In the mobile station, a signature selection unit (111) selects one of different code sequences as a signature according to inputted control information and a modulation unit (112) modulates a signature (code sequence). In a table provided in the signature selection unit (111), for control information ‘000’, CAZAC sequence #1 as a basic code sequence and a derived code sequence of shifts 0 to 7 derived from the CAZAC sequence #1 are set while being correlated to each other. The derived code sequence of shifts 0 to 7 of the CAZAC sequence #1 respectively correspond to signatures #1 to #8. Moreover, for control information ‘001’, CAZAC sequence #2 as a basic code sequence and a derived code sequence of shifts 0 to 7 derived from CAZAC sequence #2 are set while being correlated to each other. The derived code sequence of shifts 0 to 7 of the CAZAC sequence #2 respectively correspond to the signatures #9 to #16.
US08139472B1 Bit swap architecture in digital subscriber line communication systems
A system includes a linked-list generator module that generates a linked list of tones based on tones and bit loads of the respective tones in a digital subscriber line (DSL) communication system, a trellis encoder module that encodes data bits associated with respective ones of the tones, and a bit application module that communicates the data bits to the trellis encoder module based on the linked list.
US08139469B2 Compatible optical recording medium
A compatible optical recording medium is described, which is designed in such a way that it has the appearance of a read-only optical recording medium for most players and recorders. Further described is a method for manufacturing the recordable optical recording medium. The optical recording medium has an essentially flat recording layer with a first reflectivity at a wavelength specified for a reading recording light beam, which has an alloyed guide track formed of the material of the essentially flat recording layer with a second reflectivity different from the first reflectivity at the specified wavelength.
US08139464B2 Planar optical waveguide for heat assisted magnetic recording
An optical waveguide includes a core guiding layer, a cladding layer adjacent to the core guiding layer, a reflective layer, and a multiple layer stack on the reflective layer. The multiple layer stack includes a periodic arrangement of dielectric bilayers that each include a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer. An index of refraction n1 of the first dielectric layer is greater than an index of refraction n2 the second dielectric layer.
US08139457B2 Systems and methods for low latency media defect detection
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for media defect detection. For example, a media defect detection systems is disclosed that includes a data input derived from a medium, a fast envelope calculation circuit that receives the data input and provides a fast decay envelope value based on the data input, a slow envelope calculation circuit that receives the data input and provides a slow decay envelope value based on the data input, and a media defect detection circuit. The media defect detection circuit receives the slow decay envelope value and the fast decay envelope value, calculates a ratio value of the fast decay envelope value to the slow decay envelope value, and asserts a defect output based at least in part on the comparison of the ratio value to a defect threshold value.
US08139455B2 Information storage medium and method and apparatus for recording/reproducing data on/from the same
An apparatus for recording data on an information storage medium including a plurality of recording layers, each having a user data area, on which data is recordable by a pickup. Data is recorded in the order of recording layers from closest to farthest from the pickup, and a recordable region in a user data area of a recording layer on which data is to be recorded is smaller than that in a recording layer between the pickup and the recording layer on which data is to be recorded. Each recording layer contains a recordable region in a user data area and a optimum power control (OPC) area in order to maintain the same recording/reproducing characteristics between the plurality of recording layers.
US08139452B2 Record carrier comprising an additional sync-color pattern and method and device for use with such record carrier
The invention relates to a format for storing information on an optical recording medium. According to said format the record carrier comprises a synchronization pattern, which synchronization pattern comprises an identifying part consisting of a bit sequence chosen from 100 101, 010 101, 101 001, 010 100 or 100 100.
US08139434B2 Methods and apparatus for voltage sensing and reporting
Semiconductor devices comprising at least one voltage sensor for sensing an operating voltage associated with an operational circuit of the semiconductor device. The at least one voltage sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a state of the operating voltage. Methods of monitoring a voltage in a semiconductor device include determining a magnitude of an operating voltage for an operational circuit in a semiconductor device. A signal may be generated indicating a state of the operating voltage.
US08139433B2 Memory device control for self-refresh mode
To ensure that a memory device operates in self-refresh mode, the memory controller includes (1) a normal-mode output buffer for driving a clock enable signal CKE onto the memory device's CKE input and (2) a power island for driving a clock enable signal CKE_prime onto that same input. To power down the memory controller, the normal-mode output buffer drives signal CKE low, then the power island drives signal CKE_prime low, then the memory controller (except for the power island) is powered down. The power island continues to drive the memory device's CKE input low to ensure that the memory device stays in self-refresh mode while the memory controller is powered substantially off. To resume normal operations, the power module powers up the memory controller, then the normal-mode output buffer drives signal CKE low, then the power island is disabled, then the memory controller resumes normal operations of the memory device.
US08139427B2 Nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile memory device includes a data sense amplifier configured to supply a data detection current to a memory cell and detect a data detection voltage having a voltage level corresponding to a resistance of the memory cell, a first switching element configured to selectively transfer the data detection current to the memory cell, and a second switching element configured to be turned on simultaneously with the first switching element to selectively transfer the data detection current to the memory cell. The first switching element and the second switching element have a complementary voltage transfer characteristic.
US08139413B2 Flash memory device
A flash memory device can include a memory cell array that includes a plurality of memory blocks, where each of the memory blocks has memory cells arranged at intersections of word lines and bit lines, where ones of the plurality of memory blocks are immediately adjacent to one another and define memory block pairs. The flash memory device can further include a row selection circuit that is configured to drive the word lines responsive to memory operations associated with a memory address, where the row selection circuit can include respective shield lines that are located between the memory blocks included in each pair and each of the memory blocks in the pair has a common source line therebetween.
US08139408B2 Scalable electrically eraseable and programmable memory
A non-volatile memory including one or more EEPROM cell pairs. Each EEPROM cell pair includes three transistors and stores two data bits, effectively providing a 1.5 transistor EEPROM cell. An EEPROM cell pair includes a first non-volatile memory transistor, a second non-volatile memory transistor and a source access transistor. The source access transistor includes: a first source region continuous with a source region of the first non-volatile memory transistor; a second source region continuous with a source region of the second non-volatile memory transistor, and a third source region continuous with source regions of other non-volatile memory transistors located in the same row as the EEPROM cell pair.
US08139405B2 Magnetoresistive element and magnetoresistive random access memory including the same
The present invention provides a low-resistance magnetoresistive element of a spin-injection write type. A crystallization promoting layer that promotes crystallization is formed in contact with an interfacial magnetic layer having an amorphous structure, so that crystallization is promoted from the side of a tunnel barrier layer, and the interface between the tunnel barrier layer and the interfacial magnetic layer is adjusted. With this arrangement, it is possible to form a magnetoresistive element that has a low resistance so as to obtain a desired current value, and has a high TMR ratio.
US08139403B2 Spin memory and spin transistor
Certain embodiments provide a spin memory including a memory cell including a ferromagnetic stacked film that has a stacked structure in which a first ferromagnetic layer, a first nonmagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, a second nonmagnetic layer, and a third ferromagnetic layer are stacked in this order or reverse order, the third ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer being antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled via the second nonmagnetic layer. The ferromagnetic stacked film includes a current path in which a first and second write currents flow from the first ferromagnetic layer to the third ferromagnetic layer to write a first and second magnetization states into the first ferromagnetic layer respectively, and the second write current is higher than the first write current.
US08139395B2 Semiconductor memory device
There is provided a semiconductor memory device capable of suppressing writing disturbances without increasing the cell array area. A semiconductor memory device has a memory cell array where a number of memory cells having a two-terminal type memory element and a transistor for selection connected in series are aligned in a matrix shape, a first voltage applying circuit for applying a writing voltage pulse to a first bit line, and a second voltage applying circuit for applying a pre-charge voltage to a first and second bit line, such that at the time of the writing of a memory cell, the first voltage applying circuit pre-charges the two ends of the memory cell to the same voltage in advance, and after that, the second voltage applying circuit applies a writing voltage pulse via the first bit line directly connected to the transistor for selection.
US08139387B2 Method of erasing a memory device including complementary nonvolatile memory devices
Provided are a complementary nonvolatile memory device, methods of operating and manufacturing the same, a logic device and semiconductor device having the same, and a reading circuit for the same. The complementary nonvolatile memory device includes a first nonvolatile memory and a second nonvolatile memory which are sequentially stacked and have a complementary relationship. The first and second nonvolatile memories are arranged so that upper surfaces thereof are contiguous.
US08139386B2 Memory, computing system and method for checkpointing
Embodiments of the present invention provide local checkpoint memories that are closely coupled to the processor of a computing system used during normal operation. The checkpoint memory may be coupled to the processor through a peripheral bus or a memory bus. The checkpoint memory may be located on a same semiconductor substrate or circuit board as the processor. The checkpoint memory may be located on a same semiconductor substrate as a main memory used by the processor during normal operation. The checkpoint memory may be included in a memory hub configuration, with a checkpoint memory hub provided for access to the checkpoint memory.
US08139378B2 LED dimmer device adapted for use in dimmer
A LED dimmer device for use in dimmer is provided. The LED dimmer device includes rectifier, voltage boost device, pre-voltage detection circuit and after-voltage detection circuit adapted for detect voltage, master chip adapted for driving circuit and elements to work, elementary transformer and secondary transformer adapter for changing voltage, secondary rectifier adapted for rectifying and secondary filter capacitance circuit adapter for filtering, and secondary switch tube. The rectifier is adapted for transforming alternating current into direct current. The voltage boost device includes a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor used to make dimmer entering into a normal edge state. The master chip includes integrated comparing element used to compare voltage. The secondary switch tube is used to driving elementary transformer and secondary transformer, secondary rectifier, secondary filter capacitance circuit so as to drive LED power supply to illuminate.
US08139374B2 Electronic device having electrically connecting structure
An electronic device is provided which makes it possible to reduce noise generated from a signal line around a connecting portion connecting a first body and a second body. The connecting portion has a first metallic portion. A first circuit board provided in the first body and a second circuit board provided in the second body. The signal line that electrically connects the first circuit board and the second circuit board via the connecting portion, in which the signal line is wound around the first metallic portion.
US08139360B2 Multi-specification fixing module and motherboard with multi-specification fixing module
A multi-specification fixing module used at a motherboard and a cooler. The multi-specification fixing module includes a plurality of the fixing sheet and a specification adjusting base plate. Each of the fixing sheets has a fixing hole. The specification adjusting base plate includes a plurality of adjusting portions at a periphery of the specification adjusting base plate. Each of the adjusting portions has an adjusting guiding rail group and an adjusting portion hole. The positions of the fixing sheets are adjusted according to the size of the cooler body to install the fixing sheets in the adjusting guiding rail groups, and the installing fixing accessories are connectedly fixed at the motherboard holes via the fixing holes and the adjusting portion holes to fix and install the cooler body above the socket.
US08139353B2 Modular universal parts and personality parts of a docketing system
The disclosed docking systems for an electronic device may provide any accessory function and may include more than one connector such as a battery charger connector, a USB hub, a memory card hub, an audio boom box connector, and the like. A modular universal part is configured with at least a one connector that is configured to interface with an electronic device connector. A personality part, specific to the electronic device, is configured to receive both the electronic device and the modular universal part so that the modular universal part connector is capable of interfacing with the electronic device connector. In this way, the personality part can align the electronic device connectors with any number of modular universal part connectors. In this way, an accessory part including a modular universal part could be reuseable with different electronic devices since the personality part is specific to the electronic device.
US08139349B2 Display housing for computing device
An improved housing for a computing device is disclosed. The improved housing can have one or more of the following aspects. A first aspect of the invention pertains to a computer housing having a logo or other symbol that can be illuminated using light from the backside of a display panel. A second aspect of the invention pertains to a suspended frame is able to support a display panel within a display housing. A third aspect of the invention pertains to a computing device provided with an internal antenna. A fourth aspect of the invention pertains to a stiffener for a computer housing so as to increase the rigidity and strength of the computer housing. A fifth aspect of the invention pertains to a housing having a logo, symbol or other device that can be illuminated using light from the backside of a display panel. A sixth aspect of the invention pertains to a lid for a computing device, such as a portable computer, that is provided with a translucent housing.
US08139348B2 Cover for a display
A computer system comprises a base portion, a display housing and a cover. The display housing hingeably couples to the base. The display housing containing a display and the display has a first surface to present images to a user and a second surface opposite the first surface. The display housing completely covers the second surface of the display. The cover attaches to the display housing.
US08139340B2 Conductive seal ring electrostatic chuck
The present invention provides an improved electrostatic chuck for a substrate processing system. The electrostatic chuck comprising a main body having a top surface configured to support the substrate, a power supply to apply a voltage to the main body and a sealing ring disposed between the main body and the substrate wherein the sealing ring has a conductive layer.
US08139335B2 Protective circuit
A protective circuit for electrical connection to solar cells of a solar cell module is provided with a protective circuit that has a controlled electronic circuit arrangement. In this way, only minimal heating of the protective circuit for electrical connection of solar cells of a solar cell module occurs in operation. The controlled electronic circuit arrangement can have a trigger circuit and a switching arrangement which can be triggered by the trigger circuit, the switching arrangement being connected parallel to at least one solar cell, and in the case of shading of the solar cells, is at least temporarily activated by the trigger circuit so that a current bypass for the shaded solar cell is achieved.
US08139334B2 Over-voltage protection circuit
The present invention pertains to a closed loop over-voltage protection for audio/video connection interfaces of devices especially of mobile devices. The over-voltage protection circuit for mobile devices comprising at least one connector with at least one electrical contact for connecting external devices and at least one internal contact to a circuitry using said connector, wherein said over-voltage protection circuit comprises: an electrically operated switch connected between an electrical contact of said connector and an internal contact to said circuitry, a control element to operate said electrically operated switch, wherein said control element is connected to said switch to operate said switch, a first voltage determining unit to detect a voltage between said contact of said connector and said electrically operated switch, and which is connected to said control element, and a second voltage determining unit to detect a voltage between said internal contact to said circuitry and said electrically operated switch, and which is connected to said control element wherein said control element is configured to open or close said switch based on the voltages detected at said internal contact to said circuitry and said contact of said connector.
US08139332B2 Level conversion circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit device employing the level conversion circuit
In a level conversion circuit mounted in an integrated circuit device using a plurality of high- and low-voltage power supplies, the input to the differential inputs are provided. In a level-down circuit, MOS transistors that are not supplied with 3.3 V between the gate and drain and between the gate and source use a thin oxide layer. In a level-up circuit, a logic operation function is provided.
US08139330B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first and second power supply domain circuits having a first and second power supply terminals, respectively. An internal signal propagation line propagates a signal from a circuit of the first power supply domain circuit to that of the second power supply domain circuit. A voltage detector detects a surge voltage input to the first and second power supply terminals and outputs, from a control signal node, a control signal which is determined in accordance with a capacitive coupling by a first capacitor between the first power supply terminal and the control signal node, a second capacitor between the second power supply terminal and the control signal node, and a load capacitance at an output side of the control signal node. A voltage limiting circuit limits a voltage of a signal on the internal signal propagation line in accordance with the control signal.
US08139328B2 Fault circuit interrupting device with symmetrical inputs
There is disclosed a circuit interrupting device with symmetrical inputs comprising a first input configured for connection to a power source or a load circuit and a second input configured for connection to a power source. There are a plurality of electrical conductors extending from the first and second inputs and a third input configured for connection to a load provided by a user. There is also a first set of transformers comprising at least one differential transformer and at least one neutral transformer connected to detect leakage current in a load circuit coupled to the first set of terminals. There is also a second set of transformers comprising at least one additional differential transformer and at least one additional neutral transformer connected to detect leakage current in a load circuit coupled to the second set of terminals.
US08139305B2 Systems and methods for timing and gain acquisition
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for acquiring timing and/or gain information. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide data processing circuits that include a sample splitting circuit, a first averaging circuit, a second averaging circuit and a parameter calculation circuit. The sample splitting circuit receives a data input that includes a series of samples that repeat periodically over at least a first phase and a second phase. The sample splitting circuit divides the series of samples into at least a first sub-stream corresponding to the first phase and a second sub-stream corresponding to the second phase. The first averaging circuit averages values from the first sub-stream to yield a first average, and the second averaging circuit averages values from the second sub-stream to yield a second average. The parameter calculation circuit calculates a parameter value based at least in part on the first average and the second average.
US08139301B1 Disk drive comprising a dual read element and delay circuitry to improve read signal
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk having a plurality of data tracks, and a head actuated over the disk, the head comprising a first read element and a second read element. A data track is read to generate a first read signal emanating from the first read element and a second read signal emanating from the second read element. The first read signal is delayed relative to the second read signal to generate a delayed read signal, and the second read signal is combined with the delayed read signal to generate a combined read signal. An estimated data sequence is detected from the combined read signal.
US08139300B2 Magnetic recording medium evaluation apparatus and evaluation method
This invention provides a magnetic recording medium evaluation apparatus and evaluation method which yield results having good correlation with error rate measurements even when comparing media with different structures. Signals from a function generator are recorded in a magnetic recording medium. The recording signals are also passed through a first digital filter to obtain ideal restored signals. Reproduced signals from the magnetic recording medium are sampled in synchronization with the output from the function generator, and the discrete signals are passed through a second digital filter to obtain restored signals. The outputs from the first and second digital filters are input to an operational amplifier, and the difference between the restored signals and the ideal restored signals is taken for each sampling of the recording signals. The signal-to-noise ratio of the ideal restored signal to the average of the absolute value of this difference is used to evaluate signal quality.
US08139292B2 Structural body, a method for reading a structural color and/or diffraction light, and a truth/false discriminating method
Decoration of a material is enabled with a high degree of recycling properties while satisfying the requirements for putting a structural color into practical use on the industrial scale. Furthermore, whether an object is genuine or not can be verified easily, and reusing by peeling as in the case of a hologram seal is prevented.A cavity 12 having a periodic structure 13 causing optical diffraction is formed in the inside of a substrate 11, and a periodic structure 15 causing optical diffraction is formed on part or the whole of the substrate 11. These cavity interface periodic structure 13 and the substrate surface periodic structure 15 have a regular arrangement developing a structural color. In addition, by bringing a functional material to be in contact with the substrate surface periodic structure 15, development of a structural color by the substrate surface periodic structure 15 is suppressed, thereby enabling a structural color developed by the cavity interface periodic structure 13 to be read.
US08139290B2 Two-way mirror screen system for advertisement
A two way mirror system usable for an advertisement device includes a half-mirror having a light transmission function and a reflection function. A logo plate in a shape of an engraving or pattern in relief or intaglio is provided on a front face thereof and a two way screen through which a rear projected image can be viewed from both a front and rear face is provided on a rear face thereof. A single advertising device thus provides a logo advertising using a logo plate and reflected outside light during the day and an image advertisement viewable outside during night time, with inside viewing with double the usual brightness of a reflecting screen.
US08139289B2 Precision optical mount
An optical apparatus has a primary optical element having a primary spherical optical surface with a primary center of curvature, wherein the primary spherical optical surface has a peripheral portion that extends outside a usable aperture of the optical apparatus, and a secondary optical element. A mount suspends the secondary optical element spaced apart from the primary optical element, wherein the mount comprises a number of leg sections, each leg section extending between the primary and secondary optical elements. Each leg section terminates in a spherical mating surface that rests against the peripheral portion of the primary optical element. The spherical mating surface has a mating surface center of curvature that is substantially concentric with the primary center of curvature.
US08139288B2 Prism design for scanning applications and illumination of microscopy sample
A prism for use in scanning applications such as total internal reflection microscopy in which the prism is translated relative to an incident light beam. A geometry is disclosed which cancels walk of the beam footprint at the base of the prism. Walk of the beam footprint due to irregularities in a largely planar sample surface located at the prism base are cancelled by coupling movement of the incident light beam to movement of the sample in the field of view of an objective lens, for example as part of an autofocus arrangement.
US08139282B2 Display system
A display system is based on a linear array phase modulator and a phase edge discriminator optical system.
US08139281B1 Tunable optical filter apparatus and method
A tunable optical filter apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus may include a filter driver, a filter device, a detector device and a controller device. The filter driver generates a filter driver signal, including a dither signal. The controller device may be coupled to the detector device, the filter device and the filter driver. The controller device may receive the detector output signal and determine a ratio of the odd order harmonic signal to the even order harmonic signal with respect to the dither frequency. The controller device may also compare the ratio to a predetermined setpoint ratio and generate a control feedback signal for generating a new filter driver signal. The control feedback signal may be based on the comparison of the ratio of the odd order harmonic signal to the even order harmonic signal, to the predetermined setpoint ratio that corresponds to a desired filter operating frequency.
US08139276B2 Printing control apparatus and printing control method
The invention provides a printing control apparatus having a function for performing preview displaying prior to printing document data outputted by an application program. The apparatus comprises: a generator for generating a preview image based on the document data in accordance with a print setting; and a preview display controller for displaying, together with the preview image, a user interface which displays an option in a predetermined item of a print setting within a scope corresponding to a current print setting, when the predetermined item of the print setting corresponding to the preview image is to be changed. The printing control apparatus enables printing of the document data in accordance with the print setting changed through the user interface.
US08139275B2 Output data creating device for creating color conversion interpolation tables and output data creating program for creating color conversion interpolation tables
An output data creating device creates output data to be used by an image formation device based on input data representing image to be formed. The data creating device includes an output condition obtaining unit that obtains output condition regarding image formation on the recording medium, a table storage unit that stores a plurality of color conversion tables meeting a plurality of predetermined conditions used for converting the input data to the output data, a combined color converting unit that converts the input data based on the output condition and a plurality of color conversion tables stored in the table storage unit when there is not a color conversion table that meets the output condition obtained by the output condition obtaining unit in the table storage unit, and an output data creating unit that creates the output data based on the input data that has been color-converted.
US08139262B2 Image output apparatus and image output method for printing out the photographed image which is captured by a digital camera
A terminal 102 creates setting data 400 and inputs setting data 400 into an image output apparatus 101. The image output apparatus 101 sets the initial settings, operation settings, equipment settings, etc. based on the setting data, holds the setting data, and performs various processes based on the set settings and the held setting data. In addition, the image output apparatus 101 performs a media identification process, a media reader switching process, and the like using a media detection means 117, a media reader switching means 118, and the like, and allows only the use of the insertion opening of a predetermined media reader.
US08139259B2 Image forming apparatus including tab sheet reversing function, computer readable recording medium stored with control program for controlling image forming apparatus, and its control method
A printer, as an image forming apparatus, reverses the front and back sides of tab sheets that became no longer necessary and discharges when a reverse discharge is specified.
US08139257B2 Document editing apparatus, image forming apparatus, document editing method, and computer program product
An area identifying unit separates input image data into each image area. An editing unit performs an editing process on the input image data in units of separated image area. An operation displaying unit displays the input image data with an input display module and an editing display module. The operation displaying unit is capable of accepting editing inputs and an input of various settings through a touch input on the display. The editing unit performs the editing process on the image data based on the editing input. The operation displaying unit further displays an editing result performed by the editing unit.
US08139250B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method for printing an acquired image
In a copying operation, an MFP reads a code image printed on the paper, acquires a paper ID from the code image, acquires paper information associated with the paper ID, specifies an electronic document as a print source, and acquires the specified electronic document. The MFP prints a paper ID on the paper with the code image and the acquired electronic document, and stores paper information including a paper ID of a copy source in association with the paper ID. When a first MFP leaves an image processing system, respective information concerning electronic document acquisition managed by the first MFP is transferred to a second MFP.
US08139248B2 Information distribution system, its distribution center apparatus and user terminal apparatus, and information storage medium usable for the system
When distributing an encrypted content to a user terminal apparatus via a communication line, a distribution center apparatus requires a medium ID of an information storage medium, and encrypts a decryption key of the encrypted content by using the corresponding medium ID to transmit the encrypted decryption key to the terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus downloads to store the encrypted content, receives the encrypted key to decrypt it in the use of the medium ID of the storage medium and to decrypt the encrypted content by using the decryption key. In such a system, the center apparatus provides print information corresponding to view conditions of a distributed content to the terminal apparatus in response to the request therefrom, and the terminal apparatus makes the print information appropriately printable by means of a printer.
US08139239B2 Printing system, method for controlling a printing system, image forming apparatus, controller of print system, and storage medium
Confidentiality of a job that requires authentication processing prior to printing is maintained as much as possible. A method for controlling a printing system is provided that is capable of receiving a plurality of types of print jobs including a first type print job that requires authentication processing prior to printing and a second type print job that does not require authentication processing prior to printing, comprising the steps of allowing the printing system to execute a specific operation for allowing the printing system to start printing of a target job in case where resources required to complete printing of the target job are present in the printing system and causing the printing system to execute the specific operation in case where the target job is the first type job.
US08139229B2 Calibrating jig, profile measuring device, and method of offset calculation
A calibrating jig comprises a reference sphere, and a reflecting plate configured to support the reference sphere from a lower side thereof and mirror-reflect light in a case that the reference sphere is illuminated from an upper side thereof.
US08139207B2 In vitro determination of analyte levels within body fluids
A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.
US08139206B2 Method and arrangement to determine a wind-speed
A method and an arrangement are provided to determine the speed of the wind, which acts on a wind-blade of a wind-turbine. An optical-signal with a known frequency is sent from an optical-transmit-unit to a joint measurement volume. The optical-signal is scattered and reflected by atmospheric particles of the joint measurement volume. The optical signal is shifted in its frequency due to the Doppler-principle, too. The frequency-shifted optical signal is received by a receive-unit. The frequency-shifted optical signal is compared with the sent optical-signal to determine the wind-speed based on the shifted frequency, which is caused by the atmospheric particles.
US08139202B2 Apparatus and a method for illuminating a light-sensitive medium
The invention relates to an illumination unit for point illumination of a medium comprising a plurality of light emitters in the form of light guides, which are arranged to illuminate at least one illumination face via a light valve arrangement, said light valve arrangement comprising a plurality of electrically controlled light valves, at least one of the light emitters (1) being arranged to illuminate a plurality of light valves.
US08139201B2 Exposure apparatus and method of manufacturing device
An exposure apparatus includes a light dividing surface which reflects a certain component of the light beam bifurcated by an illumination optical system, and transmits the remaining component of the light beam, a first photoelectric conversion element which detects the light beam transmitted through the light dividing surface, a second photoelectric conversion element which detects the light beam reflected by the light dividing surface, and a controller which controls the light beam which becomes incident on the substrate, using the outputs from the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element while the light emitted by a light source is in a first polarization state, and the outputs from the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element while the light emitted by the light source is in a second polarization state.
US08139199B2 Exposure method, exposure apparatus, light converging pattern formation member, mask, and device manufacturing method
An exposure method includes a first exposure step of irradiating a mask, which is arranged near a plate, with exposure light and exposing a predetermined pattern formed on the mask onto a plate; and a second exposure step of irradiating a light converging pattern formation member, which is arranged near the plate and includes a plurality of light converging portions, with exposure light and exposing a light converging pattern having a predetermined shape onto the plate. At least part of the predetermined pattern exposed onto the plate in the first exposure step and at least part of the light converging pattern formed on the plate in the second exposure step overlap each other.
US08139194B2 Display device having particular pixels and signal wiring internal circuits
In a display device of built-in driver circuit type including a non-rectangular image display area, the frame area surrounding the display area is reduced and the wiring delay is reduced. The image display device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in an orthogonal matrix form, a plurality of scanning wiring lines connected to the plural pixels, a plurality of signal wiring lines connected to the plural pixels, the signal wiring lines being disposed to construct an orthogonal matrix form with the plural scanning wiring lines; signal wiring internal circuits for driving the plural signal wiring lines, and an image display area including a plurality of pixels, the image display area having a non-rectangular outer contour. The signal wiring internal circuits are separated from each other in an extending direction of the signal wiring lines in a unit of length of the pixel.
US08139187B2 Transflective type liquid crystal display device
A transflective type LCD device including a unit pixel region divided into reflective and transmitting parts includes first and second substrates facing each other, a pixel electrode in the pixel region of first substrate, a reflective sheet in the reflective part of first substrate, a common electrode on the second substrate, at least one first open pattern for forming multi-domains, and the first open pattern in at least one of the pixel and common electrodes, and a plurality of second open patterns for inducing a fringe field, and the second open patterns in the reflective part of at least one of the pixel and common electrodes.
US08139180B2 Illuminating device, and liquid crystal display device and portable terminal device including the illuminating device
On the side surface of an optical guide plate (104), an engaging protrusion (105) is formed for fixing the optical guide plate (104) on to a frame (101) by fitting the optical guide plate in a recessed portion formed on the frame. The light emitted from an LED (107) enters the optical guide plate (104) from a light-incident end surface and travels in the optical guide plate (104) while spreading in a fan-shape. The engaging protrusion (105) is formed outside the outgoing-angle range of the beam (109) spreading in the fan-shape, thereby preventing occurrence of bright line caused by reflection of light at the corner portion of the base of the engaging protrusion (105).
US08139178B2 Anti-static housing and related display device assembly
A display device assembly includes an anti-static housing and a displaying module contained therein. The anti-static housing has a first housing body, a second housing body and a plurality of anti-static dielectric layers. The first housing body and the second housing body respectively have a first rail-and-groove engaging structure and a second rail-and-groove engaging structure, and can be moved relative to each other such that the first rail-and-groove engaging structure engages the second rail-and-groove engaging structure. Due to dispositions of the first and second rail-and-groove engaging structures and the anti-static dielectric layers when the first and second housing bodies are coupled together, the anti-static housing has comparatively superior anti-static characteristics, and a manner of engagement between the first and second rail-and-groove engaging structures facilitates assembly of the anti-static housing and thus reduces assembly costs.
US08139176B2 Display substrate, a method of manufacturing the display substrate and a display apparatus having the display substrate
A display substrate includes a gate line, a data line, a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode, and a light blocking layer. The data line is insulated from the gate line and crosses the gate line. The thin film transistor is connected to the gate line and the data line. The thin film transistor is formed in a pixel. The pixel electrode is formed in the pixel and connected to the thin film transistor. The light blocking layer is formed from a same layer as the data line, wherein the light blocking layer is adjacent to a side of the data line.
US08139175B2 Thin film transistor, thin film transistor substrate, and methods for manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor includes a channel layer of a specific shape, a thermal gradient inducer body, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode and an interlayer insulating film, a source electrode and a drain electrode. The channel layer is formed on a substrate. The channel layer has a nucleation region and a crystal end. The thermal gradient inducer body partially circumscribes the channel layer. The gate insulating film is formed on the substrate, and the channel layer is at least partially covered with the gate insulating film. The gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating film. The interlayer insulating film is formed on the gate insulating film, and the gate electrode is at least partially covered with the interlayer insulating film. The source electrode and the drain electrode are formed on the interlayer insulating film, passed through the gate insulating film and the interlayer insulating film, and electrically connected to the channel layer.
US08139174B2 Display device for displaying images involving display pixels and non-display pixels
Display devices for displaying images are provided. A representative display device incorporates a display panel that includes a display pixel and a non-display pixel. The display pixel includes at least one switching thin-film transistor and the non-display pixel includes dummy thin-film transistors. A number of the dummy thin-film transistors exceeds a number of the switching thin-film transistors.
US08139167B2 Projection display apparatus which enables a selected image inverting process to be performed to facilitate registration adjustment
The present invention provides a projection display apparatus realizing improved operability at the time of registration adjustment irrespective of a use situation of the apparatus. In the case where misregistration occurs between primary color lights, video signals for three colors are corrected (registration adjustment is performed) so as to reduce the misregistration in accordance with an input adjustment value. An image inverting process is performed on an input video signal so that the image is inverted in a display screen. By a configuration by the user, the image is properly inverted in the display screen. When the image inverting process is performed, an adjustment value, with a sign different from that in the misregistration direction in a coordinate system where the image is not inverted, is input by an operation on the display screen.
US08139166B2 Image projection apparatus and projection optical system
An image projection apparatus includes an image processing device, an illuminating device, a light valve, and a projection optical system; wherein the projection optical system is formed in such a way that at least one of a first deviation corresponding to an amount of the magnification chromatic aberration of a light having a central wavelength of the red light relative to the green light and a second deviation corresponding to an amount of the magnification chromatic aberration of the blue light relative to the green light is larger than a fixed-pixel pitch, and a third deviation corresponding to an amount of the magnification chromatic aberration of a light having a maximum wavelength of the red light relative to a light having a minimum wavelength of the red light is not larger than the fixed-pixel pitch; wherein the first deviation and/or the second deviation is eliminated by supplying the compensated video signal to the light valve.
US08139161B2 Broadband integrated tuner
A broadband integrated receiver for receiving input signals and outputting composite video and audio signals is disclosed. The receiver employs an up-conversion mixer and a down-conversion mixer in series to produce an intermediate signal. An intermediate filter between the mixers performs coarse channel selection. The down-conversion mixer may be an image rejection mixer to provide additional filtering.
US08139156B2 Method and apparatus for adaptive selection of YC separation
A method for adaptive selection of YC separation is provided. While a video decoder is re-sampling, a frequency of a re-sampling signal and a pixel rate of an output signal have a fixed relation, which is used to determine if a sampling frequency of the signal is deviated. And, accordingly, an appropriate Y/C separation is selected and then performed to obtain a better image quality.
US08139155B2 Self-adaptive image processing device and method
A dynamic motion degree of a video composite signal is estimated. A chrominance signal after Y/C separation and chrominance demodulation is narrow-band low pass filtered (NBLPF) and wide-band low pass filtered (WBLPF), so as to generate a narrow-band filtered signal and a wide-band filtered signal. The narrow-band filtered signal and the wide-band filtered signal are weighted based on the estimated dynamic motion degree, so as to determine how much high frequency component of the chrominance signal is reserved. In the static image processing, more high frequency component is reserved, so as to reduce the color transition issue and keep the image color being sharp. In the dynamic image processing, more high frequency component is filtered, so as to reduce the cross color issue.
US08139151B2 Moving image processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program
A frame image is generated by combining a current field image and a preceding field image as a first candidate image. A frame image is generated by combining the current field image and a succeeding field image as a second candidate image. A frame image is generated by pixel interpolation processing for the current field image and output as a third candidate image. It is determined whether the current field image has continuity to the preceding or succeeding field image, or no continuity with any of them. Based on the determination result, the determination result of the current field image is stored as log information. A specific pattern is detected from the pattern of stored log information of continuous field images before the current field image. One of the first to third candidate images is selected as the frame image of the current field image based on the detection result.
US08139141B2 Single chip red, green, blue, distance (RGB-Z) sensor
An RGB-Z sensor is implementable on a single IC chip. A beam splitter such as a hot mirror receives and separates incoming first and second spectral band optical energy from a target object into preferably RGB image components and preferably NIR Z components. The RGB image and Z components are detected by respective RGB and NIR pixel detector array regions, which output respective image data and Z data. The pixel size and array resolutions of these regions need not be equal, and both array regions may be formed on a common IC chip. A display using the image data can be augmented with Z data to help recognize a target object. The resultant structure combines optical efficiency of beam splitting with the simplicity of a single IC chip implementation. A method of using the single chip red, green, blue, distance (RGB-Z) sensor is also disclosed.
US08139138B1 System and method for measuring accuracy of focus
A reliable and repeatable accuracy of focus measurement device to measure the focus accuracy of cameras that employ a different light path between the lens and the focusing sensor and between the lens and the film or image sensor. The measurement device includes a frame having a substantially planar front face with a focusing target located thereon, and at least one depth-of-field ruler coupled to the frame with a transverse axis falling within a front face plane and a long axis that is angularly adjustable with respect to the front face plane.
US08139131B2 Solid state imaging device and fabrication method thereof, and camera incorporating the solid state imaging device
A solid state imaging device of the present invention comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a matrix configuration on the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of color filter segments provided above the light receiving elements; and a light collector provided above the color filter segments for collecting light on the light receiving elements. The color filter segments are mutually separated by interstices. The interstices contain a gas.
US08139128B2 Image capture device and image processing method for the same
The image capture device includes defect information storage unit in which defective pixel data is stored in advance; signal conversion unit adapted to covert pixel values of an image signal output from image capture unit to pixel values from which defective values are excluded; a defective pixel establishing unit, an image signal storage unit for storing defective values in terms of frame units chronologically and in order of address; and second comparison unit. The first comparison unit acquires defective pixel data in frame units in several increments from the defect information storage unit and compares the data with the image signal; once all of the defective pixel data has been acquired and compared, comparison of the image signal data and the defective pixel data will stop, and a comparison process will be carried out by the second comparison unit.
US08139127B2 Imaging apparatus
In the imaging apparatus, an image signal derived from an imaging element is supplied to color signal producing means so as to be separated into a R(red) color signal, a G(green) color signal and a B(blue) color signal. These R, G, B signals are supplied to color-depending frequency component changing means. While predetermined information has been stored in a memory with respect to each of the R signal, the G signal and the B signal, and the predetermined information is used in order to change a signal level of a high frequency component every R, G, B signals, the color-depending frequency component changing means extracts a high frequency component from each of the R signal, the G signal and the B signal, and then, corrects frequency components of these extracted high frequency components in such a manner that the corrected frequency characteristics may constitute relevant signals.
US08139126B2 Digital video system for assembling video sequences
An image processing system (10) obtains image sequences and assembles a presentation therefrom. The system has a camera (12) for capturing image sequences, a random-access electronic memory (16) for temporary storage of the image sequences, an input reader for accepting pre-programmed instructions from a first storage medium, a control panel with a display (18) for viewing image sequences (64) and presenting pre-programmed instructions to the operator and an operator interface for accepting responses to the pre-programmed instructions. A control logic processor (20) executes pre-programmed instructions and arranges the presentation from the captured image sequences stored in random-access electronic memory (16), according to operator responses. An output writer records the presentation onto a storage medium.
US08139123B2 Imaging device and video signal generating method employed in imaging device
Provided is an imaging device comprising means for binning by adding up and reading out pixel signals from a plurality of pixels arranged in a first direction and a second direction of a pixel arrangement of an imaging element. The imaging device is provided with first means for changing a combination pattern of added pixel signals on a per-frame basis, and second means for generating image signals for one frame based on added signals from plural frames having different combination patterns.
US08139120B2 Image processing device, camera device and image processing method
Provided are an image processing apparatus and method in which, when there is a change in a subject, a picture in which a changing part thereof is enlarged makes it possible to easily confirm whether or not the subject is changing and contents of the changing part. The image processing apparatus (100) for performing an image processing on images obtained by continuously photographing a subject and by imaging light therefrom on image-pickup means (230) through a photographic lens (221) includes: moving part detecting means (110b) for detecting a moving part of the image obtained by the photographing, the moving part having occurred due to a change in the subject; moving area image cutting-out means (110d) for cutting out, as a moving area image, an area including the image obtained by the photographing corresponding to the moving part in which a move has been detected by the moving part detecting means (110b); and corrected/enlarged image generating means (110e) for generating a corrected/enlarged image by subjecting the moving area image to a correction processing for a distortion due to the photographic lens and to an enlargement processing.
US08139119B2 Video still camera
A digital still camera has a cylindrical image pick up portion with a lens, a strobe unit, and a display. The image pick up unit is cylindrical and is rotatably held at each end, so that the lens and strobe unit move in concert. The image pick up unit can be rotated to face the rear of the camera, where the display is located, so that the user can do self-images.
US08139112B2 Methods and apparatus related to improved surveillance
A smart camera device incorporates a first processing path for video display processing and a second processing path for detection and/or tracking processing. A sensor device provides input signals including first size data units to both processing paths, at least some of the same input signals are processed by both processing paths. The video display processing generates second size data units which are smaller than first size data units. First size data units provide more information to the detection/processing module than second size data units would have provided if used. IR detection capability is improved by using first size data units. Detection and/or target tracking operations generate control signals used to control the video display processing to enhance the visual perceptibility of a detected target. Detection and/or target tracking operations generate target information signals conveying an indication of target detection, target identification information, target location information, and/or camera control signal.
US08139111B2 Height measurement in a perspective image
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are present for identifying a location in a scene. An image of the scene is displayed on a display device. A cursor on the image is moved in relation to a number of corresponding directions in a model of the scene in response to a manipulation of a number of controls associated with the cursor. A base location in the scene is identified corresponding to a particular point in response to a user input selecting the particular point in the image. A selected point in the image is selected for the scene and a displacement of the selected point is identified from the base location in response to another user input occurring after an identification of the base location. An offset location in the scene is identified corresponding to the selected point in the image using the base location and the displacement.
US08139105B2 Method and device for optically scanning a sample
The invention relates to a method and a device for optically scanning a sample. The basic structure of the device comprises at least one adjustment unit and at least one scanning device. The sample is displaced in relation to the scanning device by means of the adjustment unit impinged upon by a control system, or vice versa. According to the invention, adjustment values for the mechanical compensation of play are incorporated, filed in the control system and taken into consideration during adjustment.
US08139099B2 Generating representative still images from a video recording
Computer-readable media having corresponding apparatus and methods embodies instructions executable by a computer to perform a method comprising: receiving a recording, wherein the recording includes a video file, and a plurality of event records each representing a respective event in the recording, wherein each event record includes a timestamp representing a time of the event in the recording, and an image corresponding to the event; selecting a section of the recording; and providing a representative image for the selected section of the recording, including determining, based on the timestamps, whether any of the events are associated with the selected section, selecting the image corresponding to one of the one or more events when one or more events are associated with the selected section, and generating the representative image based on the video file when no events are associated with the selected section.
US08139095B2 Recording apparatus and conveyance method
In a recording apparatus, an ink ribbon is always placed under a tension by a stop torque of a torque limiter while a take-up bobbin is driven through the torque limiter when recording paper is conveyed near a stationary ink ribbon.
US08139094B2 Thermal head and thermal printer
A thermal head which forms an image on a recording medium by pressing a protruding portion on which heating elements are arranged on the recording medium while driving the heating elements to be heated includes a head body portion in which the protruding portion and a concave gap portion facing the protruding portion are formed and a heat conductive layer provided on the side of the protruding portion of the head body portion, in which the heat conductive layer includes an electric insulating layer securing electric insulation to the heating elements and a heat diffusion layer diffusing heat generated from the heating elements.
US08139090B2 Image processor, image processing method, and image display device
An image processing device and an image processing method according to the present invention, by dividing an image into a plurality of blocks, generates a control signal denoting a change in the image data, based on a result of comparing first encoded image data that is quantized from image data in each of the blocks based on representative values of the image data in each of the blocks with second encoded image data that is obtained by delaying the first encoded image data for a period equivalent to one frame, and generates one-frame-preceding image data by choosing on a pixel to pixel basis either the current-frame image data or second decoded image data that is obtained by decoding the second encoded image data, based on the control signal.
US08139087B2 Image presentation system, image presentation method, program for causing computer to execute the method, and storage medium storing the program
An image presentation system which enables a user observing an image on a first display to recognize an instruction sent from a person seeing an image on a second display to the user. An HMD as the first display detects the position and orientation of the HMD and presents an image to the user. The second display presents an image to the person who gives an instruction to the user. A three-dimensional CG drawing device draws a virtual space image seen from a point of view corresponding to the position and orientation of the HMD and displays the virtual space image on the HMD and the second display. When receiving the instruction, the three-dimensional CG drawing device draws a virtual space image to be displayed on the HMD such that the virtual space image reflects the input instruction.
US08139077B2 Enhanced alpha blending
A system including storage comprising a first graphical pixel and a second graphical pixel. Each of the first and second graphical pixels is associated with binary codes having red, green and blue sub-codes. The system also comprises processing logic coupled to the storage and adapted to alpha-blend the first and second graphical pixels to produce a blended pixel. The processing logic performs this alpha-blend using the binary codes having red, green and blue sub-codes in concatenated form and without operating on the sub-codes individually. The processing logic displays the blended pixel.
US08139062B2 Method and system for displaying a map using a projected coordinate system
A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which when executed cause a computing device to receive a request from a client to display a map projection of a spatial reference, wherein the spatial reference comprises a location and a scale, select a projected coordinate system from a plurality of projected coordinate systems based on the spatial reference and a set of business rules, generate the map projection of the spatial reference using the projected coordinate system, and send the map projection to the client, wherein the map projection is displayed on the client.
US08139060B2 Ray tracing image processing system
According to embodiments of the invention, a normally recursive ray tracing algorithm may be partitioned to form an iterative ray tracing algorithm. The resulting portions of the iterative ray tracing algorithm may be executed by a plurality of processing elements. Furthermore, according to embodiments of the invention, a network of inboxes may be used to transfer information which defines original rays and secondary rays (information unlikely to be reused for subsequently issued rays and subsequently rendered frames) between processing elements, and a shared memory cache may store information relating to a three dimensional scene (information likely to be reused for subsequently issued rays and subsequently rendered frames). Using a plurality of processing elements to perform ray tracing and storing information in the shared memory cache which is likely to be reused for subsequent rays and subsequent frames, the performance of a ray tracing image processing system may be improved.
US08139054B2 Luminance compensation apparatus and method
A luminance compensation apparatus and method applied to an electronic apparatus are disclosed. The luminance compensation apparatus includes an environment detector, a processor, and a luminance compensation unit. The environment detector is for detecting environment luminance and outputting a luminance detection value accordingly. The processor is coupled to the environment detector for outputting a compensation parameter according to the luminance detection value. The luminance compensation unit is coupled to the processor for compensating luminance values of pixels of the multimedia data according to the compensation parameter and outputting compensated multimedia data. The method includes detecting environment luminance and obtaining a luminance detection value accordingly; generating a compensation parameter according to the luminance detection value; and compensating luminance values of pixels of the multimedia data and providing compensated multimedia data according to the compensation parameter.
US08139045B2 Display device having multi-touch recognizing function and driving method thereof
A display device having a multi-touch recognition function includes an integration module having a plurality of cameras integrated at an edge of a display panel; a look-up-table of a plurality of compensation angles in an range of about 0 to about 90 degrees corresponding to each of the plurality of cameras; and processor that detects a touch area using at least first and second images captured by the plurality of cameras, respectively, and compensates the detected touch area with one of the plurality of compensation angles.
US08139040B2 Method of operating a multi-point touch-sensitive system
A computer-implemented method in connection with a multi-touch detection system is disclosed. The multi-touch detection system includes a touch-sensitive device, a microcontroller coupled to the touch sensitive device, and an electronic application coupled to the microcontroller. The touch-sensitive device has multiple electrically isolated conductive regions. In response to detecting multiple simultaneous contacts a user has with the conductive regions, the touch-sensitive device generates multiple output signals, one signal for each of the multiple simultaneous contacts, and transmits the output signals to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to generate one or more control signals in response to the output signals and transmit the control signals to the electronic application. The electronic application includes a screen displaying multiple human-machine interactive objects. In response to the control signals, the electronic application alters the appearance of the human-machine interactive objects on the screen.
US08139037B2 Liquid crystal display device with touch screen
The invention provides a liquid crystal display device with a touch screen that does not reduce light transmittance but achieves cost reduction. The liquid crystal display device has liquid crystal material sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate. The second substrate has a planar transparent conductive layer on the front side. The transparent conductive layer is used as a transparent electrode of the capacitive touch screen. The transparent conductive layer is shaped to have four corners, and alternating voltage for position detection is supplied to each of the four corners.
US08139035B2 Touch sensitive keypad with tactile feedback
A keypad includes discrete keys formed by touch sensors or virtual keys on a touch sensitive area. The discrete or virtual keys are mechanically linked to a biased switch. The key that has been touched during a keystroke is identified through a signal from the touch sensors whilst a keystroke is recorded upon a signal from the biased switch. The combination of the touch sensors with a biased switch provides tactile feedback. The use of touch sensors or a touch sensitive area allows the keypad to be constructed with a substantially flush surface without parting lines.
US08139031B2 User controlled device for sending control signals to an electric appliance, in particular user controlled pointing device such as mouse or joystick, with 3D-motion detection
A user controlled device, movable into a plurality of positions of a three-dimensional space, includes a MEMS acceleration sensor to detect 3D movements of the user controlled device. The device, such as a mouse, sends control signals correlated to the detected positions to an electrical appliance, such as a computer system. A microcontroller processes the output signals of the MEMS acceleration sensor to generate the control signals, such as screen pointer position signals and “clicking” functions.
US08139029B2 Method and device for three-dimensional sensing
An apparatus (100) and method is provided that identifies and tracks a relative location and movement of an object in a three-dimensional space. The sensing unit includes a processor (122) for communicating a coordinate information of the object within the three-dimensional space. The method includes emitting a pulse from a first transducer (101), estimating a time of flight from a reflection signal received by a second transducer (102), and determining a location and relative movement of the object from the time of flight measurements. The sensing unit can provide touchless control via touchless finger depression actions, finger slide actions, finger release actions, and finger hold actions.
US08139024B2 Illuminator for emitting at least two lights having directivity and display apparatus using same
A display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel and an illuminator disposed at the back of the panel for emitting at least two illumination lights having directivities in different directions toward the panel. The illuminator includes a light guide plate made of transparent material whose one end surface serves as a light entrance end surface, whose one plate surface serves as a light exit surface, and whose other plate surface serves as a light direction changing surface for changing the advancing direction of light entering from the light entrance end surface. The light direction changing surface has a plurality of circular-arcing slanted surfaces shaped into semicircles formed on concentric circles centered at the center of the longer dimension of the light entrance end surface. Light emitting elements are disposed on the light entrance end surface at two positions on left and right sides of the center equidistantly apart therefrom.
US08139023B2 Brightness adjustable electrical apparatus
A brightness adjustable electrical apparatus is disclosed. The electrical apparatus comprises a lighting module, a control unit and at least one light emitting diode (LED). The control unit is electrically connected to the lighting module for lighting control. The LED is electrically connected to the control unit, wherein the LED has an indicating mode to indicate the working state of the electrical apparatus and a detecting mode to detect the surrounding light intensity.
US08139019B2 Brightness adjusting device and liquid crystal display having the same
A brightness adjusting device includes a multiplication circuit, which multiplies a vertical signal by a predetermined multiplication ratio to output a multiplication signal, a differential circuit that distinguishes between different multiplication signals, a serrated wave generator that charges/discharges a condenser according to a signal output from the differential circuit and generates a serrated wave having constant amplitude independently of a frequency of the multiplication signal, a brightness adjusting voltage generator that generates a reference voltage to determine a pulse duty, and a comparator that outputs a pulse signal by comparing a voltage of the serrated wave with the brightness adjusting voltage. The brightness adjusting voltage generator includes a circuit that outputs a variable voltage, and the multiplication circuit includes a circuit having a variable multiplication ratio.
US08139016B2 Method for improving the EMI performance of an LCD device
A method for improving the EMI performance of an LCD device is disclosed, adapting for a point-to-point transistor transistor logic interface of the LCD device. The disclosed method comprises the following steps: receiving a plurality of image data based on a data CLK signal; providing a first CLK signal and a second CLK signal to a plurality of source drivers by a timing controller, wherein the frequencies of the first CLK signal and the second CLK signal are smaller than the frequency of the data CLK signal, the phase of the first CLK signal is different from the phase of the second CLK signal; and the timing controller transmitting a plurality of first image data to the plurality of source drivers based on the first CLK signal, and the timing controller transmitting a plurality of second image data to the plurality of source drivers based on the second CLK signal.
US08139015B2 Amplification circuit, driver circuit for display, and display
An amplification circuit includes: an amplifier apparatus configured to amplify an input signal and outputting the amplified signal from an output terminal; and a boost circuit which, when a difference between a voltage of the input signal and a voltage at the output terminal is greater than a given value, supplies a positive or negative constant electrical current to at least one given part of the amplifier apparatus, thus enhancing output responsiveness of the amplifier apparatus.
US08139014B2 Skew adjustment circuit and a method thereof
Provided are a skew adjustment circuit and a method thereof. The skew adjustment circuit inputs an input clock signal and an input start pulse signal to output an output clock signal and an output start pulse signal which are delayed according to a skew value of a skew control signal. The skew adjustment circuit includes a delay circuit, a selection circuit, and an output circuit. The delay circuit delays an input clock signal by a skew value in response to a skew control signal to generate an output clock signal. The selection circuit compares the skew control signal and an offset control signal to select one of the input start pulse signal and a delayed start pulse signal to output the selected signal as a start pulse signal. The output circuit responds to the output clock signal to output the start pulse signal as an output start pulse signal.
US08139013B2 Method of driving image display
An image display according to the present invention includes a driving device which performs pulse width modulation drive, restrains power consumption, and produces a good multi-tone display. The image display makes the difference between the scan line voltage and the signal line voltage equal in positive polarity writing and negative polarity writing by which pixels are AC driven, so as to make the on-resistances of transistors equal. This allows a maximum pulse width, the size of switching elements, etc. to be determined first so that they match positive polarity writing in which the resistances value of the switching elements rise. No high frequency clock is required to produce subtle differences of charge ratio in negative polarity writing in which the resistances of the switching elements fall. Power consumption which depends on the clock frequency drops too.
US08139011B2 Liquid crystal display device and its driving method
A liquid crystal display device is disclosed comprising a display part, a scanning line driving circuit, a signal line driving circuit, a counter electrode driving circuit for providing counter electrodes with a counter electrode driving signal reversed in phase from a signal line driving circuit, an auxiliary capacitance having one end connected to an output end of each of switching elements, and an auxiliary capacitance line driving circuit for driving a plurality of auxiliary capacitance lines arranged in rows and has ends of such auxiliary capacitances in each row commonly connected thereto, wherein the auxiliary capacitance line driving circuit is adapted to apply a first voltage to the auxiliary capacitance lines for a first half cycle of the counter electrode driving signal and apply a second voltage thereto for a (p+½)th cycle after the first period of the counter electrode driving signal where p is 0 or a natural number, said auxiliary capacitance line driving circuit making the auxiliary capacitance line in a floating condition after said (p+½) th cycle during the remaining holding time.
US08139009B2 Transflective liquid crystal display panel and apparatus and method of driving the same
A transflective liquid crystal display panel includes a ferroelectric liquid crystal cell operating in a half V-switching mode. The ferroelectric liquid crystal cell includes a reflective portion and a transmissive portion. A cell gap of the reflective portion is similar to a cell gap of the transmissive portion. A voltage applied to the ferroelectric liquid crystal cell depends on a brightness level of ambient light.
US08139000B2 Light emitting device and electronic device
A TFT for controlling the amount of current flowing into a power supply line when an EL element does not emit light (electric discharge TFT) is provided in each pixel. When an EL driving TFT is turned ON to make an EL element emit light, the electric discharge TFT is turned OFF. On the other hand, the electric discharge TFT is turned ON when the EL driving TFT is turned OFF and no EL element emit light. Therefore variation of the difference in electric potential over the length of a power supply line depending on an image to be displayed is contained. Thus reduced is the difference in amount of current flowing into EL elements in adjacent pixels while the EL elements emit light, thereby avoiding crosstalk.
US08138999B2 Display device and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display device including a pixel array part configured to include scan lines disposed along rows, signal lines disposed along columns, and pixels that are disposed at intersections of the scan lines and the signal lines and arranged in a matrix, each of the pixels having at least a sampling transistor, a drive transistor, a switching transistor, a hold capacitor, and a light-emitting element; and a drive part configured to include a scanner and a driver, the driver supplying a video signal to the signal lines along the columns.
US08138990B2 Display apparatus for display of unreal image in front of vehicle
A vehicular display apparatus displays, as an unreal image at an on-road position in front of a vehicle, a bar-shaped image that indicates a distance from the on-road position to a spot for right/left turn in a guidance route. The unreal image is generated by using a liquid crystal panel via a windshield and seen by a driver by designating a display position of the bar-shaped image on the liquid crystal panel based on a distance from the vehicle to the spot and the distance from the on-road position to the spot. Further, based on an instruction operation of the driver, the display of the bar-shaped image is switched between (i) a first image and (ii) a second image, which is more blurry than the first image.
US08138983B2 Vehicle antenna unit
A vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a dielectric panel mounted to the vehicle frame, an antenna unit mounted on the dielectric panel, an electrically conductive bracket connected with the antenna unit, and a resilient ground plate connected with the bracket and the vehicle frame. The dielectric panel can be interposed between the antenna unit and the bracket. The resilient ground plate can facilitate grounding the antenna unit to the vehicle frame. A vehicle antenna unit and an antenna mount for the vehicle antenna unit are also disclosed.
US08138982B1 Munitions/artillery shell GPS multi-edge slot anti-jamming array
The present invention is a multi-element anti-jamming (A/J) antenna array. The antenna array includes a first multi-band GPS edge-slot antenna and a second multi-band GPS edge-slot antenna. The first edge-slot antenna and the second edge-slot antenna are configured for implementation within at least one of an artillery shell and a munition. The first edge-slot antenna and the second edge-slot antenna are each further configured for supporting L-band frequencies.
US08138966B2 Vehicular traffic surveillance doppler radar system
A vehicular traffic surveillance Doppler radar system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises a modulation circuit portion for generating modulated FM signals. An antenna circuit portion transmits the modulated FM signals to a target and receives the reflected modulated FM signals therefrom. A ranging circuit portion performs a quadrature demodulation on the reflected modulated FM signals and determines a range measurement based upon phase angle measurements derived therefrom.
US08138957B2 Direct digital frequency synthesizer using hybrid digital to analog converter and synthesizing method thereof
A direct digital frequency synthesizer and a synthesizing method thereof. The direct digital frequency synthesizer uses a hybrid digital to analog converter, which matches output data of a phase accumulator to a sine wave amplitude using a hybrid DAC, including a non-linear DAC and a linear DAC. The non-linear DAC outputs a direct base point current using some bits of output data of a phase accumulator, causing the linear DAC to output a gradient current based on gradient information generated using other bits of the output data of the phase accumulator. These currents are summed for the analog output.
US08138955B2 Pulse modulation devices and methods
An embodiment method of generating an output pulse stream comprises first pulse modulating a first multi-bit input term to generate a first one-bit pulse stream, using a bitwise logic AND to combine the first one-bit pulse stream and a second multi-bit term, thereby generating a multi-bit AND output, and second pulse modulating the multi-bit AND output to generate a one-bit output pulse stream representing a product of the first and second multi-bit input terms.
US08138934B2 System and method for false alert filtering of event messages within a network
When a metering coupled to a network loses its primary power source and has a secondary power source, such as a super-capacitor, it recognizes and reports a power outage. In this case, the head end server may verify the power outage report by querying through the downstream nodes coupled to the network about the power outage. When a node loses its primary power source and has no secondary power source, it will fail to make a regularly scheduled report at the appropriate time. Consequently, the head end server verify the power outage by polling downstream nodes coupled to the HAN about the power outage to deduce whether a power outage.
US08138932B2 Method and apparatus for verifying a leak in connection with a flow inhibitor
Exemplary embodiments relate to a method for verifying a leak situation in a liquid transfer system a system and a control unit for implementing the method. The liquid is transferred with a frequency-converter-controlled pump from a lower pressure to a higher pressure and where liquid is prevented from being transferred from a higher pressure to a lower pressure with one or more check valves positioned in a pipe system. The method includes generating, for the frequency converter, motion information on the motion of the pump between the motion operations, and indicating a leak situation of the check valve if the direction of operation of the pump is, in the motion information, opposite to the direction of operation during the use of the pump.
US08138923B2 RFID security system and method, including security stamp
Embodiments of an RFID security system and method are described herein. Embodiments include an RFID security server or appliance and RFID security software. In an embodiment, the RFID security server is placed between an RFID reader and an enterprise back-end. Thus the system operates at the point where the RFID data stream leaves the RF interface and enters a physical transmission medium before any other active components on the network (such as databases, middleware, routers). The RFID security server analyzes RFID tag data (including meta-data) received from the reader in-band and detects malware and errors in the data. RFID tag data containing malware or errors is blocked from entering the enterprise back-end. In an embodiment, analyzing RFID tag data includes generating a security stamp that is uniquely associated with the tag data. The security stamp is stored on the RFID tag, or alternatively, stored separately for later comparison in order to detect tampering.
US08138921B1 Reliable tag deactivation
A method for reliable deactivation of a security (EAS) tag, and an apparatus for accomplishing the same. The method generally includes placing a security tag a first distance from a deactivation apparatus; determining whether a deactivation confirmation signal has occurred; and when it is determined that the deactivation confirmation signal did not occur, placing the security tag closer to the deactivation apparatus. The deactivation apparatus generally includes a pad configured to transmit a deactivation pulse having a power sufficient to deactivate the security tag when it is within a deactivation field; a tag reader configured to detect a signal transmission from an active tag when it is in a read field of the deactivation apparatus; a confirmation indicator configured to indicate that the pad has sent the deactivation pulse; and logic configured to determine when an active tag is in the deactivation field or the read field, and communicate to the confirmation indicator that the pad has sent the deactivation pulse.
US08138918B2 Intrusion detection and tracking system
An intrusion detection and tracking system includes a plurality of nodes, a DP and a gateway. The nodes are disposed about an area and form a wireless network to be monitored, the nodes are configured to receive data and transmit data frames with a signal strength indicator and/or a link quality indicator in the frames. The DP is communicatively connected to the network and configured to analyze variations in the signal strength indicator and/or link quality indicator to detect and track disturbances to an electromagnetic field in the area. The gateway is configured to form a data link between the network and the DP.
US08138913B2 Panel system and method with embedded electronics
A system and method for a panel system containing embedded electronic elements providing both housing for the electronics and structural support. A preferred embodiment of the system is for a container security system, which is constructed into or conforming onto the roof, walls, door, or base of a cargo container is provided. The panel system may consist of a variety of electronic elements, batteries or power elements, sensors, a processing element to collect the sensor data, and a communications element to transmit outside of the container.
US08138912B2 Apparatus and method for providing a task reminder based on travel history
An apparatus for providing a task reminder to be performed at a task location includes a monitoring module that monitors a location of a user via a mobile communication device associated with the user at predetermined time intervals for tracking historical travel information of the user, and a data store for storing the historical travel information and for storing user specified task information that includes a task and a task location. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a reminder module that is configured to determine a reminder position as a position where an estimated probability of the user traveling from the reminder position at a particular time in a trajectory leading away from the task location exceeds an estimated probability of the user traveling from the reminder position at that same time in a trajectory leading toward the task location by a threshold value. The reminder module generates a reminder of the task when the reminder position is identified.
US08138910B2 Uninterruptible power supply unit
To allow multiple power line communication (PLC) devices to communicate with one another via power lines without being affected by the power supply state of an uninterruptible power supply unit coupled among the PLC devices. Multiple modem means 32 for transmitting or receiving a PLC signal are installed, each corresponding to a power receiving terminal 2 and one or more power supply terminals 3 in an uninterruptible power supply unit 1 in a one-to-one manner. Multiple low-pass filter circuit 7 and 18 for eliminating a PLC signal are installed to a power line between each of the multiple modem means 32 and a power supply circuit 10. Control means 40 and 41 transmit a PLC signal based on a PLC signal received by one of the multiple modem means 32 from at least one of the other modem means 32.
US08138909B2 Portable detection system and method
A method and apparatus for providing assay information to a portable detection unit, by way of a remote server in communication with the portable detection unit or a consumable with stored information for use with the portable detection unit. Global Positioning System (GPS) information is provided to a portable detection unit having a GPS receiver, so that the unit can determine its current position, including altitude. Based on the determined position, assays and parameters, such as PCR melt temperatures, can be selected. Assays to be performed by the portable detection unit can be selected based on the results of a prior assay.
US08138907B2 Travel assistant device
A travel assistant device to help individuals use transit systems. The device is particularly suited to help individuals with special needs (i.e. physical or mental disabilities) successfully navigate the transit system through cues that are delivered through the device. In certain embodiments the device utilizes a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled cell phone. The GPS features of the cell phone enable the location of a transit rider to be identified. The wireless communication features of the device allow positional data to be transmitted from the device to a geographic information system and to one or more interested parties to track the location of the transit rider. The device can be integrated with vehicle location systems of a transit system to coordinate the transit of the transit rider. In additional aspects the system facilitates the delivery of signal, cues or other communication to the transit rider to enable the rider to safely and effectively use the transit system without the immediate presence of a guide or supervisor.
US08138906B2 Vehicular display device and method of operation
An information presentation system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprises a transmission operable in a plurality of gear states. The system comprises a sensor adapted to detect a gear state of the transmission, an electronic control system adapted to operate the transmission and to detect a gear state of the transmission, and a display device coupled to the sensor and to the electronic control system. The display device is adapted to receive a first signal indicating the gear state of the transmission, to receive a second signal indicating the gear state of the transmission, and to adjust an arrangement of visual elements in a manner influenced by the first and second signals.
US08138902B2 System architecture for motor vehicles with enable interfaces for the start-up thereof
A system architecture for a motor vehicle has a control unit for identifying an authorized user and a gateway control unit for enabling at least one further data bus, and control units arranged on the at least one further data bus, following the identification of an authorized user. An external diagnostic interface contains a further identification unit and it is enabled and the data in the at least one further data bus system are thus accessible only after an authorized diagnostic tester has been identified.
US08138899B2 Rear camera backup assistance with touchscreen display using two points of interest
Assistance for a backup maneuver of a motor vehicle in which a first point of interest on the vehicle is moved toward a second point of interest remote from the vehicle. A rear contextual view is displayed on an electronic display obtained from a rearward directed image sensor on the vehicle. A zoom window is manually placed on the electronic display to include the second point of interest. The zoom window is enlarged, and the location of the second point of interest is manually identified within the enlarged zoom window. The identified location of the second point of interest is transformed into target positional coordinates. The rear contextual view redisplayed with a target icon at the target positional coordinates. The location of the first point of interest is manually identified on the rear contextual view and transformed into starting positional coordinates. A start icon is displayed at the starting positional coordinates in the rear contextual view. A target line is determined between the target positional coordinates and the starting positional coordinates. A path line icon is displayed in the rear contextual view corresponding to the determined target line. A bearing line is displayed in the rear contextual view extending from the start icon. The target positional coordinates are re-determined as the rear contextual view shifts during the backup maneuver. The target icon and the path line icon are updated in response to the re-determined target positional coordinates.
US08138883B2 System and method of training a transmit/receive system
A radio frequency transmitter is configured to send radio frequency messages to activate a remote system. Each message includes an encrypted counter value and a transmitter identifier. The transmitter is configured to send at least two of the messages having sequential encrypted counter values in response to a single user input.
US08138880B2 Persistent current switch
An improved persistent current switch design and method of operation are disclosed. By way of example, a persistent current switch circuit comprises a heating element and a switch element located proximate to the heating element, the switch element being substantially formed from a material (by way of example only, titanium) which exhibits a superconducting temperature value below a superconducting temperature value exhibited by a material (by way of example only, aluminum) used to provide a connection to the switch element. The switch element is responsive to the heating element such that the heating element is used to control whether or not the switch element is in a superconducting state. The switch element may also have a folded geometry. Such persistent current switches exhibit low power and low inductance.
US08138874B1 Nanomagnetic register
A nanomagnetic flip-flop, or register. The nanomagnetic register receives a signal from an input signal nanomagnet on a first clock cycle, and provides the input to an output signal nanomagnet on a second clock cycle. The input signal nanomagnet and the output signal nanomagnet are arranged on a substrate. Each of the signal nanomagnets has an easy axis and a hard axis that are substantially in a signal plane. A register nanomagnet is arranged on the substrate between the input signal nanomagnet and the output signal nanomagnet. The register nanomagnet has an easy axis and a hard axis that are substantially in a register plane. The register plane is not coplanar with the signal plane.
US08138872B2 Contact device
A contact device has a first yoke having a substantially U-shape, a second yoke bridged over both ends of the first yoke, a spool wound with a coil disposed between the first yoke and the second yoke, a movable iron core inserted into a center hole of the spool in a reciprocating mariner, and a contact mechanism unit formed above the second yoke driven with a drive shaft having a lower end fixed to the movable iron core, which reciprocates based on excitation and demagnetization of the coil, and an upper end projecting out from an upper surface of the second yoke. An insertion hole communicating to the center hole of the spool and through which the movable iron core reciprocates is formed in the first yoke. An annular auxiliary yoke including an insertion hole communicating to the insertion hole of the first yoke and through which the movable iron core reciprocates is provided at a lower surface of the first yoke.
US08138870B2 Solenoid and actuating element with solenoid
A solenoid with a coil which can be current-fed, the resulting magnetic field moving an armature. The armature acts, if necessary, on an actuator. Furthermore, the solenoid has at least one pyrotechnic actuation for the armature or the actuator.
US08138859B2 Switch for use in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and MEMS devices incorporating same
Embodiments of the present invention provide microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switching methods and apparatus having improved performance and lifetime as compared to conventional MEMS switches. In some embodiments, a MEMS switch may include a resilient contact element comprising a beam and a tip configured to wipe a contact surface; and a MEMS actuator having an open position that maintains the tip and the contact surface in a spaced apart relation and a closed position that brings the tip into contact with the contact surface, wherein the resilient contact element and the MEMS actuator are disposed on a substrate and are movable in a plane substantially parallel to the substrate. In some embodiments, various contact elements are provided for the MEMS switch. In some embodiments, various actuators are provided for control of the operation of the MEMS switch.
US08138856B2 High-frequency acoustic wave device
An acoustic wave device comprising a piezoelectric layer on an omnidirectional acoustic mirror and excitation and/or reception means on a surface of said piezoelectric layer, capable of exciting waves in a band gap of the acoustic mirror.
US08138847B1 Temperature and/or voltage independent voltage controlled oscillator with programmable gain and/or output frequency range
An apparatus comprising a transconductance control circuit, a boost control circuit, a current computation circuit and an oscillator circuit. The transconductance control circuit may be configured to generate a current control signal in response to (i) a voltage control signal and (ii) a plurality of range control signals. The boost control circuit may be configured to generate a current boost signal in response to a reference current signal and an enable signal. The current computation circuit may be configured to generate a first control signal and a second control signal in response to the current boost signal and the current control signal. The oscillator circuit may be configured to generate an output signal oscillating at a particular frequency in response to the first control signal and the second control signal.
US08138845B1 Method and apparatus for auto-frequency calibration for multi-band VCO
A method and apparatus for auto-frequency calibration for multi-band VCO have been disclosed where a VCO is first adjusted to a major frequency band and then adjusted to a sub-band within the major frequency band.
US08138841B2 Apparatus and method for controlling the output phase of a VCO
A method and apparatus controlling the output phase of a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator). The apparatus has a phase locked loop 20 having a first input 21 for receiving a reference signal and a second input 22 for receiving a feedback signal and the output for controlling of a VCO. A phase shifter 50 is provided on the feedback path between the VCO and the second input of the phase locked loop. The phase shifter is arranged for shifting the phase for feedback signal by controlled amount. The phase shifter may be a variable phase shifter for controlling and varying the amount by which the phase feedback signal is shifted.
US08138840B2 Optimal dithering of a digitally controlled oscillator with clock dithering for gain and bandwidth control
A digital phase locked loop (DPLL) and method include an adjustable delay line configured to receive a reference clock as an input and to output a dithered reference clock signal. A phase and frequency detector (PFD) is configured to compare the dithered reference clock signal with a feedback clock signal to determine phase and frequency differences between the dithered reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal. A digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) is configured to receive early or late determinations from the PFD to adjust an output in accordance therewith, wherein the dithered reference clock signal distributes jitter response to enhance overall operation of the DPLL.
US08138835B2 Wide band LNA with noise canceling
Techniques to improve low noise amplifiers (LNAs) with noise canceling are described. LNA includes a first and a second amplifier which work together to noise cancel the noise generated at an input stage circuit. The input stage circuit receives an RF signal and is characterized by a first node and a second node. The first amplifier converts a noise voltage at the first node into a first noise current at an output of the first amplifier. The second amplifier is directly coupled to the output of the first amplifier and provides noise canceling by summing the first noise current with a second noise current generated by the second amplifier as a function of the noise voltage at the second node. The proposed techniques eliminate the need for large ac coupling capacitors and reduce the die size occupied by the LNA. The elimination of ac coupling capacitors between amplification stages of the LNA allows current reuse resulting in reduced current consumption.
US08138815B2 Level converter
A level converter for providing an output signal at a circuit output based on an input signal includes an output coupling circuit formed to provide an output signal based on a first partial output signal and a second partial output signal, a driver circuit formed to provide the second partial output signal such that the second partial output signal is switchable between two different signal levels depending on the state of the input signal, wherein an input of the driver circuit is capacitively coupled to the input of the level converter in order to allow for switching between the signal levels of the second partial output signal by the capacitive coupling in response to a change in the state of the input signal, and a holding circuit formed to keep the state of the second partial output signal constant in case of a constant state of the input signal.
US08138809B2 Periodic signal delay apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to delay a periodic input signal in one or more delay elements of a group of delay elements to generate a periodic output signal and to vary a power supply to the delay elements. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08138793B1 Integrated circuit and method for operating the same
An integrated circuit includes a CML swing reference voltage generating unit, a CML bias control voltage generating unit and a CML buffering unit. The CML swing reference voltage generating unit determines a level of a CML swing reference voltage in response to a frequency setting code and a CML bias control voltage. The CML bias control voltage generating unit compares the level of the CML swing reference voltage with a level of a CML target reference voltage and determines a level of the CML bias control voltage based on the comparison result. The CML buffering unit generates a CML output signal swinging in a CML region by buffering an input signal and determines a swing level of the CML output signal on the basis of the level of the CML swing reference voltage in response to the frequency setting code and the CML bias control voltage.
US08138790B1 Latency measurements for wireless communications
In one embodiment, a programmable logic device (PLD) includes a programmable fabric and hard logic coupled to the programmable fabric. The hard logic includes a timing measurement circuit adapted to measure latency of a data path between first and second points in the programmable logic device, such as the latency of a data path through a link interface configured within the programmable fabric.
US08138788B2 Reconfigurable device
There is provided a reconfigurable device that includes a plurality of processing blocks (13), wherein operation logic of each processing block is changeable, and a routing matrix (15) for configuring paths that connect the plurality of the processing blocks. Each processing block (13) includes a logic operation unit (21) whose logic is determined by configuration data (17) and a storage unit (40) for storing processing results of the logic operation unit. Each storage unit (40) includes a plurality of storage elements (31r), input means (32) for selecting one of the plurality of storage elements (31r) based on the configuration data (17) to store the output of the logic operation unit (21), and output means (33) for connecting the plurality of storage elements (31r) to the routing matrix (15).
US08138779B2 Handler for electronic components, in particular IC's, comprising circulating units, the temperature of which can be controlled
A handler for electronic components, in particular IC's, for controlling the temperature of the components and supplying and removing said components to and from a test device has circulating units that can be moved along a circulating track. Each unit has at least one retaining unit for retaining a component. In addition, the circulating units have temperature-control chambers containing components that are retained by the retaining units, so that the temperature of the components can be controlled during transport from the charging station to the test station.
US08138775B2 CMOS-controlled printhead sense circuit in inkjet printer
A CMOS-controlled printhead sense circuit includes a CMOS control circuit module operable as a transmission gate switchable between first and second signal levels and a CMOS sense circuit module operable in a printhead sense mode in response to the CMOS control circuit module being switched to the first level and in a transparent mode in response to the control circuit module being switch to the second level. The CMOS control circuit module includes a combination of PMOS and NMOS FETs which define a CMOS switchable transmission gate. The CMOS sense circuit module includes a combination of PMOS and NMOS FETs which define respectively a switch device switchable between high and low states corresponding to the sense and transparent modes and a load enhancement device for the switch device.
US08138769B2 Method and device for measuring the thickness of a layer of material
Described herein is a method for measuring, via a microwave sensor, the thickness of a layer of first material, said method envisaging: acquiring at least one frequency response of the layer of first material via a microwave sensor; setting the microwave sensor on a plurality of specimens of second materials for different temperature values in such a way as to obtain reference data; calibrating the microwave sensor as a function of the electrical conductivity of the first material using the reference data; measuring the temperature of the layer of first material via a temperature sensor; determining measurement parameters from the frequency response; and processing the reference data with the measurement parameters to obtain a measurement of the thickness of the layer of first material.
US08138764B2 Test circuit for monitoring a bandgap circuit
A test circuit provided to monitor a bandgap circuit that outputs a bandgap reference voltage The test circuit includes a reference voltage test module to output a first pass signal when an operating voltage of the bandgap circuit is greater than a first threshold voltage; an output test module to output a second pass signal when an output voltage of the bandgap circuit is greater than a second threshold voltage; and an overdrive test module to output a third pass signal when a minimum operating voltage of the test circuit is detected. Furthermore, a logic circuit is provided and coupled to outputs of each of the test modules. The logic circuit is further configured to output an operating signal, which indicates that the bandgap reference voltage is stable, after receiving the first, second, and third pass signals.
US08138753B2 Measuring arrangement for detecting a 1/rotary momentum of an engine rotor, and associated method
A measurement system for detecting a rotary movement of a rotor that is situated in particular in rotatable fashion in a compressor housing of a jet engine, includes the rotor having vane elements that are preferably situated equidistant from one another on its periphery, and in addition at least one sensor being provided, and at least one material measure being fashioned on the rotor that can be periodically detected by the sensor due to the rotational movement, the material measure is formed by at least one modified vane element that is truncated in the area of the vane tip, the sensor outputting an identical measurement signal in each case when the vane elements travel past, and outputting a modified measurement signal when the modified vane element travels past.
US08138749B1 Optical imaging and patterning based on a magnetically controlled ferrofluid
Methods, systems, and apparatus for optical imaging and patterning based on a magnetically controlled ferrofluid are described. One such system includes a substrate and an active region including multiple magnetic field generators. The active region is positioned adjacent to the substrate. The system includes a ferrofluid positioned on the substrate adjacent the active region within a range of a magnetic field of the multiple magnetic field generators. The ferrofluid is distributed across multiple ferrofluid regions. Each magnetic field generator is aligned with a corresponding ferrofluid region.
US08138746B2 Physical properties detection device and physical properties detection method
A physical properties detection device comprising a probe to be placed near or touching a surface of a ferroelectric; an oscillation loop including the probe and capacitance within the ferroelectric; and detection means for detecting a physical properties of the ferroelectric on the basis of a frequency variation of a measurement signal generated in the oscillation loop, the frequency variation accompanying application of an alternating electric field to the ferroelectric; and the physical properties detection device is further comprising frequency conversion means for converting the frequency of the measurement signal to a low frequency and outputting the resulting signal as a converted measurement signal; frequency control means for controlling the frequency of the converted measurement signal so as to match a target frequency; frequency detection means for generating a frequency detection signal that has a signal level corresponding to the frequency of the converted measurement signal; and synchronous detection means for synchronously detecting the frequency detection signal on the basis of a synchronization signal.
US08138736B2 Power system having a local sense control dominant over a remote sense control to avoid effects of interconnection failure modes
A power system is configured to provide a regulated voltage to an electrical load connected to a power source through at least one power line. The power system includes a first voltage control loop based on a remote sense signal indicative of voltage level at the load. The power system further includes a second voltage control loop based on a local sense signal indicative of a level of output voltage at the power source. The voltage level of the local sense signal is generally at a higher voltage level relative to the voltage level of the remote sense signal. Circuitry is configured to pass just the signal with the higher voltage level to ensure that the local sense control loop is a dominant control loop with respect to the remote sense control loop. This avoids effects on the power source from one or more failure modes that can occur in interconnections of the system.
US08138724B2 Battery pulse charging method and apparatus
Disclosed herein are some embodiments for safely charging a mobile system battery pack, even when the power source (e.g., adapter) voltage is at a relatively high level that would otherwise result in excessive charge current.
US08138716B1 Portable multi-input remote AA battery chargers
A portable multi-input remote AA battery charger is provided that can recharge as many as eight (8) AA batteries at once within 100 minutes. This invention's battery charger for rechargeable batteries can also be powered by a number of the currently available military batteries such as the BA-8180, BA-8140, BA-5590, BA-5390, BB-390, BB-2590, and SP4 batteries. The portable multi-input remote AA battery charger includes at least two (2) battery chambers, slots for the AA batteries, a charging circuit, a housing, and a connector. A portable multi-input remote AA battery charger apparatus and a method for charging AA rechargeable batteries with a portable battery charger are also provided.
US08138713B2 Electrical energy storage device for solar cell
An electrical energy storage device for a solar cell includes at least one electrode substrate coated with a oxide or mixed oxides layer. When the electrical energy storage device is electrically connected with a receive unit of the solar unit in parallel, the electrical energy storage device can have the advantages of high electric energy density, enhancing the charging efficiency of the solar cell, and reducing the charging time of the solar cell.
US08138712B2 Motor drive system and its control method
A ripple detection unit detects a ripple current width of a motor current controlled according to PWM control. A ripple reference setting unit sets a reference value of the ripple current width. A frequency adjusting unit sets a control signal indicating a carrier frequency of the PWM control according to a ripple current width deviation. A carrier generation unit generates a carrier of the frequency based on the control signal. Thus, it is possible to realize feedback control of the carrier frequency for maintaining the ripple current width at an appropriate level.
US08138707B2 Bipedal walking robot
Provided is a bipedal walking robot which includes a linear actuator, which connects a crus link and a foot of each leg away from an ankle joint, for driving the foot to rock around the ankle joint with respect to the crus link according to a telescopic motion thereof. The robot is capable of applying a desired moment to the foot for walking on stairs without increasing the linear actuator in size. The linear actuator is disposed in such a way that a telescopic force therefrom acts on a line inclined backward with respect to a connection line connecting a knee joint and the ankle joint. Preferably, a connection portion, which is connected to the crus link, of the linear actuator is disposed backward than from the connection line, and a connection portion, which is connected to the foot, of the linear actuator is disposed forward from the connection line.
US08138703B2 Method and apparatus for constraining output torque in a hybrid powertrain system
A powertrain system includes a transmission operative to transfer power between an engine coupled to an input member and a plurality of torque machines and an output member, A method for controlling the powertrain system includes monitoring system operation and determining an output torque request, determining a closed loop speed error, determining motor torque offsets to the torque machines based upon the closed loop speed error, determining output torque constraints based upon the motor torque offsets and the system operation, determining an output torque command based upon the output torque request and the output torque constraints, determining preferred motor torque commands for the torque machines based upon the output torque command, reducing the preferred motor torque commands for the torque machines using the motor torque offsets to the torque machines, and adjusting the reduced preferred motor torque commands for the torque machines based upon the closed loop speed error.
US08138699B2 Power control system for vehicle disk motor
A brushless D.C. disk motor has one or more disk rotor assemblies and pairs of stator assemblies for each rotor assembly. Each disk rotor assembly has a disk and a plurality of permanent magnets distributed along two or more circular paths in the disk inboard of the peripheral edge of the rotor. Each stator assembly has a plurality of pole pieces and coils distributed along a mounting plate in corresponding circular paths. The disk is rotatably mounted to a support member; while the stator sub-assemblies are fixed to the support member. The coils are selectively activated by commutated power control signals generated in response to a vehicle condition parameter, such as vehicle speed or disk motor load, to optimize power drain from the source of electrical power in accordance with the value of the vehicle condition parameter.
US08138692B2 Epicyclotron
A magnetic field crosses non-uniform rotating electric radial fields which are generated between a central electrode and a series of circumferential outer electrodes. Synchronous charging and partial discharging is applied to the outer electrodes, generating a rotating non-axisymmetric field. Charged particles may then be accelerated and held in a circular orbit, regulated by the magnitude and frequency of the charging of the electrodes, with a radius given by Bqwr=Eq+mw2r. The circular beam of particles so formed may be used for a variety of applications, which also includes fusion energy applications due to the high kinetic energy possible in the apparatus and the mechanism of energy recovery of scattered particles. Isotopic separation by charge to mass ratio is also possible, the device being essentially a cyclotron with radial electrodes. A four-state ‘quad-stable’ formed from four inter-connected NOR-gate based flip-flops is also disclosed which provides the logic sequencing for the control of the synchronous charging cycles for embodiments of the invention.
US08138681B2 Driving circuit, LED head and image forming apparatus
In a driving circuit, a drive transistor supplies drive electric current to record elements to construct an array, and a reference electric current generating circuit that provides a control voltage to the drive transistor and controls the drive electric current, wherein the drive transistor is composed of a first PMOS transistor and a second PMOS transistor that are connected in series; and the reference electric current generating circuit has a resistance element and a operational amplifier that are used to set a reference electric current for deciding the control voltage, wherein an output of the operational amplifier is provided to a control terminal of the first PMOS transistor; and a drive electric current ON/OFF signal to control on/off of the drive electric current is provided to a control terminal of the second PMOS transistor.
US08138680B2 Light string with external resistor unit
An LED light string including a first loop, which further includes a first plurality of LEDs in series successively connected by first connecting wires, and at least one first resistor connected to two first resistor wires, the first two resistor wires removably connected to two of the first connecting wires in any portion of the first loop.
US08138679B2 Organic electroluminescent light emitting device for restoring normal operation after low-voltage errors
Provision of a light emitting device having functionality for restoring to normal even if a low-voltage error occurs, by temporarily applying a reverse current to a low-voltage error light emitting element using a direction inverting circuit, and repairing portions in which impedance has fallen by applying the current.An illuminating device of a light emitting device using a lamp (light emitting element) is provided with a control power source circuit for generating a control voltage, a step-down chopper circuit for converting a direct-current voltage into power needed for the lamps comprising organic electroluminescent elements as light emitting elements, a lamp current detecting circuit for detecting a current flowing to the lamps, a direction inverting circuit including a plurality of lamps and capable of inverting the direction of the connection of the plurality of lamps, a control circuit for generating a control signal for supplying desired power to the lamps, and the lamp current command circuit for controlling the current flowing to the lamps.
US08138677B2 Radial hall effect ion injector with a split solenoid field
A closed drift Hall Current accelerator with a split solenoid Hall field, a radial injection collimated gas source, an anode, intermediate Hall effect ionization magnetic field structures and intermediate acceleration electrodes, for injection of ions into the solenoid field. The Hall Effect field in this case is in the gap of the return field of the split solenoid magnetic field.
US08138673B1 Radiation shielding
Apparatus and method using a gas discharge device for shielding an object and/or person from electromagnetic (EM) radiation including radar, microwaves, X-rays, and/or gamma rays. The device comprises multiple gas discharge cells, each cell being within a gas-filled hollow shell. The gas is selected to absorb radiation particularly when the gas is in a discharge state. The shell may be composed of a radiation absorption material.
US08138667B2 Light emitting device having metal oxide layer and color filter
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting device that is high in color purity of light and is high in light extraction efficiency, where sputtering is used to form an electrode on an electroluminescent layer without damage to a layer including an organic material.The present invention provides a light-emitting device comprising a first light-emitting element that emits red light, a second light-emitting element that emits green light, a third light-emitting element that emits blue light, and a color filter, where the color filter comprises a first coloring layer that selectively transmits red light, a second coloring layer that selectively transmits green light, and a third coloring layer that selectively transmits blue light, the first to third light-emitting elements respectively correspond to the first to third coloring layers, wherein each of the first to third light-emitting elements has a first electrode, an electroluminescent layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the electroluminescent layer, and wherein the electroluminescent layer includes a layer in contact with the second electrode, and a metal oxide or a benzoxazole derivative is included in the layer in contact with the second electrode.
US08138666B2 Wavelength conversion member and light-emitting device
There are provided a wavelength conversion member including phosphors made of phosphor particles which are made of an oxynitride and/or a nitride and have a refractive index n1, and a coating which coats each of the phosphor particles and has a refractive index n2, and a medium having the phosphors dispersed therein and having a refractive index n3, the refractive index n2 of the coating being a value between n3 and n1, and a light-emitting device having the wavelength conversion member incorporated therein. It is preferable in the present invention that the coating is formed of a plurality of layers, and has its refractive index varying in a stepwise manner in a direction from a surface of each of the phosphor particles to an interface with the medium.
US08138658B2 Piezoelectric-ferroelectric actuator device
An actuator device is disclosed. The actuator device comprises a stack of piezoelectric-ferroelectric active layers separated by surface electrodes. At least a few of the surface electrodes are independently addressable such that at least two active layers are biasable by different voltages. In an embodiment of the invention, at least a few of the voltages induce a nonlinear ferroelectric effect.
US08138649B2 Magnet support and retention system for hybrid rotors
Disclosed is a rotor assembly for an electric machine includes a rotor core. The rotor core has at least one magnet slot with an increasing slot width as radial distance from a rotor shaft increases, and at least one slot lip extending at least partially across the slot width. The rotor assembly also includes at least one permanent magnet located in at least one magnet slot, the magnet having an increasing magnet width as radial distance from a rotor shaft increases. The rotor assembly further includes a retainer disposed in the magnet slot radially between the magnet and the at least one slot lip. Also disclosed is a method of securing at least one permanent magnet in a rotor assembly of an electric machine.
US08138648B2 Permanent magnet electric motor
A motor comprises a stator and a rotor (20) disposed within the stator. The stator comprises: a housing (31) having a polygon cross section that comprises a plurality of side portions (32a-32d) and a plurality of curved corner portions (33a-33d), each of the corner portions connect two adjacent side portions and curve around a center (O′) which is offset from the rotational center (O) of the rotor; and a ring magnet (34) fixed to the inner surface of the housing. An air gap (37) is formed between a peripheral surface of the rotor (35) and an inner surface of the ring magnet (34). The thickness of the ring magnet at portions corresponding to the corner portions (33a-33d) of the housing being larger than the thickness of the ring magnet at portions corresponding to the side portions (32a-32d) of the housing.
US08138644B2 Motor
A motor includes a plurality of bus wires of a common phase which are put together before being guided in a common passage to minimize the space arranged to guide the bus wires. Also, the bus wires of a common phase are easily insulated from those of different phases, and an axial height of the motor is reduced. Further, a radial width necessary to guide the bus wires is reduced, and an axial height of the motor including a sensor portion which detects a rotary position of the motor is reduced. Also, the bus wires are easily extended from the armature, and an amount of work required to connect the bus wires and the terminals is reduced. Furthermore, the connection terminal portion does not interfere with the bus wires when they are being guided.
US08138639B2 Linear vibrator
Disclosed herein is a linear vibrator. The linear vibrator includes a casing defining an internal space. A vibratory unit is accommodated in the casing to vibrate up and down. A spring is mounted at an upper circumferential end thereof to an upper surface of the casing and secured at a lower end thereof to an upper portion of the vibratory unit, thus elastically supporting the vibratory unit. An annular locking ring has a larger outer diameter than an outer diameter of the vibratory unit and an outer diameter of the spring so that the upper circumferential end of the spring is locked to the casing through press-fitting. A bracket supports the casing and the vibratory unit, with a circuit board being mounted on the bracket.
US08138624B2 Conversion device for automobile
A conversion device is provided for an automobile, including a conversion circuit, input port(s), output port(s), and a power flow sensor. The input port function to receive a power input. The conversion circuit includes a DC bus and a plurality of converters. An input side of the DC bus is connected to an input conversion module, and an output side of the DC bus is connected to a DC/DC converter, a DC/AC inversion converter, and a bi-directional DC/DC converter for converting the power input from the input port. The power flow sensor is connected between the input port and the input conversion module of the input side to sense and feed power flow of the power input from the input port to the conversion circuit for carrying out power conversion. The output port is connected to the converters of the output side for output of power. As such, the power input at the input port is converted by the conversion circuit and supplied through the output port and the power flow sensor detects the power flow of the input power at the input port to various power sources to continuously supply power to the automobile thereby providing practicability and convenience of ensuring continuous supply of power and substantially enhancing the cruising distance of the automobile.
US08138619B2 Non-grid-connected wind turbine with double-stator double-salient brushless dc-generator
Disclosed is a non-grid-connected wind turbine generator system with high power, low cost and high efficiency. The wind turbine generator system includes a wind rotor, a generator and a tower. The wind rotor is a fixed-pitch variable-rotation-speed wind rotor, the wind rotor shaft directly drives a rotor of the generator, and the generator is a power-controlled DC generator, a double-salient brushless DC generator, or a double-stator double-salient brushless DC generator. The rotation speed of the fixed-pitch wind rotor is directly controlled by a power-controlled generator and thereby the attack angle of wind rotor blade is controlled. When wind speed is greater than rated wind speed of the system, the wind rotor is controlled into a state of blade stall so as to limit power output of the wind rotor and effectively broaden the wind speed range of wind rotor.
US08138614B2 Semiconductor device having an antenna with anisotropic conductive adhesive
It is an object to provide a semiconductor device capable of transmitting and receiving data with a reader/writer and reducing breakdown or interference due to static electricity. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor integrated circuit, a conductive layer serving as an antenna that is connected to the semiconductor integrated circuit, and a substrate interposing the semiconductor integrated circuit and the conductive layer, where at least one of a layer forming the semiconductor integrated circuit, a layer covering the semiconductor integrated circuit, and the substrate is formed from a conductive polymer. In accordance with the above structure, wireless communication with a reader/writer is possible, and breakdown or malfunction in the semiconductor integrated circuit due to static electricity is reduced.
US08138610B2 Multi-chip package with interconnected stacked chips
A multi-chip package is provided that has at least a first, second and third chip, each comprising a top and bottom surface. The multi-chip package also has a package substrate for interfacing with a printed circuit board (PCB). The chips and the package substrate are housed within an encapsulation material. The bottom surface of the first chip is attached to the package substrate. The top surface of the first chip has a first plurality of landing pads, which serve as a mechanical and electrical interface between the first and second chip. The bottom surface of the second chip has a second plurality of landing pads that serve as a mechanical and electrical interface between the second and first chip. Additionally, the top surface of the second chip has a third plurality of landing pads that serve as a mechanical and electrical interface between the second and third chip.
US08138602B2 Solder interconnect pads with current spreading layers
Structure and methods of making the structures. The structures include a structure, comprising: an organic dielectric passivation layer extending over a substrate; an electrically conductive current spreading pad on a top surface of the organic dielectric passivation layer; an electrically conductive solder bump pad comprising one or more layers on a top surface of the current spreading pad; and an electrically conductive solder bump containing tin, the solder bump on a top surface of the solder bump pad, the current spreading pad comprising one or more layers, at least one of the one or more layers consisting of a material that will not form an intermetallic with tin or at least one of the one or more layers is a material that is a diffusion barrier to tin and adjacent to the solder bump pad.
US08138601B2 Ultrasonic measuring method, electronic component manufacturing method, and semiconductor package
The waveform signals of ultrasonic waves reflected by a plurality of interfaces in a measurement object are received, the waveform signal of a reflected wave on a reference interface inside the measurement object is detected based on the amplitudes of the received waveform signals, and evaluation is made on the bonded condition of an interface to be measured based on the waveform signal of the reflected wave on the reference interface.
US08138600B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device is provided, which is capable of improving mounting flexibility relatively and increasing general versatility, as well as realizing heat radiation characteristics and low on-resistance. Moreover, the semiconductor device is provided, which is capable of improving reliability, performing processing in manufacturing processes easily and reducing manufacturing costs. Also, the semiconductor device capable of decreasing the mounting area is provided. A semiconductor chip in which an IGBT is formed and a semiconductor chip in which a diode is formed are mounted over a die pad. Then, the semiconductor chip and the semiconductor chip are connected by using a clip. The clip is arranged so as not to overlap with bonding pads formed at the semiconductor chip in a flat state. The bonding pads formed at the semiconductor chip are connected to electrodes by using wires.
US08138596B2 Method for manufacturing an element having electrically conductive members for application in a microelectronic package
A microelectronic package (31) has a microelectronic device, which is encapsulated in a quantity of material (27), and a lead frame element (15) for enabling the microelectronic device to be electrically contacted from outside of the package (31). The lead frame element (15) comprises at least two elongated members (11) comprising electrically conductive material and a filling material (12) comprising electrically insulating material, wherein the members (11) are partially embedded in the filling material (12). The lead frame element (15) is manufactured by providing elongated members (11), positioning the members (11) according to a predetermined configuration, providing filling material (12) to spaces (13) which are present between the members (11), and possibly removing portions of the filling material (12) and the members (11) in order to expose the electrically conductive material of the members (11). An important advantage of manufacturing the lead frame element (15) on the basis of elongated members (11) and a filling material (12) is that no waste or only a small quantity of waste is produced.
US08138593B2 Packaged microchip with spacer for mitigating electrical leakage between components
A packaged microchip has a base, at least one spacer coupled to the base, and first and second microchips mounted to the at least one spacer. The at least one spacer is configured to substantially prevent leakage current between the first and second microchips.
US08138592B2 Planar array contact memory cards
A Planar Memory Module (PAMM) device comprising a generally planar card comprising a first side and a second side, the first side having a plurality of couplings and the second side having a plurality of connectors, a plurality of memory devices coupled to the card via a first portion of the plurality of couplings, and at least one hub chip coupled to the card via a second portion of the plurality of couplings. Each of the plurality of couplings is connected to an associated one of the plurality of connectors.
US08138590B2 Integrated circuit package system with wire-in-film encapsulation
An integrated circuit package system includes: connecting a carrier and an integrated circuit mounted thereover; preforming a wire-in-film encapsulation having a cavity; pressing the wire-in-film encapsulation over the carrier and the integrated circuit with the cavity exposing a portion of the integrated circuit; and curing the wire-in-film encapsulation.
US08138586B2 Integrated circuit package system with multi-planar paddle
An integrated circuit package system includes a multi-planar paddle having an uplift rim and an attached integrated circuit over the uplift rim of the multi-planar paddle.
US08138584B2 Method of forming a semiconductor package and structure thereof
An electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or electromagnetic radiation shield is formed by forming a conductive layer (34, 46) over an encapsulant (32). The conductive layer includes a combination of a conductive glue (38, 48, 52) and a metal paint (36, 50). A wire loop (30) is coupled to the conductive layer and a leadframe (10).
US08138578B2 Method and system for creating self-aligned twin wells with co-planar surfaces in a semiconductor device
A method and system for providing a twin well in a semiconductor device is described. The method and system include providing at least one interference layer and providing a first mask that covers a first portion of the semiconductor device and uncovers a second portion of the semiconductor device. The first and second portions of the semiconductor device are adjacent. The method and system also include implanting a first well in the second portion of the semiconductor device after the first mask is provided. The method and system also include providing a second mask. The interference layer(s) are configured such that energy during a blanket exposure develops the second mask that uncovers the first portion and covers the second portion of the semiconductor device. The method and system also include implanting a second well in the first portion of the semiconductor device after the second mask is provided.
US08138575B2 Integrated circuit including a reverse current complex
An integrated circuit and a production method is disclosed. One embodiment forms reverse-current complexes in a semiconductor well, so that the charge carriers, forming a damaging reverse current, cannot flow into the substrate.
US08138573B2 On-chip heater and methods for fabrication thereof and use thereof
An on-chip heater and methods for fabrication thereof and use thereof provide that the heater is located within an isolation region that in turn is located within a semiconductor substrate. The heater has a thermal output capable or raising the semiconductor substrate to a temperature of at least about 200° C. The heater may be used for thermally annealing trapped charges within dielectric layers within the semiconductor structure.
US08138569B2 Guard ring structures and method of fabricating thereof
A guard ring structure for use in a semiconductor device. The guard ring structure includes a semiconductor layer stack having a first layer and a second layer on top of the first layer, gates structures formed in the first layer; and guard rings formed in the first layer. The second layer has a dopant concentration that is higher than the dopant concentration of the first layer. The gates and the guard rings are formed simultaneously using a single mask.
US08138564B2 Image sensor unit and image sensor apparatus
An image sensor unit includes a fixed substrate, a movable substrate, an actuate section including an actuator for moving the movable substrate against the fixed substrate, an image sensor having an imaging surface on a front surface of the image sensor, and at least, a part of a rear surface of the image sensor being directly fixed onto the movable substrate, an external electrical connecting member for conducting a transmission and reception of signals between the actuate section and the image sensor and an outside of the image sensor unit, and an internal electrical connecting member electrically connects the actuate section, the image sensor and the external connection wiring, wherein the actuate section, the image sensor, the internal connection wiring and a part of the external connection wiring are sealed into the same space.
US08138559B2 Recessed drift region for HVMOS breakdown improvement
A high-voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor (HVMOS) device having increased breakdown voltage and methods for forming the same are provided. The HVMOS device includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate dielectric on a surface of the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode on the gate dielectric; a source/drain region adjacent and horizontally spaced apart from the gate electrode; and a recess in the semiconductor substrate and filled with a dielectric material. The recess is between the gate electrode and the source/drain region, and is horizontally spaced apart from the gate electrode.
US08138549B2 System for displaying images
A system for displaying images is disclosed. A display panel comprises a first substrate and a second substrate with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. A sealant is interposed between the first substrate and a second substrate for sealing the liquid crystal layer. A dielectric layer is overlying the first substrate. Metal lines are overlying the dielectric layer under and/or near the sealant. A planarization layer covers and contacts the dielectric layer and the metal lines to form a first interface between the metal lines and the planarization layer and a second interface between the dielectric layer and the planarization layer. Bridge lines without contacting the planarization layer are disposed under and/or near the sealant, instead of at least a portion of the metal lines contacting the planarization layer.
US08138542B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including an n-type semiconductor substrate, a p-type channel region and a junction layer provided between the n-type semiconductor substrate and the p-type channel region is disclosed. The junction layer has n-type drift regions and p-type partition regions alternately arranged in the direction in parallel with the principal surface of the n-type semiconductor substrate. The p-type partition region forming the junction layer is made to have a higher impurity concentration than the n-type drift region. This enables the semiconductor device to have an enhanced breakdown voltage and, at the same time, have a reduced on-resistance.
US08138541B2 Memory cells
Some embodiments include memory cells that contain floating bodies and diodes. The diodes may be gated diodes having sections doped to a same conductivity type as the floating bodies, and such sections of the gated diodes may be electrically connected to the floating bodies. The floating bodies may be adjacent channel regions, and spaced from the channel regions by a dielectric structure. The dielectric structure of a memory cell may have a first portion between the floating body and the diode, and may have a second portion between the floating body and the channel region. The first portion may be more leaky to charge carriers than the second portion. The diodes may be formed in semiconductor material that is different from a semiconductor material that the channel regions are in. The floating bodies may have bulbous lower regions. Some embodiments include methods of making memory cells.
US08138536B2 Semiconductor device having cylindrical lower electrode of capacitor and manufacturing method thereof
To provide a semiconductor device including: plural capacitors each including a cylindrical lower electrode having an internal wall and an external wall, and an upper electrode that covers the external wall of the lower electrode via a capacitance dielectric film; and a supporting film having a buried portion buried in an internal region surrounded by the internal wall of the lower electrode, and a supporting portion a part of which is positioned within the internal region and remaining parts of which are positioned at outside of the internal region. The supporting portion sandwiches an upper end of the lower electrode at both ends of the upper end by covering the internal wall and the external wall of the upper end of the lower electrode.
US08138534B2 Anti-reflection structures for CMOS image sensors
Optical structures having an array of protuberances between two layers having different refractive indices are provided. The array of protuberances has vertical and lateral dimensions less than the wavelength range of lights detectable by a photodiode of a CMOS image sensor. The array of protuberances provides high transmission of light with little reflection. The array of protuberances may be provided over a photodiode, in a back-end-of-line interconnect structure, over a lens for a photodiode, on a backside of a photodiode, or on a window of a chip package.
US08138532B2 Pin photodiode and manufacturing method of same
The objective of this invention is to provide a semiconductor device containing a photodiode and having stable, high sensitivity with respect to short wavelength light near 405 nm, and a manufacturing method for said semiconductor device. PIN photodiode (100C) has the following layers formed on silicon substrate (110): p-type silicon region (112), n-type silicon layer (114), field oxide film (118), silicon oxide film (120c) that covers the surface of the active region, and silicon nitride film (122c) that covers silicon oxide film (120c). Said field oxide film (118) contains extending portions (160) extending to the interior of the active region; the side portions of extending portions (160) are connected to silicon oxide film (120c), and the exposed surface portions of extending portions (160) become regions for hydrogen diffusion.
US08138525B2 Integrated circuit including at least three linear-shaped conductive structures of different length each forming gate of different transistor
A cell of a semiconductor device includes a substrate portion formed to include at least one p-type diffusion region and at least one n-type diffusion region separated by non-active regions. The cell includes a gate electrode level including a number of conductive features defined to extend in only a first parallel direction. Each of the conductive features within the gate electrode level is fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature. A width size of the conductive features within a five wavelength photolithographic interaction radius within the gate electrode level is less than a wavelength of light of 193 nanometers. Some of the conductive features form respective PMOS and/or NMOS transistor devices. A total number of the PMOS and NMOS transistor devices in the cell is greater than or equal to eight. The cell also includes a number of interconnect levels formed above the gate electrode level.
US08138515B2 Surface mounted LED structure and packaging method of integrating functional circuits on a silicon
The present invention relates to a surface mounted LED structure of integrating functional circuits on a silicon substrate, comprising the silicon substrate and an LED chip. Said silicon substrate has an upper surface of planar structure without grooves. An oxide layer covers the upper surface of the silicon substrate, and metal electrode layers are arranged in the upper surface of the oxide layer. The upper surfaces of said metal electrode layers are arranged with metal bumps, and the LED chip is flip-chip mounted to the silicon substrate. Two conductive metal pads are arranged on the lower surface of said silicon substrate, said conductive metal pads are electrically connected to the metal electrode layers on the upper surface of the silicon substrate by a metal lead arranged on the side wall of the silicon substrate. A heat conduction metal pad is arranged on the corresponding lower, surface of the silicon substrate just below the LED chip. Peripheral functional circuits required by LED are integrated on the upper surface of said silicon substrate. The structure of the present invention has advantages of good heat dissipation effect and small volume, and direct integration of functional circuits such as protection and drive circuits etc. in the silicon substrate achieves large-scale production package of wafer level, reducing the cost of packaging and lighting fixture.
US08138514B2 Side-view light emitting diode package having a reflector
Disclosed herein is a side-view light emitting diode package with a reflector. The side-view light emitting diode package of the present invention comprises first and second lead terminals spaced apart from each other. The package body supports the first and second lead terminals and has an elongated opening through which a light emitting diode chip mounting region and the first and second lead terminals are exposed. Reflectors are formed between the chip mounting region and sidewalls positioned in a major axis direction of the opening. Each of the reflectors has a height lower than that of the sidewall of the opening. Accordingly, light emitted from a light emitting diode chip can be reflected using the reflectors, thereby improving light emitting efficiency of the side-view light emitting diode package.
US08138510B2 Gallium nitride light emitting devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A gallium nitride (GaN) light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided, the method including sequentially forming a buffer layer and a first nitride layer on a silicon substrate, and forming a plurality of patterns by dry etching the first nitride layer. Each pattern includes a pair of sidewalls facing each other. A reflective layer is deposited on the first nitride layer so that one sidewall of the pair is exposed by the reflective layer. An n-type nitride layer that covers the first nitride layer is formed by horizontally growing an n-type nitride from the exposed sidewall, and a GaN-based light emitting structure layer is formed on the n-type nitride layer.
US08138503B2 Display substrate having a protruding barrier pattern
A display substrate includes a base substrate, a barrier pattern, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a semiconductor layer, an insulating layer, and a gate electrode. The barrier pattern protrudes from the base substrate. The source and gate electrodes are formed adjacent to opposite sides of the barrier pattern on the base substrate. The semiconductor layer is provided on the barrier pattern to connect the source electrode with the drain electrode, and the insulating layer covers the semiconductor layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode. The gate electrode is provided on the insulating layer, and is overlapped with the semiconductor layer.
US08138502B2 Light-emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
To prevent a point defect and a line defect in forming a light-emitting device, thereby improving the yield. A light-emitting element and a driver circuit of the light-emitting element, which are provided over different substrates, are electrically connected. That is, a light-emitting element and a driver circuit of the light-emitting element are formed over different substrates first, and then electrically connected. By providing a light-emitting element and a driver circuit of the light-emitting element over different substrates, the step of forming the light-emitting element and the step of forming the driver circuit of the light-emitting element can be performed separately. Therefore, degrees of freedom of each step can be increased, and the process can be flexibly changed. Further, steps (irregularities) on the surface for forming the light-emitting element can be reduced than in the conventional technique.
US08138495B2 Film stress management for MEMS through selective relaxation
An apparatus comprising a microelectromechanical system. The microelectromechanical system includes a crystalline structural element having dislocations therein. For at least about 60 percent of adjacent pairs of the dislocations, direction vectors of the dislocations form acute angles of less than about 45 degrees.
US08138491B2 Self-aligned nanotube field effect transistor
A self-aligned carbon-nanotube field effect transistor semiconductor device comprises a carbon-nanotube deposited on a substrate, a source and a drain formed at a first end and a second end of the carbon-nanotube, respectively, and a gate formed substantially over a portion of the carbon-nanotube, separated from the carbon-nanotube by a dielectric film.
US08138490B2 Variable resistance non-volatile memory cells and methods of fabricating same
Methods of fabricating integrated circuit memory cells and integrated circuit memory cells are disclosed. An integrated circuit memory cell can be fabricated by forming an ohmic layer on an upper surface of a conductive structure and extending away from the structure along at least a portion of a sidewall of an opening in an insulation layer. An electrode layer is formed on the ohmic layer. A variable resistivity material is formed on the insulation layer and electrically connected to the electrode layer.
US08138483B2 Method of measuring phase of phase shift mask
In a method of measuring a phase of a phase shift mask, initial extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light is divided into secondary EUV light portions. The secondary EUV light portions are irradiated onto the phase shift mask as incident EUV light portions, and the phase of the phase shift mask is measured from reflected incident EUV light portions.
US08138477B2 THz investigation apparatus and method
Apparatus for measurement of a sample comprises means for generating electromagnetic radiation comprising a photoconductive device, the generating means is arranged to generate an output signal comprising electromagnetic radiation in dependence upon radiation received by the photoconductive device and to transmit the output signal towards a sample space, the apparatus further comprises a first radiation source and a second radiation source, arranged such that the radiation received by the photoconductive device comprises a mixture of radiation from the first radiation source and radiation from the second radiation source, control means for varying the frequency of the electromagnetic radiation of the output signal by varying the temperature of the first radiation source and/or the temperature of the second radiation source, and detecting means for detecting a response signal.
US08138476B2 Refraction assisted illumination for imaging
Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods of imaging subsurface features of objects. An illumination source may be directed towards a surface of an object comprising subsurface features at a first angle relative to the normal of the surface. The object may have a portion between the subsurface features and the surface that has an index of refraction that is greater than the index of refraction of a surrounding medium. An imaging device may be placed with an objective lens oriented substantially normal to the surface. The first angle may be larger than an acceptance angle of the objective lens.
US08138462B2 Resetting a row driven imager pixel
An imaging system includes a pixel that does not require a row select transistor. Instead, an operating voltage is selectively provided to the pixel's readout circuitry, and the readout circuitry provides output signals based on charge or voltage of a storage node. The operating voltage can be selectively provided to each row of a pixel array by a row driver. Each pixel includes a source follower transistor that provides an output signal on a column output line for readout. An anti-blooming transistor may be linked to each pixel's photosensor to provide an overflow path for electrons during charge integration, prior to transfer of charge to the pixel's storage node by a transfer transistor. Electrons not produced by an image are introduced to the photosensor prior to image acquisition, filling traps in the photosensor to reduce image degradation.
US08138459B2 Large kitchen professional oven with improved lighting
A dual-heating oven includes a cavity heated by both microwaves and at least one of convection or steam, a source for lighting the cavity and a door for closing the cavity. The door includes a first internal sealing glazing, a second intermediate internal glazing, a metal screen sandwiched between the first internal sealing glazing and the second intermediate internal glazing and a third external glazing for general protection. The lighting source is mounted on the door substantially in the plane of the second intermediate glazing.
US08138441B2 Step-down plunge electrodischarge machining
A method of machining a pattern at a plurality of locations in a workpiece includes positioning a shaped electrode including the pattern at the plurality of locations in a sequence. In some embodiments, the sequence is random. The method further includes forming the pattern at each of the plurality of locations by passing electrical charges repeatedly between the shaped electrode and the workpiece and advancing the shaped electrode into the workpiece for a fraction of a full depth of the pattern. The method further includes repeating the positioning and forming steps a plurality of times until the full depth of the pattern has been formed at each of the plurality of locations.