Document Document Title
US08781899B2 Advertising a pharmaceutical product to a third party
The disclosed subject matter is a method and system for marketing a client's product for an alternative purpose. The information about the alternative purpose of the product is collected and input into an automated system. The method and system then informs third parties about the client's product along with suggested alternative uses.
US08781887B2 Method and system for out-of-home proximity marketing and for delivering awarness information of general interest
The method comprises: programming a plurality of dispersed computer units for receiving and transmitting information from a centralized computer unit independently located with respect to that plurality of computer units, each of the latter being provided with a wireless transceiver, Bluetooth type, for collecting, storing and transmitting ID data from OBEX capable wireless devices situated at range of the computer units; providing a plurality of displaying units, each located adjacent to the plurality of computer units; and programming the centralized computer unit for: receiving the ID data, storing information from sponsors to be displayed on plurality of displaying units and to the wireless devices. General interest information is also send to the former and latter. For carrying out the method the system comprises computer and displaying units and a centralized computerized unit.
US08781885B2 Method for compliance of standards registrar with accreditation requirements
A methodology for standards registrars to meet requirements of governmental accrediting agencies includes a unique set of procedures and work instructions for certifying or registering an organization as conforming to one or more national or international standards. The procedures and work instructions assure adherence to the international guidance document government registrars, while providing easily used and maintained instructions for employees. The procedures and work instructions are amenable to translation into various foreign languages. In one embodiment, the methodology includes procedures and work instructions governing the quotation process and scheduling of audits, including selection of auditors, as well as audit package review and issuance of appropriate certificates of compliance are. The procedures and work instructions for all audits and certifications are preferably controlled (150) and directly auditable via a single location or office, such as the registrar's headquarters.
US08781883B2 Time motion method, system and computer program product for annotating and analyzing a process instance using tags, attribute values, and discovery information
Process studies are performed to determine improvements to processes, such as manufacturing or service related processes. One or more instances of a process may be captured (e.g., recorded) and annotated. A user is enabled to interact with a recording included in the process instance of a process being performed. The user is enabled to apply a process step tag selected from a plurality of process steps to a section of the recording. The user may be enabled to interact with the recording to apply an attribute value selected from a list of attribute values to the process instance. The user may be enabled to interact with the recording to apply discovery information to the process instance. Annotation information associated with the process instance is generated that includes the process step tag, any applied attribute values, and any applied discovery information.
US08781876B2 Computer product, charge calculating apparatus, and charge calculating method
A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores therein a charge calculating program that causes a computer that manages a database of different data items to execute recording for each data item, information indicating the number of clients that receive the data item; extracting from the information recorded at the recording and for each data item to be received by a given client, information indicating the number of clients receiving the data item; calculating charges for the given client, based on the extracted information; and outputting the calculated charges.
US08781870B2 Personal information management with location functionality
A method is provided for prompting a user to perform PIM-related acts based on dynamic location data. The user's current location is received and a PIM item is selected from the user's PIM system. The user's current location is compared to the location of the selected PIM item. Based on the comparison, a suggested user fulfillment action for the PIM item is suggested to the user.
US08781867B2 Monitoring system
A monitoring system comprising an extracting device monitoring business data used in a business process on a business device and extracting monitoring target data specifying a predetermined item of data from the business data, and a monitoring device processing the monitoring target data given from one or more extracting devices, wherein the extracting device judges, when the business process occurs on the business device, whether or not the business data used in the business process is the monitoring target data, and transmits the monitoring target data to the monitoring device, and the monitoring device aggregates the monitoring target data extracted by the extracting device from one or more extracting devices, stores the aggregated data, analyzes the stored data, then stores the analyzed result data, and notifies the monitoring client of the stored result data.
US08781863B2 Automation of auditing claims
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for automation of auditing claims. A data file is received comprising one or more auditable items, each auditable item comprising a word string having one or more words. Each word string for each auditable item is translated using one or more translation steps into a translated item description. Each translated item description is compared to a plurality of terms to generate matching information. Each translated item description is associated with an item identifier based on the matching information. Each auditable item is accepted or rejected based on the item identifier and one or more rules associated with the data file.
US08781847B2 System and method for managing alert notifications in an automated patient management system
A system and method for managing alert notifications in an automated patient management system is presented. One or more settings specifying patient data collection periodicity are defined. One or more patient data sources operating on a remotely managed patient and selected from at least one of a physiological sensor and a therapy delivery device are also defined. One or more triggers associated with a condition occurring in relation to at least one such patient data evaluateable subsequent to collection are defined. Finally, a notification scheme executable upon detection of at least one such trigger is determined to provide an external indicator of the condition occurrence.
US08781842B2 Scalable coding with non-casual predictive information in an enhancement layer
A method for audio coding and decoding comprises primary encoding of a present audio signal sample into an encoded representation (T(n)), and non-causal encoding of a first previous audio signal sample into an encoded enhancement representation (ET(n−N+)). The method further comprises providing of the encoded representations to an end user. At the end user, the method comprises primary decoding of the encoded representation (T*(n)) into a present received audio signal sample, and non-causal decoding of the encoded enhancement representation (ET*(n−N+)) into an enhancement first previous received audio signal sample. The method further comprises improving of a first previous received audio signal sample, corresponding to the first previous audio signal sample, based on the enhancement first previous received audio signal sample. Devices and systems for audio coding and decoding are also presented.
US08781836B2 Hearing assistance system for providing consistent human speech
Broadly speaking, the embodiments disclosed herein describe an apparatus, system, and method that allows a user of a hearing assistance system to perceive consistent human speech. The consistent human speech can be based upon user specific preferences.
US08781832B2 Methods and apparatus for buffering data for use in accordance with a speech recognition system
Techniques are disclosed for overcoming errors in speech recognition systems. For example, a technique for processing acoustic data in accordance with a speech recognition system comprises the following steps/operations. Acoustic data is obtained in association with the speech recognition system. The acoustic data is recorded using a combination of a first buffer area and a second buffer area, such that the recording of the acoustic data using the combination of the two buffer areas at least substantially minimizes one or more truncation errors associated with operation of the speech recognition system.
US08781811B1 Cross-application centralized language preferences
A process for a language selection using one or more language preferences is disclosed. Information for presenting a language preference selection control may be sent to a user. A language preference may be received from the user and stored to a server. A cookie, which includes an indication of the language preference, may be caused to be stored to a device of a user. The stored language preference may be accessed from the cookie responsive to a communication from the user. Responsive to whether the user has logged into an account, the language preference may be retrieved from either the server or from the cookie. The retrieved language preference may be compared with languages available in an application and a most preferred language for the application may be determined based upon the comparison. Information from the application may be provided to the user in the most preferred language.
US08781808B2 Prediction-based distributed parallel simulation method
The simulation consists of a front-end simulation and a back-end simulation. The front-end simulation can use an equivalent model at different abstraction level, or a simulation model for the back-end simulation. The back-end simulation uses the simulation result of front-end simulation so that it can run one or more simulation runs sequentially or in parallel. Alternatively, models at lower level of abstraction are simulated together with a model at higher level of abstraction in parallel using two or more simulators.
US08781803B2 Method and device for generating and publishing a railway signaling diagram
The invention relates to method and device for generating and publishing a railway signaling diagram comprising a track diagram of a railway network and track equipment arranged on the network portion, each piece of track equipment comprising particular characteristics. One method of the invention comprises: (a) entry by a user of topological data of the portion of the railway network; (b) automatic generation by the computation means of a track diagram of the portion of the railway network from topological data; (c) selection by the user of a plurality of rules for positioning track equipment to be arranged on the railway track diagram, and (d) automatic generation by the computation means of the railway signaling diagram of the portion of the network from selected rules for positioning the track equipment and the railway diagram. The invention also relates to a device adapted to carry out the preceding method.
US08781802B2 Simulation device and simulation method
A simulation device for generating an answer to a question inputted thereto. A communication unit is configured to input a selected question associated with a first criterion and a second criterion. A generating unit is configured to generate a copy of a continuously updated environment model. A generating unit is configured to generate a simulation scenario, depending upon the first criterion. A modifying unit is configured to modify the generated simulation scenario. An applying unit is configured to apply the modified generated simulation scenario to the generated copy of the continuously updated environment model. A simulating unit is configured to perform a simulation process in accordance with the second criterion. An answering unit is configured to answer information, depending upon a result of the simulation process.
US08781797B1 Virtual drive test tool
A channel emulator reads a record of captured radio signal data of a group of cellular base stations in a fielded cellular network from a memory. Based on the record of the captured radio signal data, the channel emulator generates a simulation of a radio environment of the fielded cellular network. In one aspect, the simulation generates a number of live cellular base station signals fewer than the group of cellular base stations in the fielded cellular network. In another aspect, a terrain environment model is applied based on the captured radio signal data.
US08781793B2 Light emission analyzing device
The light emission analyzing device includes: a first light intensity calculation unit that performs polynomial approximation on a spectroscopic spectrum indicating a light intensity for each wavelength in a container as measured by a spectrometer so as to calculate the light intensity; a second light intensity calculation unit that subtracts, for each wavelength, the light intensity calculated by the first light intensity calculation unit from the light intensity indicated by the spectroscopic spectrum measured by the spectrometer so as to calculate a light intensity corresponding to a bright-line spectrum of a molecule; and a ratio calculation unit that calculates, by using the light intensity calculated by the second light intensity calculation unit, a ratio between (a) a peak value of a molecular spectrum of a first molecule and (b) a peak value of a molecular spectrum of a second molecule.
US08781789B2 Method for determining incline angle of electromagnetic pointer
A method for determining an incline angle of electromagnetic pointer is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. First of all, an electromagnetic input pen/stylus is provided over antennas Xn/Yn along X/Y axes. Then a plurality of antennas at two sides of the antennas Xn/Yn are scanned. Next the signal distributions of the antennas Xn/Yn and the antennas at two side are analyzed. Then the number of antenna sampled of the signal distributions of the antennas at two side is determined. Next the antennas at two side are selected and the signal distributions are sampled and received according to the number of antenna sampled. Finally, an incline angle of the electromagnetic pointer is determined according to the sampled signal distributions.
US08781782B2 System and method for conditional multi-output regression for machine condition monitoring
A method for predicting sensor output values of a sensor monitoring system, includes providing a set test input values to a system of sensors, and one or more known sensor output values from the sensor system, where other sensor output values are unknown, calculating, for each unknown sensor output value, a predictive Gaussian distribution function from the test input values and the known output sensor values, and predicting each unknown output ym by integrating over a product of the predictive Gaussian distribution function and a conditional Gaussian distribution of the unknown output sensor values with respect to the test input values and other unknown output sensor values. A mean and covariance of the predictive Gaussian distribution function are determined from a training phase, and a hyperparameter of the conditional Gaussian distribution are determined by another training phase.
US08781777B2 Rotation angle detection device and electric power steering system using the same
A bridge circuit includes a plurality of half-bridges formed of sensor elements, which change impedance in accordance with a rotation angle of a detection target. A control circuit acquires output signals of the half-bridges and calculates a phase correction value for correcting a phase deviation. A memory circuit stores the phase correction value. The control circuit corrects a pre-correction rotation angle by the phase correction value. Since the pre-correction rotation angle is corrected by the phase correction value, a rotation angle of the detection target is detected with high accuracy even if the sensor elements are assembled with some positional deviations.
US08781776B2 Position calculating method and position calculating device
A method of calculating the position of a moving body includes: detecting a movement direction of the moving body; calculating a velocity vector of the moving body using a detection result of an acceleration sensor installed in the moving body; correcting the velocity vector using the movement direction; and calculating the position of the moving body using the corrected velocity vector.
US08781775B2 Lithographic apparatus and method for correcting a position of a stage of a lithographic apparatus
A lithographic apparatus includes a stage to hold an object, the stage being moveable relative to a reference structure in a motion range; a magnet structure to provide a spatially varying magnetic field in at least a part of the motion range, the magnet structure being moveable relative to the reference structure and the stage; a first position measurement system to provide a first measurement signal corresponding to a position of the stage and/or the object in a measurement direction relative to the reference structure; a second position measurement system to provide a second measurement signal corresponding to a position of the stage relative to the magnet structure; and a data processor to correct the first measurement signal with a value dependent on the second measurement signal to provide a corrected first measurement signal representative of the position of the stage and/or the object relative to the reference structure in the measurement direction.
US08781772B2 Detection apparatus with a matching network for nulling and associated methods
A detection apparatus includes a transmitter to generate a detection signal, and a coil assembly including a transmit coil and a receive coil. The transmit coil transmits the detection signal toward an object to be detected, with the object to be detected emitting a target signal in response to the transmitted detection signal. The receive coil receives the target signal emitted from the object along with an undesired coupling signal from the transmit coil. A matching network is coupled to the transmitter and generates an adjusted detection signal by adjusting a profile of the detection signal to match a profile of the undesired coupling signal. An output stage has a first input coupled to the receive coil to receive the target signal and the undesired coupling signal, and a second input coupled to the matching network to receive the adjusted transmit signal. The output stage subtracts the adjusted detection signal from the target signal and the undesired coupling signal so that the target signal remains.
US08781760B2 Tire condition monitoring method and tire condition monitoring system
A tire condition monitoring method and a monitoring system having a simple configuration and that can process data with a high degree of reliability. The method or system determines at a sensor module whether a measured value from a sensor satisfies a preset condition. If determined that the measured value does not satisfy the preset condition, at least one flag is set in the data packet to be transmitted from the sensor module. If, at the receiver, it is determined that the measured value of the received data does not to satisfy a preset condition, whether a flag is included in the received data is determined. If it is determined that the received data includes a flag, the received data is used, and if it is determined that a flag is not included, the received data is discarded.
US08781757B2 Method and apparatus for determining properties of fuels
The method and apparatus are used to determine class, grade and properties of fuel samples, regardless of ambient, instrument, or sample temperature, using mathematical correlations between fuel class, grade and properties and their spectra developed from a database of samples with measured properties and spectra. The ability to measure a fuel sample using the present method and apparatus is useful in identifying unknown fuel samples, determining suitability in equipment, and monitoring and controlling fuel processes, such as blending operations, distillation, and synthesis.
US08781745B2 NMR-DNA fingerprint
Pulse sequences are applied to a fluid in an earth formation in a static magnetic field and NMR spin echo signals are obtained. The signals are processed to give a distribution of relaxation time at each of the plurality of depths. A quasi-DNA is obtained by autoscaling and a nonlinear mapping of T2 component logs and non-NMR logs. Similarities between the quasi-DNA of the two types of logs are used to estimate formation lithology and fluids.
US08781744B2 Downhole surveying utilizing multiple measurements
Certain embodiments described herein provide an estimate of the magnetic interference incident upon a drilling system using multiple magneticclaim sensors within a downhole portion of the drilling system in a first wellbore. Certain embodiments utilize the magnetic measurements to determine an axial interference resulting from one or more magnetic portions of the downhole portion and to provide an estimate of a relative location of a second wellbore spaced from the first wellbore.
US08781741B2 Multi-body dynamics method of generating fuel efficient transfer orbits for spacecraft
A method of generating orbital transfers for spacecraft. The method provides an innovative technique for transferring spacecraft from one Earth orbit to another Earth orbit using significant solar gravitational influences. In one particular implementation, the multi-bodies in the transfer determination are the Earth (about which the spacecraft is to orbit) and the Sun (e.g., the Earth and the Sun are the first and second celestial bodies providing multi-body dynamics). The transfer orbit or trajectory is determined to make use of efficient tangential maneuvers by leveraging solar gravitational influences to improve transfer performance. Based on the generated transfer orbit, the spacecraft is controlled to perform one or more maneuvers to achieve a transfer orbit that traverses into a regime where the spacecraft's trajectory is significantly affected by gravity from both the Sun and the Earth. The spacecraft performs a near-tangential orbit insertion maneuver to enter the final orbit.
US08781736B2 Data-driven traffic views with continuous real-time rendering of traffic flow map
A computer-implemented method, apparatus and article of manufacture is provided for displaying traffic flow data on a graphical map of a road system. The graphical map includes one or more segments and the traffic flow data represents traffic conditions on a road system. A status of each segment on the graphical map is determined, wherein the status corresponds to the traffic flow data associated with that segment. An animated traffic flow map of the road system is then created by combining the graphical map and the status of each segment. The animated traffic flow map is created by being continuously rendered in real time. The traffic flow data is updated in real-time, and the traffic flow map immediately reflects the updated traffic data.
US08781734B2 Map display device and map display method
The invention provides a map display device and map display method that enhance the information density of displayed road names while maintaining legibility of a map image. First, the map drawing unit draws, to an image storage unit, a map image of roads and so forth in a desired scale, by using the background layer of a first hierarchy corresponding to the desired scale. Second, the map drawing unit draws place names and facility names by using the character layer of the first hierarchy to superimpose them on the map image. Third, the map drawing unit extracts the road names that do not overlap with the map characters of the place names and facility names on the map image by using the character layer of the first hierarchy, and superimposes them on the map image at the normal character size. Fourth, the map drawing unit extracts, by using the character layer of a second hierarchy corresponding to a scale level smaller by one step than the desired scale level, road names that do not overlap with the map characters of the other road names, place names, facility names and so forth on the map image, and superimposes them on the map image at a smaller character size. Finally, the map drawing unit superimposes the vehicle position mark on the map image.
US08781732B2 Apparatus and method for recognizing position of moving object
An apparatus for recognizing a position of a moving object includes a sensor information collector to collect sensor information associated with movement of the moving object, a camera to capture a front image based on the movement of the moving object, and a GPS receiver configured to receive a GPS position of the moving object. Further, the apparatus includes a location recognizer to display N number of particles, each of which indicates a candidate position of the moving object, in a certain region about a GPS location of the moving object on a map. The location recognizer then updates a location of the particles based on the movement of the moving object, and progressively reduces number of particles on the basis of accuracy of the position-updated particles, thereby recognizing the position of the moving object.
US08781730B2 Route selection employing metrics
Techniques are described that may be implemented in a mobile electronic device providing navigation functionality to facilitate selection of a route to a destination from multiple route options. In one or more implementations, route selection information is displayed on a display of the mobile electronic device to facilitate selection of a route to a destination. The route selection information describes one or more routes to the destination and includes one or more metrics, associated with each route, that identify a characteristic of the route (e.g., a difficulty rating, topography, total climb distance, number of turns, and so on). A map may then be displayed on the display to furnish navigation information for the selected route to facilitate navigation to the destination.
US08781728B2 Travel history editing device
A travel history editing device including: a position information detecting unit detecting position information of a vehicle; a map information accumulation unit accumulating pre-registered position information and name information; and an arrival point name providing unit, (i) reading out a name of a facility, and providing the read name as the arrival point when the arrival point corresponds to a position of the facility, and (ii) reading out other name information from the map information accumulation unit, and providing the other name information when the arrival point does not correspond to the position of the facility. Further the device includes an arrival point history accumulation unit accumulating an arrival point corresponding to the facility and the name; and a name editing unit editing the name of the arrival point for which the other name is provided as the name of the facility accumulated in the arrival point history accumulation unit.
US08781727B1 Methods and systems for performing flocking while executing a long-range fleet plan
Methods and systems for performing flocking while executing a fleet plan are provided. An example method includes receiving a sequence of coverage requirements for a region and an associated period of time, and determining a respective sequence of intended destinations for each of one or more vehicles of a fleet of vehicles to travel to over the period of time. Additionally, based on a determined sequence of intended destinations for a vehicle of the one or more vehicles and based on a desired spatial relationship between the vehicle and one or more neighboring vehicles for a given time period, a flocking-based direction of travel for the vehicle may be determined for the given time period.
US08781720B2 Vehicle travel track estimator
A vehicle risk level acquiring ECU calculates and acquires a plurality of courses of other vehicles around a driver's own vehicle, and acquires the predicted course of the driver's own vehicle. The vehicle risk level acquiring ECU calculates the collision probability of the driver's own vehicle as collision possibility on the basis of the predicted course of the driver's own vehicle and the plurality of courses of other vehicles.
US08781718B2 Estimating time travel distributions on signalized arterials
A system is provided for estimating time travel distributions on signalized arterials. The system may be implemented as a network service. Traffic data regarding a plurality of travel times on a signalized arterial may be received. A present distribution of the travel times on the signalized arterial may be determined. A prior distribution based on one or more travel time observations may also be determined. The present distribution may be calibrated based on the prior distribution.
US08781715B2 Wireless sensing and communication system for traffic lanes
Wireless sensing and communication system including sensors located in the roadway or in the vicinity of the roadway and which provide information which is transmitted to one or more interrogators in the vehicle by a wireless radio frequency mechanism. Power to operate a particular sensor is supplied by the interrogator or the sensor is independently connected to either a battery, generator, vehicle power source or some source of power external to the vehicle. The sensors can provide information about the exterior environment, about the roadway, ambient atmosphere, travel conditions and/or external objects. The sensors arranged on the roadway or ancillary structures include pressure sensors, temperature sensors, moisture content or humidity sensors, and friction sensors.
US08781713B2 System and method for controlling a valve of a cylinder in an engine based on fuel delivery to the cylinder
A system for controlling an engine in a vehicle according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a fuel control module and a valve control module. The fuel control module controls fuel delivery to a cylinder of the engine. The valve control module closes an exhaust valve of the cylinder when fuel delivery to the cylinder is disabled during operation of the vehicle and exhaust gas has been exhausted from the cylinder after fuel delivery to the cylinder is disabled.
US08781711B2 Combustion detecting method of engine
A combustion phase detection method of an engine has the advantages of being able to reduce exhaust gas and to improve combustion stability, to compensate injection and ignition delay time between combustion chambers and between cycles, and to detect a combustion phase in real time such that a heat generation rate and heat release can be effectively calculated in an early state of combustion with a simple calculation method to control combustion of an engine, by using a combustion pressure and a motoring pressure difference of an engine not affected by an offset value of the cylinder pressure. For this, a combustion phase detection method may include detecting a combustion phase by using a specific point of DRdV as follows: DR ⁢ ⅆ V ⁢ : ⁢ ⁢ P diff ⁢ ⅆ V ⅆ θ max ( P diff ⁢ ⅆ V ⅆ θ ) Here, the Pdiff (P−Pmotoring) is a difference between a cylinder measure combust pressure (P) and a motoring pressure (Pmotoring), and V is a combustion chamber volume.
US08781701B2 Vehicle regeneration cooperative braking system
In a vehicular brake-by-wire braking system, during a four wheel simultaneous control mode when regeneration cooperative braking is implemented, a pair of electromagnetic isolation control valves and one of normally closed electromagnetic pressure relief valves corresponding to regeneration side left and right wheel brakes and normally closed electromagnetic pressure relief valves corresponding to non-regeneration side left and right wheel brakes are caused to operate to open and close, while the other of the normally closed electromagnetic pressure relief valves corresponding to the regeneration side left and right wheel brakes and the normally closed electromagnetic pressure relief valves corresponding to the non-regeneration side left and right wheel brakes are put in de-energized states in which the valves concerned are kept closed, and all normally open electromagnetic pressure supply valves are put in de-energized states in which the valves concerned are kept opened.
US08781700B2 Coasting control device
A coasting control device for reducing uneasiness experienced by a driver when pressing a clutch pedal during coasting control. The device includes a clutch control unit that, when the clutch pedal is pressed during coasting control, controls an actuator to cause an amount of hydraulic oil that depends on the amount of depression of the clutch pedal to be ejected from a clutch-free operating cylinder.
US08781699B2 Coasting control device
A coasting control device that prevents failures due to deterioration of a release bearing. The device includes an cumulative disengagement time measuring unit cumulatively measuring a duration of time that a clutch is being disengaged during coasting control, and an overtime restricting unit prohibiting coasting control when the measured cumulative clutch disengagement time has exceeded a predetermined time giving an indication of fatigue of a member of the clutch, and/or an overtime alarm unit providing an alarm when the measured cumulative clutch disengagement time has exceeded a predetermined time giving an indication of fatigue of the member of the clutch.
US08781698B2 Method for controlling the shifting of an automatic geared transmission
A method for controlling shifts in an automated multi-step variable-speed transmission, in a drive-train of a motor vehicle, between a drive engine in the form of an internal combustion engine and an axle drive. During driving, besides current vehicle, road and driver-specific operating parameters, topographical data relating to a road section ahead of the motor vehicle, in particular the road section height profile, are determined, and from this information, the driving resistance profile (FFW(xF)) of the motor vehicle for the road section ahead is determined. In the automatic mode of the multi-step variable-speed transmission, control commands for traction upshifts and/or traction downshifts are derived, during the traction operation, as a function of the driving resistance profile (FFW(xF)) and are implemented in the transmission. A limiting gear progression (GGr(xF)) is determined, which consists of the sequence of gears, and is evaluated for the derivation of control commands.
US08781693B2 Method for automatic location identification of electronic devices on agricultural implements
A system for performing agricultural operations includes a plurality of electronic modules for use on an agricultural machine, the plurality of electronic modules configured for controlling agricultural operations associated with the agricultural machine, at least one shared data bus operatively connected to each of the plurality of electronic modules, wherein each of the plurality of electronic modules being configured to monitor the at least one shared data bus and determine an unused location for itself and claim the location, wherein the system uses the location of each of the plurality of electronic modules in controlling the agricultural operations associated with the agricultural machine. A method provides for automatic assignment of a physical (or logical) address to each of a plurality of devices mounted on either a vehicle or implement used for an agricultural operation.
US08781690B2 Bicycle seat position indicator
A bicycle seat position indicator has a controller and an indicating device. The controller provides an output signal indicative of a current height position of an adjustable bicycle seatpost. The indicating device is operatively coupled to the controller to receive the output signal and provide information representing the current height position of the adjustable bicycle seatpost based on the output signal from the controller.
US08781687B2 Security system comprising a self-mixing laser sensor and method of driving such a security system
A security system is described, comprising a sensor module (15) which accommodates a laser sensor (10) working with self-mixing interference. The laser sensor (10) generates measurement data which are related to the velocity of an object such as the body of a human being and, optionally, the distance between the laser sensor (10) and the object. Dependent on the measurement data assembled by the laser sensor (10) and supplied to a control circuit (30) such as an airbag computer, the airbag computer activate security means such as an airbag (35)in order to prevent injuries of the human body. Furthermore, a method of driving such a security system is described.
US08781681B2 Active suspending
In an active suspension system for actively suspending a plant, a fail-safe system controlled by a failure-detector has a selectively-activated damper coupled to the plant. The damper may be a separate element from the actuator. Under normal circumstances, the damper is deactivated and therefore generates no damping force. However, if the failure detector detects an abnormal state in the system, it activates the damper, thereby causing a damping force that resists motion of the plant.
US08781676B2 Photo-electrochromic window tinter
An electrically-adjustable light transmitter changes its light transmissivity responsive to an electric signal. By applying the electrically-adjustable light transmitter to a window and thereafter changing the electric signal to it, a window can be tinted and un-tinted. Jurisdictions that prohibit tinted vehicle windows are listed in a data base. A current location determined by a GPS is compared to data base entries. If the location is within an area where tinted windows are prohibited, a controller automatically un-tints the windows, or reduces the window tint to comply with applicable local laws.
US08781675B2 Electric power transmission reception system
A power transmission reception system for pairing a charge-requesting vehicle with a discharge-requesting vehicle for power transmission reception therebetween includes an extraction device and a transmitter. From each vehicle, a center acquire information about a present location, a traveling direction, and a destination point, and records the acquired information in a database while classifying the vehicle as the charge-requesting vehicle or the discharge-requesting vehicle. The extraction device extracts the charge-requesting vehicle and the discharge-requesting vehicle that are to simultaneously travel in a same area as paired vehicles in accordance with the information in the database. The transmitter generates information about a power transmission reception area and a partner vehicle in the power transmission reception, and transmits the generated information to the paired vehicles.
US08781674B2 Control apparatus for vehicular power transmitting apparatus
A control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting apparatus includes a first valve that controls the supply of hydraulic fluid to a running clutch in connection with the switching of the operating state of a first solenoid valve; a second valve that controls the supply of hydraulic fluid to a lockup clutch in connection with the switching of the operating state of a second solenoid valve; and a linear solenoid valve that selectively controls the apply force of the running clutch and the lockup clutch according to the supply of control pressure to the first valve and the second valve. The control apparatus detects a failure state of a part related to the operation of the power transmitting apparatus by the operating state of the running clutch and the operating state of the lockup clutch.
US08781670B2 Controlling vehicle lateral lane positioning
Methods and systems for controlling vehicle lateral lane positioning are described. A computing device may be configured to identify an object in a vicinity of a vehicle on a road. The computing device may be configured to estimate, based on characteristics of the vehicle and respective characteristics of the object, an interval of time during which the vehicle will be laterally adjacent to the object. Based on the characteristics of the vehicle, the computing device may be configured to estimate longitudinal positions of the vehicle on the road during the interval of time. Based on the respective characteristics of the object, the computing device may be configured to determine a lateral distance for the vehicle to maintain between the vehicle and the object during the interval of time at the longitudinal positions of the vehicle, and provide instructions to control the vehicle based on the lateral distance.
US08781669B1 Consideration of risks in active sensing for an autonomous vehicle
An autonomous vehicle configured for active sensing may also be configured to weigh expected information gains from active-sensing actions against risk costs associated with the active-sensing actions. An example method involves: (a) receiving information from one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle, wherein one or more control processes for an autonomous vehicle are based upon the information, (b) determining an information-improvement expectation that corresponds to an active-sensing action, (c) determining a risk-cost that corresponds to the active-sensing action; and (d) based on both (i) the information-improvement expectation for the active-sensing action and (ii) the risk-cost for the active-sensing action, determining whether the active-sensing action is advisable.
US08781667B2 Noise reduction in motor vehicles with a hybrid drive
A method for noise reduction in a motor vehicle that has a hybrid drive and includes an internal combustion engine and at least two electric machines including a first electric machine on a front axle of the motor vehicle and a second electric machine on a rear axle of the motor vehicle. The method includes automatically cutting in the at least two electric machines as a function of a required drive torque and an expected noise emission associated with the required drive torque, in a case of sole operation of the internal combustion engine, so as to reduce the load of the internal combustion engine. Torque distribution is carried out variably between the front axle and rear axle of the motor vehicle.
US08781662B2 Torque control method for hybrid vehicle and system thereof
A torque control system and method for a hybrid vehicle. More specifically, an optimal torque at a driving point of an engine, a maximum torque at a steady state of the engine, optimal torques at a driving point of two motor/generators and maximum torques at a steady state of the two motor/generators are input into a control unit. Then each reduction torque ratio of the engine and two the motor/generators is calculated by the control unit, and a reduction factor based on the reduction torque ratio of the engine and the two motor/generators is determined. Next, each target torque based on the reduction factor and the optimal torques of the engine and the two motor/generators is calculated, and each torque of the engine and motor/generators is controlled according to the each target torque.
US08781660B2 Tiered, subtractive method to solve a linear constraint function associated with controlling a hybrid powertrain system
A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system includes employing a system constraints function to identify a feasible solution for an objective variable that satisfies a plurality of independent and dependent constraints for an objective function. The objective variable is associated with a parameter of the hybrid powertrain system. Upon determining that the system constraints function fails to provide a feasible solution for the objective variable that satisfies all of the independent and dependent constraints, a problem recomposition scheme is executed to remove all of the dependent constraints and then reapply and adjust selected ones of the dependent constraints to obtain a feasible solution for the system constraints function that achieves a preferred state for the objective variable.
US08781651B2 Systems and methods providing a fuel-efficient RTA implementation with uncertain winds
Flight management systems and control methods for meeting a required time of arrival (RTA) with reduced fuel burn. The method can account for probabilistic wind forecast uncertainty in RTA calculations by reformulating the speed and thrust profile problem as a multi-stage stochastic program, using a wind forecast uncertainty model to generate scenario sets for the fuel optimization problem. The method can iteratively calculate a fuel-efficient advised air speed for achieving an RTA over a flight path with an arbitrary number of recourse points.Methods for creating wind forecast uncertainty models applicable to a variety of routes through a given airspace, and for use with the flight management systems and control methods. An example wind forecast uncertainty model can be position-specific, data-driven and based on a Markov chain representing error values between historical wind speed data and forecasted wind speed data long a planned flight route or between an origin-destination pair.
US08781649B2 System and method for displaying in-trail procedure (ITP) opportunities on an aircraft cockpit display
A system and method is provided for displaying ITP opportunities on an onboard display device of a host aircraft flying at a first flight level. Flight status data of the host aircraft and at least a first neighboring aircraft flying at a second flight level is obtained and processed to determine a first predicted time within which an ITP transition through the second flight level to a desired flight level can be made. A graphical representation of the host aircraft, the neighboring aircraft, and the first predicted time is rendered on the onboard display device.
US08781647B2 System and method for decreasing vehicle speed from a remote location
A control system for a vehicle includes a communication module and a vehicle stop module. The communication module receives a command from a vehicle services provider (VSP) to decrease a speed of the vehicle to a desired speed, wherein the VSP is located remotely with respect to the vehicle. In response to the received command, the vehicle stop module decreases the speed of the vehicle to the desired speed by controlling at least one of a transmission, an electronic parking brake, and electronically assisted brakes.
US08781644B2 Method and apparatus for recognizing shape of road for vehicles
An example of recognition of the shape of a road where a vehicle travels is provided. An object type as to whether an object is a moving or stationary object is determined according to a relative speed of the object and a speed of the vehicle. Object-unit data effective for recognizing a road shape is extracted according to the determination. The object-unit data is used for forming data of a roadside object group, based on which a road edge is recognized. A series of the processes is repeatedly performed at a predetermined cycle. After the extraction process, a data addition process is performed to add object-unit data obtained in the extraction process of the previous cycle to object-unit data obtained in the extraction process of the present cycle. In a recognition process, a road edge is recognized according to the object-unit data obtained in the data addition process.
US08781642B2 Vehicle control system
The present invention relates to control system for a vehicle. The control system includes a manually operable control lever, such as a joystick, an actuator, a sensor and a control unit. The control lever sets a state variable of the vehicle. The actuator applies a force to the control lever. The sensor senses a vehicle parameter and transmits a parameter signal to the control unit. The control unit determines a current operating state of the vehicle. The control unit, depending on the present operating state of the vehicle, controls the actuator and causes it to apply a changed, predetermined force to the control lever, in order to make the operator aware of an unsafe operating state.
US08781639B2 Digital wireless network receptacle
A digital wireless network receptacle has an upper housing, two power sockets formed through the upper housing, a lower housing and a multi-layer mechanism mounted between the upper housing and the lower housing. A single microcontroller unit (MCU) is employed within the multi-layer mechanism so that an intelligent control circuit can be effectively integrated and received in the receptacle with standardized size and limited space. Each power socket of the receptacle is independently monitored and controlled, and power consumed from each power socket can be recorded to ensure a complete understanding of power usage. Besides transmission of power consumption information to a host server through a wireless network, automatic power breaking safety protection upon an overload or standby condition of electrical appliances can be provided.
US08781638B2 Campus energy manager
An energy management system serves an arbitrary collection of loads via interfacing with related field devices and external information sources and responding to events including pricing events, demand response events, and carbon reduction events by managing the loads and local generation.
US08781634B2 Air conditioning system and communication method thereof
In an air conditioning system and a communication method thereof a wireless network may be established between indoor units and a controller or between outdoor units so as to allow communications therebetween, thereby facilitating device addition or device deletion. Also, one or more outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units may be controlled without a dedicated communication line or with using a less mount of the dedicated communication line, and the outdoor units or indoor units may perform communications using one or more communication technologies, such as wireless communication and pipe communication technologies and wireless communication and dedicated line communication technologies, while performing communications with the controller using the wireless communication technology.
US08781629B2 Human-robot interface apparatuses and methods of controlling robots
A method of controlling a robot using a human-robot interface apparatus in two-way wireless communication with the robot includes displaying on a display interface a two-dimensional image, an object recognition support tool library, and an action support tool library. The method further includes receiving a selected object image representing a target object, comparing the selected object image with a plurality of registered object shape patterns, and automatically recognizing a registered object shape pattern associated with the target object if the target object is registered with the human-robot interface. The registered object shape pattern may be displayed on the display interface, and a selected object manipulation pattern selected from the action support tool library may be received. Control signals may be transmitted to the robot from the human-robot interface. Embodiments may also include human-robot apparatuses (HRI) programmed to remotely control a robot.
US08781621B2 Moving cartridges between library strings
The present description is directed to moving a cartridge including a storage medium between library strings (LS) using a car able to move within a shuttle connection in a shuffle complex system in which, in one embodiment, a first cartridge is to be moved from a first LS to a second LS, a car located in the LS nearest to the first LS due to movement of a second cartridge is used to move the second cartridge to the first LS , and the empty car is used to move the first cartridge from the first LS to the second LS. In one aspect, movement of empty cars may be reduced, and cartridges may be moved between library strings more efficiently in less time. Other features and aspects are described.
US08781616B2 Robotic unscrambler and method
A robotic unscrambler apparatus is provided that ensures articles that are delivered in an initial orientation are transported in a conveyable orientation for further treatment at one or more stations in a production line. The apparatus includes a conveyance apparatus and at least one picker. An uprighting device is provided with a series of guides. The picker removes articles from the conveyance apparatus, and places the articles onto one of the guides. The uprighting device moves the guides between article placement positions and article conveyance positions. Each guide may include a contoured article support surface that facilitates centering of an article placed thereon.
US08781615B2 Rapid production apparatus with production orientation determination
A method of producing an object by sequentially printing layers of construction material one on top of the other, the method comprising: providing the construction material at a first lower temperature; flowing the construction material through a heated flow path in a flow structure to heat the construction material and delivering the heated construction material to a heated reservoir in a printing head; and dispensing the heated construction material from the reservoir to build the object layer by layer.
US08781612B2 Method and device for digitally processing an audio signal and computer program product
A method of digitally processing an audio signal by sequentially performing a plurality of operations on an input audio signal by a plurality of algorithms to provide an output audio signal is provided. The method comprises automatically performing the following steps: sequentially performing the plurality of operations (a, b, c, . . . ) on an input audio signal (20) in a first sequence of operations and independently in at least one different sequence of operations; evaluating the quality of respective output audio signals (output . . . 1, output . . . 2 . . . , output . . . n!) achieved with the first sequence and the at least one different sequence; and selecting the sequence of operations providing the highest quality output audio signal for further processing of input audio signals.
US08781604B2 Method of implanting stimulation lead with biased curved section through the interatrial septum
A lead includes a lead body and an electrode disposed proximate a distal end of the lead body. A retaining member is disposed proximate the distal end of the lead and adapted to retain the electrode proximate an interatrial septum when the retaining member is located on a left atrial side of the interatrial septum.
US08781601B2 Atraumatic lead removal sheath
The present invention provides for a safer and less traumatic chronically implanted device and methods for removing same from a patient. One embodiment of the invention provides for a medical device comprising an implantable diagnostic or therapeutic lead having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis and an outer surface, and a tubular cover attached to the diagnostic or therapeutic lead, preferably near the distal end, and positioned to cover a substantial portion of the outer surface of the diagnostic or therapeutic lead. The tubular cover is configured to evert upon application of a longitudinal force to extract the diagnostic or therapeutic lead.
US08781595B2 Chopper mixer telemetry circuit
This disclosure describes a chopper mixer telemetry circuit for use in a wireless receiver. The receiver may be located in an implantable medical device (IMD) or external programmer. The chopper mixer telemetry circuit may include a mixer amplifier that operates as a synchronous demodulator to provide selective extraction of wireless signals received from a transmitter while suppressing out-of-band noise that can undermine the reliability of the telemetry link between an IMD or programmer and another device. The mixer amplifier may utilize parallel signal paths to convert the received telemetry signal into an in-phase (I) signal component and a quadrature (Q) signal component and recombine the I and Q signal components to reconstruct the total signal independently of the phase mismatch between the transmitter and receiver. Each signal path may include a chopper-stabilized mixer amplifier that amplifies telemetry signals within a desired band while suppressing out-of-band noise.
US08781594B2 System and method for eyelid simulation
A system and method of treating hyperactivity of an eyelid closing muscle in a subject after facial nerve paralysis includes providing a stimulation system and selectively stimulating eyelid opening muscle(s) or innervating nerves, eyelid opening reflexes, or eyelid opening reflexes in non-muscular tissue, using the stimulation system, without substantially activating the eyelid closing muscle. The system and method evokes eyelid movement in the subject.
US08781593B2 System and method for controlling skeletal muscles by means of neuro-electrical coded signals
A system and method for controlling a skeletal muscle by means of a neuro-electrical coded signal. An actual neuro-coded signal that is naturally generated in a body and operative in control of a skeletal muscle can be collected from a nervous network and stored in a database associated with an electronic device. An implantable muscle control device having one or more electrodes can be directly attached to an appropriate nerve leading to one or more target skeletal muscles associated with a subject. The actual neuro-coded signal can then be selected from the database and broadcasted to the implantable device associated with the subject via a neuro-code transmission approach in order to activate and regulate the affected skeletal muscles.
US08781591B2 Swallowable capsule and method for stimulating incretin production within the intestinal tract
Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus and methods for stimulating L cells in the intestinal tract to produce incretins for the treatment of conditions including diabetes and obesity. Many embodiments provide a method and apparatus for the treatment of diabetes by electrically stimulating L-cells to secrete incretins to stimulate or otherwise modulate the production of insulin. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable capsule for stimulating L-cells in the intestinal tract as the capsule moves through the tract. The capsule can include two or more electrodes for providing electrical stimulation to L-cells, a power source for powering one or more components of the capsule, a sensor for sensing the location of the capsule in the intestinal tract; a controller and a waveform generator for generating the electrical signals emitted by the electrodes to stimulate the L-cells to secrete incretins such as GLP-1 to stimulate insulin production for glucose regulation of diabetic conditions.
US08781588B2 MRT optocoupler
Device and method for detecting electromagnetic fields occurring in imaging magnetic resonance tomography MRT/MRI tests. Relates to an implantable medical device (IMD) comprising a hermetically sealed housing, control unit(s), detection unit(s) for MRT interference fields connected/connectable to control unit(s) and to electrode(s) and/or to antenna(s) and/or coil(s), wherein the MRT interference detection unit contains at least one electro-optical converter which converts induced voltages from the electrode(s) and/or the antenna(s) and/or the coil(s) to optical signals, which are optically transmitted in a potential-free manner within the detection unit for MRT interference fields to an evaluation unit for the detection unit for MRT interference fields, and when a threshold for the optical signal and/or a predetermined periodic occurrence of the optical signals is exceeded, the evaluation unit triggers switching to an MRI-safe state or transmits a corresponding signal to the control unit(s).
US08781585B2 Identification and remediation of oversensed cardiac events using far-field electrograms
In general, the disclosure is directed to techniques for identification and remediation of oversensed cardiac events using far-field electrograms (FFEGMs). Identification of oversensed cardiac events can be used in an ICD to prevent ventricular fibrillation (VF) detection, and thereby avoid delivery of an unnecessary defibrillation shock. Alternatively, or additionally, identification of oversensed cardiac events can be used in an ICD to support delivery of bradycardia pacing during an oversensing condition. In some cases, bradycardia pacing delivered in response to detection of oversensed cardiac events may include pacing pulses from multiple vectors to provide redundancy in the event the oversensing may be due to a lead-related condition.
US08781574B2 Integrated delivery and visualization tool for a neuromodulation system
Methods and apparatus for delivering a neurostimulator to a target tissue are provided which may include any number of features. One feature is a delivery tool comprising a handle portion, an elongate shaft comprising a contoured distal portion, a visualization system embedded in the elongate shaft, and an insertion groove on the elongate shaft configured to deploy the neurostimulator. The contoured distal portion can be shaped and configured to maintain contact with a posterior maxilla and elevate a periosteum off of the posterior maxilla to avoid soft tissue dissection. In some embodiments, the neurostimulator is implanted in close proximity to or touching the sphenopalatine ganglion.
US08781573B2 Multi-frequency electrical field generator and use thereof
An apparatus for the treatment of pathogens within a body comprising at least a pair of conductive electrodes adapted to conductively engage physically separated points on the body; and a signal generation device comprising signal-generating means for generating an oscillatory signal of a selected frequency which can range between a first frequency level and a second frequency level of greater than 1.0 MHz; means for causing said signal-generating means to step in frequency from said first frequency level to said second frequency level at predetermined frequency steps for predetermined intervals; and power transfer means, and preferably a power amplifier, responsive to said signal-generating means for supplying a voltage to said electrodes which voltage oscillates at said selected frequency. The output signal from the apparatus has a frequency range from 0.01 MHz to 660 MHz, and a preferred frequency range of 1.0 MHz and 5.4 MHz, has been found to provide greater flexibility in the treatment of pathogens.
US08781572B2 Method and apparatus for electrotherapy drug delivery
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for an electrotherapeutic system including a first and second electrode. Each electrode includes a respective resistance wherein during operation of the electrotherapeutic system, an electrochemical reaction involving one or both of the electrodes varies the respective resistance of at least one of the electrodes.
US08781571B2 Switch validation circuit and method
A switch operated therapeutic agent delivery device is described. Embodiments of the operated therapeutic agent delivery device include a switch that can be operated by a user, a device controller connected to the switch through a switch input where the device can actuate the device when certain predetermined conditions are met, and a switch integrity subcircuit which is used to detect a fault or a precursor to a fault.
US08781566B2 System and methods for sliding-scale cardiac event detection
A system for the detection of cardiac events occurring in a human patient is disclosed to include at least two electrodes for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient's heart. At least two electrodes are included in the system for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient's heart. An electrical signal processor is electrically coupled to the electrodes for processing the electrical signal. The system determines the presence of a cardiovascular condition by applying a sliding scale rule to heart signal feature values. When the cardiovascular condition is ischemia, the ST segment may be analyzed. A sliding scale is applied to ST segment shifts such that when the magnitudes of ST segment shifts are relatively small, a larger number of beats is required to detect ischemia compared to the case when the magnitudes of ST shifts are large.
US08781554B2 Method and system of simulating magnetic resonance imaging signals
A method for simulating magnetic resonance signals is proposed. A lattice array where each point in the array has several magnetic resonance sensitive particles is provided. Statistic property of each point is set. A raw magnetic resonance imaging data is calculated based on statistic property of each point and a magnetic resonance imaging sequence to be applied. A system for simulating magnetic resonance signals is further proposed. By considering statistic property of each point, it can distinguish every part of the object to be scanned and really reflect the structure of object without using a real magnetic resonance imaging device. It saves time and costs for avoiding several scanning by the real a magnetic resonance imaging device.
US08781553B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and control method thereof
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a collection unit that applies a uniform static magnetic field to a subject and also applies a radio-frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to the subject in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence to collect a magnetic resonance signal from the subject, an imaging unit that images the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal collected by the collection unit, a detection unit that detects a respiratory level of the subject, an informing unit that informs the subject of whether the detected respiratory level falls within an allowable range, and a unit that controls the collection unit and the imaging unit in such a manner that the magnetic resonance signal for imaging is collected and the subject is imaged based on the thus collected magnetic resonance signal for imaging when the detected respiratory level falls within the allowable range.
US08781547B2 Method and apparatus for calibrating an absolute oxygen saturation sensor
A method for using a medical device comprising an optical sensor to measure calibrated oxygen saturation in a body tissue uses a standard spectral response of blood established for multiple of oxygen saturations and a standard spectral response of a reference material. The standard responses are established using a spectrometer. The spectral power output of the optical sensor is measured using a spectrometer. The optical sensor output signal response to the reference material is obtained. A processor computes a device-specific calibration curve for the medical device using the measured spectral power output and the standard spectral response of blood and computes an optical gain using the standard spectral response of the reference material and the measured spectral power output of the optical sensor. The device-specific calibration curve and optical gain of the optical sensor are stored in a memory of the medical device.
US08781540B2 Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device having an immovable body, a movable body, and a sliding module. The sliding module has a fixing frame fixed to the immovable body, a movable frame fixed to the movable body and slidably coupled to the fixing frame, and an elastic element having a fixing end fixed to the fixing frame and a movable end fixed to the movable frame. When the movable body slides with respect to the immovable body from a first position to a second position by the sliding module, the movable end relatively moves from a first stop position to a second stop position along a moving path. The distance from the orthographic projection of the fixing end on the moving path to the first stop position is larger than the distance from the orthographic projection of the fixing end on the moving path to the second stop position.
US08781534B2 Recording a signature on a touch screen enabled wireless phone and mobile device
A cellular phone and mobile device is configured with the ability to accept a signature. A user may write a signature on a touch sensitive display of a mobile device using touch or a pen. A user may be further authenticated by using voice or password. The signature may be viewed on a second mobile device in real time. The signature may be synchronized with a server or an Internet device. The system may allow for multiple parties to sign an electronic document using mobile devices and Internet servers.
US08781530B2 OTA file upload servers
Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to gathering a plurality of data from a SIM card on a wireless communications device and recording the plurality of data onto a database where the plurality of data can be viewed at a later time. A network device requests a plurality of data from a SIM card on a wireless communications device. An OTA platform receives the request and gathers the plurality of data from the SIM card. The OTA platform, which normally sends the plurality of data back to the network device, sends the plurality of data to a file upload server instead. The file upload server records the plurality of data to a database where it can be viewed by the network device. In certain examples, the file upload server sends a notification to the network device that the plurality of data is ready for viewing. In other variations, the plurality of data can be viewed from any internet portal.
US08781524B2 Wireless communication device
In a case where a wireless communication device corresponds to a first-region wireless communication system, a first reception block and a second reception block receives a radio signal of the first-region wireless communication system in a diversity scheme and a transmission block transmits a radio signal of the first-region wireless communication system. In a case where the wireless communication device corresponds to a first second-region wireless communication system and a second second-region wireless communication system, the second reception block receives a radio signal of the first second-region wireless communication system, the first reception block receives a radio signal of the second second-region wireless communication system, and the transmission block transmits a radio signal of the first second-region wireless communication system and a radio signal of the second second-region wireless communication system with time division switching.
US08781522B2 Adaptable antenna system
The invention utilizes small, narrow-band and frequency adaptable antennas to provide coverage to a wide range of wireless modes and frequency bands on a host wireless device. The antennas have narrow pass-band characteristics, require minimal space on the host device, and allow for smaller form factor. The frequency tunability further allows for a fewer number of antennas to be used. The operation of the antennas may also be adaptably relocated from unused modes to in-use modes to maximize performance. These features of the antennas result in cost and size reductions. In another aspect, the antennas may be broadband antennas.
US08781517B2 Method for cell sleep/wakeup, method and apparatus for controlling carrier power
The present invention discloses a method for cell sleep/wakeup, and a method and an apparatus for controlling carrier power, wherein the method for controlling carrier power comprises: a SON judging whether a cell of a base station requires sleep and/or wakeup, wherein when the judgment result is that the cell requires sleep, the SON indicates the base station to make the cell to sleep, so that the base station reduces pilot channel power of a carrier of the cell to zero or closes the carrier to make the cell enter an energy-saving state; and when the judgment result is that the cell requires wakeup, the SON indicates the base station to wake up the cell, so that the base station recovers the pilot channel power of the carrier of the cell to an operation state value to make the cell exit the energy-saving state.
US08781515B2 Method and apparatus for providing a group communications follow mode
A method and apparatus for enabling a group communications follow mode at a first group communications (GC) user equipment (UE) device. A GC server receives a request from a first client UE device to follow a second Client UE device, and responsively: affiliates the first client UE device with a same one or more talk groups with which the second client UE device is currently affiliated, monitors for talk group affiliation and disaffiliation requests from the second client UE device and automatically affiliates or disaffiliates both the first client UE device and the second client UE device from a first particular talk group in accordance with a corresponding affiliation or disaffiliation instruction received from the second client UE device.
US08781504B1 System for monitoring in real-time movement or location and method thereof
The present invention relates to a system for monitoring in real-time movement or location, comprising at least one sensor, at least one receiver, a server unit and a database unit. Regarding the system of the present invention, the signals of the sensors attached on users or articles are transmitted to a website via a Wireless Ad Hoc Network and a local area network to real-time monitor movement or location for users or articles. The present invention further provides a method for monitoring in real-time movement or location for users or articles.
US08781493B2 Security tracking device
A tracking device has an on-board power source, a central processing unit, a cellular telephony transmitter and receiver, a speaker and a microphone, a bus system interconnecting electronic elements, and software or firmware executing at least periodically from a machine-readable physical medium providing a range of functions for the device. The device maintains a sleep mode until activated by an internal timing function, once activated turns on the receiver and listens for radio signals, finding particular signals, consults memory associations with one or more of those signals, and determines to activate transmission only under certain preprogrammed conditions depended on signals found and identified.
US08781492B2 Device for round trip time measurements
An appliance facilitates localization of a station (STA) in a network, for example, a short-range wireless network. An automatic response to a request for a measurement related communication is provided. The appliance can include a radio frequency (RF) interface and a media access control (MAC) section. The MAC section can receive the request and generate the automatic response immediately after a uniform period that is uniform among any such appliance within the network. The appliance performs only the generation of the automatic response, though the response can include additional information such as (x, y) coordinates of the appliance.
US08781490B2 Control channel interference mitigation
In some embodiments, control channel data is passed between neighboring base stations to allocate control channel resources to mitigate inter-cell interference.
US08781475B1 Method for switching from a first cellular network to a second cellular network
This invention provides a system and a method to automatically switch cellular data communications from 3G to 4G mode wherever reliable 4G cellular connectivity is available, and to collect and report reliable 4G cellular coverage geo-fence polygon information. The invention also provides a system and method to automatically switch cellular data communications between 4G cellular networks provided by different carriers, and 3G cellular networks provided by different carriers.
US08781473B2 Prioritized query
A solution framework is employed that includes defining of a mechanism to run multiple queries in a single message exchange, along with a priority on a per-query basis. In some embodiments, a system for facilitating handover of a mobile device across heterogeneous access networks by ensuring response to queries transmitted by the mobile device includes: a) a mobile device having a plurality of wireless network interfaces for communicating over a plurality of heterogeneous access networks, having a media independent handover (MIH) entity to facilitate handovers between the heterogeneous networks, and configured to transmit queries related to handover operation between the heterogeneous access networks to MIH entities within said heterogeneous access networks; and b) said media independent handover entity of said mobile device being configured to transmit multiple queries in a single message exchange to an MIH entity in an access network with prioritization among said multiple queries.
US08781472B2 Method and arrangement in a communication network
Method and arrangement in a network control node, for performing access control of a mobile node in a handover from a source cell to a target subscriber group cell. The method comprises obtaining a network based allowed subscriber group list, receiving a target subscriber group identification, checking if the target subscriber group identification is comprised in the obtained network based allowed subscriber group list. If it is, information from a target network control node is obtained, verifying that the received subscriber group identification corresponds to the target subscriber group cell. Still further, the method comprises granting the mobile node access to the target subscriber group cell. Also, a method and arrangement in a target network control node, for assisting a network control node in performing access control for a mobile node in a handover from a source cell to a target subscriber group cell is provided.
US08781469B2 Radio access technology selection in telecommunications system
A telecommunications system operable to provide a facility for mobile communications to a mobile device. The system comprises a core network, an access control function and a plurality of radio access networks. Each radio access network is operable to communicate data to and from the mobile device in accordance with one of a plurality of radio access technologies. In response to an attach request from the mobile device requesting a connection with the core network via a chosen radio access technology, the core network is operable to establish a connection with the mobile device via at least one of the plurality of radio access interfaces for communicating data to and from the mobile device. An access control function is operable to identify the mobile device requesting the connection with the core network and in accordance with access control criteria generate an attach response indicating with which if any of the plurality of radio access technologies the mobile device may establish the connection and communicate the attach response to the radio access network via which the mobile device has requested the connection.
US08781467B2 Technique for cell signature determination
A technique for cell signature determination in a cellular communication network is provided. A method implementation of this technique comprises the steps of providing a set of hypothesis signals, each hypothesis signal including a signature hypothesis, receiving a composite signal including a first signal portion carrying a first signature from a first cell and a second signal portion carrying a second signature from a second cell, wherein the first signal portion and the second signal portion overlap at least partially in time, and obtaining a correlation result by correlating the composite signal with each hypothesis signal. After the first signature has been determined, a set of phantom signatures associated with the first signature is provided. The phantom signatures represent artifacts from the first signal portion in the correlation result. Finally, the second signature is determined based on the correlation result taking into account the set of phantom signatures associated with the first signature.
US08781458B2 Method and apparatus for maintaining user settings for over-the-air upgrades
A method and apparatus for performing a software upgrade are disclosed. The method determines a plurality of mobile endpoint devices affected by a wireless network access software upgrade, and schedules a deployment of the wireless network access software upgrade. The method transmits a notification to the plurality of mobile endpoint devices, wherein the notification is configured to cause each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices to store user settings in a memory of each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices. The method downloads the wireless network access software upgrade wirelessly to the plurality of mobile endpoint devices, wherein the wireless network access software upgrade is configured to cause each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices to install the wireless network access software upgrade and to restore the user settings from the memory of each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices.
US08781455B2 Method to control configuration change times in a wireless device
A method to control configuration change times is performed at a mobile wireless communication device when the mobile wireless communication device is connected to a wireless network. The mobile wireless device is connected in a first configuration mode. The mobile wireless communication device receives a control message from a radio network subsystem in the wireless network at a local receive time. The received control message includes a time indication for when to start a configuration mode change of the mobile wireless communication device, which the device extracts from the control message. The mobile wireless communication device reconfigures to a second configuration mode, different from the first configuration mode, based on the extracted time indication and the local receive time.
US08781449B2 Method and system for distributing data to mobile devices
Embodiments of the invention are concerned with a method and a system for distributing mobile applications, in particular to aspects of receiving, processing and displaying advertisements on mobile terminals. In one aspect, embodiments provide a software component for controlling movement for an advertisement image on a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal comprising a display area and a processor, the software component comprising processable instructions defining movement of the advertisement image relative to the display area, wherein the instructions are wirelessly transmissible to the mobile terminal and the processor is arranged to process said instructions in order to more the advertisement image.
US08781447B2 Techniques to wirelessly transmit data
Techniques are described to transmit multimedia content to a mobile station using a combination of a mobile/cellular network as well as a TV Whitespace (TVWS) network. Scalable video coding can be used to transmit a baseline layer of multi-media content using the mobile/cellular network and one or more enhancement layers over the TVWS channels. Joint source-channel coding can be used to adjust the transmission scheme used by mobile/cellular and/or TVWS based on end user experience.
US08781444B2 Communication apparatus and method
According to one embodiment, a communication apparatus includes a storage unit, a state detecting unit, a communication unit, and a communication control unit. The storage unit configured to store information. The state detecting unit configured to detect, at least one time during an operation of the communication apparatus, whether the storage unit is in a busy state in which no data writing is allowed, or in a ready state in which data writing is allowed. The communication unit configured to perform communication with a destination communication apparatus. The communication control unit configured to control the communication unit to inform the destination communication apparatus that a data receiving operation is stopped for a first time period, if the state detection unit detects that the storage unit has entered the busy state.
US08781441B1 Decision environment for devices that fail authentication
A system, a method and computer-readable media for handling a device that experiences a failure to complete a network's authentication process. Causes of the failure are determined, and device attributes are received. These causes and attributes are then used to determine an alternative authentication process. The device is authenticated by using this alternative authentication process.
US08781429B2 Ordered electromagnetic interference cancellation
Progressive cancellation of electromagnetic interference (EMI) is achieved by establishing a canceller stage processing order in a receiver feed circuit. Such a processing order may be one that progressively narrows an interference analysis bandwidth around desired target signal and optimizes gain-bandwidth characteristics of a cancellation loop in each canceller stage accordingly. A cancellation signal generated by each canceller stage is adaptively controlled without disturbing the stability of the cancellation loop. By doing so, the residual interference-to-noise ratio at each adaptive canceller stage is optimized independently from the closed cancellation loop control of the other canceller stages resulting in improved interference cancellation in the receiver feed circuit.
US08781425B2 Methods and apparatus for handling a signaling message that relates to transmission rate restrictions
A method for handling a signaling message that specifies transmission rate restrictions may include operating in a first state. The method may also include receiving the signaling message from a network. The signaling message may include an activation time, the transmission rate restrictions and the control duration. The method may also include receiving a state transition trigger to operate in a second state. The method may also include determining the user equipment's behavior regarding the transmission rate restrictions upon receiving the state transition trigger.
US08781417B2 Hybrid techniques for antenna retuning utilizing transmit and receive power information
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a transceiver, an antenna tuner connecting said transceiver to an antenna, a power sensor adapted to acquire measurements about transmit power, a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) adapted to acquire measurements about receive power and wherein said tuner tunes said antenna based upon said transmit and receive measurements to optimize said antenna in both the receive and transmit bands.
US08781416B1 Adapting transmit parameters in highly dynamic channel
A processor determines, from signals received from other communication devices, one selected transmission mode for the communication channel conditions. The processor projects multiple channel characterization parameters in a mathematical model to each of the candidate transmission modes using a model of nominal communication channel conditions to predict whether each of the candidate transmission modes will achieve the desired communication under the nominal communication channel conditions. This results in the generation of a first subset of transmission modes. The processor also projects the multiple channel characterization parameters to each of the candidate transmission modes using a model of degraded communication channel conditions to predict whether each of the candidate transmission modes will achieve the desired communication under the degraded communication channel conditions. Such a determination results in generating a second subset of transmission modes that would successfully achieve communication. One selected transmission mode that maximizes communication objectives is selected.
US08781414B2 Envelope detector and method for detecting an envelope of a signal to be amplified by a power amplifier
An envelope detector includes an input receiving a digital input signal indicative of a magnitude of a signal to be amplified by a power amplifier. A circuit is provided for generating an analog envelope signal based on the digital input signal. The envelope detector includes an output for outputting the analog envelope signal.
US08781412B2 Radio transmission system, radio communication apparatus, and radio transmission method
A radio transmission system includes: antenna pairs, each antenna pair being a combination of a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna in one-to-one correspondence. A radio signal from the transmitting antenna in one of the antenna pairs reaches the receiving antenna of the one antenna pair as a desired wave directly, and a radio signal from the transmitting antenna of another antenna pair different from the one antenna pair reaches the receiving antenna of the one antenna pair as an unnecessary wave directly. A transfer characteristic correction section which performs a correction operation based on the transfer characteristic of a transmission space between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna for a transmission-target signal corresponding to the transmitting antenna, and a modulation functional section which modulates a carrier signal with a corrected signal after having been corrected by the transfer characteristic correction section and transmits the modulated carrier signal from the corresponding transmitting antenna, are provided in correspondence with each antenna pair.
US08781409B2 Radio frequency unit and integrated antenna
A radio frequency unit and an integrated antenna are provided. The radio frequency unit includes a duplexer, a power amplifier circuit board, and a transceiver circuit board. The duplexer connects to the power amplifier circuit board and the transceiver circuit board. The power amplifier circuit board connects to the transceiver circuit board. The power amplifier circuit board and the transceiver circuit board are respectively located at two end portions of the duplexer. The power amplifier circuit board and the transceiver circuit board are projected onto the same plane along a direction being vertical to the power amplifier circuit board with their projections on the same plane non-overlapped each other.
US08781408B2 Method and apparatus for adaptive channel utilisation
A transceiver with an adaptable filter and a method of controlling the settings of the filter to adapt to local channel assignments and usage are provided. The adaptable filter is connected in at least one of the transmitter path and the receiver path of the transceiver to separate signals from adjacent spectrum blocks to permit use of all of the channels in the adjacent spectrum blocks and to separate signals in adjacent or nearby channels in a shared-channel block. A method and system for forward link control signalling are provided. The forward link control signalling includes a frame for transmission that includes at least one control channel that includes control information for receivers sharing a common characteristic, and a guide channel that includes information pertaining to the at least one control channel, including control information for receivers sharing a common characteristic.
US08781407B2 Antenna equipment including the grouping of antenna elements according to communication types
An antenna equipment includes an array antenna including a plurality of antenna elements configured to be grouped into at least one group according to each of N communication types, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, a selecting part selecting one of the N communication types, a transmitting part modulating outgoing data to generate an outgoing signal for antenna element or antenna elements belonging to each group for the selected communication type, and a receiving part demodulating an incoming signal from antenna element or antenna elements belonging to each group for the selected communication type to generate incoming data.
US08781406B2 Receiving apparatus
A receiving apparatus obtains identification information from a transmitting apparatus via a cable communication when the transmitting apparatus is connected with the receiving apparatus via the cable communication while the receiving apparatus is being connected with the transmitting apparatus via a radio communication. The receiving apparatus judges whether obtained identification information is the same as identification information of the transmitting apparatus which is connected with the receiving apparatus via the radio communication. When they are same, the receiving apparatus transmits an instruction to the transmitting apparatus to switch an output of contents data from the radio communication to the cable communication. When the transmitting apparatus receives the instruction, it switches the output of the contents data from the radio communication to the cable communication. The receiving apparatus switches an input of the contents data to the receiving apparatus from the radio communication to the cable communication.
US08781404B2 Portable electronic device positioning based on multipath characterization information associated with wireless network transmitting devices
Techniques are provided which may be implemented in various methods and/or apparatuses to allow a portable electronic device to characterize and/or otherwise identify that certain wireless signals may be multipath signals and/or non-multipath signals. Given such signal/environment characterization information, a portable electronic device may select particular wireless signals for use in signal-based location estimation process and/or other communication processes.
US08781402B2 Method for generating cooperation areas in communications networks and corresponding network nodes
The present invention refers to generating of cooperation areas in a communications network, wherein each cooperation area is defined by at least two base stations of said communications network, which are cooperating when communicating with mobile nodes in said communications network. In particular, a number of sets of possible interferers is transmitted to at least one mobile node by a base station, wherein with each set of possible interferers an index value associated to said set of possible interferers is transmitted. Then, said mobile node selects a set of possible interferers from said number of sets of possible interferers and transmits a selected index value to said base station, said selected index value being an index value associated to said selected set of possible interferers. Hereupon, a cooperation area for said mobile node is defined by said base station by use of said selected index value.
US08781396B2 Contactless receiver, resonant circuit, and variable capacitance element
A contactless receiver is provided with a receiving section and a rectification section. The receiving section has a resonant circuit including a resonant capacitor having a variable capacitance element formed with a ferroelectric material, a capacitance of the variable capacitance element changing according to a received voltage at a predetermined frequency, and a resonance coil connected to the resonant capacitor. The rectification section converts an alternating current voltage output from the receiving section into a direct current voltage.
US08781395B2 Transmitting circuit for a contactless communicating communication partner device
In a near field communication partner device (1) intended for the contactless transmission of digital data to be transmitted having a transmission circuit (2), the transmission circuit (2) comprises a modulation circuit (17) for the amplitude modulation of a carrier signal (CS), which modulation circuit (17) comprises a circuit stage (20, 20′) for producing a plurality of different resistance values (RW1, RW1′) that act on a signal output (TX1, TX2), which resistance values (RW1, RW1′) can be transformed, by means of a signal processing circuit (3) arranged to transform resistance values that belongs to the communication partner device (1), into transformed resistance values (RW2, RW2′), which transformed resistance values (RW2, RW2′) are responsible for damping a transmission coil (7) of the communication partner device (1) when modulated low-level carrier signal sections are generated in a modulated carrier signal.
US08781388B2 Image forming device
An image forming device, comprising: a sheet-like medium accommodation unit; a supply member that carries a sheet-like medium; a pair of separation members that separate the sheet-like medium one by one; an image formation unit; a carrying path; a re-carrying unit to move inversely the sheet-like medium whose top face has been subjected to printing; a moving mechanism to move the supply member close to or away from the sheet-like medium and to move the pair of separation members close to or away from each other so that a path for the inversely carried sheet-like medium is formed; and a control unit to control the moving mechanism such that, when back-face printing is performed, the supply member is in a state of being moved away from the sheet-like medium and the pair of separation members are in a state of being moved away from each other.
US08781386B2 Paper particle removing device, and image formation device provided with paper particle removing device
A paper particle removing device is provided with a paper particle removing roller configured to contact a printing sheet to capture paper particles on the printing sheet, a scraping member arranged adjacent to the paper particle removing roller and configured to contact the paper particle removing roller to scrape the paper particles, a paper particle container arranged on a scraping member side with respect to a position where the scraping member contacts the paper particle removing roller, and configured to collect the paper particles scraped by the scraping member, and a negatively-charged member arranged on the scraping member side with respect to a position where the paper particle removing roller contacts the scraping member and having a relative tendency in a triboelectric series to be negatively charged relative to the paper particles, the negatively-charged member inducing the paper particles scraped by the scraping member toward the paper particle container.
US08781375B2 Powder container, powder conveying apparatus, and image forming apparatus
A powder container includes: a powder containing unit that contains powder and at least a part of which is deformable; a discharging unit that receives the powder supplied from an opening of the powder containing unit via an inlet arranged on the discharging unit and discharges the powder to a supply destination; an elastic member that is arranged on a periphery of the inlet of the discharging unit; and a seal member that is arranged on the powder containing unit and seals the opening. The seal member is sandwiched between the discharging unit and the powder containing unit via the elastic member such that the seal member is removable from between the discharging unit and the powder containing unit.
US08781365B2 Automatic document transportation device and document scanning device
An automatic document transportation device includes an ADF main body, a first lock pin and a second lock pin, a cover, a first lock lever and a second lock lever, and an unlock portion. The first lock pin and the second lock pin are arranged in the ADF main body. The cover is supported in an openable/closable manner at the ADF main body. The first lock lever and the second lock lever lock the cover so as not to open by being hooked at the first lock pin and the second lock pin when the cover is closed. The unlock portion is arranged on the surface on the ADF main body side of the cover and in the vicinity of the end of the distal end side of the cover, and can unlock the lock of the first lock lever and the second lock lever.
US08781362B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a latent image carrier, and a developing device. The developing device includes a container, a supporter, first and second developer-transporting members, first and second magnets, a pair of first urging members, and a pair of second urging members. The pair of first urging members presses the container toward the latent image carrier while being interposed between the supporter and the container. The first urging members serve as two vertexes of a first triangle surrounding the center of gravity of part of the developing device excluding the supporter. The pair of second urging members presses the container toward the latent image carrier while being interposed between the supporter and the container. The second urging members serve as two vertexes of a second triangle surrounding the center of gravity of part of the developing device excluding the supporter.
US08781354B2 Image-forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body; a unit part that includes an electronic component and that can be installed in the apparatus main body by being guided in a first predetermined direction; a unit-side electrode that is provided to the unit part to be connected electrically with the electronic component; a main body-side electrode that is provided to the apparatus main body and is connected electrically with the unit-side electrode when the unit part is installed in the apparatus main body; and a ground electrode that is provided to the apparatus main body and is connected electrically with a ground, the ground electrode being disposed at a position upstream of the main body-side electrode with respect to the first predetermined direction.
US08781348B2 Transfer device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A transfer device includes a controller that controls a transfer bias supply to cause a transfer bias to increase, between an image carrier and a first rotary body disposed opposite the image carrier, a potential of the first rotary body toward an opposite polarity to a charge polarity of toner of a toner image on the image carrier to be higher than a potential of the image carrier, and to change, on the basis of identified recording medium type, a returning peak value which is one of a peak value of positive polarity and a peak value of negative polarity of the transfer bias and which generates an electric field that causes the toner having moved to the recording medium from the image carrier to return to the image carrier from the recording medium in a transfer nip.
US08781341B2 Determination of effective amount of remaining life of toner cartridge
An image forming system includes at least one toner cartridge, an image forming unit, and a cartridge life determination module. The toner cartridge may include toner and at least one component. The image forming unit may selectively form an image in one of a low coverage mode and a high coverage mode such that a greater amount of the toner is used in the high coverage mode than the low coverage mode in a formation of the respective image. The cartridge life determination module may determine an amount of remaining life of the toner, an amount of remaining life of the at least one component, and an effective amount of remaining life of the at least one toner cartridge based on the amount of remaining life of the toner and the amount of remaining life of the at least one component.
US08781335B2 Optical repeater and signal relay method thereof
An optical repeater in a mobile communication system includes a main hub unit (MHU) and a plurality of repeaters connected to a plurality of access points of the MHU, respectively. Each of the repeaters receives subcarrier information and a signal transmitted from a base station, as optical signals, through the MHU or a different repeater connected thereto, processes only a signal corresponding to a subcarrier allocated to a terminal which has accessed according to the subcarrier information, and transmits the processed signal to the terminal which has accessed. Also, each of the repeaters maps a signal of the terminal which has accessed to a subcarrier allocated to the terminal which has accessed, and transmits the same to the MHU or a different repeater connected thereto.
US08781325B2 Methods and systems for coherent multi-subcarrier source generation
A method of generating a multi-subcarrier optical signal is disclosed. A local oscillator oscillates one or more data signals to generate one or more oscillating data signals. A series of modulators phase modulate a lightwave to generate a phase modulated lightwave, wherein the series of modulators are driven by the one or more oscillating data signals. The intensity modulator modulates the phase modulated lightwave, the intensity modulator being driven by one of the oscillating data signals, to generate the multi-subcarrier optical signal.
US08781324B2 Optical receiver integrated on a substrate
A coherent optical receiver circuit is disclosed in which various components of the optical receiver may be provided or integrated, in one example, on a common substrate. Further integration is achieved by incorporating various optical demultiplexer designs that are relatively compact and conserve space on the surface of the substrate. The optical receiver circuit may be used to demultiplex quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) optical signals.
US08781320B2 Automatically switched optical network and method for data transmission in the network
An automatically switched optical network includes several areas of a transmission plane and a control plane, and a method for data transmission in the network includes that when the control plane has detected at least one partition of an area separated from other partitions of the area, a route over area is realized between the separated partitions of the area by the way of virtual link in the area. When several partitions exist in a certain area of the network, which can not be connected with each other through routes within the area, and the data transmission can not be performed between these partitions, a hierarchical route in the case of the area of ASON transmission plane being parted is realized by the method, so when the several separated partitions are caused by link fault in a certain area, the hierarchical route over area can be realized for the partitions of the area.
US08781319B2 Configurable point-to-point optical communications system between servers
A configurable optical communications system (100) for establishing point-to-point communications between multiple computer servers (160) coupled to a common midplane or backplane communications bus (132), wherein at least two of the servers include an optical input/output device (170) for sending and receiving an optical signal (112). The system further includes an optical communications pathway (140) that is configured to carry the optical signal, and at least two pivotable mirrors (150) located within the optical pathway and in-line with the optical input/output devices that are selectively orientated to direct the optical signal between the optical input/output devices to establish the point-to-point communication between the at least two servers.
US08781311B1 Document holder for a portable imaging apparatus
A detachable document-holding device for holding a document at a substantially fixated distance from a lens disposed at a back surface of a portable imaging apparatus. The document-holding device includes a document tray, a sliding interface having a hollow passage, and a mounting-structure and a base. The mounting-structure includes a sliding panel pivotally attached to an attachment panel. The tray and the sliding interface are pivotally interconnected. The base is securely attached to the back surface of the portable imaging apparatus, wherein the mounting-structure is operatively mounted onto the base. The hollow passage fittingly accommodates the sliding panel, facilitating a user to set the distance between the document and the lens. When in operational state, the tray is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens, wherein an image of the document, placed onto the tray, is reflected towards the lens.
US08781310B2 Coating composition comprising photocatalyst coated with apatite and radiant heating system
A photocatalytic coating composition is provided. The composition comprises a hydroxyapatite-coated photocatalyst, a silica-based binder, an acrylic emulsion, a thickener and water. Further provided is a radiant heating system having the composition. The system has deodorizing and antibacterial properties.
US08781309B2 Heat treatment apparatus heating substrate by irradiation with light
A capacitor, a coil, a flash lamp, and a switching element such as an IGBT are connected in series. A controller outputs a pulse signal to the gate of the switching element. A waveform setter sets the waveform of the pulse signal, based on the contents of input from an input unit. With electrical charge accumulated in the capacitor, a pulse signal is output to the gate of the switching element so that the flash lamp emits light intermittently. A change in the waveform of the pulse signal applied to the switching element will change the waveform of current flowing through the flash lamp and, accordingly, the form of light emission, thereby resulting in a change in the temperature profile for a semiconductor wafer.
US08781308B2 Apparatus for and method of heat-treating film formed on surface of substrate
The back surface of a substrate having a front surface coated with a resist film is irradiated with flashes of light emitted from flash lamps. Heat conduction from the back surface of the substrate abruptly raised in temperature by the irradiation with flashes of light toward the front surface thereof occurs to heat the resist film formed on the front surface of the substrate, so that a post-applied bake process is performed. After the completion of the post-applied bake process, a cooling plate cools down the substrate. Regardless of the type of resist film formed on the front surface of the substrate, the substrate has a constant absorptance of flashes of light to allow the resist film to be heated to a constant treatment temperature, because the back surface of the substrate is irradiated with flashes of light.
US08781305B2 Media streaming with smooth fast-forward and rewind
Media streaming with smooth fast-forward and rewind is disclosed. One embodiment receives a media stream encoded at a first bit rate over a network connection, and in response to an input to fast-forward or rewind the media stream, the media stream may be retrieved at a second bit rate, and rendered at the second bit rate for fast-forward or rewind playback. By receiving the media stream at multiple bit rates, a media stream may be rendered at increased forward or reverse speeds without dropping frames in the media stream.
US08781304B2 System and method for augmenting rich media content using multiple content repositories
Computer-implemented systems and methods for determining second content which was not selected by the user but which is related to first content which was selected by the user. For example, a system and method can be configured to receive, using one or more processors, first and second content where the first and second content are rich media (e.g., content containing audio or video elements). Systems and methods may be further configured where the relationship between the first content and second content are determined based on data or metadata of the first content (e.g., the title of the content or an episode number). Systems and methods may be further configured where the relationship between the first content and second content are determined based on scheduling data of the first content (e.g., the time and channel when the first content is transmitted).
US08781288B2 Digital broadcast receiving apparatus
A portable telephone 100 with broadcast receiving function has a portable telephone device and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus. A recording format selection section 116 in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus records, in a recording section 117 such as nonvolatile semiconductor memory, any of a video signal, an audio signal and a data signal which are separated by a transport stream (TS) separating section 105, in accordance with a designated recording format or contents of a broadcast program, from a recording start time to a recording end time. An attempt is made to make the quantity of data signal to be recorded in the recording section 117 appropriate, and diminish power consumed by a battery of the portable telephone 100 with broadcast receiving function.
US08781283B1 Hybrid ridge waveguide
Embodiments of the invention relate to an electro-optic device comprising a first region of silicon semiconductor material and a second region of III-V semiconductor material. A waveguide of the optical device is formed in part by a ridge in the second region. An optical mode of the waveguide is laterally confined by the ridge of the second region and vertically confined by a vertical boundary included in the first region. The ridge structure further serves as a current confinement structure over the active region of the electro-optic device, eliminating the need for implantation or other structures that are known to present reliability problems during manufacturing. The lack of “voids” and implants in electro-optic devices according to embodiments of the invention leads to better device reliability, process repeatability and improved mechanical strength.
US08781282B2 Optical fiber with double coating
An optical fiber includes an optical waveguide, a first coating layer disposed to surround the optical waveguide and a second coating layer disposed to surround the first coating layer, wherein the first coating layer is formed by a cured polymeric material obtained by curing a radiation curable composition including at least one (meth)acrylate monomer esterified with at least one branched alcohol having from 9 to 12 carbon atoms, and the second coating layer is formed by a cured polymeric material obtained by curing a radiation curable (meth)acrylate composition including from 0.8% to 1.5% by weight of silica, based on the total weight of the composition.
US08781280B2 Cable expansion joint
A cable is provided having an expansion joint. The cable includes a cable jacket which makes up an outer layer of the cable, a non-end section where the cable jacket is removed from the cable which forms an opening, and an expansion joint which covers the opening and is bonded to the cable jacket at opposite sides of the opening. The expansion joint is made up of a flexible or compressible material.
US08781270B2 Optical cross-connect apparatus
An optical cross-connect apparatus includes: a plurality of switch units connected to each other via input ports and output ports; a storage unit to store a setting table in which output port information and corresponding input port information are associated together and registered for each optical signal such that the output port information identifies a specific output port, in the output ports, that outputs the optical signal and the input port information identifies a specific input port, in the input ports, that inputs the optical signal; a setting processor to set each switch unit in the plurality of switch units according to the setting table so as to set a wavelength for each optical signal that is input via the input ports or output via the output ports; and an update processor to update the content of the setting table in response to external input.
US08781264B2 Optical pulse test apparatus and method of testing optical transmission path
[Task] To enable a test of an optical transmission path using an MMF with a simple configuration in an optical pulse test apparatus which is used for an SFM for long-distance transmission.[Means for Resolution] An optical coupler 22, a light source 21, a connector 23, and an optical receiver 25 are respectively connected to each other by SMF optical paths Fa to Fc. A signal processing unit 30 includes fiber type designation means 31a for designating the type of an optical fiber of a test-target optical transmission path 1 as either an SMF or an MMF, SMF parameter designation means 31b for, when an SMF is designated, designating test parameters including the refractive index of the SMF, and MMF parameter designation means 31c for, when an MMF is designated, designating test parameters including the refractive index of the MMF. The transmission characteristic of the optical transmission path 1 using the designated optical fiber with respect to distance is obtained on the basis of the parameters including the refractive index of the designated optical fiber and intensity data of return light Pr and displayed on a display unit 50.
US08781250B2 Image deconvolution using color priors
Described are techniques for image deconvolution to deblur an image given a blur kernel. Localized color statistics derived from the image to be deblurred serve as a prior constraint during deconvolution. A pixel's color is formulated as a linear combination of the two most prevalent colors within a neighborhood of the pixel. This may be repeated for many or all pixels in an image. The linear combinations of the pixels serve as a two-color prior for deconvolving the blurred image. The two-color prior is responsive to the content of the image and it may decouple edge sharpness from edge strength.
US08781245B2 Digital video content fingerprinting based on scale invariant interest region detection with an array of anisotropic filters
Video sequence processing is described with various filtering rules applied to extract dominant features for content based video sequence identification. Active regions are determined in video frames of a video sequence. Video frames are selected in response to temporal statistical characteristics of the determined active regions. A two pass analysis is used to detect a set of initial interest points and interest regions in the selected video frames to reduce the effective area of images that are refined by complex filters that provide accurate region characterizations resistant to image distortion for identification of the video frames in the video sequence. Extracted features and descriptors are robust with respect to image scaling, aspect ratio change, rotation, camera viewpoint change, illumination and contrast change, video compression/decompression artifacts and noise. Compact, representative signatures are generated for video sequences to provide effective query video matching and retrieval in a large video database.
US08781244B2 Combined deblocking and denoising filter
An apparatus, a computer readable medium to instruct a process to implement a method, and a method of reducing blocking artifacts and/or noise in an image that has been compressed by a block-based encoding process. The method includes deblocking the image using overlapped forward directional transforms, the overlapped forward directional transforms including directional selecting to filter across horizontal and vertical boundaries, denoising the image, in one version edge detecting to classify individual pixels as to whether or not they belong to edge features, and generating output pixels by locally adapting to whether the pixels are in block boundaries, and/or include edge features.
US08781241B2 Image encoding device encoding an image by performing sequential processing, method for encoding image, and computer-readable storage medium storing image encoding program
An image encoding device that encodes an image by performing sequential processing in units of a certain size, the image encoding device includes, a variable-length coding unit that performs variable-length coding on data to be encoded having the certain size in the image; an estimating unit that estimates the number of codes at a time after the variable-length coding using the data to be encoded at a time before the variable-length coding is performed by the variable-length coding unit; and a slice controlling unit that controls division of the image into slices on the basis of a cumulative value of the estimated number of codes.
US08781240B2 Skip macroblock coding
Various techniques and tools for encoding and decoding (e.g., in a video encoder/decoder) binary information (e.g., skipped macroblock information) are described. In some embodiments, the binary information is arranged in a bit plane, and the bit plane is coded at the picture/frame layer. The encoder and decoder process the binary information and, in some embodiments, switch coding modes. For example, the encoder and decoder use normal, row-skip, column-skip, or differential modes, or other and/or additional modes. In some embodiments, the encoder and decoder define a skipped macroblock as a predicted macroblock whose motion is equal to its causally predicted motion and which has zero residual error. In some embodiments, the encoder and decoder use a raw coding mode to allow for low-latency applications.
US08781239B2 Selecting transform paths for compressing visual data
Encoding data includes: determining multiple patterns for computing one-dimensional transforms over a first array of data elements. Each pattern includes multiple subsets of data elements of the first array. Each subset included in a first pattern has substantially the same number of data elements as each of the other subsets included in the first pattern. Each data element of the first array is included in a single one of the subsets included in the first pattern. At least one subset included in the first pattern consists of data elements that are not in a contiguous sequence along a single dimension. Encoding the data includes: computing, for each pattern, multiple one-dimensional transforms over data elements of respective subsets included in the pattern; selecting a set of transform coefficients from a group of multiple sets of transform coefficients; and encoding the selected set of transform coefficients to represent the first array.
US08781237B2 3D image processing methods and systems that decompose 3D image into left and right images and add information thereto
3D image processing methods and systems for use in an electronic device having an image decoding unit are provided. The image decoding unit includes a sequence of decoding sub-units. First, a first decoding sub-unit receives at least one 3D image. A second decoding sub-unit decomposes the 3D image into a left image or a right image according to a 3D format corresponding to the 3D image. Then, a third decoding sub-unit performs a management/control operation according to the left image or the right image, wherein the third decoding sub-unit is in the rear of the second decoding sub-unit in the sequence. In some embodiment, the second decoding sub-unit can put a tag of image type or information of image processing into a specific position of data corresponding to the left image or the right image, for subsequent decoding sub-units to process the image.
US08781227B2 Recognition of numerical characters in digital images
Recognition of numerical characters is disclosed, including: extracting a subimage from a received image comprising information pertaining to a plurality of numerical characters, wherein the extracted subimage is associated with one of the plurality of numerical characters; and performing recognition based at least in part on a set of topological information associated with the subimage, including: processing the subimage to obtain the set of topological information associated with the subimage; comparing the set of topological information associated with the subimage with a preset set of stored topological information; determining that in the event that the set of topological information associated with the subimage matches the preset set of stored topological information, the subimage is associated with a recognized numerical character associated with the preset set of stored topological information.
US08781223B2 Image processing system and image processing method
An image processing system and an image processing method are provided. The image processing method includes following steps. Transformation matrixes between color channel images are obtained according to feature points in the color channel images. A transformation matrix having the minimum distortion is selected to determine a shift datum color channel image. The other color channel images are transformed according to the transformation matrixes corresponding to the shift datum color channel image. The shift datum color channel image and the transformed color channel images are combined to obtain a shift calibrated image. Thereby, the dispersion problem is resolved.
US08781218B2 Receptive field learning for pooled image features
Systems and methods are disclosed for image classification by receiving an overcomplete set of spatial regions, jointly optimizing the classifier and the pooling region for each pooled feature; and performing incremental feature selection and retraining using a grafting process to efficiently train the classifier.
US08781215B2 Image processing apparatus and control method thereof
An image processing apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The an image processing apparatus includes: a depth map estimating unit which estimates a depth map of a stereoscopic image; a region setup unit which sets up a region in the stereoscopic image; and a 3D effect adjusting unit which determines a difference in a depth level between the setup region and a surrounding region other than the setup region based on the estimated depth map, and adjusts a 3D effect of the stereoscopic image based on the determined difference in the depth level.
US08781213B2 Optical alignment systems for forming LEDs having a rough surface
An alignment system for aligning a wafer when lithographically fabricating LEDs having an LED wavelength λLED is disclosed. The system includes the wafer. The wafer has a roughened alignment mark with a root-mean-square (RMS) surface roughness σS. The system has a lens configured to superimpose an image of the reticle alignment mark with an image of the roughened alignment mark. The roughened alignment marked image is formed with alignment light having a wavelength λA that is in the range from about 2σS to about 8σS. An image sensor detects the superimposed image. An image processing unit processes the detected superimposed image to measure an alignment offset between the wafer and the reticle.
US08781206B1 Optical imaging sensor for a document processing device
A document processing device includes a controller and a sensor arrangement. The sensor arrangement illuminates a surface of documents. The gradient index lens array collects light reflected from the documents and transmits at least a portion of the collected reflected light onto a photodetector array. The photodetector array generates one or more electrical signals in response to a gradient index lens transmitting light thereon. The controller derives data including image data from the one or more electrical signals. The image data is reproducible as a visually readable image of the surface of the documents. The visually readable image has a resolution such that alphanumeric characters can be extracted from the visually readable image in response to the document remaining within a depth of field of the gradient index lens array while being transported via the transport mechanism. The depth of field is at least about 0.03 inches.
US08781205B2 Authentication of security documents, in particular banknotes
There is described a method for checking the authenticity of security documents, in particular banknotes, wherein authentic security documents comprise security features (41-49; 30; 10; 51, 52) printed, applied or otherwise provided on the security documents, which security features comprise characteristic visual features intrinsic to the processes used for producing the security documents. The method comprises the step of digitally processing a sample image of at least one region of interest (R.o.I.) of the surface of a candidate document to be authenticated, which region of interest encompasses at least part of the security features, the digital processing including performing a decomposition of the sample image by means of wavelet transform (WT) of the sample image. Such decomposition of the sample image is based on a wavelet packet transform (WPT) of the sample image, preferably a so-called two-dimensional shift invariant WPT (2D-SIWPT).
US08781203B2 Method and apparatus for determining at least one hemoglobin related parameter of a whole blood sample
A method and apparatus for determining at least one hemoglobin related parameter of a whole blood sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) depositing the sample into an analysis chamber adapted to quiescently hold the sample for analysis, the chamber defined by an interior surface of a first panel, and an interior surface of a second panel, and the chamber has a height extending between the interior surfaces of the panels, wherein the chamber is configured to increase the oxygenation state of the sample to a substantially oxygenated state within a predetermined amount of time after entry into the chamber; b) imaging the at least one red blood cell contacting the interior surfaces, and producing image signals; c) determining an optical density of at least a portion of the imaged red blood cell contacting both interior surfaces; and d) determining the at least one hemoglobin related parameter of the red blood cell contacting the interior surfaces, using the determined optical density and a molar extinction coefficient for oxygenated hemoglobin.
US08781185B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
According to one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes an imaging unit and an application region calculating unit. The application region calculating unit automatically calculates an application region of a prepulse according to a region of interest of magnetic resonance imaging based on image data including the region of interest that are acquired before the application of the prepulse. The imaging unit performs magnetic resonance imaging of an object involving the application of the prepulse.
US08781179B2 System and method to assign a digital image to a face cluster
A method includes accessing a digital image including a plurality of faces including a first face and a second face. The method includes identifying a plurality of identification regions of the digital image including a first identification region associated with the first face and a second identification region associated with the second face. The method also includes assigning the digital image to a first face cluster of a plurality of face clusters when a difference between data descriptive of the first identification region and data descriptive of a face cluster identification region of the first face cluster satisfies a threshold. The method further includes assigning the digital image to a second face cluster of the plurality of face clusters based at least partially on a frequency of the second face and the first face appearing together in an image.
US08781173B2 Computing high dynamic range photographs
Computing high dynamic range photographs is described for example, to enable high ranges of intensities to be represented in a single image. In various embodiments two or more photographs of the same scene taken at different exposure levels are combined in a way which takes into account intensity or other gradients in the images to form a high dynamic range image. In embodiments geodesic distances (which take into account intensity or other image gradients) are computed and used to form weights for a weighted aggregation of the photographs. In some embodiments a user configurable parameter is operable to control a degree of mixing of the photographs as the high dynamic range image is formed.
US08781171B2 Object recognition in low-lux and high-lux conditions
A system for capturing image data for gestures from a passenger or a driver in a vehicle with a dynamic illumination level comprises a low-lux sensor equipped to capture image data in an environment with an illumination level below an illumination threshold, a high-lux sensor equipped to capture image data in the environment with the illumination level above the illumination threshold, and an object recognition module for activating the sensors. The object recognition module determines the illumination level of the environment and activates the low-lux sensor if the illumination level is below the illumination threshold. If the illumination level is above the threshold, the object recognition module activates the high-lux sensor.
US08781165B2 Method and apparatus for displacement determination by motion compensation
Motion estimator apparatus and methods are presented in which a fully constrained nonlinear system of equations combing forward and backward displaced frame difference (DFD) equations with a plurality of displacement vector invariant (DVI) equations is solved using the input data from two image frames without approximation and without imposing any additional constraints or assumptions to obtain an estimated displacement field. Also presented is an adaptive framework for solving a system of motion estimation equations.
US08781157B2 Analyzer of ultrasonic flaw detection image
A flaw detection image analyzer (10) takes in an inspection procedure command stored in a flaw detection condition database (40), takes in a flaw detection image signal corresponding to a flaw detection image indicated by the taken inspection procedure command from a database (50) for flaw detection image signal, and displays the flaw detection image based on the flaw detection image signal on a display (30), with a display range and a contrast indicated by the inspection procedure command in an arrangement pattern of image indicated by the inspection procedure command. Consequently, optimum images can be displayed sequentially with optimum arrangement pattern, optimum display range and contrast according to a flaw to be inspected when a flaw is detected by observing an ultrasonic flaw detection image.
US08781152B2 Identifying visual media content captured by camera-enabled mobile device
Automatic identification of media content is at least partially based upon visually capturing a still or video image of media content being presented to a user via another device. The media content can be further refined by determining location of the user, capturing an audio portion of the media content, date and time of the capture, or profile/behavioral characteristics of the user. Identifying the media content can require (1) distinguishing a rectangular illumination the corresponds to a video display; (2) decoding a watermark presented within the displayed image/video; (3) characterizing the presentation sufficiently for determining a particular time stamp or portion of a program; and (4) determining user setting preferences for viewing the program (e.g., close captioning, aspect ratio, language). Thus identified, the media content appropriately formatted can be received for continued presentation on a user interface of the mobile device.
US08781140B2 Compact, highly integrated microphone assembly
A microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphone assembly includes a MEMS structure, a base portion, and a lid. The MEMS structure includes a diaphragm that responds to changes in sound pressure and the MEMS structure contributes to a vertical dimension of the assembly. The MEMS structure is supported by the base portion. The lid partially but not completely encloses the MEMS structure, such that the portion of the MEMS structure is not surrounded by the lid, the lid, and the base portion form a boundary with and are exposed to the environment external to the microphone assembly.
US08781134B2 Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding stereo audio
A method of encoding stereo audio that minimizes a number of pieces of side information required for parametric-encoding and parametric-decoding of the stereo audio. The side information may include parameters about interchannel intensity difference (IID), interchannel correlation (IC), overall phase difference (OPD), and interchannel phase difference (IPD), which are required to restore the mono audio to the stereo audio.
US08781132B2 Method and device for managing encrypted group rekeying in a radio network link layer encryption system
Disclosed is a radio system, method, and device for a mobile station to indicate to an authentication controller, in an authentication response message, which of a plurality of group key link layer encryption keys (GKEK)s it currently has in its possession, and to work with the authentication controller to more intelligently manage multiple GKEKs. The authentication controller can use the information obtained from the authentication response message to determine which of a plurality of GKEKs to advertise in a key announcement broadcast. Furthermore, individual requests for a future LLE key (LEK) to be used for link layer encryption (LLE) encrypting and decrypting inbound and outbound group communications between base station(s) and mobile station(s) are responded to with a broadcast GKEK-encrypted transmission including the future LEK. Only the requesting mobile station transmits an acknowledgment packet in response to the broadcast.
US08781131B2 Key distribution method and system
The present invention discloses a key distribution method and system, and the method includes: a card issuer management platform generating initial keys of a supplementary security domain corresponding to an application provider, importing the initial keys and a Trust Point's public key for external authentication to the supplementary security domain, and sending the information of the supplementary security domain and the initial keys to the application provider management platform (202); the application provider management platform receiving the information of the supplementary security domain and the initial keys, and selecting the supplementary security domain of the smart card by a service terminal according to the information of the supplementary security domain and the initial keys (204); the application provider management platform generating a public key and a private key of the supplementary security domain as well as a certificate of the supplementary security domain, and encrypting the public key and the private key as well as the certificate of the supplementary security domain and then sending them to the supplementary security domain (206). Through the above processing, the security of the key distribution for the supplementary security domain can be improved.
US08781130B2 Access control
Control apparatus (30), systems and methods for enabling access to one or more information systems (36) by one or more entities (34) on a path across a supply network to be controlled, access to the or each information system (36) being policed by means of an access-policer (38), the network comprising: at least one token-issuer (32) operable to issue an access pre-authorization token, the access pre-authorization token having associated therewith an information identifier and a digital signature, and to forward the access pre-authorization token towards one or more entities (34) on a path across the network; and at least one receiver entity (34) operable to receive an access pre-authorization token issued by the at least one token-issuer (32).
US08781128B2 Method and device for automatically distributing updated key material
A method for handling an encrypted message received on an electronic device that has not been encrypted using a current public key. The portable electronic device automatically generates a reply message to the sender in response to determining that the message has not been encrypted with the current public key. The reply message may contain the current public key of the recipient device, and may request the sender to resend the message encrypted with the current public key.
US08781124B2 Protection of a ciphering key against unidirectional attacks
A method for protecting a key implemented, by an electronic circuit, in a symmetrical algorithm for ciphering or deciphering a message, including the steps of: selecting in non-deterministic fashion a pair of different masks from a set of at least four different masks, the masks having the property of representing different bit combinations, at least by pairs of bits; executing the algorithm twice by applying, to the key or to the message, one of the masks of the selected pair at each execution; checking the consistency between the two executions.
US08781112B2 Signed montgomery arithmetic
A system and method configured for applying Montgomery style reduction directly to negative quantities as well as positive values, producing the new form which does not require conditional operations to move values into the positive range. The low-order components of the resulting product, or partially completed product, can be reduced either by the addition of multiples of the modulus, as is usual in the standard Montgomery multiplication which accepts positive values, or by subtracting multiples of the modulus, which of course depends on the actual computation. Signed versions of the Montgomery values in a Montgomery computation are used to avoid the conditional addition and subtraction that can leak information, for example, using a two's complement representation.
US08781099B2 Dynamic force management system
Network workforce data for a first group of agents that work during a first time interval is received at a networked computer. The network workforce data for the first group of agents is fitted to a predetermined parameterized function using a least square fit that minimizes the square error. In a second time interval, a derivative of the predetermined parameterized function is taken to determine a number of agents to work during a third time interval. The determined number of agents from the workforce are assigned to a second group of agents to work during the third time interval.
US08781093B1 Reputation based message analysis
Described herein are devices and techniques for detecting an inbound message (e.g., text, voice, voicemail) directed from an identifiable message sender to one of a collection of message recipients (e.g., by telephone numbers). The message is selectively forwarded to the message recipient's communication devices in response to a reputation score of the identifiable message sender. The devices and techniques described herein are further adapted to automatically determine or otherwise update the reputation score of the identifiable message sender, for example, in response to previously detected incoming messages. User preferences can be provided to override one or more of forwarding and blocking of detected messages regardless of any automatically obtained reputation score.
US08781088B2 Communication device, and computer readable medium and control method for the same
A communication device configured to be connected with a public network and an IP network is provided, the communication device including a communication controller that selectively performs one of a public line communication process via the public network and an IP communication process via the IP network. When determining that a redialing process to reattempt the IP communication process via the IP network is unlikely to be successfully performed, the communication controller performs a fallback process to attempt the public line communication process via the public network after switching from the IP communication process via the IP network to the public line communication process via the public network, in a situation where a setting for performing the fallback process is configured. When determining that the redialing process via the IP network is not unlikely to be successfully performed, the communication controller performs the redialing process.
US08781079B2 Visual voicemail proxy server
A server device receives a request for voicemail information from a user device, retrieves the voicemail information, performs data calls to another server device to obtain information to construct a visual user interface that includes data regarding the voicemail information, constructs the visual user interface using the obtained information, and transmits the constructed visual user interface to the user device.
US08781077B2 Method and system for validating channel discrepancies
An approach for analyzing data generated by a plurality of provisioning systems to validate the status of various assets of a service provider network is disclosed. A validation system retrieves provisioning data from a plurality of different provisioning systems and status data from a status monitoring system. The validation system analyzes the data to validate a discrepancy between the status and the current provisioning of the plurality of assets.
US08781071B2 Method for extracting a primary diffusion spectrum
A method and device for spectrometry analysis and for extracting a primary diffuse spectrum from a diffusion spectrum of diffuse radiation, according to a diffusion angle, coming from a material exposed to incident radiation through a surface, that includes the application of a spectral response function organized in the form of a matrix (M), known as a correlation matrix, of which each value aij corresponds with a number of detected photons, with energy Ei, constituting the multiple diffuse radiation, when a photon is detected, with energy Ej, of the primary diffuse radiation.
US08781057B2 Control system and method for pressurized water reactor (PWR) and PWR systems including same
A pressurized water reactor (PWR) comprises a pressure vessel, a reactor core disposed in the pressure vessel, an integral or external pressurizer, primary coolant disposed in the pressure vessel and heated by operation of the reactor core, and a steam generator disposed in the pressure vessel and configured to convert secondary coolant in the form of feedwater into steam by heat transfer from the primary coolant heated by operation of the reactor core to secondary coolant in the steam generator. A controller is configured to perform a PWR control method including the operations of (i) adjusting one or more parameters of the PWR and (ii) adjusting a pressurizer water level setpoint based on a predicted direction and magnitude of change of a pressurizer water level of the PWR predicted to result from the adjusting (i).
US08781053B2 Clock reproducing and timing method in a system having a plurality of devices
A system includes a memory controller and a plurality of semiconductor devices that are series-connected. Each of the devices has memory core for storing data. The memory controller provides a clock signal for synchronizing the operations of the devices. Each device includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) that is selectively enabled or disabled by a PLL enable signal. In each group, the PLLs of a selected number of devices are enabled by PLL enable signals and the other devices are disabled. The enabled PLL provides a plurality of reproduced clock signals with a phase shift of a multiple of 90° in response to an input clock signal. The data transfer is synchronized with at least one of the reproduced clock signals. In the devices of disabled PLLs, the data transfer is synchronized with the input clock signal. The enabled PLL and disabled PLL cause the devices to be the source and the common synchronous clocking, respectively. The devices can be grouped. The devices of one group can be structured by multiple chip packages.
US08781052B2 Physical layer channel synchronization method for high bit-rate cable transmissions
A system and method are described to provide a next generation cable gateway/modem based on the DOCSIS standard with a scheme to synchronously combine channels in the physical layer to increase overall bit rates for coaxial cable data transmission. The systems and methods synchronize the counters associated with multiple channels, including continuity counters, at the transmitter to zero and then allow the counters on individual channels to increment individually. At the receiver, individual channel delays of individual channels will be thus recognizable based on the information provided by the counters associated with each channel. A buffer at the receiver is informed and used to individually delay one or more of the multiple channels to marry up continuity counter values. In this manner, the buffer acts to essentially equalize delays in individual channels with the continuity counter representing the mechanism for specifying the individual delays for the separate channels.
US08781039B2 Receiver and method for receiving a composite signal
A first signal generator is arranged to generate a first signal. A data storage device is configured to provide a null code. A multiplexer is capable of multiplexing the first signal and the null code consistent with a predetermined time sequence for expression of the null code in a produced precursor signal. A ranging code generator is arranged for generating a ranging code. A mixer is capable of accepting the ranging code and the precursor signal and outputting a locally generated reference signal. After down-conversion and digitization of the received composite signal, the code correlator can correlate the digital received composite signal to the locally generated reference signal to decode at least a first portion of the received composite signal, while leaving a second portion of the received composite signal undecoded.
US08781038B2 Wireless receiving apparatus and method
According to one embodiment, a wireless receiving apparatus includes a calculation module, a first determination module and a second determination module. The second determination module determines a length of interleaver blocks by determining whether or not a maximum value of second correlation value sequence is not less than a second threshold value within a first period, the second correlation value sequence being generated by combining third correlation values being between the receiving signal and each of reference signals, and to determine an initial position of the interleaver blocks based on a position of the maximum value.
US08781034B2 Method and mobile device for joint cell identity detection and cell measurement for an LTE system
The present invention relates to a method and system for communication in a mobile device. First and second OFDM symbols containing first and second received cell-specific reference subcarriers, respectively, are received. First and second received cell-specific reference subcarriers of the first and second OFDM symbols are extracted. A pair of received subcarriers is generated by computing the scalar product of the first received cell-specific reference subcarrier and the conjugate of the second received cell-specific reference subcarrier. A reference sequence is provided, that contains pairs of reference subcarriers for multiple, possible combinations of cell-IDs. The pair of received subcarriers is correlated with each pair of reference subcarriers of the reference sequence to generate cell-specific correlation values associated with each cell-ID of a plurality of cell-specific correlation values. The cell-ID of the strongest cell is determined by searching for the highest correlation value.
US08781028B2 Integrated receiving circuit and method for radiofrequency and high speed signals
Integrated receiving circuit for radiofrequency signals an amplifying element using the multiplication zone of a reverse biased semiconductor junction operating in Geiger mode for amplifying an input radiofrequency signal (Vin) and converting it into a digital signal. And a digital part for digitally processing the digital signal.
US08781016B2 Channel estimation for low-overhead communication in a network
A receiving station receives a waveform that includes at least a first symbol of a predetermined symbol length and comprising a first set of frequency components at predetermined carrier frequencies modulated with preamble information and a second set of frequency components at predetermined carrier frequencies modulated with information. The receiving station processes sampled values from the first symbol based on channel characteristics estimated from the first set of frequency components to decode information encoded on a first subset of the second set of frequency components. The receiving station processes sampled values from the first symbol based on channel characteristics estimated from the first set of frequency components and the first subset of the second set of frequency components to decode information encoded on a second subset of the second set of frequency components.
US08781011B2 Receiver parametric covariance estimation for precoded MIMO transmissions
A model-based technique for estimating signal impairments that can accommodate various transmitted signal configurations, including closed-loop transmit diversity signals and pre-coded MIMO signals, is disclosed. In an exemplary method, an impairment model is constructed for a received composite information signal comprising at least a first data stream transmitted from first and second antennas according to a first antenna weighting vector. The impairment model includes one or more model terms scaled by corresponding scaling parameters, wherein the model terms capture propagation channel effects and are independent of the first antenna weighting vector, and wherein the scaling parameters capture effects of the first antenna weighting vector. A parametric estimate of the impairment covariance is calculated using the impairment model.
US08781004B1 System and method for encoding video using variable loop filter
A system and method for encoding and decoding a video image having a plurality of frames is disclosed. The method includes a loop filter, which is used to reduce blocking artifacts in reconstructed frames. A quality value is determined for each block in the reconstructed frame and each associated predictor block. A variable incremental loop filter strength is calculated for each inter-predicted block using at least one of the quality values. The variable incremental loop filter strength is used during encoding by the loop filter to filter the reconstructed frame.
US08780990B2 Imaging device for motion vector estimation using images captured at a high frame rate with blur detection and method and integrated circuit performing the same
An imaging device includes a frame rate conversion unit synthesizing images captured at a second frame rate higher than a first frame rate to convert the images into a synthesized image having the first frame and a motion estimation unit performing motion estimation between consecutive frames of the images captured at the second frame. The imaging device also includes a motion vector synthesis unit synthesizing motion vectors having the second frame rate, to generate a synthesized motion vector of a target macroblock in the synthesized image, a motion blur amount determination unit counting, in an area surrounding the target macroblock, the number of macroblocks having the same synthesized motion vector as the target macroblock and comparing a value derived from the number of counted macroblocks with a threshold value, and a motion vector selection unit selecting the synthesized motion vector when the derived value determined to exceed the threshold value.
US08780980B2 Video image encoding device
In a variable length encoding for video data, the compression rate of video image encoding is increased by improving the level encoding method. A CAVLC encoding unit acquires coefficients obtained by orthogonally transforming and quantizing video image data in each block unit, determines an encoding mode of variable length encoding among those in a table_A and a table_B, or a mixture thereof by a level encoding mode controller and outputs the determination result to a level_prefix unit. In the table_B, a fixed_length bit string is allocated to a level_prefix which is at least a prescribed value. The level_prefix unit performs a level_prefix encoding in the determined encoding mode to output the result to an output control unit.
US08780979B2 Quantized coefficient coding apparatus and quantized coefficient coding method
A quantized coefficient coding apparatus used in a media coding system includes a determination module, a coding mode arbitration module and a coding module. The determination module determines whether a set of quantized coefficients are defined in a predetermined variable length coding (VLC) table to generate a determination result. When the determination result of the determination module is negative, the coding mode arbitration module determines a best coding mode corresponding to the set of quantized coefficients from a plurality of predetermined coding modes. The coding mode encodes the set of quantized coefficients according to the best coding mode.
US08780978B2 Controlling video encoding using audio information
A video encoder may reduce bandwidth consumption by skipping encoding of or reducing an encoding rate of video frames corresponding to silent audio frames, that is, audio frames that do not include speech data. In one example, an apparatus includes a video encoder comprising a coding unit configured to encode video data in a first or second mode and a mode select unit configured to receive an indication of whether encoded audio data corresponding to the video data to be encoded includes speech data. When the audio data includes speech data, the mode select unit selects the first mode, and when the audio data does not include speech data, the mode select unit selects the second mode. The second mode consumes relatively less bandwidth, e.g., by reducing a bitrate, modifying a quantization parameter to increase quantization, and/or reducing a frame rate relative to the first mode.
US08780976B1 Method and apparatus for encoding video using granular downsampling of frame resolution
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for encoding a video signal having a plurality of frames, each frame having a plurality of blocks and an original resolution. The method includes identifying a first frame from the plurality of frames that is predicted using inter prediction, determining a first variance for the first frame using a processor. selecting a first frame resolution from one of: (a) the original resolution or (b) a resolution lower than the original resolution for the first frame based on the first variance, and encoding the first frame using the selected first frame resolution.
US08780965B2 Coordinating data calls on a mobile device with multiple modems
A method for inter-modem coordination is described. A first data connection to a network in a first network coverage area using a first air interface provided by a first modem is established. The method also includes detecting a second network coverage area with a second air interface provided by a second modem. A data call state of the second modem is determined by the first modem. The first data connection to the network by the first modem is terminated when the data call state of the second modem is no data call. A data call state of the first modem is determined by the second modem. A second data connection to the network using the second air interface provided by the second modem is initiated when the data call state of the first modem is no data call.
US08780963B1 Adaptive filtering for canceling leaked transmit signal distortion from a received RF signal in an RF transceiver
Adaptive filtering is used to substantially cancel distortion in radio frequency (RF) signals. Such adaptive filtering can be used in an RF transmitting device to pre-compensate an RF signal with compensation (inverse) distortion to cancel inherent transmission path distortion from the RF signal. Adaptive filtering can also be used in a multi-carrier RF receiving device to cancel from a given carrier signal distortion due to cross talk from adjacent carrier signals. Adaptive filtering in an RF transceiver can be used to cancel from a received RF signal distortion arising from leakage of a transmit signal into the receive path.
US08780957B2 Optimal weights for MMSE space-time equalizer of multicode CDMA system
Aspects of the invention provide an enhanced chip-level linear space-time equalizer 118 for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) multi-code CDMA systems reusing same spreading codes in different transmit antennas 114. Reuse of the spreading codes at the transmitter 104, 204 creates an on-time inter-stream interference component (or cross-talk among distinct transmit antenna signals) which reuse the same spreading code as the desired signal in the soft metric sequence of the MIMO CDMA receiver after MMSE space-time equalization. The equalizer 118 has a MMSE weighting vector that takes the despreading effect into account.
US08780953B2 Dynamic assignment of frequency hopping sequences in a communication network
In one embodiment, a management device determines a topology of nodes in a network. Based on the topology, frequency hopping sequences are assigned (and notified) to the nodes such that each particular node of a certain set of the nodes is assigned a frequency hopping sequence on which to transmit that is different than frequency hopping sequences of neighbors and hidden neighbors of that particular node. In another embodiment, a transmitting node first transmits a transmission indication signal on its particular frequency band based on its frequency hopping sequence, and then transmits a message on the particular frequency band. In a further embodiment, a receiving node listening to a plurality of frequency bands may detect the transmission indication signal on the particular frequency band. In response, the receiving node filters out all frequency bands other than the particular frequency band, and receives the following transmission on that particular frequency band.
US08780952B2 Roof system for electric arc furnace and method for manufacturing the same
A roof system for an electric arc furnace includes a skew removably attached to the electric arc furnace, a lining of refractory material affixed to the skew, and a delta composed of a refractory material. The delta has at least one aperture capable of receiving an electrode. The delta fits onto and is supported by the refractory lining that is affixed to the skew.
US08780945B2 Discovery protocol
A method and device may comprise transmitting, via a transmitter, a plurality of transmit pings at a transmit interval. A receiver may listen, for a live ping and the receiver may be configured to be turned on at a beginning of the assess interval, and off at an end of the detect duration. The receiver may further receive the live ping. After receiving the live ping, transmission of a new ping may be delayed for a delay duration. The new pings may be transmitted at the transmit interval.
US08780939B2 System and method for transmitting audio data over serial link
System and method for transmitting video and audio data words via a serial data link. A transmitting device includes a first module for generating an audio data frame comprising an audio data word and a frame separation code; and a second module for generating high speed data frames each comprising at least a portion of a video data word and only a portion of the audio data frame, and for transmitting the high speed data frames via the serial data link. A receiving device includes a first module for forming the video data word from one or more high speed data frames, and a second module for forming the audio data frame from portions of high speed data frames. The second module may extract the audio data word from the audio data frame, and generate an audio clock based on a rate in which audio data words are received.
US08780930B2 System and method for removing PDCCH detection errors in a telecommunications network
A system, method and node for unambiguous encoding of Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) channels in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) telecommunications system to remove detection errors. The method includes modifying a size of a circular buffer where the coded bits are collected to avoid repetition of the coded bits in consecutive subset of the control channel elements allocated to the PDCCH. The size of the circular buffer is selected so that it is not equal to the number of coded bits output from the encoder. Coded bits can be deleted from or added to the coded bit sequence depending on the size of the circular buffer.
US08780928B2 Method and system for determination of routes in LEO satellite networks with bandwidth and priority awareness and adaptive rerouting
In Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks data routes for point to point and point to multipoint communication sessions in LEO satellite networks are determined by considering session bandwidth, priority, and the constantly changing terminal-satellite and satellite-satellite connectivity. Multiple routes are computed for a session to facilitate automatic adaptive rerouting by satellite payloads when they encounter network failures or congestion conditions.
US08780915B2 Method and system for tagging packets routed to customer premises devices via clusters of dedicated customer interfaces
A method of routing traffic to customer premises devices (CPDs), each CPD being reachable via a dedicated customer interface (DCI) from among a plurality of DCIs grouped into clusters included in respective outside plant units (OPUs). Packets destined for the CPDs are received. A destination DCI and a destination OPU for each packet is determined. The destination DCI for a particular packet destined for a particular CPD is determined by identifying the DCI via which the particular CPD is reachable. The destination OPU for the particular packet is determined by identifying the OPU that includes the destination DCI. For each particular OPU that is the destination OPU for one or more packets, the packets are buffered and transmitted via an interface for the particular OPU. For each particular DCI that is the destination DCI for one or more packets, tagging each packet with an indication of the particular DCI.
US08780911B2 Link aggregation based on port and protocol combination
A network switch suitable for receiving packets of information from and the packets of information to a communications network includes a plurality of physical ports, packet processing functionality and memory. The packet processing functionality operates on information stored in memory to determine the LAG, from among two or more LAGs, over which a packet received by the switch should be correctly forwarded. The switch memory stores a plurality of LAG tables, each one of which can include one or more entries comprising a physical port number and a packet parameter that are used by the packet processing functionality to determinately identify the correct LAG over which to forward a packet.
US08780909B2 System and method for modifying media protocol feedback loop based on mobile system information
Systems and methods for modifying a media protocol based on subscriber and network performance information is disclosed. Media protocols such as adaptive bitrate protocol can adjust bit rates based on conditions perceived at the mobile device and with a goal of obtaining the highest bit rate possible. The media protocols residing on the mobile device do not have access to network performance information that can change rapidly and impact the experience at the mobile device. For example, congestion, radio air link interference, handoffs, and quality of service parameters can all impact the experience a user has when accessing media files from a mobile device. The requests made by a mobile device can be modified to take into account these factors to enhance the user experience.
US08780904B2 Graceful network merge by performing a graceful transition of conflicting routing identifiers
A first switch of a first network may receive a second set of information including routing identifiers associated with a second network, wherein the first switch of the first network is connected to a second switch of the second network. The first switch of the first network may transmit a first set of information including routing identifiers associated with the first network. The first switch may determine whether a conflict exists between the second set of information and the first set of information. A conflicting one of the routing identifiers associated with the first or second network may be transitioned to a non-conflicting routing identifier according to the determination of whether a conflict exists between the first set of information and the second set of information.
US08780894B2 System enabling IP (internet protocol) services for user terminal based on SIP (session initiation protocol) signaling
The invention relates to a system enabling IP (internet protocol) services for user terminals based on SIP (session initiation protocol) signaling applicable in fixed and mobile terminals (1) of user (2) provided with means of access to an IP network (5) connected to an IMS network (6) communicating with other terminals (1) of user (2) or other services (3). It comprises a communications interface (15) connecting an application processor (7) with at least one access module (26-34) connected to an SIP signaling module (10) for the interaction of the application processor (7) by means of events with other terminals (1) of user (2) and with services (3). It comprises an event dispatcher module (19) receiving the produced events and in which the processor (7) loads filtration criteria of the events required by each application, to send each received event to the applications (8) requiring it.
US08780887B2 Method of network-based communication in virtual network environment
In a plurality of virtual tunnel routers including a first virtual tunnel router and a second virtual tunnel router, the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router request virtual network prefix information from a tunnel mapping controller. When the tunnel mapping controller generates virtual network prefix information of the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router, respectively, and transmits the same along with information of a list of adjacent virtual tunnel routers, the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router create a tunnel. With the tunnel established, the virtual network prefix information received by the first virtual tunnel router and second virtual tunnel router, respectively, is linked so that direct communication can be performed between the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router.
US08780879B2 Frequency band adjusting method, communication apparatus and frequency band adjusting apparatus
A frequency band adjusting method, in a first communication system and a second communication system sharing usable frequency band with each other, for adjusting the frequency band used by a first communication apparatus in the first communication system, comprising: determining whether or not increase in the frequency band used by the first communication apparatus is necessary based on the frequency band used by the first communication apparatus and the number of access to the first communication apparatus; determining whether or not increase in the frequency band used by the first communication apparatus is to be approved, according as there is or there is not unused frequency band not used by a second communication apparatus in the second communication system having coverage overlapping with the first communication apparatus; and, if increase is approved, increasing the frequency band used by the first communication apparatus.
US08780874B2 Wireless local area network
A wireless network includes a base transceiver station configured to transmit signals over a wireless connection to a plurality of terminals and receive signals over a wireless connection from a plurality of terminals. The terminal may transmit a connection request message including an identifier and a request to identify the new terminal to the network when the new terminal tries to access the wireless network. A base station or access point may receive or maintain information or a list regarding one or more new terminals attempting to access the wireless network. The base station or access point may receive a control command indicative of a selection of at least one terminal from the list. The base station or access point may connect the at least one terminal to the access point or network.
US08780873B2 Method for transmitting Media Access Control Protocol Data Unit
A method for transmitting a relatively large amount of data and an apparatus supporting the same are proposed. The data transmission method includes constructing a MAC PDU including an Advanced Generic MAC Header (AGMH) with a first length field, a MAC PDU Length Extended Header (MLEH) with a second length field, and payload, and transmitting the MAC PDU to a receiver. The first length field and the second length field are used for calculating a total length of the MAC PDU.
US08780862B2 VDL2 power control
Power control of a digital datalink system within an aeronautical telecommunication network is described herein. According to embodiments, the system is configured to calculate the transmission power of an air-based communication station, based on the transmission power used by a ground-based communication station, wherein the transmission power of the air-based communication station is sot to a decibel level higher than or equal to the transmission power of the ground-based communication station.
US08780857B2 Methods and apparatus for mobility support between network domains
Described aspects provide for improving the mobility of wireless communication devices between one network domain and another network domain, specifically, but not limited to, between a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and a cellular network and the like. Present aspects provide for services to be moved seamlessly and in a reliable manner between the cellular and WLAN domains in order to minimize service disruption for the end user and provide the requisite Quality of Service (QoS) for the different applications. The aspects herein presented provide for various mechanisms that serve to improve the decision points related to when and what technology each service is expected to be associated with and provides better techniques to move the wireless communication device between cellular and WLAN domains when in-traffic and when idle.
US08780855B2 Radio communication apparatus, radio communication system, and radio communication method
Radio communication apparatus perform communication by using a plurality of frequency bands. The radio communication apparatus transmits to the radio communication apparatus by using a first frequency band a control message including identification information indicating a second frequency band different from the first frequency band during a random access procedure. The radio communication apparatus receives the control message from the radio communication apparatus by using the first frequency band and performs data communication by using the second frequency band indicated by the identification information included in the control message.
US08780834B2 Center frequency control method in wireless access system
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus that supports a multi-carrier wireless access system for transmitting and receiving system information. The 1st embodiment of the present invention is a method for controlling a center frequency in a wireless access system comprising the steps of: receiving a control message including a 1st parameter which indicates a configuration of carrier groups and a 2nd parameter which indicates whether the center frequency is controlled from a base station; deriving the center frequency of carriers allocated to a mobile terminal by using the 1st parameter; and controlling the center frequency by using the 2nd parameter.
US08780833B2 Control channel monitoring apparatus in multi-carrier system and method thereof
The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a control channel and an apparatus thereof. A reference carrier is set, and then the multi-carrier sends blind decoding area information based on the reference carrier to monitor a control channel. A terminal monitors the control channel based on the blind decoding area information. The terminal performs blind decoding only for a component carrier required, and thus reduces power consumption and reception complexity.
US08780828B2 Cognitive radio device and method for determining channel occupancy
A detector module (100) is operable in a cognitive radio device and capable of determining channel occupancy. The detector module comprises a sensor (110) for sensing incumbent signals at a variable sensing threshold, wherein the sensor generates a first occupancy indication indicating whether the channel includes an incumbent signal having a sensing metric above the variable sensing threshold; a geo-location unit (120) for generating a second occupancy indication based on a location of the detector module; and a decision unit (130) for generating an occupancy decision based on both the first occupancy indication and the second occupancy indication.
US08780818B2 Method and device for allocating, by a telecommunication device, at least a first and a second consecutive channel elements of a group of channel elements of a channel resource to a destination
A method for allocating, by a telecommunication device, at least first and second channel elements of a group of channel elements of a channel resource to a destination. The telecommunication device: selects, for the first channel element, a first randomization function according to the position of the first channel element within the group of channel elements and according to the destination; selects, for the second channel element, a second randomization function according to the position of the second channel element within the group of channel elements and according to the destination; processes the data to be included in the first channel element by the first randomization function and processes the data to be included in the first channel element by the second randomization function; and transfers the processed data.
US08780816B2 Handling uplink grant in random access response
A wireless communication system provides for a random access channel (RACH) procedure for user equipment (UE) to request access to an uplink channel. From a physical layer perspective, an evolved Base Station (eNB) responds with a random access preamble and a random access response (RAR) of a fixed length message, such as 21 bits or 20 bits with a reserved bit for future extensions. In answer to a need that exists for an RAR to accommodate variations in system bandwidth, an approach to encoding a truncated resource block (RB) assignment of the RAR in manner in which the UE can interpret the RAR without loss of information. Thereby, needs for achieving RACH procedures and existing channel resources can be realized.
US08780815B2 Wireless resource allocation method in wireless communication system and wireless base station in the same
A wireless base station monitors a state of reception in a common transmission region (channel) in a wireless frame common to a plurality of wireless terminals, and controls allocation of a transmission region in the wireless frame to be used for transmission by the wireless terminals on the basis of a result of the monitoring and information about priority set to each of the plural wireless terminals. The wireless resource can be preferentially allocated to a wireless terminal of a user having high priority even when the common communication region used to obtain permission to send a bandwidth request is congested.
US08780806B2 Method, apparatus, and system for cooperative scheduling among multiple cells
A method of cooperation scheduling among multiple cells applied in a CoMP system is disclosed in the present invention, the method includes: a relay base station in a relay cell receiving the scheduling results of every cell in a cooperation set, wherein the relay cell is one of the cooperation cells in the cooperation set; the relay base station determining whether the scheduling results meets a preset iteration ending condition or not; and if the scheduling result does not meet the iteration ending condition, the relay base station sending rescheduling indication information which carries the scheduling result of every cooperation cell to the cooperation base station in every cooperation cell in the cooperation set, indicating to restart the scheduling of every cooperation cell according to the scheduling results. A base station and a cooperation scheduling system among multiple cells are disclosed in the present invention.
US08780801B2 Method for automatically configuring a neighbor cell list for a base station in a cellular wireless network
A method for automatically configuring a neighbor cell list, NCL, for a base station in a cellular wireless network, comprises receiving measurement reports for neighbor cells from a plurality of mobile stations. The reports are grouped by the neighbor cell with which each is associated. Neighbor cells are selected for inclusion in the NCL depending on the number of reports in their respective group.
US08780798B2 Method and devices for providing enhanced signaling
Methods and devices for introducing enhanced signals into a wireless environment. The enhanced signals provide for functionality that is not specified in a communication standard corresponding to a standard of a legacy terminal. The enhanced signals can be utilized by a non-legacy terminal. The legacy terminal is incapable of processing the enhanced signals and is unable to detect the presence of the enhanced signals.
US08780796B1 System and method for providing network initiated mobile access in a network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating an access request message associated with a mobile node, receiving an access accept message that includes domain name data associated with the mobile node, and communicating a packet data protocol (PDP) context accept message for a tracking PDP context associated with the mobile node without associating an internet protocol (IP) address to the mobile node. The tracking PDP context identifies that the mobile node is available to receive network data. In more particular embodiments, the access request message includes an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) associated with the mobile node, and the domain name data includes a fully qualified domain name. In still other embodiments, the tracking PDP includes a protocol configuration option (PCO) indicating that an IP address is not required for the mobile node.
US08780791B2 Method and apparatus for synchronizing card without traffic in multi-card multi-standby mobile terminal
A method and an apparatus for synchronizing card without traffic in multi-card multi-standby mobile terminal are disclosed. The method includes: receiving, by a non-traffic card, a synchronization channel signal from an adjacent network cell according to frequency point of a synchronization channel of the adjacent network cell prestored in the non-traffic card, when a traffic card is in traffic; if the receiving of the synchronization channel signal from the adjacent network cell fails, performing, by the non-traffic card, a full-frequency network searching after the traffic of the traffic card, for receiving a synchronization channel signal from a network cell of the network cells and establishing synchronization with the network cell corresponding to the synchronization channel signal. The method and apparatus avoid communication failures caused by the out-of-synchronization of non-traffic card during the traffic (i.e. service) of the traffic card.
US08780779B2 Apparatuses and methods for multi-antenna channel quality data acquisition in a broadcast/multicast service network
Various methods and apparatuses provide unicast channel data acquisition, such as antenna information, from MBMS subframes. A method of operating a wireless communications network infrastructure entity is disclosed comprising transmitting a subframe (300) comprising a unicast symbol (301) in a first predetermined symbol position within said subframe (300), said unicast symbol (301) comprising a first antenna reference information; defining said first antenna reference information as a second antenna reference information; and transmitting a second subframe comprising a second unicast symbol in a second predetermined symbol position within said second subframe, said second unicast symbol comprising said second antenna reference information.
US08780776B2 Realization of sleep and reconnecting functions on network system and the method
Realization of sleep and reconnecting functions is developed for network systems which comprise a number of end devices, network path sharing devices and coordinators. End devices and, even, network path sharing devices can be enforced to enter a sleep state at the first preset times and wake up at the second preset times. The two preset times are either assigned offline or adjustable at run time, according to the actual traffic load in the network. When a node wakes up, it checks whether the corresponding parent node is in the active state or not. If the corresponding parent node is not in the active state, the node will find a new parent node to establish a new transmission path.
US08780771B2 Cyclic delay diversity and precoding for wireless communication
Techniques for sending a MIMO transmission using a combination of cyclic delay diversity and precoding are described. A set of delays (e.g., zero delay, small delay, and large delay) for cyclic delay diversity and a set of precoding matrices may be supported. In one design, a Node B may select a delay specifically for a UE or for a set of UEs served by the Node B. In another design, a UE may evaluate different combinations of precoding matrix and delay, determine the combination with the best performance, and send this combination of precoding matrix and delay to the Node B. The Node B may perform precoding with the precoding matrix and then processing for cyclic delay diversity based on the selected delay. Alternatively, the Node B may perform processing for cyclic delay diversity based on the selected delay and then precoding with the precoding matrix.
US08780759B2 Method for transmitting and receiving group deletion information
A method for transmitting and receiving group configuration information on a user equipment is disclosed. The user equipment receives information on group deletion of the user equipment from a base station. The user equipment transmits an acknowledgement (ACK) signal about the received information on the group deletion to the base station. In this case, the information on the group deletion is configured as a separate extended header type or a type that an extended header is piggybacked on a specific downlink packet to be transmitted to the user equipment. Preferably, the user equipment decodes the received information on the group deletion of the user equipment. The user equipment successfully decodes the information on the group deletion and is then able to transmit the acknowledgement (ACK) signal about the received information on the group deletion to the base station.
US08780751B2 Communication terminal
When a determining unit (110) determines, based on the number of resource blocks in the entire system band and the number of resource blocks per subband, that a subband formed of a lower number of resource blocks than the number of resource blocks per subband is present, a channel capacity calculator (140), using a combined noise power which a noise power calculator (120) calculates based on reference signals included in the small subband and the adjacent subband and a combined signal power which a signal power calculator (130) calculates based on reference signals included in the small subband and the adjacent subband and the combined noise power, and a CQI transmitter (150) transmits the result to a radio base station.
US08780748B1 IPV4 and IPV6 single session on a home agent
Methods for registering a first internet protocol version registration request and a second internet protocol version registration request in a single binding on a home agent are provided. In embodiments, entries are recognized as sharing common information in an IPv4 and IPv6 binding table. The entries with common information are combined into one binding. Through the combining of the bindings, the IPv4 and IPv6 sessions are combined into one session.
US08780741B2 On-demand information retrieval using wireless communication devices
A method, information processing system, and computer program product provide on-demand information captured from wireless devices. An information request is received from an electronic device. At least one wireless communication device is identified from a set of wireless communication devices that is available to satisfy the information request. The information request is sent to the at least one wireless communication device in response to identifying the at least one wireless communication device. A set of information is received from the at least one wireless communication device that satisfies the information request. The set of information that has been received is sent to the electronic device. The information request comprises a request for a set of information of at least one information type and from a given geographical location.
US08780726B2 Remote communications diagnostics using analog data analysis
Systems and methods for remotely diagnosing problems across the communications lines of an environmental control network using analog data analysis are disclosed. An illustrative system can include an executive controller, a communications bus including a number of communications lines connecting the controller to one or more slave modules, an analog-to-digital converter, and a diagnostics module for diagnosing problems on one or more of the communications lines from a remote location. The analog input lines for the analog-to-digital converter can be connected to the communications lines and one or more other sources. The diagnostics module can include various diagnostic tools that can be used to diagnose problems occurring across the communications lines as well as to determine other information about the system.
US08780721B2 Network system, controller, method, and program
In shifting a flow that passes through a node onto a different alternative path which does not pass through the node passed through by the flow, a controller that controls a flow of each node under control determines alternative candidate paths, each of which has a same source and a same destination as a path associated with the flow to be shifted and does not pass through the node passed through by the flow to be shifted, determines the alternative path from the alternative candidate paths according to a predetermined criterion, and aggregates flows of each node on the alternative path.
US08780720B2 Radio access network load and condition aware traffic shaping control
Fine grained RAN aware traffic prioritization in spectrum constrained modern wireless networks which support differentiated service plans uses cell load metrics supplied to a Fine grained Traffic flow Prioritization Engine (FTPE) with and without the assistance from a client side collection module, Peer Agent (PA), at the mobile. Knowledge about a mobile's subscription plan is derived from a Subscription Profiles Repository (SPR). Dynamic control on traffic prioritization is applied through operator policy control engines, Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) module. The FTPE works with flexible flow aggregation rules to simplify and scale prioritizing, blocking, and deferring decisions. The FPTE may apply Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) techniques to identify application flows, and uses hierarchical queue disciplines to achieve the necessary flow control. The FPTE may also instead use an adjunct DPI to perform the flow identifications.
US08780718B2 Systems and methods for maintaining persistence by a backup virtual server
The present disclosure presents systems and methods for maintaining persistence of a backup virtual server on connections currently serviced by the backup virtual server. A virtual server operating on an intermediary network device and identified as a primary virtual server for a first connection may receive a request via the first connection. The intermediary device may forward the first request to a backup virtual server of the virtual server in response to identifying that the virtual server is unavailable. The intermediary device may later identify that the virtual server is available. The virtual server may establish a new connection responsive to receiving a connection request while the intermediary device may forward a second request received via the first connection to the backup virtual server instead of the virtual server responsive to identifying that the virtual server is configured not to preempt the backup virtual server from maintaining connections currently maintained by the backup virtual server.
US08780713B2 Link adaptation in wireless networks
An embodiment of a system for physical link adaptation in a wireless communication network such as e.g., a WLAN, selectively varies the physical mode of operation of the transmission channels serving the mobile stations in the network. The system includes an estimation module to evaluate transmission losses due to collisions as well as transmission losses due to channel errors over the transmission channel, and an adaptation module to select the physical mode of operation of the transmission channel as a function of the transmission losses due to collisions and to channel errors as evaluated by the estimation module.
US08780711B2 Coordinated back-off mechanism for path selection in hybrid communication networks
A coordinated back-off mechanism for automatic path selection for minimizing race conditions in hybrid communication networks is disclosed. A network device determines a stream medium utilization associated with packet streams for each priority class and network interface of a plurality of communication devices (including the network device). For each priority class and network interface, the communication devices are ranked according to the stream medium utilization. In response to determining that a medium utilization of a network interface exceeds a corresponding medium utilization threshold, the network device determines whether one of its network interfaces originates a packet stream with the greatest stream medium utilization value for a selected priority class. If so, path selection operations are executed to reduce the medium utilization associated with network interface below the medium utilization threshold. Otherwise, a back-off period is calculated based on the ranking associated with the network device for the selected priority class.
US08780693B2 Coding approach for a robust and flexible communication protocol
A coding approach for a robust and flexible network communication protocol is described. By using coding, it is possible to eliminate the need to track packet identities, and hence, it is possible to reduce coordination overhead associated with many conventional protocols. The method and system described herein takes advantage of multiple paths, interfaces, mediums, servers, and storage locations available in a network. The proposed protocol allows quick response to congestion by load balancing over different network resources. The method also enables soft vertical hand-overs across heterogeneous networks. In one embodiment, a media file is divided into chunks and transmitted using a transport protocol tailored to meet delay requirements of media streaming applications. Also described are different coding strategies for chunk delivery based upon an urgency level of each chunk.
US08780691B2 System and method for applying multi-tone OFDM based communications within a prescribed frequency range
According to one embodiment of the invention, an integrated circuit comprises an encoding module, a modulation module and a spectral shaped module. The encoding module includes an interleaver that adapted to operate in a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode. The interleaver performs repetitive encoding when placed in the second mode. The modulation module is adapted to compensate for attenuations that are to be realized during propagation of a transmitted signal over the power line. The spectral shaped module is adapted to compensate for amplitude distortion and further compensates for attenuations that will be realized during propagation of the transmitted signal over the power line.
US08780683B2 Information recording medium, tracking method, and optical information apparatus
An optical disc (120) has a first mark (131) disposed at the center of a track, a second mark (132) disposed away from the center of the track in a tracking direction thereof by a distance b1, and disposed away from the first mark (131) in the direction along the track by a distance L, and a third mark (133) disposed away from the center of the track in the tracking direction opposite to that of the second mark (132) by a distance b2, and disposed away from the first mark (131) in the direction along the track by a distance L2. The second and third marks (132) and (133) generate scattered light depending on the distance between a scattering medium (103) and each of the marks by irradiating the scattering medium (103) in an optical information apparatus with light. The distances b1 and b2 are smaller than 50 nm.
US08780682B2 Rotary head data storage and retrieval system and method for data erasure
A data storage and retrieval system includes a head carriage unit adapted for rotational motion and having multiple heads disposed at a working surface, the head carriage unit adapted for rotational motion. The system also includes a tape drive unit configured to move a tape media past the working surface of the head carriage unit, the tape media having a width approximately equal to a width of the working surface of the head carriage unit. As the head carriage unit rotates and the tape moves past the working surface, a first head is configured to write a data track on the tape and a second head is configured to thereafter read the data track, where data read by the second head is for use in verifying data erasure.
US08780676B2 Interactive clock with analogue time display
An interactive watch with analogue time display, including an analogue time display with a display element, a movement configured to drive a rotation of the display element about a rotational axis, which rotation is movement-driven and associated with a time unit, and a read-off element manually rotatably mounted about the rotational axis such that a manual rotation of the read-off element leads to a thereby manually forced rotation of the display element or vice versa, wherein, for the display element, the manually forced rotation overlaps with the movement-driven rotation of the display element, so that in a manually set read-off position for the read-off element and the display element, these, when viewed together, result in the display of a current analogue value for the time unit due to the read-off element and the display element being arranged in associated rotational positions relative to the rotational axis is provided.
US08780675B2 Watch display using light sources with a translucent cover
A display assembly includes a display selectively displaying human-readable indicia on a face thereof and a cover disposed over the display. The cover has a homogeneous surface over the entire face of the display. The display assembly is controllable between an inactive state and an active state. In the inactive state, the face of the display is not viewable through the cover, and in the active state, the indicia are viewable through the cover.
US08780671B2 Using microseismic data to characterize hydraulic fractures
Methods and apparatus that use microseismic event data, stress data, seismic data, and rock properties to predict the hydrocarbon production success of a well location are disclosed. An example method generates a hydrocarbon production function based on information associated with at least a first well location, obtains information associated with a second well location, and calculates the hydrocarbon production function using the information associated with the second well location to predict the hydrocarbon production of the second well location.
US08780670B2 Cetacean protection system
An embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure for conducting a marine survey includes a survey spread comprising a plurality of receivers and an energy source that is towed along a selected course while a signal is emitted from an energy source. A plurality of receivers receive data comprising a detection sampling frequency and a survey sampling frequency. The survey sampling frequency is monitored to detect a cetacean vocalization and to position the cetacean at least while conducting the seismic survey. Pursuant to the location of the cetacean actions can be taken to protect the cetacean and to minimize disruptions in conducting the seismic survey.
US08780665B2 Method and system for providing magnetic tunneling junction elements having an easy cone anisotropy
A method and system for providing a magnetic junction usable in a magnetic device are described. The magnetic junction includes a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer has a magnetic anisotropy, at least a portion of which is a biaxial anisotropy. The magnetic junction is configured such that the free layer is switchable between a plurality of stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction.
US08780661B2 Self refresh pulse generation circuit
A self refresh pulse generation circuit includes a control signal generator configured to generate a control signal asserted for an initial period of a self refresh mode, and a self refresh pulse generator configured to generate a self refresh pulse having a period controlled in response to the control signal, in the self refresh mode.
US08780659B2 Programming memory cells
Methods for programming, memory devices, and methods for reading are disclosed. One such method for programming a memory device (e.g., an SLC memory device) includes encoding a two level data stream to a three level stream prior to programming the memory.
US08780658B2 Leakage reduction in memory devices
A memory device includes a core array that includes memory cells. The memory device also includes a headswitch coupled to the core array and a positive supply voltage. The headswitch reduces leakage current from the core array by disconnecting the core array from the positive supply voltage. Additionally, head switches are added for pre-charge devices to further reduce leakage current.
US08780656B2 Stacked memory device and method of repairing same
A stacked semiconductor memory device comprises memory cell array layers that are stacked in an inverted wedge shape and have different redundancy sizes from each other. The stacked semiconductor memory device has space for vertical connection between layers, a relatively small size, and a relatively high yield.
US08780650B2 Memory with redundant sense amplifier
Embodiments of a memory are disclosed that may reduce the likelihood of a miss-read while reading a weak data storage cell. The memory may include a number of data storage cells, a column multiplexer, a first sense amplifier and a second sense amplifier, and an output circuit. The gain level of the first sense amplifier may be higher than the gain level of the second sense amplifier. The output circuit may include a multiplexer and the multiplexer may be operable to controllably select one of the outputs of the first and second sense amplifiers and pass the value of the selected sense amplifier. The output circuit may include a node that couples the outputs of the first and second sense amplifiers and the outputs of the first and second sense amplifiers may be able to be set to a high impedance state.
US08780639B2 Non-volatile memory device with plural reference cells, and method of setting the reference cells
A non-volatile memory device has an array of non-volatile memory cells, a first plurality of non-volatile memory reference cells, with each reference cell capable of being programmed to a reference level different from the other reference cells; and a second plurality of comparators. Each of the comparators is connectable to one of the first plurality of non-volatile memory reference cells and to one of a third plurality of memory cells from among the array of non-volatile memory cells.
US08780622B2 Phase-change memory with multiple polarity bits having enhanced endurance and error tolerance
A Phase-Change Memory (PCM) apparatus including a data field for storing a data bits representing a data value or an inversion of the data value and a polarity field for storing a plurality of polarity bits for indicating that the data bits stored in the data field represent the data value or the inversion of the data value. In one embodiment an odd number of set polarity bits indicates that the data bits represent the inversion of the data value and an even number of set polarity bits indicates that the data bits represent the data value. The PCM apparatus has enhanced endurance and improved error tolerance.
US08780614B2 Semiconductor memory device
The capacitance of a capacitor that is required in a DRAM is reduced, whereby a highly integrated DRAM is provided. In a divided bit line type DRAM, a sub bit line is formed below a word line and a bit line is formed above the word line. The parasitic capacitance of the sub bit line is reduced by employing the divided bit line method, and further, the off resistance of a cell transistor is set high according to need; thus, the capacitance can be one tenth or less of that of a conventional DRAM. Accordingly, even when a stacked capacitor is employed, the height of the capacitor can be one tenth or less of that of a conventional one, so that a bit line can be easily provided thereover. Further, by devising a structure of the cell transistor, the area per memory cell can be reduced to 4 F2.
US08780610B2 Storing data in a non-volatile latch
Storing data in a non-volatile latch may include applying a bias voltage to a memristor pair in electrical communication with at least one logic gate and applying a gate voltage to a transmission gate to allow an input voltage to be applied to the at least one logic gate where the input voltage is greater than the bias voltage and the input voltage determines a resistance state of the memristor pair.
US08780595B2 Methods and systems for controlling a power converter
A controller for controlling a power converter is described. The controller includes an input configured to receive at least one grid feedback signal, a filter, and an output. The filter is configured to receive the at least one grid feedback signal and generate an output signal that does not deviate by more than a predefined amount from the at least one grid feedback signal. The output is configured to provide a voltage command signal to the power converter that is based at least partially on the output signal.
US08780592B1 Systems and methods for increasing output current quality, output power, and reliability of grid-interactive inverters
Various enhancements to grid-interactive inverters in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes input terminals configured to receive a direct current, output terminals configured to provide an alternating output current to the utility grid, a controller, an output current sensor, and a DC-AC inverter stage comprising a plurality of switches controlled by control signals generated by the controller. In addition, the controller is configured to: generate control signals that cause the switches in the DC-AC inverter stage to switch a direct current in a bidirectional manner; measure the alternating output current; perform frequency decomposition of the output current; and generate control signals that cause the switches in the DC-AC inverter stage to switch current in a way that the magnitude of a plurality of unwanted current components is subtracted from the resulting output current.
US08780583B2 Printed wiring board and electronic device
A printed wiring board has an aperture with a continuous peripheral face. The aperture has a mounting hole portion and an insertion hole portion. The mounting hole portion is disposed adjacent to a side edge of the printed wiring board. The insertion hole portion is disposed between the mounting hole portion and the side edge of the printed wiring board. The insertion hole portion is spaced apart from the side edge of the printed wiring board by a distance that is at least equal to a thickness of the printed wiring board.
US08780560B2 Loop heat pipe, and electronic apparatus including loop heat pipe
There is provided a loop heat pipe which includes an evaporator that internally includes at least one wick built, a condenser, a liquid pipe and a vapor pipe that connect the evaporator and the condenser to each other, and a heat dispersion cavity that is formed inside the evaporator, and disperses a vapor, wherein the wick includes, a first wick that is porous, a second wick that is porous, the second wick being inserted into the first wick from the liquid pipe side and including a pore size larger than the first wick, and a vapor channel that is defined between the first wick and the second wick. The vapor channel is connected at an end on the liquid pipe side to the heat dispersion cavity.
US08780558B2 Porous thermoplastic foams as heat transfer materials
Interconnected, open-celled porous or microporous polymeric foams are used for the preparation of heat transfer devices. The use of such porous polymeric foams can generate a turbulent flow within a heat exchanging liquid, thus enabling increased heat transfer to and from the fluid. The present disclosure provides devices having a heat transfer element containing a heat exchange region wherein a heat exchange fluid can be circulated through a porous polymeric foam; and method for making and using such devices.
US08780552B2 Liquid cooling system for stackable modules in energy-efficient computing systems
A computing system is provided. In the computing system, a plurality of modules physically arranged in a three dimensional hexadron configuration. In the computing system, the at least one module is either a liquid-tight module filled with a non-conductive liquid coolant or a module cooled with a liquid coolant circulating through cold plates mounted on electronic components. In the computing system, the liquid coolant is circulated in a closed loop by at least one pump through a plurality of hoses through at least one of a plurality of heat exchangers. In the computing system, the plurality of heat exchangers is coupled to an exterior portion of the surface of the computing system. In the computing system, the plurality of heat exchangers cool the liquid coolant through tinned tubes exposed to the surrounding air.
US08780548B2 Docking station with rotation mechanism
A docking station for a portable electronic device is provided. The docking station comprises (a) an engagement element, wherein the engagement element is capable of engaging the said portable electronic device; and (b) a rotation mechanism, wherein the rotation mechanism is capable of rotating said portable electronic device relative to a support base of said docking station.
US08780540B2 Flexible hinge and removable attachment
Flexible hinge and removable attachment techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a flexible hinge is configured to communicatively and physically couple an input device to a computing device and may implement functionality such as a support layer and minimum bend radius. The input device may also include functionality to promote a secure physical connection between the input device and the computing device. One example of this includes use of one or more protrusions that are configured to be removed from respective cavities of the computing device along a particular axis but mechanically bind along other axes. Other techniques include use of a laminate structure to form a connection portion of the input device.
US08780534B2 Swing out mount
An electrical enclosure includes a housing, a moveable bracket, an electrical device, a lever, and a drive assembly. The housing has a door attached to a body. The moveable bracket couples the electrical device to the body. The lever is positioned outside of the housing and is configured to switch between OFF and ON lever positions. The drive assembly at least partially protrudes through an aperture of the body and is attached to the lever. The drive assembly includes a drive cog that directly moves the handle of the circuit breaker between OFF and ON handle positions when the electrical device is in an operational position and the lever is switched from the OFF to the ON lever position.
US08780532B2 Condenser element, solid electrolytic capacitor and method for manufacturing the same
There is provided a solid electrolytic capacitor, including: a condenser element including a chip body molded by sintering, a positive electrode terminal contact layer formed on one area of the chip body to be exposed to the outside, an insulating layer formed in the entire area or some area other than one area in which the positive electrode terminal contact layer is formed, and a negative electrode layer stacked on the insulating layer; a negative electrode extracting layer stacked to be electrically connected with the negative electrode layer; a negative electrode terminal stacked on the negative electrode extracting layer; a positive electrode terminal stacked on the positive electrode terminal contact layer.
US08780526B2 Electrical devices containing carbon nanotube-infused fibers and methods for production thereof
Electrical devices having a plurality of stacked electrode layers are described. At least one of the electrode layers contains continuous fibers that are infused with carbon nanotubes. The continuous fibers can be disposed upon an electrically conductive base plate. The electrical devices can further contain an electrolyte contacting each electrode layer and a layer of separator material disposed between each electrode layer, in which case the electrical devices can form a supercapacitor. Such supercapacitors can have a capacitance of at least about 1 Farad/gram of continuous fibers. The capacitance can be increased by coating at least a portion of the infused carbon nanotubes with a material such as, for example, a conducting polymer, a main group metal compound, and/or a transition metal compound. Methods for producing the electrical devices are also described.
US08780524B2 Ceramic electronic component and method of manufacturing same
A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic sintered body and an electrode provided on a surface of the ceramic sintered body. The electrode contains Ag. The ceramic sintered body contain glass material made of borosilicate glass. The glass material has closed pores and open pores therein. The closed pores and the open pores have diameters decreasing as being located away from the surface of the ceramic sintered body. This ceramic electronic component can prevent delamination of the electrode from the ceramic sintered body during a process of firing a green sheet.
US08780521B2 Metal oxide varistor with built-in alloy-type thermal fuse
An electronic protection component incorporates both a varistor and an alloy-type thermal fuse. In one embodiment, a melting promoting agent or flux contacts and surrounds both the varistor and the fuse in common in a shared cavity of a case. In another embodiment, the fuse and the flux are disposed in an inner case, which is disposed in contact with the varistor in an outer case. Thus, the varistor and the thermal fuse are incorporated so that the speed of heat transfer is fast, the response time is fast, and the installation for use is convenient.
US08780517B2 Semiconductor apparatus and temperature detection circuit
Provided is a semiconductor apparatus which includes a power transistor that is placed between an input terminal and an output terminal, a temperature detection diode that has a cathode connected to the input terminal and an anode connected to the output terminal, a current amplifier that outputs a detection current generated by amplifying a backward leakage current flowing from the cathode to the anode of the temperature detection diode, a first conversion resistor that outputs an overheat detection signal generated by converting the detection current into a voltage, a gating circuit that performs gating of a control signal according to the overheat detection signal, and a driver circuit that outputs a drive signal to a control terminal of the power transistor based on an output signal of the gating circuit.
US08780512B2 Low leakage ESD structure for non-contact bio-signal sensors
Various techniques for providing a low leakage electrostatic discharge (ESD) structure for non-contact bio-signal sensors are disclosed. In some embodiments, a low leakage ESD structure for a capacitive bio-sensor includes a unity gain buffer, and an ESD protection circuit connected to the unity gain buffer, in which the ESD protection circuit includes a diode connected across an input and an output of the unity gain buffer, and in which a voltage range for the ESD protection circuit is configurable.
US08780510B2 Passive quench protection circuit for superconducting magnets
A superconducting magnet apparatus that in one embodiment includes at least one superconducting coil and a passive quench protection circuit electrically coupled to the coil in parallel. The circuit includes a heater and a current limiter connected in series. The heater is thermally coupled to the coil and the current limiter blocks current through the circuit at a current lower than the current rating of the heater.
US08780508B2 Magnetic element with biased side shield lamination
A magnetic element is generally provided that can be implemented as a transducing head. Various embodiments may configure a magnetic stack having a magnetically free layer with a predetermined magnetization. A side shield lamination can be separated from the magnetic stack on an air hearing surface (ABS) and biased to a bias magnetization that opposes the predetermined magnetization.
US08780507B2 Read transducer and magnetic storage system implementing same
A transducer according to one embodiment comprises a first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer; and an electrically conductive layer positioned between the ferromagnetic layers; wherein a length of the first ferromagnetic layer in a first direction parallel to a plane of deposition thereof is greater than a length of the electrically conductive layer in the first direction such that a first end of the first ferromagnetic layer extends beyond an end of the electrically conductive layer in the first direction, wherein an electrical current enters or exits the end of the first ferromagnetic layer that extends beyond the end of the electrically conductive layer in the first direction. Additional transducer structures, and systems implementing such transducers, are also disclosed.
US08780506B1 Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor with side shields and an antiparallel structure top shield
A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor has both side shields and an antiparallel structure (APS) top shield. The APS top shield is an antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled top shield that includes an antiparallel (AP) coupled structure and an antiferromagnetic (AF) layer which permits the use of the desired NiFex (x is between 15 and 25 atomic percent) material for the side shields. The APS top shield includes lower and upper ferromagnetic layers with respective antiparallel magnetizations. The antiparallel coupling structure between the two ferromagnetic layers consists of the antiparallel coupling (APC) film, which is typically Ru, Ir or Cr, and one and only one interface film of Co or CoFe. The APS top shield with one and only one Co or CoFe interface film enables the material of the side shields to be formed of the preferred NiFex (x is between 15 and 25 atomic percent) material without over-stabilization of the free layer.
US08780503B2 Multi-layer piezoelectric transducer with inactive layers
Apparatus for positioning a control object, such as a microactuator used to position a read/write transducer adjacent a data storage medium. In accordance with some embodiments, a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) element is adapted to induce rotational displacement of the control object in a bending mode of operation. The PZT element has a plurality of piezoelectric material layers and a plurality of electrically conductive layers interposed between the piezoelectric material layers. The piezoelectric material layers include a first subset of active layers and at least one non-active layer.
US08780498B1 System for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording transducer using a split seed layer
A magnetic recording transducer comprises a main pole having a bottom, a top wider than the bottom, and a top bevel. The transducer further comprises a nonmagnetic gap covering the main pole, a portion of the nonmagnetic gap residing on the top of the main pole, a first seed layer, at least a portion of the first seed layer covering the portion of the nonmagnetic gap on top of the main pole, a second seed layer residing on the first seed layer, and a wrap-around shield on the second seed layer.
US08780496B2 Device such as magnetic head having hardened dielectric portions
A device according to one embodiment includes a substrate; and a plurality of thin films above the substrate, the thin films having at least one dielectric layer; wherein the at least one dielectric layer has a more crystalline structure towards a first end thereof than towards an end thereof opposite the first end. A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a substrate; and a plurality of thin films above the substrate, the thin films having at least one transducer formed therein and at least one dielectric layer; wherein the at least one dielectric layer has a more crystalline structure towards a media facing end thereof than towards an end thereof opposite the media facing end.
US08780491B1 Method of imbalance correction using a grooved disk clamp
A disk clamp that can engage a disk hub to couple a disk media to a disk hub, the disk clamp having a body portion, and a groove formed in a surface of the body portion and extending at least in a circumferential direction substantially parallel to at least a portion of the circumference of the disk clamp; and a balance weight installed in the groove formed in the surface of the disk clamp, the balance weight having a quantity of material applied in the groove. A disk drive assembly using the disk hub and a method of correcting a drive imbalance using the disk hub.
US08780484B2 Tape friction measurement
A method according to one embodiment includes setting a default friction value to a predetermined value, determining whether a primary velocity is valid, determining a velocity error, determining whether the velocity error is in a predetermined range, accumulating the velocity error when the velocity error is determined to be in the predetermined range, repeating, until a time period has elapsed, each of: the determining the velocity error, the determining whether the velocity error is in the predetermined range, and the accumulating the velocity error when the velocity error is determined to be in the predetermined range, and calculating a new friction value based on the accumulated velocity error.
US08780483B2 Automatic unthread and store of data storage device medium
An apparatus, system, and method for automatic unthreading and storage of storage media helps prevent damage to the media, which can otherwise occur when the storage media is left threaded in a storage media drive over an extended period or under adverse conditions. A sensing device may generate a signal or a detector may receive a signal indicating that a predetermined period of time has lapsed or that some other criteria has been met indicating that the storage media should be removed from the storage media drive. An unthread module in the storage media drive receives the signal and automatically unthreads and stores the storage media. A location on the storage media can be marked by the unthread module prior to unthreading such that the media may be returned to the location upon rethreading.
US08780482B2 Methodology for equalizing systemic latencies in television reception in connection with games of skill played in connection with live television programming
A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment.
US08780464B2 Optical image capturing lenses
An optical image capturing lenses includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a front lens group, a stop, and a rear lens group. The front lens group includes, in order from the object side to the image side, at least a first lens element and a second lens element. The first lens element has a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface. The rear lens group includes, in order from the object side to the image side, at least a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, and a sixth lens element. The sixth lens element is made of plastic material. The object-side surface and the image-side surface of the sixth lens are aspheric. The sixth lens element has at least one inflection point formed on at least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof.
US08780462B2 Image forming lens, camera device, and handheld terminal
An image forming lens including an aperture stop, a first lens group, and a second lens group having a positive power, the first lens group including a first F lens group having a negative power and a first R lens group having a positive power, the first F lens group including at least two negative lenses, the first R lens group including at least one positive lens, the second lens group including a second F lens group having a positive power and a second R lens group, the second F lens group including a first positive lens, a first negative lens, a second negative lens, and a second positive lens, and the second R lens group including at least one lens.
US08780455B2 Lens driving apparatus, optical apparatus and control method for lens driving apparatus
The lens driving apparatus moves a magnification-varying lens and moves a focus lens to compensate for image plane variation caused by movement of the magnification-varying lens. The apparatus includes a zoom operating member, a stepping motor, a zoom controller controlling drive of the stepping motor, a focus actuator moving the focus lens, a focus controller controlling drive of the focus actuator, a memory storing cam data to compensate for the image plane variation, and a zoom position detector. During a magnification variation operation, the zoom controller performs open-loop control of the drive of the stepping motor based on an operation amount of the zoom operating member, and the focus controller controls the drive of the focus actuator based on the actual position of the magnification-varying lens detected by the zoom position detector, and the cam data.
US08780454B2 Wide angle lens system and photographing apparatus
A wide angle lens system includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power and a second lens group having a positive refractive power arranged from an object side. The first lens group includes a first lens of a meniscus shape having a convex surface toward the object side, a second lens having a concave surface toward the object side, and a third lens having a convex surface toward the object side, and the second lens group includes a fourth lens having a convex surface toward the object side, a fifth lens having a concave surface toward the object side, and a sixth lens of a meniscus shape having a concave surface toward the object side. A photographing apparatus includes the wide angle lens system.
US08780451B2 Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A zoom lens system comprising a negative first lens unit, a positive second lens unit, a negative third lens unit, and a positive fourth lens unit, wherein the second lens unit is composed of an object-side second lens unit and an image-side second lens unit, the object-side second lens unit has positive optical power, an aperture diaphragm is located between the object-side second lens unit and the image-side second lens unit, and the conditions: −0.5
US08780447B2 Virtual image display device and method of manufacturing the same
In a virtual image display device, a mirror layer has a thickness of 50 nm or more to perform non-transparent reflection in a second ridge line vicinity area on a third reflection face side in a ridge line portion extending between the third reflection face and a second reflection face. Accordingly, reflectance of image light can be prevented from being decreased by the second ridge line vicinity area (that is, a peripheral portion on a light guide unit in the third reflection face), and thus stripe-shaped brightness unevenness extending in a longitudinal direction can be prevented from occurring on the viewed image. That is, in the image display device, it is possible to secure sufficient reflection even in the peripheral portion close to a boundary with the second reflection face with respect to the third reflection face, and also to display a bright image with little brightness unevenness.
US08780438B2 Wavelength conversion element including phosphor particles, and LED element and semiconductor laser light emitting device using wavelength conversion element
A wavelength conversion element includes: a plurality of phosphor particles; a first matrix located among a part of the plurality of phosphor particles and formed of zinc oxide in a c-axis orientation; and a second matrix located among a remaining part of the plurality of phosphor particles and formed of a material having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the zinc oxide.
US08780431B1 Plasmon absorption modulator systems and methods
Plasmon absorption modulator systems and methods are disclosed. A plasmon absorption modulator system includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of quantum well layers stacked on a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a metal layer formed on a top surface of the stack of quantum well layers. A method for modulating plasmonic current includes enabling propagation of the plasmonic current along a metal layer, and applying a voltage across the stack of quantum well layers to cause absorption of a portion of energy of the plasmonic current by the stack of quantum well layers. A metamaterial switching system includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of quantum well layers stacked on a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and at least one metamaterial structure formed on a top surface of the stack of quantum well layers.
US08780422B2 Shared motor driver for inkjet printers
A scanning apparatus includes a transparent platen; a scan assembly; a first motor for moving the scan assembly across the transparent platen; an automatic document feeder; a second motor for feeding documents through the automatic document feeder; a first bi-directional switch element for driving the first motor; a second bi-directional switch element for driving the second motor; and a motor driver for selectively controlling the first bi-directional switch element or the second bi-directional switch element.
US08780416B2 Light irradiator, image scanner, and image forming apparatus
A light irradiator including multiple point light sources arranged in a straight line, a light-transmissive light guiding member provided in front of the point light sources in an emission direction of beams of light emitted from the point light sources, the light guiding member guiding the beams of light in a predetermined direction toward a surface to be irradiated; and two or more protrusions protruding toward the point light sources, provided on a light entering surface of the light guiding member and arranged in the same direction as the point light sources. The light guiding member and the point light sources are positioned such that a distance between the protrusions provided to the light guiding member and irradiation surfaces of the point light sources is equal at two positions.
US08780409B2 Method and system for optimizing black point compensation parameters
A method for processing black point compensation parameters for a color image to be printed so as to enhance image quality of the color image is provided. The method includes analyzing image content of a received color image to identify one or more performance attributes to be considered during a black point compensation parameters processing procedure, the performance attributes estimate an effect of the black point compensation parameters on the image quality of the received color image; selecting, based on the identified performance attributes, a black point compensation (BPC) algorithm to be used during the processing procedure; deriving a model using the identified performance attribute that is configured to estimate relationships between the black point compensation parameters and the identified performance attribute; maximizing the performance attribute of the derived model so as to process the BPC parameters for the color image; and using the processed black point compensation parameters to construct output device profiles.
US08780398B2 Mobile terminal, output control system, and data outputting method for the mobile terminal
According to an embodiment, provided is a mobile terminal, that includes: an operation display unit that displays information and receives operation input; an operation detection unit that detects operation of the operation display unit; a motion detection unit that detects a motion of the mobile terminal; a data selection unit that selects data to be output; an output destination determining unit that determines an external apparatus serving as an output destination of the selected data; and an output instruction unit that gives an instruction of outputting the data to the external apparatus when the motion is detected by the motion detection unit.
US08780396B2 Printing apparatus, printing system and printing method for switching between a power saving mode
A printing apparatus is connected to a host computer via a network, and operates in a first mode in which network communication is enabled and in a second mode in which network communication is disabled. The printing apparatus transmits a query about print data to the host computer after transition when having transited to the first mode from the second mode. Further, upon reception of print data having been transmitted by the host computer as a response to the query, the printing apparatus performs printing on the basis of the print data.
US08780383B2 Authenticated facsimile transmission from mobile devices
A fax document can be either uploaded to a fax server in a vPBX network or generated dynamically. For dynamic generation, pre-configured templates can be stored either on a mobile device or on a fax server. A user can use a mobile device connected to a vPBX network as a controlling device to direct generation of faxes on a fax server. The generation of faxes can be customized based on a geographic location of the mobile device. The generated fax can be downloaded onto a mobile device. The user can digitally sign the fax using a touch-screen input device on the mobile device. The digitally signed fax can be transmitted to a destination device.
US08780380B2 Information processing apparatus, output system, and computer-readable storage medium to output stored data in a manner associated with second user information that specifies data based on first user information
An information processing apparatus receives from a client apparatus a print request including authentication information of a user, and a judging part judges whether a printing related to the print request is enabled using the authentication information, and a sending part sends to the client apparatus information indicating that printing is prohibited when the judging part judges that the printing is not enabled. A recording part records print data and print attribute information received from the client apparatus in a related manner with respect to the print request if the judging part judges that the printing is enabled, and a sending part sends the print data to an image forming apparatus in response to a request therefrom.
US08780378B2 Inspection apparatus, inspection method, inspection system, and storage medium
There is provided an inspection apparatus. When the inspection apparatus inspects a printed product, whether positional alignment of a print image obtained by reading the printed product and a reference image is to be performed is determined, and in a case where it is determined that the positional alignment is to be performed, the positional alignment is performed and an inspection based on a comparison of the print image and the reference image is executed, and in a case where it is determined that the positional alignment is not to be performed, an inspection based on a number of feature points of the print image is executed.
US08780374B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An object is to provide a user with various options on a processing method of an original document including a code image. To accomplish the object, the image processing apparatus includes a decoding section for extracting information by decoding the code image contained in the original document image, and a decision section for making a decision according to selection of the user as to whether to output the original document image or the information extracted by the decoding section.
US08780371B2 Printing apparatus, computer usable medium, and controlling method therefor
A printing apparatus to make a number of copies of a printed material on which an image is formed according to print data stored in a removable memory medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes an interface to which the removable memory medium is connected so that the print data stored in the removable memory medium is inputted to the printing apparatus, a printable number detecting system, which is configured to detect a number of copies of the printed material to be made being stored in the removable memory medium, a printing system, which is configured to make the printed material, and a controlling system, which is configured to control a total of the number of copies of the printed material to be made by the printing system.
US08780366B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming option setting method thereof to display an administrator setting option having a correlation with the displayed user setting option according to the selected administrator setting
An image forming option setting method of an image forming apparatus which has a display unit, the method includes selecting an administrator setting, and displaying an administrator setting image forming option on the display unit related to a display image forming option displayed on the display unit when the administrator setting is selected.
US08780363B2 Method for a printing device that prints while compensating for slippage and device for implementing that method
A printing device and a control method for a printing device enable eliminating paper feed error due to slipping between a paper feed roller and recording paper when printing. The control unit of a thermal printer has a slippage calculator that runs a process to calculate slippage between the recording paper and platen roller when conveying the recording paper during printing, and a conveyance distance correction unit that runs a process to correct the paper feed distance of the recording paper when printing to each printing area based on the slippage that was just calculated. The conveyance distance correction unit runs a process that inserts a non-printing area d of a length corresponding to the slippage to one or plural specific positions in the original print image.
US08780356B1 Method for determining calibration parameters for a spectrometer
An imaging spectrometer includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer and an image sensor having color-sensitive pixels. The interferometer has a first transmission peak and a second transmission peak (PEAK2). A method calibrating the spectrometer includes providing first calibration light, which has a narrow spectral peak, obtaining first detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the first calibration light into the spectrometer when the reference spectral peak is near a first spectral position, obtaining second detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the first calibration light into the spectrometer when the reference spectral peak is near a second spectral position, providing second calibration light, which has a broad bandwidth, and obtaining third detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the second calibration light into the spectrometer.
US08780347B2 QCL spectroscopy system and applications therefor
A spectroscopy system comprising at least two laser modules, each of the laser modules including a laser cavity, a quantum cascade gain chip for amplifying light within the laser cavity, and a tuning element for controlling a wavelength of light generated by the modules. Combining optics are used to combine the light generated by the at least two laser modules into a single beam and a sample detector detects the single beam returning from a sample.
US08780346B2 Spectroscopic image capturing apparatus
A spectroscopic image capturing apparatus including a light source section and an imaging section, wherein the light source section includes a light source portion, a first lens group, and a first polarizer, and the imaging section includes a second polarizer, a second lens group, an optical filter, and an imaging unit.
US08780343B2 Wafer screening device and methods for wafer screening
Wafer breakage is a serious problem in the photovoltaic industry because a large fraction of wafers (between 5 and 10%) break during solar cell/module fabrication. The major cause of this excessive wafer breakage is that these wafers have residual microcracks—microcracks that were not completely etched. Additional propensity for breakage is caused by texture etching and incomplete edge grinding. To eliminate the cost of processing the wafers that break, it is best to remove them prior to cell fabrication. Some attempts have been made to develop optical techniques to detect microcracks. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to detect microcracks that are embedded within the roughness/texture of the wafers. Furthermore, even if such detection is successful, it is not straightforward to relate them to wafer breakage. We believe that the best way to isolate the wafers with fatal microcracks is to apply a stress to wafers—a stress that mimics the highest stress during cell/module processing. If a wafer survives this stress, it has a high probability of surviving without breakage during cell/module fabrication. Based on this, we have developed a high throughput, noncontact method for applying a predetermined stress to a wafer. The wafers are carried on a belt through a chamber that illuminates the wafer with an intense light of a predetermined intensity distribution that can be varied by changing the power to the light source. As the wafers move under the light source, each wafer undergoes a dynamic temperature profile that produces a preset elastic stress. If this stress exceeds the wafer strength, the wafer will break. The broken wafers are separated early, eliminating cost of processing into cell/module. We will describe details of the system and show comparison of breakage statistics with the breakage on a production line.
US08780341B2 Inspecting system for lens module
An inspecting system for inspecting a lens module includes an inspection device; and a transmitting and loading device. The transmitting and loading device includes a grasping assembly, a supporting assembly, a sliding assembly loaded on the supporting assembly, and a control unit for controlling the grasping assembly and the sliding assembly. The grasping assembly is configured to clamp the lens module and to load the lens module on the sliding assembly, and the sliding assembly is adapted to transfer the lens module to a testing position of the inspection device.
US08780336B2 Fiber optic sensors within subsurface motor winding chambers
A motor assembly for a submersible pump which includes capability of detecting or monitoring one or more operating parameters for the motor, including temperature, pressure and strain.
US08780334B1 Topographical profiling with coherence scanning interferometry
Determining a height profile of a test object surface includes obtaining, from a scanning interferometry device, scanning interferometry data for the test object surface, calculating a coherence profile of the test object surface and a phase profile of the test object surface based on the scanning interferometry data, calculating an phase gap map based on the coherence profile and the phase profile, modifying the coherence profile based on the phase gap map to obtain a corrected coherence profile, and determining a height of the test object surface based on the corrected coherence profile.
US08780326B2 Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus comprises a liquid immersion system, a first mover, and a prescribed member. The exposure apparatus exposes a substrate via an optical member and a liquid. The liquid immersion system performs supply and recovery of the liquid. The first mover can move in a first area, and can hold the liquid between itself and the optical member. The prescribed member is removed from the first mover when the first mover withdraws from a position opposing the optical member, and can hold the liquid between itself and the optical member.
US08780323B2 Apparatus and method for recovering liquid droplets in immersion lithography
Immersion fluid remaining on a portion of a substrate after that portion has passed an immersion nozzle is removed by moving the substrate relative to an immersion nozzle so that the portion of the substrate on which the immersion fluid remains is passed by the immersion nozzle again. A path is determined along which the substrate is to be moved to remove the remaining immersion fluid. The path can be determined based upon previous movements of the substrate, including factors such as the speed and/or length of the previous movements. Alternatively, portions of the substrate on which immersion fluid remains can be detected, and then the substrate can be moved so that the portion of the substrate on which the immersion fluid remains is passed by the immersion nozzle based on the results of the detection. Immersion fluid also can be removed from the stage surface located beyond the substrate.
US08780322B2 Object with an improved suitability for a plasma cleaning treatment
An object suitable for a plasma cleaning treatment in a plasma cleaning device, the object including a first outer surface area; a second outer surface area, wherein the object is constructed and arranged to cooperate with a removable cover such that the cover is connectable to the object to cover the second outer surface area, and wherein the object connected with the removable cover is adapted to be cleaned in the plasma cleaning device such that the plasma cleaning device is not exposed to particles of the second outer surface area and wherein the first outer surface area is cleaned in the plasma cleaning device.
US08780320B2 Monitoring apparatus and method particularly useful in photolithographically processing substrates
Apparatus for processing substrates according to a predetermined photolithography process includes a loading station in which the substrates are loaded, a coating station in which the substrates are coated with a photoresist material, an exposing station in which the photoresist coating is exposed to light through a mask having a predetermined pattern to produce a latent image of the mask on the photoresist coating, a developing station in which the latent image is developed, an unloading station in which the substrates are unloaded and a monitoring station for monitoring the substrates with respect to predetermined parameters of said photolithography process before reaching the unloading station.
US08780309B2 Mother panel of liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing liquid crystal display using the same
A mother panel of a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a lower substrate with a pixel electrode, an upper substrate with a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer between the lower and upper substrates includes an external pad area including a common voltage external pad and a pixel voltage external pad on the lower substrate, the common voltage external pad and pixel voltage external pad being configured to be applied with respective common and pixel voltages from the outside, a panel area including a plurality of panels and a dummy area between the panels, and an external shorting point in the dummy area of the panel area, the external shorting point being connected to the common electrode, and the common voltage external pad being directly connected to the external shorting point.
US08780303B2 Liquid crystal apparatus including a dispersed liquid crystal and an active mirror
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal apparatus includes a first liquid crystal panel including a pair of substrates, and a dispersed liquid crystal held between the pair of substrates, and an active mirror placed behind the first liquid crystal panel, and configured to switch a first state in which linearly polarized light whose polarizing direction is a second direction is transmitted, and a second state in which the linearly polarized light whose polarizing direction is the second direction is absorbed or reflected.
US08780296B2 Display device comprising a lower receptacle that includes unitary indivisible first and second receiving portions and a light source unit disposed between an intermediate frame and the lower receptacle
A display device including a display panel which displays images, an intermediate frame on which the display panel is seated, a lower receptacle which includes a first receiving portion including a bottom plate and sidewalls, and a second receiving portion separate from the first receiving portion, and a light source unit which includes an alignment plate and a point light source mounted on the alignment plate. The light source unit contacts the sidewalls of the lower receptacle, and the first receiving portion is coupled with the intermediate frame.
US08780288B2 Liquid crystal display device
Disclosed is an LCD device including: a liquid crystal panel including an upper substrate and a lower substrate; a backlight unit supplying light to the liquid crystal panel; a guide frame guiding a location of the liquid crystal panel and a location of the backlight unit; and a rear set cover and front set cover accommodating the liquid crystal panel, the backlight unit, and the guide frame, and serving as a cover of a product, wherein the front set cover comprises an bezel part facing a side of the upper substrate, and being not formed on a top of the upper substrate.
US08780283B2 Projection device
A projection device includes a light source, a light guiding plate, a liquid crystal device, and a projection lens. The guiding plate aligns with the light source and includes a light incident surface and a light emitting surface facing away from the light incident surface. The light incident surface faces the light source. The liquid crystal device aligns with the light emitting surface. The projection lens is positioned between the liquid crystal device and a screen.
US08780282B2 Vehicle entertainment system
A vehicle entertainment system including a video system having a video monitor and a cradle secured within a vehicle. The cradle is shaped and dimensioned for selectively receiving and securely holding the video system. The cradle includes a docking port with a faceplate that is substantially flush with an upper end of a seat back of an automobile.
US08780280B2 Projector and control method for projector
First imaginary screen outer peripheral line is calculated supplementing one side that is undetected with one side of an outer peripheral line of image light that is calculated, an imaginary screen aspect ratio that is an aspect ratio of an area defined by the first imaginary screen outer peripheral line is calculated, whether the imaginary screen aspect ratio is more vertically oriented than a first ratio or not is determined. When a result of the determination of the imaginary aspect ratio is more vertically oriented than the first ratio, the imaginary screen aspect ratio is changed to second ratio that is different from the first ratio, and the one undetected side is calculated according to the second ratio, and the first imaginary screen outer peripheral line is corrected and a second imaginary screen outer peripheral line is calculated.
US08780274B2 Display apparatus, control method for display apparatus, and computer program
Upon bringing a digital camera having a near field wireless communication function close to a projector while a display apparatus displays a screen of a PC using the projector, the display apparatus decodes and displays an image from the digital camera in place of the screen of the PC.
US08780265B2 Method and apparatus for converting film image into TV image
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for converting a film image (e.g., a movie) into a television (TV) image. In the method and apparatus for converting the film image into a TV image, a pull-down field is added based on header information of a TV interface if BT601, BT656 and BT1120 are used as standards for the TV interface, thereby improving accuracy and reducing load of the apparatus upon conversion of the film image into the TV image. The apparatus includes a film image reception unit which receives a film image; a header information checking unit which checks header information of the film image; and an image conversion unit which uses the header information checked by the header information checking unit to convert the film image into the TV image.
US08780260B2 Imaging device, filter holding member, and filter mounting method for imaging device
Provided is an imaging device including an image sensor, and an engagement member which is an annular or cylindrical member provided between a lens mount unit and a first optical filter fixedly installed on a subject side of the image sensor, and has a second uneven portion formed in an inner circumferential direction, the second uneven portion having a shape corresponding to a first uneven portion formed on an outer periphery of a filter holding member for holding a second optical filter, and being for engaging the filter holding member in an attachable/detachable manner.
US08780259B2 Image capturing apparatus and in-focus position detection method thereof
It is provided a image capturing apparatus including a control unit that determines whether to set a division number to a first division number n or to a second division number m which is larger than n based on the status of a subject, calculating a divided area evaluation curve by calculating a correlation between first detection information and second detection information for each of divided areas formed by dividing a phase difference detection area into the n or the m, and acquires a defocus amount to drive and control a focus lens to the in-focus position from a total evaluation curve obtained by conducting a required calculation processing on the divided area evaluation curves of the plural divided areas.
US08780255B2 Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion units disposed on an imaging surface of a substrate; and a plurality of inner-layer lenses that are disposed in correspondence with each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units on the upper side of the photoelectric conversion units and are formed in shapes protruding in directions toward the photoelectric conversion units, wherein each of the plurality of inner-layer lenses is formed to have different lens shapes in the center and in the periphery of the imaging surface.
US08780250B2 Image processing apparatus that processes image data to which a plurality of pieces of classification information are added, method of controlling image processing apparatus, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus that makes it possible, when executing processing on image data groups classified according to classification information, to perform the processing on an image data item having a plurality of pieces of classification information added thereto, in a user-friendly manner adapted to a type of the processing. A system controller selects an image data group of image data items to which specific classification information is added. The controller designates processing to be executed on the image data group. When a plurality of image data groups are selected, the controller causes the processing designated by said designation unit to be executed on an image data item belonging to a plurality of selected image data groups such that the number of times of execution of the processing on the image data item is made different according to a type of the processing.
US08780249B2 Imaging device
An imaging device includes a pixel array in which pixels each including a photoelectric conversion part generating and storing a signal charge in accordance with incident light are disposed in a two-dimensional matrix state, and a vertical scanning circuit performing a reset of the photoelectric conversion part by each selected row, and performing a reading of a signal of the pixel by each selected row. During a read period performing the reading, the vertical scanning circuit performs the reset for the photoelectric conversion part at an arbitrary row of which reading ends in accordance with a change of the number of rows to which the resets for the photoelectric conversion parts before exposure are performed to make the number of rows to which the resets of the photoelectric conversion parts are performed constant within the read period of each row.
US08780241B2 Digitally graded neutral density filter
Apparatus and a method for performing neutral density filtering in a digital camera. The camera includes a pixel array having rows and columns of pixels. The pixels in the array may be reset and read with variable timing between the reset operation and the read operation. The timing between the reset and read operations is controlled to implement a neutral density filtering operation.
US08780238B2 Systems and methods for binning pixels
An imager may be configured to perform pixel binning on captured images. Pixel binning may be performed by forming groups of pixels and combining sampled values from the pixels in each group. The sampled values from the pixels may be combined by assigning weights to each pixel, scaling the sampled values by the corresponding weights, and summing the scaled values. The groups of pixels and pixel weights may be selected to produce binned images with even spatial distribution. The pixel binning operation may be performed by processing circuitry that receives captured image data from the imager. The pixel binning operation may also be separated into a horizontal binning step and a vertical binning step that are performed by image readout circuitry during image readout. During the horizontal binning step, pixels of a particular row may be combined. During the vertical binning step, pixel rows may be combined.
US08780236B2 Imaging apparatus for correcting noise when a quantity of pixels in an invalid pixel area is small
Provided is an imaging apparatus including an image sensor. In the image sensor that includes a valid pixel area in which a plurality of valid pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit is disposed, a first reference pixel area in which a plurality of first reference pixels each having a light-shielded photoelectric conversion unit is disposed, and a second reference pixel area in which a plurality of second reference pixels each having no photoelectric conversion unit is disposed, when outputs of the plurality of valid pixels are added to be read, outputs of the plurality of first reference pixels are added by the addition unit to be read, and outputs of the plurality of second reference pixels are read without being added by the addition unit. Thus, noises can be effectively corrected even in the small number of invalid pixels areas.
US08780235B2 Image processing method
This invention provides an image processing method which for noise reduction and sensitization for an ordinary video camera. The noise reduction processing locates a bright pixel and averages brightness by adding the pixel accumulated by ratio in accordance with the geometric series, and to a dark pixel, carrying out the processing of noise reduction which averages brightness by adding the pixel accumulated by ratio in accordance with the geometric series and the processing of sensitization in the condition that a magnification of intensification is greater than 1, determine that the pixel moves or not, if the pixel is moving, it is used to carry out processing of sensitization only, and if the pixel is still, choose it is used to carry out the processing of sensitization and noise reduction.
US08780233B2 Method and apparatus for maintaining a minimum pixel density across an object of interest
A method includes receiving a frame containing an object of interest and determining a current pixel density of the object of interest. The current pixel density is compared to a minimum pixel density to generate a comparison result and an indication is received of available throughput of a wireless network used to transmit the video. Based on the comparison result and the available throughput, a pixel density compensation method is selected from multiple methods, which include adjusting a zoom feature of a camera used to capture the video and adjusting encoded frame resolution. Using the selected pixel density compensation method, a pixel density compensation parameter is determined to adjust the current pixel density with respect to the minimum pixel density for the object of interest. The pixel density compensation parameter is provided to one or both of the camera or an encoder that sends the video over the wireless network.
US08780232B2 System and method for analyzing a digital image
A method of analyzing images captured using an imaging device is provided herein. The analysis provides suggestions for changing a parameter of the imaging device during subsequent image capture.
US08780231B2 Imaging apparatus and zoom control method
An imaging apparatus calculates a depth of field, and when the calculated result is shallower than a set depth of field, the zoom operation at the telescopic side is switched to the electronic zoom. In addition, when face recognition may not be possible, the zoom is switched to the electronic zoom. Furthermore, when face recognition has become impossible, the optical zoom is returned to the wide angle side until faces can be recognized. When the number of faces that can be recognized has decreased, the optical zoom is returned to the wide angle side until the number of faces that can be recognized is restored. In addition, when subsequently carrying out zooming at the telescopic side, the zooming switches to the electronic zoom.
US08780230B2 Faux group image and method
A method to create a faux group by using at least one digital image combined with at least one other digital image is provided. Associated with each digital image is data that is linked, which identifies the image and biographical data elements associated with the subject appearing in the image. From the digital images and linked data, a faux group image is created. On the faux group image, biographical data elements such as names or other identifiers are optionally displayed. If displayed, each biographical data element is linked to the associated individual digital image in the order it appears. Any rearrangement, movement or adjustment to either the digital image or associated biographical data element in the faux group image causes the digital image and biographical data element to be updated relative to all of the other digital images and biographical data element in the order that the subject of each individual digital image appears. The faux group is arranged by a matrix that establishes the rows and columns of images, or arranges the digital images. The digital images are automatically and proportionally sized relative to the digital images around them within the faux group image. This creates a natural appearance.
US08780227B2 Image pick-up device, control method, recording medium, and portable terminal providing optimization of an image pick-up condition
An image pick-up device having an image pick-up condition adjuster that instructs an image pick-up condition optimizer to optimizes an image pick-up condition relative to an object included in a pick-up candidate image corresponding to pick-up candidate image object feature information and an indicator that causes a display section to display at least one item of personal information associated with the object feature information when the pick-up candidate image includes the image of the object which represents feature matching with or a similarity to the feature represented by the object feature information.
US08780226B2 Image recording device and method which generates multi-image file based on classification
The presence/absence of a face in an image and the type of imaging mode during imaging (such as a landscape imaging mode and a close-up imaging mode) of the image acquired by imaging and the like are detected. Images are automatically classified by groups based on the detected information (classification information). A plurality of images classified by the groups are connected to create a multi-image file (MP file), and the MP file is recorded in a recording medium. As a result, the plurality of classified images can be managed altogether (without dissipation), and the plurality of classified images can be reproduced by providing the multi-image file even if a reproducer does not have a classification function.
US08780223B2 Automatic determination of compliance of a part with a reference drawing
A system for visually comparing a part to a drawing of said part in computer memory or on a screen is provided. The system includes a camera for capturing either a single image or an image stream of the part, a computing module for receiving the image or image stream, for obtaining, scaling, positioning and displaying the drawing of the part on a display unit and for overlaying the drawing on the image or image stream. The system determines if the part is manufactured within predefined tolerances at least one control section. In use, a user defines at least one control section and the system performs a CAD-space to image-space transformation of each control section. A deviation between the CAD drawing and the part at each control section is calculated, and this deviation is indicated to the user. The deviation is compared to a predetermined tolerance in order to determine if the part at each control section is within the predetermined tolerance; and a pass/fail indication is determined based on the comparison. For more complex shapes, a user can select an entire geometrical shape, and the system automatically determines a plurality of control sections within the geometric shape, in order to provide the user with a shape pass/fail indication.
US08780215B2 Apparatus and method for processing an image to correct image distortion caused by a hand shake
Provided is an apparatus and method for processing an image which can correct image distortion caused by hand shake. The apparatus includes: a reference image acquiring unit for acquiring a first and a second reference images by using different shutter times and international standard organization (ISO) values; and a color information correcting unit for correcting color information of an input image, which is obtained by using a shutter time that is shorter of the shutter times used to acquire the first and the second reference images, based on a brightness ratio and a chrominance ratio of the first and second reference images. Accordingly, image distortion caused by hand shake can be corrected.
US08780212B2 Captured image display apparatus and method thereof
The present invention is directed to a captured image display apparatus that allows a user to swiftly confirm an image concerning a captured image even before receiving of the captured image is completed. A captured image display apparatus includes a live view image receiving unit configured to receive a live view image concerning a captured image from an imaging apparatus, a live view image display unit configured to display the live view image on a display unit when a release notification has been received from the imaging apparatus, a captured image receiving unit configured to receive a captured image from the imaging apparatus, and a captured image display unit configured to display the captured image on the display unit when receiving of the captured image has been completed by the captured image receiving unit.
US08780208B2 Systems and methods for processing infrared images
One or more embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for processing an infrared image to receive infrared image data of a non-uniform scene, apply column noise filter correction to the infrared image data, and/or apply row noise filter correction to the infrared image data, and provide corrected infrared image data based on the column and/or row noise filter correction as infrared output image data.
US08780199B2 Networked security camera with local storage and continuous recording loop
A networked surveillance audio-video recorder for security applications with local storage and continuous record loop using high-definition video and encrypted data is described. Evidentiary audio-video is locally stored on a non-volatile storage media, and later transmitted in accordance with channel bandwidth with optional temporal, spatial or peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) scalability and in accordance to display capabilities of target viewing device upon request of time regions of interest or window around alarm trigger events, or for periodic archival reasons.
US08780194B2 Component presence/absence judging apparatus and method
A component presence/absence judging apparatus judges the presence/absence of a component through a registration step and an inspection step. The registration step comprises an ante-mounting color information acquisition step, a post-mounting color information acquisition step and an inspection area determination step. Ante-mounting color information is acquired from an ante-mounting image taken at a predetermined portion on an ante-mounting board. Post-mounting color information is acquired from a post-mounting image taken at the predetermined portion on a post-mounting board. Then, a section having a large difference between both color information of the ante-mounting image and the post-mounting image is identified and is determined as an inspection area. At the inspection step, the presence/absence of the component at a predetermined place on each inspection board to be inspected is judged in dependence on the color information on the determined inspection area.
US08780190B2 Dental intra-oral camera
The invention relates to an intra-oral camera having an imaging system for depicting the object located in front of an observation window of the camera on a recording unit, wherein the imaging system has at least one focusing unit for setting a suitable focus and an aperture unit for forming a variable aperture. The setting of the aperture is carried out independently of the focus adjusted by the focusing unit.
US08780180B2 Stereoscopic camera using anaglyphic display during capture
A digital camera for capturing stereoscopic images, including: an image sensor; an optical system; a user interface; a color image display; a data processing system; a buffer memory; a storage memory; and a program memory storing instructions configured to implement a method for capturing stereoscopic images. The method includes: capturing a first digital image of a scene in response to user activation of a user interface element; storing the first digital image; displaying a stream of stereoscopic preview images on the color image display, wherein the stereoscopic preview images are anaglyph stereoscopic images formed by combining the stored first digital image with a stream of evaluation digital images of the scene captured using the image sensor; capturing a second digital image of the scene in response to user activation of a user interface element; and storing a stereoscopic image based on the first digital image and the second digital image.
US08780177B2 Apparatus and method for camera parameter calibration
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for camera parameter calibration which is capable of easily and simply setting physical and optical characteristic parameters of a camera in order to acquire information on actual measurement of an image provided through the camera with high accuracy. The camera parameter calibration apparatus and method has an advantage of correct image analysis that it is capable of increasing accuracy of information of measurement through an image only with an intuitive interface manipulation, without taking a time-consuming and incorrect actual measurement procedure, by determining parameters of the space model corresponding to the image by displaying a 3D space model corresponding to a real space of the image on the image and changing and adjusting visual point parameters such that the 3D space model matches the display image, and regarding the determined parameters of the space model as camera parameters of the image.
US08780176B2 Vessel imaging system and method
A system and a method for acquiring an image of a particle flowing in a vessel, the system comprising a light source for generating an illuminating light, an imaging probe for laterally statically illuminating at least a portion of said vessel with the illuminating light, a detection unit for detecting emitted light from an illuminated portion of said particle, and a processor unit for reproducing an image of the illuminated portion of said particle from the emitted light.
US08780159B2 Optical scanner and image forming apparatus including same
An optical scanner includes a light source, an optical element, a deflector, a casing, and a first cover. The deflector deflects the light beam emitted from the light source to scan a photoreceptor through the optical element. The casing includes an upper opening, walls including a transparent plate defining a deflector compartment to accommodate the deflector, and an optical element mounting portion to accommodate the light source and the optical element. The first cover covers the upper opening of the casing and includes a recessed portion recessed toward the bottom of the casing and including a first opening at the bottom thereof facing the deflector. The recessed portion and the walls are directly or indirectly connected to define a single continuous space isolating the deflector compartment from the optical element mounting portion. The recessed portion and the deflector compartment communicate via the first opening.
US08780157B2 Imaging element array and image forming apparatus
According to one embodiment, there is provided an imaging element array including an imaging element group in which a plurality of imaging elements are aligned, each of the imaging elements including an integrally molded input portion, an output portion, and a reflective portion, collecting light input to the input portion, reflecting the light by the reflective portion near a position where light flux is downsized, and outputting the reflected light from the output portion to form an image at an image point, and an inhibiting portion which is formed around the reflected portion in the imaging element group to inhibit light other than the light reflected by the reflective portion from traveling to the output portion.
US08780150B2 Method of making a laboratory slide
A method of marking a laboratory slide (3) includes providing a tape (9) having dye (10) between a thermal print head (4) and a marking surface (2) of a laboratory slide (3). The dye (10) is on the side of the tape (9) facing the marking surface (2) and the tape (9) is pinched between the thermal print head (4) and the marking surface (2). The thermal print head (4) is heated and applied to the tape (9) so that dye (10) from the tape (9) is vaporised by the thermal print head (4) and the vaporised dye ingresses into the marking surface (2) to mark the marking surface. In a modification, an inkjet printer prints a dye mark on the tape and a heated pad is pressed against the tape to apply the dye mark to the marking surface.
US08780131B2 Systems and methods for text-based personalization of images
As set forth herein, a computer-implemented method is employed to place personalized text into an image. A location and region within the image is determined where the text is to be placed. The 3D geometry of the surface is estimated proximate to the location where the text is to be placed. A personalized text string is received. The personalized text string is incorporated into the image to appear as if it is rendered onto the surface or object according to the estimated 3D geometry.
US08780123B2 Interrupt handling techniques in the rasterizer of a GPU
Techniques for handling an interrupt in the rasterizer, in accordance with embodiment of the present technology, start with rasterizing one or more primitives of a first context. If an interrupt is received, state information of the rasterizer is saved in a backing store after coarse rasterizing a given tile. After storing the raster state information, the one or more primitives of a second context are rasterized. After the second context is served, the raster state information of the first context is restored and rasterization of the one or more primitives of the first context is restarted.
US08780122B2 Techniques for transferring graphics data from system memory to a discrete GPU
A method for transferring graphics data includes receiving graphics data in the system memory. The graphics data may be loaded into system memory by and application from a mass storage device. One or more graphics commands associated with the graphics data may also be received. The graphics commands may also be received from the application. The graphics data in system memory is compressed in response to receipt of the one or more graphics commands before the graphics data is transferred to a discrete graphics processing unit. The one or more received graphics commands are transferred to the discrete graphics processing unit. The one or more graphics commands include an operation to copy the compressed graphics data to the discrete graphics processing unit. The compressed graphics data is copied from the system memory to memory of the graphics processing. The compressed graphics data is then decompressed by the graphics processing unit. Thereafter, the discrete graphics processing unit may perform one or more graphics operations on the transferred graphics data.
US08780116B2 Object-shape generation method, object-shape generation apparatus, and program
Even in a situation in which an image of the back side of an object cannot be captured, the shape of the object can be generated with high accuracy. For individual images captured from the circumference of an object, projection regions projected in an area from the surface of projection in a projective space to a projective plane that is distant from the surface of projection by a predetermined length in a depth direction in a case where the object reflected in the individual images is projected to the projective space from viewpoint positions of the individual images are detected. A portion common to the individual detected projection regions is extracted.
US08780114B1 Interactive memory map
An embodiment can include an interactive memory map that includes a graphical representation of a region of memory used by a program. The memory map may dynamically update as the program executes and may provide a user with indicators that identify how the program interacts with the memory. The indicators may identify memory locations that are being written by the program and/or memory locations that are being read by the program while the program executes. The memory map may assist a user in understanding how the executing program interacts with memory. The interactive memory map may further allow the user to manipulate how information is stored in the memory by allowing the user to select, add, remove, modify, move, etc., program information stored in the memory.
US08780113B1 Systems and methods for performing depth estimation using image data from multiple spectral channels
Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can perform parallax detection and correction in images captured using array cameras. Due to the different viewpoints of the cameras, parallax results in variations in the position of objects within the captured images of the scene. Methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide an accurate account of the pixel disparity due to parallax between the different cameras in the array, so that appropriate scene-dependent geometric shifts can be applied to the pixels of the captured images when performing super-resolution processing. In a number of embodiments, generating depth estimates considers the similarity of pixels in multiple spectral channels. In certain embodiments, generating depth estimates involves generating a confidence map indicating the reliability of depth estimates.
US08780110B2 Computer vision CAD model
The CV-CAD (computer vision-computer-aided design) model is an enhanced CAD (computer-aided design) model that integrates local and global computer vision data in order to represent an object not only geometrically but also in terms of computer vision. The CV-CAD model provides a scalable solution for intelligent and automatic object recognition, tracking and augmentation based on generic models of objects.
US08780105B2 Display of a three-dimensional virtual space generated by an electronic simulation system
An electronic system for displaying a three-dimensional simulation scenario comprising a calculation unit configured so as to generate a three-dimensional simulation scenario, a display device for displaying the three-dimensional simulation scenario, a virtual video camera set in a displacement plane positioned in turn within the three-dimensional simulation scenario, a pointer set in the displacement plane, a control system configured in such a way as to displace the pointer in the displacement plane in response to a manual action of the user, a processing device configured in such a way as to control a roto-translation of the virtual video camera in the displacement plane in response to a translation of the pointer in the displacement plane itself.
US08780095B2 Projector and control method
A projector includes: an interface section that has a plurality of connection terminals receiving image information from source devices, a projecting section that projects an image, a storage control section that stores identification information that denotes the source device, an instruction information input section accepting instruction information, a power-supply, a power-supply control section that controles the power-supply, a determination section, and a control information generation section that generates control information, wherein, in a case where the determination section determines that the instruction information is information of designating switching on the power-supply, the power-supply control section switches on the power-supply, the control information generation section generates switching on control information designating switching on the source device that is denoted with the identification information, and the interface section outputs the switching on control information to the source device that is denoted with the identification information.
US08780094B2 Image display device, image display system, and image display method
An image display device includes a coordinates detection unit configured to detect a terminal device which stores image data, and to detect a coordinates of a display unit based on the detected result, a coordinates attribute extraction unit configured to extract an attribute of the coordinates detected by the coordinates detection unit, a communication unit configured to receive the image data from the terminal device, a contents attribute extraction unit configured to extract an attribute of the image data received by the communication unit, and a display control unit configured to display an image which has an attribute similar to the attribute of the coordinates extracted by the coordinates attribute extraction unit among the image data from which the attributes is extracted by the contents attribute extraction unit on a position near a position of the coordinates detected by the coordinates detection unit.
US08780088B2 Infrared sensor integrated in a touch panel
An infrared source is configured to illuminate the underside of one or more objects on or above a touchable surface of a touch panel. Infrared light reflected from the underside of the object(s) is detected by an infrared sensor integrated in the touch panel below the touchable surface.
US08780084B2 Apparatus for detecting a touching position on a flat panel display and a method thereof
This invention provides an apparatus for detecting a touching position on a flat panel display, including a display panel for displaying text and picture information, an electrically-controlled swing element with the angle of swing thereof being controlled by an electrically-driven actuator, a light source with a light beam thereof being reflected onto a display plane of the display panel or an upper or lower plane proximate to the display plane by the electrically-controlled swing element, an optical system with the optical axis thereof being parallel to the display plane, and a photo-sensing element disposed at an image plane of the optical system. A one-dimensional position of a touching point on the display panel is obtained from the photo-sensing element. Another one-dimensional position of the touching point is obtained from the said one-dimensional position and the angle of swing of the electrically-controlled swing element.
US08780064B2 Mobile communication device capable of providing candidate phone number list and method of controlling operation of the mobile communication device
A mobile communication device capable of providing a candidate phone number list and a method of controlling an operation of the mobile communication device is provided. The method includes displaying a phone number input window and a display window on the touch screen, displaying a string of numbers input to the phone number input window in the display window and displaying a candidate phone number list on the touch screen if a touch input to the display window is detected when the input number string is displayed in the display window, the candidate phone number list including a plurality of phone numbers that contain the input number string.
US08780061B2 Electrostatic capacity type touch screen panel and method of manufacturing the same
A touch screen panel includes a substrate having an electrode forming part, and a routing wire forming part, where the routing wire forming part is located at an area outside the electrode forming part. A plurality of first electrode connection patterns is located in the electrode forming part. A plurality of first routing wires and a plurality of second routing wires are both located in the routing wire forming part, and the routing wires are disposed on the same layer with the first electrode connection patterns. An insulation layer is formed on the substrate and over the first electrode connection patterns. The insulation layer has at least two contact holes that expose contact portions of each the plurality of first electrode connection patterns. A plurality of first serial electrodes are arranged in parallel in a first direction and are connected with the plurality of first routing wires, respectively. Each first serial electrode includes a plurality of first electrode elements. A plurality of second serial electrodes are arranged in parallel in a second direction, and are configured to intersect the first serial electrodes. The second serial electrodes are connected with the plurality of second routing wires, respectively, and each second serial electrode includes a plurality of second electrode elements. Each of the plurality of first electrode connection patterns connects adjacent electrode elements of each first serial electrode through respective contact portions accessible through the at least two contact holes.
US08780058B2 Information input device, image forming device, input control method, and computer-readable recording medium
An information input device includes a plurality of sensors arranged for an operation surface at predetermined intervals, each sensor detecting contact of an operation object with the operation surface in a vicinity of the sensor and outputting a detection signal. An input sensing judgment unit determines whether an input of the operation object is sensed based on an integrated detection signal of the plurality of sensors. A sensor group selection unit selects a sensor group including sensors having sensed the operation object from among the plurality of sensors based on detection signals of the sensors. A sensor specifying unit specifies the sensors having sensed the operation object from the selected sensor group based on the detection signals of the sensors. A position detecting unit detects a position of the operation object on the operation surface based on the detection signals of the specified sensors.
US08780051B2 Electronic device including keypad
According to one aspect, a portable electronic device having a base portion having a keypad, and a sliding portion. The sliding portion is coupled to the base portion and slideable relative thereto between a closed position wherein the keypad is covered by the sliding portion, and an open position wherein the keypad is exposed. The keypad includes a plurality of keys, at least some of the plurality of keys having a ridge that extends upwardly from the top surface of the key. Each ridge extends between a lower edge of the key and an upper edge of the key and is curved therebetween. Each ridge is offset from a midline of each key.
US08780046B2 Device and method for application navigation enhancement on a handheld electronic device
A handheld electronic device with a body which houses a microprocessor-run software application is disclosed. The software application program requires operator navigation therein during use. Furthermore, the application program is programmed to receive a directional navigation instruction from the operator utilizing a navigation tool. The instruction indicates a direction and degree of navigation with the application program. The application program is further programmed to receive a complimentary instruction from the operator that adapts the instructed degree of navigation to be affected in the application program by the received directional navigation instruction.
US08780044B2 Retractable mouse structure
A mouse structure includes a housing and first and second sliding apparatuses. The housing has an accommodating portion and an opening The first sliding apparatus includes a base board and a sliding element, the base board being fixedly disposed in the accommodating portion, and the sliding element being slidably mounted on the base board. The second sliding apparatus is slidably disposed in the accommodating portion and includes a main body and a reacting portion connecting the main body, the main body being capable of sliding in and out of the accommodating portion from the opening. When the main body slides out of the opening, the sliding element is concurrently and separately pulled by the reacting portion to the first position, and when the main body slides into the accommodating portion, the sliding element is concurrently and separately pushed by the reacting portion to the second position.
US08780043B2 Information selecting apparatus, storage medium storing information selecting program, game apparatus, and storage medium storing game program
An information selecting apparatus includes a CPU and a controller capable of performing a direction input. An arbitrary item is selected from a plurality of items by a direction input by means of an analog joystick, for example. When it is determined that a predetermined series of direction input operations is performed, at least one item out of selection items is switched to another item.
US08780039B2 Optical system and display
An optical system is provided, for example for use with a display device, for varying the shape of a surface in which an image displayed by the display device is perceived. The optical system comprises first and second spaced-apart partial reflectors, at least one of which is switchable between a first non-flat shape and a second different shape, which may be flat or non-flat. The reflectors, together with polarisation optics, provide a light path such that light from the display is at least partially transmitted by the first reflector, partially reflected by the second reflector, partially reflected by the first reflector and partially transmitted by the second reflector. Light which does not follow the light path is prevented from leaving the optical system.
US08780035B2 Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a backlight implemented by an LED (12) and a liquid crystal display element (11). The liquid crystal display performs an image analysis of an image represented by an input image signal and adjusts image quality by performing a control process for the liquid crystal display element (11) and a control process for the backlight implemented by the LED (12) based on results of the image analysis.
US08780033B2 Information processing apparatus and program
An information processing apparatus is provided that includes an illuminance detection unit to detect brightness and output an illuminance value corresponding to the detected brightness, a luminance control unit to derive a luminance set value for controlling a light emission signal regulating luminance of a light source based on the illuminance value, and a display control unit to derive power consumption information related to power consumption of the light source based on the luminance set value and display the power consumption information on a display screen.
US08780010B2 Metamaterial provided with at least one spiral conductor for propagating electromagnetic wave
A metamaterial including at least one spiral conductor. Only a magnetic permeability selected from among an effective dielectric constant and the magnetic permeability of the metamaterial becomes negative, so that the metamaterial have a negative refractive index characteristic. The material includes a plurality of unit cells arrayed in one of one-dimensional direction, two-dimensional directions, and three-dimensional directions. Each of the unit cells includes a dielectric substrate having first and second surfaces disposed in a substantially parallel relationship, and first and second spiral conductors. The first spiral conductor is formed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, and the second spiral conductor is formed in one of a same direction as and an opposite direction to the first spiral conductor, on the second surface of the dielectric substrate, to oppose the first spiral conductor and to be electromagnetically coupled with the first spiral conductor.
US08780006B2 Antenna matching circuit control device
The antenna matching circuit control device with an antenna body includes a sensing module, a processing module, a power adjusting module and a frequency adjusting module. The sensing module senses an object that approaches the antenna body and outputs a sensing signal accordingly. The processing module is coupled to the sensing module and outputs a first control signal and a second control signal according to the sensing signal. The power adjusting module is coupled to the processing module and controls a power amplifier to couple with one of a plurality of first matching circuits according to the first control signal. The frequency adjusting module is coupled to the antenna body and the power adjusting module. The frequency adjusting module controls one of a plurality of second matching circuits to couple with one of the first matching circuits according to the second control signal.
US08780005B2 Wireless security device
A wireless security device includes a nonconductive housing, a mother circuit board, a wireless expansion card, and a metal reflector. The mother circuit board and the wireless expansion card are disposed in the nonconductive housing. The mother circuit board includes a processor. The wireless expansion card includes a dielectric substrate, a ground plane, an inverted-F antenna, and an RF (radio frequency) module. The metal reflector is positioned between the mother circuit board and the wireless expansion card, and is close to the inverted-F antenna. The metal reflector is configured to reduce EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) from the mother circuit board so as to maintain performance of the inverted-F antenna.
US08780004B1 Dual configuration enclosure with optional shielding
An enclosure for an electronic device may include an outer enclosure and an optional metallic cage. The metallic cage may include sides, a bottom and a top that collectively define an enclosed volume, with the top being slanted at a non-zero angle with respect to the bottom. The outer enclosure may at least partially enclose the metallic cage and may define a plurality of structural posts and a top surface that faces the top of the metallic cage. The top surface may define a plurality of recesses, each being configured to receive a wireless antenna of the electronic device. The recesses may be oriented to provide a predetermined angular displacement between the antennas and may be disposed to define a predetermined spacing relative to the metallic cage. A set of beveled through-holes may be defined in the top of the metallic cage, aligned with respective ones of the structural posts.
US08779992B2 Wireless communication apparatus and planar antenna thereof
A wireless communication apparatus and a planar antenna thereof are provided. The wireless communication apparatus comprises a connecting port, a printed circuit board, and a planar antenna. The printed circuit board is connected to the connecting port, and the planar antenna is formed on the printed circuit board. The planar antenna comprises a radiation portion, a shorting portion, and a feeding portion. The feeding portion is connected to the radiation portion and the shorting portion, and the radiation portion and the shorting portion are in a bent shape so that the radiation portion, the shorting portion and the feeding portion are distributed in a rectangular region.
US08779984B2 Apparatus having mushroom structures
An apparatus having multiple mushroom structures is disclosed. Each of the multiple mushroom structures includes: a ground plate; a first patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of a distance to the ground plate; and a second patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of another distance to the ground plate, which another distance being different from the distance from the first patch to the ground plate, wherein the second patch is a passive element which is capacitatively coupled with at least the first patch.
US08779980B2 Position validation
A method of determining an indication of the position of an electronic device. The method includes: obtaining (100) information relating to a radio signal received by the device. The received radio signal are transmissions from one or more satellites of a satellite-positioning system from which information an inference can be made about the true position of the device at the time the signal was received. The method also involves obtaining (110) a plurality of hypotheses about the true position of the device; and evaluating (120, 130, 140) the plurality of hypotheses by assessing a degree of consistency between the information relating to the radio signal and the hypotheses. Using the outcome of the evaluations, the method also includes selecting (150) one or more of the hypotheses; and outputting (160) an indication of the selected one or more hypotheses.
US08779972B2 Information processing terminal and computer program
An information processing terminal, including a request reception unit that receives a function request. A GPS signals reception unit that receives a GPS signal, and a current position measuring unit that determines the latitude and longitude of the current position of the information processing terminal based upon the GPS signal. A defining information recording unit in which defining information related to the functions that can be engaged at the information processing terminal is recorded. A function decision-making unit that makes a decision as to whether or not a function can be engaged based upon the defining information and the latitude and longitude of the current position having been measured by the current position measuring unit and a data read/write unit that reads/writes data from/into a data area among a plurality of data areas based upon the results of the decision made by the function decision-making unit.
US08779968B2 System and method for microwave ranging to a target in presence of clutter and multi-path effects
A system for measuring the range to an RFID tag including situations containing high clutter and multi-path signals is disclosed. The system includes an RFID reader; an RFID tag; and a coordinated pulse radar system. In the system the RFID reader causes the tag to respond to received signals in a first backscatter state at a first time and a second backscatter state at a second time. The pulsed radar system transmits short pulses coordinated by the backscatter state of the RFID tag and the system creates a differential signal comprised of the differences between radar signals obtained during the first and second states of the tag to obtain an uncorrupted measure of a round trip time of flight of said radar pulses between the pulse radar system and the RFID tag.
US08779963B1 Reconfigurable multiple-path pipeline ADC architecture incorporating multiple-input signal-averaging MDAC
A pipeline analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a first conversion stage of the pipeline ADC that receives an input signal and that comprises, in a first signal path, a first ADC that converts the input signal, a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that converts an output of the first ADC, a first subtractor that subtracts an output of the first DAC from the input signal, and a first amplifier that amplifies an output of the first subtractor and generates a first residue of the first conversion stage; and in a second signal path, a second DAC that converts the output of the first ADC, a second subtractor that subtracts an output of the second DAC from the input signal, and a second amplifier that amplifies an output of the second subtractor and generates a second residue of the first conversion stage. A control module selectively enables and disables the second path.
US08779926B2 Presenting information regarding conditions of an environment with a visual representation of the environment
Configuring a user interface by which a user can view information regarding one or more conditions of an environment collected by an environmental monitoring system. An environmental monitoring system comprises one or more sensor units disposed in an environment and one or more servers. The servers may receive from an operator of the environment a visual representation of the environment and may identify a position in the visual representation corresponding to the location and configure a user interface to present information regarding the environment based at least in part on the positions. The user interface can be configured to display the visual representation and display information related to the first sensor unit so as to indicate a relationship between the information and the position corresponding to the location of the first sensor unit. Information identifying a location of one or more sensor units may be determined through an automated process.
US08779920B2 Multithreat safety and security system and specification method thereof
The invention relates to a safety and security system designed to protect a designated area. The system comprises sensors of various types (radars, infrared detectors for instance) and sources of intelligence. Correlation is run between instant-track data and non-instant-track data before the level of threat of the tracks is analyzed. Reliability of this analysis is thus greatly enhanced. Also a method is provided to develop systems of this type which provides an integrated specification and design method which covers technical and human factors.
US08779915B2 Improving motion sensing by identifying a keystroke
Provided are methods and apparatus for improving motion sensing. In an example, provided is a method of mitigating an error in a motion sensor signal in a mobile device. A user input signal, based on a user input to the mobile device, is received. The user input can be a keystroke, and the user input signal can be a signal resulting from the keystroke. The user input signal triggers performing a function on a motion sensor signal for a period of time. The motion sensor signal can be an output from an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope. The period of time can be based on the duration of the user input signal, and can be in a range between substantially 100 milliseconds to substantially 700 milliseconds.
US08779912B2 System and method for immobilizing a vehicle
In accordance with one embodiment, an onboard computer (OBC) and associated circuitry capable of spoofing or mimicking a fault condition tricks an electronic control module (ECM) of an automobile or other such vehicle into implementing an engine derate procedure resulting in vehicle immobilization that is safe and that is credibly attributable to a genuine vehicle fault condition. For example, in response to an engine shutdown command, the OBC might cause a fault-spoofing engine shutdown device in one embodiment to spoof an engine overheating condition by inserting an electrical resistance in parallel with the resistance of an engine temperature sensor, thus lowering the electrical resistance of the temperature sensor as detected by the ECM.
US08779909B1 Vehicle based communication system
A touch screen/keyboard is positionable within a vehicle. The touch screen/keyboard has a cradle. A projector is positioned on a dashboard of the vehicle. In this manner digital data is displayed on a windshield of the vehicle. A receiver couples the touch screen/keyboard and the projector. In this manner digital data is received and transmitted. A computer couples the touch screen/keyboard and the receiver. Further in this manner digital data is received and transmitted.
US08779908B2 System and method for social dancing
A system and method for enabling social dancing. The system comprising a movement registration module configured to monitor and identify movements by a participant; and a tactile feedback actuator configured to supply tactile feedback to the participant based on a determination by a logic module. The method performed by a computerized device, the method comprising: monitoring movements by a participant; determining feedback in response to the movements; and instructing a tactile feedback actuator to supply the feedback to the participant.
US08779905B2 Method of establishing communication with wireless control devices
The method of the present invention allows a first wireless control device that is operable to communicate on a predetermined one of a plurality of channels to establish communication with a second wireless control device that may be communicating on any of the plurality of channels. A beacon message is first transmitted repeatedly by the wireless control device on the predetermined channel. The second wireless control device listens for the beacon message for a predetermined amount of time on each of the plurality of channels. When the second control device receives the beacon message on the predetermined channel, the second control device begins communicating on the predetermined channel. The second wireless device may begin listening for the beacon message in response to powering up.
US08779903B2 Utilizing an RFID tag in manufacturing
Data associated with supply chain events for a manufactured assembly is automatically stored. In preferred embodiments the supply chain events for the manufactured assembly are stored on an RFID tag attached to the assembly as it travels through the supply chain to insure the data concerning the assembly is readily available and not separated from the assembly. In other embodiments, the supply chain events or characteristic data is stored on the RFID tag in a hierarchical structure beginning with the original state of the assembly and with additional entries for each step in the assembly process. In other embodiments, as the product undergoes rework, conversion to a different assembly, or personalizations, the new state of the assembly is stored in the RFID tag. In other preferred embodiments, other information is also stored on the RFID tag such as country of origin, failure data, cycle times and a quality status indicator.
US08779902B2 Identifier sequencing of wireless identification tags
Methods and systems for identifier sequencing of wireless identification tags are disclosed. According to aspect, a method includes receiving identifiers of wireless identification tags from each of a plurality of wireless identification read cells. The method also includes determining whether identifiers received from one or more of the wireless identification read cells are not contiguous. Further, the method includes communicating, to the wireless identification read cells, other identifiers having a contiguous sequence for re-sequencing identifiers of the wireless identification tags within the communication range of the wireless identification read cells in response to determining that one or more of the wireless identification read cells have identifiers that are not contiguous.
US08779894B2 Method for setting remote controller and remote controller applying the same
A method for setting a remote controller which controls a remote controller is provided. The method includes identifying a user by fingerprint recognition, and setting the remote controller to provide functions corresponding to the identified user.
US08779887B2 Current sensing resistor
A resistor device includes a resistor plate and an electrode structure. The electrode structure includes an electrode layer and an auxiliary layer. The electrode layer is disposed at a first face of the resistor plate and includes a first portion and a second portion overlying a first side and a second side of the resistor plate, respectively, and a current path is conducted between the first portion and the second portion through the resistor plate. The auxiliary layer is disposed at a second face of the resistor plate and includes at least a first block and a second block overlying the first side of the resistor plate, and at least a third block overlying the second side of the resistor plate, wherein the first, second and third blocks of the auxiliary layer are separated from one another so that any current flow among the blocks is blocked.
US08779885B2 Method for making magnetic components with M-phase coupling, and related inductor structures
An M phase coupled inductor includes a magnetic core including a first end magnetic element, a second end magnetic element, and M legs disposed between and connecting the first and second end magnetic elements. M is an integer greater than one. The coupled inductor further includes M windings, where each winding has a substantially rectangular cross section. Each one of the M windings is at least partially wound about a respective leg.
US08779869B2 Impedance matching apparatus and method of antenna circuit
An impedance matching apparatus is provided. The impedance matching apparatus includes a signal separation unit, an impedance detection unit, and an impedance matching unit. The signal separation unit separates a transmission and reception signal, and selectively passes a desired frequency corresponding to the transmission and reception signal. The impedance detection unit receives a signal outputted from the signal separation unit to detect first and second electric potentials between a plurality of impedances. The impedance matching unit compares the first and second electric potentials detected by the impedance detection unit to match the impedances.
US08779867B2 Split varactor array with improved matching and varactor switching scheme
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a digital controlled oscillator. The oscillator includes an oscillator circuit, a varactor array, and a control circuit. The oscillator circuit receives a control word and a signal and generates an oscillator clock signal from the signal at a frequency selected by the control word. The varactor array has a first array of varactor cells having incremental capacitance values and a second array of varactor cells having equal capacitance values. The split varactor array provides a capacitance value. A control circuit is coupled to the oscillator circuit and controls the split varactor array according to the control word. The control circuit sets varactor cells of the split varactor array on or off.
US08779859B2 Multi-cascode amplifier bias techniques
Techniques for generating bias voltages for a multi-cascode amplifier. In an aspect, a multi-cascode bias network is provided, each transistor in the bias network being a replica of a corresponding transistor in the multi-cascode amplifier, enabling accurate biasing of the transistors in the multi-cascode amplifier. In another aspect, a voltage supply for the multi-cascode amplifier is provided separately from a voltage supply for the replica bias network, to advantageously decouple variations in the amplifier voltage supply from the bias network voltage supply. In yet another aspect, the bias voltages of transistors in the multi-cascode amplifier may be configured by adjusting the impedance of resistive voltage dividers coupled to the transistor gate biases. As the gain of the amplifier depends on the bias voltages of the cascode amplifiers, the gain of the amplifier may be adjusted in this manner without introducing a variable gain element directly in the amplifier signal path.
US08779857B2 Amplifier with variable matching circuit to improve linearity
Techniques for reducing distortion and improving linearity of amplifiers are described. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes a driver amplifier, a variable matching circuit, and a power amplifier. The driver amplifier amplifies a first RF signal and provides a second RF signal. The variable matching circuit receives the second RF signal and provides a third RF signal. The power amplifier amplifies the third RF signal and provides a fourth RF signal. The variable matching circuit matches a fixed impedance at the output of the driver amplifier to a variable impedance at the input of the power amplifier in order to improve the linearity of the amplifiers. In an exemplary design, the power amplifier includes a first transistor (e.g., an NMOS transistor) of a first type, and the variable matching circuit includes a second transistor (e.g., a PMOS transistor) of a second type that is different from the first type.
US08779845B2 Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes a control unit configured to generate a first pumping enable signal and a second pumping enable signal which are alternately enabled, in response to an active signal; a first pumping voltage generation unit configured to perform a pumping operation during an enable period of the first pumping enable signal and generate a first pumping voltage; and a second pumping voltage generation unit configured to perform a pumping operation during an enable period of the second pumping enable signal and generate a second pumping voltage.
US08779844B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit according to an embodiment includes a transfer transistor including a first gate electrode, the first gate electrode and a diffusion layer being diode-connected with a first wiring, and a clock signal line to which a clock signal is supplied, at least a portion of a first partial clock signal line, which is a portion of the clock signal line, being formed above the first gate electrode.
US08779840B2 High frequency switch
There is provided a high frequency switch capable of suppressing deterioration in distortion characteristics. The high frequency switch includes: a common port outputting a transmission signal to an antenna; a plurality of transmission ports each having the transmission signal input thereto; and a plurality of switching units each connected between the plurality of transmission ports and the common port to conduct or block the transmission signal from each of the transmission ports to the common port, wherein each of the switching units has one or more metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) formed on a silicon substrate, and a capacitor connected between a body terminal of a MOSFET connected to the common port among the MOSFETs and a terminal of the MOSFET connected to the common port.
US08779831B2 Integrator
An integrator (100) comprises an amplification and phase shifting element (170) with a feedback path (130) forming a loop and comprising a capacitive element (140). An input signal is summed into the loop, and the loop is arranged to oscillate at an oscillation frequency higher than the frequencies of interest in the input signal. The loop includes a filter (160) for attenuating the oscillation signal to ensure that the amplification and phase shifting element (170) can provide amplification for the input signal. The input signal is integrated and the integrated signal perturbs the zero crossings of the oscillation signal.
US08779830B2 Inverse level shift circuit
A voltage conversion mask signal generation circuit generates a first main signal and a first mask signal by converting an output signal of the first transistor to a low-side voltage, and generating a second main signal and a second mask signal by converting an output signal of the second transistor to a low-side voltage. A mask signal generation circuit generating a third mask signal with higher sensitivity than the first and second mask signals with respect to a fluctuation in the high-side reference potential. A mask logical circuit generating a fourth mask signal by performing a AND operation between the first mask signal and the second mask signal, and masking the first and second main signals with the third and fourth mask signals; and a SR flip flop circuit generating the output signal from the masked first and second main signals.
US08779821B2 Signal delay circuit and signal delay method
A signal delay circuit comprising: a first delay stage, for delaying a first input signal to generate a first delay signal; and a second delay stage, for cooperating with part of delay units of the first delay stage to delay the first delay signal to generate a second delay signal. The signal delay circuit selectively enables the delay stages of the first delay stage or the second delay stage, wherein the signal delay circuit mixes the first delay signal and the second delay signal to generate a first mixed signal when the first delay stage and the second delay stage are both enabled.
US08779815B2 Low power oversampling with delay locked loop implementation
In one embodiment, an apparatus including a phase detector unit to determine a phase difference between a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal. The apparatus further includes a controller unit to generate a delay signal based on the phase difference. The apparatus further includes a set of voltage-controlled delay lines to generate phase outputs based on the delay signal, where the phase outputs are provided by the apparatus to a clock generator unit to generate an oversampled clock signal for data recovery by a receiver.
US08779808B2 Output circuit for a bus
An output circuit for a bus whose output node is connected to a bus, including a first current source connected to a first reference potential, a first semiconductor switching element connected between the first current source and the output node, a current control circuit for controlling the first semiconductor switching element such that the first current source and the output node are connected when a voltage of the output node is lower than a reference voltage, and the first current source and the output node are disconnected when a voltage of the output node is higher than the reference voltage, and a voltage generating circuit which is connected between the output node and a second reference potential, and includes a second semiconductor switching element turned on/off based on an output control signal.
US08779803B2 Data output driver and integrated circuit including the same
A data output driver includes a pull-up output pre-driver configured to output a plurality of pull-up signals, wherein whether each of the plurality of pull-up signals is enabled is determined in accordance with a driver mode signal, a pull-down output pre-driver configured to output a plurality of pull-down signals, wherein whether each of the plurality of pull-down signals is enabled is determined in accordance with the driver mode signal, and an output driver circuit configured to output data, wherein a driver strength of the output driver circuit is determined in accordance with the pull-up signals and pull-down signals.
US08779801B2 Analog signal soft switching control with precise current steering generator
A switching circuit includes a first input stage having an input for receiving a first input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving an increasing analog current, a second input stage having an input for receiving a second input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving a decreasing analog current, and an output node coupled to the outputs of the first input stage and the second input stage for providing a switched output signal. An output stage is coupled between the first and second input stages and the output node. The first and second input stages are operational amplifiers.
US08779797B2 Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus has a plurality of chips stacked therein, and generation timing of read control signals for controlling read operations of the plurality of stacked chips is controlled such that times after a read command is applied to when data are outputted from respective chips are made to substantially correspond to one another.
US08779796B2 Method and apparatus for device parameter measurement
A method of measuring a parameter of a device in a circuit includes providing a device under test (DUT). The DUT includes a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor having a gate, a source, and a drain coupled to a first voltage supply node. The method further includes coupling a constant current source to the source of the transistor, coupling an operational amplifier to the transistor, and measuring a parameter of the transistor.
US08779784B2 Insulation resistance measuring circuit free from influence of battery voltage
Provided is an insulation resistance measuring circuit including: a source resistor unit including a first source resistor connected between a positive terminal of a battery and a second source resistor and the second source resistor connected between a negative terminal of the battery and the first source resistor; a voltage sensing unit sensing a voltage of the first source resistor as a first voltage and sensing a voltage of the second source resistor as a second voltage; and an insulation resistance measuring unit measuring an insulation resistance of the battery through a value obtained by dividing a difference between the first and second voltages by a sum between the first and second voltages.
US08779778B2 Proximity switch
Disclosed is a proximity switch provided with an actuator unit and a sensor unit. The sensor unit is provided with an antenna coil, a transmitting circuit which transmits electromagnetic waves at a constant frequency to the antenna coil, a receiving circuit which detects external signals received by means of the antenna coil, and control circuits. The actuator unit is provided with an antenna coil, a power supply circuit which rectifies an electromotive force generated in the antenna coil, and a signal processing circuit which receives power supply from the power supply circuit, performs frequency-dividing to the signals received by means of the antenna coil, and transmits the signals from the antenna coil after the frequency-dividing. The control circuit of the sensor unit has memory for registering the frequency of the signals transmitted from the actuator unit. The control circuit determines whether the actuator unit is in proximity to the sensor unit or not by checking the received signals detected by means of the receiving circuit with the operations of the transmitting circuit and the frequency registered in the memory.
US08779772B2 Travelling-wave nuclear magnetic resonance method
A method for acquiring an image or spectrum of a subject or object residing within the magnetic field of a magnetic resonance apparatus, comprises the steps of: executing a predetermined pulse sequence for applying gradient magnetic fields and for coupling in electromagnetic excitation pulses to induce nuclear magnetic resonance within the subject or object; detecting an electromagnetic signal resulting from said magnetic resonance; and constructing at least one image or magnetic resonance spectrum of said subject or object from said detected electromagnetic signal. According to the invention, said coupling in of the electromagnetic excitation pulse and/or said detecting of the electromagnetic signal are carried out substantially by means of travelling electromagnetic waves.
US08779770B2 Molecular structure determination from NMR spectroscopy
Methods for the determination of the molecular structures of compounds are disclosed, the methods comprising obtaining NMR spectroscopic measurements of compounds, determining internuclear distances from the NMR measurements, and inputting the distances to an algorithm to determine probable structures. Optionally, constraints may be added and the algorithm repeated. Usually, the methods do not require comparisons to databases of spectra during the generation of possible structures.
US08779767B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method of controlling contrast by applying radio frequency intermediate pulse
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires MR signals for imaging by an imaging scan with a frequency-selective or slice-selective radio frequency intermediate pulse for controlling a contrast and a spoiler gradient magnetic field for suppressing unnecessary signal component after applying at least one of radio frequency excitation pulses. The image data generating unit generates image data based on the magnetic resonance signals.
US08779763B2 Spintronic magnetic nanoparticle sensors with an active area located on a magnetic domain wall
A sensor is described for detecting the presence of a magnetic nanoparticle (N). The sensor is arranged on a support (1), on which a plurality of non-magnetic contacts (Iin, GND, V1, V2) electrically conductively connected to the sensor is disposed. The contacts are adapted to be connected to means for measuring magnetoresistance. The sensor includes a planar ferromagnetic nanostructure (3), comprising a detection area (31) shaped as a strip bent to form a corner. The detection area is adapted to selectively assume, as a response to an applied magnetic field, a first spin configuration comprising a transverse “head-to-head” domain wall (TW), and a second spin configuration, wherein such domain wall (TW) is absent. The transition from the first configuration to the second configuration is affected by the proximity of a magnetic nanoparticle (N) to the detection area.
US08779755B2 Apparatus for testing power supply units based on light emitting diode flickers
A test apparatus for a power supply unit is provided, which includes a body unit configured to define a space to receive a light emitting diode (LED) and to provide a test environment to test a supply state of power applied to the LED; and a test unit mounted in the body unit to face the LED and configured to detect flicker of the LED occurring when a power supply is abnormal. According to the foregoing structure, power supply with respect to the LED may be regularly detected and analyzed, thereby increasing quality of power supply with respect to the LED.
US08779752B2 Pass through device for non-contact voltage detectors
A device for allowing an electrical worker to use a non-contact voltage detector to check for the presence or absence of voltage inside a closed electrical panel is provided. The device includes an assembly having a front side and an opposite back side, a plurality of posts extending outwardly from the back side of and configured to hold wires in a fixed position within the closed electrical panel, and a plurality of indentations in the front side which form protrusions on the back side and are positioned to allow for positioning the non-contact voltage detector proximate the wires for testing with the non-contact voltage detector.
US08779743B2 Control circuits and control methods for over voltage protection in power suppliers
Disclosed include a control circuit adapted for a power controller powered by an operation voltage. When the operation voltage exceeds an over-voltage reference, the power controller stops power conversion provided by a power converter. The control circuit comprises a slope detector detecting a variation slope of the operation voltage. When the variation slope exceeds a drop rate, the slope detector recovers the power conversion. When the power conversion is recovered the power controller compares the operation voltage with the over-voltage reference.
US08779733B2 Bootstrap scheme for BULK-BOOST converter
A bootstrap circuit for a voltage converter includes a bootstrap capacitor, a stable current module for generating a stable output current according to a stable output voltage, a current mirror module having a first branch circuit for generating a current signal according to the stable output current, and a charge module including a cascode transistor module including a plurality of transistors serially connected and a charge resistor for generating a conduction voltage according to the current signal, and an output circuit coupled to the current mirror module and the cascode transistor module for outputting the conduction voltage to charge the bootstrap capacitor.
US08779732B2 Step-up circuit having reference voltage generator to control voltage increase in accordance with supply voltage
A step-up circuit includes a capacitor, a transistor connected to the capacitor, and a reference voltage generator circuit configured to supply the transistor with a reference voltage that causes a rate of voltage increase relative to supply voltage to vary in accordance with the supply voltage.
US08779731B2 Synthetic ripple hysteretic powder converter
A novel switching hysteretic power converter is presented. The converter includes the generation of a synthetic ripple signal and a feedback network to combine a signal in phase with the inductor current with a signal proportional to the regulated output voltage. The presented approach provides a switching boost converter with a much simpler control method with respect to conventional inductive boost power converters. The hysteretic control provides stable operation in all conditions with excellent load and line transient response. Furthermore the hysteretic control allows high frequency switching, reducing the size and cost of the passive components. The presented converter includes the Discontinuous Conduction Mode of operation to achieve very high efficiency at light loads. The presented approach can also be applied to buck switching power converters with excellent performance in terms of transient response, stability, efficiency and operation at high switching frequencies. The approach can be extended also to the hysteretic control of isolated switching flyback converters.
US08779725B2 System and method for improved battery protection cutoff
Improved protection for a rechargeable battery from damage by being discharged below a cut-off voltage is provided. The measured voltage of a battery under load is lower than the measured voltage of the battery under no load. As the cut-off voltage for the battery is specified as a no load voltage, comparing the measured voltage of the battery under load to the cut-off voltage would result in stopping use of the battery with useable charge remaining. Through testing, a set of relationships for estimating the no load voltage of a battery under load has been determined. Using this set of relationships with battery measurements, an estimated no load voltage for the battery is determined. This estimated no load voltage is compared to the cut-off voltage. This allows for full use of the battery while stopping use of the battery when its voltage reaches the cut-off, thereby preventing damage.
US08779723B2 Battery charge/discharge control apparatus
A battery charge/discharge control apparatus for a vehicle capable of driving an electric motor by a battery is provided. Temperature of the battery is detected, temperature history distribution of the battery after start of temperature detection is calculated, and a lifetime workload of the battery is calculated on the basis of this temperature history distribution of the battery. A permissible value of a workload increase rate indicating a workload to increase per unit distance is calculated on the basis of the lifetime workload of the battery and a travel distance of the vehicle. An actual workload increase rate of the battery is compared with the permissible value of the workload increase rate. In the case where the actual workload increase rate is larger than the permissible value of the workload increase rate, an output is restricted from the output of the battery restricted in a normal driving mode if necessary by a restricted value based upon a difference between the actual workload increase rate and the permissible value of the workload increase rate. This makes it possible to carry out lifetime prolonging control for the battery more accurately by setting up an appropriate charge/discharge permissible amount in accordance with temperature change of the battery in the past.
US08779719B2 Charging control apparatus
A charging control apparatus mounted on a vehicle connected to an external charging device through a charging connector, for performing control related to charging, includes a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage applied to the charging connector, and a control device for estimating, based on variation in voltage detected by the voltage sensor during a predetermined period of time after the charging connector is connected to the vehicle, variation in voltage applied to the charging connector after a lapse of the predetermined period of time, and determining that a failure has occurred in the external charging device if a degree of separation between the variation in voltage detected by the voltage sensor after the lapse of the predetermined period of time and the estimated variation in voltage is larger than a predetermined value.
US08779711B2 Induction motor driver
A switched resonant power converter applies AC to an induction motor. The power converter controls the magnitude and phase of the motor current, and tuning the stator flux accordingly in order to control the motor speed. A preprocessor operates on a speed command signal by getting the user speed command input to produce amplitude and phase-related signals for application to inputs of the power converter control.
US08779701B2 Control apparatus for permanent magnet motor
A sinusoidal signal is superimposed on a current command value of a q-axis (torque shaft) supplied from a host, and according to the resulting current command value, the output voltage of a power converter is controlled. For the calculation of the superimposed signal added to the current command value of the q-axis, with the use of the ripple component information of induced voltage coefficients of the d-axis and q-axis of the rotating coordinate system of a permanent magnet motor, the current command values of the d-axis and q-axis, an average value of induced voltage coefficients of the d-axis, and inductance values of the d-axis and q-axis, the sinusoidal superimposed signal is calculated and added to the above-described current command value of the q-axis.
US08779697B2 RF cavity and accelerator having such an RF cavity
An RF cavity includes a chamber, a conductive wall that encloses the chamber and has an inner side and an outer side, a switch arrangement comprising a plurality of solid-state switches arranged along a circumference of the wall around the chamber, wherein the solid-state switches are connected to the conductive wall such that RF currents are induced in the conductive wall when the switch arrangement is activated, as a result of which RF power is coupled into the chamber of the RF cavity, and a shielding device located on the outer side of the conductive wall, along a circumference of the RF cavity, the shielding device configured to increase the impedance of a propagation path of RF currents along the outer side of the wall such that the RF currents coupled into the wall are suppressed on the outer side of the wall.
US08779692B2 Light emitting element drive device
A light emitting element drive device includes a light emitting unit that includes a light emitting element and that performs dimming based on a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, a first switching element that is turned ON or OFF based on the PWM signal and that is connected in series to the light emitting unit, and a protection circuit that includes a charging circuit and a second switching element. The second switching element is turned ON when a first voltage obtained by a charging operation of the charging circuit is equal to or more than a first predetermined value. The charging circuit discharges electric charge through the first switching element when a second voltage between input and output terminals of the first switching element drops. The first switching element is turned OFF despite the existence of the PWM signal when the second switching element is turned ON.
US08779682B2 Illumination driving apparatus
A fixture-compatible, dimmable illumination driving apparatus including: a rectifying unit rectifying a phase-controlled waveform of an alternating current (AC) power; a comparing unit comparing an output waveform of the rectifying unit with a first voltage according to a preset reference clock; a reference voltage generating unit generating a reference voltage corresponding to the number of high signals higher than the first voltage among outputs of the comparing unit during one cycle of the output waveform; and a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generating unit generating a PWM signal from the reference voltage and a feedback voltage.
US08779677B2 Circuit arrangement and method for operating a light source, in particular, a light-emitting diode
A circuit arrangement for driving a light source, in particular, a light-emitting diode, comprises a first adjustable current path (1), that connects a terminal (BAT_IN) for a battery to a terminal (CAP_IN) for a capacitor, a second current path (2) that connects the terminal (CAP_IN) for a capacitor to a terminal (LED_OUT) for a light source, and a third adjustable current path (3) that connects the terminal (BAT_IN) for a battery to the terminal (LED_OUT) for a light source. A control unit (CTRL) is provided that has a control input (IN) and is set up to adjust current intensities (I_CHRG, I_CAP, I_DIRECT) on the first, second and third control paths (1, 2, 3), respectively, as a function of control signals (I_in) that can be applied to the control input (IN). A method for operating a light source, in particular, a light-emitting diode, is also proposed.
US08779676B2 Driver circuit for dimmable solid state light source
A driver circuit for a dimmable solid state light source, and devices such as lamps and fixtures incorporating the same, and methods of driving such sources, are provided. A supply voltage circuit provides a supply voltage to a power factor controller circuit, such that the supply voltage is maintained within the high end of a nominal supply voltage operating range of the power factor controller circuit. The driver may also include an open circuit protection circuit for disabling the power factor controller circuit when an open circuit occurs in the load, and/or protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI).
US08779675B2 Controlling current flowing through LEDs in a LED lighting fixture
An alternating current (“AC”)-powered light emitting diode (“LED”) driver is described herein for driving one or more arrays of series-connected LEDs. The LED driver includes a first transistor that includes a collector-emitter path connected in series with at least one LED of an array of series-connected LEDs. The LED driver also includes a second transistor configured to selectively activate the first transistor based on a level of current through the array of series-connected LEDs. The array of series-connected LEDs has a turn-on voltage.
US08779671B2 Illumination device
An illumination device includes an organic EL panel having a light emission layer provided between a first electrode and a second electrode, a power source, a power switcher, a control circuit, and a plurality of power supply portions connected to the first electrode. The control circuit controls the power switcher in such a way that, when a first power supply portion of the plurality of power supply portions is connected to the power source, a second power supply portion is not connected to the power source. The power supply portions that supply power to the first electrode are switched sequentially at a high speed. Therefore, a user will feel as if the illumination device emits light without any unevenness of brightness two-dimensionally.
US08779670B2 Lighting device, lighting control device and lighting system
A lighting device includes a pyroelectric sensor, a shutter and a lighting control unit. The lighting control unit is configured, when the lighting load is turned off, to turn the lighting load on if the pyroelectric sensor detects a change in infrared radiation. The lighting control unit is also configured, when the lighting load is turned on, to turn the lighting load off if a repetition count or time of a lighting retention time reaches a specified count or time, respectively, with no change in infrared radiation detected through the pyroelectric sensor within each lighting retention time per the passage of lighting retention time.
US08779667B2 Illumination apparatus
An illumination apparatus includes a light source; a sensor which has an image sensor and detects an illuminance and a presence of a human based on a captured image while setting a range overlapping a range illuminated by the light source as a visual field; an illuminance determining unit for varying a light output from the light source based on the illuminance and the presence of a human; and a dimming control unit. The illuminance determining unit obtains an illuminance of an illuminance maintaining area included in the visual field based on the captured image, and when the sensor detects no human, the illuminance determining unit reduces the light output while maintaining the illuminance of the illuminance maintaining area to be equal to or greater than a threshold that is set in advance as a lower limit illuminance, which makes it feasible for the image sensor to capture an image.
US08779663B2 Light-emitting diode and method for producing a light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode includes at least one light-emitting diode chip, at least one control device, wherein each of the light-emitting diode chips is electrically connected to one of the at least one control devices, each of the at least one control devices including a data storage device in which brightness data for each light-emitting diode chip which is connected to the control device is stored, and the control device drives the connected light-emitting diode chip with a current which is selected according to stored brightness data for the light emitting-diode chip.
US08779657B2 Organic EL display unit and electronic apparatus
An organic EL display unit applying a bottom-emission structure which takes light emitted from organic EL devices from the reverse side of a substrate on which pixel circuits are formed, includes: a color filter formed on the pixel circuit; and a metal wiring formed so as to surround the periphery of the color filter, wherein the metal wiring is set to an anode potential of the organic EL device.
US08779648B2 Ultrasonic device for cutting and coagulating with stepped output
Various embodiments are directed to an apparatus, system, and method for driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic transducer in a surgical instrument. The method comprises generating a first ultrasonic drive signal by a generator coupled to an ultrasonic drive system, actuating the ultrasonic transducer with the first ultrasonic drive signal, generating a second ultrasonic drive signal by the generator, and actuating the ultrasonic transducer with the second ultrasonic drive signal. The first drive signal is different from the second drive signal. The first and second drive signals define a step function waveform. The system comprises a generator coupled to an ultrasonic instrument. The ultrasonic instrument comprises an ultrasonic drive system comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a waveguide and an end effector coupled to the waveguide. The ultrasonic drive system resonates at a resonant frequency. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic drive system coupled to a generator.
US08779636B2 Linear vibrator having broadband
A linear vibrator is disclosed having a structure capable of generating a large vibratory force with a small size, outputting various types of vibrations in a wide bandwidth, and accurately coupling the magnet, the linear vibrator including: a case providing an inner space; a trembler including a yoke formed with a circular plate-shaped wing unit, a one inner lateral end-closed, cylindrical insertion unit bent from the wing unit to have a stair, an inner magnet coupled by being inserted into the insertion unit, and an external magnet coupled to one surface of the wing unit; an elastic member fixed at one end to the case and fixed at the other end to the trembler; and a stator fixed to the case to vibrate the trembler.
US08779614B2 Power generation at a subsea location
A technique facilitates powering of devices at a subsea location without requiring routing of hydraulic pressure and/or electric signals through an umbilical from a surface location. A fluid flow, such as an injection chemical fluid flow, is at least partially routed through a flow converter disposed at a subsea location. The flow converter converts energy from the fluid flow to energy used to operate a power generation device. The power generation device may be designed to generate electrical, hydraulic, or other suitable power which is utilized at the subsea location.
US08779599B2 Packages including active dies and dummy dies and methods for forming the same
A device includes a bottom chip and an active top die bonded to the bottom chip. A dummy die is attached to the bottom chip. The dummy die is electrically insulated from the bottom chip.
US08779597B2 Semiconductor device with base support structure
An apparatus includes a semiconductor chip with a base support structure having a surface and an opposed surface. At least one device structure extends from the surface of the base support structure. A first conductive region is coupled to the base support structure. At least a portion of the first conductive region extends below the opposed surface.
US08779585B2 Implementing enhanced thermal conductivity in stacked modules
A method and structures are provided for implementing enhanced thermal conductivity between a lid and heat sink for stacked modules. A chip lid and lateral heat distributor includes cooperating features for implementing enhanced thermal conductivity. The chip lid includes a groove along an inner side wall including a flat wall surface and a curved edge surface. The lateral heat distributor includes a mating edge portion received within the groove. The mating edge portion includes a bent arm for engaging the curved edge surface groove and a flat portion. The lateral heat distributor is assembled into place with the chip lid, the mating edge portion of the lateral heat distributor bends and snaps into the groove of the chip lid. The bent arm portion presses on the curved surface of the groove, and provides an upward force to push the flat portion against the flat wall surface of the groove.
US08779584B2 Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus equipped with at least one semiconductor element includes a metallic plate bonded to an upper surface of the semiconductor element and a conductor plate, bonded to the metallic plate and serving as an electric current path of the semiconductor apparatus. The conductor plate and the metallic plate are bonded to each other by laser welding at a part other than a part directly above the semiconductor element. As a result, heat damage caused by laser welding can be reduced.
US08779579B2 Thermal dissipation in chip
A system for dissipating heat from a semiconductor board includes a first substrate including an opening formed therein, a second substrate attached to a surface of the first substrate, and a microchip positioned in the opening and bumped to the second substrate. The system further includes a heat sink directly adhered to the microchip. A method of manufacturing a heat dissipating semiconductor board includes forming an opening in a first substrate and positioning a microchip in the opening. The method further includes directly adhering the microchip to a heat sink, bonding the microchip to a second substrate and boding a surface of the first substrate to the second substrate.
US08779576B2 Wafer level package and methods of fabricating the same
In one embodiment, a wafer level package includes a rerouting pattern formed on a semiconductor substrate and a first encapsulant pattern overlying the rerouting pattern. The first encapsulant pattern has a via hole to expose a portion of the rerouting pattern. The package additionally includes an external connection terminal formed on the exposed portion of the rerouting pattern. An upper section of the sidewall and a sidewall of the external connection terminal may be separated by a gap distance. The gap distance may increase toward an upper surface of the encapsulant pattern.
US08779573B2 Semiconductor package having a silicon reinforcing member embedded in resin
Semiconductor chips are placed in recesses of a support carrier with electrode surfaces facing upward in a state where the semiconductor chips are arranged separately from each other. A seal resin part is formed by encapsulating the semiconductor chips by an insulating resin on said support carrier. Rewiring patterns are formed on a top surface of the seal resin part. External connection terminals are formed on the rewiring patterns. Bottom parts of the recesses of the support carrier are removed from the seal resin part while maintaining reinforcing members of the support carrier to be remained. The semiconductor packages are individualized by cutting the seal resin part along an outside of each reinforcing member.
US08779570B2 Stackable integrated circuit package system
A stackable integrated circuit package system including mounting an integrated circuit device over a package carrier, mounting a stiffener over the package carrier and mounting a mountable package carrier over the stiffener with a vertical gap between the integrated circuit device and the mountable package carrier.
US08779568B2 Integrated circuit package system with encapsulation lock
An integrated circuit package system includes an external interconnect having a lead tip and a lead body, including a recess in the lead body including a first recess segment, having an orientation substantially parallel to the lengthwise dimension of the lead body, and a second recess segment intersecting and perpendicular to the first recess segment along a lead body top surface of the lead body, the first recess segment at a bottom portion of the second recess segment; an internal interconnect between an integrated circuit die and the external interconnect; and an encapsulation to cover the external interconnect with the recess filled.
US08779564B1 Semiconductor device with capacitive coupling structure
A semiconductor device may include: a chip; a chip packaging structure at least partially surrounding the chip and having a receiving region configured to receive a first capacitive coupling structure; a first capacitive coupling structure disposed in the receiving region; and a second capacitive coupling structure disposed over the first capacitive coupling structure and capacitively coupled to the first capacitive coupling structure.
US08779558B2 Chip package structure and manufacturing method thereof
An embodiment of the present invention provides a manufacturing method of a chip package structure including: providing a first substrate having a plurality of predetermined scribe lines defined thereon, wherein the predetermined scribe lines define a plurality of device regions; bonding a second substrate to the first substrate, wherein a spacing layer is disposed therebetween and has a plurality of chip support rings located in the device regions respectively and a cutting support structure located on peripheries of the chip support rings, and the spacing layer has a gap pattern separating the cutting support structure from the chip support rings; and cutting the first substrate and the second substrate to form a plurality of chip packages. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a chip package structure.
US08779556B2 Structure designs and methods for integrated circuit alignment
Devices and methods for pattern alignment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a die including an integrated circuit region, an assembly isolation region around the integrated circuit region, and a seal ring region around the assembly isolation region. The device further includes a die alignment mark disposed within the seal ring region or the assembly isolation region.
US08779554B2 MOSFETs with channels on nothing and methods for forming the same
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a channel region of a transistor over the semiconductor substrate. The channel region includes a semiconductor material. An air gap is disposed under and aligned to the channel region, with a bottom surface of the channel region exposed to the air gap. Insulation regions are disposed on opposite sides of the air gap, wherein a bottom surface of the channel region is higher than top surfaces of the insulation regions. A gate dielectric of the transistor is disposed on a top surface and sidewalls of the channel region. A gate electrode of the transistor is over the gate dielectric.
US08779550B2 Analog floating-gate capacitor with improved data retention in a silicided integrated circuit
An analog floating-gate electrode in an integrated circuit, and method of fabricating the same, in which trapped charge can be stored for long durations. The analog floating-gate electrode is formed in a polycrystalline silicon gate level, and includes portions serving as a transistor gate electrode, a plate of a metal-to-poly storage capacitor, and a plate of poly-to-active tunneling capacitors. A silicide-block film comprised of a layer of silicon dioxide underlying a top layer of silicon nitride blocks the formation of silicide cladding on the electrode, while other polysilicon structures in the integrated circuit, such as polysilicon-to-metal capacitors, are silicide-clad. Following silicidation, a capacitor dielectric is deposited over the remaining polysilicon structures, followed by formation of an upper metal plate.
US08779547B2 Electroplating methods for fabricating integrated circuit devices and devices fabricated thereby
Provided are methods of fabricating a semiconductor device and semiconductor devices fabricated thereby. In the methods, dummy recess regions may be formed between cell recess regions and a peripheral circuit region. Due to the presence of the dummy recess regions, it may be possible to reduce a concentration gradient of a suppressor contained in a plating solution near the dummy pattern region, to make the concentration of the suppressor more uniform in the cell pattern region, and to supply an electric current more effectively to the cell pattern region. As a result, a plating layer can be more uniformly formed in the cell pattern region, without void formation therein.
US08779538B2 Magnetic tunneling junction seed, capping, and spacer layer materials
In one embodiment, a magnetic element for a semiconductor device includes a reference layer, a free layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer disposed between the reference layer and the free layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer includes a binary, ternary, or multi-nary alloy oxide material. The binary, ternary, or multi-nary alloy oxide material includes MgO having one or more additional elements selected from the group consisting of: Ru, Al, Ta, Tb, Cu, V, Hf, Zr, W, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Ni, Nb, Cr, Mo, and Rh.
US08779533B2 MEMS with single use valve and method of operation
In one embodiment, a method of opening a passageway to a cavity includes providing a donor portion, forming a heating element adjacent to the donor portion, forming a first sacrificial slab abutting the donor portion, wherein the donor portion and the sacrificial slab are a shrinkable pair, forming a first cavity, a portion of the first cavity bounded by the first sacrificial slab, generating heat with the heating element, forming a first reduced volume slab from the first sacrificial slab using the generated heat and the donor portion, and forming a passageway to the first cavity by forming the first reduced volume slab.
US08779527B2 FinFET drive strength modification
A method and circuit in which the drive strength of a FinFET transistor can be selectively modified, and in particular can be selectively reduced, by omitting the LDD extension formation in the source and/or in the drain of the FinFET.One application of this approach is to enable differentiation of the drive strengths of transistors in an integrated circuit by applying the technique to some, but not all, of the transistors in the integrated circuit. In particular in a SRAM cell formed from FinFET transistors the application of the technique to the pass-gate transistors, which leads to a reduction of the drive strength of the pass-gate transistors relative to the drive strength of the pull-up and pull-down transistors, results in improved SRAM cell performance.
US08779523B2 Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate with a p-type conductivity, a buried layer with an n-type conductivity provided on the semiconductor substrate, a back gate layer with a p-type conductivity provided on the buried layer, a drain layer with an n-type conductivity provided on the back gate layer, a source layer with an n-type conductivity provided spaced from the drain layer, a gate electrode provided in a region immediately above a portion of the back gate layer between the drain layer and the source layer, and a drain electrode in contact with a part of an upper surface of the drain layer. A thickness of the drain layer in a region immediately below a contact surface between the drain layer and the drain electrode is half a total thickness of the back gate and drain layers in the region.
US08779517B2 FinFET-based ESD devices and methods for forming the same
A device includes a plurality of STI regions, a plurality of semiconductor strips between the STI regions and parallel to each other, and a plurality of semiconductor fins over the semiconductor strips. A gate stack is disposed over and crossing the plurality of semiconductor fins. A drain epitaxy semiconductor region is disposed on a side of the gate stack and connected to the plurality of semiconductor fins. The drain epitaxy semiconductor region includes a first portion adjoining the semiconductor fins, wherein the first portion forms a continuous region over and aligned to the plurality of semiconductor strips. The drain epitaxy semiconductor region further includes second portions farther away from the gate stack than the first portion. Each of the second portions is over and aligned to one of the semiconductor strips. The second portions are parallel to each other, and are separated from each other by a dielectric material.
US08779516B2 Semiconductor device
A second conduction-type MIS transistor in which a source is coupled to a second power source over the surface of a first conduction-type well and a drain is coupled to the open-drain signal terminal is provided. A second conduction-type first region is provided at both sides of the MIS transistor in parallel with a direction where the electric current of the MIS transistor flows and coupled to the open-drain signal terminal. The whole these components are surrounded by a first conduction-type guard ring coupled to the second power source and the outside surrounded by the first conduction-type guard ring is further surrounded by a second conduction-type guard ring coupled to a first power source. Thereby, the semiconductor device is capable of achieving ESD protection of an open-drain signal terminal having a small area and not providing a protection element between power source terminals.
US08779507B2 Insulated gate semiconductor device
A gate lead wiring and an electrical conductor connecting the gate lead wiring to a protective diode are arranged in a straight line without bending along one and the same side of the chip. A first gate electrode layer extending on the gate lead wiring and the electrical conductor, which connects them to the protective diode, has one bent portion or no bent portion. Further, the protective diode is arranged adjacent to the electrical conductor or the gate lead wiring, and a portion of the protective diode is arranged in close proximity to a gate pad portion.
US08779495B2 Stacked SONOS memory
An integrated circuit includes a first SONOS memory cell and a second SONOS memory cell. The second memory cell is stacked on the first memory cell.
US08779483B2 Spectrally tuned plasmonic light collectors
Electronic devices may be provided with imaging modules that include plasmonic light collectors. Plasmonic light collectors may be configured to exploit an interaction between incoming light and plasmons in the plasmonic light collector to alter the path of the incoming light. Plasmonic light collectors may include one or more spectrally tuned plasmonic image pixels configured to preferentially trap light of a given frequency. Spectrally tuned plasmonic image pixels may include plasmonic structures formed form a patterned metal layer over doped silicon layers. Doped silicon layers may be interposed between plasmonic structures and a reflective layer. Plasmonic image pixels may be used to absorb and detect as much as, or more than, ninety percent of incident light at wavelengths ranging from the infrared to the ultraviolet. Plasmonic image pixels that capture light of different colors may be arranged in patterned arrays to form imager modules or imaging spectrometers for optofluidic microscopes.
US08779482B2 Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device having good properties. Particularly, the semiconductor device is provided which can improve imaging properties. The semiconductor device (CMOS image sensor) includes a plurality of pixels, each having a photodiode PD for generating a charge by receiving light, and a transfer transistor TX for transferring the charge generated by the photodiode PD. The semiconductor device further includes an active region AcTP with the photodiode, and an active region AcG located on an upper side of the region AcTP in the planar direction and having a contact Pg to which a ground potential is applied. A gettering region GET is disposed in the active region AcG.
US08779477B2 Enhanced dislocation stress transistor
A device is provided. The device includes a transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate, the transistor having a conduction channel. The device includes at least one edge dislocation formed adjacent to the conduction channel on the semiconductor substrate. The device also includes at least one free surface introduced above the conduction channel and the at least one edge dislocation.
US08779476B2 Asymmetric wedge JFET, related method and design structure
A junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) for an integrated circuit (IC) chip is provided comprising a source region, a drain region, a lower gate, and a channel, with an insulating shallow trench isolation (STI) region extending from an inner edge of an upper surface of the source region to an inner edge of an upper surface of the drain region, without an intentionally doped region, e.g., an upper gate, coplanar with an upper surface of the IC chip between the source/drain regions. In addition, an asymmetrical quasi-buried upper gate can be included, disposed under a portion of the STI region, but not extending under a portion of the STI region proximate to the drain region. Embodiments of this invention also include providing an implantation layer, under the source region, to reduce Ron. A related method and design structure are also disclosed.
US08779468B2 Nitride semiconductor structure
A nitride semiconductor structure including a silicon substrate, a nucleation layer, a discontinuous defect blocking layer, a buffer layer and a nitride semiconductor layer is provided. The nucleation layer disposed on the silicon substrate, wherein the nucleation layer has a defect density d1. A portion of the nucleation layer is covered by the discontinuous defect blocking layer. The buffer layer is disposed on the discontinuous defect blocking layer and a portion of the nucleation layer that is not covered by the discontinuous defect blocking layer. The nitride semiconductor layer is disposed on the buffer layer. A ratio of a defect density d2 of the nitride semiconductor layer to the defect density d1 of the nucleation layer is less than or equal to about 0.5, at a location where about 1 micrometer above the interface between the nitride semiconductor layer and the buffer layer.
US08779448B2 Illumination system with light source, radiation converting element and filter
The invention relates to an illumination system comprising 1) a light source arranged to emit primary radiation, 2) a radiation converting element arranged to convert at least part of the primary radiation into secondary radiation, and 3) a filter arranged to block radiation generated in the illumination system having a wavelength shorter than a certain cut-off wavelength. According to the invention, the filter is designed to block a part of the secondary radiation by having arranged the cut-off wavelength of the filter in the emission spectrum of the radiation converting element. Illumination devices according to this design show emission spectra with small bandwidth.
US08779440B2 Semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same
Some embodiments show a semiconductor structure including a substrate with a {100} crystal surface plane which includes a plurality of adjacent structured regions at a top side of the substrate. The plurality of adjacent structured regions includes adjacent substrate surfaces with {111} crystal planes and a III-V semiconductor material layer above the top side of the substrate. A semiconductor device region includes at least one semiconductor device structure. The semiconductor device region is arranged above the plurality of adjacent structured regions at the top side of the substrate.
US08779433B2 Semiconductor device
It is an object to provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied and there is no limitation on the number of writings. A semiconductor device includes a second transistor and a capacitor provided over a first transistor. A source electrode of the second transistor which is in contact with a gate electrode of the first transistor is formed using a material having etching selectivity with respect to the gate electrode. By forming the source electrode of the second transistor using a material having etching selectivity with respect to the gate electrode of the first transistor, a margin in layout can be reduced, so that the degree of integration of the semiconductor device can be increased.
US08779428B2 Transistors and electronic devices including the same
A transistor includes a first active layer having a first channel region and a second active layer having a second channel region. A first gate of the transistor is configured to control electrical characteristics of at least the first active layer and a second gate is configured to control electrical characteristics of at least the second active layer. A source electrode contacts the first and second active layers. A drain electrode also contacts the first and second active layers.
US08779420B2 Semiconductor device
An embodiment is a semiconductor device which includes a first oxide semiconductor layer over a substrate having an insulating surface and including a crystalline region formed by growth from a surface of the first oxide semiconductor layer toward an inside; a second oxide semiconductor layer over the first oxide semiconductor layer; a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer which are in contact with the second oxide semiconductor layer; a gate insulating layer covering the second oxide semiconductor layer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrode layer; and a gate electrode layer over the gate insulating layer and in a region overlapping with the second oxide semiconductor layer. The second oxide semiconductor layer is a layer including a crystal formed by growth from the crystalline region.
US08779418B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
An object is to provide a thin film transistor having favorable electric characteristics and a semiconductor device including the thin film transistor as a switching element. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode formed over an insulating surface, a gate insulating film over the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film which overlaps with the gate electrode over the gate insulating film and which includes a layer where the concentration of one or a plurality of metals contained in the oxide semiconductor is higher than that in other regions, a pair of metal oxide films formed over the oxide semiconductor film and in contact with the layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode in contact with the metal oxide films. The metal oxide films are formed by oxidation of a metal contained in the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US08779414B2 Collapsable gate for deposited nanostructures
A disposable material layer is first deposited on a graphene layer or a carbon nanotube (CNT). The disposable material layer includes a material that is less inert than graphene or CNT so that a contiguous dielectric material layer can be deposited at a target dielectric thickness without pinholes therein. A gate stack is formed by patterning the contiguous dielectric material layer and a gate conductor layer deposited thereupon. The disposable material layer shields and protects the graphene layer or the CNT during formation of the gate stack. The disposable material layer is then removed by a selective etch, releasing a free-standing gate structure. The free-standing gate structure is collapsed onto the graphene layer or the CNT below at the end of the selective etch so that the bottom surface of the contiguous dielectric material layer contacts an upper surface of the graphene layer or the CNT.
US08779413B1 Optoelectronic devices with all-inorganic colloidal nanostructured films
Optoelectronic devices and methods of producing the same are disclosed. Methods may include forming a film from fused all-inorganic colloidal nanostructures, where the nanostructures may include inorganic nanoparticles and functional inorganic ligands, and the fused nanostructures may form an electrical network that is photoconductive. Other methods may provide an optoelectronic device which may include an integrated circuit or large panel thin-film transistor matrix, an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions.
US08779406B2 Nonvolatile memory element and method for manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile memory element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a variable resistance layer positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. The variable resistance layer has a resistance state which reversibly changes based on an electrical signal applied between the first electrode and the second electrode. The variable resistance layer includes a first variable resistance layer having a first metal oxide and a second variable resistance layer having a second metal oxide. The second variable resistance layer includes a metal-metal bonding region including a metal bond of metal atoms included in the second metal oxide, and the second metal oxide has a low degree of oxygen deficiency and a high resistance value compared to the first metal oxide.
US08779405B2 Field focusing features in a ReRAM cell
A resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cell comprising a first conductive electrode and a dielectric storage material layer over the first conductive electrode. The dielectric storage material layer is conducive to the formation of conductive filaments during the application of a filament forming voltage to the cell. The cell includes a second conductive electrode over the dielectric storage material layer and a layer of conductive nanoclusters (911, 1211) including a plurality of nanoclusters in contact with the dielectric storage material layer and in contact with the first conductive electrode or the second conductive electrode.
US08779404B2 Electro-hydrodynamic wind energy system
A system for electro-hydrodynamically extracting energy from wind includes an upstream collector that is biased at an electric potential and induces an electric field. An injector introduces a particle into the electric field. The wind drag on the particle is at least partially opposed by a force of the electric field on the particle. A sensor monitors an ambient atmospheric condition, and a controller changes a parameter of the injector in response to a change in the atmospheric condition.
US08779393B2 Charged particle beam irradiation system and neutron beam irradiation system
A charged particle beam irradiation system includes: an accelerator which accelerates charged particles along an orbit, thereby emitting a charged particle beam; a gantry on which the accelerator is mounted and which can rotate or oscillate around a given axis; and an irradiation section which is mounted on the gantry and can irradiate the charged particle beam emitted from the accelerator, toward an irradiated body, wherein a shielding body which is provided in the gantry and shields radiation that is radiated from a side of the accelerator, which may be a face intersecting the radial direction of the orbit, is disposed.
US08779375B2 Device and method for monitoring a hadron beam
The present invention relates to a device for dosimetry monitoring of a hadron beam, comprising successive ionization chambers obtained by a series of parallel detector plates separated from each other by a gas filled gap, each detector plate having a collecting part comprising a collecting side insulated from a bias voltage part comprising a bias voltage side and arranged in such a way that the collecting side is facing the bias voltage side of a subsequent detector plate, the resulting assembly of these detector plates forming a plurality of ionization chamber cells, the thicknesses and the choice of the materials of each layer constituting each detector plate as well as the gap of an ionization chamber cell have been selected in order to satisfy the condition that the water equivalent thickness of cell is equal to the length of said cell.
US08779359B2 Defect review apparatus and defect review method
A defect review apparatus includes: an electron scanning part which irradiates and scans an electron beam over an observation region on a surface of a sample; four electron detectors arranged around the optical axis of the electron beam with 90° intervals; and a signal processing unit which generates multiple pieces of image data of the observation region on the basis of detection signals from the electron detectors, the multiple pieces of image data respectively taken in different directions. When a pattern in the observation region is a line-and-space pattern, the defect inspection unit performs defect detection on the basis of a subtract between two pieces of the image data respectively taken in two predetermined directions with the optical axis of the electron beam in between.
US08779336B2 Ring type infrared heating device
A ring type infrared heating device is used in manufacturing process for corrugated cardboard so that the paper surface passing through the heating device can be heated up to appropriate temperature for subsequent shaping operation. The ring type infrared heating device is mainly formed by a lengthwise drum and a plurality of ring type infrared lamps arranged within the lengthwise drum. The surface of the lengthwise drum can be heated quickly up to working temperature by the light radiation energy generated from the ring type infrared lamps, so as to facilitate the shaping operation of corrugated cardboard.
US08779319B2 Terminals for vacuum circuit breaker and vacuum circuit breaker having the same
Terminals for a vacuum circuit breaker include: a first terminal having a plurality of supporting rings, a plurality of finger contactors, and ring-shaped springs installed to contact an outer circumferential surface of the finger contactors so as to provide an elastic force to the finger contactors toward the center; a second terminal having an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the first terminal formed by an inner circumferential surface of the finger contactors of the first terminal, and configured by a bushing-type electric conductor; and an insulation guide member detachably fixed to a leading end of the second terminal such that an electric insulating property of the second terminal increases when the first and second terminals are disconnected from each other, having an electric insulating property, and tapered so as to have a decreased outer diameter as a distance from the second terminal becomes long.
US08779317B2 Contact assembly for vacuum interrupter
The contact assembly for a vacuum interrupter, comprises: a fixed contact; a fixed electrode coupled to the fixed contact; a movable contact movable to a first position at which the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact and a second position at which the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact; a movable electrode coupled to the movable contact and movable with the movable contact; and a contact support member installed to be in contact with the movable contact on the circumference of the movable electrode and increase a contact area contacting the movable contact together with the movable electrode in order to reduce stress applied to the movable contact and the movable electrode when the movable contact moves to the first position.
US08779311B2 Electrical appliance housing
An electrical appliance housing including a hard plastic housing body defining a switch-actuating aperture. The aperture is sealed with a soft plastic membrane. An actuating button is fastened to a hard plastic base that is bonded to the membrane.
US08779309B2 Transfer switch with internal interlock
A transfer switch mountable in a standard electrical panel connects either a utility supply or an auxiliary supply to an electrical system. An internal mechanical interlock prevents both the utility supply and the auxiliary supply from simultaneously being connected to the system. The transfer switch may utilize either a rocker-style or a blade style switch. A light-emitting diode provides an indication of whether the utility supply is connected to and a voltage is present at the utility supply terminal. A power meter provides an indication of the magnitude of power drawn from the auxiliary supply when the auxiliary supply is connected to the load.
US08779305B2 Passenger's weight measurement device for vehicle seat having improved ease of assembly
An upper rail is movable in a rear and front direction with respect to a lower rail fixed to a vehicle floor. A load sensor is fixed to an upper surface of the upper rail, and a rectangular frame 30 is attached onto the load sensor. A rod of the load sensor sequentially penetrates a web of the rectangular frame, a plain washer and a spring holder upward, and a coil spring is wound around the rod. A bush is fitted to an edge of a hole of the plain washer, and a step difference is formed between an upper surface of the plain washer and the bush. A nut is screwed to the rod, and the nut tightens a bottom of a cup portion of the spring holder. In such a way, the coil spring is sandwiched between the spring holder and the web and is compressed, and an end portion of the coil spring engages with the step difference.
US08779301B2 Monitoring system for use in monitoring the operation of machinery and method of retrofitting monitoring system
A housing for use in a monitoring system having at least one monitoring module includes a shell defining an interior cavity. At least one opening is defined in the shell, and the at least one opening is in flow communication with the interior cavity. The housing includes at least one gasket coupled to the shell about an outer perimeter of the at least one opening. The at least one gasket facilitates insulating the interior cavity from electromagnetic radiation when the at least one monitoring module is positioned within the housing.
US08779298B2 Electronic circuit
Electronic circuits (1, 101) are disclosed. The electronic circuits comprise a first and a second integrated circuit (10a, 110a, 10b, 110b) and a printed circuit board (PCB) (15, 115). The PCB comprises dielectric layers (30a-c, 130) of polymer-based materials having different dissipation factors arranged in accordance with various embodiments for suppressing noise.
US08779295B2 Partition post used on printed circuit board
The present invention relates to a partition post used on a printed circuit board, which comprises an insulation post member and an electric conductive spring. The top and the bottom of the insulation post member are respectively and protrudingly installed with an upper and a lower connection rings, and the bottom surface of the lower connection ring is longitudinally extended with an arrow-shaped elastic buckle claw; the electric conductive spring is sleeved on the insulation post member, the top and the bottom thereof are respectively installed with an upper and a lower guide parts composed of plural spiral rings and at the locations corresponding to the upper and the lower connection rings; so static electricity and/or noise signal generated by each electric component on the printed circuit board can be transmitted through the electric conductive spring to the electric conductive member and thereby providing a grounding effect.
US08779293B2 Coaxial cable
A coaxial cable including: an inner conductor located at the center portion of the cable; an insulator surrounding the outside of the inner conductor; an outer conductor surrounding the outside of the insulator; and a sheath surrounding the outer conductor, wherein the outer conductor is provided to have a corrugated tube shape having corrugation crests and corrugation troughs formed therein, and wherein an outer diameter “I” of the insulator, an inner diameter D1 of the corrugation crest formed in the outer conductor, and an inner diameter D2 of the corrugation trough formed in the outer conductor have the following relationship: D 1 + D 2 2 ≥ I ≥ D 2 , and an air layer is formed between the insulator and the corrugation crest of the outer conductor, and a straight line section is provided in the corrugation crest of the outer conductor.
US08779292B2 Substrate and substrate bonding device using the same
A substrate and a substrate bonding device using the same are provided. The substrate includes a base, upper and lower metal layers, and upper and lower covering layers. The base has an upper surface, a lower surface and a through-hole passing there through, wherein the upper and lower covering layers respectively covers the upper and lower metal layers respectively disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the base. The lower metal layer has an electrical bonding portion and a strengthening bonding portion insulated with each other. The strengthening bonding portion enhances the bonding strength between the substrate and another substrate. The upper metal layer is electrically connected to the electrical bonding portion via the through hole. The lower covering layer exposes the electrical bonding portion and the strengthening bonding portion so as to be respectively connected with two bonding portions of the another substrate.
US08779290B1 Corner wall conduit
An integrated conduit and molding mounting system for use at the intersection of a wall and ceiling is disclosed. The system comprises a conduit receiver and a conduit cover bonded to a molding piece. After installation of the conduit receiver at the wall and ceiling joint, the conduit cover and molding is snapped into place over the conduit receiver. The system also comprises a corner piece to eliminate mitering the joints at a corner and a seam cover to be mounted at the intersection of two straight runs.
US08779287B2 Apparatus for an electrical equipment enclosure with electrical connection weatherproofing by a multi-hole gland and/or a tube
An apparatus for an electrical equipment enclosure with tubular and/or multi-hole gland weatherproofing of electrical connections is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, one or more weatherproofing tubes and/or one or more multi-hole glands attached to the lid incorporating one or more openings are configured to serve as passageways for one or more electrical lines which need to stay weatherproof, watertight, and/or splash-proof from external elements. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, one or more clusters of electrical connectors inside the electrical equipment enclosure receive a portion of the one or more electrical lines passing through one or more openings and one or more weatherproofing tubes and/or multi-hole glands. The apparatus as embodied by the present invention provides a reliable, durable and cost-effective weatherproof electrical equipment enclosure design.