Document Document Title
US08544111B2 Activating licensable component provided by third party to audio video device
An audio-video display device can download from a third party server a licensable component on which a royalty is to be paid. Various methods are disclosed for accounting for royalties associated with downloading the licensable component to the client device between the third party server and a client device manufacturer server.
US08544109B2 Methods and systems involving survey administration
A method includes authorizing a user to participate in a survey, generating a key associated with a user identifier and a survey identifier, sending the key to a user terminal, directing the user terminal to a survey uniform resource locator (URL), connecting communicatively with the user terminal via a second URL, determining whether the second URL designates the survey as completed, retrieving the encrypted key from the user terminal responsive to determining that the second URL designates the survey as completed, and updating the status of the survey in a memory responsive to verifying the integrity of the encrypted key.
US08544100B2 Detecting secure or encrypted tunneling in a computer network
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a computer assisted method for detecting encrypted tunneling or proxy avoidance which may include electronically receiving information from a proxy server, extracting information regarding a CONNECT function of Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP) from the electronically received information, determining at least one destination to which the extracted information regarding the CONNECT function of HTTP corresponds and attempting to negotiate a standard HTTPS session with each of the at least one destination. Further, the computer assisted method may further include, for each of the at least one destination, determining whether the destination is hosting an encrypted tunneling or proxy avoidance application, wherein such a determining may be based on characteristics of an Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate associated with the destination or a response received from the destination over a TCP/IP connection.
US08544097B2 Attachment chain tracing scheme for email virus detection and control
An automated email virus detection and control scheme using attachment chain tracing (ACT) technique is provided. Based on conventional epidemiology, ACT detects virus propagation by identifying the existence of transmission chains in the network. It uses contact tracing to find epidemiological links between hosts. A soft-quarantine scheme controls virus propagation by detecting and quarantining without virus signature information. A progressive immunization strategy uses transmission chain information to guide the immunization process.
US08544096B2 On-access and on-demand distributed virus scanning
On-demand and on-access anti-virus scan requests are distributed over a plurality of virus checkers for on-demand anti-virus scanning concurrent with on-access anti-virus scanning. For example, the on-demand requests are grouped into chunks of multiple requests, and the on-demand and on-access requests are combined in a queue. Scanning for requests from a prior chunk are completed before distributing the requests for a next chunk. To give priority to the on-access requests, the on-demand requests are not placed on the queue unless the number of requests on the queue is less than a threshold. An on-access request is placed on the queue in response to a request for user access to the file. On-demand requests are produced in response to a request from a system administrator for anti-virus scanning of the files in a specified file system.
US08544095B2 System and method for server-coupled application re-analysis
To prevent malware, spyware and other undesirable applications from affecting mobile communication devices (e.g., smartphones, netbooks, and tablets), a device uses a server to assist in identifying and removing undesirable applications. When scanning an application, a device transmits information about the application to a server for analysis. The server receives the information, produces a categorization assessment and can provide a categorization re-assessment, and transmits the assessment to the device. By performing analysis on a server, a device can reduce its battery and performance cost of protecting against undesirable applications. The server transmits notifications to devices that have installed applications that are discovered to be undesirable. The server receives data about applications from many devices, using the combined data to minimize false positives and provide comprehensive protection against known and unknown threats. The server can accumulate this data and perform a categorization re-assessment of a data object previously assessed.
US08544087B1 Methods of unsupervised anomaly detection using a geometric framework
A method for unsupervised anomaly detection, which are algorithms that are designed to process unlabeled data. Data elements are mapped to a feature space which is typically a vector space . Anomalies are detected by determining which points lies in sparse regions of the feature space. Two feature maps are used for mapping data elements to a feature apace. A first map is a data-dependent normalization feature map which we apply to network connections. A second feature map is a spectrum kernel which we apply to system call traces.
US08544079B2 Method and arrangement for providing security through network address translations using tunneling and compensations
This invention provides a method for providing network security services, such as those provided by the IPSEC protocol, through network address translation (NAT). The method is based on determining the transformations that occur on a packet and compensating for the transformations. Because only TCP and UDP protocols work through NATs, the IPSEC AH/ESP packets are encapsulated into UDP packets for transport. Special operations are performed to allow reliable communications in such environments.
US08544076B2 Using a trusted token and push for validating the request for single sign on
Providing access to an enterprise application from a telecommunications device via a client, through a device server, and an intermediate application gateway (IAG), is disclosed. The server is communication with the client and the IAG. The IAG and client are in indirect communication via the server. The client is operative to request an enterprise application token from the IAG using a dataset comprising a device identifier and a user identifier, without concurrently prompting a user for the dataset. The IAG is operative to prepare a token in response to the request, and push the token to an e-mail address associated with the telecommunications device via the server's push proxy gateway. The client is operative to employ the token in communications addressed to an enterprise application via the server and the IAG. The IAG is operative to replace the token in each communication with identification information called for by the enterprise application.
US08544074B2 Federated realm discovery
A federated realm discovery system within a federation determines a “home” realm associated with a portion of the user's credentials before the user's secret information (such as a password) is passed to a non-home realm. A login user interface accepts a user identifier and, based on the user identifier, can use various methods to identify an account authority service within the federation that can authenticate the user. In one method, a realm list of the user device can be used to direct the login to the appropriate home realm of the user. In another method, an account authority service in a non-home realm can look up the user's home realm and provide realm information directing the user device to login at the home realm.
US08544067B2 System and method for authenticating web users
Disclosed are systems and methods for authenticating web users. In one embodiment, a method includes sending the destination web page to the parent frame of the web browser, where the destination web page when processed by the web browser is operable to perform operations, including determining if the web user is authenticated with the content provider and generating a child frame associated with the parent frame if the web user is not authenticated with the content provider. The destination web page is operable to perform further operations, including requesting, by the child frame, an authentication web page from an authorization provider, receiving, by the child frame, the authentication data from the authorization provider, and receiving, by the parent frame, the authentication data.
US08544054B2 System and method for remote device pairing
A system and method for optimizing pairing between a remote device and a plurality of devices including establishing a list of pairing-capable devices, the list comprising a portion of the plurality of devices, measuring a plurality of link qualities between the remote device and the pairing-capable devices, comparing, with a processor, the plurality of link qualities with one another and determining a highest link quality, selecting, by a computing device, an available pairing-capable device having the highest link quality, pairing with the selected device, and controlling a presentation device, the controlling including checking if the selected device is the associated device and where the selected device is not the associated device, relaying commands via the network to the associated device.
US08544048B2 System for content delivery
A system for and method of transmitting audio and visual programming content, by identifying an amount of broadcast transmission capacity available for transmitting the content to one or more users. The content is separated into at least first and second portions based on user demand for the content and/or the identified available broadcast transmission capacity. The first portion of the content is transmitted, to a receiver/STB associated with at least one of the users, using the identified broadcast transmission capacity; and the second portion of the content is transmitted to the receiver using transmission other than broadcast transmission. The content can include nonlinear content. Transmission other than broadcast transmission can include unicast transmission, which can be in response to a user request and/or an initiation by a server. The received nonlinear content can be stored at the receiver for play back at a time different from the time of transmission.
US08544037B2 Digest creating method and device
An apparatus includes an input unit to which replay information including a broadcasting section of a replay video and a reference section representing an actual filming time zone, and information for designating a length of a digest are input; a replay importance degree computing unit that obtains the number of replays, an interval between predetermined positions of the replay broadcasting section and the replay reference section, a time length of replay broadcasting, speed of replay broadcasting, the number of cut switches of the replay from the replay information, and computes the importance degree of the replay video on the basis of these items; and a digest creating unit that sets the replay video as a digest candidate, and selects a combination of the digest candidates based on a length condition of the digest and a composite importance degree of the combination of digest candidates.
US08544031B2 Use of modes for computer cluster management
A system, method and computer program product for managing a plurality of applications in a computer cluster. Each application is able to run on a particular node in the cluster. In one embodiment, associations are maintained among a plurality of modes and the plurality of applications, with each application being associated with at least one mode. Responsive to designation of at least one mode as active for the cluster, each application that is associated with an active mode is flagged as eligible for activation, each inactive application that is not associated with any active mode is flagged as ineligible for activation, and each active application that is not associated with any active mode is flagged as ineligible for activation and inactivated. Flagging as eligible, flagging as ineligible and flagging as ineligible and inactivating may be performed in any order, and inactivating is sequenced according to dependencies among the applications.
US08544028B2 Extracting and processing data from heterogeneous computer applications
A computer-implemented method, system, and article of manufacture for extracting and processing event data from heterogeneous computer applications. The method includes providing a computer system having software modules for performing the steps of: receiving data related to a first event; identifying a data type of the first event based on data type definitions; selecting a set of extraction rules for extracting an attribute of an event having the identified data type; extracting the first attribute from the first event data based on the set of extraction rules; and mapping the first attribute to an event attribute of a unified structure.
US08544023B2 Management interface for a system that provides automated, real-time, continuous data protection
A data management system that protects data into a continuous object store includes a management interface having a time control. The time control allows an administrator to specify a “past” time, such as a single point or range. When the time control is set to a single point, a hierarchical display of data appears on a display exactly as the data existed in the system at that moment in the past. The time control enables the management interface to operate within a history mode in which the display provides a visual representation of a “virtual” point in time in the past during which the data management system has been operative to provide the data protection service.
US08544022B2 Transactional memory preemption mechanism
Mechanisms for executing a transaction in the data processing system are provided. A transaction checkpoint data structure is generated in internal registers of a processor. The transaction checkpoint data structure stores transaction checkpoint data representing a state of program registers at a time prior to execution of a corresponding transaction. The transaction, which comprises a first portion of code that is to be executed by the processor, is executed. An interrupt of the transaction is received while executing the transaction and, as a result, the transaction checkpoint data is stored to a data structure in a memory of the data processing system. A second portion of code is then executed. A state of the program registers is restored using the data structure in the memory of the data processing system in response to an event occurring causing a switch of execution of the processor back to execution of the transaction.
US08544020B1 Cooperative preemption
Preempting the execution of a thread is disclosed. Preempting includes receiving an indication that a preemption of the thread is desired and context switching the thread out at a thread safe point in the event that a thread safe point is reached.
US08544015B2 Dynamic resource allocation using a resource configuration effort score
A provisioning method and a corresponding apparatus for managing a data processing system including a plurality of exploiter entities and a plurality of resources, the system maintaining a repository with system requirements of the plurality of exploiter entities. The provisioner monitors any possible needs for further resources of the exploiters. When such needs arise, the provisioner select an available resource within a pool of possible available resources. Such selection is done so that the effort for configuring the resource according to exploiter requirements is reduced. One feature of the method of the present invention is that two levels of requirements are defined: the “Hard Properties”, i.e. those system features which cannot be easily configured; and the “Soft Properties”, i.e. those features which can be easily configured. Of course the definition of Hard and Soft can be customized according to predetermined conditions. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Hard Properties are those features which cannot be automatically configured and which may require an operator intervention or long awaiting times, while Soft Properties are those which can be automatically modified.
US08544006B2 Resolving conflicts by restarting execution of failed discretely executable subcomponent using register and memory values generated by main component after the occurrence of a conflict
A method and apparatus for speculatively executing a single threaded program within a multi-core processor which includes identifying an idle core within the multi-core processor, performing a look ahead operation on the single thread instructions to identify speculative instructions within the single thread instructions, and allocating the idle core to execute the speculative instructions.
US08544003B1 System and method for managing virtual machine configurations
A method in one example implementation includes receiving a plurality of command messages through a control channel and reconstructing the command messages to determine an intended command for one or more virtual machines on a server device. The command messages include one or more criteria and the intended command corresponds to an operation defined in a policy database. The method also includes determining whether the corresponding operation is permitted by comparing one or more policies associated with the operation to the one or more criteria. The method further includes sending the command messages to the server device if the operation is permitted. In more specific embodiments, the operation may include one of creating, cloning, deleting, starting, stopping, and modifying the one or more virtual machines.
US08544001B2 Gaming software providing operating system independence
Systems and methods provide a gaming machine and server framework environment that is operating system independent. One aspect of the systems and methods includes providing a set of framework components that present a common interface regardless of the underlying operating system used on the gaming machine or server. A further aspect of the systems and methods include various plug-in services (320) that use the framework (302) to communicate and interact with one another. A still further aspect includes providing an emulator providing the ability for a gaming application or service designed for one operating system to be run on different operating system.
US08543997B2 Secure dynamic loading
A method for loading, installing and running software, called loading units, having different levels of confidence by a data processing unit (1). The method includes at least associating at least one structure of information data concerning security requirements and characteristics of this loading unit with each loading unit (2, 3, 7); associating a dynamic data structure (10) representative of the state of security in the data processing unit (1) to the data processing unit (1); validating the security requirements and characteristics of each loading unit (2, 3, 7) with regard to the state in the data processing unit (1) contained in the dynamic data structure (10via an autonomous security module (9), and; if the validation is positive, authorizing, via the security module (9), the loading, installation or running of the loading unit (2, 3, 7).
US08543990B2 Methods and apparatus for testing software with real-time source data from a projectile
Methods and apparatus for testing software with real-time source data from a projectile according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a real-time data source, a signal processor, a recordable medium, and a testing platform. The signal processor receives real-time data from a real-time data source during a test and saves it to a storage medium before providing the real-time data to the testing platform for permanent storage. During a subsequent test, the testing platform may upload the saved real-time data to the signal processor foregoing the need to generate new real-time data from the real-time data source.
US08543989B2 Program evaluation apparatus and program evaluation method
An apparatus for evaluating a performance of a program includes: a storage unit for storing the program embedded with a plurality of trace statements; a processor executes a process including: executing the program embedded with a plurality of trace statements cyclically; calculating each time intervals of each cycle of execution of the program from a start test program till an end program; and evaluating the performance of the program on the basis of information of the time intervals.
US08543986B2 Methods and systems for test automation of forms in web applications
A method includes accessing a page of Web application that includes an interactive form having at least one field for entry of data, the interactive form rendered by the Web application based on code for the interactive form. The method also includes extracting input validation code from the code, the input validation code including at least one constraint on data entered into the at least one field. The method additionally includes extracting the at least one constraint based on an analysis of the input validation code and solving, for the at least one field, for a string value based at least on the at least one constraint for the at least one field. The also includes automatically entering, into the at least one field, the string value. The method additionally includes automatically submitting the interactive form, including the string value entered into the at least one field.
US08543982B2 Delivering financial services to remote devices
A financial institution can provide financial services to a plurality of remote devices, such as personal computers, personal data assistants, screen phones, automatic teller machines, external service providers, and internally to staff terminals and individual branches. By separating the components of the system into independent components, the system and method can be developed and tested on a component level rather than the entire system level, thereby reducing the development and maintenance cycle time. The system and method operate in sessions and can employ a dialog component for gathering information from a customer, a rule broker component for providing answers to the various legal and regulatory rules in a particular country, a language man component for selecting appropriate language, a transaction executor component for performing transactions, and a presentation manager component for formatting outputs to the customer.
US08543981B2 State driven test editor
A test script editor that easily can be used by anybody in the development team, including non-programmer business analyst testers. The test script editor enables building maintainable and stable test scripts by simple selecting from a set of accessible actions (a combination of the test object and the associated test method). The accessible actions can be calculated by application state engine by calculating all state transitions of preceding actions and subsequent actions in the script. The test script editor can provide context sensitive navigation help for appending steps at the end of the script, inserting steps within the script, changing existing steps and deleting steps.
US08543979B2 Method and system for checking the consistency of application JAR files
A computer method and system dynamically provide consistency of JAVA application files. A processor executed routine is configured (e.g., instrumented as an agent) to intercept each class that is loaded into a subject JAVA application or JVM. The system computes a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the respective JAR file surrounding the loaded class. The system compares the computed CRC value to a CRC value of at least one other copy of the respective JAR file. Based on the comparison, the system determines consistency (e.g., same version) of the multiple copies of the respective JAR file used by the subject Java application. If the multiple copies of the respective JAR file are determined to be inconsistent, the system alerts the user and/or enables the application to abort.
US08543978B2 Systems and methods for creating software
Software generates interfaces and functionality for an application program. At least a portion of an application is created by given names to data elements according to a syntax. Data tables are generated having fields that correspond to the elements and characteristics are associated with the fields specifying how the data in the fields interact with each other. Relationships among the elements are inferred as a function of their names. A functional interface can be generated from the inferred relationship.
US08543974B2 Plan-based program slicing
A method for generating a slice from a plan-based representation of a program is provided. The method comprises constructing a plan representation of a program, wherein the plan representation comprises a plurality of nodes, edges, and ports; and receiving one or more slicing criteria from a user. The slicing criteria comprise one or more variable occurrences or statements from the program, according to which a slice is generated from the plan representation.
US08543971B2 Specifying on the fly sequential assembly in SOA environments
A method and system for defining an interface of a service in a service-oriented architecture environment. Definitions of atomic tasks of a request or response operation included in a service are received. Unique identifiers corresponding to the atomic tasks are assigned. A sequence map required to implement the service is received. The sequence map is populated with a sequence of the assigned unique identifiers corresponding to a sequence of the atomic tasks of the operation. At runtime, an interface of the service is automatically and dynamically generated to define the service by reading the sequence of unique identifiers in the populated sequence map and assembling the sequence of the atomic tasks based on the read sequence of unique identifiers.
US08543968B2 System and method for creating, managing, deploying and archiving data-intensive applications and projects
According to the present invention, there is provided an integrated application design, management, and deployment method, including the steps of: defining and displaying the navigational and data-related parameters of an application; controlling the overall functionality and operation of the process; initiating and running an application; and storing and referencing all data associated with an application. The present invention also provides an integrated electronic application design, management, and deployment system, including a design mechanism for intuitively defining and displaying the navigational and data-related parameters of an application; a management mechanism for controlling the overall functionality and operation of the system; a deployment mechanism for initiating and running an electronic application; and an archiving mechanism for storing and referencing all data associated with an electronic application.
US08543967B2 Computer system and method for determining a temperature rise in direct current (DC) lines caused by joule heating of nearby alternating current (AC) lines
A computer system performs a verification process that quickly and efficiently determines a temperature rise of DC conductor lines of an IC design caused by Joule heating in nearby AC conductor lines of the IC design, and whether the temperature rise is acceptable in terms of an electromigration performance of the IC design.
US08543963B2 Global leakage power optimization
Some embodiments provide techniques and systems for optimizing a circuit design's global leakage power. During operation, the system can determine leakage potentials for logic gates in the circuit design, such that a logic gate's leakage potential indicates an amount or degree by which the logic gate's leakage power is decreasable. The system can then determine a processing order for processing the logic gates based at least on the leakage potentials. Next, the system can optimize the circuit design's leakage power by attempting to decrease leakage power of logic gates according to the processing order.
US08543959B2 Bonding controller guided assessment and optimization for chip-to-chip stacking
A method, system, and computer program product for performance-based chip-to-chip stacking are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A first candidate chip is selected from a set of candidate chips for stacking, each candidate chip in the set of candidate chips including an integrated circuit. A part of a 3D performance determinant is activated in the first candidate chip. A value of a performance parameter is measured for a set of operating conditions. A stacked performance value is computed for the first candidate chip using the value. A subset of the set of candidate chips is stacked in a stack, the subset including the first candidate chip, such that a combined value of the performance parameter for the subset when stacked in a first order is within a defined range of values for the performance parameter.
US08543955B1 Apparatus and methods for time-multiplex field-programmable gate arrays
A time-multiplexed field programmable gate array (TM-FPGA) includes programmable logic circuitry, programmable interconnect circuitry, and a plurality of context registers. A user's circuit can be mapped to the programmable logic circuitry, the programmable interconnect circuitry, and the plurality of context registers without the user's intervention in mapping the design.
US08543950B2 Computer-aided design system to automate scan synthesis at register-transfer level
A method and system to automate scan synthesis at register-transfer level (RTL). The method and system will produce scan HDL code modeled at RTL for an integrated circuit modeled at RTL. The method and system comprise computer-implemented steps of performing RTL testability analysis, clock-domain minimization, scan selection, test point selection, scan repair and test point insertion, scan replacement and scan stitching, scan extraction, interactive scan debug, interactive scan repair, and flush/random test bench generation. In addition, the present invention further comprises a method and system for hierarchical scan synthesis by performing scan synthesis module-by-module and then stitching these scanned modules together at top-level. The present invention further comprises integrating and verifying the scan HDL code with other design-for-test (DFT) HDL code, including boundary-scan and logic BIST (built-in self-test).
US08543948B2 Structure for PCI-E based POS terminal
Exemplary embodiments describe a design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a design for performing the functions of a PCI Express feature card remotely from a data processing system. The system is comprised of a circuit board connected to a PCI-E feature card. The PCI-E feature card is remotely located in comparison to the circuit board. Architecturally, the PCI-E feature card appears to the circuit board to be located at the circuit board.
US08543945B2 Software user interface using H-grid navigation in human resource management or customer relationship management applications
A hierarchical grid (H-Grid) is used to select a customer name after preliminary navigation has been performed. The preliminary navigation serves to identify an action, category or type of page to process or display data associated with the selected customer name. The H-Grid can be used in various ways as a replacement for, enhancement or addition to, key or query-based searching to retrieve a page or perform an action. In a particular example, the H-Grid includes customer names that have data available for display according to a form associated with a selected action or category. When the user clicks a customer name in the H-Grid a current form is populated with the customer's data. Subsequent navigation to other pages of data are populated with the currently selected customer name. This approach can replace the requirement of having the user to perform a search or query to identify the customer name or record.
US08543938B2 Terminal and method for displaying information
A method and terminal for displaying information whereby when information, which has been broadcast from a broadcast server, is received and scroll-displayed, previous information or subsequent information of the received information being scroll-displayed can be shifted to be displayed according to the direction of a sliding touch by the user. In addition, when the user wants to check previous or subsequent information of the information being scroll-displayed on the touch screen, he does not need to wait for until the corresponding content is scrolled back, namely, until the corresponding content is scrolled-displayed again, so the user convenience can be considerably improved.
US08543930B2 System and method for human identification proof for use in virtual environments
System, method and computer program product for verifying an avatar owner as a human user of an avatar in a virtual world environment in which humans interact through avatars via client devices in network communication with a server device. A request for challenging an avatar in the virtual world environment is received to determine whether that avatar is controlled by an application program user (bot). A user client device associated with a challenged avatar is identified and a Human Identification Proof (HIP) message for detecting a human user versus a bot controlling the challenged avatar is generated and communicated, for receipt at the identified user client device. It is determined from the response, whether the user is a bot or a human user. If a challenged avatar is determined to be a bot, then the server device prevents the challenged avatar from further interaction in the virtual world environment.
US08543928B2 Automatic friends selection and association based on events
A method for automatically generating a friend subset from contacts of a user based on future events is provided. Future social events data from an online social network including events to be attended by the user are received. Contacts having identity information from a contact list of the user are identified. Future social events data associated with the identified contacts, including events to be attended by the contacts, are received. Whether the identified contacts are scheduled to attend the same future social events as the user is determined. A friend subset of the determined contacts having future social events corresponding to the future social events of the user is selected and displayed on a web page. The user selects one of the contacts of the displayed friend subset, and the future social events to be attended by both the selected contact and the user is provided to the user.
US08543923B2 Apparatus, system, and method for displaying health spatially and temporally
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for displaying health spatially and temporally. A status module records a health status for each of a plurality of components at a plurality of temporal instances, wherein the health status instances are recorded in a history file. An interconnection module records interconnection relationships for the plurality of clusters in a resource file. A display module displays a system graphical representation comprising a graphical representation for each of the components, each interconnection relationship for the components, a health status for each component, and a transitional health for each component. The system graphical representation is for a specified temporal instance. The transitional health portrays a change in health status over a plurality of temporal instances.
US08543915B2 “Proof print” for job settings
According to techniques described herein, print job attributes are checked to identify potential conflicts and potential invalid settings. According to one embodiment of the invention, a job setting manager process executing on a printing device is configured to examine and store print job attributes as detected by print interpreter modules. According to an embodiment of the invention, the job setting manager maintains a data structure comprising print job attributes, their values, and other information. As each interpreter module detects a job setting in the print data, the job setting manager receives this setting and its value and checks the data structure to identify conflicts between previously-set job attributes and whether the requested job attribute is supported by the destination printing device. According to an embodiment of the invention, if a conflict is identified, a notification is produced.
US08543911B2 Ordering document content based on reading flow
For a page that has been decomposed into a set of primitive areas, a novel method for organizing the set of primitive areas into an ordered list is disclosed. The primitive areas in the ordered list are initially sorted using start point order relation ordering, which compares the start points of the primitive areas in the coordinate system of the page. The ordering of the primitive areas in the ordered list are then refined by using contextual order relation ordering, which compares primitive areas against each other according to coordinate systems local to the primitive areas being compared. A new ordered list is then created by transposing primitive areas that are incorrectly ordered according to contextual order relation ordering.
US08543909B2 Rich text handling for a web application
A method and apparatus for representing and controlling documents including rich text for Web based applications and browsers is provided so that editing of rich text can be facilitated within the browsers. The rich text is represented in a memory structure so that various formats may be flexible maintained. Text, images, tables, links and the like are represented in the memory structure, which may be maintained in databases for eventual editing. A controller class and subsidiary classes represent the rich text and provide methods to convert html to the memory structure and back, representing the rich text in a relational database, retrieving the rich text from a relational database, and presenting the rich text for editing. A spell checking facility for the rich text is included.
US08543908B2 Aiding in creating, extending, and verifying accessibility metadata
Degrees of similarity between pages from the viewpoint of metadata creation and verification can be estimated based on degrees of similarity between pages in terms of structure, style (appearance), and accessibility error, and, based on the estimation, representative pages appropriate for efficiently adding metadata can be recommended, or target pages appropriate for efficiently verifying the metadata can be recommended.
US08543900B1 Web page associated with a node in a website traffic pattern
A method of improving a traffic pattern through web page nodes of a website is provided, including selecting web page nodes. The traffic pattern includes a sequence of nodes. Each node represents a first page having a link to a second page in a subsequent node. A visitor to a node prior to a conversion node either navigates to a subsequent node or fails to progress to a subsequent node. The method also includes, for each web page, identifying display elements on the web page node that are associated with a decreased probability that the user progresses through the traffic pattern to a subsequent web page node in the predetermined traffic pattern, determining a metric representing an impact on a conversion attributable to the display elements, ranking the plurality of web page nodes based on the metrics for each web page node.
US08543897B2 Transmission apparatus and parity calculation method
In a transmission apparatus, a first parity calculation controller calculates parity by the frame and inserts a calculation result into a next frame to a first frame sequence. A second parity calculation controller calculates the parity by the frame and inserts a calculation result into a next frame to a second frame sequence. The second parity calculation controller receives from the first parity calculation controller first parity data which is a parity calculation result by the first parity calculation controller and which has the same value as that of a parity calculation result to be inserted into a target frame of a parity calculation in the second frame sequence. Then, the controller calculates the parity of the target frame including the first parity data and second parity data which is a parity calculation result of a previous frame in the second frame sequence before one frame of the target frame.
US08543888B2 Programmable cyclic redundancy check CRC unit
A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) unit has a programmable CRC engine, a variable buffer memory operable to store k words wherein each word has n-bits, wherein k and n can be varied, and shift logic operable to shift data from the variable buffer memory into the programmable CRC engine.
US08543885B2 Methods of joint coding in mobile communication system
A joint coding method in a mobile communication system is disclosed. To block-code kχ-bit first data requiring a received signal quality and k2˜bit second data requiring a different received signal quality, the present invention includes configuring a first block code generation matrix meeting a first minimum hamming distance, configuring a second block code generation matrix meeting a second minimum hamming distance, and configuring a third block code generation matrix including the first block code generation matrix, the second block code generation matrix and a zero matrix of a specific size. Accordingly, the present invention encodes and transmits two data requiring different received signal qualities by one coding scheme, thereby enabling each data to have the required received signal quality in decoding.
US08543879B2 Method and apparatus for correction of digitally transmitted information
A method and correct apparatus for correction of at least one digital information item which is transmitted by at least one information source to at least one information sink is provided. The information source can be connected both to an information sink and also to a correction apparatus by means of a data transmission medium. The information processed by the information source for the information sink comprises a first variable name, with the following process steps: a) provision of listed variable names in a second memory area of the correction apparatus, b) then the information source transmits an information item which contains the first variable name, c) extraction of the first variable name from the transmitted information item and saving thereof in a first memory area, d) comparison of the first variable name with a listed variable name and determination of a discrimination criterion on the basis of this comparison, e) a decision is made using the discrimination criterion as to whether the first variable name remains unchanged or is replaced by the listed variable name from method step c) or whether method steps d) and e) are to be repeated by application of an additional, listed variable name and by determining of an additional discrimination criterion.
US08543876B1 Method and apparatus for serial scan test data delivery
A design for test (DFT) circuitry which delivers serial data serially is disclosed. The DFT circuit has a transceiver to receive serial data and then deserialize the serial data into deserialize data. The DFT circuit also has a control logic block which receives the deserialize data and stimulates at least one test element with the test data. The test element will generate an output response from the stimulus. The DFT circuit also has an output response block which receives the output from the test element and analyses the output response. Utilizing this DFT circuitry, a high speed data delivery method can be used for testing a device-under-test (DUT). Such method could reduce test time and the test cost associated with test process.
US08543873B2 Multi-site testing of computer memory devices and serial IO ports
A method and apparatus for multi-site testing of computer memory devices. An embodiment of a method of testing computer memory devices includes coupling multiple memory devices, each memory device having a serializer output and a deserializer input, wherein the serializer output of a first memory device is coupled with a deserializer input of one or more of the memory devices of the plurality of memory devices. The method further includes producing test signal patterns using a test generator of each memory device, serializing the test signal pattern at each memory device, and transmitting the serialized test pattern for testing of the memory devices, wherein testing of the memory devices includes a first test mode and a second test mode.
US08543871B2 Correlating hardware devices between local operating system and global management entity
A method and apparatus for correlating the identities of hardware devices, such as processors or memory controllers, between a local operating system and a global management entity is described. In an embodiment a fault message including a local identifier of a faulting device is received from an operating system. A global identifier of the faulting device is determined that is different from the local identifier. An appropriate replacement device is then selected based on the global identifier of the faulting device, and the selected replacement device is mapped to the faulting device.
US08543870B2 Circuit for detecting and recording chip fails and the method thereof
A circuit for detecting and recording chip fails according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a common error bus, a plurality of fail detector modules and a control center. Each of the plurality of fail detector modules is configured to receive at least a data signal to determine an occurrence of a chip fail and to correspondingly broadcast a fail code on the common error bus when the common error bus is not busy. The control center is configured to record a fail code from the common error bus and to report the recorded fail code when required.
US08543867B2 Transmission of acknowledgement and negative acknowledgement in a wireless communication system
A communication device configured for transmission of Acknowledgement and Negative Acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) is described. The communication device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory. The communication device determines one or more thresholds based on a size of one or more code words and generates a compressed ACK/NACK sequence. The compressed ACK/NACK sequence identifies one or more correctly received code words and one or more incorrectly received code words if the number of incorrectly received code words is less than the threshold. If the number of incorrectly received code words is greater than the threshold, the compressed ACK/NACK sequence indicates that all of the one or more code words were incorrectly received.
US08543866B2 Remote access diagnostic mechanism for communication devices
A method for diagnosing and correcting errors at a data processing system is disclosed includes detecting at a first device of the system, such as a network interface device, an error at a second device of the system, such as a data processor. In response to detecting the error, the first device communicates a help request via a network. In response to the help request, the first device receives diagnostic and error correction routines from a remote system. The first device executes the routines and provides information to the remote system to diagnose and correct errors at the second device.
US08543865B2 Method for coupling a control unit to a program for modeling an active chain diagnosis
A method for coupling a control unit, in particular an engine control unit, for controlling a system, especially an engine, to a program for modeling an active chain diagnosis or to other programs for error analysis, having the following steps: within the scope of a first run, starting up an operating point of the system, generating an error and computing an intervention using a program for modeling the active chain diagnosis or the other programs for the error analysis, within the scope of a second run, resetting the control unit and deleting the error memory in the control unit, renewed starting up of the operating point, renewed applying of the error from the first run, carrying out the first intervention computed using the active chain diagnosis in the first run, and computing a second intervention using the program for modeling the active chain diagnosis, and within the scope of at least one additional run, resetting the control unit and deleting the error memory, renewed starting up the operating point, renewed application of the error, carrying out the intervention computed in preceding runs using the active chain diagnosis, and, if necessary, computing at least one additional intervention using the active chain diagnosis.
US08543864B2 Apparatus and method of performing error recovering process in asymmetric clustering file system
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of performing an error recovery process in an asymmetric clustering file system that has higher efficiency in data recovery when a data server in an asymmetric clustering file system fails than a method of processing the data recovery in the metadata server. The present invention includes receiving a chunk list requiring recovery by a data server included in the other data server groups than a data server group including a failed data server among a plurality of data server groups, requesting chunk data necessary for recovering an erroneous chunk from a data server in the other data server groups to the other data servers than the failed data server in the data server group, and recovering the erroneous chunk based on the chunk data by the data server in the other data server group.
US08543863B2 Efficiency of hardware memory access using dynamically replicated memory
Dynamically replicated memory is usable to allocate new memory space from failed memory pages by pairing compatible failed memory pages to reuse otherwise unusable failed memory pages. Dynamically replicating memory involves detecting and recording memory faults, reclaiming failed memory pages for later use, recovering from detected memory faults, and scheduling access to replicated memory pages.
US08543853B2 Information processing apparatus with power saving mode and method for controlling information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store data, a supply unit configured to supply electric power to the storage unit, a determination unit configured to determine whether to cause the information processing apparatus to operate in a power saving mode, a measuring unit configured to measure an elapsed time after a power source of the information processing apparatus is turned on and until the determination unit determines to cause the information processing apparatus to operate in a power saving mode, and a control unit configured to control the supply unit to decrease electric power supplied from the supply unit to the storage unit at a timing determined based on the elapsed time and a predetermined reference time, in case that the determination unit determines to cause the information processing apparatus to operate in a power saving mode.
US08543850B2 Electronic device
The electronic device according to the present invention comprises a power supply; a processing section which has a nonvolatile register and performs predetermined processing by inputting and outputting data to and from the nonvolatile register on the basis of power fed from the power supply; an external signal inputting section for inputting an external signal to the processing section; and a power feed control section, which interrupts power feeding from the power supply to the processing section, while maintaining responsiveness to the external signal in a state in which the processing state of the processing section is stored in the nonvolatile register, and resumes power feeding from the power supply to the processing section in response to the external signal.
US08543845B2 Method for suppressing a voltage fluctuation applying to a load by a second power section with the same or opposite voltage polarity
A power supply device includes: a first supply section that supplies power in accordance with an extent of a load in processing in a processing device by applying a voltage to the processing device which processes data; and a second supply section that supplies, to the processing device, power smaller than the supplying power by the first supply section, in accordance with an extent of a load in processing in the processing device to increase and decrease a voltage with respect to the application voltage by the first supply section.
US08543835B2 Tamper resistance of a digital data processing unit
A system for increasing a tamper resistance of a digital data processing unit, comprises a first unit (901) comprising processing means (906) for processing the received digital data in dependence on values looked up in at least one look-up table (916) based on values in the received digital data. The system further comprises a second unit (902) comprising means (912) for computing at least one value for inclusion in the digital data causing the first unit (901) to look up at least one predetermined value in the look-up table (916) when processing the digital data. It comprises an inserter (910) for including the at least one value in the digital data, and an output (908) for transmitting the digital data to the first unit.
US08543833B2 User identification with biokinematic input
Systems and methods for user identification based on biokinematic input are disclosed herein. The system may include a multi-touch sensitive display including a sensor configured to receive biokinematic input including data representing detected positions of digit touches made by digits of a user, in each of a series of successive time intervals during a defined identification gesture. The system may further include a user identification module executed by a processor of the computing device. The user identification module may be configured to receive the biokinematic input from the sensor, and to compare relative positions of the digit touches and/or relative rates of change in said positions of the digit touches to a stored user template of verified biokinematic data for the user. If a match is determined, an indication that the user has been successfully identified may be displayed.
US08543831B2 System and method for establishing data connections between electronic devices
A system and method is disclosed, including establishing of data connections between electronic devices. One embodiment provides a method for establishing a data connection between a first and a second electronic device, wherein establishing the data connection is authorized by executing at least one action with at least one physical tool.
US08543826B1 MACSec implementation
A media access control (MAC) security apparatus for a local area network interface includes multiple independently controlled power domains, each of which enters and exits a reduced power state independent of others of the power domains. An encryption/decryption engine, located within a first of the power domains, generates encrypted data in response to received packets and cryptographic primitives. An authentication engine, located within a second of the power domains, performs authentication operations in response to the encrypted data. The encryption/decryption engine comprises an advanced encryption standard engine that forms the cryptographic primitives and is located within a third of the power domains. The third power domain enters the reduced power state for part of a period during which (i) the first power domain does not enter the reduced power state and (ii) the encryption/decryption engine is generating the encrypted data.
US08543825B2 Method and apparatus for input of coded image data
An image input device which includes a means for inputting image data, a memory for storing secret information and an operator for carrying out an operation by using the image data and the secret information.
US08543821B1 Scalably displaying sensitive data to users with varying authorization levels
Common content is generated and provided to client computer systems. The common content includes encrypted portions, corresponding unencrypted portions, and decryption key identifiers that identify decryption keys for decrypting the encrypted portions. Decryption keys are provided to the client computer systems separately from the common content for decrypting portions of the common content that an associated user is authorized to view or otherwise utilize. In order to use or display the common content, the client computer systems determine for each encrypted portion in the common content whether an associated decryption key has been received. Each encrypted portion for which a decryption key is available is decrypted and displayed or otherwise utilized. For each encrypted portion for which a decryption key is not available, the unencrypted portion corresponding to the encrypted portion may be displayed or otherwise utilized.
US08543814B2 Method and apparatus for using generic authentication architecture procedures in personal computers
A method and apparatus for authenticating to a third party service provider from a personal computer. The method includes authenticating, with a mobile terminal, to the service provider with a universal subscriber identity module associated with the mobile terminal to obtain credentials specific to the service provider, transferring the credentials specific to the service provider from the mobile terminal to the personal computer, and accessing the service provider with the personal computer using the credentials transferred from the mobile terminal. The apparatus includes a mobile terminal, a computing device, a bootstrapping security module, and a network application function that cooperatively work to allow the computing device to access the network application function using a security credential from the mobile terminal.
US08543810B1 Deployment tool and method for managing security lifecycle of a federated web service
A method for managing a security lifecycle of a federated web service provider (WSP) is described. The method includes populating a graphical user interface with available security mechanisms, receiving a selection of a selected security mechanism from a user, and creating a deployment time policy generator for instantiating the selected security mechanism in outgoing messages generated by the WSP. A system and machine readable-medium for a deployment tool for performing the method are also described.
US08543804B2 Adaptive security policy based scalable video service apparatus and method
An adaptive security policy based scalable video service apparatus includes a video streaming server, an adaptive security policy server and a terminal. The video streaming server receives a service demand via a network and generates an encrypted streaming data. The adaptive security policy server analyzes a media structure and the service demand, by using a service profile received from the video streaming server, so as to generate a security policy description. The terminal generates and transmits the service demand to the video streaming server or the adaptive security server, obtains the encrypted streaming data from the video streaming server and decrypts the encrypted streaming data for playback, storing and retransmission.
US08543803B2 Apparatus, system, and method for accurate automated scheduling of computer suspend and resume
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for suspend-resume scheduling in conjunction with an operation requiring a suspend-resume cycle of a computer 200, including updating, for purposes of system configuration management, a non-volatile memory 506, such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (“EEPROM”) 702. A control module 402 sends 806 a request to update the EEPROM 702. A suspend module 404 suspends 818 an operating system 204. A standby module 406 prepares 904 the computer 200 to enter a standby state, estimates 914 a sufficient amount of time to enter the standby state, places 916 the estimate into an alarm register 608, and then enters 918 the standby state. An update module 308 exits 1004 the standby state in response to an alarm signal 612, receives the request if present 1008, writes 1012 the EEPROM 702 with the updated information, and resumes 1018 the operating system 204.
US08543801B2 Booting method using a backup memory in place of a failed main memory
A method for booting a computer system is disclosed. The computer system has a main memory. The method includes the steps of providing a backup memory, replacing the main memory by the backup memory when the computer system is booted and the main memory fails to operate normally, and decompressing the program codes of the BIOS to the backup memory to perform the backup booting procedure.
US08543789B2 System and method for managing a storage array
Systems and methods for managing a storage array are disclosed. A method may include segmenting each of a plurality of physical storage resources into a first storage area and a second storage area. The method may also include activating a first logical unit including each first storage area of the plurality of physical storage resources. The method may additionally include placing at least one designated physical resource of the plurality of physical storage resources in a powersave mode. The method may further include activating a second logical unit including the second storage areas of some of the plurality of physical storage resources but not the at least one designated physical storage resource. Moreover, the method may include storing data associated with a write operation intended for the at least one designated physical storage resource to the second logical unit.
US08543781B2 Hybrid locking using network and on-disk based schemes
A method of acquiring a lock by a node, on a shared resource in a system of a plurality of interconnected nodes, is disclosed. Each node that competes for a lock on the shared resource maintains a list of locks currently owned by the node. A lock metadata is maintained on a shared storage that is accessible to all nodes that may compete for locks on shared resources. A heartbeat region is maintained on a shared resource corresponding to each node so nodes can register their liveness. A lock state is maintained in the lock metadata in the shared storage. A lock state may indicate lock held exclusively, lock free or lock in managed mode. If the lock is held in the managed mode, the ownership of the lock can be transferred to another node without a use of a mutual exclusion primitive such as the SCSI reservation.
US08543779B2 Management system and management method for managing computer system
A management system, coupled to a computer system including one or more types of storage apparatus, stores management information. The management information includes: (a) information containing, for each request by an administrator, information indicating a storage function (a function of a storage apparatus) required in order to achieve a function satisfying the administrator request; and (b) information containing, for each storage apparatus, information indicating storage functions. The management system: (A) receives a request of an administrator; (B) identifies an implementation pattern including a storage apparatus having a storage function required to achieve a function satisfying the received administrator request, on the basis of the information (a) and (b), and (C) performs setup in order to achieve a function satisfying the received administrator request, in respect of any of the identified one or more implementation patterns.
US08543777B2 Memory control apparatus, memory control method, and computer program with refresh commands at optimum intervals
A memory control apparatus includes memory control sections that read and write data from and to the DRAMs. The memory control sections periodically refresh the DRAMs. The refresh rate is set to avoid the conflict of the refresh operations as well as read and write operations that consume high power. A memory control method includes connecting memories in a memory control section where the memories perform periodic refresh and perform data write, data read, and refresh operations. Refresh commands are issued at optimum intervals and with arbitrary timing such that commands that consume high power do not conflict with each other.
US08543771B1 Method for maintaining cache coherence using a distributed directory with event driven updates
The present invention is a protocol for maintaining cache consistency between multiprocessors within a tightly coupled system. A distributed directory is maintained within the data-sharing processors, so that copies can be invalidated when modified. All transfers are event driven, rather the polled, to reduce bus-bandwidth consumption. Deadlocks are avoided by placing to-be-executed command codes in the returned response packets, when the request-forwarding queues are full or not present.
US08543769B2 Fine grained cache allocation
A mechanism is provided in a virtual machine monitor for fine grained cache allocation in a shared cache. The mechanism partitions a cache tag into a most significant bit (MSB) portion and a least significant bit (LSB) portion. The MSB portion of the tags is shared among the cache lines in a set. The LSB portion of the tags is private, one per cache line. The mechanism allows software to set the MSB portion of tags in a cache to allocate sets of cache lines. The cache controller determines whether a cache line is locked based on the MSB portion of the tag.
US08543750B1 Method for sharing a resource and circuit making use of same
A method is provided for interfacing a plurality of processing components with a shared resource component. A token signal path is provided to allow propagation of a token through the processing components, wherein possession of the token by a given processing component enables the latter to conduct a transaction with the shared resource component. Token processing logic is also provided for propagating the token from one processing component to another along the token signal path, the propagating being done at a propagation rate that is related to a transaction rate associated with the shared resource component. The token processing logic also generates a trigger signal at least in part based on the token and propagates to trigger signal to the shared resource component to convey initiation of a transaction with the shared resource component. A circuit comprising a plurality of processing components and a shared resource component is provided wherein the plurality processing components and the shared resource components are interfaced with one another using the method proposed.
US08543736B2 Data processing circuit
A data processing circuit is disclosed in the present invention. The data processing circuit includes a decoder and a number of N-stage circuits. The circuits receive input data from at least a memory and separate the input data into N stages. The circuit process and store the N input data simultaneously to decrease the time of data processing in the data processing circuit.
US08543728B2 Dampening interface flapping
A device may include a control module and a line card. The control module may be configured to run a routing protocol to obtain routing information from network devices. The line card may include a processor. The processor may be configured to establish a bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) session with a remote device, determine whether an interface associated with the BFD session is flapping, terminate the BFD session when the interface is flapping, disable the interface when the interface is flapping, re-enable the interface after a dampening recovery period elapses, reestablish the BFD session, and send a BFD packet to the remote device.
US08543717B2 Retaining channel synchronization through use of alternate control characters
A method and system to improve the retention of synchronization between the transmitter and receiver of image data across a communication channel. If the control character designating the end of the line of data is corrupted, the receiving system will not recognize that the line of data has ended and will continue as if data is still being received. The corruption of a single bit in the control character will cause the receiver to misinterpret the end of line control word. Since the receiving logic does not realize the transmitter is no longer sending data, erroneous data will be stored in the storage elements. By using an alternate control character as an additional end of line indicator, the receiver will terminate the line of data and will wait for the next start of line control character from the transmitter. Synchronization between the transmitter and receiver across the communication channel is thus maintained.
US08543711B2 System and method for evaluating a pattern of resource demands of a workload
A method comprises receiving, by pattern evaluation logic, a plurality of occurrences of a prospective pattern of resource demands in a representative workload. The method further comprises evaluating, by the pattern evaluation logic, the received occurrences of the prospective pattern of resource demands, and determining, by the pattern evaluation logic, based on the evaluation of the received occurrences of the prospective pattern of resource demands, how representative the prospective pattern is of resource demands of the representative workload.
US08543709B2 Method for controlling a transmission system as well as a transmission system
A transmission system and a method for controlling the transmission system comprising at least one interface unit and at least one adjustable device are disclosed. The method includes configuring the at least one interface unit according to interface configuration parameters, and enabling the at least one interface unit according to the interface configuration parameters. The method can also include transmitting device configuration parameters from the at least one interface unit to at least one of the adjustable devices, configuring the at least one adjustable device according to the device configuration parameters, and enabling the at least one adjustable device according to the device configuration parameters in order to transmit data via the second link.
US08543704B2 Method and apparatus for multimodal voice and web services
A voice server can be located, temporarily allocated, and sent audio. The results are returned to a voice client, and the voice server is deallocated for use by the next person talking into their client browser. Voice channels and IVR ports are initially set up by a switch and the IVR using conventional audio protocols. The voice channels are not initially connected to the client. The switch handles the allocation and deallocation of IVR voice channels without having to communicate further with the IVR. A user indicates to the client device that he wishes to initiate a voice interaction during an X+V session. This translates to a request on the CTRL channel to synchronise XHTML and VXML forms as a trigger for the VXML browser to execute a conversational turn. A multiplexer intercepts this control command and establishes a virtual voice circuit between the client device and an existing open but unattached voice port. The virtual circuit is established without having to set up an RTP channel. The CTRL signal is then forwarded to an interaction manager so that the conversation can take place. At the end of the conversation the virtual circuit is disconnected.
US08543699B2 Method and apparatus for distributed policy evaluation
In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for distributed policy evaluation. One embodiment of a method for evaluating a systems management policy, where the policy includes a condition and an action to be taken when the condition evaluates to TRUE, includes forwarding the policy, by a first autonomic manager, to a second autonomic manager and receiving at the first autonomic manager at least partial evaluation results for the condition from a third autonomic manager. The first autonomic manager, the second autonomic manager, and the third autonomic manager are arranged in a ring configuration such that the evaluating occurs in a cascading manner, and only the first autonomic manager has access to a policy storage from which the policy is retrieved.
US08543693B2 System and method for detection of aberrant network behavior by clients of a network access gateway
Embodiments of systems and methods for detecting aberrant network behavior are disclosed. One embodiment comprises a network interface over which network communications are received from a client. These network communications can then be analyzed to determine if aberrant network behavior is occurring with respect to the client.
US08543687B2 Moving deployment of images between computers
In an embodiment, a unit workload comprises an average processor speed and an average memory amount required by execution of images. If an integer multiple of the average processor speed required minus a free processor speed at a source computer is greater than a first threshold amount, an integer multiple of the average memory amount required minus a free memory amount at the source computer is greater than a second threshold amount, the integer multiple of the average processor speed required minus a processor speed requirement of a source image at the source computer is less than a third threshold amount, and the integer multiple of the average memory required minus a memory requirement of the source image at the source computer is less than a fourth threshold amount, then deployment of the source image is moved from the source computer to a destination computer.
US08543686B2 Dynamic resource collaboration between network service providers
Service providers capable of dynamic resource collaboration and corresponding dynamic resource collaboration techniques are provided. In one embodiment, a network service provider includes a service server that processes service requests, a resource monitoring unit that monitors available computing resources of the service server and generates a resource request for supplementary computing resources from one or more collaborating network service providers based on the result of the monitoring, and a resource collaboration unit acquires supplementary computing resources from at least one of the collaborating network service providers.
US08543684B2 Method for computing the entropic value of a dynamical memory system
Methods, devices, and systems are provided for optimizing the dissemination of information in various types of systems such as an access control system. More specifically, there are provided various mechanisms to increase the efficiency with which system updates and other types of information are spread throughout an access control system having at least one non-networked reader.
US08543681B2 Network topology discovery systems and methods
A system discovers the topology of devices in a network, such as all of the layer-2 and layer-3 devices, including routers and switches. The devices are mapped, as well as the links that join them. The devices are polled using SNMP requests. Route tables are derived from each router to determine addresses of the devices. A spanning tree process is used to discover layer-2 devices. Connections between layers are then discovered. Where information is incomplete, an undiscovered router cloud is recognized.
US08543680B2 Migrating device management between object managers
Object manager information is maintained for object managers in a network indicating a device type of devices in the network managed by the object managers and device information providing information on the devices in the network, wherein the object managers have access to the object manager information. A determination is made from the object manager information a second object manager comprising one of the object managers in the network managing a same device type as the devices managed by the first object manager. The first and second object managers communicate to establish a migration relationship between the first and the second object managers. In response to a migration event at the second object manager, the first object manager accesses the device information for the second object manager to manage the devices currently managed by the second object manager.
US08543671B1 Grouped computing device configuration management
Grouped computing device configuration management systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a first number of computing devices having processors and memory thereon for the storage of executable instructions and data, wherein the instructions are executed to establish a computing device baseline configuration at both a command level and a file level for use in comparing the baseline configuration with a second number of computing devices, execute a first set of executable instructions on the first number of computing devices to send a second set of executable instructions to the second number of computing devices and that execute on the second number of computing devices to collect data regarding command and file level configuration of the second number of computing devices, receive, on the first number of computing devices, data collected from the second number of computing devices, compare the data collected with data from the baseline configuration to determine one or more differences, and initiate at least one action selected from the group including issuing an alert, flagging the differences in a database, generating a report listing the differences, identifying a solution to resolve the differences, and executing instructions to resolve the differences.
US08543667B2 Policy-based content insertion
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for policy-based content insertion. A client device transmits to a content server a request for the delivery of content. The content server modifies the request based on an ingress policy. The content server transmits the modified request to a second server where the second server processes the request. The second server transmits a reply to the modified request to the content server. The reply includes a content insertion instruction. The content server transmits the content to the client device based on the content insertion instruction and/or one or more egress policies.
US08543665B2 Multi-services application gateway and system employing the same
An intelligent gateway device provided at a premises (home or business) for providing and managing application services associated with use and support of a plurality of digital endpoint devices associated with the premises. The device implements includes a communications and processing infrastructure integrated with a peer and presence messaging based communications protocol for enabling communications between the device and an external support network and between the device and connected digital endpoint devices. A services framework at the gateway device implements the communications and processing infrastructure for enabling service management, service configuration and authentication of user of services at the intelligent gateway. The framework providing a storage and execution environment for supporting and executing received service logic modules relating to use, management and support of the digital endpoint devices. Thus, the gateway devices provides a network-based services point of presence for a plurality of digital endpoint devices at the premises.
US08543663B2 Generation of data concerning reception of media content at a communication device
A method of providing data associated with reception of media content is presented. In the method, a communication device receives media content from a media content receiver via a communication network. The received media content is output to a user of the communication device. Data is then generated in the communication device which includes information identifying a channel selected by the user over which the media content receiver receives the media content. The data further includes information identifying a time period during which the communication device receives the media content. The data is transferred via the communication network to a communication node.
US08543655B1 System and method for visual display of e-mail filters
A system and machine-implemented method is provided for generating an e-mail filter including receiving an indication of a selection of a simple filter representing a filter criterion and a placement of the simple filter icon within a display area displaying a visual representation of a collection of e-mail filters corresponding to the user, receiving an indication of a selection of an action icon representing an action to be performed with respect to an e-mail message and a placement of the action icon within the filter display area with respect to the simple filter icon, the placement representing a connection of the action icon with the simple filter icon, generating an e-mail filter comprising one or more filter criteria including the filter criterion in response to receiving the indication of the placement of the action icon and assigning the action to the e-mail filter.
US08543647B2 Automated customer incident report management in a social networking system
A social networking system is configured to generate node graphs to handle specific types of customer incident reports. The node graphs comprise data structures that include nodes connected in acyclic graphs. Each node includes a node handler and optionally a user interface widget. Activating a node graph causes a subset of the nodes in the node graph to execute their node handlers. The executing node handlers generate a customer incident resolution that may include information gathering, manual review, and communications to users and third-party systems. Generation of the customer incident resolution through the node graphs allows the social networking system to handle customer incidents consistently, efficiently, and in a scalable manner.
US08543646B2 Subscriber device and subscription management that supports real-time communication
Real-time communication for resource content comprises selecting by a subscriber device, an event topic based on an event topic list, creating for the selected event topic, a topic path for receiving a notification event related to the selected event topic, and sending path information of the created topic path as part of identification information with the selected event topic to a resource content publishing device. Real-time communication also comprises receiving by the resource content publishing device, the identification information and the selected event topic, and adding the identification information and the selected event topic to an event topic subscription search table. Real-time communication also comprises, if new resource content is available, obtaining, based on the event topic subscription search table, identification information of a subscriber device subscribing to an event topic related to the new resource content and sending a notification event including the new resource content to the subscriber device.
US08543645B1 Live experiment framework
This disclosure generally relates to assigning and simultaneously running multiple client-side experiments on client devices. A file includes information regarding experiments that are available, including information regarding “layers,” which are logical, imaginary containers in which each experiment “resides.” Each experiment is associated with one layer. For each experiment, the file includes information regarding a location and size of the experiment within the layer. When the client device takes an action, a software module identifies a value of an identifier associated with the action. Each such identifier is associated with one or more of the layers. The software module can calculate, for each of the associated layers, a location within the layer based on the identifier value. The computer software module can identify, based on the information in the file, each experiment that overlaps with the calculated location within each layer and cause each identified experiment to be activated.
US08543644B2 URL-based sticky routing tokens using a server-side cookie jar
A method, system and program product are presented for enabling a session, as defined by a series of related transactions to perform a unit of work, to be created between a client and a particular server where the server is managed by a dispatcher. Modifications to the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) are used to create a method of transferring information form the client to the server. The server implements a server-side storage area (cookie jar) to temporarily store information about the client and the session so that the client is routed to the same server for successive messages in the same session and no reliance is made upon an ability by the client to store or return cookies.
US08543639B2 Methods and apparatus for collecting and transferring information over a network
In one aspect, the invention provides digital data processing methods and systems for collecting and transferring information, comprising one or more server digital data processors (“servers”) that exchange information requests and, optionally, responses between a first set of client digital data processors and a second set of client digital data processors. The first set of those client devices accept input from persons seeking information, e.g., reporters, bloggers, detectives, etc., (collectively, “reporters”) and, from that input, generate and transmit queries to the server(s). The server digital data processor, in turn, transmits those queries to the second set of client digital data processors, which display or otherwise convey the queries to persons that may have relevant information, e.g., industry professionals, public relations representatives, etc. (collectively, “sources”). Those second client devices route responses received from respective sources directly and/or indirectly (e.g., via the server(s)) to the client device of the “reporter” who inputted the request.
US08543635B2 Digital signal processing block with preadder stage
A digital signal processing block with a preadder stage for an integrated circuit is described. The digital signal processing block includes a preadder stage and a control bus. The control bus is coupled to the preadder stage for dynamically controlling operation of the preadder stage. The preadder stage includes: a first input port of a first multiplexer coupled to the control bus; a second input port of a first logic gate coupled to the control bus; a third input port of a second logic gate coupled to the control bus; and a fourth input port of an adder/subtractor coupled to the control bus.
US08543624B2 Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus having: an image data inputting section; a storage section that stores image data that has been input from the inputting section; a processing section that carries out output processing of the image data; a history management section that establishes correspondence between history information of the output processing and the image data and manages the history information; a warning section; and a control section that, in response to a deleting request for the image data stored in the storage section, based on the history information of the output processing, changes a mode of the warning given out by the warning section of confirming the deleting of the image data.
US08543610B2 Human relationships registering system and device for registering human relationships, program for registering human relationships, and medium storing human relationships registering program and readable by computer
To provide a human relationships registering system, a method and a server for registering human relationships, a program for registering human relationships, and a medium storing human relationships registering program and readable by a computer, all of which are used to establish wide and close relationships with members having a variety of occupations or engaged in various technical fields and to obtain expert knowledge or information. The human relationships registering system comprises first data processing units 2 and 3 including sections for receiving personal data of a new member, and a second data processing unit including a section for storing the received personal data. The second data processing unit stores the personal data of the new member in correlation to an existing member when the existing member confirms the new member.
US08543607B2 System and method for role based analysis and access control
A system and method for program access control includes, for a typestate, providing typestate properties and assigning a role to the typestate in a program in accordance with the typestate properties. Access to operations is limited for the typestate in the program based on the role assigned to the typestate and an access permission level.
US08543601B2 Creating multiple Mbeans from a factory Mbean
Provided are techniques for creating a unique class of Mbean in which a “parent” Mbean generates and manages multiple “child” Mbeans. When a user requests the functionality of a particular Mbean, a specific type of Mbean, or parent Mbean, is called. The parent Mbean is a factory method that, rather than executing the request, generates a child Mbean to execute the request. The child Mbean is assigned a name that distinguishes the child from other children of the same parent and the process that called the parent is provided with the name. In this manner, the calling process may use the assigned name to access the specific child Mbean for future requests and the child Mbean is employed to store client state information.
US08543597B1 Generic application persistence database
A method includes receiving a request from a client to perform an application operation, transmitting a generic application persistency statement defined in an application template corresponding to the application, where the template belongs to a set of predefined application templates. Searching a logical database for a first location having entries corresponding to a technical key and an operation identifier, determining a second technical key based on content stored at the first location, searching the logical database for a second location having entries corresponding to the second technical key and a dataset key, determining a third technical key based on content stored at the second location, and accessing locations of the logical database based on the third technical key, wherein the contents of the logical database locations correspond to content of a physical database. A system to implement the method and a computer readable medium are disclosed.
US08543595B2 Method for improving local descriptors in peer-to-peer file sharing
A method for improving searches in a peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing system that includes a plurality of server computers. A content file, identified by a descriptor including at least one metadata term and a mathematical identifier that uniquely identifies the content file in one of the server computers, is selected for searching. Other server computers are searched to find one or more matching content files; one that has a descriptor with a mathematical identifier matching the mathematical identifier of the first content file. The descriptors of the matching content files are returned to the searching server computer and used to expand the local descriptor.
US08543594B2 Management of user interface elements
An exemplary system includes an element server in a video hub office configured to provide a media signal to a content processing device located at a customer premises and at least one computing device remote from the video hub office and the customer premises. The computing device comprises a first data store that includes a plurality of presentation elements, a second data store that includes information concerning associations of the presentation elements with a chunk that is a logical grouping of the presentation elements, and an element management subsystem that provides the presentation elements associated with the chunk to the element server in the video hub office, the element server configured to cache the presentation elements for use by the element server in fulfilling a request from the content processing device, wherein the computing device provides a user interface that presents information about the presentation elements associated with the chunk.
US08543585B2 Methods and devices for analysis of carbon footprints
In an embodiment, a method provides a carbon footprint comparison. In this method, a request to compare a first carbon footprint associated with a first user is received. Here, first profile attributes and the first carbon footprint associated with the first user are accessed. Additionally, second profile attributes associated with a second user are accessed. A match of a first number of the first profile attributes with a second number of the second profile attributes is identified. With the match, a strength of the match is calculated based on a number of identified matching profile attributes. A response to the request is then transmitted, and this response comprises the strength of the match and the first carbon footprint.
US08543578B2 Method and system for automatically identifying related content to an electronic text
The exemplary embodiments provide methods and systems for automatically identifying content related to an electronic text. Aspects of exemplary embodiments include linking topic categories, psychological states, demographic profiles, and additional content using one or more databases; in response to receiving content of an electronic text, analyzing by a software component executing on a computer the content and assigning one or more of topic categories to the content; automatically identifying at least one the psychological states of a user caused by the content and the demographic profiles whose members would be interested in the content that are linked to the one or more topic categories assigned to the content; and presenting a portion of the additional content that is linked to at least one of the identified demographic profiles and the psychological states.
US08543577B1 Cross-channel clusters of information
A computer-implemented method includes receiving, by one or more computer systems, first information from a first channel and second information from a second channel; merging the first information with the second information; applying an unsupervised clustering model to the merged information; and generating, based on results of the applying, a cross-channel cluster, the cross-channel cluster including (i) a portion of the first information associated with a subject matter, and (ii) a portion of the second information associated with the subject matter.
US08543576B1 Classification of clustered documents based on similarity scores
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method that includes receiving a set of clusters of documents and calculating a similarity score for each cluster wherein the similarity score is based at least in part on features included in the documents in the cluster and indicates a measure of similarity of the documents in the cluster. For each cluster associated with a respective similarity score greater than a first threshold, identifying the cluster as satisfying a quality assurance requirement. For each cluster associated with a respective similarity score less than a second threshold, identifying the cluster as failing the quality assurance requirement. For each cluster associated with a similarity score less than or equal to the first threshold value and greater than or equal to the second threshold value, reviewing at least a subset of documents in the cluster to determine whether the cluster satisfies the quality assurance requirement.
US08543573B2 Context driven topologies
Information is analyzed and developed by creating consolidated representations of groups of data, which are associated with context information, comprising information about relationships between the groups of data, to create representations of the groups of data. The context information is embedded as symbols in descriptions of at least some of the groups of data. The symbols are used in mapping hierarchical relationships between the groups of data. Representations having commonalities are consolidated. A data network structure having network components comprising groups of data, representations and/or consolidated representations is stored. A data network structure display is created with sounds, light, forms, textures and/or colors, and is analyzed using signal processing or mathematical techniques to review context information associated with the network components without reference to groups of data in the network components. The display analysis creates new information, which is stored for retrieval by a plurality of users.
US08543571B2 Enhanced content web browsing
An embodiment of a method for enhanced content browsing includes loading a web page in a user interface; detecting entities of a first specified type in the web page by an analysis service; tagging the detected entities in the web page; calling an action service associated with the analysis service when a detected entity is activated; and displaying a result of the action service in the user interface. Embodiments of systems for enhanced content browsing are also provided.
US08543567B1 On-demand database service system, method and computer program product for generating a custom report
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for generating a custom report using an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for generating an on-demand database service custom report can enable embodiments to generate reports that reflect a relationship between at least two different objects. The ability of embodiments to provide such additional insight into database contents may lead to more efficient and effective reporting.
US08543552B2 Detecting statistical variation from unclassified process log
A system and associated method for detecting a statistical variation of a process from a textual log of the process as performed by a process behavior analysis (PBA) system for monitoring the process operating in an Information Technology (IT) delivery system. The PBA system includes a PBA engine and a data storage storing exception rules used by the PBA engine. The PBA engine merges entities appearing in the textual log into one or more groups based on similarities of respective time series of the entities. Control charts are generated for merged entities and the PBA engine subsequently analyzes process behavior of the process by use of the control charts for exceptions defined in the stored exception rules. The PBA engine generates a PBA report for the process pursuant to the analysis result of the textual log with detailed information including to what type of exceptions had or had not occurred.
US08543550B2 Prioritized digital media archiving
An investment value of a media file is automatically determined by recording an interaction with the media file. Further, a uniqueness value of the media file is automatically determined by determining a probability that the media file is irreplaceable. In addition, an archival prioritization of the media file is performed in comparison with an additional media file. An archival storage device stores the media file if the archival storage device has space to accommodate the media file and the media file has a higher archival prioritization than the additional media file.
US08543539B2 Method and system for capturing change of data
Disclosed are systems and methods for synchronizing data present in a target data set with data present in a source data set. The data present in the target data set is partitioned to determine a partition definition of the target data set. A target message digest is calculated for the data present in each partition of the target data set. Based upon the partition definition of the target data set, the data present in the source data set is partitioned. A source message digest is calculated for the data present in each partition of the source data set. The source message digest of a partition is compared with the target message digest of a corresponding partition to capture a change in data present in the source data set. Based upon the captured data, the data in the target data set is synchronized with the data in the source data set.
US08543536B1 Computerized system and method for collecting and storing universal line usage information in a telecommunications network
A universal line usage information collection system is described. The system includes a data collection component for collecting continuous line usage information for one or more items of equipment in a telecommunications network, wherein the data collection component is capable of receiving information for multiple equipment types. The system also includes a structural database component for storing information regarding the physical structure of the telecommunications network and a relational database component for organizing the line usage information accessed from the data collection component according to the structure of the telecommunications network accessed from the structural database component such that the information may be used to generate line usage reports.
US08543534B2 Concurrency in event processing networks for event server
An event server running an event driven application implementing an event processing network. The event processing network can include at least one processor to implement a rule on at least one input stream. The event processing network can define concurrent operation of at least two components of the event processing networks.
US08543525B2 Method and system for the automatic detection of events in sport fields
The present invention refers to the problem of the automatic detection of events in sport field, in particular Goal/NoGoal events by signalling to the mach management, which can autonomously take the final decision upon the event. The system is not invasive for the field structures, neither it requires to interrupt the game or to modify the rules thereof, but it only aims at detecting objectively the event occurrence and at providing support in the referees' decisions by means of specific signalling of the detected events.
US08543521B2 Supervised re-ranking for visual search
Supervised re-ranking for visual search may include re-ordering images that are returned in response to a text-based image search by exploiting visual information included in the images. In one example, supervised re-ranking for visual search may include receiving a textual query, obtaining an initial ranking result including a plurality of images corresponding to the textual query, and representing the textual query by a visual context of the plurality of images. A query-independent re-ranking model may be trained based on visual re-ranking features of the plurality of images of the textual query in accordance with a supervised training algorithm.
US08543513B2 Tracking details of activation of licensable component of consumer electronic device
Instead of buying blanket licenses for all licensable components of its CE devices, a manufacturer enables users to activate licensable components on a device basis and then obtains the necessary licenses individually. Seldom used activation modes and seldom activated licensable components can be pruned from future devices, while widely activated licensable components can be automatically enabled by purchasing a blanket license for those components. Characteristics of license requests and the people making them can be used to focus marketing.
US08543512B2 Licensed content utilization validation using cache parameters
A utilization method and system within a communication network comprises at least one service provider and at least one service consumer. In particular, a there is license contract method and system for validating web services during runtime. At least one parameter is provided to define, if and how many meter event requests associated with service requests may be stored in a cache memory. The parameter is predefined and may be contained in the license contract. Further, a counter may be provided for counting the service requests. The actual status of the counter is sent to the service consumer and/or the service provider.
US08543510B2 Pre-sale data broadcast system and method
In one embodiment, a method for promoting the sale of a substitute product at the point of sale (POS). Upon the presentation of an original product for purchase by a consumer at a POS terminal, various manufacturers may decide to offer a substitute product to the consumer, prior to completing the purchase of the original product. If the customer accepts the offer, the point of sale terminal completes the sale of the substitute product.
US08543504B1 Systems and methods for automated invoice entry
The present invention is directed to methods and systems for the transfer of paper invoices into electronic invoices for electronic submission from a seller to a buyer. The systems and methods described herein use matching logic to transfer details of the paper invoices into electronic invoices, thereby streamlining the process of invoicing.
US08543502B2 System and method for pricing of merchant accounts
A system for managing merchant payment transaction processing accounts is provided. The system includes a merchant initialization system that receives merchant account data from a user, such as to provide a quote to the merchant for payment processing. A transaction pricing system receives the merchant account data and provides transaction pricing data for payment transaction processing in response to the merchant account information. User access to one or more merchant account pricing algorithms that are used generate the merchant account pricing data in response to the merchant account data is restricted to a predetermined set of users, so as to prevent unauthorized users from obtaining access to the merchant account pricing algorithms.
US08543492B2 System and method for displaying market information and order placement in an electronic trading environment
A system and method are provided for displaying a trading screen and placing an order in an electronic trading environment. The system and method may be used to assist a trader in selecting an item of interest, such as the inside market (best bid and best ask) to be displayed relative to a user configured location on the trading screen, such as the center of the trading screen. In a preferred embodiment, the inside market will stay located relative to center of the trading screen and the price levels associated to the inside market will move as the market conditions fluctuate. Other features and advantages are described herein.
US08543481B2 Method for aggregating and valuing intellectual property in an exchange
The present invention relates to methods of aggregating and valuing intellectual property in a financial exchange. The present invention provides means whereby holders of intellectual property rights may sell, or license intellectual property to an aggregator and receive shares of stock or cash for the contribution based on the aggregated value of the intellectual property held by the aggregator.
US08543480B2 Logistics-exposure management integration for commodity price risks
A message may be used to update computing system of a commodity transaction. The message may include a commodity identifier, a date term, a quantity term, and a price term. The price term may include a formula arrangement or reference to a formula arrangement for calculating a fractional exposure of the entity to the commodity on each date in which an event affecting commodity transaction occurs. Each of these fractional exposures may be calculated for each commodity transaction and stored as separate entries in a data structure. The entries may then be updated, queried, and/or reorganized to generate an exposure position.
US08543475B2 System and method for obtaining automated third-party confirmations in receivables factoring
Systems and methods are defined for facilitating the factoring process involving a business client, one or more factors, and a third-party (i.e., a debtor doing business with the business client) providing confirmations for the accounts receivables upon the client's request. The client requests confirmation of accounts receivables from a confirmation system, the confirmation system queries the debtor(s) for confirmation of their accounts payable to the client, and the confirmation system provides completed accounts receivables to one or more factors designated by the client (i.e., initially provided to the confirmation system with the accounts receivable data that initiates the confirmation process).
US08543473B2 Business partner collaboration and buy analysis
The present invention provides a method, system and computer program product for implementing an automated inventory replenishment process between a manufacturer and a business partner. In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided comprising the business partner purchasing and maintaining an inventory of goods from the manufacturer, and the manufacturer providing price protection to the business partner for the purchasing of the goods. This embodiment further comprises managing said inventory by using an automated process that takes into account said price protection for the purchasing of the goods.
US08543460B2 Serving ad requests using user generated photo ads
Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a computer server obtains and stores user-created photo advertisements. Each of the user-created photo advertisements is generated based on a corresponding photo ad template having one or more photo wells such that filler images of one or more participants are inserted into the one or more photo wells. For each user-created photo advertisement, the one or more participants include at least a user by which the photo advertisement was created. In addition, the computer server effects use of the stored user-created photo advertisements as sponsored advertisements.
US08543456B2 Media targeting system and method
A media targeting system and method uses visual pattern recognition techniques in association with consumer transactions as the basis for building a targeting database, which is then later used for automated consumer identification and targeted advertising purposes. The invention solves the problem of generating a large scale, robust media targeting database without relying on active or passive participation by consumers. Also disclosed are other demographics estimation systems and methods which facilitate less expensive media targeting capabilities which can be used in conjunction with the more robust transaction associated method disclosed.
US08543453B1 Publication evaluation
A publication evaluation subsystem generates publication scores for publications. Each publication score is indicative of an expected performance for content that is presented with the publication. The publication scores are generated relative to a baseline performance measure. The baseline performance measure has a value that is indicative of an expected performance of any selected content presented with any publication in the content network. More than one publication score can be generated for each publication, with each publication score being indicative of the performance of a sub-group of content items that are presented with the publication. The sub-group of content items can include content items that each share a common characteristic. For example, a publication score can be generated for a sub-group of content items that are associated with common targeting criteria (e.g., keywords).
US08543451B2 Method and apparatus for facilitating electronic commerce through providing cross-benefits during a transaction
Accordingly some embodiments, a merchant server receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant of a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant. The customer agrees to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant in exchange for having the subsidy applied against the purchase from the first merchant. In one embodiment, after selling the at least one item to the customer, the merchant server determines that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, and assesses a penalty against the customer.
US08543443B2 Visualizers for change management system
A change management system may use a phased status indicator that may illustrate several phases of a change request and a current status for each phase of a change management lifecycle. Additionally, a group of change requests may be displayed in a linked manner showing various relationships between change requests. The status indicator and linked display may be used together or separately to illustrate the status of various change requests and within interactive displays of change request data.
US08543442B2 Commercial investment analysis
A technique for performing commercial venture analysis involves establishing an empirically-derived structure and evaluating companies using analytical techniques within that structure. The technique may involve defining jobs, or goals a customer is attempting to reach, with dozens or even hundreds of outcomes. Ideally, the structure and tools facilitate analysis that would not be possible otherwise. Moreover, the nature of the system enables real-time input for changing conditions and the ability to calculate returns for new markets in which products or services do not exist.
US08543438B1 Labor resource utilization method and apparatus
A method and apparatus that assesses the importance of projects in a portfolio of projects and allocates labor resources to multiple concurrent projects is provided. The method includes specifying clear project schedules that are readily testable for various projects and using labor categories for project schedule tasks requiring labor resources. The present design determines each project team member's productivity for each supported labor category and allocates project team members to the project tasks on a periodic basis such that the most important project tasks receive the most productive available project team members for each project's specified labor categories.
US08543435B2 Method for controlling at least one applications process and corresponding computer program product
A method and apparatus are provided for controlling at least one application process comprising a plurality of application services, which are executed in an application environment in order to provide a service. One such method includes steps enabling a globally asynchronous implementation of the aforementioned application services without generating a timeout in relation to a client that requested the implementation of said application process.
US08543430B1 Systems and methods for providing customized marketing information
Computer implemented systems and methods for providing customized pricing information based on limited personal data comprising receiving non-identifying demographic information about a prospective customer; receiving non-identifying location information about the prospective customer; receiving non-identifying information about a property of the prospective customer; automatically identifying a comparable segment of existing customers based on the non-identifying demographic information, the non-identifying location information, and the non-identifying information about the property of the prospective customer; automatically determining representative pricing information based on prices paid by existing customers in the comparable segment of existing customers; and generating displayable content comprising the representative pricing information. The displayable content may further comprise comparable rating and products information.
US08543411B2 Systems and methods for detecting counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs at the point of retail sale
A system including capabilities for identifying, authenticating and/or tracking pharmaceutical drugs contained in a package from the point of manufacture to the point of retail sale or dispensing. One embodiment utilizes radio frequency (RFID) tags imbedded into the packaging, the RFID tags containing information identifying at least the package to the manufacturer of the package. A computer system uses an encryption algorithm to produce a machine readable indicia affixed to the packaging after the contents are sealed. Thereafter, various systems can read the RFID tag and the encrypted data at various points in the supply chain and may initiate a query to a manufacturer's database to determine whether the packaging and encrypted data match values stored in the database. This can be used in part to verify the authenticity of the package as well as indicate other functions affecting the sale of the package or dispensing the contents.
US08543410B2 Method and system providing advice and services to consumers
The present invention provides a method and system for providing advice and/or services to a consumer including the secure electronic storage of rich private personal data preferably held on behalf of persons entities. The system provides the applications, processes, controls and data management services to collect, transfer, store and selectively retrieve data necessary to perform specified planning and decision support activities that have been integrated with the secure data store. The invention provides for the data owner and authorized persons to gain access to accessible data to undertake permitted tasks. These tasks may include receiving data, or undertaking planning, or such other tasks as prescribed. In an embodiment, the system limits access to applications to authorized persons and requires permissions from the owner in order to manage data privacy standards. The system allows the owner to provide and revoke access to applications and tracks and records all access events.
US08543406B2 Method and system for communicating with an interactive voice response (IVR) system
Disclosed is a method and system for interacting with an IVR system. In one aspect, a computing device receives a user request to connect to an IVR system to perform an action. A request for information (e.g., a request to select from a plurality of menu options) is obtained from the IVR system. In response to the request, the computing device automatically supplies an answer to the request for information to the IVR system. In one embodiment, the answer is a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal. The obtaining and supplying steps are repeated until the action has been performed.
US08543403B1 Intelligent information supplements to calls
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing supplemental information to callers during a call. In embodiments, a call is initiated between a first caller and a second caller. Information communicated during the call is monitored to determine that a keyword has been spoken. Supplemental information associated with the keyword is identified, and the supplemental information is provided to the first caller during the call.
US08543398B1 Training an automatic speech recognition system using compressed word frequencies
Respective word frequencies may be determined from a corpus of utterance-to-text-string mappings that contain associations between audio utterances and a respective text string transcription of each audio utterance. Respective compressed word frequencies may be obtained based on the respective word frequencies such that the distribution of the respective compressed word frequencies has a lower variance than the distribution of the respective word frequencies. Sample utterance-to-text-string mappings may be selected from the corpus of utterance-to-text-string mappings based on the compressed word frequencies. An automatic speech recognition (ASR) system may be trained with the sample utterance-to-text-string mappings.
US08543396B2 Continuous speech transcription performance indication
Audio data that includes speech may be transcribed to text by a speech recognition engine. One or more metrics associated with the audio data and/or the text may be determined. An indicator related to a metric may be provided for a portion of the audio data or the text for which the metric was determined. The indicator may be presented in a user-perceptible format.
US08543388B2 Efficient speech stream conversion
Speech frames of a first speech coding scheme are utilized as speech frames of a second speech coding scheme, where the speech coding schemes use similar core compression schemes for the speech frames, preferably bit stream compatible. An occurrence of a state mismatch in an energy parameter between the first speech coding scheme and the second speech coding scheme is identified, preferably either by determining an occurrence of a predetermined speech evolution, such as a speech type transition, e.g. an onset of speech following a period of speech inactivity, or by tentative decoding of the energy parameter in the two encoding schemes followed by a comparison. Subsequently, the energy parameter in at least one frame of the second speech coding scheme following the occurrence of the state mismatch is adjusted. The present invention also presents transcoders and communications systems providing such transcoding functionality.
US08543384B2 Input recognition using multiple lexicons
A word pattern recognition system improves text input entered via a shorthand-on-keyboard interface. A core lexicon comprises commonly used words in a language; an extended lexicon comprises words not included in the core lexicon. The system only directly outputs words from the core lexicon. Candidate words from the extended lexicon can be outputted and simultaneously admitted to the core lexicon upon user selection. A concatenation module enables a user to input parts of a long word separately. A compound word module combines two common shorter words whose concatenation forms a long word.
US08543383B2 Systems and methods for generating weighted finite-state automata representing grammars
A context-free grammar can be represented by a weighted finite-state transducer. This representation can be used to efficiently compile that grammar into a weighted finite-state automaton that accepts the strings allowed by the grammar with the corresponding weights. The rules of a context-free grammar are input. A finite-state automaton is generated from the input rules. Strongly connected components of the finite-state automaton are identified. An automaton is generated for each strongly connected component. A topology that defines a number of states, and that uses active ones of the non-terminal symbols of the context-free grammar as the labels between those states, is defined. The topology is expanded by replacing a transition, and its beginning and end states, with the automaton that includes, as a state, the symbol used as the label on that transition. The topology can be fully expanded or dynamically expanded as required to recognize a particular input string.
US08543380B2 Determining a document specificity
In one embodiment, determining a document specificity includes accessing a record that records the clusters of documents. The number of themes of a document is determined from the number of clusters of the document. The specificity of the document is determined from the number of themes.
US08543370B2 Multiple PLC simulation system
A multiple programmable logic controller (PLC) simulation system is provided. The multiple PLC simulation system includes a plurality of personal computers (PCs), each being configured to comprise a different software PLC which is one of a plurality of PLCs implemented as software in an effort to verify a plurality of PLC codes that generate a PLC input signal and a PLC output signal for controlling lines and equipment of an automated manufacturing system; and a simulation device configured to be connected to a plurality of the PCs over a network, and to perform simulation for verification of a plurality of the PLC codes using an input/output model and a graphic model where the input/output model defines as discrete events operation states of the lines and the equipment which are controlled according to the PLC output signals received from a plurality of the software PLCs and PLC input signals in accordance with the operation states, and the graphic model represents graphically motion change of the lines and the equipment in accordance with a change of operation states using pieces of motion graphic data of the lines and the equipment which correspond to the operation states and the graphic model generates PLC input signals including information on the motion change of the lines and the equipment.
US08543366B2 Simulating real-time software components based on logical execution time
A system for simulating a real-time system using a block-oriented simulation with a static block-update order comprises: a clock providing a time base; a first task function block with a task release block, a task execution block, a task termination block, and a delay block; a first trigger block that triggers the task release block at a first time; and a second trigger block that triggers the task termination block at a third time. The task execution block calculates an output value dependent on an input value. The task release block receives input data from a data source and sets the input value. The task termination block provides the output value to a data sink. The first or second trigger function block triggers the task execution block at a second time provided by the clock. The delay block is arranged between the task release and task termination blocks.
US08543360B2 Parallel simulation of general electrical and mixed-domain circuits
A new method for simulation of general electrical circuits on parallel computing platforms is disclosed. Parallel simulation of general time-domain circuits that are represented by nonlinear/linear differential algebraic equations is accomplished by partitioning them into smaller subcircuits via a novel combination of the companion form representation of the given circuit and an efficient form of node splitting, during Newton Raphson iterations, at any time point. The new invention formulates the interface vectors between partitions, through purely binary vectors, leading to a high degree of parallelism, scalability and reduced computational and communication costs for synchronizing the solutions between various partitions. Parallel platforms considered can be diverse such as (including but not restricted to) multicore CPUs, distributed systems of computers. The new invention also provides for scalable parallel simulation of mixed-domain formulations, such as (including but not restricted to), integrated circuits, electronic packages, PCBs, electromagnetic modules, MEMS and optical components etc.
US08543358B2 Method for directed design
The present invention provides a method for generating a directed design for a physical space requiring design comprising the steps of (a) maintaining a main computer, wherein the main computer is capable of exchanging data with a remote computer; (b) acquiring digitally encoded signals representing an image of the physical space; (c) storing the digitally encoded signals in a imaging computer storage medium; (d) transmitting the stored digitally encoded signals to a design center; (e) designing an interior design plan using the transmitted digitally encoded signals; (f) storing the design plan in a design computer storage medium; (g) transmitting the stored design plan to the main computer; and (h) providing for remote computer communication link access to the stored design plan.
US08543357B1 RF power density and field characterization technique
An apparatus and method for characterization of a directed beam of electromagnetic radiation is provided. An exemplary embodiment of the invention can include an apparatus and measuring technique method which uses a model for blackbody radiation that includes consideration all the degrees of freedom due to translation, vibration, and rotation of molecules or atoms that make up the absorber and a heat transfer term which averages the behavior of all the atoms of the material as a function of temperature. This apparatus and method provides an advantage of increased accuracy, substantial reductions of time required for processing, simplification of measuring processes, and reduction required equipment.
US08543353B2 Apparatus for and a method of determining surface characteristics
Light reflected by a sample surface region and a reference surface interfere. A detector senses light intensity at intervals during relative movement along a scan path between the sample surface and the reference surface to provide a series of intensity values representing interference fringes. A data processor receives first intensity data including a first series of intensity values resulting from a measurement operation on a surface area of a substrate and second intensity data including a second series of intensity values resulting from a measurement operation on a surface area of a thin film structure. A gain is determined for each thin film of the thin film structure. Substrate and apparent thin film structure surface characteristics are determined on the basis of the first and second intensity data, respectively. The apparent thin film structure surface characteristic is modified using the substrate surface characteristic and the determined gain or gains.
US08543352B2 System for measuring a shape, method for measuring a shape, and computer program product
A system for measuring a shape, includes an external storage unit storing tolerances of first and second shape factors defining a design shape of a measuring object; a first measuring tool measuring the first shape factor of the measuring object to obtain measurement data; and a measurement processing unit determining a shape of the measuring object. The measurement processing unit includes; a comparison module comparing the measurement data of the first shape factor with the tolerance of the first shape factor; a verification module composing a predicted shape using the measurement data and verifying whether the predicted shape is formed as a figure; a calculation module calculating predicted data of the second shape factor from the predicted shape; and a determination module determining a measurement shape by comparing the predicted data with the tolerance of the second shape factor.
US08543351B2 Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating same
A portable activity monitoring device comprising a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the user's body, a plurality of sensors, disposed in the housing, to generate sensor data which is representative of activity of the user, processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors, to calculate the one or more activity metrics of the user using the sensor data, wherein the processing circuitry calculates a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the sensor data.
US08543350B2 Synthetic vibration isolation system for freefall gravimeter
A gravimeter is disclosed that comprises a base, a reference device coupled to the base and configured to move along a first axis, a falling device configured to free fall from a first position to a second position on a second axis that is parallel to the first axis, a measurement module coupled to the reference device and configured to provide a first signal of the displacement of the reference device relative to the base and provide a second signal of the displacement of the falling device relative to the reference device. A processing unit accepts the first and second signals and computes a displacement of the falling device in inertial space by processing the first and second signals and subtracting the processed first signal from the processed second signal.
US08543348B2 Method and arrangement for automatic calibrating of spectrometers
An arrangement and method for calibrating a spectrometer with a spectrometric apparatus for measuring spectral fractions of the substance to be examined as well as with a calibration unit. The calibrating of the spectrometric apparatus and/or measurement data based on measured spectrometric data is performed, by the following steps: a) measuring a totality of spectral fractions of the substance to be examined; b) storing the totality of the measured spectral fractions in a memory module in the form of a multidimensional coefficient vector; c) automatic extracting, from the totality of the measured spectral fractions physically relevant for the particular measuring procedure via an automatically running, iterative, estimation method furnished in the calibration unit; and d) calibrating the measured spectrometric measurement data for the investigated substance based on the step c) extracted, spectral fractions of the spectrometric data physically relevant for the substance to be examined.
US08543342B1 Towed array flow noise test apparatus
An apparatus is provided to directly measure the flow noise characteristics of both acoustic sensors and accelerometers mounted in a towed array hose. Sensors can be mounted in a full-scale diameter array module test apparatus and can be subjected to high Reynolds number flow fields that have the physical features of at-sea towing conditions. Additionally, rapid re-design of sensor mountings, hose materials, and actual sensors can be accomplished and evaluated. The parameters of internal tension and flow speed can vary independently in order to determine their importance.
US08543335B2 Validating map data corrections
A system is disclosed for validating a correction to map data for a geographic location, the system including: a processing resource; and a navigation device. In at least one embodiment, the processing resource includes: a user request generator that is configured to generate a user request for transmission to the navigation device; a transmitter for transmitting the generated user request to the navigation device; and a receiver for receiving a user response from the navigation device; and the navigation device includes: a receiver for receiving the user request transmitted from the processing resource; a user request module configured to present the received user request to a user of the navigation device; a user response module for capturing a user response to the presented user request, and a transmitter for transmitting the captured user response to the processing resource.
US08543334B2 Automated location-intelligent traffic notification service systems and methods
Traffic notification systems include a location determination system that can determine a geographic location of a subscriber, and an automated traffic notification system that can automatically transmit a traffic notification message that is based on the geographic location of the subscriber to a wireless terminal associated with the subscriber.
US08543333B2 Method, system, apparatus and computer-readable medium for browsing spot information
A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for browsing spot information, adapted to an electronic device, are provided. In the present method, a plurality of spot information are retrieved, in which each of the spot information at least comprises a picture and a location of a spot. Next, an electronic map is displayed and a spot marker is marked at the spot location of each spot information on the electronic map. Meanwhile, a spot browsing bar is displayed on a side of the electronic map and the spot pictures of the spot information are sequentially displayed in the spot browsing bar. When a select operation of a certain spot marker on the electronic map is received, the spot browsing bar is scrolled to show the spot picture corresponding to the selected spot marker.
US08543304B2 Clutch release system and method for operating a clutch release system
A method operates a clutch release system of a vehicle having an electrically actuable clutch release unit including a sensor for detecting a position of a release piston, a control unit for controlling the release piston as a function of a detected position of a clutch actuating device, and a sensor for detecting the position of the clutch actuating device. A characteristic curve function describes a relationship between the position of the clutch actuating device and the position of the release piston. The function is taken into consideration during actuation of the clutch release system to obtain a consistent clutch release at a defined position of the clutch actuating device despite progressive wear of the clutch release system.
US08543303B2 Anti-rollback control system for hybrid and conventional powertrain vehicles
The present invention provides an anti-rollback control system for use in a motor vehicle, having a powertrain which includes an ICE and/or an electric motor, and an automatic or automated transmission system, for preventing undesired rolling of said vehicle on an incline. Said anti-rollback control system comprises: a tilt sensor; a sensor that detects the selected transmission's operating mode; operator-independent accelerator pedal position-adjusting device; and an accelerator pedal control module. The control module receives signals from the sensors, process said signals, and send instructions accordingly to said operator-independent accelerator pedal position-adjusting device to move the accelerator pedal to a predetermined position according to which the vehicle's powertrain generates a preset amount of mechanical power sufficient to create a force, in the intended direction of movement of the vehicle, equivalent to, or bigger than, the gravitational force tending to roll the vehicle in an unwanted direction.
US08543295B2 Electronically controlled speed limiting system for turf care machine
An electronically controlled speed limiting system for a turf maintenance machine includes at least one traction motor rotating a wheel. At least one hydraulic pump in fluid communication with the traction motor provides hydraulic fluid to operate the traction motor. At least one actuator in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump varies an output of the hydraulic pump. A controller in communication with the actuator commands the actuator to control the output of the hydraulic pump and thereby an operating speed of the wheel. A brake is activated by the controller if a wheel speed sensor signals the wheel is slip-spinning, to mitigate turf damage. A steering position sensor signal is used by the controller to modify brake activation during machine turns. An inclinometer signal is used by the controller to automatically reduce machine speed on inclined surfaces.
US08543290B2 Vehicle information providing device
An information processing unit displays a pop-up window in a display area of a display unit when the own vehicle is in an area of a set distance or less away from an extracted intersection, when the own vehicle stops, when a brake switch is ON, and when a display request for an image of traffic conditions of vehicles at the intersection by the driver is recognized. If an accelerator operation is performed in a predetermined way after the pop-up window is displayed, the display of the pop-up window is finished.
US08543287B2 System, method and computer program for simulating vehicle energy use
A system, method and computer program for simulating vehicle energy use is provided. The system comprises a server, an energy modeling tool is linked to a server and generates energy consumption data that provides an energy consumption function of a vehicle under consideration. The data logging tool is linked to test vehicles and collects drive cycle data from real-world driving conditions. The data logging tool then communicates the drive cycle data to the server over a network. The fleet management tool is also linked to the server and combines the energy consumption data with the drive cycle data to estimate the energy use of a vehicle under consideration.
US08543284B2 Vehicle speed sensor diagnostic system and method
A diagnostic system for a vehicle speed sensor is provided. The system includes: an upshift module that selectively initiates an upshift of a transmission based on a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) signal; a speed drop detection module that monitors at least one of engine speed and input speed for a reduction in speed due to said upshift; and a torque request module that monitors engine torque and selectively diagnoses a VSS malfunction based on said speed reduction and said engine torque.
US08543283B2 Tracking vehicle maintenance using sensor detection
Radio frequency identification is used in cooperation with the computer system aboard a motor vehicle to track service and maintenance activities relating to the vehicle. Each component or part of the vehicle that may require maintenance is provided with a unique passive identification tag. The output data from the tag is read by a reader placed in proximity to the tag, and the data is transmitted to an on-board computer module where it is processed, and the service record is updated. A data stream converter may be used to process the information read by the reader into a format that is acceptable to the on-board computer. The data from the on-board computer is stored in a device external to the computer. Provisions are included for notification to the user, the auto dealer or service other agency as needed.
US08543281B2 Method and system for estimating the angular speed of a mobile
A method of determining an angular velocity of an aircraft includes measuring the angular velocity using at least one gyro delivering a measured angular velocity signal affected by stochastic noise; measuring the angular acceleration of the aircraft using at least one accelerometer delivering a signal representing the angular acceleration of the aircraft; and using a filtering complementary in a frequency domain to combine a sum of the measured angular velocity signal and the angular acceleration signal so as to obtain a hybrid estimated angular velocity signal with reduced stochastic noise.
US08543274B2 Power output apparatus
At least one of a state and a storage amount of a battery is detected, and a battery output that can be outputted by the battery is calculated on the basis of it. A state of an electric motor is detected, and at least one of electric motor torque and electric motor output that can be outputted from the electric motor and maximal torque of the electric motor are calculated on the basis of it. A state of an engine is detected, and engine starting torque required to start the engine is calculated on the basis of it. An EV range in which the engine is cut off to be capable of driving with only the electric motor is set up on the basis of the calculated battery output, at least one of the calculated electric motor torque and electric motor output, and the calculated engine starting torque.
US08543271B2 Power supply system for electrically powered vehicle, and method for controlling the same
A power supply system includes a main power storage device and a plurality of sub power storage devices. A converter is connected to selected one of the sub power storage devices to convert voltage between the selected sub power storage device and an electric power feeding line bidirectionally. When a request for switching the selected sub power storage device in use is generated, upper limits on electric power input/output to/from the selected sub power storage device are continuously varied. Thus, discontinuous variation of electric power input/output to/from the power supply system during the process for switching the selected sub power storage device can be avoided. Consequently, sudden change in a behavior of an electrically powered vehicle can be avoided.
US08543264B1 Aircraft system and method for selecting aircraft gliding airspeed during loss of engine power
A method and aircraft system are provided for determining an optimal gliding speed that maximizes gliding distance of the aircraft upon engine failure, and comprises calculating the optimal gliding speed from a speed polar curve, true airspeed, heading, and vertical wind speed. The polar curve may be constructed with consideration of the aircraft center of gravity and weight. The calculated gliding speed, which may be restricted to a threshold, is provided to the pilot and optionally to an autopilot. The method is repeated periodically, or if the wind vertical or horizontal velocities exceed a threshold for a predetermined period of time.
US08543259B2 System and method for virtual information
A system for providing information to at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) is provided. The system includes a display device that displays the information. The system also includes a source of user input coupled to the display device that enables the at least one passenger to request the information. The information includes at least galley information. The system further includes a galley control module that generates galley data that includes at least one food service item available onboard the mobile platform, and a graphical user interface module that displays the at least one food service item available onboard the mobile platform to enable the at least one passenger to select at least one of the at least one food service item.
US08543254B1 Vehicular imaging system and method for determining roadway width
A vehicular imaging system for determining roadway width includes an image sensor for capturing images and an image processor for receiving the captured images. The image processor determines roadway width by identifying roadway marker signs and oncoming traffic in processed images captured by the image sensor and determining the number of lanes, vehicle location on the roadway based on the roadway size and/or width and location of oncoming traffic.
US08543253B2 Transitioning a control system between changing state equations
A method of controlling a vehicle changing operating ranges from a first range to a second range includes defining a current set of state equations and a target set of state equations. The current set of state equations and the target set of state equations may each include a set of control state equations for controlling the vehicle and a set of estimator state equations for estimating the performance of the vehicle. The values of the current set of state equations are incrementally adjusted over time until substantially equal to values of the target set of state equations to smooth the requested change between the first range and the second range.
US08543252B2 Onboard apparatus, navigation system, and method for setting display screen
To use the same onboard apparatus and navigation system in many kinds of vehicles. A table in which manufacturers and vehicle types are connected with designs and functions has been previously stored in a navigation system module 21. The navigation system module 21 itself sends the center controller 11 a query about vehicle information (the country that manufactured, manufacturer, vehicle type, using country, manufacturing number), recognizes the vehicle information supplied from the center controller 11, and automatically sets the screen design, function, etc., suitable to the vehicle on which the onboard apparatus is mounted.
US08543243B2 System and method of use for a user interface dashboard of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning network
The disclosure provides systems and methods of use of an HVAC graphical interface dashboard. In various embodiments, the dashboard includes a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen. The dashboard also includes an indoor humidity tab. A programs tab and a home tab are also provided. The dashboard includes at least one downloadable screen saver.
US08543240B2 Master finger tracking device and method of use in a minimally invasive surgical system
In a minimally invasive surgical system, a hand tracking system tracks a location of a sensor element mounted on part of a human hand. A system control parameter is generated based on the location of the part of the human hand. Operation of the minimally invasive surgical system is controlled using the system control parameter. Thus, the minimally invasive surgical system includes a hand tracking system. The hand tracking system tracks a location of part of a human hand. A controller coupled to the hand tracking system converts the location to a system control parameter, and injects into the minimally invasive surgical system a command based on the system control parameter.
US08543233B2 Integrated packaging system architecture
A packaging system includes a packaging line comprising a filling machine for producing sealed packages containing food product and downstream distribution equipment connected by conveyors and each including a control system, a line controller for managing configuration, communication and control of the packaging line, a common overhead message display which displays visual information on the operation of the equipment, and a communication network for connecting the line controller to the equipment. The line controller includes a line configurator which reduces and secures effective line installation, start up and tuning at the manufacturing floor via “plug and play”, a line commander which optimizes line performance and product flows during production, a recipe manager which accommodates production flexibility by improving “easy to use” line resources and material, and a conveyor optimizer which optimizes product transportation along the conveyors.
US08543223B2 Implantable lead with braided conductors
A therapy delivery element adapted to be implanted into a living body. The therapy delivery element includes an electrode portion with a plurality of electrodes. At least one elongated lead body is attached to the electrode portion. The elongated lead body includes a stylet coil having a stylet coil lumen. The stylet coil extends within the elongated lead body and along at least a portion of the electrode portion. A conductor assembly with a plurality of insulated electrical conductors is braided to extending around the stylet coil and to electrically couple to one or more of the electrodes. The conductor assembly includes an inner lumen with a diameter greater than an outside diameter of the stylet coil. Axial elongation of the elongated lead body reduces the inner diameter of the conductor assembly. A low durometer insulator extends around the conductor assembly. A stylet sized to slide freely within the stylet coil lumen is provided for use during implantation of the therapy delivery element into the living body.
US08543222B1 Implantable lead and accessories
An implantable stimulation lead for introduction into the brain or other anatomical target in a human body comprises a distal electrode terminal, a proximal connector terminal, and a connecting conductor cable. The led construction enables stylet means to bypass the cable and the connector terminal. A slotted cannula allows the cable and the connector terminal to be decoupled from the lead introduction tools. This enables a substantial stylet means and allows the cable and the connector terminal to be optimized without constraints of the lead introduction tools. The overall length of the lead is minimized and the conductor cable and the connector can be non-iso-diametric. A method of terminating conductors to electrodes using inserts is suitable for very fine wires and stranded conductors. The disclosed leads and accessories are applicable to stimulation leads, sensing leads, or any other lead that may be implanted with or without a stereotactic localization system.
US08543215B2 Advanced patient management for defining, identifying and using predetermined health-related events
Systems, devices and methods for defining, identifying and using health-related significant events are disclosed. One aspect is a programmable device having machine executable instructions for performing a method to assist with managing a patient's health. In various embodiments, at least one previously-defined event is detected based on a number of acquired health-related parameters. The at least one detected event is recorded with an associated time when the at least one detected significant event occurred. An action is triggered based on the at least one detected event. The at least one detected event is displayed with at least one trended health-related parameter in a single display area. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US08543213B2 Apparatus and method using near infrared reflectometry to reduce the effect of positional changes during spinal cord stimulation
A spinal cord stimulation apparatus and method for automatic adjustments of SCS using near-infrared (NIR) reflectometry are provided. A positionally sensitive system for spinal cord stimulation including an electrode assembly with integrated optical components for sensing spinal cord position relative to a stimulating electrode array is provided. The integrated optical components include an IR emitter and a pair of IR photodetectors. As light from the IR emitter reflects from the spinal cord, it is detected by each of the pair of IR photodetectors. As the spinal cord changes position so do the angles of incidence for detected light from the IR emitter, a ratio of optical intensities in combination with a total optical intensity is measured and used to interpolate a set of electrode stimulation settings from a calibration table. Electrode pulse characteristics are adjusted in real time to minimize changes in stimulation perceived by the patient during motion.
US08543212B2 Vestibular stimulator
A method for providing relief from Meniere's disease, includes reversibly disabling vestibular function following detection of an attack of Meniere's disease following detection of an attack of Meniere's disease.
US08543208B2 Systems and methods for interacting with an implantable medical device
An interactive implantable medical device system includes an implantable medical device and a network-enabled external device capable of bi-directional communication and interaction with the implantable medical device. The external device is programmed to interact with other similarly-enabled devices. The system facilitates improved patient care by eliminating unnecessary geographic limitations on implantable medical device interrogation and programming, and by allowing patients, physicians, and other users to access medical records, history, and information and to receive status and care-related alerts and messages anywhere there is access to a communications network.
US08543204B2 Timing pacing pulses in single chamber implantable cardiac pacemaker systems
Methods for timing pacing pulses in an implantable single chamber pacemaker create a simulated, or virtual chamber in order to apply dual chamber-type algorithms and modes. For example, a virtual atrium may be constructed based on information provided by the ventricle, that is, the timing of actual intrinsic ventricular events, and the timing of paced ventricular events, both of which may be sensed as ventricular depolarization by electrodes of the implanted system.
US08543203B2 Endocardial pacing devices and methods useful for resynchronization and defibrillation
According to one aspect, various methods and apparatus are used for treating a condition of a patient's heart, and for monitoring cardiac operation. In one approach consistent therewith, an electrode arrangement is placed in a right ventricle of the heart. The electrode arrangement is used to capture the myocardium for re-synchronization of the left and right ventricles by providing first and second signal components having opposite polarity on respective electrodes. The electrode arrangement is connected to an implantable CRM device that has the capability of pacing/sensing atrium, pacing/sensing ventricles, and deliver defibrillation therapy from the right side of the heart. The CRM device captures ventricular contractions to treat conduction abnormalities in one or more of the ventricles.
US08543202B2 Medical electrical stimulation with external simulated case electrode
This disclosure describes delivery of omnipolar electrical stimulation with an external electrical stimulator. Omnipolar electrical stimulation may involve stimulation with an electrode carried on the housing of an implantable medical device (IMD) while substantially simultaneously delivering stimulation via one or more implanted electrodes having the same polarity as the electrode on the housing. An external medical device (EMD) may simulate the IMD housing electrode with an electrode separate from the electrodes carried on leads implanted near target tissue. This electrode may be an external electrode carried on the external housing of the EMD or an external patch electrode. Alternatively, the electrode may be an implantable electrode coupled to the EMD. The conductivity of the external or implantable electrode may also be optimized to approximate the conductivity of the IMD housing electrode. This electrode coupled to the EMD may be utilized during trial stimulation or chronic, external, stimulation.
US08543193B2 Method and apparatus for rapid interpretive analysis of electrocardiographic waveforms
A method for analyzing a subject-visit group of ECG waveforms captured digitally on an electrocardiograph machine, on a Holter monitor device or digitized from paper electrocardiograms. A cardiologist selects a subject-visit group from a number of subject-visit groups, and each ECG waveform of the subject-visit group is scanned for artifact. Those ECG waveforms containing artifact are annotated appropriately. A determination is made if measurement calipers are present in each ECG waveform, measurement calipers are added to ECG waveforms lacking measurement calipers, and a preliminary interpretation is assigned to each ECG waveform that lacks a preliminary interpretation. Each ECG waveform is assigned a grouping metric, and the ECG waveforms are segregated according to their grouping metric for display and evaluation.
US08543189B2 Method and apparatus for electromagnetic navigation of a magnetic stimulation probe
A system and method is disclosed that can be used to track and navigate an instrument relative to a patient. The system can include an electromagnetic tracking system to track an electromagnetic stimulation probe, such as a transcranial magnetic stimulation probe. The system can, according to various embodiments, provide a tracking device on the probe, track the coil of the probe, provide a field relative to the probe, and determine the position of the patient based upon the field produced by the probe.
US08543185B2 Activity monitoring systems and methods of operating same
The present inventions, in one aspect, is an activity monitoring system comprising a fixture having size/shape adapted to couple to a location on the user's body and a particular signature; and a portable monitoring device adapted to detect the fixture's particular signature. The monitoring device includes a housing that is adapted to engage the fixture; an activity sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect activity of the user and to generate data which is representative of the activity of the user; and processing circuitry, disposed in the housing, to calculate an activity-related quantity of the user, wherein the processing circuitry determines the monitoring device is engaging the fixture by detecting the fixture's particular signature and calculates the activity-related quantity.
US08543173B2 Portable electronic device and wireless communication device
A control unit monitors a current value measured by a power control unit and a type of application program being executed, and executes a reset process or a power-off process when the current value measured by the power control unit exceeds a current threshold value corresponding to the type of application program currently being executed.
US08543172B2 Input device with user balanced performance and power consumption
Operational characteristics of a wireless input device are modified so as to balance performance and power conservation. Power management algorithms may include an algorithm that improves device performance and increases device power consumption, as well as an algorithm that decreases device power consumption and reduces device performance. An algorithm that most closely corresponds to the desired balance of performance and power consumption is identified. The identified algorithm is then transmitted to the wireless device.
US08543170B2 Method and system for telematics services redirect
The present invention provides a method of operating a telematics device within a mobile vehicle communication system. The method includes receiving a request to initiate communication and identifying a request type based on the received request. The method further includes associating the identified request type with at least one service type within a service type table, wherein the service type table maps one or more request types to a corresponding service type within the service type table. The method additionally includes determining a service type number based on the corresponding service type. The method may further include providing the determined service type number and out-pulsing the provided service type number. The method may additionally include determining the identified request type does not map to the corresponding service type and out-pulsing the received request to initiate communication.
US08543166B2 Mobile terminal equipped with flexible display and controlling method thereof
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal equipped with flexible display. The controller changes a screen displayed on the flexible display or controls the operation according to a bent part of the flexible display.
US08543156B2 Interface authorization scheme
An authorization scheme controls whether an interface is established between communication nodes. Such a scheme may be used, for example, to determine whether to establish a direct interface (e.g., an X2 interface) between a pair of access points. A decision to establish a direct interface between nodes may be based on a node type of one or both of the nodes. A decision to establish a direct interface between nodes may be based on whether the nodes belong to the same group.
US08543148B2 Wireless assessment administration system and process
A wireless assessment system includes a plurality of response devices, including at least one plug-in device in signal communication with a subject computer station. The at least one plug-in device is configured to receive subject response data from the subject computer station. The at least one plug-in device has a computer-readable medium, a radio frequency transceiver, a plug-in device operating system, and logic. The plug-in device operating system is configured to block a subject from accessing an operating system of the subject computer station. The logic is configured to store the subject response data in the computer-readable medium. The logic is further configured to instruct radio frequency transceiver to wirelessly transmit the subject response data. The system further includes at least one base unit having a base unit radio frequency transceiver configured to receive the subject response data from the at least one plug-in device.
US08543145B2 Short message service management system, short message forwarding device, short message forwarding manner definition information supply device, and short message forwarding method
A short message with a destination of a single terminal device that has been defined by a user on the transmitting side, from among multiple terminal devices used by an identical user on the receiving side, is forwarded to and received by another predetermined terminal device that has been defined as a destination. Communication relay equipment included between multiple networks operated by network operators is provided with functions of temporarily storing a short message and storing information that defines a short message forwarding manner. In transmitting the short message, even if the original destination is not capable of receiving the message, the short message is transmitted to another destination based upon the information that defines the short message forwarding manner.
US08543144B2 Automated caller identifier from contact lists of a user's contacts
When a call or message is received from an unidentified sender on the user's communication device, the caller identifier application launches a text-based messaging application and causes it to send an “invisible” text-based message to the user's contacts. The message includes the metadata (e.g., telephone number) associated with the call or message that the user received. The invisible message is a short message whose headers are programmed in a particular manner so that the receiving mobile phone acknowledges the receipt of the message and the receiving mobile phone displays no behavior perceptible by the user. When the invisible message is received by the corresponding caller identifier application on one of the user's contact's mobile phone, the application searches the contact's contact list maintained in his or hers contact application. If the metadata provided to the contact's mobile phone is located in the contact list, the contact details (e.g. Name) or the contact card, if available, is sent back to the user's mobile phone in a second invisible message. Upon receiving the second invisible message, the caller identifier application causes some or all of the contact details to be displayed on the user's mobile phone or otherwise presented to the user in any appropriate manner.
US08543143B2 Method and apparatus for grouping points-of-interest according to area names
An approach is provided for crowd sourcing and grouping points-of-interest based on cell broadcast message information. Reception of a message from a mobile terminal is caused, at least in part. The message specifies point-of-interest information and an associated area name corresponding to one of a plurality of cells of a communication network. The message is parsed to determine the point-of-interest information and the associated area name. A connectivity graph specifying relationships among the cells is selectively updated with the point-of-interest information.
US08543140B2 Method and apparatus for determining paging time
The technical solution under the present invention determines paging time by determining the position of the radio sub-frame that includes a paging identifier, with a view to ensuring energy efficiency of a User Equipment (UE). Network-side and user-side paging apparatus and methods are disclosed to perform the paging time determination steps of the invention.
US08543138B2 Multi-sector broadcast paging channel
Systems and methods are described that facilitate improving paging signal strength at or near sector perimeters in a wireless network region by transmitted identical paging waveforms simultaneously from all sectors in the region and permitting over-the-air signal aggregation to combine signal energy near sector perimeters. Waveforms can be modulated using an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing technique and can be simultaneously transmitted according to predefined transmission resources over a multi-sector broadcast paging channel reserved for such identical waveforms. Cyclic prefix can be added to the identical waveforms to mitigate problems associated with delay spread and/or time-of-arrival differences at or near sector perimeters.
US08543134B2 Interactive communication and tracking dog collar
A wirelessly interactive dog collar is disclosed, comprising a neck collar having imbedded features that allow voice commands and tracking over long distances, along with features that facilitate tracking and visualization. The device comprises an elongated collar adapted to fit around a dog's neck having an internal compartment housing a cellular connectivity electronics module, a power supply and wiring to a plurality of speakers, light sources and a global positioning tracking antenna. The device provides a cellular phone antenna and means to transmit and receive voice transmissions through a cellular network, facilitating an owner's ability to track the animal and initiate voice communication. Light sources around the collar improve visualization of the pet at night, while the GPS tracking unit provides a backup to cellular triangulation, allowing location determination over long distances.
US08543132B2 Method of estimating position of mobile node in wireless sensor network
The present invention relates to a method of estimating the position of a mobile node in a wireless sensor network using a passive mode OWR method. The method includes: estimating frequency offsets of anchor nodes and a mobile node; allowing the anchor nodes to sequentially transmit ranging frames; allowing the mobile node to receive the ranging frames and to estimate the difference between the reception times of signals from two anchor nodes; and applying the estimated difference between the reception times of the signals to time difference of arrival (TDOA) to estimate the position of the mobile node. According to the above-mentioned structure of the present invention, a plurality of mobile nodes can estimate their positions with a minimum number of ranging frame transmissions, without using a separate network synchronization unit. In addition, it is possible to easily construct a wireless sensor network for position recognition, and rapidly and accurately perform distance estimate using an OWR method.
US08543126B2 Method and apparatus for supporting high-speed mobile terminals in a distributed antenna system
A method and apparatus for supporting a high-speed mobile terminal in a distributed antenna system. The method includes acquiring information on a position and a speed of each terminal of a plurality of terminals, mapping the plurality of terminals to at least one or more terminal groups based on at least one or more of the position or the speed of the terminal, determining a service end time point at a serving antenna node and a service start time point at a target antenna node, using position and speed information associated with the terminal group, and switching an antenna node for the terminal group, according to the service end time point at the serving antenna node and the service start time point at the target antenna node.
US08543125B2 Method and arrangement in a wireless communication system
A method in a user equipment for transmitting scheduling requests to a base station includes triggering a scheduling request transmission and transmitting a scheduling request to the base station at the next occurring scheduling request opportunity as a response to the triggering. The method also includes starting a scheduling request prohibiting timer in the user equipment when the scheduling request is transmitted to the base station and prohibiting any further scheduling request retransmission at future scheduling request opportunities while the scheduling request prohibiting timer is running.
US08543115B2 Method and apparatus for supporting handover in heterogeneous network
A method for operating a terminal for supporting a handover in a heterogeneous network is provided. The method includes measuring received signal strength from a target small base station, so that a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) is estimated, when the SNR of the target small base station that considers a biased value for range expansion is greater than an SNR of a serving macro base station, determining whether an SNR of the target small base station that does not consider the biased value for the range expansion is equal to or less than a threshold, and when the SNR of the target small base station that does not consider the biased value for the range expansion is equal to or less than the threshold, transmitting indication information, informing that a low SNR is expected when the terminal performs a handover to the target small base station, to the serving macro base station.
US08543114B2 Voice over LTE via generic access handover (HO) apparatus and method
A method and system wherein a Voice over LTE via Generic Access (VoLGA) Access Network Controller (VANC)1 upon receiving a REGISTER and REGISTER UPDATE message from the UE1 notifies a Hand Over Selection Function node (HOSF) that a user equipment (UE) is registered in the VANC. This will only be done if the HOSF has not theretofore been notified.
US08543111B2 Control of cell search procedure
A method, an apparatus and a computer program product for controlling cell search procedure, including a user equipment determining a change of position in relation to a serving cell; determining the quality of signal received from the serving cell; and stopping the cell search procedure if the change of position is smaller than a first value and the loss of signal quality is lower than a second value.
US08543105B2 Using standard cellular handsets with a general access network
Mobile communication is disclosed. A standard cellular mobile station at is communicated with at least in part via a standard cellular air link. A mobile communication between the standard cellular mobile station and a core mobile network is relayed via a generic access network. In some embodiments, translation between the standard cellular air link and a generic access network uplink interface is performed.
US08543103B2 Method and system for conducting hearing aid compatibility testing of a mobile communication device
Embodiments relate to a system for conducting hearing aid compatibility testing of a mobile communication device. The system comprises: a simulated hand for supporting the mobile communication device during the testing; a probe; and a processor. The processor is configured to cause the probe to be positioned in a sequence of positions in proximity to the mobile communication device relative to an audio output component of the mobile communication device during the testing and to determine a field strength of a field radiated by the mobile communication device at the sequence of positions based on an output of the probe at each position.
US08543097B2 Service escrowed transportable wireless event reporting system
A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network.
US08543089B2 Method for performing an authentication of entities during establishment of wireless call connection
Disclosed is the method for establishing a connection between a base station and a terminal so as to transmit and receive data in the E-UMTS (Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) or LTE (Long-Term Evolution) system, and more particularly, to a method for determining, by each entity, whether to establish a connection by comparing an authentication input value transmitted from a counterpart entity with an authentication input range.
US08543088B2 System and method of using diameter based signaling to support billing models for visually rendered services
A system and method of using Diameter based signaling is provided to track usage to support multiple billing models for visually rendered revenue generating services in an IP Multimedia subsystem based network. The system includes a computer system includes first program instructions to provide usage information to an accounting platform for processing charging information for visually rendered services in an IP Multimedia subsystem based network. The computer system also comprises a computer readable media which stores the first program instructions and a central processing unit to execute the first program instructions.
US08543083B2 Locator system
A locator system is disclosed. An E911-enabled wireless network including a switching center is configured receive a request to generate location information regarding a remote mobile station, and send said location information to a subscriber only after obtaining consent from the remote mobile station.
US08543075B2 Received signal to noise indicator
A method and device may be used to produce a received interference value in wireless communications. The device may include one or more components to measure a received power of a channel and measure an average noise plus interference power of the channel. The device may include a processor configured to calculate a received signal to noise indicator (RSNI) value. The RSNI may be based on the measured received power and the measured average noise plus interference power.
US08543074B1 Frequency agile digital radio receiver
In a digital receiver, an ADC converts an analog RF signal to a digital RF signal at a sample rate of fADC, which is converted into M parallel streams of RF samples. Each stream has a sampling rate of fADC/M, where M is a positive integer greater than 1. After translation into M parallel streams of IF samples centered about an IF of fADC/4, they are demodulated by applying first coefficients to even IF samples to produce even demodulated samples and applying second coefficients to odd IF samples to produce odd demodulated samples. The even samples are filtered using first filter coefficients and the odd samples are filtered using second filter coefficients to produce a complex baseband signal.
US08543071B2 Radiofrequency emission or reception chain with automatic impedance adaptation, and corresponding method
As relates to automatic matching of antenna impedance for a radiofrequency transmit or receive circuit, an impedance matching network is inserted between an amplifier and antenna. The current i and output (resp. input) voltage V of the amplifier and their phase shift are measured, the complex impedance defined by V/i is deduced; the impedance of the antenna is calculated as a function of this complex impedance and the known existing values of the adjustable impedances of the matching network. New adjustable values of impedances of the matching network to obtain a desired overall load impedance for the amplifier are calculated on the basis of the calculated antenna impedance value, and the matching network is controlled to adjust the adjustable impedances to these new values. The measurement is made at a measurement frequency different from the working frequency to allow automatic matching without interrupting normal operation of the chain.
US08543066B2 User experienced remote monitoring of a communications network
Various systems, computer program products, and methods are disclosed for user experienced remote monitoring of a communications network. For example, a method may include receiving air interface information from a mobile device. The air interface information may originate from signals communicated between the mobile device and the communications network. The air interface information may indicate an actual communication quality between the mobile device and the communications network. The method may further include receiving user experience information. The user experience information may indicate a perceived communication quality at the mobile device. The method may further include associating, by the server device, the air interface information and the user experience information with one another. The method may further include determining, by the server device, whether the perceived communication quality is due to the actual communication quality based on the associated air interface information and user experience information.
US08543065B2 Methods for using effective radiated transmit power of a base station at a wireless communication device to determine uplink transmission range and/or to adjust transmit power
Methods, systems and apparatus are disclosed for using effective radiated transmit power of a base station at a wireless communication device to determine whether the wireless communication device is within uplink transmission range of the base station. The wireless communication device can also use the effective radiated transmit power to adjust transmit power at the wireless communication device and save battery resources. In one implementation, the disclosed embodiments can be applied in a two-way wireless communication system.
US08543064B2 Enhanced estimation of uplink interference coupling
Uplink interference coupling is estimated between a first cell and a second cell by adjusting downlink interference coupling between the cells at least according to user equipment UE transmit power per physical resource block PRB. This estimated uplink interference coupling is used to decide whether to take a component carrier into use in the first cell. In various embodiments: the uplink interference coupling is estimated by adjusting the downlink interference coupling according to transmit power per PRB of a first UE in the first cell and transmit power per PRB of a second UE in the second cell; and by further adjusting the downlink interference coupling according to path losses of the first and second UEs; and the transmit power per PRB as well as the path loss of the second UE is determined from signaling received in the first cell from the second UE operating in the second cell.
US08543061B2 Cellphone managed hearing eyeglasses
The invention describes a Hearing Aid device composed of a cellphone and eyeglasses where some of the programs are carried out by components embedded onto the temples of eyeglasses and some programs by components which are inherently part of cellphones. The combined device improves the intelligibility of voice messages arriving both through the cellphone speaker, the connected earphones and directly through the free air. The user can call diverse programs suitable for different situations, by using inertial sensors embedded either in the eyeglasses or are inherently part of the cellphone.
US08543060B2 Close-proximity wireless communication transfer
A system for transferring active communication sessions between apparatuses. In at least one example implementation, a first apparatus may receive information including at least identity information corresponding to a second apparatus via close-proximity wireless communication. The receipt of the identity information may then trigger the first apparatus to determine whether it is already in a communication session. If it is determined that the first apparatus is in a communication session, it may be further determined, based on the identity information, whether automatic transfer of the communication session is permitted. If the first apparatus determines that the automatic transfer is permitted, the first apparatus may then initiate a transfer of the communication session to the second apparatus.
US08543058B2 Systems and methods for optimizing short range wireless communications within a larger wireless network
A networked computing system that is configured to optimize short-range wireless communications within a distributed wireless communications network. The networked computing system may include one or more base stations, a transceiver device having shorter range wireless communications capability than the base station(s), and one or more user equipment capable of communicating with the transceiver device and the base station(s). Within the networked computing system, the transceiver device is configured to: transmit a signal to detect a regional base station and then determine at least one operating parameter based on communications characteristics associated with the detected regional base station(s). The operating parameter(s) may be a non-interfering operating power levels or a modulation and coding scheme level utilized to facilitate communications between the transceiver device and the user equipment.
US08543056B2 Communication device, communication method, and program
A communication device includes determining means for determining a communication system of a transmission signal transmitted by another communication device that performs noncontact communication based on a periodical change of a binarized signal obtained by demodulation of the transmission signal transmitted from the other communication device.
US08543053B1 Wireless communication jamming using signal delay technology
A device and method for jamming wireless communication devices where the jamming signal is derived from the downlink signal of the base station and processed with a time delay sufficient length as to prevent the base station receiver from correctly processing the responding uplink signal from the targeted wireless communications device. Such wireless communication jamming device can be used by law enforcement and authorized government entities to block the operation of wireless communication devices such as cell phones within a target area.
US08543048B2 Electrophotographic marking system with blade cut angles for longer blade life
According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus comprising a cleaning unit with a blade holder that rotates about a pivot point, the cleaning blade is coupled to the blade holder and is positioned to chisel excess toner from a photoreceptor surface. Geometrical changes produce a blade having a slanted surface that reduces cyclic fatigue stress at the blade tip and reduces blade edge wear. The blade has a sharp leading side, a trailing side, and a working end comprising a slanted surface. When the slanted surface is formed at an angle between 93 degrees to 97 degrees stiffer tips is produced and wears resulting from blade and photoreceptor surface contact is reduced.
US08543046B2 Fixing device, image forming apparatus incorporating same, and fixing method
A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body to rotate in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressing rotary body pressed against the fixing rotary body to rotate in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the fixing rotary body and form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A heat generator is disposed opposite the fixing rotary body at a section other than the nip to heat the fixing rotary body. A moving assembly is disposed opposite the heat generator to generate a magnetic force to move the heat generator with respect to the fixing rotary body so as to change one of a pressure and a distance between the heat generator and the fixing rotary body.
US08543035B2 Cleaning device, cartridge and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device for removing a developer remaining on an image bearing member from the image bearing member includes a cleaning device, including an elastic blade and a supporting member for supporting the elastic blade, for removing the developer remaining on the image bearing member from the image bearing member; an image bearing member bearing member including a supporting portion for rotatably supporting the image bearing member; and a removed developer accommodating container formed of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient different from that of a material for the supporting member. The image bearing member bearing member is fixed to the supporting member. The removed developer accommodating container is fixed to the supporting member. The image bearing member bearing member and the removed developer accommodating container are provided with a gap therebetween with respect to a longitudinal direction of the supporting member.
US08543011B2 Receiving apparatus and method for electronic noise compensation in phase modulated optical transmission
A receiving apparatus and method for processing a differential phase shift keying signal carrying a plurality of symbols are disclosed to provide for improved compensation of linear and non-linear noise in phase modulated optical transmission. The receiving apparatus comprises an input unit for receiving electrical signals derived from an optical signal and a calculation unit for calculating a current value of a decision variable. The current value is indicative of a differential phase shift in the optical signal between a currently received symbol and a previously received symbol as a function of the optical signal power of the optical signal for the currently received symbol and at least one previous value of the decision variable. The receiving apparatus also comprises a decision unit for determining the differential phase shift from the current value of the decision variable obtained from the calculation unit to obtain the currently received symbol.
US08542996B2 Optical packet switching apparatus
An optical packet switching apparatus includes an optical coupler, an optical switch unit, and an optical switch control unit. The optical switch control unit includes an optical-to-electrical converter, a serial/parallel converter, an arrangement detector, a rearrangement unit, a frame synchronization unit, a route detector, a control signal generator, and an adjustment unit for adjusting the timing with which to output an optical switch control signal to the optical switch unit, based on arrangement information on a frame synchronization pattern fed from the arrangement detector.
US08542989B2 Camera system, camera body and interchangeable lens
A camera system (1) includes an interchangeable lens (200) and a camera body (100). The camera body (100) includes a body controller (140) configured to generate a command, and a sending unit (150) configured to send the generated command to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens (200) includes a movable member (230, 260), a driving unit (233, 261) configured to drive the movable member, a receiving unit (250) configured to receive a command from the camera body, and a lens controller (240) configured to control the driving unit according to the received command. Further, a prediction unit (140, 240) is provided in either one of the camera body and the interchangeable lens, which predicts whether an operation of the driving unit of the interchangeable lens according to the received command will be completed within a predetermined time.
US08542988B2 Image stabilizing apparatus
An image stabilizing apparatus comprises: a base; a first frame that is movably coupled to the base in a first direction; a first vibration axis that is disposed on the base and extended along the first direction to movably support the first frame in the first direction; a first vibration unit that vibrates the first vibration axis; a first sensing unit that senses a position variation of the first frame; a second frame that is movably coupled to the first frame in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; a lens coupled to the second frame; a second vibration axis that is disposed on the first frame and extended along the second direction to movably support the second frame along the second direction; a second vibration unit that vibrates the second vibration axis; and a second sensing unit for sensing a position variation of the second frame.
US08542984B1 Advanced recording options for interactive media guidance application systems
Systems and methods for advanced recording options in interactive media guidance applications pertaining to whether a program includes commercials, has a particular aspect ratio, is a director's cut, or is unrated. The interactive media guidance application receives a user input to search for and record a program with one or more recording attributes, including an input designating that an attribute be required, preferred, or preferred in multiple copies. In one method, the interactive media guidance application retrieves media guidance information data for the program from memory, determines if the program has the desired recording attribute, and if so, records the program. In another method, the interactive media guidance application records the first available program which has all required recording attributes, and then continues to search for and record more-preferred versions.
US08542975B2 Method to stabilize video stream using on-device positional sensors
A video device is provided. The video device comprises a sensor to determine an amount of movement of the video device, a memory component to store video-related information, and a processor to receive movement information from the sensor and to interrupt communication of video-related information to the memory component when the movement information indicates that acceleration of the video device exceeds a threshold.
US08542971B2 Packages for high power operation of optical fiber components
A package for dissipating heat power and/or optical power from an optical fiber component of a device is provided. The package includes a heat sink packaging receptacle for accommodating the optical fiber component having a cavity for receiving a temperature sensitive portion of the optical fiber component. According to one aspect, the package may include a power-dissipative material for dissipating heat power or optical power, the power-dissipative material extending within the cavity and surrounding the temperature-sensitive portion of the optical fiber component. According to another aspect, the package may include at least one channel extending between the cavity and an end of the heat sink packaging receptacle, the channel being in intimate contact with the cladding of the optical fiber component for dissipating heat power and/or optical power from the optical fiber component.
US08542953B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus supports image processing in multiple languages via a user interface, a determining unit, a setting unit, and a character recognizing unit. The user interface sets an instruction from a user for various functions performed by the image processing apparatus. The user interface displays characters in a language. The determining unit automatically determines the language currently used for the characters displayed in the user interface of the various functions. The setting unit sets, in response to the determining unit automatically determining the language currently used for the characters displayed in the user interface, the determined language as a scanned document language for use in recognizing characters in a scanned document which is obtained by scanning a paper document. The character recognizing unit utilizes the scanned document language set by the setting unit to recognize characters in the scanned document and create text data.
US08542947B2 Method for RPC refinement using ground control information
A computer implemented method of adjusting original rational polynomial coefficients of an RPC model for an image acquired by an image sensor comprising providing rational polynomial coefficients associated with the image calculating a pseudo position and attitude angles for the sensor using the original coefficients providing at least one ground control point associated with the image adjusting the pseudo position and attitude angles using the at least one ground control point; and adjusting the original coefficients for the image using the adjusted pseudo position and attitude angles.
US08542943B2 Digitally-generated lighting for video conferencing applications
A method of improving the lighting conditions of a real scene or video sequence. Digitally generated light is added to a scene for video conferencing over telecommunication networks. A virtual illumination equation takes into account light attenuation, lambertian and specular reflection. An image of an object is captured, a virtual light source illuminates the object within the image. In addition, the object can be the head of the user. The position of the head of the user is dynamically tracked so that an three-dimensional model is generated which is representative of the head of the user. Synthetic light is applied to a position on the model to form an illuminated model.
US08542939B2 Methods of and apparatus for using tree representations for representing arrays of data elements for encoding and decoding data in data processing systems
To encode and compress a data array 30, the data array 30 is first divided into a plurality of blocks 31. A quadtree representation is then generated for each block 31 by initializing each leaf node of the quadtree to the value of the data element of the block 31 of the data array 30 that the leaf node corresponds to, and initializing each non-leaf node to the minimum value of its child nodes, and then subtracting from each node except the root node the value of its parent node. A set of data indicating the differences between respective parent and child node values in the quadtree representing the block of the data array is then generated and stored, together with a set of data representing a quadtree indicating the number of bits that have been used to signal the respective difference values.
US08542938B2 System and method for intra-frame compression using predictive coding
A system and method for intra-frame compression using predictive coding utilizes some pixels of a macroblock of a video frame as reference pixels to perform predictive coding on the rest of the macroblock when some or all predefined reference pixels for performing predictive coding on the macroblock are not available in the video frame.
US08542932B2 Image processing method and image processing apparatus using different compression methods
An image processing method of processing image portrayal information used for rendering by attaching textures includes separating a texture area to which the texture is attached and a non-texture area to which the texture is not attached in a coordinate system of a rendering-completed image represented by the image portrayal information, compressing the image portrayal information of the non-texture area by a first compression method, and compressing the image portrayal information of the texture area by a second compression method different from the first compression method.
US08542927B2 Character auto-completion for online east asian handwriting input
An exemplary method includes receiving stroke information for a partially written East Asian character, the East Asian character representable by one or more radicals; based on the stroke information, selecting a radical on a prefix tree wherein the prefix tree branches to East Asian characters as end states; identifying one or more East Asian characters as end states that correspond to the selected radical for the partially written East Asian character; and receiving user input to verify that one of the identified one or more East Asian characters is the end state for the partially written East Asian character. In such a method, the selection of a radical can occur using radical-based hidden Markov models. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US08542920B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
In an image processing apparatus, an edge extraction unit extracts edges from image data. A correction amount acquisition unit acquires a misregistration amount of one color plane relative to another color plane of the image data, and calculates a first correction amount corresponding to an image height based on image heights of respective edges and misregistration amounts of respective edges. The correction amount acquisition unit calculates a second correction amount specific to a lens based on lens design data. A correction amount calculation unit calculates a difference between the first correction amount and the second correction amount, adjusts the difference so that the difference falls within a predetermined range, and calculates a third correction amount based on the adjusted difference and the second correction amount. A correction unit corrects the image data based on the third correction amount.
US08542918B2 Image color enhancement
Some embodiments of the invention provide a non-linear image-enhancement method to enhance an image that includes a number of picture elements. The non-linear enhancement method adjusts the brightness value of each pixel in the image and adjusts at least one chromatic value of each pixel in the image based on the adjustment to the brightness value of that pixel.
US08542910B2 Human tracking system
An image such as a depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. A grid of voxels may then be generated based on the depth image such that the depth image may be downsampled. A background included in the grid of voxels may also be removed to isolate one or more voxels associated with a foreground object such as a human target. A location or position of one or more extremities of the isolated human target may be determined and a model may be adjusted based on the location or position of the one or more extremities.
US08542908B2 Bidirectional similarity of signals
A method for measuring bi-directional similarity between a first signal of a first size and a second signal of a second size includes matching at least some patches of the first signal with patches of the second signal for data completeness, matching at least some patches of the second signal with patches of the first signal for data coherence, calculating the bi-directional similarity measure as a function of the matched patches for coherence and the matched patches for completeness and indicating the similarity between the first signal and the second signal. Another method generates a second signal from a first signal where the second signal is different than the first signal by at least one parameter. The method includes attempting to maximize a bi-directional similarity measure between the second signal and the first signal.
US08542903B2 Method and system for delineation of vasculature
A method for automatically delineating image data corresponding to vasculature in an anatomical region is presented. The method includes obtaining image data corresponding to soft tissue representative of the anatomical region. In addition, the method includes segmenting image data corresponding to a region of interest from image data corresponding to the anatomical region based on a patient population to obtain image data corresponding to a segmented region of interest. Furthermore, the method includes extracting image data corresponding to vasculature associated with the segmented region of interest by suppressing image data corresponding to soft tissue representative of the segmented region of interest. Systems and computer-readable medium that afford functionality of the type defined by this method are also contemplated in conjunction with the present technique.
US08542901B2 Method for correcting motion artifacts in magnetic resonance images
For resonance image data of an imaged subject, a method that first detects and estimates the dominant motions of k-space data (i.e., the motion vectors) and then constructs a graphical model for each estimated motion vector. The segments of the k-space that are determined to be corrupted by motion are restored by minimizing the energy associated with the corresponding graphical model. Consequently, the MR image of the imaged subject becomes free of motion artifacts.
US08542893B2 System and method of pulmonary emboli detection for computed tomography
A system and method includes acquisition of a set of image data comprising a plurality of image voxels and isolation of a set of pulmonary emboli candidates from the plurality of image voxels. The system and method also includes application of a non-linear contrast enhancement to the set of pulmonary emboli candidates, filtration of the enhanced set of pulmonary emboli candidates, output of a final set of pulmonary emboli candidates, and creation of an image comprising the final set of pulmonary emboli candidates.
US08542889B2 Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for capturing a signature for use in a document
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for capturing a signature, and placing a representation of the captured signature in an appropriate field of a document. A camera or other appropriate sensor can capture an image of a signature provided by a user on a piece of paper. The signature can be digitized to create a representation that a device may use in a displayed document. To determine where to place the representation, a horizontal line of a document can be identified by selectively rendering portions of the document adjacent to an input position, and identifying one or more boundaries for a detected horizontal line. The representation can be scaled to fit in a detected field of the document.
US08542883B2 System and method of adaptive vertical search range tracking for motion estimation in digital video
A system and method which determines an adaptive vertical search range used to provide motion estimation in digital video content are disclosed. In some embodiments, a fixed-size vertical search range for the motion estimation is defined and utilized. A reference frame and target frame are stored in memory, and a block in the reference frame is selected for consideration. An offset value is determined which is indicative of a directional shift of the fixed-size vertical search range and the vertical search range is shifted based on the offset value. A motion vector is then estimated using the shifted vertical search range.
US08542882B2 Method for determining flow conditions
The invention relates to a method for determining flow conditions in a measured volume permeated by a fluid spiked with optically detectable particles. A plurality of two-dimensional images of the particle distribution is thereby created at each of a plurality of times, an estimated particle distribution is determined therefrom, and a three-dimensional displacement vector field is calculated. According to the invention, a transfer function for the image detectors used is first determined, by means of which the real distribution is mapped by the image detector. Starting from a roughly estimated initial distribution, and by means of the transfer function, virtual images of the estimated distribution are then calculated and compared to the associated real images. The estimated distribution is modified in an iterative method until sufficient matching of the virtual and real images has been achieved.
US08542879B1 Facial recognition
An example method includes receiving a first image and a second image of a face of a user, where one or both images have been granted a match by facial recognition. The method further includes detecting a liveness gesture based on at least one of a yaw angle of the second image relative to the first image and a pitch angle of the second image relative to the first image, where the yaw angle corresponds to a transition along a horizontal axis, and where the pitch angle corresponds to a transition along a vertical axis. The method further includes generating a liveness score based on a yaw angle magnitude and/or a pitch angle magnitude, comparing the liveness score to a threshold value, and determining, based on the comparison, whether to deny authentication to the user with respect to accessing one or more functionalities controlled by the computing device.
US08542877B2 Processing images of at least one living being
A method of processing images of at least one living being, includes obtaining a sequence (19) of digital images taken at consecutive points in time. At least one measurement zone (26) comprising a plurality of image points is selected. For each measurement zone (26), a signal (28,30) representative of at least variations in a time-varying value of a combination of pixel values at least a number of the image points for use in determining at least one of a presence and a frequency value of at least one peak in a spectrum of the signal (28,30) corresponding to a frequency of a periodic physiological phenomenon is obtained. The step (25) of selecting at least one measurement zone (26) includes analyzing information based on pixel data of a plurality of image parts in at least one of the images (19), each image part including at least one image point, and selecting each measurement zone (26) from contiguous parts determined to have similar characteristics.
US08542874B2 Videotracking
A method for tracking an object in a sequence of video frames includes the following steps: creating a model with characteristic features for the object to be tracked; and performing a template matching algorithm in individual frames on the basis of the created model for determining a position of the object in the respective frame. An apparatus arrangement for performing the method includes at least one video camera (10, 12), at least one monitor (24, 26), one computer (20) and one input device (28) for an observer (22).
US08542871B2 Brand protection and product authentication using portable devices
A method and apparatus for protection of products and packaging against counterfeiting using dedicated authentication protocol coupled with portable devices. It is based on the product identification information, i.e., PIN, generated by the product manufacturer, stored in the product database and added to product or packaging in an open and/or a hidden form. The open part is directly available to the consumer before buying, opening or consuming the product or package or damaging its integrity while the hidden part is only revealed after these operations. The hidden information can also be disappearing after a predefined interval of time or number of trials or usages. Both parts are communicated to the authentication server in a predefined order to verify the product or package authenticity. The presence, absence, or multiple requests for the same product PIN, confirm or reject product authenticity or detect attempt at attacking the system or using counterfeited products.
US08542866B2 Device and method for the visual representation of measured values
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for visually representing measuring values.The present invention starts out from the idea of veiling the visual representation of authenticity data or other measuring values by visually representing not the measuring values themselves, but camouflage data, which are formed by measuring values changed with the help of a mathematical algorithm.
US08542864B2 Speaker device
A speaker device includes a voice coil unit and a diaphragm linked to the voice coil unit. A first supporting unit and a second supporting unit elastically support the end portions of the voice coil unit so that the voice coil portion of the voice coil unit can vibrate within the magnetic gap in the direction of the face thereof. Each of the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit has a configuration that is in a shape bent so as to extend up and bend down from an end that is fixed to a fixing position. Thus, a speaker device in which the voice coil unit can vibrate with a greater amplitude is provided.
US08542860B2 Oscillator for a flat loudspeaker, flat loudspeaker and vehicle
The present invention relates to an oscillator, particularly for or in a flat loudspeaker, particularly for use in the aerospace field, comprising an oscillating part carrier, a coupling ring for coupling the oscillator to a sound converter of a loudspeaker, wherein the oscillating part carrier and the coupling ring are connected to each other via a detachable quick-release closure, comprising first closing elements for a locked, secure connection in relation to vibrations and second closing elements that are separate from the first closing elements, for a secure connection between the oscillating part carrier and the coupling ring. The invention further relates to a flat loudspeaker comprising such an oscillator and to a vehicle comprising such a flat loudspeaker.
US08542859B2 Interchangeable headphone audio system
A configurable audio system for use in a plurality of different settings includes a set of speaker assemblies that can be attached, detached and reattached to a plurality of different accessories configured for use in specific settings (e.g., ski goggles, or conventional headphones). In one implementation, each accessory comprises a set of engagement assemblies for detachably receiving the set of speaker assemblies. For example, a strap on a pair of goggles can comprise a set of engagement assemblies affixed in-line with the strap. By contrast, a traditional headphone band can comprise a pair of engagement assemblies that extend from each opposing end of the traditional headphone band. In either case, each engagement assembly of the goggle strap or the traditional headphone band is configured in size and shape to attach to, and detach from, each speaker assembly, as desired.
US08542856B2 Hearing aid
In a hearing aid (100), a control device (4) comprises a transmission characteristic calculator (18), a correction characteristic calculator (21), and a correction component (17). The transmission characteristic calculator (18) calculates an at-fitting transmission characteristic Gf (ω) on the basis of correction-use sound data and first sound data produced by collection at an ear canal microphone (10) of correction-use sound outputted from a receiver (3) during fitting. The transmission characteristic calculator (18) calculates an in-usage transmission characteristic Gu (ω) on the basis of correction-use sound data and third sound data produced by collection at the ear canal microphone (10) of correction-use sound outputted from the receiver (3) according to user operation after fitting. The correction characteristic calculator (21) calculates a correction characteristic H (ω) on the basis of the at-fitting transmission characteristic Gf (ω) and the in-usage transmission characteristic Gu (ω). The correction component (17) corrects input sound data that has undergone hearing aid processing by a hearing aid processor (16) on the basis of the correction characteristic H (ω).
US08542851B2 Acoustic sensor and microphone
An acoustic sensor includes a semiconductor substrate with a back chamber, a conductive diaphragm arranged on an upper side of the semiconductor substrate, an insulating fixed film fixed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate covering the conductive diaphragm with a gap, a conductive fixed electrode film arranged on the insulating fixed film facing the diaphragm, an extraction wiring extracted from the conductive fixed electrode film, and an electrode pad to which the extraction wiring is connected. The acoustic sensor converts an acoustic vibration to change electrostatic capacitance between the conductive diaphragm and the conductive fixed electrode film. A plurality of acoustic perforations are opened in a back plate including the insulating fixed film and the conductive fixed electrode film. An opening rate of the plurality of acoustic perforations is smaller in the extraction wiring and a region in the vicinity thereof than in other regions.
US08542818B2 Vehicle call device, call system, center, and calling method
A vehicle call device, a call system, a center, and a calling method capable of detecting a problem while controlling the cost increase are disclosed. The vehicle call device includes a speaker mounted in a vehicle, the speaker outputting a received voice of an opposite communication party; a microphone mounted in the vehicle; an echo canceller unit removing the received voice that has been output from the speaker and input into the microphone; a detecting unit detecting an emergency situation of the vehicle; and a remove preventing unit preventing the eco canceller unit from removing the received voice when the detecting unit detects the emergency situation.
US08542815B2 Producing routing messages for voice over IP communications
A process and apparatus to facilitate communication between callers and callees in a system comprising a plurality of nodes with which callers and callees are associated is disclosed. In response to initiation of a call by a calling subscriber, a caller identifier and a callee identifier are received. Call classification criteria associated with the caller identifier are used to classify the call as a public network call or a private network call. A routing message identifying an address, on the private network, associated with the callee is produced when the call is classified as a private network call and a routing message identifying a gateway to the public network is produced when the call is classified as a public network call.
US08542811B2 Recursive identification of individuals for casual collaborative conferencing
A method for real-time communication among two or more individuals separated in space. The method includes the steps of determining that a first individual is likely to be interested in communicating with a second individual via a first communications link; retrieving information via the first communications link about one or more additional individuals from electronic memory means associated with the second individual; and establishing communication with at least one of the additional individuals based on the retrieved information.
US08542796B2 Radiation image capturing device, radiation image capturing system, computer readable medium and radiation image capturing device control method
A radiation image capturing device is provided with plural pixels, a detection unit and a control unit. The pixels are each provided with a sensor portion and a switching element that reads out charges generated at the sensor portion and outputs the charges to a signal line. The detection unit detects the start of irradiation if electronic signals according to the charges satisfy a pre-specified condition for irradiation detection. After the start of irradiation of radiation is detected, the control unit acquires electronic signals corresponding to the charges and determines whether the acquired electronic signals include an electronic signal caused by noise. If the electronic signal caused by noise is included, the control unit controls a reporting unit so as to report this.
US08542794B2 Image processing apparatus for a moving image of an object irradiated with radiation, method thereof, and storage medium
A radiation imaging apparatus comprises: an imaging unit to capture a moving image of an object irradiated with radiation; a first extraction unit to extract an object area where an object exists from an exposure field region of radiation in a first frame image of the moving image; a second extraction unit to extract a region of interest as a target for calculation of a first feature amount indicating a feature of an image from a region corresponding to the object area in a second frame image following the first frame image; a first calculation unit to calculate the first feature amount of a region of interest in a third frame image following the second frame image from a region corresponding to the region of interest in the third frame image; and a control unit to control a radiation generating unit based on the first feature amount.
US08542789B2 Irradiation target positioning devices and methods of using the same
Example embodiments and methods are directed to irradiation target positioning devices and systems that are configurable to permit accurate irradiation of irradiation targets and accurate production of daughter products, including isotopes and radioisotopes, therefrom. These include irradiation target plates having precise loading positions for irradiation targets, where the targets may be maintained in a radiation field. These further include a target plate holder for retaining and positioning the target plates and irradiation targets therein in the radiation field. Example embodiments include materials with known absorption cross-sections for the radiation field to further permit precise, desired levels of exposure in the irradiation targets. Example methods configure irradiation target retention systems to provide for desired amounts of irradiation and daughter product production.
US08542787B2 Phase adjustment apparatus and method for a memory device signaling system
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for adjusting phase of data signals to compensate for phase-offset variations between devices during normal operation. The phase of data signals are adjusted individually in each transmit data unit and receive data unit across multiple data slices with a common set of phase vector clock signals and a corresponding clock cycle count signal. The transmission of signal information between a first device (such as a memory controller) and a second device (such as a memory component) occurs without errors even when the accumulated delays between the first device and second device change by a half symbol time interval or more during operation of the system. The apparatus reduces the circuitry required, such as phase-lock-loops, for individually adjusting the phase of each transmit data unit and receive data unit across multiple data slices, which in turn results in reduction in complexity and cost of the system.
US08542784B2 Spur mitigation for radio frequency receivers utilizing a free-running crystal
Embodiments of a receiver for using a first oscillator signal provided by a crystal resonator to support multiple, different functionalities are provided. The receiver comprises a phase-locked loop (PLL) configured to provide a second oscillator signal based on the first oscillator signal provided by the crystal resonator; a first mixer configured to mix a received signal received over a first input path with the second oscillator signal received over a second input path to provide a first frequency-shifted signal; and an automatic frequency controller (AFC) configured to estimate a frequency offset of the second oscillator signal and adjust the PLL to compensate for the frequency offset. The receiver further can include solutions for mitigating potential sources of noise caused by the frequency of the first oscillator signal not being compensated for by the AFC.
US08542780B2 Digital broadcasting transmission/reception devices capable of improving a receiving performance and signal processing method thereof
Disclosed is a digital broadcasting transmission/reception system having an improved reception performance and in a signal-processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter comprises a TS stream generator for inputting robust and normal packets having stuff bytes in predetermined positions and generating dual TS stream by inserting the robust packets between the normal packets; a randomizer for randomizing the dual TS stream; a stuff byte exchanger for replacing the stuff bytes of a randomized data streams from the randomizer to a predetermined known data; and an encoder for encoding a data streams to which the known data is inserted. Accordingly, the present invention detects the known data from a signal received from a reception side and uses the detected known data for synchronization and equalization, so that the digital broadcasting reception performance can be improved at poor multipath channels.
US08542776B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in a multi-antenna system, and system using the same
A closed-loop multi-antenna system and method thereof are provided. A transmitter includes a feedback information processor and a first transmit unit. A receiver includes a channel estimator, a feedback information generator and a second transmit unit. The feedback information processor receives feedback information from the receiver, calculates each of a sum rate in a multi-user mode and a sum rate in a single-user mode using the feedback information, and selects one of the single-user mode and the multi-user mode as a transmission mode depending on a comparison result between the sum rate in the multi-user mode and the sum rate in the single-user mode. The channel estimator acquires channel quality information (CQI) for each data stream transmitted individually via each antenna group. The feedback information generator determines the CQI associated information from the CQI acquired individually for each antenna group corresponding to the transmission mode.
US08542772B2 Multi-user detection using equalization and successive interference cancellation
A method and apparatus for multi-user detection is disclosed. A signal is received in a shared spectrum, and samples of the received signals are produced as a received vector. The received vector is segmented into vector segments. Each segment has a portion that overlaps with another segment and the overlapping portion includes at least one chip less than twice a channel impulse response length. For each vector segment, symbols are successively determined for communications by determining symbols for a communication in the communications, ordering the communications by received power and removing a contribution of the communication from the vector segment. The determining of symbols includes equalizing an input vector corresponding to a segment of the received vector using fast Fourier transform. The determined symbols are assembled into a data vector for each communication in the communications.
US08542770B2 Radio communication device and radio communication method
Provided is a radio communication device which can separate propagation paths of antenna ports and improve a channel estimation accuracy even when using virtual antennas. The device includes: a mapping unit (103) which maps a data signal after modulation to a virtual antenna (0) and a virtual antenna (1); a phase inversion unit (104) which inverts the phase of S0 transmitted from an antenna port (2) in synchronization with a phase inversion unit (105) between the odd-number slot and the even-number slot; the phase inversion unit (105) which inverts the phase of R0 transmitted from the antenna port (2); a phase inversion unit (113) which inverts the phase of S1 transmitted from an antenna port (3) in synchronization with a phase inversion unit (114); and the phase inversion unit (114) which inverts the phase of R1 transmitted from an antenna port (3).
US08542768B2 High efficiency, remotely reconfigurable remote radio head unit system and method for wireless communications
A remote radio head unit (RRU) system for achieving high efficiency and high linearity in wideband communication systems is disclosed. The present invention is based on the method of adaptive digital predistortion to linearize a power amplifier inside the RRU. The power amplifier characteristics such as variation of linearity and asymmetric distortion of the amplifier output signal are monitored by a wideband feedback path and controlled by the adaptation algorithm in a digital module. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention can compensate for the nonlinearities as well as memory effects of the power amplifier systems and also improve performance, in terms of power added efficiency, adjacent channel leakage ratio and peak-to-average power ratio. The present disclosure enables a power amplifier system to be field reconfigurable and support multi-modulation schemes (modulation agnostic), multi-carriers, multi-frequency bands and multi-channels. As a result, the remote radio head system is particularly suitable for wireless transmission systems, such as base-stations, repeaters, and indoor signal coverage systems.
US08542767B2 Digital predistortion training system
Techniques are provided herein for training a digital predistortion module in a wireless communication device. A controller identifies one or more participating wireless devices to participate in a training session during which the particular wireless device makes test transmissions and the one or more participating wireless devices make measurements based on reception of the test transmissions sent by the particular wireless device. The controller sends commands to the particular wireless device and to the one or more participating wireless devices to initiate the training session. The controller receives measurement data from the one or more participating wireless devices based on reception of the test transmissions from the particular wireless device during the training session and determines predistortion parameters for use by the particular wireless device based on the measurement data.
US08542766B2 Time alignment algorithm for transmitters with EER/ET amplifiers and others
An apparatus and method for aligning input and feedback signals in a transmission circuit are provided. The method includes capturing an input signal and a feedback signal, determining a first time delay between the input signal and the feedback signal, determining a second time delay between the input signal and the feedback signal, the determination of the second time delay having a higher resolution than the determination of the first time delay, and applying the first time delay and the second time delay to temporally align the input signal with the feedback signal. Use of the present invention provides an improved resolution of time alignment while reducing the overall complexity and cost of the transmission circuit.
US08542765B2 Hierarchical coding with multiple antennas in a wireless communication system
Techniques are provided for performing hierarchical coding in a multi-antenna communication system (e.g., a SIMO, MISO, or MIMO system). At a transmitter, a base stream and an enhancement stream are coded and modulated separately to obtain first and second data symbol streams, respectively. The first data symbol stream is processed in accordance with a first spatial processing scheme (e.g., a transmit diversity or a spatial multiplexing scheme) to obtain a first set of symbol substreams. The second data symbol stream is processed in accordance with a second spatial processing scheme (e.g., transmit diversity or spatial multiplexing) to obtain a second set of symbol substreams. The first set of symbol substreams is combined (e.g., using time division multiplexing or superposition) with the second set of symbol substreams to obtain multiple transmit symbol streams for transmission from multiple transmit antennas. A receiver performs complementary processing to recover the base stream and enhancement stream.
US08542761B2 Digital broadcasting system and data processing method
A digital broadcasting system and method of processing data therein are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a digital broadcasting system includes an RS (Reed-Solomon) encoder configured to encode mobile service data for FEC (Forward Error Correction) to build RS frames including the mobile service data and a signaling information table, a signaling encoder configured to encode signaling information including fast information channel (FIC) data, and transmission parameter channel (TPC) data, a group formatter configured to form data groups, wherein at least one of the data groups includes encoded mobile service data, known data sequences, the FIC data and the TPC data, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the broadcast signal including a parade of the data groups.
US08542751B2 Techniques for identifying and reducing block artifacts
Techniques are described that can be used to identify blocking artifacts in both vertical and horizontal directions. For blocking artifacts in a vertical direction, a horizontal gradient is determined for a pixel. Gradient smoothing is performed for pixels in the row of the pixel. A ratio of the horizontal gradient over the gradient smoothing is determined. Any pixel with a ratio above a threshold and in a segment with a length that exceeds a threshold length as potentially having block artifacts. Each column with pixels that potentially have block artifacts is inspected to determine whether a number of block artifacts in the column are a local maximum and whether there is a sufficient number of blocking artifacts in the column. Columns that satisfy both conditions are considered to include blocking artifacts.
US08542745B2 Method for video decoding supported by graphics processing unit
A method for utilizing a CUDA based GPU to accelerate a complex, sequential task such as video decoding, comprises decoding on a CPU headers and macroblocks of encoded video, performing inverse quantization (on CPU or GPU), transferring the picture data to GPU, where it is stored in a global buffer, and then on the GPU performing inverse waveform transforming of the inverse quantized data, performing motion compensation, buffering the reconstructed picture data in a GPU global buffer, determining if the decoded picture data are used as reference for decoding a further picture, and if so, copying the decoded picture data from the GPU global buffer to a GPU texture buffer. Advantages are that the data communication between CPU and GPU is minimized, the workload of CPU and GPU is balanced and the modules off-loaded to GPU can be efficiently realized since they are data-parallel and compute-intensive.
US08542744B2 Methods and apparatus for providing a scalable deblocking filtering assist function within an array processor
Apparatus and methods for scalable block pixel filtering are described. A block filtering instruction is issued to a processing element (PE) to initiate block pixel filtering hardware by causing at least one command and at least one parameter be sent to a command and control function associated with the PE. A block of pixels is fetched from a PE local memory to be stored in a register file of a hardware assist module. A sub-block of pixels is processed to generate sub-block parameters and the block of pixels is filtered in a horizontal/vertical edge filtering computation pipeline using the sub-block parameters.
US08542740B2 Image coding apparatus and method for converting first coded data coded into second coded data based on picture type
Provided is an image coding apparatus including a decoding unit 102 decoding first coded data to generate a decoded picture and decoding information containing motion vectors and including a coding unit 104 coding, in a second coding scheme, the decoded picture generated by the decoding unit 102, to generate second coded data including a coded picture and coding information containing motion vectors. The image coding apparatus also includes a basic motion information generating unit 105 generating basic motion information from the decoding information or the coding information selected based on a coding condition indicating a picture type of a current decoded picture to be coded. The coding unit 104 also determines a search range for estimating motion vectors of the current decoded picture, according to the basic motion information, and estimates motion vectors of the current decoded picture in the determined search range.
US08542735B2 Method and device for coding a scalable video stream, a data stream, and an associated decoding method and device
A video sequence is coded in the form of a base level and an refinement level. A group of pictures of the base level comprises intra coded or mono-predicted end images (I,P) and bi-predicted images (B1, B2, B3), the refinement level comprises at least one image (E2, E4, . . . , E16) with no temporal correspondent in the base level. Use is made of predictive coding of said image with no temporal correspondent (E2, E4, . . . , E16) by making reference to a plurality of images, each image of said plurality being an image of the refinement level with no temporal correspondent in the base level (E4, E8, E12, E14) or an image of the refinement level (E1, E17) corresponding temporally to an end image (I1P).
US08542728B2 Inverse quantization processing method and device
An inverse quantization processing method and associated device is provided comprising a determining unit, a bit reduction unit, a frequency/time-domain conversion unit, and a bit addition unit which collectively perform an inverse quantization processing method by receiving a plurality of quantized frequency-domain data, performing a bit reduction on a current quantized frequency domain data according to an adjusting factor, generating a bit-reduced quantized frequency-domain data when an accumulated count value of a plurality of valid bit numbers of the plurality of quantized frequency-domain data greater than a first threshold reaches a second threshold, performing a frequency/time domain conversion on the bit-reduced quantized frequency-domain data to obtain a bit-reduced time-domain PCM data, and performing a bit addition on the bit-reduced time-domain PCM data according to the adjusting factor, so as to obtain a time-domain PCM data.
US08542727B2 Systems and apparatuses for performing CABAC parallel encoding and decoding
Apparatuses, systems, and computer program products that encode and/or decode information of a video stream, such as an MPEG-4 video stream, are disclosed. Some embodiments comprise an apparatus having a binarizer module to create a plurality of bins for a syntax element for information of the video stream, a context selection module to generate an index value and a most probable symbol (MPS) value for encoding the plurality of bins, and an arithmetic coding module to encode a first and a second bin of the plurality of bins based on a first probability value and a second probability value, respectively, wherein the first and second probability values are determined via the generated index value and MPS value. Examples of some embodiments are high definition personal video recorders, transcoders, computers, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, portable video players, high definition digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) devices, and Blu-ray disc-read only memory (BD-ROM) devices.
US08542725B1 Decision feedback equalization for signals having unequally distributed patterns
Tools capable of improving the accuracy of decision feedback equalization (DFE) are described. The tools may adapt a DFE using a more-equal distribution of signals than those actually received. The tools may do so by disregarding, averaging, or weighting certain signals when adapting the DFE when those signals represent an unequal distribution of bit patterns. In one example, the tools detect and disregard some of the signals representing idle bit patterns that are received more often than other bit patterns. The tools may also or instead compensate for a bit pattern that is never or rarely received.
US08542724B1 Iterative joint minimum mean square error decision feedback equalizer and turbo decoder
An iterative joint Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) decision feedback equalizer and turbo decoder includes a turbo decoder portion and a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) portion. The DFE receives input signals and processes these input signals to generate an estimated symbol sequence that is communicated to the turbo decoder portion. The estimated symbol sequence is also communicated to the feedback portion of the DFE. The feedback portion of the DFE includes a symbol-by-symbol detector and a feedback filter. The soft decoder output values generated by the turbo decoder portion are communicated to the feedback portion of the DFE and are combined with the coded output as log likelihood ratio values in a multipass, iterative fashion whereby the equalizer and decoder are linked via iterative feedback to provide communication performance enhancement.
US08542720B2 Detection of outbound message signals in a power line two-way communications system
Improvements in the detection of TWACS outbound message signals. A first improvement involves matching some (or all) of the intermediate points in an outbound preamble occurring between bits of the preamble currently being detected. This reduces the possibility of a false synchronization and therefore decreases the probability of missing outbound message signals. A second improvement is to require some or all of the known preamble bits to exceed a predetermined threshold where both the thresh-old and which bits are adjustable. An additional approach is using 4-8 additional buffers in a transponder to detect preamble patterns in the outbound message. Each half cycle of the outbound message waveform requires entering a bit only into the buffers active for the particular frame of reference in which the message is being transmitted, since only buffers for that frame of reference are employed. The process continues until all bits specified to be sent, based on the length of the outbound message, are extracted. A CRC is then performed for the message. Using this method eliminates the problem of inbound messages being detected as outbound messages, and the resulting “blindness” of the transponder. It further makes the transponders less sensitive to noise which currently causes the transponder to detect a preamble when there is none, resulting in a valid outbound message being missed.
US08542717B2 Interrogator and interrogation system employing the same
An interrogator, methods of discerning the presence of an object, and interrogation systems employing the same. In one embodiment, the interrogation systems include multiple interrogators that communicate with a base command unit to track a location of an object. In another embodiment wherein the object is an RFID object (e.g., an object with an RFID tag), the interrogators employ signal processing techniques such as precharging the RFID object, and correlating a reference code with a reply code from the RFID object using selected techniques to increase a sensitivity of the interrogator, especially for adverse environments. In other embodiments, the interrogation systems include variations of metal instruments and sponges employed therewith. In yet another embodiment, the interrogation system includes metal interrogators capable of discerning the presence of a metal object, especially in a presence of another metal object.
US08542715B2 Ship based cellular and satellite communication
A ship based cellular and satellite transceiver receives, demodulates and processes data, voice and video signals from a satellite transmitter and provides the processed signals in cascade to a OFDM and to a CDMA modulator and transmitter for transmission to a ship based mobile unit. The OFDM signal is transmitted in a Wi-Fi network and the CDMA signal is transmitted in frequency bands used by cellular phones and cellular connected devices. The ship based transceiver receives from a mobile unit, e.g. from a cellular phone or a computer an OFDM or a CDMA signal generated and transmitted by the mobile unit and receives, demodulates and processes the cellular phone transmitted signal and provides these processed signals for cascade processing, modulation and transmission to a satellite.
US08542711B2 Fiber laser device
A laser diode driving device (1) of the present invention includes: a variable DC power supply (3) for outputting a voltage for driving laser diodes (LD1 to LDn); a current driving element (4) for causing a current If to flow; a current control section (5) for controlling (i) turning on and off of the current driving element (4) and (ii) the amount of the current If; and a power supply control section (7) for controlling an output voltage of the variable DC power supply (3). The power supply control section (7) controls, on the basis of If-Vf characteristic data (D2), voltage drop characteristic data (D3), and Vds setting data (D4) all stored in a memory section (8), the output voltage of the variable DC power supply (3) so that the current driving element (4) has a constant inter-terminal voltage regardless of the amount of the current If.
US08542707B2 Multi-carrier system selection
In general, a method performed on a personal base station includes transmitting a first pilot signal to a portable access terminal operating in an idle mode in a macrocell that uses a first carrier frequency. The first pilot signal is transmitted in the first carrier frequency to allow the portable access terminal to temporarily connect to the first pilot signal. A second pilot signal is transmitted in a second frequency that is different than the first frequency. The portable access terminal is dispelled from the first pilot signal, and the portable access terminal is allowed to connect to the second pilot signal.
US08542706B2 Method and apparatus related to packet fragmentation and reconstruction
Methods and apparatus related to packet fragmentation and reconstruction are described. A sequence of bits is generated including at least one header and at least partial packet payload prior to a determination of the actual data rate to be used in a communications segment. In some embodiments, the generated sequence of bits corresponds to a prepared information bit stream for a best case scenario in which the highest data rate is selected for segment. Various embodiments allow for the selection of the data rate to be used for the communications segment to be delayed until just prior to the transmission. Thus the selection of the data rate for the communications segment, and thus the segment capacity, can be based on more current channel condition information than would otherwise be possible if the communications device needed to know the data rate for the segment before performing header and packet fragmentation operations.
US08542701B2 Method and device for determining timeslot configuration in TDM transmission
The present invention provides a method and a device for determining timeslot configuration in TDM transmission. The method includes: receiving consecutively transmitted TDM frames, wherein at least one TDM frame among the consecutively transmitted TDM frames includes a characteristic word; and according to a case of a timeslot collection occupied by the characteristic word in the TDM frame, determining a timeslot collection configured in the TDM frame for HDLC frames, wherein the characteristic word is configured to match a physical layer rate when no peer-peer protocol, PPP, link setup request packets are transmitted. Embodiments of the present invention are able to realize automatic acquisition of timeslot configuration of TDM frames.
US08542697B2 Method of transmitting data in a wireless communication system
A method of transmitting data in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting downlink scheduling information regarding downlink radio resource allocation and uplink scheduling information regarding uplink radio resource allocation on a downlink control channel, transmitting downlink data on a downlink data channel according to the downlink scheduling information, and detecting an acknowledgement (ACK)/negative-acknowledgement (NACK) signal for the downlink data from a radio resource exclusively allocated to the ACK/NACK signal. According to the present invention, when an error occurs in a downlink control channel due to deterioration of a channel condition, the error can be promptly handled using an error detection protocol agreed between a user equipment and a base station. Therefore, data can be transmitted with higher reliability.
US08542695B1 System and method for storing/caching, searching for, and accessing data
A system for persistently maintaining data using a network for data packets is provided. The system includes a transmission medium associated with the network, a plurality of switches operatively connected to the transmission medium. Each switch has an intelligent network controller adapted for delivering the data packets to a device operatively connected to the intelligent network controller in response to a request for the data packets from the device and further adapted for re-transmitting unexpired data packets over the network.
US08542693B2 Managing free packet descriptors in packet-based communications
A network element including a processor with logic for managing packet queues including a queue of free packet descriptors. Upon the transmission of a packet by a host application, the packet descriptor for the transmitted packet is added to the free packet descriptor queue. If the new free packet descriptor resides in on-chip memory, relative to queue manager logic, it is added to the head of the free packet descriptor queue; if the new free packet descriptor resides in external memory, it is added to the tail of the free packet descriptor queue. Upon a packet descriptor being requested to be associated with valid data to be added to an active packet queue, the queue manager logic pops the packet descriptor currently at the head of the free descriptor queue. Packet descriptors in on-chip memory are preferentially used relative to packet descriptors in external memory.
US08542683B2 Dynamic bitloading
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to dynamically adjusting bitloading for multiple destinations on a network.
US08542679B2 Method of controlling data propagation within a network
The present invention provides a method of limiting the frequency of floods within a data network, the floods arising as a data frame is routed to an unknown destination, the method comprising the steps of: receiving on an ingress port a data frame intended for a destination station and containing a MAC address of that station; checking the destination MAC address with the contents of a MAC table; and thereby determining whether the data frame is to be routed, discarded or flooded to all ports except the ingress port; and respectively routing, discarding or flooding the data frame to all ports except the ingress port. The present invention further provides a method of populating a MAC table within an Ethernet network with entries relating a MAC station address to a port to which it is connected, the method comprising the steps of: receiving on an ingress port a data frame intended for a destination station and containing a MAC address of that station; checking the destination MAC address with the contents of a MAC table; and thereby determining whether the destination MAC address and ingress port are to be written to the MAC table and, if so writing the destination MAC address and ingress port to the MAC table; and flooding the data frame to all ports except the ingress port.
US08542662B2 Method and apparatus for securing devices in a network
An access point receives a notification (or advertisement) from a device, which lacks a service. The access point adds the service to the notification, and forwards the notification to other devices on the network. Upon receiving from a control point a request to use the added service, the access point provides the service on behalf of the device.
US08542655B2 Radio communication method and system capable of reducing inter-cell interference, and its mobile station and base station
There is provided a radio communication method capable of reducing inter-cell interference.In a radio communication system in which each of a plurality of base stations performs radio communication with a mobile station by using one of frequency blocks, the base stations transmit pilot signals using frequency blocks and the mobile station measures the reception quality of the pilot signals of the first base station, measures the reception quality of the pilot signals transmitted by the second base station, generates channel quality information for the frequency block according to the reception quality of the pilot signal of the first base station and the reception quality of the pilot signal of the second base station, and transmits the channel quality information to the first base station.
US08542648B2 Random access channel frequency diversity
The present invention provides a method of transmitting on a random access channel in a radio communication system. In a single time slot there are enabled at least two different radio frequencies for transmission on the random access channel. Only one frequency is selected for transmission in the same time slot. A random access preamble is then transmitted on the selected random access channel in the time slot.
US08542647B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting sounding reference signal in radio communication system
Disclosed is a method for transmitting a sounding reference signal from a terminal to a base station in a radio communication system. More specifically, the method comprises the steps of: receiving downlink control information from a base station; checking a flag bit included in said downlink control information; checking an interpretation bit is included in said downlink control information, when said flag bit indicates an uplink; and transmitting an additional sounding reference signal and/or an uplink common channel based on said interpretation bit.
US08542639B2 Frame for flexibly supporting heterogeneous modes and TDD/FDD modes, and method for transmitting signals using the same
A frame structure for flexibly supporting heterogeneous modes and TDD/FDD modes and a method for transmitting signals using the same are disclosed. A method for transmitting a signal using a preset frame structure in a communication system which supports a TDD mode and an FDD mode and supports two or more different communication schemes includes constructing a signal in units of the frames and transmitting the signal, wherein at least one of determination of a ratio of a DL region and a UL region within the frame when the communication system communicates according to the TDD mode allocation of a time region according to the modes of the communication schemes when the communication system communicates according to a heterogeneous mode supporting the two or more communication schemes and setting of a construction scheme of sub-frames within the frame in units of a prescribed number of the frames or super-frames, is performed on the basis of a specific unit comprised of n OFDM symbols corresponding to a multiple of a UL subchannelization unit.
US08542636B2 Vehicular content distribution
A system and method provides an electronic content to a vehicle from access point(s) within a network using a controller. The controller divides the electronic content into one or more files wherein each file contains at least one packet, and generates two or more random linear combinations of the packets within each file. For each file, each random linear combination of the packets is replicated to a different access point within the network. The electronic content is provided to the vehicle using at least one of the different access points. The controller can also determine a set of nearest trajectories for the vehicle in a location database that match a recent location history for the vehicle. For each determined nearest trajectory, one or more mobility trajectories are determined for the vehicle, and a set of access points are determined that correspond to the determined mobility trajectories for the vehicle.
US08542634B2 Method and apparatus for providing mobility to a mobile node
The present invention relates to a method for providing mobility to a mobile node capable packet based communication within a communications system via an access point. The method uses a signed session information package for allowing the mobile node to provide a further access point with information relating to the routing of a communications session so that the first access point can be used as an anchor point for the communications session even if the mobile node has changed its point of access to a further access point, wherein the communications session is a communications session between the mobile node and a corresponding node within a communications system. The signed session information package comprises routing information relating to the communications session and is signed by the first access point which is the access point via which the mobile node was communicating at the time of initiation of the communications session.
US08542628B2 Apparatus and method for configuring frame structure in relay wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for reduces an overhead caused by an operation transition gap in a Relay Station (RS) of a relay wireless communication system. The method includes identifying a signal delay time with an upper node. A transmission/reception operation transition time is determined through a negotiation with the upper node. An idle time is identified. An overhead caused by a transmission/reception operation transition is determined with consideration of a start time point of an Uplink (UL) subframe dependent on the signal delay time, the transmission/reception operation transition time, and the idle time. And communication is performed considering the overhead. The start time point of the UL subframe is set earlier than a start time point of a UL subframe of the upper node in consideration of the idle time.
US08542627B2 System and method for determining air interface information for radio resource management in wireless communications
A method for determining values for use by radio resource management functions is disclosed. Air interface actual values and predictive values are obtained and stored. A timestamp indicating a time when each actual value or predictive value is obtained is generated and stored. The actual values and the predictive values are processed to provide an output value.
US08542619B2 Method and apparatus for performing mobility measurements in a communication network
A method and apparatus for performing mobility measurement in a communication network (100) is described. The method comprises of receiving a subframe sequence pattern from a node in the communication network (100). The subframe sequence pattern indicates types of subframes being transmitted by a neighboring cell node (104) in a neighboring cell (112). The method includes receiving a subframe from a sequence of subframes transmitted by the neighboring cell node (104) in the neighboring cell (112), and determining that the received subframe is a multicast subframe based on the subframe sequence pattern. The method then includes performing a single cell-specific reference symbol measurement in response to determining that the received subframe is the multicast subframe.
US08542615B2 Transmission of control information with configurable timeline in a wireless communication system
Techniques for sending acknowledgement (ACK) and/or other control information with a configurable timeline are described. A receiver may have limited processing resources and may need different amounts of time to process different amounts of data. The receiver may send ACK information earlier (or later) if less (or more) receive processing time is required. In one design, the receiver may receive a transmission of data in accordance with a grant, decode the received transmission to recover the data, and determine ACK information based on decoding result. The receiver may determine a frame to send the ACK information based on the grant. The determined frame may be one of multiple frames available for sending the ACK information. For example, different grant sizes may be associated with different frames. The receiver may send the ACK information for the transmission of data in the determined frame.
US08542605B2 System and method for allocating resources in an extended bandwidth wireless network
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are disclosed in which a base station provides an extended bandwidth having an extension portion and a non-extension portion. The base station can indicate for a particular user equipment (UE) to utilize only a portion of the extended bandwidth. In this way, the extended bandwidth can include multiplexed resources directed to a plurality of UEs, improving capacity and/or throughput. Moreover, backwards compatibility with devices compatible with LTE Release 8 can be achieved, as those devices can be directed to utilize only the non-extension portion of the extended bandwidth. In one aspect, the base station indicates a system bandwidth including resource blocks associated with the non-extension portion and resource blocks associated with the extension portion, and the UE is not required to monitor more than a predetermined number of resource blocks to receive a downlink transmission.
US08542604B2 Wireless communication apparatus and transmission control method
A wireless communication apparatus includes a transmitter and a receiver, and determines a modulation and error correction coding scheme used by the transmitter. The apparatus estimates a degree of channel variation, transmits, by the transmitter, a first frame for requesting response information necessary to select the modulation and error correction coding scheme, measures a response time between a instant when the transmitter transmits the first frame and a instant when the receiver receives a second frame including the response information, determines a threshold value of the response time for determining reliability of the response information, based on the degree of channel variation, and determines the modulation and error correction coding scheme selected based on the response information included in the second frame received by the receiver in the response time shorter than the threshold value.
US08542586B2 Proportional bandwidth sharing of the excess part in a MEF traffic profile
A method and apparatus to shape packet traffic rates of packets in-transit from a plurality of channels to a port, monitor a status of each queue, subtract a CIR from a port load value when an empty queue becomes active, add the CIR to the port load value when an active queue becomes empty, add a difference between an EIR and the CIR for a channel to a port excess value when a queue of the channel becomes excess, subtract the difference for the channel from the port excess value when the excess queue for the channel becomes not excess, calculate an oversubscription ratio based on the port load value and port excess value, calculate a shaping rate for each of the plurality of channels, and shape the traffic for each of the plurality channels using the shaping rate.
US08542583B2 Manageability tools for lossless networks
Manageability tools are provided for allowing an administrator to have better control over switches in a lossless network of switches. These tools provide the ability to detect slow drain and congestion bottlenecks, detect stuck virtual channels and loss of credits, while hold times on edge ASICs to be different from hold times encore ASICs, and mitigate severe latency bottlenecks.
US08542567B2 Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
According to one embodiment, an information storage medium includes an organic dye material which records information with a light beam having a wavelength equal to or smaller than 620 nm.
US08542566B2 Holographic recording method detecting displacement of a holographic recording medium, and recording and reproduction apparatus
A method for recording information in form of a hologram. The method can generate a displacement signal by detecting a displacement of a holographic recording medium. The method can perform an exposure control operation that, if the sampling value of the displacement signal falls within an allowable displacement range, records the information item in the holographic recording medium, and if the sampling value of the displacement signal falls outside the allowable displacement range, blocks or reduces at least one of the information light and the reference light to a light intensity with which the information item is not recorded in the holographic recording medium.
US08542565B2 Optical drive apparatus
An optical drive apparatus includes: a phase-difference detection-signal generating unit that generates PEDr based on PEROd and PEFOd obtained by delaying a phase-lead output signal indicating a phase lead amount of DA with respect to DB and X that is changed to high at a timing at which NAND of the DA and the DB is changed from high to low and changed to low at a timing at which OR of the DA and the DB is changed from high to low, and generates PADr based on PAROd and PAFOd obtained by delaying a phase-lag output signal indicating a phase lag amount of the DA with respect to the DB by a predetermined time and the X; and a DPD signal generating unit that generates a phase difference signal indicating a phase difference between the DA and the DB based on the PEDr and the PADr, and generates a DPD signal based on the phase difference signal.
US08542560B2 Diffraction grating and optical pickup device
Disclosed are a module to detect a tracking error signal that is easy to be assembled and robust against variation in a track angle, a diffraction grating, an optical pickup, and an optical disc apparatus that enable the module to be realized, wherein a diffraction grating divided into at least three areas, first, second, and third areas, is used; the second area is an area that do not diffract light; and focusing positions of light diffracted by the first and third areas sandwiching the second area therebetween on an optical disc are arranged with a spacing of (2n−1)×t/2 in an optical disc radial direction, respectively, where n is a nonnegative integer and t is a spacing of guide grooves of the optical disc.
US08542559B2 Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head having photoelectric wiring lines integrally formed on waveguide
An information recording and reproduction apparatus has a magnetic recording medium and a carriage that undergoes rotational movement about a pivot shaft and has a base portion and an arm portion extending from the base portion and along a surface of the medium. A light source that emits a light beam to heat the medium is mounted on the base portion and is disposed closer to the pivot shaft than the arm portion. The arm portion supports a slider confronting the surface of the medium and being configured to receive a light beam from the light source. The slider has an optical system which condenses the light beam and a spot light generating element which generates from the condensed light beam spot light that heats the medium for recording information on the medium while causing magnetization reversal by applying a recording magnetic field to the medium.
US08542557B2 Before/after specific weekday determination device, program media, method, daylight saving time determination device, and timepiece
A before/after specific weekday determination device that determines if an evaluation date is before or after a specific date that is identified as an n-th (where n is an integer of 1 or more) specific weekday from the beginning or the end of a specific month. The before/after specific weekday determination device is utilized in a daylight saving time determination device, and in a timepiece.
US08542543B2 Variable resistance memory device having equal resistances between signal paths regardless of location of memory cells within the memory array
A memory device including variable resistance elements comprises a plurality of memory cells configured to store data; a first signal transmission/reception unit and a second signal transmission/reception unit configured to transmit a signal to the memory cells or receive a signal from the memory cells; a first transmission line arranged to couple first ends of the memory cells to the first signal transmission/reception unit; and a second transmission line configured to couple second ends of the memory cells to the second signal transmission/reception unit, wherein a first resistance of a first signal path coupled between the first and second signal transmission/reception units through a first memory cell of the memory cells is substantially equal to a second electrical resistance of a second signal path coupled between a second memory cell and the first and second signal transmission/reception units through a second memory cell of the memory cells.
US08542531B2 Charge equilibrium acceleration in a floating gate memory device via a reverse field pulse
Methods for accelerating charge equilibrium in a non-volatile memory device using floating gate memory cells are disclosed. Memory devices and storage systems using charge equilibrium acceleration are also disclosed. In one such method, a programming pulse is applied to the word line to change an amount of charge stored on the floating gate of the memory cells being programmed. A reverse field pulse is then applied to the memory cell using only voltages greater than or equal to about 0 volts. The reverse field pulse accelerates charge equilibrium by moving any electrons trapped in the insulating oxide layers to a stable location so that the threshold voltage is stabilized. After the reverse field pulse, a program verify operation is performed and additional programming pulses and reverse field pulses are applied as needed to properly program the memory cell.
US08542524B2 Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) manufacturing process for a small magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) design with a low programming current requirement
A method of making a magnetic random access memory cell includes forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) on top of a wafer, depositing oxide on top of the MTJ, depositing a photo-resist layer on top of the oxide layer, forming a trench in the photo-resist layer and oxide layer where the trench has a width that is substantially the same as that of the MTJ. Then, the photo-resist layer is removed and a hard mask layer is deposited on top of the oxide layer in the trench and the wafer is planarized to remove the portion of the hard mask layer that is not in the trench to substantially level the top of oxide layer and the hard layer on the wafer. The remaining oxide layer is etched and the MTJ is etched to remove the portion of the MTJ which is not covered by the hard mask layer.
US08542523B2 Method for fabricating a DRAM capacitor having increased thermal and chemical stability
A method for fabricating a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) capacitor includes forming a first electrode film. The first electrode film comprises a conductive binary metal compound and a dopant. The dopant may have a uniform or non-uniform concentration within the first electrode film. A high-k dielectric film is formed over the first electrode film. A second electrode film is formed over the dielectric film. The second electrode film comprises a conductive binary metal compound and a dopant. The dopant may have a uniform or non-uniform concentration within the second electrode film. The dopants and their distribution are chosen so that the crystal structure of the surface of the electrode is not degraded if the electrode is to be used as a templating structure for subsequent layer formation. Additionally, the dopants and their distribution are chosen so that the work function of the electrodes is not degraded.
US08542520B2 Resistive memory element and use thereof
A resistive memory element that includes an element body and at least a pair of electrodes opposed to each other with at least a portion of the element body interposed therebetween. The element body is made of an oxide semiconductor as a polycrystalline body, which has a composition represented by the general formula: Ti1-xMxO2, wherein M is selected from at least one of Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu; and 0.005≦x≦0.05. The first electrode of the pair of electrodes is made of a material which can form a Schottky barrier which can develop a rectifying property and resistance change characteristics in an interface region between the first electrode and the element body. The second electrode is made of a material which provides a more ohmic junction to the element body as compared to that with the first electrode.
US08542519B2 Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device is disclosed. The device includes MOSFET1 and MOSFET2 arranged in a first direction, variable resistive element (hereafter R1) above MOSFET1 and MOSFET2, a lower end of the R1 being connected to drains of MOSFET1 and MOSFET2, MOSFET3 and MOSFET4 arranged in the first direction, variable resistive element (hereafter R2) above MOSFET3 and MOSFET4, and a lower end of the R2 being connected to drains of MOSFET3 and MOSFET4. The device further includes first wiring line extending in the first direction and connected to sources of MOSFET1 and MOSFET2, second wiring line extending in the first direction and connected to sources of MOSFET3 and MOSFET4, upper electrode connecting upper end of the R1 and upper end of the R2, and third wiring line extending in the first direction and connected to the upper electrode.
US08542513B2 Arrays of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells, methods of forming arrays of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells, and methods of reading a data value stored by an array of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells
An array of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells includes a plurality of horizontally oriented word lines within individual tiers of memory cells. A plurality of horizontally oriented global bit lines having local vertical bit line extensions extend through multiple of the tiers. Individual of the memory cells comprise multi-resistive state material received between one of the horizontally oriented word lines and one of the local vertical bit line extensions where such cross, with such ones comprising opposing conductive electrodes of individual memory cells where such cross. A plurality of bit line select circuits individually electrically and physically connects to individual of the local vertical bit line extensions and are configured to supply a voltage potential to an individual of the global horizontal bit lines. Other embodiments and aspects are disclosed.
US08542512B2 Solar photovoltaic inverters
The invention relates to improved techniques for manufacturing power conditioning units (inverters) for use with photovoltaic (PV) modules, and to inverters manufactured by these techniques. We describe a solar photovoltaic inverter, comprising: a power conditioning circuit mounted on a circuit board, the power conditioning circuit having a dc power input to receive dc power from one or more photovoltaic panels and an ac power output to deliver ac power to an ac mains power supply; an electrically conductive shield enclosing said circuit board; and a plastic overmould over said conductive shield and said circuit board; wherein said electrically conductive shield has one or more holes to allow said plastic overmould to extend through said shield to cover said circuit board.
US08542504B2 Control circuit, power conditioner including the control circuit, and photovoltaic system
A power conditioner of a photovoltaic system is configured operate at higher accuracy. A chopper circuit, a capacitor connected in parallel to the chopper circuit, and a control circuit that controls an ON/OFF status of switch elements in the chopper circuit to control charging and discharging of the capacitor are provided. The control circuit includes a measurement control section that measures an inter-end voltage of the capacitor and a control circuit section that performs a predetermined control operation from a measurement output of the measurement circuit section. The measurement circuit section includes a differential amplifier circuit that differentially amplifies the inter-end voltage of the capacitor. The circuit control section calibrates an in-phase component in the output of the differential amplifier circuit as an in-phase error and performs the control from the calibrated output from the differential amplifier circuit.
US08542500B2 Resonant power converting circuit
A resonant power converting circuit is provided, which includes a resonant converting unit, a control unit, a current detecting unit and a frequency modulation unit. The control unit outputs switching signals to the resonant converting unit to adjust an output thereof. The current detecting unit is configured to detect an output current of the resonant converting unit. The frequency modulation unit may adjust a lowest switching frequency of the control unit according to the detected output current so as to increase a gain of the resonant converting unit and an output stability of the resonant converting unit.
US08542498B2 Shielding enclosures
Disclosed herein are various exemplary embodiments of shielding enclosures. In an exemplary embodiment, a shielding enclosure generally includes a frame and a lid. The frame includes vertically extending sidewalls and horizontally inwardly extending lateral flanges therefrom. The lateral flanges define a top opening of the frame and include outwardly extending detent legs. The lid includes a top portion for covering the top opening of the frame. The lid also includes flanges downwardly extending from edges of the top portion. At least one of the flanges has a detent structure, such that when the lid is installed on the frame the detent legs of the frame are engaged by the detent structure. The detent structure may, for example, be detent slots or detent protrusions.
US08542488B2 Cooling apparatus for an IC
A cooling apparatus is disclosed. The cooling apparatus comprising a printed circuit (PC) board with an integrated circuit (IC) socket mounted onto the top side of the PC board. A mounting frame generally in the shape of a plate, with a first opening passing through the center of the plate, is mounted on the top side of the PC board with the IC socket located inside the first opening. A cold plate is attached to the mounting frame, the cold plate has an opening that passes through the cold plate. The opening in the cold plate is sized to allow an IC to be inserted into the IC socket through the opening. A fluid passageway is formed inside the cold plate. A fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port are mounted on the cold plate and coupled to a first end and a second end of the fluid passageway, respectively. A heat spreader is removably attached to the top side of the cold plate wherein the bottom side of the heat spreader is configured to contact the top side of an IC when the IC is mounted in the IC socket.
US08542478B2 Electric double layer capacitor, lithium ion capacitor, and charging device
An electric double layer capacitor, a lithium ion capacitor, and a charging device including a solar cell and either of the capacitors are disclosed. The electric double layer capacitor includes a first and second light-transmitting substrates; a pair of current collectors provided perpendicular to the substrates; active material layers provided on facing planes of the current collectors; and an electrolyte in a region surrounded by the substrates and the facing active material layers. The lithium ion capacitor includes a first and second light-transmitting substrates; a positive and negative electrode active material layers provided perpendicular to the substrates; and an electrolyte in a region surrounded by the facing substrates and the positive and negative electrode active material layers.
US08542466B2 Magneto-resistance effect element, and method for manufacturing the same
A magneto-resistance effect element, including a fixed magnetization layer of which a magnetization is substantially fixed in one direction, a free magnetization layer of which a magnetization is rotated in accordance with an external magnetic field and which is formed opposite to the fixed magnetization layer, a spacer layer including a current confining layer with an insulating layer and a conductor to pass a current through the insulating layer in a thickness direction thereof, a thin film layer, and a functional layer.
US08542465B2 Suspension assembly having a microactuator electrically connected to a gold coating on a stainless steel surface
A novel suspension assembly includes a suspension assembly mounting plate, a microactuator mounting structure extending from the suspension assembly mounting plate, a load beam extending from the microactuator mounting structure, and a laminated flexure attached to the load beam. The laminated flexure includes a tongue that has a read head bonding surface. The suspension assembly includes a stainless steel surface having a gold coating, and a piezoelectric microactuator attached to the microactuator mounting structure and electrically connected to the gold coating.
US08542462B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording head having a non-magnetic film recessed from the air bearing surface for improved high-density magnetic recording
According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole having a trailing side and two lateral sides, a magnetic shield near the trailing side and both lateral sides of the main magnetic pole, the magnetic shield comprising: a first soft magnetic film with a relatively high saturation flux density positioned facing depthwise from a floating surface side thereof, a second soft magnetic film with a relatively low saturation flux density, and a first non-magnetic film. The head also includes a non-magnetic film interposed between the magnetic shield and the main magnetic pole, a first magnetic film magnetically coupled to the magnetic shield and the main magnetic pole on a side opposite a floating surface side thereof, and a coil surrounding a magnetic circuit, the magnetic circuit comprising the main magnetic pole and the first magnetic film. Other systems and methods are also described.
US08542461B2 Writer shields with modified shapes for reduced flux shunting
A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with a configuration of leading edge shields and trailing edge shields that reduce the leakage of flux between the main pole and the shields. The reduction of leakage is achieved by eliminating the sharp 90° corner between the backside surfaces of the shields and the surfaces adjacent to the main pole. In one embodiment the corner is replaced by two successive acute angles, in another embodiment it is replaced by a rounded surface. In a final embodiment, leakage between the pole and trailing edge shield is achieved by shortening the length of the write gap by forming the shield with a double taper.
US08542456B2 Magnetic head having a contact sensor
A magnetic head includes a medium facing surface that faces a surface of a recording medium, a write head section, a contact sensor that detects contact of the medium facing surface with the surface of the recording medium, and a heat sink adjacent to the contact sensor. The write head section has a magnetic pole that produces a write magnetic field for writing data on the recording medium. The contact sensor and the heat sink have respective end faces located in the medium facing surface. The contact sensor varies in resistance in response to temperature variations, and is to be energized. The heat sink includes an intermediate layer made of a nonmagnetic metal material, and two ferromagnetic layers made of a metal-based magnetic material, the two ferromagnetic layers being disposed with the intermediate layer therebetween, and being antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled to each other via the intermediate layer.
US08542454B2 Magnetic reading and writing device
In a magnetic reading/writing device, a controller derives at each radius of a recording medium a slope of a curve of track-averaged write performance with respect to an adjustment parameter, and determines a first set of fitting coefficients of a first equation approximating the derived slopes in terms of a first variable representing each radius. The controller acquires write performance dependence on a variable representing each of multiple circumferential positions of the medium by measuring track average write performance with respect to the circumferential positions, and determines a second set of fitting coefficients to approximate by a periodic function the acquired dependence in terms of the first variable. The controller corrects a condition value representing the adjustment parameter by subtracting from the condition value an adjustment value obtained from functions calculated with the first and second sets of fitting coefficients.
US08542453B2 Inspection method and inspection apparatus of magnetic disk
An inspection method and inspection apparatus of a magnetic disk are provided. A gliding test and a certification test are performed at the same time by simultaneously moving a head for the certification test and a head for the gliding test with a heat distortion utilization mechanism (a micro thermal actuator) along a recording surface of the magnetic disk during rotation at a predetermined revolving speed. A flying height of the head for the gliding test is determined according to a revolving speed of the disk. When the flying height of the head for gliding test is determined according to the revolving speed at the certification test, the head for the gliding test is adjusted to a desired height by adjusting a variation of the heat distortion utilization mechanism disposed on the head for the gliding test. The gliding and certification inspections can be performed at the same time.
US08542446B2 Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera
A zoom lens system comprising: a positive first lens unit; a negative second lens unit; a positive third lens unit; a fourth lens unit; and an aperture diaphragm provided between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit, wherein in zooming, the first to third lens units are moved along an optical axis to perform magnification change, the third lens unit includes two or more lens elements and one or more inter-lens-element air spaces, and the conditions: −7.09.0 (f1 and f2: composite focal lengths of the first and second lens units, fW and fT: focal lengths of the entire system at a wide-angle limit and a telephoto limit) are satisfied.
US08542436B2 Optical fiber amplifier, light source device, exposure device, object inspection device, and treatment device
A polarization state adjusting optical element is formed by a ½ wavelength plate and a ¼ wavelength plate and its polarization direction and elliptic degree are adjusted. By adjusting the polarization state adjusting optical element in advance, even if the output of a pump light source is changed, the polarization characteristic (polarization direction and elliptic degree) of the output light of an FDFA amplifier will not change or the change is sufficiently small. In this state, a polarization state adjusting optical element adjusts the polarization state of the laser beam coming into a wavelength conversion optical system so that the wavelength conversion optical system has the maximum conversion efficiency. Thus, it is possible to provide an FDFA having a small change of the polarization state of the output light even if the pump light intensity is changed.
US08542433B2 Electromagnetic wave oscillating devices and a method of producing the same
It is provided a device oscillating an electromagnetic wave having a target frequency of 0.1 THz to 30 THz. The device includes a main body made of a non-linear optical crystal and a sub-wavelength grating structure formed on the main body. The sub-wavelength grating structure includes protrusions arranged in first direction “X” and second direction “Y” on the main body, first grooves 3X each provided between the adjacent protrusions and extending in the first direction, and second grooves 3Y each provided between the adjacent protrusions and extending in the second direction. Each of the protrusions includes a pair of first faces opposing in the first direction “X” with each other and a pair of second faces opposing in the second direction “Y” with each other. The width of the first face is made smaller from the main body 7 toward an upper end 2c of the protrusion 2.
US08542427B2 Image projection using curved reflective surfaces
A system for projecting images has an illumination system for providing light, a spatial light modulator including an array of individually addressable pixel modulator elements with curved reflective surfaces, and projection optics for projecting the modulated light to form the image, wherein no focal planes of the projection optics are aligned to the reflective surfaces of the pixels.
US08542425B2 Wavelength tunable light source
A wavelength tunable light source includes: an optical gain medium generating light; a wavelength tunable filter positioned on a optical path and transmitting or reflecting only a predetermined wavelength generated from and injected into the optical gain medium; a first housing where the optical gain medium and the wavelength tunable filter are mounted; and an optical fiber block providing the optical wave having the predetermined wavelength come from the wavelength tunable filter, wherein the wavelength tunable filter comprised of a dielectric thin-film filter formed by alternately stacking a first dielectric thin film layer and a second dielectric thin film layer having different refractive index.
US08542421B2 System, apparatus and method for extracting three-dimensional information of an object from received electromagnetic radiation
An apparatus and method to produce a hologram of an object includes an electromagnetic radiation assembly configured to receive a received electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from the object. The electromagnetic radiation assembly is further configured to diffract the received electromagnetic radiation and transmit a diffracted electromagnetic radiation. An image capture assembly is configured to capture an image of the diffracted electromagnetic radiation and produce the hologram of the object from the captured image.
US08542416B2 Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a first conveying path, a curved conveying path, a second conveying path, an upper cover, a first image reading section, a third conveying roller, a second conveying roller, a second image reading section, a first conveying roller, a fourth conveying roller and a control unit. The control unit controls to stop conveying the sheet when a back edge of the sheet passes the first conveying roller in the case where a length of the sheet is less than a first distance between the first conveying roller and the third conveying roller, and controls to stop conveying the sheet after conveying the sheet until the back edge passes the third conveying roller in the case where the length of the sheet is greater than the first distance and is less than a second distance between the third conveying roller and the fourth conveying roller.
US08542407B2 Image processing apparatus and method determines attributes of image blocks based on pixel edge intensities relative to normalized and fixed thresholds
The digital complex machine is constructed to split data corresponding to an image read by the image reading unit and output a split image separately from a read image. A split image is extracted by the partial image extracting unit on the basis of area designation by the user through the display-operation input unit or on the basis of an extraction result of feature information by the character recognizing unit or attribute information of a highlighted character. Data corresponding to a partial image is then generated by the print image generating unit and a partial image is printed on a sheet different from a read image by the print control unit. Otherwise, electronic data corresponding to a partial image is transmitted to another digital complex machine, a PC, a mobile phone, a server, a USB memory and the like.
US08542403B2 Image forming apparatus, color conversion control method, recording medium, and information processing apparatus having printer driver
An image forming apparatus is disclosed that performs a color conversion process in accordance with a color conversion setting set by an information processing apparatus that generates print data. The image forming apparatus includes a determination unit determining whether a valid color conversion setting has been performed by the information processing apparatus based on received print data; and a control unit controlling the color conversion process to be performed by the image forming apparatus based on a result determined by the determination unit.
US08542401B2 Image processing apparatus and method for controlling the same
An image processing apparatus includes a printing unit to print an image on a sheet, a reading unit to read the sheet, a conversion unit to convert a background image stored in a storage medium into a reference image that represents the background image and has a luminance value higher than that of the background image, a print control unit to cause the printing unit to print the reference image obtained by the conversion unit, as an entry area for a user, on the sheet, an extraction unit to extract an image of an area that has a luminance value lower than a first threshold and a color-difference value greater than a second threshold from an image corresponding to the entry area included in the image read by the reading unit after an entry by the user in the entry area, and a combining unit to combine the image extracted by the extraction unit with the background image.
US08542399B2 Printing medium movement amount detection device, and error information production method
With a printing device in which a printing medium is moved relatively, and which prints on the printing medium, the surface of the medium is illuminated, a plurality of illuminated regions of the medium moving in this illuminated state are imaged to acquire a plurality of images. A region to be matched having a characteristic region within a first image is set out of the images, a similar region having the highest similarity to the characteristic region is determined within a second image that is different from the first image. The estimated movement amount of the medium is calculated from the positional relation between the region to be matched and the similar region. Error information indicating error in the estimated movement amount of the medium attributable to the angle of light directed at the medium is acquired, and the estimated movement amount is corrected.
US08542397B2 Image display control device and image forming apparatus including the same
To provide a control unit including a touch panel display capable of presenting preview display of multiple pages of document images on the display panel, the touch panel display includes: a binding position indicating controller; a binding process preview displaying controller that displays preview images of recording paper bound at the specified position; a paper binding position-linked scrolling display switching controller that, when the binding position in the printed paper is modified, switches the direction of scrolling preview display so as to be suited to the recording paper bound at the modified binding position.
US08542395B2 Image forming apparatus and control method therefor
An image forming apparatus includes DMA control units each of which is provided with DMA controllers. Each DMA controller is provided with a plurality of data buffers respectively corresponding to different addresses in a subscanning direction. Each of a predetermined number of pixel data in a main scanning direction is stored in an associated one of the data buffers. Pixel data stored in each of the data buffers are output to an image memory based on the address in the subscanning direction, which corresponds to the associated data buffer.
US08542374B2 Printing system and method therefor, program for implementing the method, and storage medium storing the program
A printing system which realize a finely-tuned print function limitation and hence achieve efficient reduction in cost. The printing system comprises a printing apparatus that executes a print job, a print control apparatus that controls the printing apparatus, a print authority management server that manages an print authority of the printing apparatus, and a data base server that holds a print function limitation information. The print control apparatus transmits two or more pieces of information required to limit a print function of the printing apparatus to request production of a print authority token of limiting the print function. The print authority management server receives the two or more pieces of information, searching the print function limitation information held in the database server based on the respective pieces of information to produce a print authority token, and transmit the print authority token to the print control apparatus. The print control apparatus adds the received print authority token to the print job and then transmit the print job to the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus limits an instruction to the print job based on the print authority token, when the print authority token is added to the received print job.
US08542364B1 System to reduce gyroscopic errors with limited power supply quality in a fiber optic gyroscope
A fiber optic gyroscope includes a light source, an optical coupler in optical communication with the light source, with the optical coupler configured to receive an optical signal from the light source, an optical modulator in optical communication with the optical coupler, and a fiber optic coil in optical communication with the optical modulator. A demodulator is configured to receive an optical signal from the optical coupler and convert the optical signal to an electrical signal. A loop closure electronics module is configured to receive the electrical signal from the demodulator. A bias modulator is responsive to an output from the loop closure electronics module and is configured to output a modulation signal to the optical modulator. A first crosstalk filter network is operatively coupled to the demodulator, and a second crosstalk filter network is operatively coupled to the bias modulator.
US08542351B2 Coating inspection device
A coating inspection device for inspecting an object after a coating material has been applied is disclosed. The coating inspection device may include a pair of eyeglasses worn on a person's face, resting on the person's ears and nose. The eyeglasses may include a frame member having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A set of lenses may be disposed within the frame member. At least one light source may be disposed on the frame member. The ultraviolet light source may be moveable to adjust the direction in which the ultraviolet light source emits light. A switch may be disposed on the frame.
US08542350B2 Optical position detection device and display device with position detection function
A position detector detecting an object's position includes: first, second and third light sources emitting first, second and third position detection light beams to form first, second and third intensity distributions in a detection area, a highest intensity portion of the second intensity distribution being shifted from that of the first intensity distribution, a highest intensity portion of the third intensity distribution being shifted from a straight line connecting the highest intensity portions of the first and second intensity distributions; a light detector detecting the first, second and third position detection light beams reflected by the object; and a position detection section detecting a two-dimensional coordinate of the object in a detection plane set in the detection area by comparing the intensities of the first and second position detection light beams, and comparing the intensities of the second and third position detection light beams.
US08542349B2 Arrangement and a method for controlling a measurement head of an optical measurement instrument
An optical measurement instrument includes a measurement head and mechanical support elements arranged to support a sample well plate. The measurement head is moved towards the sample well plate and, after the measurement head has touched the sample well plate, the measurement head is moved backwards away from the sample well plate so as to provide a desired distance between the measurement head and the sample well plate. A sensor device is attached to the mechanical support elements and arranged detect a mechanical effect occurring in the mechanical support elements due to force directed by the measurement head to the sample well plate. Hence, the situation in which the measurement head touches the sample well plate can be detected without a need to provide the measurement head with a force sensor. This is advantageous because the measurement head can be a changeable module of the optical measurement instrument.
US08542344B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
Liquid is supplied to a space between the projection system and the substrate by an inlet. In an embodiment, an overflow region removes liquid above a given level. The overflow region may be arranged above the inlet and thus the liquid may be constantly refreshed and the pressure in the liquid may remain substantially constant.
US08542336B2 Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display includes: a first panel; a second panel facing the first panel; a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the first panel; a liquid crystal layer provided between the first panel and the second panel; and a first alignment layer formed on the first panel and contacting the liquid crystal layer. The first alignment layer includes a first alignment base layer and a first alignment control agent, the first alignment base layer represents a material for vertically aligning liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer, and the first alignment control agent comes out of the first alignment base layer and provides alignment force to the liquid crystal. Accordingly, when the liquid crystal of the IPS mode liquid crystal display has a pretilt, the liquid crystal that is near the facing panel on which a linear common electrode and a linear pixel electrode are not provided is immediately tilted according to the pretilt, and hence, the response speed is very fast and the afterimage problem of video is solved.
US08542333B2 Liquid crystal cell alignment surface programming method and liquid cell light modulator devices made thereof
A liquid crystal display or other light modulator is provide with an alignment layer with a pretilt that is better than is currently available with rubbing technology. The liquid crystal cell consumes less electrical power to operate. The pretilt can be programmed using suitable field and recorded in the alignment layer.
US08542323B2 Touch sensitive wireless navigation device for remote control
Remote control of an electronic device is achieved by retrieving a description of a control surface associated with the electronic device, rendering a graphical representation of at least portion of the control surface on a screen in accordance with the description and navigating the graphical representation using a navigation device that is remote from the first electronic device. The graphical representation may include multiple controls. The electronic device is operated in accordance with controls selected using the navigation device. The graphical representation may be displayed on the navigation device or on a remote screen. The controls to be displayed may be selected automatically dependent upon a selected operating mode.
US08542321B2 TV set and TV program processing method thereof
A TV set and a TV program processing method thereof are provided in the present disclosure. The TV set includes a control code receiving unit for receiving a control code and a TV program multiple-picture displaying unit for displaying TV program multiple-pictures according to the received control code. The TV program processing method includes the following steps: receiving a control code by a TV set, wherein the control code comprises an instruction of displaying current TV programs in a multiple-picture format; and displaying the current TV programs in the multiple-picture format according to the control code received. The TV set and the TV program processing method thereof of the present disclosure allow for displaying three or more TV programs on a same TV screen simultaneously, and also allow for displaying TV programs according to classifications of contents thereof, making it convenient to watch and use the TV set.
US08542320B2 Method and system to control a non-gesture controlled device using gesture interactions with a gesture controlled device
A television set. The television set includes a display, a gesture detector, a transceiver, a processor, and a memory component. The display is operable to render images. The gesture detector is operable to detect gesture interactions, e.g., initiation of gesture control operation. The transceiver is operable to communicate with an electronic device that is separate from the television set. The processor is operable to cause the transceiver to send a request message to the electronic device. The request message is a request to receive a graphical user interface (GUI) of the electronic device for rendering on the display. The transceiver receives the GUI of the electronic device responsive to the request message. The processor generates a command message responsive to gesture interaction with the GUI of the electronic device. The command message is operable to control an operation of the electronic device and is transmitted to the electronic device.
US08542315B2 Method and apparatus for expanded dynamic range imaging
A method and apparatus for enabling wide intensity range in digital imaging using a small amount of memory beyond the memory required for storing the relevant image. The methods and apparatus disclose exposing few-line segments within an image using two different exposure times before continuing with other segments of the image. In alternative configurations, sensors are sampled such that neighboring sensors having the same colors are sampled after being exposed for different durations.
US08542308B2 Digital photographing apparatus with lens unit configured for flexible printed circuit boards having different lengths
Provided is a digital photographing apparatus that includes a lens unit frame having an opening through which light enters from a forward direction, and having a lens unit to be disposed inside the frame, or having a lens barrel comprising a lens unit to be disposed inside the frame; and a lens unit base disposed at a rear of the frame so as to be coupled to the frame, wherein the frame comprises a first opening through which a printed circuit board (PCB) emerges from the inside of the frame to the outside of the frame, and wherein the frame and the lens unit base are disposed to form a gap therebetween, thereby forming a second opening corresponding to the gap through which a PCB emerges from the inside of the frame to the outside of the frame.
US08542300B2 Method for real-time removal of vertical scan streaks in a CCD
Methods are disclosed for correcting vertical line streaks in an interline or full-frame CCD. The method includes the step of subtracting an overscan row from each row of a previous image or from each row of a next image, such that each row of the final image contains the same readout smear effect and such that readout overscan rows contain the same smear information as each row of the final image. The method is also described for use with frame transfer CCDs.
US08542295B2 Imaging device, information processing method, and computer program
An imaging device includes a data processor configured to execute processing for selecting picture portions corresponding to important scenes from captured picture data, on the basis of input information that is input during a period of taking a picture. The data processor generates highlight point information that allows identification of the picture portions corresponding to the important scenes, the picture portions being selected on the basis of the input information, and records the highlight point information on a recording medium as information associated with the captured picture data.
US08542294B2 Adjusting time metadata of digital media items
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for adjusting time metadata of digital media items. A digital image captured at a location is associated with a time of capture and a location of capture. It is determined that a time of capture of the digital image is in a preset time zone that is different from a time zone of the location. In response to the determining, multiple locations are provided, each being associated with a respective time zone including a time zone of the location. A selection of a location is received and the time of capture is adjusted based on a time zone associated with the selected location.
US08542293B2 Image pickup apparatus, method for controlling the image pickup apparatus, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit that picks up an image of a subject; an internal memory; a removable external memory; a compression processing unit that compresses the image picked up by the image pickup unit to generate a picked-up image; a recording processing unit that records the picked-up image in the removable external memory and records the compressed image corresponding to the picked-up image in the internal memory; and an editing processing unit that edits the picked-up image in the removable external memory and the compressed image in the internal memory. For a compressed image in the internal memory, a reservation for editing a picked-up image corresponding to the compressed image and recorded in the unmounted removable external memory can be made.
US08542291B2 Imaging apparatus and image playing apparatus having a control device that determines whether an image plane is within a range
An imaging apparatus includes: a light receiving device having a micro lens array in which a plurality of micro lenses are arrayed two-dimensionally, and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that are provided for the plurality of micro lenses, and that outputs a plurality of photoreception signals that are obtained by receiving optical flux from an optical system via the micro lenses; a detection device that, based on the photoreception signals, detects an amount of displacement between an image plane obtained from the optical system and an image plane obtained from the light receiving device; a focal point adjustment device that performs focal point adjustment on the optical system based on the displacement amount; and a control device that, when an image plane that corresponds to the displacement amount is contained within an image plane range within which it is possible to create an image that is based on the photoreception signal, creates an image of the image plane that corresponds to the displacement amount based on a photoreception signal which is selected in accordance with the displacement amount from among the plurality of photoreception signals, and then displays this image.
US08542287B2 Dual sensor camera
A dual sensor camera that uses two aligned sensors each having a separate lens of different focal length but the same f-number. The wider FOV image from one sensor is combined with the narrower FOV image from the other sensor to form a combined image. Up-sampling of the wide FOV image and down-sampling of the narrow FOV image is performed. The longer focal length lens may have certain aberrations introduced so that Extended Depth of Field (EDoF) processing can be used to give the narrow FOV image approximately the same depth of field as the wide FOV image so that a noticeable difference in depth of field is not see in the combined image.
US08542283B2 Image processing device, image processing method, and information terminal apparatus
Provision is made for obtaining a high-quality image with noise, such as ringing, reduced. An image processing device includes an image correction means for applying image-shake correction processing to an input image; a correction-image characteristic detection means for detecting a characteristic of a correction image obtained through the image-shake correction processing; a first characteristic-determination means for outputting selection information, based on a characteristic-detected correction image obtained through detection of the characteristic of the correction image; and an image outputting means for outputting the input image or the correction image, based on the selection information. As a result, it is made possible to obtain a high-quality image with noise reduced.
US08542280B2 Difference degree evaluation device, difference degree evaluation method and program product
A difference degree evaluation device includes a signal acquisition unit which acquires at least two signals which are objects of matching, a memory unit which stores one of the two signals, which are acquired by the signal acquisition unit, as a reference signal, and stores the other of the two signals as an object signal, a sample extraction unit which extracts sample points in a predetermined block from the reference signal that is stored in the memory unit, and extracts sample points corresponding to the sample points of the reference signal from the object signal, and an arithmetic process unit which finds absolute difference values between the sample points of the reference signal and the sample points of the object signal, which are extracted by the sample extraction unit, and calculates a maximum value of the absolute difference values as an evaluation value.
US08542278B2 Shaking detection device, shaking correction device, imaging device, and shaking detection method
A data thinning unit prepares thinned images by extracting only one component in raw data of each of a standard image and reference image, a block extracting unit extracts a search block and a template block for finding residual differences, a luminance difference comparing unit obtains a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of luminance values of each block, and, when smaller than a threshold value, excludes this from a scope of acquisition of residual differences. The residual difference acquiring unit acquires residual differences from blocks which were not excluded, a block selecting unit selects a predetermined number of blocks having small residual differences, and a hand shake (blur or unintentional movement) acquiring unit finds a position of the template block at which the residual difference becomes the minimum, calculates a center value of all positions, and defines the same as the amount of hand shake.
US08542277B2 Controlling apparatus and controlling method for signal outputing circuit and video system
The invention discloses a controlling apparatus for a signal outputting circuit in an electronic system. The controlling apparatus includes a detecting circuit, a switch, and a controlling circuit. The detecting circuit is used for detecting whether the electronic system has an abnormal condition. The switch is electrically connected between a signal receiving terminal and the signal outputting circuit. The controlling circuit is electrically connected between the detecting circuit and the switch. Once the detecting circuit detects that the electronic system has the abnormal condition, the controlling circuit sets the switch into a high-impedance state.
US08542271B2 Monitor device for use with an endoscope apparatus
A monitor device for use with an endoscope apparatus, which has first and second display modes. In the first display mode, the monitor device displays, in real time, any image transmitted in a normal radio communication state. In the second display mode, the monitor device displays a noise-free image in real time, if a radio communication error occurs. If one-frame (or one-field) image data is not received within the frame (or field) time due to a communication error, the monitor device displays, in the second display mode, the image data received in a normal state immediately before the one-frame (or one-field) image data, and informs the operator of the communication error.
US08542270B2 3D stereoscopic display system for large format LED displays
A three dimensional (3D) stereoscopic display system using large format light emitting diodes (LEDs) for displaying 3D image content. The apparatus comprises a grid of LEDs covered by two sheets of polarizing material, a first sheet of polarizing material for polarizing a first subset of the LEDs to form a first view of the 3D image, and a second sheet of polarizing material for polarizing the second subset of LEDs to form a second view of the 3D image. The sheets may be formed by cutting a plurality of openings substantially aligned with a corresponding subset of LEDs. For improved viewing, the apparatus may further comprise a rear diffuser, disposed between the LED display and the first sheet of polarizing material. Also for improved viewing, the apparatus may further comprise a front diffuser, disposed in front of the second sheet of polarizing material, for reducing glare from external light sources. Also an additional method of the application of individual polarizing buttons directly adhered to the individual LEDs incorporating an assembly key for maintaining the correct orientation of the polarizing material.
US08542266B2 Method and system for adapting a CP layout according to interaction between conferees
A system and method is disclosed for adapting a continuous presence videoconferencing layout according to interactions between conferees. Using regions of interest found in video images, the arrangement of images of conferees may be dynamically arranged as displayed by endpoints. Arrangements may be responsive to various metrics, including the position of conferees in a room and dominant conferees in the videoconference. Video images may be manipulated as part of the arrangement, including cropping and mirroring the video image. As interactions between conferees change, the layout may be automatically rearranged responsive to the changed interactions.
US08542258B2 Apparatus and method for increasing pixel resolution of image using coherent sampling
An apparatus and method for adjusting the pixel resolution of an input image is disclosed. According to the present invention, the pixel resolution of the input image is adjusted by oversampling an analog signal representative of the input image at a higher frequency than the pixel rate of the original image, then digitally downscaling to the desired horizontal resolution of an output image. The horizontally downscaled image is then stored in a buffer memory and subsequently scaled up to the desired vertical resolution of the output image. Preferably, oversampling of the analog signal is performed at a frequency that is an integer multiple of the input pixel rate, thus providing coherent sampling to help avoid aliasing artifacts in the sampled image.
US08542257B2 Method of driving a light source, apparatus for performing the method and display apparatus having the apparatus
A light source apparatus includes a light source module, a luminance determiner, an illuminance sensor and a light source driver. The light source module provides a display panel with light. The luminance determiner obtains luminance data of first image data including at least white image data that is converted from image data of a red color, a green color and a blue color. The illuminance sensor obtains sensing data based upon an external illuminance. The light source driver drives the light source module based upon the luminance data and the sensing data.
US08542255B2 Associating media content items with geographical data
Systems and techniques are disclosed for associating and presenting media content items with locations on a geographical track path. For example, the frames of a video segment can be associated with locations on a track path. The track path can be based on position data, including position coordinates and a corresponding time coordinates, obtained while the video frames were captured. Locations for the video frames can be determined based on a start time of the video segment, a frame rate of the video segment, and the position data. The video segment can be displayed with user controls that enable a user to manipulate the frame of the video segment being displayed including a time indicator and a location indicator displayed on the track path.
US08542250B2 Entertainment device, system, and method
An entertainment device for combining virtual images with real images captured by a video camera so as to generate augmented reality images. The device comprises receiving means operable to receive a sequence of video images from the video camera via a communications link. The device further comprises detecting means operable to detect an augmented reality marker within the received video images, and processing means operable to generate a virtual image plane in dependence upon the detection of the augmented reality marker by the detecting means. The virtual image plane is arranged to be substantially coplanar with a real surface upon which the augmented reality marker is placed so that virtual images may be generated with respect to the real surface. The processing means is operable to generate the virtual image plane within the captured video images such that the virtual image plane is defined with respect to the detected augmented reality marker, and the virtual image plane has an area which is greater than an area which corresponds to the augmented reality marker.
US08542248B2 X-ray detection apparatus and information processing method
An X-ray image diagnosis apparatus allows setting information indicating an object direction in a radiographed image without any errors. This invention is an X-ray detection apparatus which detects X-rays applied to an object and generates a radiographed image of the object. This apparatus includes a unit to display, in a display area, a symbol which has a form corresponding to the object and for which a vector representing a direction as a reference for the symbol is defined, a button to change the direction of the symbol displayed in the display area, and a unit to output information concerning the direction of the vector in association with a radiographed image of the object, when the direction of the symbol displayed in the display area is changed to match the direction of the object with the direction of the symbol displayed in the display area.
US08542233B2 Systems and methods for photogrammetric rendering
Systems and methods are provided for producing a rendered drawing or rendering from a detailed image of an object (e.g. photograph) resulting in a rendering that is photogrammetric and that preserves detail in the said image of said object. The combination of the metric nature and image detail preservation in a rendering resulting from the process enhances the usefulness of the rendering to users. The invention is useful in particular for large format renderings such as wire frame style drawings used for blueprints in the architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC industry) when used for existing structures. The processes combine graphic arts techniques with photogrammetric techniques to preserve, fully or partially, information about an object as captured in image detail of said object and to present said information in photogrammetrically correct rendering, which rendering may be incorporated into drawings useful to and/or familiar to end users of said drawings.
US08542232B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring user attention with a computer-generated virtual environment
Avatars focal points are monitored as the Avatars move within a virtual environment to determine, statistically, where users are looking at in the virtual environment. The Avatar's focal point may be used to control a virtual brush that may paint the virtual environment in an attention monitoring function. A statistical distribution about the focal point is used to affect the coloration, and other known information about the virtual environment may be used to affect the statistics. As attention records from multiple users are collected, they may be overlaid to obtain a very accurate picture of how users are interacting with the virtual environment and with objects in the virtual environment. The attention monitoring function may generate a thermal overlay to the virtual environment to visually show where users tend to focus within the virtual environment. Users' attention on three dimensional and graphic objects may be monitored as well.
US08542228B2 Liquid crystal display, liquid crystal display driving method, and television receiver utilizing a preliminary potential
In a liquid crystal display, a first data signal line and a second data signal line are provided for each pixel column. In at least one embodiment, in a case where every two pixels in the pixel column are paired, one of two pixels in each pair is connected with the first data signal line and the other of the two pixels is connected with the second data signal line, two scanning signal lines respectively connected with the two pixels are simultaneously selected during one horizontal scanning period so that signal potentials are written into the two pixels from the first data signal line and the second data signal line, respectively, during each horizontal scanning period, supply of the signal potentials to the first data signal line and the second data signal line is performed after supply of preliminary potentials to the first data signal line and the second data signal line. This allows improving the display quality of a liquid crystal display in which a larger size, higher definition, or higher-speed driving etc. makes full charging of pixels difficult even when simultaneous scanning.
US08542216B2 Multi-touch device having dynamic haptic effects
A system for generating haptic effects senses at least two generally simultaneous touches on a touchscreen and, in response, generates a dynamic haptic effect.
US08542206B2 Swipe gestures for touch screen keyboards
Systems, methods, and devices for interpreting manual swipe gestures as input in connection with touch-sensitive user interfaces that include virtual keyboards are disclosed herein. These allow for a user entering text using the virtual keyboard to perform certain functions using swipes across the key area rather than tapping particular keys. For example, leftward, rightward, upward, and downward swipes can be assigned to inserting a space, backspacing, shifting (as for typing capital letters), and inserting a carriage return and/or new line. Various other mappings are also described. The described techniques can be used in conjunction with a variety of devices, including handheld devices that include touch-screen interfaces, such as desktop computers, tablet computers, notebook computers, handheld computers, personal digital assistants, media players, mobile telephones, and combinations thereof.
US08542201B2 Inputting apparatus
An inputting apparatus including: a detecting portion which detects a movement of an input object; a first judging section which judges that the movement of the detected input object is a first-directional movement in which the input object is moved in a first direction, and that the movement of the input object is a second-directional movement in which the input object is moved in the first direction after being moved in a second direction; a first performing section which performs a processing according to the movement in the first direction where the movement of the input object is the first-directional movement; and a second performing section which regards the movement in the first direction in the second-directional movement as the movement in the second direction and performs a processing according to the movement in the second direction, where the movement of the input object is the second-directional movement.
US08542196B2 System and method for a thumb-optimized touch-screen user interface
A virtual thumb-board solution is provided that fits on a pocket-size device or even palm-size device and uses the standard keyboard layout with straight rows of keys, which is achieved while making the virtual thumb-board accurate, fast, and comfortable. And thumb-optimized virtual User Interface solutions are provided that make information searching and UI navigation on pocket-size hand-held devices exceptionally fast and intuitive.
US08542193B2 One button remote control with haptic feedback
An input system for a TV remote control or other system has a single touch surface with a deformable haptic assembly below the touch surface such that a user placing a finger on the touch surface can feel deformation of the haptic, assembly. A pressure sensing assembly is below the haptic assembly and sensing motion of a finger on the touch surface, with a processor receiving input from the pressure sensing assembly and providing output to the haptic assembly in response. Also, a display receives input sent by the processor in response to input from the pressure sensing assembly to cause the display to present a changing image of a keypad as a user moves a finger on the touch surface.
US08542190B2 Handheld electronic device with reduced keyboard and associated method of providing improved disambiguation with reduced degradation of device performance
In view of the foregoing, an improved handheld electronic device having a reduced keyboard provides facilitated language entry by making available to a user certain words that a user may reasonably be expected to enter. Incoming data, such as the text of a message, can be scanned for proper nouns, for instance, since such proper nouns might not already be stored in memory and might be expected to be entered by the user when, for example, forwarding or responding to the message. A proper noun can be identified, for instance, on the basis that it begins with an upper case letter. The proper nouns can be stored, for example, in memory that may, by way of further example, be a temporary dictionary.
US08542178B2 Display driving circuit gate driver with shift register stages
A display driving circuit is provided. The display driving circuit, in which a gate driver shifting and outputting an input signal is embedded, includes an input portion receiving a pulse input signal consisting of a high-level signal and a low-level signal and transferring the pulse input signal to a boosting node, an inverter portion connected with the input portion, and inverting the pulse input signal to output the inverted signal, and a pull-up/pull-down portion consisting of a pull-up portion connected to the input portion, receiving a boosting voltage from the boosting node, and outputting a pull-up output signal, and a pull-down portion connected to the inverter portion, receiving the inverted signal, and outputting a pull-down output signal. Here, the inverter portion outputs a signal having a lower level than the low-level signal for a predetermined time period in which the pull-up output signal is output. Accordingly, the display driving circuit exhibits excellent output characteristics due to improved performance and also has excellent reliability.
US08542165B2 Organic light emitting display
An organic light emitting display includes a scan driver configured to supply scan signals to scan lines and to supply emission control signals to emission control lines, a data driver configured to supply data signals and an initialization voltage to data lines, and pixels positioned at crossing regions of the scan lines and the data lines, each of the pixels comprising an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and a first transistor for controlling an amount of current supplied from a first power source and having a second electrode coupled to the first power source and a first electrode coupled to the OLED, wherein a gate electrode of the first transistor of a first pixel from among the pixels positioned on an ith (“i” is a positive integer) horizontal line is coupled to a corresponding one of the data lines via a second pixel from among the pixels positioned on an (i−1)th horizontal line in a period where the initialization voltage is supplied to the data lines.
US08542164B2 Display device
To provide a high-performance and highly reliable display device with a high aperture ratio, including light-emitting elements, and a manufacturing method thereof, and a technique for manufacturing such a display device at a low cost with high productivity. A compensating circuit, a light-emitting element, a switch, and a transistor are included, in which one terminal of the switch is electrically connected to the compensating circuit, a gate of the transistor is electrically connected to the compensating circuit, one of a source and a drain of the transistor is electrically connected to a first electrode of the light-emitting element, the other of the source and the drain of the transistor is maintained at a certain potential, and a second electrode of the light-emitting element and the other terminal of the switch are electrically connected to the same wire.
US08542160B2 Medical image diagnosis apparatus having a plurality of monitors
A medical image diagnosis apparatus, comprises an image generator, a display, and a mechanism. The image generator is configured to generate a medical image. The display comprises a plurality of monitors and is configured to display the medical image. The mechanism is configured to change an arrangement of the plurality of monitors with respect to each of the monitors.
US08542155B2 Wireless communications device and housing for a wireless communications device
A housing for a wireless communications device includes a metal cover. An aperture is formed in the metal cover adjacent an antenna to limit interference with transmissions through the antenna, while providing structural strength to the housing. The opposing side of the housing is made from a material that allows transmission from the antenna with limited interference, thereby providing omni-directional transmissions.
US08542154B2 Portable terminal
A portable terminal comprises a ground portion mounted in a body of the portable terminal, and configured to form electrical ground of a circuit board which controls the portable terminal, a conductive member mounted to a case which forms appearance of the body, and formed of a conductive material, a first radiator electrically connected to the ground portion so as to be fed by the ground portion, and configured to transmit and receive radio electromagnetic waves, a second radiator formed of a conductive material, and connected to the conductive member so as to form an antenna pattern together with the ground portion and the conductive member, the antenna pattern consecutive with a feed point of the first radiator, and a connection member configured to electrically connect edges of the ground portion to the conductive member such that the first radiator and the antenna pattern form a dipole antenna.
US08542153B2 Slot halo antenna device
An antenna of the present disclosure has a housing having a shallow cavity in a top of the housing and a shallow cavity in a bottom of the housing. The antenna further has a substantially circular radiating element disposed in the shallow cavity on the top of the housing, the radiating element having an arc shape slot. In addition, the antenna has a substantially circular parasitic element disposed in the shallow cavity on the bottom of the housing.
US08542152B2 Multi-band antenna
A multi-frequency antenna includes a microwave substrate, a first antenna unit, a second antenna unit, a third antenna unit and a grounding unit. The first antenna unit, the second antenna unit, and the third antenna unit are disposed on the microwave substrate surface. The grounding unit is disposed at an edge on the surface of the microwave substrate. The grounding unit is in connection with the second antenna unit. The second antenna unit and the third antenna unit are bent to form perpendicular structures to the microwave substrate. The compact arrangement reduces the physical footprint of the antenna module to enable fitment in a wide range of products having tight special constraint.
US08542143B1 Pipelined ADC stage filters
A pipelined Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) stage includes a main sampling path having a first filter in series with a first sample and hold circuit and a sub-ADC sampling path having a second filter in series with a second sample and hold circuit driving a sub-ADC connected to a sub-Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). The frequency response of the main sampling path is matched to a frequency response of the sub-ADC sampling path such that a residue signal of the pipelined ADC stage stays within range.
US08542142B2 Interleaved analog to digital converter with reduced number of multipliers for digital equalization
A digital equalizer with a reduced number of multipliers for correction of the frequency responses of an interleaved ADC is disclosed. An exemplary interleaved analog to digital converter with digital equalization includes a composite ADC including M time interleaved sub-ADC, a demultiplexer, samples repositioning unit, a first PreFIRs transformer, a second PreFIRs transformer, K double buffer FIR filters, a PostFIRs transformer, a samples sequence restoration unit, and a multiplexer, coupled in series and providing an equalized, frequency response-corrected output.
US08542141B2 Analog-to-digital conversion device and analog-to-digital conversion method
An analog-to-digital conversion device which converts an analog input signal into a digital signal and output it includes a signal characteristic detection unit for detecting a predetermined characteristic of the input signal; a control signal generation unit for setting a resolution based on the signal characteristic detected by the signal characteristic detection unit, generating a control signal that indicates only an operation required for performing the analog-to-digital conversion at the resolution, and outputting it; and an analog-to-digital conversion unit for restricting the operation based on the control signal and converting the input signal into the digital signal at the set resolution.
US08542136B1 Data compression system and related methods
A data compression system comprising a transmit side having a first receive interface adapted to receive a first quantity of data from a first channel and a compression controller coupled to the first receive interface, a lossless compression controller, and a bandwidth monitor, the lossy compression controller and the bandwidth monitor coupled to a first transmit interface adapted to transmit a compressed first quantity of data into a second telecommunication channel wherein the bandwidth monitor evaluates the bandwidth of the second telecommunication channel and communicates with the compression controller. A decimation controller is adapted to lossy compress a portion of a second data quantity in the first telecommunication channel in response to a lossy compression control signal communicated by the compression controller to form a reduced second data quantity if the compression controller determines, that the bandwidth second transmission channel is insufficient to carry the first data quantity when compressed.
US08542134B2 Keyboard adaptive haptic response
Various embodiments provide a keyboard that adaptively provides haptic feedback to a user. In at least some embodiments, an actuation of a key or keyboard element of the keyboard is detected. This can be accomplished by detecting the closure of an associated switch caused by a user depressing the key or keyboard element. In response to detecting the actuation, an electrically-deformable material is utilized as an actuating mechanism to impart single or multi-vectored movement to the key or keyboard element according to drive parameters. This movement produces a perceived acceleration of the key or keyboard element, thus providing haptic feedback which simulates a “snapover” effect.
US08542129B2 Parking aid system
A parking aid system is disclosed. The parking aid system includes: a parking space borderline recognition section configured to recognize two borderlines of the parking space based on a captured image, which is captured by an imaging device mounted to the vehicle, the two borderlines respectively being two parts of the parking space boundary opposite to each other in a width direction of the parking space; a displacement calculation section configured to calculate displacement of the vehicle in the width direction with respect to the two borderlines based on positions of the two borderlines in the captured image and an imaging range of the imaging device; and a notifier configured to notify the displacement calculated by the displacement calculation section.
US08542106B2 Method and device for identifying and classifying objects
A method and device for identifying and classifying objects, electromagnetic radiation being emitted by a sensor, the radiation components reflected on objects being received by the sensor, the received signals being analyzed by comparison with stored characteristic values and the class of the reflecting object being deduced on the basis of the analysis. To this end, an analyzer is provided for analyzing the received signals, a memory is provided for storing characteristic patterns, its stored patterns being compared with the analyzed signals and thus the class of the reflecting objects being deducible on the basis of the comparison.
US08542101B2 Data recovery method and apparatus for radio frequency identification
Provided are an RFID reader and a data recovery method which selectively selects only an integrity-checked phase signal, when receiving a backscattered signal of an RFID tag through an I signal path or a Q signal path, and may reduce a shadow area of a read range. The RFID reader includes a signal receiver which receives a plurality of phase signals; a symbol detector which recovers data with respect to each of the received phase signals; and a signal selector which selects a signal that satisfies a predetermined standard, from the data-recovered phase signals.
US08542096B2 Intelligent observation and identification database system
An intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system may define a security zone or group of zones. The system may identify vehicles and individuals entering or exiting the zone through image recognition of the vehicle or individual as compared to prerecorded information stored in a database. The system may alert security personnel as to warrants or other information discovered pertaining to the recognized vehicle or individual resulting from a database search. The system may compare images of a suspect vehicle, such as an undercarriage image, to standard vehicle images stored in the database and alert security personnel as to potential vehicle overloading or foreign objects detected, such as potential bombs. The system may track individuals or vehicles within a zone or between zones. The system may further learn the standard times and locations of vehicles or individuals tracked by the system and alert security personnel upon deviation from standard activity.
US08542095B2 Biometric authentication device, biometric authentication method, and storage medium
Provided is a biometric authentication device that can enhance usability, suppress deterioration of authentication accuracy due to ambient noise, and increase tolerance to wiretapping. A biometric authentication device generates a signal pattern toward a living body by using a signal pattern generating means 11, and transmits the signal pattern to the living body in accordance with the signal pattern by a signal transmitting means 12. Further, the device receives a response signal transmitted through the living body by a signal receiving means 13. The device then calculates transfer feature in accordance with the signal pattern and the response signal by a transfer feature calculating means 14. Further, the device extracts and collates a feature amount in accordance with the transfer features.
US08542077B2 High-frequency circuit
A high-frequency circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of transistors, a plurality of input matching circuits, a plurality of output matching circuits, a plurality of resistors, and low-frequency oscillation suppressing circuits. The transistors are arranged on a substrate in parallel. The input matching circuits and output matching circuits are arranged on insulating substrates and connected to the transistors. The oscillation suppressing circuits are a circuit configured by a filter circuit having a desired transmission band and a resistor, and are connected to gate terminals of transistors located on both sides of the transistors, respectively. Each of resistors is formed to include a position closest to the transistor between the input matching circuits and between the output matching circuits. Furthermore, each of resistors has a length at which the oscillation suppressing circuit can suppress oscillation at the lowest frequency in the transmission band.
US08542076B2 Impedance matching
In an impedance matching circuit selectively operable in a normal matching mode and a protection mode, the impedance matching circuit includes a set of reactances in a first reactance arrangement configured to transform an impedance of a load to an impedance within a range of a nominal impedance of an HF generator in the normal matching mode, and a PIN diode switch having a first invariable switching state in the normal matching mode and a second switchomg state that reconfigures the set of reactances into a second reactance arrangement in the protection mode, such that the second reactance arrangement is configured to transform the impedance of the load to prevent damage to the HF generator or to transmission circuitry arranged between the HF generator and the load.
US08542067B2 Oscillation circuit and image display device
Disclosed is an oscillation circuit. The oscillation circuit supplies predetermined oscillation signals to a generating circuit having a divider, a phase comparator, and a generator. A clock signal generating section generates clock signals in a cycle based on the comparison results from the phase comparator. A clock signal mask section masks a part of the clock signals generated by the clock signal generating section to generate the predetermined oscillation signals and supplies the predetermined oscillation signals to the divider. The clock signal mask section masks a part of the clock signals such that the cycle of sampling signals generated by the generator is the same as a predetermined cycle which is the cycle of a clock for use in generating image signals.
US08542066B2 Apparatus and methods for reducing output noise of a signal channel
Apparatus and methods for reducing output noise of a signal channel are provided. In one embodiment, a signal channel includes an amplifier for amplifying an input signal to generate an amplified signal. The amplifier includes a bias circuit that controls a bias current of the amplifier based on a voltage across a biasing capacitor. The apparatus further includes a sampling circuit for sampling the amplified signal. The sampling circuit generates an output signal based on a difference between a first sample of the amplified signal taken at a first time instance and a second sample of the amplified signal taken at a second time instance. The bias circuit samples a bias voltage onto the biasing capacitor before the first time instance and holds the voltage across the biasing capacitor substantially constant between the first time instance and the second time instance to reduce noise of the output signal.
US08542061B2 Charge pump based power amplifier envelope power supply and bias power supply
The present disclosure relates to a direct current (DC)-DC converter, which includes a charge pump based radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) envelope power supply and a charge pump based PA bias power supply. The DC-DC converter is coupled between RF PA circuitry and a DC power supply, such as a battery. As such, the PA envelope power supply provides an envelope power supply signal to the RF PA circuitry and the PA bias power supply provides a bias power supply signal to the RF PA circuitry. Both the PA envelope power supply and the PA bias power supply receive power via a DC power supply signal from the DC power supply. The PA envelope power supply includes a charge pump buck converter and the PA bias power supply includes a charge pump.
US08542054B2 Power switch acceleration scheme for fast wakeup
A method an apparatus for a power switch acceleration scheme during wakeup is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes at least one power gated circuit block. The power gated circuit block includes a virtual voltage node from which a voltage is provided to the circuitry of the block when active. Power switches are coupled between the virtual voltage node and a corresponding global voltage node. When the power gated circuit block is powered on, power switches are activated sequentially. The rate at which power switches are activated is increased as the voltage on the virtual voltage node increases. Sequentially activating the power switches may prevent an excess of current inrush into the power gated circuit block. The increase in the rate at which power switches are activated when the voltage on the virtual voltage node is at least at a certain level may allow for a faster wakeup.
US08542053B2 High-linearity testing stimulus signal generator
A high-linearity testing stimulus signal generator comprises a signal collection unit receiving an input current signal, a waveform conversion unit connecting with the signal collection unit, a first voltage-to-current conversion unit connecting with the waveform conversion unit, a delay unit connecting with the waveform conversion unit, a second voltage-to-current conversion unit connecting with the delay unit, a current comparison unit connecting respectively with the first voltage-to-current conversion unit and the second voltage-to-current conversion unit, an error calculation unit connecting with the current comparison unit, and a compensation unit connecting with the error calculation unit. The above-mentioned structure forms a feedback mechanism to perform compensation adjustment to promote the linearity of the output signals. Thus, the present invention can generate high-accuracy testing stimulus signals.
US08542047B2 Electronic device and method for low power reset
An electronic device and a method for operating an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a reset stage which is configured to have a power down threshold and a power cycle threshold. The voltage level of the power cycle threshold is lower than the voltage level of the power down threshold. The two threshold levels define a first and second interval for a supply voltage of the electronic device. A first interval is between the power cycle threshold and the power down threshold. A second interval is above the power down threshold. The reset stage is further configured to provide the control signal having a defined first state in the first interval and a defined second state in the second interval. The electronic device is set to a low power reset mode if the control signal is in the first state and the electronic device is enabled to enter an active mode if the control signal is in the second state.
US08542046B2 Apparatus, system, and method for voltage swing and duty cycle adjustment
Described herein are an apparatus, system, and method for compensating voltage swing and duty cycle of a signal on an input-output (I/O) pad of a processor by adjusting the voltage swing and duty cycle of the signal. The apparatus comprises a driver to transmit a signal on an I/O pad, the signal on the I/O pad having a voltage swing and a duty cycle; and an adjustment unit, coupled to the driver, to receive the signal from the I/O pad transmitted by the driver and to generate voltage swing and duty cycle control signals for adjusting the voltage swing and duty cycle of the signal on the I/O pad respectively. Described herein is also an analog-to-digital (A2D) converter for measuring and/or calibrating various signal attributes including current, voltage, and time.
US08542042B1 Phase-locked loop architecture and clock distribution system
One embodiment relates to a fracture-able PLL circuit. The fracture-able PLL circuit includes a first phase-locked loop circuit generating a first frequency output, a second phase-locked loop circuit; arranged to generate a second frequency output, and a plurality of shared output resources. Reconfigurable circuitry is arranged so that either of the first and second frequency outputs is receivable by each of the plurality of shared output resources. Another embodiment relates to an integrated circuit which includes a plurality of PMA modules, a plurality of multiple-purpose PLL circuits, and a programmable clock network. The programmable clock network is arranged to allow the clock signals output by the multiple-purpose PLL circuits to be selectively used either by the PMA modules for a transceiver application or by other circuitry for a non-transceiver application. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
US08542040B1 Reconfigurable divider circuits with hybrid structure
An integrated circuit includes a first variable divider circuit configured to receive a clock signal and to apply a lower range of integer division factors thereto responsive to a first control input to generate a first divided clock signal and a second variable divider circuit configured to receive the clock signal and to apply an upper range of integer division factors thereto responsive to a second control input to generate a second divided clock signal. The integrated circuit further includes a multiplexer circuit configured to selectively pass the first and second divided clock signals responsive to a third control input.
US08542038B2 Source driver and receiver thereof
A source driver and a receiver thereof are disclosed. A two-stage amplifier of the receiver includes a first-stage circuit and a second-stage circuit. The second-stage circuit includes a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a first node, and a second node. The first switch is coupled between the first node and a ground end; the second switch is coupled between the second node and the ground end; the third switch is coupled between the first node and the second node. When the receiver wants to wake up from a power-saving mode to a normal operation mode, the first switch and the second switch are switched to the off-state according to a control signal at first; after a period of delay time, the third switch is also switched to the off-state according to a delayed control signal.
US08542037B2 Multi-level high voltage pulser integrated circuit using low voltage MOSFETs
A multi-level high-voltage pulse generator integrated circuit has a digital logic-level control interface circuit. A pair of complementary MOSFETs is controlled by the digital control interface circuit. A pair of supply voltage rails is provided, wherein one of the pair of supply voltage rails is connected to each of the pair of complementary MOSFETs. A pair of Zener diodes is provided, wherein one of the pair of Zener diodes is connected to each of the pair of complementary MOSFETs. A pair of resistors is provided, wherein one of the pair of resistors is connected in parallel with each of the pair of Zener diodes. A pair of complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs having predetermined gate bias voltages is provided, wherein each of the pair complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs is attached to a corresponding one pair of complementary MOSFETs.
US08542036B2 Transmitter having source follower voltage regulator
A transmitter suitable for signal driving of a semiconductor device includes a driving power voltage generator and an output driver. The driving power voltage generator includes an NMOS transistor having a drain connected with a first voltage supply terminal, a gate connected to receive a second voltage lower than a voltage of the first voltage supply terminal, and a source outputting an output driving voltage and configured to perform source follower voltage regulating.
US08542033B2 Domino logic circuits and pipelined domino logic circuits
A domino logic circuit includes a first evaluation unit, a second evaluation unit and an output unit. The first evaluation unit precharges a first dynamic node, discharges a footer node in a first phase of a clock signal, and evaluates a plurality of input signals to determine a logic level of the first dynamic node in a second phase of the clock signal. The second evaluation unit precharges a second dynamic node in the first phase of the clock signal, and determines a logic level of the second dynamic node in response to a logic level of the footer node in the second phase of the clock signal. The output unit provides an output signal having a logic level according to levels of a first voltage of the first dynamic node and a second voltage of the second dynamic node.
US08542030B2 Three-dimensional (3D) stacked integrated circuit testing
Testing of a three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit includes defining a first group of parts by a region and/or layer on the 3D integrated circuit. The testing further includes applying a first intensity of stress test conditions to the first group of parts. The testing also includes defining a second group of parts by a region and/or layer on the 3D integrated circuit that is different from the first group of parts. The testing further includes and applying a second intensity of stress test conditions to the second group of parts. The second intensity of stress test conditions is greater than the first intensity and is determined by sensitivities identified for each of the first and second group of parts. A determination is made whether the 3D integrated circuit passed the testing based upon results of application of the first and second intensities of stress test conditions.
US08542020B2 Electronic device and apparatus for identifying electronic product
An apparatus for identifying an electronic product and an electronic device are disclosed. The apparatus includes: a detection voltage outputting unit, configured to receive a reference voltage and output a detection voltage; a detection voltage obtaining unit, connected to the detection voltage outputting unit and configured to obtain the value of the detection voltage; a mapping storing unit, configured to store a mapping between the value of the detection voltage and a product identifier; and a product identifier obtaining unit, configured to obtain the product identifier corresponding to the value of the detection voltage from the mapping storing unit according to the value of the detection voltage obtained by the detection voltage obtaining unit. With the apparatus for identifying an electronic product, the number of occupied chip detection ports is reduced, and the use area of a printed circuit board (PCB) is reduced.
US08542018B2 Power transmitting apparatus
A power transmitting apparatus includes: a first magnetic resonance coil that externally transmits power as energy through magnetic resonance; a first power transmitting-and-receiving unit that supplies power to at least the first magnetic resonance coil; a second magnetic resonance coil that accepts the magnetic field energy through magnetic resonance occurring between the first magnetic resonance coil and the second magnetic resonance coil; a second power transmitting-and-receiving unit that accepts the power at least with reference to the second magnetic resonance coil; a main power supply; and a power supply-management unit configured to select either the power accepted by the second power transmitting-and-receiving unit or power transmitted from the main power supply, and transmit the selected power to the first power transmitting-and-receiving unit and/or transmit the power accepted by the second power transmitting-and-receiving unit and the power transmitted from the main power supply to the first power transmitting-and-receiving unit in combination.
US08542014B2 Magnetic resonance imaging of single domain nanoparticles
A method and system are disclosed for gathering information about an object including single domain particles which have a diameter in the range of about 5 to 80 nm. In one aspect, a method includes generating a static magnetic field of less than about 0.1 Tesla on the object and generating an RF energy, pulsed or continuous wave, so as to generate electron paramagnetic resonance of the single domain particles. The method also includes detecting the electron paramagnetic resonance of the single domain particles in the form of an image of the object. The single domain particles may have a predetermined diameter and a predetermined saturation magnetization and the applied magnetic field may be such that the single domain particles reach a magnetization being at least about 10% of the saturation magnetization. The method may be used for detecting tags in an object and for activating tags.
US08542009B2 Oxygen concentration measurement with GMR
In an embodiment, an oxygen sensor comprises a giant magnetoresistance device (10), and a magnetic field generator (14, 14a, 14b) arranged to generate a magnetic field (12, 12a, 12b) overlapping the giant magnetoresistance device and an examination region (20). A component (Bx) of the magnetic field detected by the giant magnetoresistance device is dependent upon an oxygen concentration in the examination region. In an embodiment, a chip (40) includes one or more electrically conductive traces (14a, 14b) disposed on or in the chip and a giant magnetoresistance device (10) disposed on or in the chip such that electrical current flowing in the trace or traces generates a magnetic field (12a, 12b) that overlaps the magnetic field sensor, said magnetic field being perturbed (Bx) by ambient oxygen (24) such that a signal output by the magnetic field sensor indicates ambient oxygen concentration.
US08542000B1 Curvature compensated band-gap design
A bandgap reference circuit is compensated for temperature dependent curvature in its output. A voltage across a diode with a fixed current is subtracted from a voltage across a diode with a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current. The resultant voltage is then magnified and added to a PTAT voltage and a diode's voltage that has a complementary-to-absolute temperature (CTAT) characteristic, resulting in a curvature corrected bandgap voltage.
US08541990B2 Power conversion controller having a novel power factor correction mechanism using line voltage normalization
A power conversion controller having a novel power factor correction mechanism, including: a normalization unit, used to generate a normalized signal according to a line voltage by multiplying the line voltage with a normalizing gain, wherein the normalizing gain is proportional to the reciprocal of the amplitude of the line voltage; a reference current generation unit, coupled to the normalization unit to generate a reference current signal by performing an arithmetic operation, wherein the arithmetic operation involves the normalized signal; and a gate drive signal generation unit, used to generate a gate drive signal, wherein the duty of the gate drive signal is determined by a voltage comparison of the reference current signal and a current sensing signal.
US08541989B2 Power supply apparatus
A power supply apparatus includes: an AC generator including an AC generating section, and a rectifier for rectifying an AC voltage generated in the AC generating section, and outputting a DC voltage; and a DC/DC converter for converting the output voltage of the rectifier into a DC voltage having a different voltage value, wherein the output voltage of the rectifier is set to be larger than the output voltage of the DC/DC converter in accordance with the rotation speed of the AC generating section and the amount of power supply to an electrical load connected to the DC/DC converter, and is stepped down and outputted by using the DC/DC converter. The power supply apparatus is capable of increasing an output power efficiently.
US08541987B2 Low loss discharge circuits for EMI filter capacitors
A discharge circuit for an EMI filter capacitor includes normally-ON transistors. The normally-ON transistors may be controlled to limit current through them when an AC source is coupled across the discharge circuit. When the AC source is disconnected from the discharge circuit, the normally-ON transistors turn ON to allow current flow through them. The current flow allows the EMI filter capacitor to be discharged by a discharge resistor.
US08541981B2 Low-voltage dual-power-path management architecture for rechargeable battery monitoring solutions
A control circuit of a battery power-path management circuit establishes a first power path between a battery input node and an output node when the input node voltage is larger than a charger input node voltage and a second power path between the charger input node and the output node when the voltage on the charger input node is larger than the battery input node voltage. It controls the second power path to provide power to the output node, enabling battery charging and protection over a battery voltage range from about zero volts. It has low power consumption and can support wide-swing power supply voltage from as low as one volt to as high as maximum allowed Vds of drain-extended devices. It can use smaller device sizes because the PMOS switch gate voltage is 0V when the power supply is not too high.
US08541972B2 Method for suppressing speed ripple by using torque compensator based on activation function
Disclosed is a method for suppressing a speed ripple occurring during an operation of an AC motor by using a torque compensator based on an activation function. The method includes the steps of calculating a speed error ωerr based on a reference speed ωref and an actual speed ωact; calculating a controller output Trm by using the speed error ωerr as an input of a PI control and an operation of a compensated torque Tcom; and determining a torque variation based on the controller output Trm and a reference torque Tref and operating the torque variation in relation to an anti-windup gain Ka to use torque variation as an input of an integral (I) control. The method suppresses the speed ripple by compensating for the torque ripple through a controller which calculates the compensated torque by taking the signs of the speed error and the differential speed error into consideration.
US08541969B2 Method and device for pulse width modulated activation of an electrical drive motor of an adjustment arrangement
In a method and a device for pulse width modulated (PWM-) activation of an electrical drive motor (2) of an adjustment arrangement based on a reference of the mechanical system of the adjustment arrangement that corresponds to a relationship between the force (F) on the drive motor (2) and the adjustment path (s) or the adjustment time (t) of the adjustment arrangement stored in a memory (9), an anticipated future force value (F(t+t0)) is determined based on the reference of the mechanical system in order to adjust the PWM activation in advance by utilizing this future force value such that motor synchronization fluctuations can be prevented upon anticipated mechanical fluctuations in the adjustment arrangement.
US08541964B2 Brushless motor rotation-position detection system
A rotation-position detection system according to the present invention is configured with a resolver mounted in a brushless motor and a motor controller. The motor controller outputs an excitation signal to the resolver and an A/D converter thereof alternately applies analogue/digital conversion to a sine wave signal and a cosine wave signal outputted from the resolver so that a rotation position of the motor is calculated.
US08541963B2 Electrodynamic braking device for a universal motor
The invention relates to an electrodynamic braking device and to a method for braking a universal motor having a field winding and an armature. The universal motor can be switched from a motor mode to a braking mode. In the motor mode, the armature and the field winding are supplied with an alternating current of a power grid. In the braking mode, the armature is short-circuited and the field winding continues to be supplied with an alternating current from the power grid. In a first phase of the braking mode, the field winding can be supplied with an alternating current having the frequency of the power grid. In a further phase of the braking mode, the field winding is supplied by the power grid with an alternating current having a frequency that is reduced with respect to the frequency of the power grid.
US08541962B2 Motor driving apparatus
A motor driving apparatus includes a motor driving unit, a low-voltage source, a current detecting element, and an insulation resistance degradation determinator. The motor driving unit includes an inverter coupled between a positive DC bus line and a negative DC bus line of a DC power source. The inverter converts DC power into AC power to drive an AC motor. The low-voltage source is coupled between a ground and at least one of the positive DC bus line and the negative DC bus line. The current detecting element detects a closed circuit current flowing through a closed circuit of the low-voltage source, the AC motor, and a part of the inverter. The insulation resistance degradation determinator makes a comparison between the closed circuit current and a predetermined threshold, and configured to determine, based on the comparison, whether an insulation resistance of the AC motor is degraded.
US08541956B2 Light emitting diode driving method and driving circuit
A LED driving method includes steps of: providing a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal for determining a brightness of a LED; obtaining a duty cycle of the first PWM signal; and selectively enabling the LED to work with a PWM dimming mode or a direct current (DC) dimming mode according to a relative relationship between a magnitude of the obtained duty cycle and a preset threshold value. Since the LED is performed with a two stage brightness control by use of mixed dimming mode, the driving efficiency of the LED can be improved.
US08541952B2 User control of an LED luminaire for a phase cut dimmer
A phase cut angle converter with range detection for a phase cut dimmer constituted of: a phase cut angle detector arranged to detect the phase cut angle presented by the phase cut dimmer blocking a portion of an alternating current mains power sine wave from reaching a power converter, and output a signal whose value is responsive to the detected phase cut angle; a storage functionality constituted of a memory in communication with the phase cut angle detector, the storage functionality arranged to detect each of a minimum value and a maximum value for the detected phase cut angle of the phase cut angle detector and store the minimum value and the maximum value on the memory; and a signal adjustment functionality arranged to convert the detected phase cut angle to a dimming signal responsive to the stored minimum value and the maximum value for the detected phase cut angle.
US08541949B2 Animal-adapted illumination method and system
An illumination method includes emitting light suitable for providing illumination for human activities; detecting an animal indication signal indicative of the presence of an animal; and temporarily changing at least one property of the light in response to the detected presence of the animal.
US08541948B2 Operating device and method for operating at least one Hg low pressure discharge lamp
An operating device for operating at least one Hg low-pressure discharge lamp which has a first and a second electrode coil may include a unit for providing a variable that is correlated with the Hg vapor pressure in the at least one Hg low-pressure discharge lamp comprises at least one unit for capturing emission spectra of at least specifiable spectral ranges, wherein the unit for capturing emission spectra may include at least one light receiving unit which is arranged in the beam path of the at least one Hg low-pressure discharge lamp.
US08541947B2 Lighting devices
Lighting devices for a vehicle are disclosed that can include a light emitting diode and control circuitry for the light emitting diode. Also disclosed are circuits for a light emitting diode. Additionally, a method of forming a lighting device is disclosed. The lighting device, circuits, and method can be used, for example, to illuminate the interior of a vehicle.
US08541935B2 Color filter and light-emitting display element
A color filter for use in a light-emitting display element which emits at least white light, the color filter including a circularly polarizing layer which includes a polarizing layer, the polarizing layer having an orientation layer and a liquid crystal compound layer, wherein the circularly polarizing layer is formed only in an optical path of the white light.
US08541934B2 Display device
A direct-viewing type display device (100A) of the present invention includes: a display panel which has a display region (10A) that can be altered into a transparent state and a frame region (10F) provided outside the display region; and a light-transmitting cover (20) provided on a front side of the display panel. The light-transmitting cover includes a lens portion (22) positioned so as to overlap a region that includes part of the frame region of the display panel and part of a peripheral display region (10D) within the display region which adjoins the part of the frame region. The display device further includes a housing (30) which has a housing portion (36) provided at least on a side surface (10b) of the display panel. Part of light going out from the part of the peripheral display region and/or part of light entering the housing portion on a rear side goes out on a front side of the housing portion (36). In the display device of the present invention, the frame is visually obscured, and the display region can be altered into a transparent state.
US08541933B2 Transparent thermally conductive polymer composites for light source thermal management
A light emitting apparatus is provided. The light emitting apparatus includes a light transmissive envelope, a light source being in thermal communication with a heat sink, and a plurality of heat fins in thermal communication with the heat sink and extending in a direction such that the heat fins are adjacent the light transmissive envelope. The plurality of heat fins comprises a carbon nanotube filled polymer composite.
US08541926B2 Nano/micro electro-mechanical relay
A nano/micro electro-mechanical relay, comprising an at least one normally open (NO) nano/micro relay switch and an at least one normally closed (NC) nano/micro relay switch. Both the NC nano/micro relay switch and the NO nano/micro relay switch can be switched between their respective normal relay switch positions and their respective actuated relay switch positions. An at least one nano/micro actuator including an at least one piezoelectric stack layer being attached to an at least one elastic layer, wherein the at least one piezoelectric stack layer contracts to deflect the at least one elastic layer, and thereby actuate the at least one nano/micro contact bar to simultaneously switch the NC nano/micro relay switch and the NO nano/micro relay switch between their respective normal relay switch position and their respective actuated relay switch positions.
US08541923B2 Dual-rotor motor having heat dissipation
An electric motor may include an outer rotor and an inner rotor, with a stator, which carries the excitation coils, formed as a hollow cylinder and engaging in the pot-shaped outer rotor and being connected to the housing or to a part of the electric motor fixedly connected to the housing, and where the electric motor may further include a water cooling and an air cooling system.
US08541911B2 Magnetic actor and a method for its installation
The invention relates to a magnetic actor in which the permanent magnets are arranged in a Halbach configuration and inserted into a slide-in frame.
US08541910B1 MEMS microgenerator cell and microgenerator cell array
A microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) microgenerator cell and array is disclosed. The MEMS microgenerator cell of the present invention is effective in the conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy. In accordance with the present invention, an explosive material is loaded into a chamber. A diaphragm seals the chamber, containing a plasma material. The explosive material is subsequently heated to its ignition temperature thereby raising the pressure in the chamber until the diaphragm ruptures. The rupture of the diaphragm results in the flow of plasma out of the chamber. Upon exiting the chamber, the plasma is forced to flow between two parallel rectangular electrodes. A magnetic field is applied in a direction orthogonal to both the plasma flow and the electrodes, thereby generating an electromagnetic field sufficient to a power source for MEMS devices.
US08541907B2 Polyphase power distribution and monitoring apparatus
A polyphase power distribution and monitoring apparatus having sets of outputs for each phase of power and monitors for each phase of power disposed in the housing. Each monitor provides a visible display of current for an associated phase of power and an audible alarm for each phase of power if the current exceeds a predetermined value or falls below a predetermined value. In three-phase wye power systems, the apparatus preferably includes a neutral line monitor, including a neutral line current display and audio alarm, for the neutral line of the wye power circuit. The apparatus preferably is lightweight, elongated, portable, and mountable to the side of an electronic equipment rack. It may also include additional power monitoring systems such as network power monitoring tools for remotely monitoring the apparatus.
US08541904B2 Apparatus and system for power conversion
An apparatus includes a DC-link, a voltage converter, a bus voltage controller, and a supervisory controller. The voltage converter is configured to convert a first DC voltage into a second DC voltage based on a command signal and based on an adjustment signal and to supply the second DC voltage to the DC-link. The bus voltage controller is configured to iterate calculation of the adjustment signal to communicate each iterated calculation of the adjustment signal to the voltage converter. The supervisory controller is configured to iterate calculation of the command signal and to communicate each iterated calculation of the command signal to the voltage converter and to the bus voltage controller. A frequency of the bus voltage controller to communicate each iterated calculation of the adjustment signal is higher than a frequency of the supervisory controller to communicate each iterated calculation of the command signal.
US08541899B2 Wind turbine generator system, control apparatus therefor, and control method therefor
In a control apparatus for a wind turbine generator system, a wind turbine classifying unit classifies a plurality of wind turbines into a first wind turbine group that does not satisfy a rated wind speed condition and a second wind turbine group that satisfies the rated wind speed condition. A first controlling unit releases, for the wind turbines of the first wind turbine group, the output power reducing operation and causes the wind turbines of the first wind turbine group to perform an output power corresponding to a wind condition. A second controlling unit supplements a first deviation, which is a difference between a total output power of the first wind turbine group and a target output power, with an output power from the wind turbine of the second wind turbine group.
US08541898B2 Control method and system for a wind power installation in case of grid faults
The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling a wind power installation connected to an electrical power grid, in case of a fault in said grid.In the electrical machines that form part of the wind power installation, generators and transformers, it is possible to change the impedance of the neutral closure introducing a plurality of active and passive elements. This limits the currents during the grid fault, thereby reducing the peak torque in the mechanical train of the wind turbines and allows guaranteeing compliance with the network connection requirements, as control of the active and reactive currents is maintained at all times.
US08541886B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with via and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a stacking carrier having a cavity; placing a base integrated circuit in the cavity, the base integrated circuit having a base interconnect facing the cavity; mounting a stack integrated circuit to the base integrated circuit; and picking the stack integrated circuit mounted to the base integrated circuit out of the stacking carrier.
US08541867B2 Metal insulator metal structure with remote oxygen scavenging
A structure includes a first metallic electrode, a dielectric film formed over the first metallic electrode, and a second metallic electrode formed over the dielectric film. The second metallic electrode includes an oxygen scavenging material. The oxygen scavenging material is selected such that an oxygen density decreases in a region between the first metallic electrode and the second metallic electrode responsive to elevating a temperature of the first metallic electrode, the dielectric film, and the second metallic electrode.
US08541861B2 Infrared detection device
According to one embodiment, an infrared detection device includes a detection element. The detection element includes a semiconductor substrate, a signal interconnect section, a detection cell and a support section. The semiconductor substrate is provided with a cavity on a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The signal interconnect section is provided in a region surrounding the cavity of the semiconductor substrate. The detection cell spaced from the semiconductor substrate above the cavity includes a thermoelectric conversion layer, and an absorption layer. The absorption layer is laminated with the thermoelectric conversion layer, and provided with a plurality of holes each having a shape whose upper portion is widened. The support section holds the detection cell above the cavity and connects the signal interconnect section and the detection cell.
US08541859B2 Semiconductor light receiving element and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor light receiving element includes a first semiconductor layer having a first conduction type, a second semiconductor layer that is provided on the first semiconductor layer and has a light receiving area, the second semiconductor layer having a second conduction type opposite to the first conduction type, an insulation film provided on the second semiconductor layer, and an electrode provided on the insulation film, the insulation film having a plurality of windows in an area in which the electrode overlaps the plurality of windows, the electrode being electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer via the plurality of windows.
US08541856B2 Optical touch-screen imager
Embodiments of an apparatus comprising a CMOS image sensor including a pixel array formed in a substrate and a light guide formed on the substrate to receive light traveling in a plane parallel to a plane of the pixel array and incident on the edge of the image sensor and to re-direct the incident light into at least one pixel of the pixel array. Embodiments of an optical touch-screen imager comprising a substantially planar touch area and a detector positioned adjacent to the touch area, the detector comprising a CMOS image sensor as described above.
US08541850B2 Method and system for forming resonators over CMOS
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a semiconductor substrate includes complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuitry disposed outwardly from the semiconductor substrate. An electrode is disposed outwardly from the CMOS circuitry. The electrode is electrically coupled to the CMOS circuitry. A resonator is disposed outwardly from the electrode. The resonator is operable to oscillate at a resonance frequency in response to an electrostatic field propagated, at least in part, by the electrode.
US08541849B2 Noise shielding techniques for ultra low current measurements in biochemical applications
A device having an integrated noise shield is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of vertical shielding structures substantially surrounding a semiconductor device. The device further includes an opening above the semiconductor device substantially filled with a conductive fluid, wherein the plurality of vertical shielding structures and the conductive fluid shield the semiconductor device from ambient radiation. In some embodiments, the device further includes a conductive bottom shield below the semiconductor device shielding the semiconductor device from ambient radiation. In some embodiments, the opening is configured to allow a biological sample to be introduced into the semiconductor device. In some embodiments, the vertical shielding structures comprise a plurality of vias, wherein each of the plurality of vias connects more than one conductive layers together. In some embodiments, the device comprises a nanopore device, and wherein the nanopore device comprises a single cell of a nanopore array.
US08541840B2 Structure and method for semiconductor power devices
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor-on-insulator region on a substrate. The semiconductor-on-insulator region includes a first semiconductor region overlying a dielectric region. The device includes an MOS transistor and a bipolar transistor. The MOS transistor has a drain region, a body region, and a source region in the first semiconductor region. The MOS transistor also includes a gate. The device also includes a second semiconductor region overlying the substrate and adjacent to the drain region, and a third semiconductor region overlying the substrate and adjacent to the second semiconductor region. The bipolar transistor includes has the drain region of the MOS transistor as an emitter, the second semiconductor region as a base, and the third semiconductor region as a collector. Accordingly, the drain of the MOS transistor also functions as the emitter of the bipolar transistor. Additionally, the gate and the base are coupled by a resistive element.
US08541839B2 Semiconductor component and method for producing it
A semiconductor component having differently structured cell regions, and a method for producing it. For this purpose, the semiconductor component includes a semiconductor body. A first electrode on the top side of the semiconductor body is electrically connected to a first zone near the surface of the semiconductor body. A second electrode is electrically connected to a second zone of the semiconductor body. Furthermore, the semiconductor body has a drift path region, which is arranged in the semiconductor body between the first electrode and the second electrode. A cell region of the semiconductor component is subdivided into a main cell region and an auxiliary cell region, wherein the breakdown voltage of the auxiliary cells is greater than the breakdown voltage of the main cells.
US08541835B2 Schottky FET fabricated with gate last process
A field effect transistor (FET) includes a semiconductor on insulator substrate, the substrate comprising a top semiconductor layer; source and drain regions located in the top semiconductor layer; a channel region located in the top semiconductor layer between the source region and the drain region, the channel region having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the source and drain regions; a gate located over the channel region; and a supporting material located over the source and drain regions adjacent to the gate.
US08541832B2 Integrated circuit memory devices having vertical transistor arrays therein and methods of forming same
An integrated circuit device includes a transistor array having a vertical stack of independently controllable gate electrodes therein. A first semiconductor channel region is provided, which extends on a first sidewall of the vertical stack of independently controllable gate electrodes. A first electrically insulating layer is also provided, which extends between the first semiconductor channel region and the first sidewall of the vertical stack of independently controllable gate electrodes. Source and drain regions are provided, which are electrically coupled to first and second ends of the first semiconductor channel region, respectively.
US08541827B2 Semiconductor memory device including multi-layer gate structure
A semiconductor memory device includes a first select transistor, first stepped portion, and a first contact plug. The first select transistor is formed on a side of an upper surface of a substrate and has a first multi-layer gate. The first stepped portion is formed by etching the substrate adjacent to the first multi-layer gate of the first select transistor such that the first stepped portion forms a cavity in the upper surface of the substrate. The first contact plug is formed in the first stepped portion.
US08541826B2 Memory array structure and method for forming the same
A memory array structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The memory array structure comprises: a substrate; a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell including a vertical transistor, of which a gate structure is formed in a first trench extending in a first direction; a plurality of word lines in the first direction, each word line formed in the first trench; a plurality of bit lines in a second direction, each bit line formed in lower sides of a semiconductor pillars; a plurality of body lines in the first direction, each body line having a first portion formed on the gate electrodes and a second portion covering a part of a top surface of semiconductor pillar for providing a substrate contact to vertical channel regions; and a plurality of data storage device contacts.
US08541817B2 Multilayer barrier III-nitride transistor for high voltage electronics
An improved high breakdown voltage semiconductor device and method for manufacturing is provided. The device has a substrate and a AlaGa1-aN layer on the substrate wherein 0.1≦a≦1.00. A GaN layer is on the AlaGa1-aN layer. An In1-bGabN/GaN channel layer is on the GaN layer wherein 0.1≦b≦1.00. A AlcIndGa1-c-dN spacer layer is on the In1-bGabN/GaN layer wherein 0.1≦c≦1.00 and 0.0≦d≦0.99. A AleIn1-eN nested superlattice barrier layer is on the AlcIndGa1-c-dN spacer layer wherein 0.10≦e≦0.99. A AlfIngGa1-f-gN leakage suppression layer is on the AleIn1-eN barrier layer wherein 0.1≦f≦0.99 and 0.1≦g≦0.99 wherein the leakage suppression layer decreases leakage current and increases breakdown voltage during high voltage operation. A superstructure, preferably with metallic electrodes, is on the AlfIngGa1-f-gN leakage suppression layer.
US08541811B2 TFT with improved light sensing and TFT substrate using the same and liquid crystal display
There are provided a TFT, a TFT substrate using the TFT, a method of fabricating the TFT substrate, and an LCD. The TFT includes a source region, a drain region, and a gate electrode having an opening. The opening of the gate electrode is to enhance the light sensing ability of the TFT when it is used as a light sensor, since light is incident into a region where the opening is formed. The TFT including the gate having the opening can be used in a substrate of a flat display or an LCD using such a substrate. The above TFT can sense light incident from outside the display to adjust the brightness of the screen according to the external illumination.
US08541808B2 Semiconductor light-emitting device
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a lead frame, a semiconductor light-emitting element mounted on the top surface of the bonding region, and a case covering part of the lead frame. The bottom surface of the bonding region is exposed to the outside of the case. The lead frame includes a thin extension extending from the bonding region and having a top surface which is flush with the top surface of the bonding region. The thin extension has a bottom surface which is offset from the bottom surface of the bonding region toward the top surface of the bonding region.
US08541806B2 Light emitting diode having electrode pads
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode including a substrate, a first conductive type semiconductor layer arranged on the substrate, a second conductive type semiconductor layer arranged on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer disposed between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, a first electrode pad electrically connected to the first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second electrode pad arranged on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and an insulation layer disposed between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second electrode pad, the insulation layer insulating the second electrode pad from the first conductive type semiconductor layer. At least one upper extension may be electrically connected to the second electrode pad, the at least one upper extension being electrically connected to the second conductive type semiconductor layer.
US08541803B2 Cadmium-free re-emitting semiconductor construction
Disclosed re-emitting semiconductor constructions (RSCs) may provide full-color RGB or white-light emitting devices that are free of cadmium. Some embodiments may include a potential well that comprises a III-V semiconductor and that converts light of a first photon energy to light of a smaller photon energy, and a window that comprises a II-VI semiconductor having a band gap energy greater than the first photon energy. Some embodiments may include a potential well that converts light having a first photon energy to light having a smaller photon energy and that comprises a II-VI semiconductor that is substantially Cd-free. Some embodiments may include a potential well that comprises a first III-V semiconductor and that converts light having a first photon energy to light having a smaller photon energy, and a window that comprises a second III-V semiconductor and that has a band gap energy greater than the first photon energy.
US08541798B2 Semiconductor light emitting device, and backlight and display device comprising the semiconductor light emitting device
The present invention provides a semiconductor light emitting device comprising a light intensity difference reducing layer provided between an ultraviolet semiconductor light emitting element and a wavelength converting material layer, and a backlight and a display device comprising the semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device is an LED light emitting device which has improved uniformity of emitted light and reduced non-uniformity of brightness and chromaticity of emitted light. The light emitting device according to the present invention is particularly suitable for use in various display devices, preferably, for example, in display devices in equipment where a reduction in size, a reduction in weight, a reduction in thickness, electric power saving, high brightness, and excellent color rendering properties are particularly required, for example, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, electronic dictionaries, digital cameras, computers, liquid crystal televisions (TVs), and peripheral devices of these devices.
US08541791B2 Source of photons resulting from a recombination of localized excitons
A source of photons resulting from a recombination of localized excitons, including a semiconductor layer having a central portion surrounded with heavily-doped regions; above said central portion, a layer portion containing elements capable of being activated by excitons, coated with a first metallization; and under the semiconductor layer, a second metallization of greater extension than the first metallization. The distance between the first and second metallizations is on the order of from 10 to 60 nm; and the lateral extension of the first metallization is on the order of from λ0/10*ne to λ0/2*ne, where λ0 is the wavelength in vacuum of the emitted light and ne is the effective refractive index of the mode formed in the cavity created by the two metallizations.
US08541783B2 Electric double-layer capacitor and solar power generation device
The present invention relates to a solar power generation device which includes an electric double-layer capacitor and a solar cell. The electric double-layer capacitor includes a pair of current collectors formed using a light-transmitting conductive material; active materials which are dispersed on the pair of current collectors; a light-transmitting electrolyte layer which is provided between the pair of current collectors; and a terminal portion which is electrically connected to the current collector. The solar cell includes, over a light-transmitting substrate, a first light-transmitting conductive film; a photoelectric conversion layer which is provided in contact with the first light-transmitting conductive film; and a second light-transmitting conductive film which is provided in contact with the photoelectric conversion layer. The electric double-layer capacitor and the solar cell are electrically connected to each other through the terminal portion, the first light-transmitting conductive film, and the second light-transmitting conductive film.
US08541775B2 Schottky diode, resistive memory device having schottky diode and method of manufacturing the same
A schottky diode, a resistive memory device including the schottky diode and a method of manufacturing the same. The resistive memory device includes a semiconductor substrate including a word line, a schottky diode formed on the word line, and a storage layer formed on the schottky diode. The schottky diode includes a first semiconductor layer, a conductive layer formed on the first semiconductor layer and having a lower work function than the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer formed on the to conductive layer.
US08541769B2 Formation of a graphene layer on a large substrate
A single crystalline silicon carbide layer can be grown on a single crystalline sapphire substrate. Subsequently, a graphene layer can be formed by conversion of a surface layer of the single crystalline silicon layer during an anneal at an elevated temperature in an ultrahigh vacuum environment. Alternately, a graphene layer can be deposited on an exposed surface of the single crystalline silicon carbide layer. A graphene layer can also be formed directly on a surface of a sapphire substrate or directly on a surface of a silicon carbide substrate. Still alternately, a graphene layer can be formed on a silicon carbide layer on a semiconductor substrate. The commercial availability of sapphire substrates and semiconductor substrates with a diameter of six inches or more allows formation of a graphene layer on a commercially scalable substrate for low cost manufacturing of devices employing a graphene layer.
US08541766B2 Nonvolatile memory device and nonvolatile memory apparatus
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a recording layer and a conductive first layer. The recording layer includes a main group element, a transition element, and oxygen. The recording layer is capable of recording information by changing reversibly between a high resistance state and a low resistance state. The first layer is made of at least one selected from a metal, a metal oxide, a metal nitride, and a metal carbide. The first layer is provided adjacent to the recording layer. The first layer includes the main group element with a concentration lower than a concentration of the main group element of the recording layer.
US08541764B2 Method of utilizing an implant for targeting external beam radiation
A method of partial breast radiation therapy includes placing within a breast cavity a substantially radio-opaque implant constructed of biocompatible material, said substantially radio-opaque implant supporting the tissue surrounding the breast cavity; and directing a radiation beam to said substantially radio-opaque implant serving as a target for delivery of radiation therapy to margins around the breast cavity, such that the radiation beam does not materially irradiate the whole of the breast.
US08541762B2 Charged particle irradiation device and method
A charged particle irradiation device (10) and method for irradiating a target volume (50), adapted for receiving a treatment plan (70) defining a series of prescribed irradiation points (140) having each a prescribed dose to be delivered is provided. The device includes an irradiation unit (40) having at least one scanning magnet (100; 110), and at least one beam position monitor (130) installed in between the said scanning magnet (100; 110) and said target volume (50) is provided. A controller (80) comprises means for calculating for any said prescribed irradiation point corresponding nominal magnetic settings of the scanning magnet such that a beam (90) is pointing to said prescribed irradiation point when corresponding magnetic settings are applied, and means for calculating corresponding expected position at said beam position monitor (130) according to said first correction.
US08541756B1 Systems and methods for generating X-rays and neutrons using a single linear accelerator
Systems and methods for generating X-rays and neutrons using a single linear accelerator are disclosed. Such system and methods may interrogate an object at times with X-rays and at other times with neutrons, e.g., after suspicious material is detected based on the X-rays. A system may include a single linear accelerator for generating first and second electron beams; first and second targets; a magnet configured to control irradiation of the first and second targets by the first and second electron beams; and a controller that (a) causes the linear accelerator to generate the first electron beam and causes the magnet to direct the beam to first target to generate X-rays; and (b) causes the linear accelerator to generate the second electron beam and causes the magnet to direct the beam to the second target to generate neutrons.
US08541754B2 Imaging system, image processing method therefor, and program therefor
An imaging system includes a detector (104) having a first area where irradiation occurs in a radiation field (A) and a second area other than the first area where irradiation occurs in a radiation field (B) and configured to output image data, and an image processing unit (601) that performs image processing on the image data. The image processing unit (601) includes a storage unit (602) that stores dark output information, a measurement unit (607) that measures the integral dose of the radiation or light applied to a pixel in the first area and the integral dose of the radiation or light applied to a pixel in the second area, and a correction unit (610) that corrects the image data, based on the dark output information obtained from the storage unit (602) and the integral doses measured by the measurement unit (607), when changing of the radiation field has occurred.
US08541752B2 Apparatus and method for the locally resolved measurement of a radiation distribution produced using a lithography mask
A method for locally resolved measurement of a radiation distribution (24) produced using a lithography mask (16) comprises providing a radiation converter (31, 131) having an at least two-dimensional arrangement of converter elements (32, 132) which can respectively be put in an active and a passive state, and are configured to convert incoming radiation in respect of its wavelength in the active state. The method further includes: manipulating the radiation converter (31, 131) several times such that respectively only a fraction of the converter elements (32, 132) adopts the active state, irradiating the radiation converter (31, 131) with the radiation distribution (24) after every manipulation of the radiation converter (31, 131) so that the active converter elements (32, 132) emit wavelength-converted measuring radiation (34), recording respective places of origin (54) of the measuring radiation at every irradiation with the radiation distribution (24).
US08541745B2 Methods and devices for clothing detection about a wearable electronic device
A method in a wearable electronic device of detecting clothing includes: detecting whether the wearable electronic device is coupled to a user, determining whether the wearable electronic device is covered, and adjusting one or more device settings of the wearable electronic device. A secondary check can perform an additional determination of whether the wearable electronic device is covered with clothing. One or more sensors, such as a skin sensor, a tension sensor, an infrared sensor, or microphones, can be used to execute the steps in the wearable electronic device.