Document Document Title
US08965801B2 Provision of support services as a service
A method of providing support services as a service is presented. For example, the method includes providing to a service provider one or more service modules operative to provide the support services to the service provider. The one or more service modules are provided by one or more suppliers of the support services and include instruction code operative to be performed on a processor device and one or more application programming interfaces operative for programmatic access to the one or more service module. The service modules may further include one or more user interfaces operative for interactive access to a respective service module. The one or more service modules may include, for example, one or more of a profile service module, an offering service module, a customer service module, a process service module, a user interface service module and a revenue service module.
US08965800B2 Systems, methods, and computer readable media for conducting an electronic transaction via a backend server system
A method for conducting an electronic transaction with a backend server system includes interfacing a mobile device with a touch point to wirelessly obtain a backend server system address and an identification code. The touch point is associated with an electronic transaction terminal device to be utilized by a user of the mobile device to conduct an electronic transaction. Communication is established between the mobile device and the backend server system. The identification code and a mobile device identifier associated with the mobile device are received. It is determined whether one or more electronic certificates associated with the mobile device identifier are applicable for use in the electronic transaction. The identification code is used to provide at least one of the applicable electronic certificates to the terminal device and applying the at least one applicable electronic certificate to the electronic transaction.
US08965797B2 Explosions of bill-of-materials lists
In a parallel explosion unit of a parallel explosion apparatus, a processing unit extracts an end product, extracts an assembly directly constituting the end product, and an determines whether or not a BOM tree having the assembly as a vertex is already broken down. When the BOM tree of the assembly is not yet broken down, the processing unit registers the number of units of each component constituting the assembly in an explosion result list and generates a tree-specific list in which the number of units of each component and a registration position of the component in the explosion result list are recorded. When the BOM tree of the assembly is already broken down, the processing unit adds the number of units of each component recorded in the tree-specific list to the number of units at the registration position of the component likewise recorded in the explosion result list.
US08965795B2 Methods and systems for labeling labware
The present invention includes a system for marking labware. The system includes an instruction set with markings to be applied to pieces of labware and the order in which the markings are to be applied to the labware. The system also includes a marking device that receives the instruction set and then places the non-toxic marks on the pieces of labware. The invention also includes methods tracking chain of custody of biological material in a facility. The methods include assigning a unique marking for biological materials, storing that marking in a database, applying a non-toxic marking to a piece(s) of labware and then scanning the marking.
US08965792B2 Method of and system for fact checking flagged comments
A fact checking system verifies the correctness of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with one or more sources. The fact checking system automatically monitors, processes, fact checks information and indicates a status of the information.
US08965790B2 Readable indicia for fuel purchase
Embodiments of the invention are directed to purchasing fuel for a vehicle from a fuel station. An exemplary apparatus is configured to: initiate a fuel purchase application; determine identification information associated with a fuel pump that will be used for fueling the vehicle; and transmit a purchase authorization request to an external server based on the identification information.
US08965789B2 Method for authorization of a transaction with the use of mobile phone
A method for transaction authorization with the use of a mobile phone, comprising the steps of receiving (102, 202) from the user (UR), by the communication server (CS) a voice call establishment request, to establish a voice connection to a telephone number which identifies a transaction; authorize the transaction by verifying (112, 206) the credentials of the user (UR); accepting (106, 214) or rejecting (108, 216) the voice call; sending a request (116, 220) to the user (UR) to enter necessary transaction parameters; entering (118, 222) the requested transaction parameters; verifying (120, 224), by the authorization system (AS), the validity of the entered parameter; determining (122, 226) whether the user (UR) has entered all necessary transaction parameters, including user's authorization to fund the transaction and, preferably, a password authorizing the transaction; accepting the transaction funding by the transaction party responsible for it (124, 228), and, if the amount has been accepted, sending a message with instruction to reserve sufficient funds (126, 230) in the transaction funding party account to settle the transaction; determining (128, 232) whether the authorization system (AS) has been provided with all necessary the transaction parameters; storing (130, 234) the transaction for further processing or forwarding it (132, 236) for settlement.
US08965784B2 Reward exchange method and system implementing data collection and analysis
A method of operating a data collection and analysis system. An exchange computer receives customer identification data associated with a customer. A quantitative analysis algorithm determines whether the exchange computer has received an amount of customer identification data sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified, and if so, then a linking service computer or a plurality of remote database computers perform a qualitative analysis algorithm with the customer identification data to determine if the customer identification data is sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified. If the qualitative analysis algorithm passes, then customer information may be retrieved from the remote databases and collated and analyzed at the exchange computer. The customer may automatically register with reward programs using already-entered user information. A data analysis embodiment enables offers to be generated that are tailored towards specific users.
US08965783B2 Content-embedding code generation in digital media benefit attachment mechanism
Particular embodiments of the present invention are related to a digital media benefit attachment mechanism for generating or attaching revenue rights and other benefits to one or more entities associated with socially distributed media.
US08965782B2 Method and apparatus for transaction tracking over a computer network
An apparatus and a method for tracking transactions over a computer network is provided. An advertisement is provided to a user using a web client, such as a web browser, at a user node. The user selects the advertisement, e.g., by clicking on the advertisement, to request to an ad server for redirection to a transaction node associated with the advertisement. The ad server formats a cookie and provides to the user node. When the user requests a transaction after the redirection, the transaction node sends a transaction confirmation after performing the transaction. The transaction confirmation includes a command to record the transaction. In response to the command, the user node provides a query string and the cookie to the ad server for the transaction to be recorded.
US08965772B2 Displaying speech command input state information in a multimodal browser
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for displaying speech command input state information in a multimodal browser including displaying an icon representing a speech command type and displaying an icon representing the input state of the speech command. In typical embodiments, the icon representing a speech command type and the icon representing the input state of the speech command also includes attributes of a single icon. Typical embodiments include accepting from a user a speech command of the speech command type, changing the input state of the speech command, and displaying another icon representing the changed input state of the speech command. Typical embodiments also include displaying the text of the speech command in association with the icon representing the speech command type.
US08965771B2 Use of avatar with event processing
Conducting commerce over a network, e.g., the Internet includes receiving a transaction request from a user as text input, using natural programming language to analysis the text input to build conversations with the user based on the transaction request. The technique also includes generating a voice-synthesized response in accordance with the transaction through an avatar and tracking the transaction by storing the transaction in the database.
US08965764B2 Electronic apparatus and voice recognition method for the same
Disclosed are an electronic apparatus and a voice recognition method for the same. The voice recognition method for the electronic apparatus includes: receiving an input voice of a user; determining characteristics of the user; and recognizing the input voice based on the determined characteristics of the user.
US08965760B2 Communication device, method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and system of a remote conference
A communication device may acquire material data to share with a particular communication device, when one or more of first image data and first audio data is outputted. The communication device may determine whether the acquired material data includes audio data. Additionally, the communication device may change a first sound volume setting to a second sound volume setting, in response to determining that the acquired material data includes audio data. The communication device may output, through an audio output device, received first audio data according to the second sound volume setting and the material data according to a third sound volume setting.
US08965757B2 System and method for multi-channel noise suppression based on closed-form solutions and estimation of time-varying complex statistics
Multi-channel noise suppression systems and methods are described that omit the traditional delay-and-sum fixed beamformer in devices that include a primary speech microphone and at least one noise reference microphone with the desired speech being in the near-field of the device. The multi-channel noise suppression systems and methods use a blocking matrix (BM) to remove desired speech in the input speech signal received by the noise reference microphone to get a “cleaner” background noise component. Then, an adaptive noise canceler (ANC) is used to remove the background noise in the input speech signal received by the primary speech microphone based on the “cleaner” background noise component to achieve noise suppression. The filters implemented by the BM and ANC are derived using closed-form solutions that require calculation of time-varying statistics of complex frequency domain signals in the noise suppression system.
US08965756B2 Automatic equalization of coloration in speech recordings
Systems and methods to automatically equalize coloration in speech recordings is provided. In example embodiments, a reference spectral shape based on a reference signal is determined. An estimated spectral shape for an input signal is derived. Using the estimated spectral shape and the reference spectral shape a comparison is performed to determine gain settings. The gain settings comprise a gain value for each filter of a filter system. Using gain values associated with the gain setting, automatic equalization is performed on the input signal.
US08965754B2 Text prediction using environment hints
Provided are techniques for text prediction using environment hints. A list of words is received, wherein each word in the list of words has an associated weight. For at least one word in the list of words, an environment weight is obtained from an environment dictionary. The associated weight of the at least one word is updated using the obtained environment weight. The words in the list of words are ordered based on the updated, associated weight of each of the words.
US08965747B2 Automatic three-phase unbalanced load compensation experimental device and its control method
An automatic three-phase unbalanced load compensation experimental device includes an automatic compensation device, a load simulation part, and detection, display and control parts. The automatic compensation device includes power capacitors and intelligent grouping compound switches. The detection, display and control part includes a plurality of current transformers, molded case circuit breakers, a three-phase digital display ammeter, a three-phase electric power monitoring instrument, a protocol conversion module, RS-485 buses, Ethernet cables and an upper computer. The load simulation part includes phase A, B and C loads which are in star connection and are same in component and circuit connection, an analog output module and a relay output module. A power monitoring instrument and digital ammeter are connected to the grid by circuit breaker and the plurality of current transformers. The automatic compensation device and load simulation part are connected to the grid in parallel.
US08965744B2 Method of developing a petroleum reservoir by reservoir model reconstruction
A method of developing a petroleum reservoir according to a given development scheme, from a facies map representative of the reservoir. New measurements are taken in the reservoir to better characterize it. A geostatistical simulator is selected. A set of random numbers is then identified which are provided to the geostatistical simulator to provide a facies representation identical to the initial map by inverting a random number generation algorithm of the simulator. The map is then modified to account for the new measurements, by carrying out a geostatistical simulation constrained by the measurements, with the geostatistical simulator and the set of random numbers. Finally, the reservoir development scheme is modified by accounting for the modified map, and the reservoir is developed using the modified development scheme.
US08965738B2 Method of selecting a plastic
A plastic may be selected for a thin web application by finite element analysis of the part including the properties, including Poission's ratio of potential polymers from which the part may be made and subjecting the computer model of the part to loads to determine the deflection of the part under a specified series of loads or when the part breaks or subjecting the part to a number of use cycles to determine when the part fails. The process is iteratively repeated for each plastic and the results are compared to select a preferred plastic for the part.
US08965736B2 High accuracy and high dynamic range MEMS inertial measurement unit with automatic dynamic range control
Embodiments relate to a MEMS IMU having an automatic gain control. The dynamic measurement range of the MEMS IMU is controlled by controlling the gain of a signal amplifier before the analog to digital converter (ADC) to make full use of the ADC range. In one embodiment, two or more MEMS inertial sensor sets are installed in the IMU. One of the sensor sets is for high accuracy with low dynamic range, and the other set or sets is for higher dynamic range with less resolution or accuracy. In one implementation, a digital processor determines which of the sensor sets to be used according to the system dynamic estimation. In another implementation, the system weights the sensor outputs from the sensor sets according to the system dynamics.
US08965733B2 Machine tool data acquisition device and method
A machine tool data acquisition device for processing a plurality of far-end acquisition commands transmitted from a plurality of monitoring devices is provided. The far-end acquisition commands are used for requesting a plurality of parameters from a machine tool, and the plurality of parameters constitute a combination of parameters, including: a monitoring device connection module for receiving the plurality of far-end acquisition commands from the plurality of monitoring devices; a command establishing module for establishing a plurality of near-end acquisition commands according to the far-end acquisition commands, wherein there is an sequence among the plurality of near-end acquisition commands, and each near-end acquisition command corresponds to a plurality of parameter acquisition requests used for requesting and acquiring all of the parameters of one combination of parameters; and a machine tool connection module for sequentially transmitting the parameter acquisition requests corresponding to the near-end commands to the machine tool according to the sequence among the near-end acquisition commands, and acquiring the parameters corresponding to the parameter acquisition requests from the machine tool.
US08965730B2 Fitness monitoring device with altimeter and airplane mode
Biometric monitoring devices, including various technologies that may be implemented in such devices, are discussed herein. Additionally, techniques for utilizing altimeters in biometric monitoring devices are provided. Such techniques may, in some implementations, involve recalibrating a biometric monitoring device altimeter based on location data; using altimeter data as an aid to gesture recognition; and/or using altimeter data to manage an airplane mode of a biometric monitoring device.
US08965728B2 Exhaust strut radial temperature measurement
A method is disclosed for providing a real time, radial exhaust temperature distribution in a gas turbine to improve the understanding of exhaust gas temperature in a manner similar to installing production rakes. The thermocouples are installed along the exhaust frame strut skins at a number of radial positions. The data from the thermocouples along each of the struts is used to produce a normalized radial profile of the turbine exhaust temperature. The existing turbine station instrumentation is then used to expand the normalized profile into an actual profile of the turbine exhaust temperature. The calculations/transfer functions for temperatures are obtained from data collected during performance testing with full rakes. This profile is integrated to determine a bulk Tx to improve gas turbine controls including model-based controls or corrected parameter controls (MBC/CPC) controls, or specific radial temperatures are used, to provide protective action for bucket platforms, or other turbine components.
US08965724B2 Measuring device
The measuring device comprises a detection part provided with a pair of electrode parts to output a potential difference or a current value caused by contacting the respective electrode parts with a measurement object and a main body displaying, as a measurement result, a characteristic value of the measurement object obtained based on the potential difference, wherein the measuring device further comprises: a calibration start command receiving part receiving a calibration start command from a user; a stability degree calculation part calculating a degree of stability of the characteristic value based on a variation amount of the characteristic value; and a display output part displaying a value of the degree of stability itself at least before the calibration start command receiving part receives the calibration start command from the user.
US08965717B2 Carbon emission tracker and tracking system
A carbon emission tracker is disclosed. The carbon emission tracker includes a main body, a power input interface, a power output interface, a power detecting unit, a communication unit, a memory unit, and a processing unit. The power detecting unit is configured to detect an electricity usage of an electrical appliance. The processing unit is configured to aggregate power consumption data over a time period and to store the power consumption data for the time period to the memory unit. The processing unit transmits the power consumption data of the memory unit to a data center through the communication unit. The power consumption data further includes identification data of the electrical appliance.
US08965700B2 Methods and apparatus for generating an electronic record of environmental landmarks based on marking device actuations
Methods and apparatus for generating electronic records of marking operations and/or environmental landmarks for underground facilities/utilities. Marking information and/or landmark information may be logged/stored in local memory of a marking device, formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed at the marking device itself, and/or transmitted to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. In one example, a marking device may be configured to operate in both a marking mode and a landmark mode, and information relating to one or more environmental landmarks in a vicinity of the marking operation may be collected and logged with actuation of a marking device in the landmark mode. A computer-generated image or other visual representation may be electronically rendered in a display field based on logged marking information and/or landmark information, essentially in real time as the information is collected, and/or recreated thereafter based on one or more stored electronic records.
US08965698B2 Real time thermal line ratings for overhead transmission line
A system for generating line ratings includes a module for receiving data concerning a power line, a module for stores the data concerning said power line, and a module receives weather data associated with each of the geographic locations along the length of the power line. A processor is configured to select between generating a line rating based on the at least one tension/sag measurement and the weather data associated with each of said geographic locations along the length of said power line, where if the power line has a load exceeding a predetermined threshold, then the processor generates a line rating based on the at least one tension/sag measurement, and where if the power line has a load below the predetermined threshold, then the processor generates a line rating based on the weather data associated with each of the geographic locations along the length of the power line.
US08965692B2 Follow me navigation system
A first navigation device records first direction information as the first navigation device traverses a route from a first location to a second location, and transmits the first direction information to a second navigation device while the second navigation device is following the first navigation along the route. After recording the first direction information and while transmitting the first direction information, the first navigation device records second direction information as the first navigation device traverses the route from the second location to a third location. The first navigation device transmits the second direction information to the second navigation device. The first direction information and the second direction information include information that allows the second navigation device to follow the route traversed by the first navigation device.
US08965691B1 Position and direction determination using multiple single-channel encoders
A system for an autonomous vehicle is disclosed that combines information from single-channel encoders serving as wheel speed sensors on multiple wheels of the vehicle. A pattern of the outputs from the single-channel encoders is characterized while the vehicle is traveling in a first direction. A shift in the characterized pattern is associated with a change in direction of the autonomous vehicle. Such detection of changes in direction can be used to determine the position of the vehicle at low speeds or while starting and/or stopping where the vehicle can potentially rock back and forth.
US08965690B2 Satellite navigation/dead-reckoning navigation integrated positioning device
Even when inertial navigation is performed, whether or not the correction of a value detected by an external sensor is appropriate can be judged, so that a dramatically degraded positioning result is prevented from being outputted. A navigation device (100) comprises a GPS receiver (11), an acceleration sensor (12) for detecting at least two-axis accelerations in an X-axis direction that is the front-back direction of a moving body and a Y-axis direction that is the right-left direction of the moving body, and a at least one-axis angular velocity sensor (13) for detecting the angular velocity in an azimuth direction around a Z-axis orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. A sensor detection value appropriate correction judgment module (22) of an integrated calculation module (30) having a CPU or the like finds the product of the value (velocity) obtained by integrating the acceleration detection value in the X-axis direction and the angular velocity detection value in the azimuth direction, acquires the error between the value of the product and the acceleration detection value in the Y-axis direction, and judges whether or not corrections made by the acceleration sensor and the angular velocity sensor are appropriate by judging whether or not the error exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US08965685B1 Method and system for enabling precautionary actions in a vehicle
A feature for a motor vehicle that takes precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network in the vicinity ahead of the vehicle. The feature uses a data representation of the road network extending from the current vehicle position out to an extent. The data representation of the road network is used to identify conditions, if any, that warrant taking a precautionary action. The type of conditions about which actions are to be taken may be identified in a data file. A precautionary action is taken as the vehicle approaches the location of the condition. The precautionary action may be a message provided to the vehicle driver to alert the driver about the condition. Alternatively, the action may be a modification of the vehicle operation, such as slowing down or stopping the vehicle, speeding up the vehicle, changing direction, and so on.
US08965684B2 Mobile terminal, system and method
The present invention pertains to a mobile terminal having an autonomous navigation function, said mobile terminal comprising: a map application which performs map matching on the current position of the mobile terminal on a route to a destination; a measurement unit which detects the movement of the mobile terminal, and which provides sensor information representing the number of steps and travel direction; a position calculation unit which determines the current position of the mobile terminal; a travel direction correction unit which, when it has been estimated that a user is walking straight by determining whether the amount of change of the user's travel direction is within a prescribed range in a prescribed period, corrects the user's travel direction according to the orientation of the straight parts when the user is walking straight on the route; and a current position correction unit which, on the basis of the corrected travel direction and the starting time and starting point when walking straight, recalculates the current position of the mobile terminal from the starting point, and corrects the current position of the mobile terminal according to the recalculated current position.
US08965683B2 Vehicle navigation system
A vehicle navigation system disposed in a vehicle executes a route guidance function that calculates a first route by prioritizing a special lane over a normal lane as a route calculation condition and performs route guidance when a special lane use option is turned on. A determination unit determines whether the vehicle is traveling in a parallel route section in which the special lane and normal lane are in parallel. If the vehicle is traveling in the parallel route section, a second route calculation unit calculates a second route towards the destination based on an assumption that the vehicle is traveling in the normal lane. In addition, a second route guidance unit outputs a second guidance phrase at a second guidance point, such that the second guidance phrase includes a conditional phrase that conveys that the vehicle is not in the special lane.
US08965676B2 Computationally efficient intersection collision avoidance system
A back-propagating intersection collision avoidance system is provided. The system can include a first vehicle and a second vehicle, the first and second vehicles each operable to approach an intersection at a definable velocity and acceleration. In addition, the intersection can have a collision zone in which the first and second vehicles will collide if they are present there at the same time. The first vehicle can have a processing unit with a controller and a microprocessor, the microprocessor having an algorithm with a disturbance model. The processing unit is operable to back-propagate from the collision zone a capture set as a function of a disturbance for the first and second vehicles.
US08965675B2 Estimation of roadway travel information based on historical travel data
A system for navigation along a desired route on a desired future date may include a map interface operable to display a traffic condition and a travel time received via a communication network, and an automobile navigation network communicatively coupled to the communication network. The automobile navigation network may estimate the traffic condition and the travel time for travel along the desired route on the desired future date based on historical travel information, current traffic information and current weather information. Information regarding the estimated travel conditions may be automatically communicated to the map interface. The traffic condition may include geographic location information and/or route information. The historical travel information may include historical traffic information.
US08965664B2 Controller for plant
A controller for a plant that controls a controlled variable for the plant in accordance with estimated values, allowing to reduce any error in the estimated values that is caused by solid variation or aging of the plant. A controller for an exhaust emission control system has an estimated Inert-EGR value calculation section (711) to calculate the estimated value IEGRHAT for the Inert-EGR amount on the basis of an input vector U through a neural network, an estimated LAF sensor output value calculation section (712) to calculate the estimated value ΦHAT for an exhaust air-fuel ratio correlating with the Inert-EGR amount on the basis of the input vector U through the neural network, an LAF sensor (34) to detect the exhaust air-fuel ratio, and a nonlinear adaptive corrector (713) to calculate the adaptive input UVNS such that the estimated error EHAT between the detected value ΦACT from the LAF sensor (34) and the estimated output value ΦHAT of the LAF sensor (34) is minimized.
US08965663B2 Fuel injection control apparatus for internal combustion engine and method for controlling internal combustion engine
A fuel injection control apparatus includes a first injection timing setting device, a target second injection timing setting device, a reference injection timing calculator, and a second injection timing setting device. The reference injection timing calculator is configured to calculate, as a reference injection timing, a timing at which a second-injection boosting operation is to be completed. The second-injection boosting operation is to re-boost a reduced voltage which has been reduced because of an execution of a first injection operation by using a booster circuit. The second injection timing setting device is configured to set, as a second injection timing at which a second injection operation is to be started, a later one of a target second injection timing set by the target second injection timing setting device and the reference injection timing calculated by the reference injection timing calculator.
US08965657B2 System and method for detecting an on ground condition of an aircraft
Systems and methods for detecting an on ground condition of an aircraft are disclosed. A weight on wheel system may determine that an aircraft is on the ground. Wheel speed sensors may measure the speed of the aircraft wheels. Axle reference speeds may be calculated for each landing gear based on the speed of the aircraft wheels. A brake control unit may determine that the axle reference speed for each axle of the landing gears is above an on ground threshold speed, and the brake control unit may allow braking to be applied.
US08965655B2 Method for operating a brake-slip regulating arrangement of a brake system of a vehicle
A method and device for operating a brake-slip regulating arrangement of a vehicle brake system in various operating modes, in accordance with driving conditions, including: activating, in an on-road operating mode, the arrangement on at least one rear axle and one front axle, even in the off-road operating mode, the arrangement continues to operate on at least one rear axle of the vehicle until the brake slip on at least one wheel of a front axle is less than or equal to a specified brake-slip limit; if the specified brake-slip limit is exceeded by the brake slip on the at least one wheel of the front axle, putting the arrangement out of operation on the rear axle and is not put into operation again until the brake slip on the at least one wheel of the front axle is again less than or equal to the specified brake-slip limit.
US08965651B2 Shift control method for vehicle having DCT
A shift control method for a vehicle having a double clutch transmission may include determining whether or not a speed change may be between transmission gears which may be allocated to a same input shaft, determining whether or not a gear of the input shaft may be released, when the gear of the input shaft may be released, engaging working parts of a clutch of the input shaft with each other in a range before synchronization of a final target transmission gear starts.
US08965650B1 System and method for controlling an automatic transmission
The method can control an automatic transmission and includes the following steps: (a) determining, via a controller, an initial gear ratio of the automatic transmission based on a gear shift map while the vehicle is solely driven by an electric motor-generator; (b) identifying a plurality of potential clutches of the automatic transmission based on the initial gear ratio; (c) determining a temperature of a transmission fluid; (d) determining which of the potential clutches has a largest fill time in order to identify at least one of a plurality of target clutches; (e) determining, via the controller, a target gear ratio of the automatic transmission based on at least one identified target clutch; (f) transferring sufficient transmission fluid to at least one identified target clutch to reach a pressure threshold in the target clutches.
US08965636B2 Systems and methods for detecting jack contact with ground
A method for determining when at least one jack on a vehicle has contacted the ground, in which the vehicle includes a first jack mounted to a first end of the vehicle and a pair of jacks mounted to a second end of the vehicle. The method includes the steps of: determining an initial pitch angle of the vehicle before any of the jacks have contacted the ground; combining the initial pitch angle with a pitch setpoint value to create a resultant pitch value; sensing a pitch angle and a roll angle of the vehicle; extending the first jack mounted at the first end of the vehicle while monitoring the pitch angle of the vehicle; and determining that the first jack has contacted the ground by comparing the monitored pitch angle of the vehicle with the resultant pitch value.
US08965635B2 Method and system for regulating the linear position of a fifth wheel
A method and a system for regulating, while the vehicle is in motion, the linear position of a fifth wheel of a vehicle combination which comprises a tractor unit and a semi-trailer, which linear position of the fifth wheel is regulated automatically on the basis of the vehicle speed. Forward movement of the fifth wheel ordered in response to an increase in the vehicle speed, in order to reduce the distance between the driving cab and the semi-trailer, is effected at a faster rate of movement of the fifth wheel at times when the tractor unit is performing a gear change operation than at times when the tractor unit is not performing a gear change operation. When a rearward movement of the fifth wheel to increase the distance between the driving cab and the semi-trailer has to be effected in response to a decrease in the vehicle speed, braking of the semi-trailer relative to the tractor unit is ordered, in order thereby to facilitate the rearward movement of the fifth wheel.
US08965632B2 Suspension control apparatus
[Object]The present invention provides a suspension control apparatus that allows miniaturization of a solenoid valve.[Solution]When a controller is started up by a power source controller (a power source unit), the controller switches a control current from 0 ampere to a maximum current value I6 at the same time as the startup. After that, the control shifts to normal control. As a result, even if a hysteresis of a damping force characteristic is large relative to the control current, it is possible to promptly move a solenoid valve to a position to be used in the normal control.
US08965619B2 Bot having high speed stability
An autonomous transport vehicle for transporting items in a storage and retrieval system is provided. The autonomous transport vehicle includes at least two drive wheels and a controller, where each drive wheel is independently driven and a drive wheel encoder is disposed adjacent each drive wheel. The controller, in communication with the drive wheel encoders, is configured to determine a kinematic state of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage and retrieval system based on incremental data from the drive wheel encoders only and independent of drive wheel slippage.
US08965617B2 Driving support system, driving support method and computer program
Various sensors, such as a GPS and a vehicle speed sensor, are used to detect a current position and direction of a vehicle. A normal running direction, which is a running direction specified for a road on which the vehicle runs, is acquired. In a state where a vehicle speed pulse is acquired at the predetermined intervals, it is detected whether the vehicle is placed in a wrong-way driving situation on the basis of the detected current direction of the vehicle and the normal running direction; whereas, in a state where a vehicle speed pulse is not acquired, it is not detected whether the vehicle is placed in the wrong-way driving situation on the basis of the detected current direction of the vehicle.
US08965612B2 Failure detection device for vehicle
A failure detection device for a vehicle that detects a failure of a motor system includes a controller that changes a sensitivity for detection of a failure in the motor system in accordance with at least one of an operational condition of the motor system and a situation in which the motor system is operating.
US08965609B2 Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle is presented. The electric vehicle may include a front motor for driving a front wheel; a rear motor for driving a rear wheel; a target torque determiner for determining a target torque of the front motor and a target torque of the rear motor, based on at least a displacement amount of an accelerator operation member operated by a driver; and a motor controller for controlling the front motor and the rear motor to cause the front motor to output the target torque and the rear motor to output the target torque.
US08965602B2 Aerological phenomena alert device for an aircraft
An aerological phenomena alert device for an aircraft, which comprises onboard equipment capable of detecting meteorological phenomena, comprises: a module for collecting and storing meteorological data originating from the onboard equipment capable of detecting the meteorological phenomena, a module for creating a report from the collected meteorological data, a module for sending the report, a module for receiving reports sent by surrounding aircraft, a module for processing and consolidating the reports received, and for generating alerts when a report signals an aerological phenomenon, and a module for merging the data originating from aircraft and from meteorological stations, situated in a station on the ground and comprising a ground/air communication module for sending meteorological reports adapted to each aircraft according to its position in relation to an aerological phenomenon.
US08965599B2 Passive entry and passive start system with operator walking detection
A passive entry passive start (PEPS) vehicle security system configured to activate a vehicle function when an activation signal is received. The system includes a nomadic device configured to detect a change of a magnetic field relative to the nomadic device, and emit an activation signal only if the change corresponds to walking by an operator carrying the nomadic device.
US08965597B2 Road grade auto-mapping
Road grade is modeled over a region in which a vehicle is driven on roadways having a grade that varies over a plurality of predetermined grade ranges. A succession of grade values are generated while operating the vehicle at a predetermined rate, wherein each grade value identifies a respective grade range then being encountered. A Markov chain road-grade model is updated in response to the succession of grade values, wherein the model represents respective elements of probability in a matrix of transition events from each predetermined grade range to a respective next-in-succession grade range. Each element of the matrix has a value πi,j representing a weighted frequency of transition events from a first respective grade value to a second respective grade value divided by a weighted frequency of transition events initiating from the first respective grade value, so that the matrix successively approximates the road grade of the region.
US08965595B2 Methods for managing power consumption for a hands-free dispenser
Methods for managing power consumption of a battery-powered device such as a fluid dispenser are disclosed. One method includes setting a duty cycle of a sensor used by the device to a first range and setting a timer upon detection of a triggering event and also setting the duty cycle to a triggering event and also setting the duty cycle to a second range. The method continues by checking for another triggering event during the second range. The checking step is repeated if the timer has not lapsed, but if the timer has lapsed the process returns to the setting step. Related methods may be used to adjust the duty cycle based upon a detected characteristic such as light, sound, motion or time.
US08965591B2 Regenerating electric power distribution switching plans based on changing power distribution network conditions
A method for regenerating switching plans based on changing power distribution network conditions includes updating a power distribution network model in response to a power distribution network event, identifying areas of the power distribution network affected by the power distribution network event, identifying switching plans that are impacted by the power distribution network event and regenerating the switching plans that are impacted by the power distribution network event.
US08965585B2 HVAC controller with device scheduling program
A controller is provided for HVAC equipment. The controller has a processor, memory, and a RF module for a home automation network, and is operable to regulate operation of the HVAC equipment based upon a scheduling program stored in memory. The scheduling program includes at least one usage periods and at least one set point associated with each usage period. The controller is also operable to regulate operation of remote electrical devices over the home automation network; and to create a device scheduling program for the remote electrical devices, the device scheduling program including at least one device period and an operational state associated with each device period.
US08965572B2 Frame feeding system and frame feeding method
In recent years, frames have gotten larger in size and thinner, and warping of the frames has posed a problem. If a warp of a frame is large, there is a high possibility that fetching the frame may fail. If fetching the frame fails, that is, if the frame cannot be fetched, the lead time of mounting gets longer. Further, the frame that cannot be fetched has to be manually removed by an operator. Therefore, a man-hour increases. According to the present invention, before a loader feeder fetches a frame from a frame magazine, a loader lifter is moved in a Y direction. Thereafter, the loader feeder fetches the frame from the frame magazine.
US08965571B2 Brick laying system
A brick laying system where an operator such as a mason works proximate a moveable platform having a robotic arm assembly, a mortar applicator with a mortar transfer device, and a brick transfer device to build structures. The robotically assisted brick laying system may also contain a stabilizer having a disturbance sensing and a disturbance correcting component that provides compensation for disturbances caused by load shifting, movement of the platform, wind, operator movement, and the like. In addition, the robotically assisted brick laying system has a sensing and positioning component for controlling placement of the moveable platform and robotic arm assembly. The interoperability of the system with a mason or skilled operator removes much of the manual labor component of brick laying, allowing the mason more time to focus on craftsmanship and quality, thus improving the end product and the overall working conditions of the mason.
US08965567B2 System for decentralized material flow control
A component of a material flow system for transporting goods has a mechatronics arrangement with transport elements, sensors and actuators for transporting the goods, a control device for controlling the mechatronics arrangement, interfaces to adjacent components and the surroundings, and an internal simulator for determining the future state of the component. The internal simulator co-operates with internal simulators of other components of the material flow system, for determining a prognosis of the future state of the installation of the material flow system. The decentralized internal simulators can be synchronously or asynchronously activated.
US08965562B1 Efficient shuffling of mobile drive units for inventory holders
An inventory system has mobile drive units that freely and independently move about a facility to transport inventory holders. The mobile drive units may operate through communications with other drive units, or under a more centralized control of a management module. For various operating scenarios, the mobile drive units are directed to shuffle the inventory holders in a manner that minimizes travel of the mobile drive units, thereby improving overall system efficiency. One or more single mobile drive units may be used to transport inventory holders to and from a region, and to sequentially reposition or slide each of the inventory holders within the region according to a priority ordering.
US08965558B2 Modular robotic system and method for sample processing
A reconfigurable automated system is provided. The system comprises a backbone including a plurality of docking ports, at least one module including a connector for releasably coupling the module to the backbone, and a motion unit, connected to the backbone, for providing an object to the module when the module is coupled to the backbone. The module connector and one of the docking ports form a connection interface, including a mechanical alignment device and an electrical connection, when the module is operationally coupled to the backbone.
US08965552B2 Method and a device for titling
The present disclosure provides a method and a device for titling, which can achieve automatic correction when deviation occurs between a real titling position of a product to be titled and a preset titling position, so as to avoid an ID shift phenomenon, and thus ensure accuracy of titling positions and improve titling efficiency. The titling method provided in the present disclosure comprises: determining a real titling position of a product to be titled; comparing the real titling position with a preset titling position; and titling the product to be titled in accordance with the comparison result.
US08965544B2 Systems and methods for providing zone functionality in networked media systems
A Zone Control service is disclosed which provides for hierarchically managing a plurality of networked media subsystems. This can provide a layer of abstraction for the collection in the form of a single Renderer zone interface represented by a delegated zone controller. This hierarchy establishes a virtual super-system. Although a Zone Control services can be advertised on all networked media devices, the services will typically be unavailable while a device is subservient to, or equivalently under the control of, a zone controller. A single instance of the Zone Control service can reside in a Services Device, co-existing with a Group Control service.
US08965541B2 Exercise-integrated workstation
A method, a computer program product, and a computer system initiate an exercise sequence on an exercise-integrated workstation. A set of active monitored activities is identified. A set of preferences and goals for the exercise sequence is identified. A set of accumulated details regarding any user modifications to previous exercise sequences is identified. A set of scheduled events is identified. Responsive to identifying the set of active monitored activities, the set of preferences and goals, the set of accumulated details, and the set of scheduled events, the method determines whether to initiate an exercise sequence. Responsive to determining to initiate the exercise sequence, the method initiates the exercise sequence.
US08965536B2 Intracooled percutaneous microwave ablation probe
The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for the treatment of tissue with microwave energy. The devices and methods disclosed herein incorporate an antenna assembly comprising outer and inner conductors having a dielectric material interposed therebetween, a sealing barrier, and a cooling system to minimize the likelihood that the antenna assembly will overheat.
US08965535B2 Electrodes for use in treatment of oropharyngeal disorders by application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation
An electrode for use in applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation to the pharyngeal region of a patient includes a connector to which a lead wire may be attached, a conductive film that is in electrical contact with the connector and an adhesive and conductive gel layer that is attached to the conductive film and adapted to be attached to the skin of the pharyngeal region of the patient. The electrode is sized and configured to conduct current at a density no greater than about 0.1244 mA/mM2 to the skin of the pharyngeal region for treatment of an oropharyngeal disorder.
US08965534B2 Apparatus and method for energy distribution in a medical electrode
A medical electrode includes an electrode member having a top face and a bottom face, an electrical conductor having an unfanned, unsheathed end portion for conducting energy between the electrode member and a medical device, and a patient contacting layer secured to at least a portion of the bottom face of the electrode member. An energy blocking layer is disposed between the unfanned conductor end portion and the electrode member to prevent immediate transfer of energy to the electrode member. A current distributing structure is described to conduct and distribute energy to the electrode member.
US08965533B2 Defibrillator electrode pad with two peel tabs
An improved defibrillator electrode (100) has two separate peel tabs (114, 116). At least one of the peel tabs is located on the same edge of the electrode backing as that of the electrode wire. The disposition of the peel tabs improves the ability of the rescuer to apply the electrodes to a patient after the electrodes are removed from the release liner (110). In addition, the peel tab reduces the risk of damage to the electrode during removal from the release liner.
US08965531B2 Method for coating devices using electrospinning and melt blowing
A medical electrical lead may include an insulative lead body, a conductor disposed within the insulative lead body, an electrode disposed on the insulative lead body and in electrical contact with the conductor and a fibrous matrix disposed at least partially over the electrode. The fibrous matrix may be formed from a non-conductive polycarbonate polyurethane polymer.
US08965518B2 Device and method for applying a transcutaneous electrical stimulation to the surface of a section of the human ear
The invention relates to a device for applying a transcutaneous electrical stimulation stimulus to the surface of a section of the human ear, which comprises a retaining element which is mountable on or in the ear and a number of electrodes which are arranged on or in an electrode carrier, wherein the device comprises a control apparatus which controls or regulates the generation of a potential difference between the electrodes. In order to permit an improved and safer transcutaneous stimulation the invention proposes that at least three electrodes are arranged on or in the electrode carrier, wherein the at least three electrodes are located in one plane, wherein the position of at least one of the at least three electrodes is adjustable on the electrode carrier and wherein the at least one electrode of which the position is adjustable is mounted such as to be displaceable in a translational manner in the plane. Furthermore, the invention relates a method for the operation of such a device.
US08965512B2 Stimulation patch with passive adhesion
System and methods for adhering a patch of stimulation electrode(s) to blood vessels to stimulate a target site on the blood vessel are described. In various embodiments, the system includes an adhesion patch and at least one electrode. The adhesion patch includes a passive adhesion mechanism that may produce an adhesive force sufficiently strong to adhere the adhesion patch to the exterior of the blood vessel and to operationally position the at least one electrode for use in electrically stimulating a target site of the blood vessel. The adhesion patch may also include a release mechanism that is configured for a user to disengage the patch from the exterior of the blood vessel without significant trauma to the blood vessel. After being released, the adhesion patch may be re-adhered to a different target site of the blood vessel and stimulate the different target site.
US08965505B2 Utilization of morphology discrimination after undersensing determination for underlying rhythms in the therapy zone
A medical device and method for detecting and classifying cardiac rhythm episodes that includes a sensing module to sense cardiac events, a therapy delivery module, and a detection module configured to determine intervals between the sensed cardiac events, determine a predetermined cardiac episode is occurring in response to the determined intervals, determine whether a ventricular rate is greater than an atrial rate in response to the determined intervals, determine whether undersensing is occurring in response to the ventricular rate being greater than the atrial rate, perform a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) discrimination analysis in response to undersensing occurring, and control the therapy delivery module to deliver therapy in response to the SVT discrimination analysis.
US08965496B2 Method for determining the location of regions in tissue relevant to electrical propagation
A method of displaying an image of the location of one or more low voltage structures in tissue is provided. The method includes receiving electrical mapping data corresponding to a portion of the tissue. The method further includes generating an image using the electrical mapping data. Electrical mapping values within at least one voltage range having two endpoints that bound the upper and lower limits of the voltage range are distinguishable from electrical mapping values outside the at least one voltage range. The two endpoints are selected to distinguish the one or more low voltage structures of the tissue from other portions of the tissue.
US08965494B2 Means and method for the detection of cardiac events
Disclosed is a system for the detection of cardiac events that includes an implanted device called a cardiosaver, a physician's programmer and an external alarm system. The system is designed to provide early detection of cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction or exercise induced myocardial ischemia caused by an increased heart rate or exertion. The system can also alert the patient with a less urgent alarm if a heart arrhythmia is detected. Using different algorithms, the cardiosaver can detect a change in the patient's electrogram that is indicative of a cardiac event within five minutes after it occurs and then automatically warn the patient that the event is occurring. To provide this warning, the system includes an internal alarm sub-system (internal alarm means) within the cardiosaver and/or an external alarm system (external alarm means) which are activated after the ST segment of the electrogram exceeds a preset threshold.
US08965489B2 Method and determination of cardiac activation from electrograms with multiple deflections
A method and system for determining activation times for electric potentials from complex electrograms to identify the location of arrhythmic sources or drivers. The method includes counting a number deflections in a recorded cardiac electrogram signal from at least one electrode for a predetermined amount of time. A deflection time is identified for each of the counted number of deflections. A most negative slope is identified between each of the identified deflections times. Each of the identified most negative slopes is correlated to a possible activation time. Each possible activation time is associated with a corresponding electrode from the at least one electrode. A spatial voltage gradient at each corresponding electrode is calculated for each possible activation time. The greatest spatial voltage gradient is identified. The greatest spatial voltage gradient is correlated to an activation time.
US08965474B2 Tissue imaging system and in vivo monitoring method
An in vivo monitoring method in a laparoscope system is provided. An object image is sequentially created with expression of a surface color of an object in a body cavity. A lock area (specific area) is determined within the object image, the lock area being movable by following motion of the object. A monitor image including a graph of oxygen saturation is generated according to a part image included in the object image and located in the lock area. The monitor image is displayed. Preferably, the oxygen saturation of the lock area is acquired according to two spectral data with respect to wavelengths of which an absorption coefficient is different between oxidized hemoglobin and reduced hemoglobin in data of the object image. The object is constituted by a blood vessel.
US08965469B2 Oxide superconductor cabling and method of manufacturing oxide superconductor cabling
Disclosed are an oxide superconductor tape and a method of manufacturing the oxide superconductor tape capable of improving the length and characteristics of superconductor tape and obtaining stabilized characteristics across the entire length thereof. A Y-class superconductor tape (10), as an oxide superconductor tape, comprises a tape (13) further comprising a tape-shaped non-oriented metallic substrate (11), and a first buffer layer (sheet layer) (12) that is formed by IBAD upon the tape-shaped non-oriented metallic substrate (11); and a second buffer layer (gap layer) (14), further comprising a lateral face portion (14a) that is extended to the lateral faces of the first buffer layer (sheet layer) (12) upon the tape (13) by RTR RF-magnetron sputtering.
US08965467B2 Superconducting rotating electrical machine and manufacturing method for high temperature superconducting film thereof
The present disclosure relates to a superconducting rotating electrical machine and a manufacturing method for a high temperature superconducting film thereof. The superconducting rotating electrical machine includes a stator, and a rotor rotatable with respect to the stator, the rotor having a rotary shaft and a rotor winding. Here, the rotor winding includes tubes disposed on a circumference of the rotary shaft and each forming a passage for a cooling fluid therein, superconducting wires accommodated within the tubes, and a cooling fluid flowing through the inside of the tubes. This configuration may allow for direct heat exchange between the superconducting wires and a refrigerant, resulting in improvement of heat exchange efficiencies of the superconducting wires.
US08965454B2 Amplifier system for cell sites and other suitable applications
In one embodiment, an amplifier system has a tap, a delay filter, a linearized amplifier, and a hybrid combiner. The tapped portion of an input signal is amplified by the amplifier, the untapped portion of the input signal is delayed by the delay filter, and the combiner combines the resulting amplified, tapped portion and the delayed, untapped portion to generate an amplified output signal. By re-combining the delayed, untapped portion of the input signal with the amplified, tapped portion, the power of the untapped portion is not lost, and the amplifier does not have to compensate for all of the distortion that would otherwise be associated with the total output power level. Such an amplifier system is applicable, for example, in upgrading an existing GSM cell site to support both GSM communications as well as UMTS communications without degrading GSM operations.
US08965453B2 Packet streaming service capability exchange for enhanced peripheral device support
Systems and techniques for packet streaming service capability exchange for enhanced peripheral device support are described herein. A profile difference may be received from user equipment. The profile difference may include a device attribute. A current profile may be modified with the device attribute to create a modified profile. A determination may be made as to whether a content session parameter will change based on the modified profile.
US08965446B2 Method and apparatus for reducing consumption of transmission power in base station by adjusting transmission interval of control signal
A method for reducing the consumption of the transmission power in the base station by adjusting the transmission interval between the control signals comprises the steps of: changing the interval between the control signals transmitted from the base station from a first interval to a second interval and transmitting the control signal; receiving a first message including transmission interval adjustment request information of the control signal; and changing the interval between the control signals to the first interval and transmitting the control signal.
US08965441B1 Reducing wireless interference with transmit power level management
A user device receives a command to transmit information over a first wireless connection and an additional command to transmit additional information over a second wireless connection. The user device identifies the first wireless connection as being a lower priority connection than the second wireless connection. The user device then throttles a transmit power level for the lower priority connection.
US08965438B2 Antenna selection method and device
An antenna selection method includes respectively utilizing each antenna of a plurality of antennas to receive a plurality of transmission signals from a plurality of stations to generate a plurality of reception signals, respectively estimating a plurality of signal quality indicators corresponding to the plurality of stations according to the plurality of reception signals for each of the plurality of antennas, calculating a weighted sum of the plurality of corresponding signal quality indicators to generate a calculation result for each of the plurality of antennas, and selecting a receiving antenna from the plurality of antennas according to the corresponding calculation result of each of the plurality of antennas.
US08965431B2 Multimode control device for allocating resources to communication devices that use differing protocols and methods for use therewith
A control device includes a first transceiver for communicating first control data with a first plurality of devices that utilize the millimeter wave frequency band in accordance with a first protocol, wherein the first transceiver utilizes the millimeter wave frequency band in accordance with the first protocol. A second transceiver communicates second control data with a second plurality of devices that utilize the millimeter wave frequency band in accordance with a second protocol, wherein the second transceiver utilizes the millimeter wave frequency band in accordance with the second protocol. A resource controller allocates resources of the millimeter wave frequency band to the first plurality of devices and the second plurality of devices based on the first control data and the second control data.
US08965427B2 Mobile communication system, mobile station apparatus, base station apparatus, and setting change method
In a mobile communication system, a base station apparatus stores setting change information which includes setup information that is changed in accordance with a prescribed event when the prescribed event occurs, timing information that specifies a timing for making a setting change, and trigger information that specifies an action based on which the base station apparatus and a mobile station apparatus compute the setting change timing for the base station apparatus and the mobile station apparatus, respectively; and transmits, in advance of occurrence of the prescribed event, the setting change information to the mobile station apparatus. When the action specified in the trigger information occurs, the mobile station apparatus and the base station apparatus each determine the setting change timing in accordance with the timing information and effect the setting change at the determined timing in accordance with the setup information.
US08965419B2 System for interconnecting a remote server with a short message server centre (SMSC) via the internet
It allows the transmission of short messages (SMS) between a remote server (1) and a mobile telephone user (7), that is in communication with a short message service center (5) via GSM network 10. It is characterized in that remote server (1) communicates with the short message server (5) via a hypertext transfer protocol (http), for which both server (5) and remote server (1) have means of bi-directional transmission/reception (2, 3, 8 and 9) of the short message via the Internet protocol (http).
US08965413B2 Locating a wireless local area network associated with a wireless wide area network
An apparatus and method are disclosed in connection with a mobile device locating a wireless local area network (WLAN) associated with a wireless wide area network (WWAN). These concepts involve obtaining and recording maximum and minimum geometric time differences (GTDs) for a pair or pairs of transmitters in the WWAN while coverage is provided by the WLAN, and using these differences to later compare a contemporaneous GTD to determine whether the mobile device is more likely within the coverage area of the WLAN.
US08965409B2 User-generated community publication in an online neighborhood social network
A method of user-generated community publication in an online neighborhood social network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprising generating an online neighborhood social network in which residents are represented as users, and in which residents have associated meta-data indicating at least one of a verified physical location and a privacy setting of the users; automatically generating a community publication based on the article submitted by a community journalist at a periodically occurring interval, wherein the community journalist is a resident of a private neighborhood constrained only to neighbors living in the private neighborhood through the online neighborhood social network; and publishing the community publication in the geospatial environment to targeted users distributable to an electronic location of at least a subset of the targeted users subscribing to the community publication when the electronic location is available in the private neighborhood of the online neighborhood social network.
US08965400B2 Apparatus and method for displaying a position of mobile terminal
A method and apparatus for displaying a location of a portable terminal of another subscriber's by the calling party's portable terminal. This display occurs during a call without switching displayed screen windows or applications. The method includes a first portable terminal performing a call mode; driving a camera upon receiving location information of the other subscriber's terminal in the call mode to display an image photographed by the camera; and analyzing location information detected by a location detection unit and the received location information of a second portable terminal of another subscriber to calculate a distance between two terminals and displaying a location of the other subscriber's terminal on the displayed image when a direction of the calling party's terminal detected by a direction detection unit aligns with a direction of the other subscriber's terminal.
US08965395B2 Positioning of user equipment in a wireless communication network
Techniques for supporting positioning of user equipments (UEs) with network-based measurements are described. In one design, a network entity (e.g., a location server) may obtain at least one measurement for a UE, e.g., a power headroom measurement, a spatial direction measurement, an uplink timing measurement, an uplink pilot measurement, an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) measurement, or a combination thereof. The network entity may determine a location estimate for the UE based on the at least one measurement for the UE and a database of measurements for different locations, e.g., using pattern matching or interpolation. In one design, the network entity may receive measurements and locations of a plurality of UEs and may update the database based on the measurements and locations of these UEs. The database may also be updated based on measurements obtained by test UEs during test drives.
US08965393B2 Estimating the location of a wireless terminal based on assisted GPS and pattern matching
A method of using a non-GPS-derived technique to estimate the location of an Assisted-GPS-enabled wireless terminal for the purposes of generating location-specific assistance data for the wireless terminal is disclosed. The wireless terminal then uses the assistance data to acquire and process one or more GPS signals and to derive information that is probative of the wireless terminal's location. The GPS-derived location information is then combined with non-GPS-derived location to form an estimate of the location of the wireless terminal that is better than can be derived from either alone. This combination of GPS-derived and non-GPS techniques is particularly useful when the wireless terminal can only acquire one or two GPS signals because it is not possible to determine the location of the wireless terminal with only two GPS signals alone.
US08965392B2 Mobile traffic categorization and policy for network use optimization while preserving user experience
Systems and methods of mobile traffic categorization and policy implementation for network use optimization are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of detecting an activity state of an application on a mobile device to which traffic is originated from or directed to, detecting a time criticality of data contained in the traffic to be sent between the mobile device and the host server, determining a timing with which to allow the traffic to pass through, based on the activity state or the time criticality and/or controlling radio use on the mobile device based on the timing with which the traffic is allowed to pass through. The method may further include selecting a network configuration in the wireless network for use in passing traffic to and from the mobile device.
US08965386B2 Providing femtocell access via personal communication devices
A personal communication device may operate as a femtocell providing femtocell accessibility and services to a plurality of communication devices that are communicatively coupled to the personal communication device via one or more cellular connections. The personal communication device may connect to one or more broadband networks, via a plurality of wired and/or wireless interfaces, to enable the communication of packets when providing the femtocell accessibility and/or services. The personal communication device may support direct communications via the personal communication device when providing femtocell services. Signal strength may be boosted in the personal communication device when providing femtocell servicing via a signal booster that may be integrated within the personal communication device or may be externally attached to it during femtocell operations. The personal communication device may receive compensation for providing femtocell services to one or more of the plurality of communication devices.
US08965383B2 Load balancing method and device
A load balancing method and device are provided by the present invention. The method includes that: for each base station, determining the number of shared mobile hosts shared by the base station with each neighbor base station of the base station and the number of fixed mobile hosts covered only by the base station; ranking all of base stations in an ascending order of the number of fixed mobile hosts; and balancing the number of fixed mobile hosts of each base station by applying a greedy algorithm on the ranked base stations. With the present invention, the load can be efficiently balanced by exploiting the global knowledge.
US08965381B2 Wireless communication system, mobile terminal, and cell search method
A mobile terminal includes: a macrocell search unit which searches for a macro base station, the mobile terminal itself communicating with a macro base station forming a macrocell or a femto base station which forms a femtocell; a cell ID detection unit which receives report information from the macro base station searched by the macrocell search unit and detects a cell ID of the macro base station; a cell ID information storage unit which stores the cell ID of the macro base station; a cell ID comparison unit which compares the cell ID stored in the cell ID information storage unit with the cell ID detected by the cell ID detection unit; a control unit controlling the macrocell search unit, the cell ID detection unit, the macrocell search unit, and the cell ID comparison unit; and a femtocell search unit which performs a cell search for the femto base station.
US08965378B2 Method and device for initiating cell measurement
This document discusses a method and device for initiating cell measurement. An initiating condition for initiating the measurement of a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell and/or a Hybrid cell is preset by the network side. The measurement of the CSG cells and/or Hybrid cells is initiated by a User Equipment (UE) when the initiating condition is satisfied. The UE automatically initiates the measurement of the CSG cell and/or Hybrid cell when the UE is close to its own footprint area or fingerprint area.
US08965376B2 Systems and methods for assigning regional wireless communications handovers utilizing ancillary cell feedback
A networked computing system for assigning regional wireless communications based on ancillary device feedback. The network computing system includes a radio communications controller, one or more transceiver device(s), user equipment, and data communications network facilitating data communications amongst the wireless communications devices of the networked computing system. The radio communications controller may be configured to receive a feedback communication from a network transceiver device capable of detecting ancillary wireless communications, and then determine whether an alternate service provider resource exists for providing wireless data communications service to the user equipment within the data communications network, based on the received feedback communication.
US08965375B2 Pathloss based access node wake-up control
There are provided measures for a pathloss-based access node wake-up control, more specifically a pathloss-based access node wake-up control in a heterogeneous network environment. Such measures exemplarily include a retrieval of an average handover pathloss level between an access node and a neighboring access node, an estimation of an uplink sounding pathloss level between the access node and a terminal, said terminal being connectable to the access node and the neighboring access node, a comparison of the estimated uplink sounding pathloss level and the retrieved average handover pathloss level, and an enabling of a switch-on of the access node from an inactive state in which a transmitter is switched off to an active state in which the transmitter is switched on, when the estimated uplink sounding pathloss level is smaller than the retrieved average handover.
US08965374B1 Systems and methods for adjusting mobile-station hard-handoff thresholds based on call type
A RAN includes a first coverage area and a second coverage. An access terminal, initially engaged in a call via the first coverage area, determines a call type of the call and adjusts, based on the determined call type, one or both of a first value for a first threshold and a second value for a second threshold. While engaged in the call, the access terminal determines that (i) a signal strength of a signal received from the first coverage area is less than the first threshold, and (ii) a signal strength of a signal detected from the second coverage area is greater than the second threshold. In response to making both determinations, the access terminal hands off the call from the first coverage area to the second coverage area.
US08965372B2 Method and system to handle a signaling connection release process in a wireless communication system
A method and system for handling a signaling connection release process in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes receiving a reconfiguration message by a mobile device. The method also includes triggering a serving radio network subsystem (SRNS) relocation process for the mobile device based on the receiving. Further, the method further includes causing a timer to cease running and resetting the timer to a predefined value. Moreover, the method includes clearing a variable associated with the timer from the mobile device. The system includes a mobile device, a radio network controller, and a communication interface.
US08965370B2 Method and apparatus of controlling cell selection for a wireless communication system
A method of controlling closed subscriber group (CSG) cell selection for a network in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises sending a first message to a user equipment (UE) in the wireless communication system to request the UE to update a whitelist of the UE which is capable of providing a list of accessible CSG cells, when the UE subscribes to a CSG cell that is not included in the whitelist of the UE or unsubscribes to a CSG cell in the whitelist of the UE.
US08965369B2 Method and apparatus for providing communication service in small-sized communication area
An apparatus and method for providing a communication service for a small-sized communication area in a communication system are provided. The method includes receiving a first wired network service data generation message including an identification number of a wired network service and a called number of wired network service data from a registered terminal, acquiring a femto access point and a wired network number mapped to the identification number of the wired network service from a pre-stored wired network service database, and setting the wired network number as a calling number of the registered terminal, and sending a first initial address message including the calling number and the called number to a wired communication network, wherein the wired network service represents a communication service that is provided from the wired communication network to at least one registered terminal and at least one non-registered terminal located in the small-sized communication area.
US08965366B1 World SIM
A user device obtains a device profile corresponding to a primary wireless network at a current location of the user device, reprograms a modem of the user device using the device profile corresponding to the primary wireless network at the current location of the user device, and establishes a network connection using the device profile corresponding to the primary wireless network at the current location of the user device.
US08965360B2 User plane location based service using message tunneling to support roaming
An improved User Plane location based service (LBS) architecture and message flow, enabling seamless User Plane location based services even when a mobile or wireless device has roamed among different carrier networks. The present invention overcomes constraints inherent in the current protocol for roaming support defined by the Secure User Plane Location Service specification. A location system is enabled to automatically fall back to a message tunneling mechanism to ensure the security of a communication path between the location service system and the target wireless device, ensuring that the communication path is uninterrupted as the wireless device travels.
US08965350B2 Conference system and associated signalling method
The conference system (KS) comprises at least two mobile terminals (M1, M2, M3) with a respective signalling apparatus which contains a sensor which detects motion by the signalling apparatus and outputs a corresponding motion signal. In addition, it contains a motion signal processing apparatus which associates the motion signal from a gesture in nonverbal interhuman communication with a motion signal pattern and, as a result of an association having been made, produces an output signal with a corresponding piece of information about the type of detected gesture in the nonverbal interhuman communication. Furthermore, the conference system (KS) contains a transmission apparatus for supplying the output signal to a transmission channel (F1, F2, F3) which is respectively connected to a local area network (LAN). The latter has a telephone, preferably an IP telephone (11), for a moderator and also a screen (U1) for conference control connected to it. Furthermore, an associated signalling method is proposed.
US08965348B1 Sharing mobile applications between callers
Systems and methods for sharing of mobile applications between callers are provided. A telephone call connection may be provided between a first mobile device and a second mobile device. A selection may be received from a user of the first mobile device that indicates at least one application previously enabled for sharing. It may be detect that the second mobile device has also enabled sharing of the same application. The application may be executed on the first mobile device and the second mobile device. Further, any updated data related to the application may be automatically exchanged between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.
US08965346B2 Apparatus for transmitting media using social intimacy and method thereof
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for transmitting media data using social intimacy. The apparatus and method can calculate a social intimacy level for a plurality of previously stored terminal information, request at least one terminal of transmitting terminal information according to a media transmission request, and when receiving the requested terminal information from at least one terminal, transmit the media data to a terminal where the terminal information equals the received terminal information among terminal information having higher social intimacy, thereby sharing the media data with people forming a higher social intimacy with a user.
US08965343B1 Security key based authorization of transceivers in wireless communication devices
Systems, methods, and software for operating communication systems and wireless communication devices are provided herein. In one example, a method of operating a wireless communication is provided. In security circuitry of the wireless communication device, the method includes receiving a request from processing circuitry for an application to access a first communication network with a first communication transceiver, and processing the request and a security key to authorize the application to use the first communication transceiver to access the first communication network. In the first communication transceiver, the method includes exchanging communications over the first communication network for the application responsive to the authorization. In the security circuitry, the method also includes identifying that the application is using a second unauthorized communication transceiver, and in response, terminating the authorization for the application to use the first communication transceiver to access the first communication network.
US08965342B1 Method and apparatus for verifying the authenticity of mobile device information
Methods and apparatus for verifying authenticity of device information of an end-user device are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for verifying authenticity of device information of an end-user device may include sending a request to verify device information of an end-user device receiving, responsive to the request, verification information regarding the device information sent, and performing a verification analysis on the verification information received.
US08965341B2 Cellular device identification and location with emergency number selectivity enforcement (CILENSE)
A system for restricting operation of wireless devices, for example cell phones, comprises a controller and a plurality of sensors. The system restricts device usage, while permitting emergency phone calls, for example 911 calls. The sensors receive transmissions from devices, and use the transmissions for identification and determining whether a device is within a restricted zone. One disclosed method is triangulation, using time of arrival of transmissions at the sensors. If the device is within the zone, the controller sends device identification, and possibly a customized restriction request, to a remote node, for example a control node of a cell phone network operator. The operator then uses its network resources to implement the requested restrictions. Communication between the controller and the remote node is secure, possibly encrypted, to minimize malicious interference. A wireless control can define vertices of the zone and exempt certain devices from restrictions. Jamming is not required.
US08965336B1 Quantifying mobility of mobile devices via a privacy preserving mobility metric
Embodiments of the invention generate metrics quantifying the mobility of a mobile device without persisting information related to the device's specific location at any given time. Specifically, at multiple intervals, a value of a mobility metric is computed based on the distance between the current location of the mobile device and a previously identified origin location of the mobile device. The values of the mobility metric computed over a period of time quantify the overall mobility of the mobile device. The mobility metric does not provide any information regarding the specific location of the mobile device at any given time.
US08965335B2 Detector of uplink frequencies with feedback
An apparatus and method for detection of uplink frequencies from a mobile device, such as a cell phone, may be used as an alarm for people not to use their mobile device, or may signal security personnel when an unauthorized mobile device is being used. The apparatus and method may measure the uplink frequency band and use feedback with the downlink frequencies to gain a better reading of the distance the mobile device being used is from the detection device The apparatus and method has more precision of distance compared to conventional detectors, as the uplink RF power of a mobile device changes depending where it's located from the cell tower transmitting the downlink data to the mobile device monitored.
US08965327B2 Interactive multi-channel communication system
An interactive system, centered around a web application, securely hosted on one or more secured servers and connected to the internet, designed to facilitate and expedite critical communications among a group or groups of individuals. The web application maintains the capacity to send automated text messages to an individual's mobile phone regarding an urgent matter or emergency. The recipient is afforded the ability to respond securely via a mobile version of the web application, preferably to indicate the best course of action pertaining to the matter to the sender. In the event that a response is not achieved, or other rules are followed, the present invention automatically escalates notification to a back-up individual to address the matter. The present invention is preferably intended or best suited to function within a clinical setting, such as a hospital or nursing home.
US08965314B2 Image display device and method for operating the same performing near field communication with a mobile terminal
An image display device and a method for operating the same are provided. In the method for operating the image display device which can perform near field communication with a mobile terminal, an image is displayed on a display, device information including motion information or position information of the mobile terminal is received based on the near field communication, and a corresponding menu is displayed on the display or a corresponding operation is performed according to the received motion information or position information. This method can improve user convenience when the image display device is used.
US08965313B2 Enhanced radio systems and methods
An enhanced radio system is disclosed that provides for the capture and playback of one or more radio stations. A user may tune to a station, scan through stations, rewind through missed content (even while the system is off), and fast-forward through undesired content, while downloading and uploading audio content, and sending content to another user. A user may rate content, and be notified when that content is played on any station, with undesirable content skipped and desirable content saved, or station recommendations made. Support for multiple sets of configuration information to allow use by multiple listeners and in multiple locations may be provided. Optionally provided are security features to prevent the unauthorized downloading, uploading, and saving of copies of content, other radio related and content related information, a karaoke mode, integration with a telephone with the radio, or reporting of usage information to a collection facility.
US08965305B2 Input interface for a transmit/receive station and station comprising same
The input interface for a transmit/receive radio station includes an input for receiving a signal either with a variable voltage over a pre-determined voltage range, or an open collector signal having a voltage (0V) corresponding to the low logic state; a first output for the variable voltage signal, and a second open collector output. The first and second outputs are connected to the same input and the input is connected to a reference potential through a first voltage divider bridge, the middle point of which is connected to the positive terminal of an open loop comparator, the output of which is connected to the second output.
US08965302B2 Portable information terminal holding base and desk telephone
To enable a portable information terminal to be freely held at a position desired by a user, a holding base capable of holding one of a first portable information terminal and a second portable information terminal that is larger than the first portable information terminal includes a holding base main body having a main mounting surface inclined with respect to a horizontal surface. A terminal cover to be fixed to a lower end of the main mounting surface supports a lower end of the portable information terminal. An extensible holding member, which is provided on a first side edge portion side of the holding base main body and includes a slide plate that is slidable inside the holding base main body, has an extensible mounting surface that is movable in parallel to the main mounting surface and is capable of holding the second portable information terminal when the extensible holding member is extended to a predetermined extension position. A plurality of cradle tabs provided on the main mounting surface are brought into a state of being embedded below the main mounting surface when the plurality of cradle tabs are folded, and are projected above the main mounting surface when the plurality of cradle tabs are raised, thereby being capable of supporting a lower end of the first portable information terminal on the main mounting surface.
US08965296B2 Asymmetrical multicarrier interference avoidance
Asymmetrical multicarrier interference avoidance in a communication from a network to a subscriber device is provided. The asymmetrical multicarrier interference avoidance technique comprises measuring signal-to-noise ratio interference values and sorting the measured values into two tables for selecting an anchor and a non-anchor frequency carrier pairs. The system is self-tuning based on changes in the network, the subscriber and the surrounding environment.
US08965295B2 Systems and methods for suppressing interference in a signal received by a device having two or more antennas
Systems and methods for suppressing interference from a data signal received at a receiving device, where the receiving device has two or more receive antennas, are provided. Characteristics of a channel are estimated, the channel being a channel through which the data signal was transmitted by a transmitting device to the receiving device. A spatial correlation of interference and noise received at the two or more receive antennas of the receiving device is determined based on the estimated characteristics of the channel. The spatial correlation indicates how the interference and noise received at a particular one of the receive antennas is related to the interference and noise received at another one of the receive antennas. The spatial correlation of the interference and noise is used to suppress interference and noise from the data signal received at the receiving device.
US08965291B2 Communication of avionic data
An example avionic data communication method includes establishing a plurality of available channels using a channel controller. The channel controller also establishes a quality of service for each of the plurality of available channels. The channel controller then selects one of the available channels. The quality of service of the selected channel is not less than the quality of service of another channel within the plurality of available channels. The method then communicates a type of data using the selected channel.
US08965289B2 System and method for mitigating the effects of interferers while performing conditional device scan
A method, a personal area network device operating as a slave, and a short range communications device operating as a slave are disclosed. A data storage 208 may store at least one protocol-specific channel criterion for a connection with a master short range communication device 104. A short range transceiver 108 may execute a preliminary device scan of a scanning set of communication channels for radio frequency energy. A processor 204 may decide to execute a full device scan based in part on the protocol-specific channel criterion.
US08965285B2 Touch inquiry
A system for expediting wireless connection establishment between wireless-enabled apparatuses. In at least one example implementation an apparatus may transmit discovery messages for discovering other apparatuses. The apparatus may receive one or more messages responding to the discovery message, and may determine whether any of the received responses satisfy a predetermined response criteria. If the apparatus determines that any of the received messages satisfy the response criteria, wireless connection establishment may be expedited between the apparatus and a source apparatus for each of the received messages that satisfy the response criteria. In an alternative scenario where a touch mode may be active in an apparatus that receives a message from at least one other apparatus, the apparatus may determine whether the message satisfies a predetermined criteria. If the message is determined to satisfy the criteria, the apparatus may expedite wireless connection establishment to the other apparatus.
US08965252B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a first developing roller including a first transport member that transports magnetic developer by rotating while being close to a latent-image carrier rotating in one direction and a first magnet member, a second developing roller including a second transport member that transports the developer by rotating while being close to the latent-image carrier at a position on a downstream side of the first developing roller in the one direction, and a second magnet member, and a regulation member that regulates transport amounts of the developer distributed to the first and second developing rollers to required transport amounts, and opposes the developing rollers with predetermined distances therebetween. The first and second developing rollers are spaced from each other. The regulation member is movably supported in an area closer to the latent-image carrier than a closest position between the first and second developing rollers.
US08965249B2 Charging device configured to produce corona discharge
A charging device includes a discharging electrode, grid electrode, pair of shielding electrodes, frame, airflow-generating electrode, and impurity-removing member. The discharging electrode produces a corona discharge to charge a surface of photosensitive member. A first voltage is applied to the grid electrode. The discharging electrode is positioned between the shielding electrodes. The frame includes a pair of side walls confronting with each other in the moving direction. The discharging electrode and the pair of shielding electrodes are positioned between the side walls. The airflow-generating electrode is disposed at a position opposite to the discharging electrode with respect to the grid electrode. The airflow-generating electrode is applied with a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The impurity-removing member is provided on an inner surface of the frame. The impurity-removing member and the airflow-generating electrode are positioned on an identical side of the shielding electrodes in the moving direction.
US08965246B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a covering/not-covering member that is supported by an apparatus body so as to be movable between a not-covered position and a covered position; a transporting member that is mountable on and removable from the covering/not-covering member; a positioning member provided at the apparatus body; and an engaging member provided at the covering/not-covering member, the engaging member moving as the transporting member is moved relative to the covering/not-covering member by the positioning member, to engage an engage member and hold the covering/not-covering member at the covered position.
US08965245B2 Single function BTR with zero media wrap angle
An electrostatographic printing apparatus that includes a charge receptor endless belt; a transfer nip including a BTR roll in contact with the charge receptor at a transfer zone, a continuous media supplied to the transfer zone, and the transfer nip adapted for systematic engagement and disengagement with the continuous media for synchronization of image transfer from the charge receptor to the media. More specifically, in response to recognition of imaging inconsistencies such as belt seams, test patches, or label format pitches, the endless belt disengages from the continuous media at the BTR roll. The BTR roll is appropriately turned on and off and the continuous media reversed in direction commonly known as a ‘Pilgrim step’, then returned to normal direction to synchronize the transfer of images to the continuous media, wherein there is substantially zero wrap of the continuous media on the BTR roll during the engagement of the continuous media with the charge receptor belt.
US08965243B2 Developing apparatus, process cartridge and method for assembling developing apparatus
A developing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising a frame provided with a developer accommodating chamber accommodating a developer, and a development opening for supplying the developer from an inside of the developer accommodating chamber to an outside; a first sealing member sealing the development opening, the first sealing member being dismountable from the development opening by being pulled out through a pulling opening provided in the frame; and a second sealing member for sliding on the first sealing member to prevent the developer from leaking to an outside of the frame through the pulling opening when the first sealing member is pulled through the pulling opening, wherein the second sealing member is integrally molded on the frame by injecting a thermoplastic elastomer into a space between the first sealing member and an edge of the pulling opening.
US08965239B2 Heat fixing device having cooling fan and pressing roller with heat conductive filler
A heat fixing device includes a rotatable member for heating, a pressing roller configured to form a fixing nip portion that nips and conveys a recording material bearing a toner image, and a cooling fan configured to cool a recording material non-passing region in the rotatable member for heating in a direction orthogonal to a recording material conveying direction, wherein the pressing roller includes a rubber layer, between a cored bar and a release layer, containing a needle-shaped heat conductive filler oriented in a roller axis direction.
US08965233B2 Printing an image with consumable product procurement and warning information
The image forming apparatus determines whether or not supplementation of a consumable product is required, and whether or not an image corresponding to the consumable product procurement information including information related to the procurement of the consumable product is recorded by linkage with the consumable product. Then when the image forming apparatus determines that that supplementation of a consumable product is required, and that an image corresponding to the consumable product procurement information is recorded by linkage with the consumable product, a printing instruction screen for the image is displayed, and the printing of the image is performed in accordance with the printing instructions input through the printing instruction screen.
US08965231B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including: an image carrier; a holding member that contacts with the image carrier and is configured to carry adhering substance received from the image carrier; a belt that contacts with the image carrier; a collection member that contacts with the belt and is configured to collect adhering substance adhered on the belt; and a control device configured to apply a bias to the collection member, detect an electric resistance of the collection member, and control the bias that is applied to the collection member based on the detected electric resistance of the collection member so that the electric resistance of the collection member is converged within a predetermined range, when a cleaning operation of collecting the adhering substance adhered on the holding member from the holding member to the collection member is not performed.
US08965220B2 Reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer and procedure for outputting optical signals from such multiplexer
A reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer (ROADM) includes local interfaces at which optical signals of different wavelengths are locally input into the ROADM, and a network interface configured to connect the ROADM to a network from which multiplexed optical signals of different wavelengths are transmitted to the network. In a first configuration, the ROADM is configured to transmit from the network interface to the network multiplexed signals of different wavelengths having a first minimum frequency difference. In a second configuration, the ROADM is configured to transmit from the network interface to the network multiplexed signals of different wavelengths having a second minimum frequency difference. The second minimum frequency difference is greater than the first minimum frequency difference. This arrangement reduces the power of four wave mixing cross products produced when optical signals of three wavelengths are multiplexed and transmitted from the ROADM to NZDSF or DSF fiber types.
US08965201B2 Optical transmission device and optical transmission method
An optical transmission device includes a first power monitor to monitor a first signal into which second signals with respectively different wavelengths are multiplexed so as to measure received power of the first signal; an amplifier to amplify the first signal, to generate a third signal; a driver to drive the amplifier; a demultiplexer to separate the third signal into fourth signals with the different respectively wavelengths; second power monitors each to monitor each of the fourth signals so as to measure received power of each of the fourth signals; a memory to store therein data related to gain in the amplifier, the data corresponding to each of wavelengths of the second signals, with respect to parameters which are the received power measured by the first power monitor and driving condition; and a processor to calculate power of each of the second signals.
US08965200B2 Method, apparatus and system for detecting connection status of optical fiber jumper
A method, an apparatus and a system for detecting a connection status of an optical fiber jumper are provided in the embodiments of the present invention. The method for detecting a connection status of an optical fiber jumper includes: judging a connection status of a second port and a first port according to whether an optical signal sent by the first port to the second port through a first optical fiber is received, wherein the first optical fiber is connected to two ends of an optical fiber jumper, and the two ends of the optical fiber jumper are connected to the first port and the second port respectively; and obtaining a port identification corresponding to the first port according to the optical signal if the optical signal is received.
US08965189B2 Camera module
There is provided a camera module including: a housing; a lens unit mounted in the housing; a hand shake correction unit correcting a movement of the lens unit with respect to the housing; and a damping member disposed between the housing and the lens unit to thereby reduce the movement of the lens unit through the hand shake correction unit.
US08965188B2 Shake correction apparatus and control method thereof
A shake correction apparatus comprises a shake detection unit which detects a shake of an image capture apparatus, a calculation unit which calculates a shake correction amount for correcting an image blur based on an output from the shake detection unit, a shake correction unit which corrects the image blur based on the shake correction amount, a shake level determination unit which determines a shake level of the image capture apparatus based on an output from the shake detection unit, an offset determination unit which determines an offset value based on the shake correction amount and the shake level, and a subtraction unit which subtracts the offset value from the output from the shake detection unit.
US08965187B2 Electric heating system for a fluid line system
A heating system for a fluid pipe system in which at least one electric heating element (RL) is assigned to at least one fluid line, said heating element, in order to apply a predetermined heating output to the fluid line, being provided with an electric operating voltage (UB) that is reduced compared to the supply voltage (U).
US08965179B1 Systems and methods facilitating the generation of automatic transitions in video
Systems and methods for facilitating automatic transitions in video are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a memory that stores computer executable components, and a microprocessor that executes the computer executable components stored in the memory. The components can include a video editing component that generates an augmented video. The video editing component can include a video transition component that: accesses a first video having a marker; receives information indicative of a selection of the first video and a second video; correlates the marker with a marker of the second video; and augments the second video with the first video based, at least, on the correlating.
US08965178B2 Program information display device, program information output device, and program information display method
A program information display device includes: an identification unit which obtains identification information for identifying a video program and a video program scene included in the video program which are being displayed in a television; a program information obtainment unit which obtains program information including first program information and second program information which are relevant to the video program identified by the identification information and are different in content from each other; a display unit which displays the program information obtained by the program information obtainment unit; and a control unit which, in the case where the video program scene identified by the identification information transitions from a non-CM scene to a CM scene, switch the program information being displayed in the display unit, from the first program information to the second program information according to the transition from the non-CM scene to the CM scene.
US08965177B2 Methods and apparatus for displaying interstitial breaks in a progress bar of a video stream
Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for presenting information regarding interstitials of a video stream. A recording of a television show may include segments of the show interspersed with interstitials (e.g., commercials). The location of the interstitials within the recording is identified, and the locations of the interstitials are presented in progress bar during presentation of the video stream. The location of the interstitials may also be utilized to determine durations of the interstitials, and provide a user with information regarding the lengths of the interstitials of a recording, and/or the length of the other content of a recording (e.g., segments of a television show).
US08965168B2 Fiber management devices for fiber optic housings, and related components and methods
Fiber management sections for fiber optic housings, and related components and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber management device is provided. The fiber management device comprises a base and at least one fiber management component attached to the base and configured to manage one or more optical fibers. At least one opening is disposed in the base and configured to route one or more optical fibers from the base. The fiber management component may be a routing guide configured to route the one or more optical fibers as a non-limiting example. The fiber management device may be disposed on a side or within the fiber optic housing and may be removable from the enclosure and configured to route one or more optical fibers from the fiber optic housing.
US08965152B2 Waveguides
A projection display 210 arranged to display an image to an observer 212 use waveguide techniques to generate a display defining a large exit pupil at the point of the observer 212 and a large field of view, while using a small image-providing light source device. The projection display 210 uses two parallel waveguides 214, 216 made from a light transmissive material. One waveguide 214 stretches the horizontal pupil of the final display and the other waveguide 216 stretches the vertical pupil of the final display and acts as a combiner through which the observer 212 views an outside world scene 220 and the image overlaid on the scene 220. In a color display, each primary color is transmitted within a separate channel R, G, B.
US08965149B2 Optoelectronic integrated package module and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, there is provided an optoelectronic integrated package module including a silicon interposer, an optical semiconductor element formed in the silicon interposer, and a semiconductor integrated circuit chip module including a first semiconductor integrated circuit chip including a logic circuit and mounted on a first principal surface and a second semiconductor integrated circuit chip having a second principal surface side mounted on the silicon interposer. The first and second semiconductor integrated circuit chips are electrically connected to each other via the via interconnections formed inside the second semiconductor integrated circuit chip from the first principal surface. The first or second semiconductor integrated circuit chip receives an electrical signal obtained via the via interconnection by means of the unterminated reception circuit.
US08965147B2 Bend insensitive optical fiber with improved hydrogen resistance
An optical fiber includes: a core including a photosensitive material disposed therein, the core having a first index of refraction; a depressed cladding surrounding the core and having a second index of refraction that is lower than the first index of refraction; and an outer cladding surrounding the depressed cladding and having a third index of refraction that is higher than the depressed cladding.
US08965143B2 System for enhancing content
A system and method for enhancing a content file is disclosed. The system comprises a histogram module, a contrast stretching module and a brightness module. The histogram module generates a histogram including data that describes one or more pixel intensities for one or more channels included in a content file. The contrast stretching module adjusts the one or more pixel intensities for the one or more channels included in the content file based at least in part on the histogram. The brightness module is communicatively coupled to the contrast stretching module for determining whether a brightness level for the content file is within a range describing one or more acceptable brightness levels. The brightness module adjusts the brightness level for the content file responsive to determining that the brightness level for the content file is outside the range.
US08965141B2 Image filtering based on structural information
A method and an apparatus for image filtering are described. Structural information is employed during the calculation of filtering coefficients. The structural information is described by the regions defined through an edge map of the image. In one embodiment, the region correlation between the target pixel and a contributing pixel is selected as a structural filtering coefficient. The region correlation, which indicates the possibility of two pixels being in the same regions, is calculated by evaluating the strongest edge cut by a path between the target pixel and a contributing pixel. The structural filtering coefficient is further combined with spatial information and intensity information to form a spatial-intensity-region (SIR) filter. The structural information based filter is applicable to applications such as denoising, tone mapping, and exposure fusion.
US08965138B2 Image processing apparatus and method of controlling the same
In an image processing apparatus for encoding image data and a method of controlling the same, whether an attribute of each of a plurality of areas in image data corresponds to an edge in an image based on the image data is determined, and one of a plurality of sub-sampling processes is selected according to the determination for each of the plurality of areas. Note that the plurality of sub-sampling processes can sub-sample color difference components of each of the plurality of areas by different processes. By the sub-sampling process selected as that corresponding to each of the plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas is sub-sampled to encode the image data.
US08965127B2 Method for segmenting text words in document images
A word segmentation method for processing a document image applies clustering analysis to the spacing segments of a line. The spacing segments are generated by thresholding a one-dimensional vertical projection profile of the line. Taking advantage of the bimodal distribution of spacing length distribution of text lines, a k-means clustering algorithm is used, with the number of clusters pre-set to two, to classify the spacing segments as either character spacing or word spacing. Moreover, k-means++ initialization is used to enhance performance of cluster analysis. The clustering result such as cluster centers and compactness is used to prune single-word text line, single table item, etc. The locations of the word spacing segments are then used to segment the line of text into words.
US08965122B2 Signal processing apparatus and method, and program
Signals are provided which allow colors in a wider color range than predetermined standards, which can be handled by apparatus according to such predetermined standards. A primary color converter converts first color signals having primary color points in a wider color range than the primary color points according to BT.709 into second color signals based on the primary colors according to BT.709. A photoelectric transducer converts the second color signals into third color signals according to photoelectric transducer characteristics defined in a numerical range wider than a range from 0 to 1.0 of color signals corresponding to a luminance signal and color difference signals according to BT.709. A color signal converter converts the third color signals into a luminance signal and color difference signals. A corrector incorporated in the color signal converter corrects the color difference signals into color difference signals.
US08965111B2 Learning apparatus, a learning system, learning method and a learning program for object discrimination
A learning apparatus in the present invention includes a weak discriminator generation unit that generates a weak discriminator which calculates a discrimination score of an instance of a target based on a feature and a bag label, a weak discrimination unit which calculates the discrimination score based on the generated weak discriminator, an instance probability calculation unit that calculates an instance probability of the target instance based on the calculated the discrimination score, a bag probability calculation unit that calculates a probability that no smaller than two positive instances are included in the bag based on the calculated instance probability and a likelihood calculation unit which calculates likelihood representing plausibility of the bag probability based on the bag label.
US08965109B2 Gamut control method for improving image performance of parallax barrier S3D display
A method for enhancing a three-dimensional (3D) image comprising at least two depth layers wherein each depth layer comprising image objects. The method comprising the steps of determining a near field and a far field comprising at least one depth layer each, identifying the image objects in the near field and the far field respectively, applying a first correction curve to the image objects identified in the near field and applying a second correction curve to the image objects identified in the far field.
US08965096B2 Radiation therapy device controller, processing method and program for same
A radiation therapy device controller identifies a pixel on a straight line connecting a ray source and a sensor array, and calculates a luminance update amount candidate value for each identified pixel based on a ratio of a change amount for the pixel on the straight line indicating the living body to a sum of change amounts from a luminance value of a pixel corresponding to a correlated computed tomography image correlated with a computed tomography image of an update target of a luminance value of the identified pixel. Also, the control device calculates a luminance update amount of each identified pixel using the luminance update amount candidate value of each identified pixel calculated for a plurality of rotation angles, and updates the luminance value of each corresponding pixel of the computed tomography image of the update target using the luminance update amount of each identified pixel.
US08965083B2 Automatic detection of vertebrae boundaries in spine images
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to automatically detect vertebrae boundaries in a spine image. A method to detect a vertebra in a spine image is described, the method comprising generating a rectangle approximation of a reference vertebra. The method also including identifying a mask similar to the rectangle approximation and labeling a mask region in the mask. The method also including comparing the mask region to the rectangle approximation and detecting a vertebra in the spine image based on the comparison.
US08965078B2 Projection-space denoising with bilateral filtering in computed tomography
Projection data acquired with an x-ray CT system is filtered using a bilateral filter to reduce image noise and enable the acquisition at lower x-ray dose without the loss of image diagnostic quality. The bilateral filtering is performed before image reconstruction by producing a noise equivalent data set from the acquired projection data and then converting the bilateral filtered values back to a projection data set suitable for image reconstruction.
US08965069B2 Three dimensional minutiae extraction in three dimensional scans
A system and method extract a plurality of three dimensional identification minutiae from a three dimensional image of a biometric identification feature. The extracted three dimensional identification minutiae from the three dimensional image may be compared to one or more sets of three dimensional identification minutiae to determine an identification and/or confirm an identification. In a preferred embodiment, the system and method extract three dimensional identification minutiae from a three dimensional image of a fingerprint, and compare the extracted three dimensional identification minutiae from the fingerprint to one or more sets of three dimensional identification minutiae associated with previously classified fingerprints to determine and/or confirm an identification.
US08965055B2 System for the calibration of operating parameters of a laser engraver
The present invention concerns a system for the calibration of at least one parameter of a laser engraver, the laser engraver comprising on one hand an engraving system with a focusing lens positioned at a distance of the surface of an substrate intended to be engraved and on the other hand a vision system for at least the positioning and the verification of the engraving, the vision system including a camera associated with an appropriate illumination and, wherein the engraving device of the laser is arranged in such way that the engraving device works to engrave a substrate with specific engraved layout corresponding to variation of at least one parameter and wherein the vision system is connected to a comparison device of at least one measured engraved parameter with the template value of at least one stored data in a memorization device connected to a engraving correction device.
US08965050B2 Behavior analysis device
A behavior analysis device has an object extraction portion that processes a frame image of an imaging area being imaged by an imaging device and extracts an object being imaged, a position detection portion that detects a position in the imaging area, for each object extracted by the object extraction portion, a posture estimation portion that estimates an posture of the object, for each object extracted by the object extraction portion, and a behavior determination portion that determines a behavior of the object, for each object extracted by the object extraction portion, based on the position in the imaging area that is detected by the position detection portion and the posture estimated by the posture estimation portion.
US08965049B2 Function extension device, function extension method, computer-readable recording medium, and integrated circuit
An object recognition unit recognizes, from real-space video data, a body included in the video data. A function setting unit retains function information in which is prescribed a function configured from a pair of operation and processing that can be set for each type of body. In addition, the function setting unit sets, to each body recognized by the object recognition unit, a function that can be set, based on the type of each body. A selection determination unit determines a selected body selected by a user as the body to be operated among the respective bodies recognized by the object recognition unit. An operation determination unit determines the operation that the user has performed on the selected body. A processing determination unit 1107 determines the processing for the operation that has been determined by the operation determination unit among the operations configuring the function set by the function setting unit.
US08965035B2 Thin speaker structure
A thin speaker structure comprises: a long support frame; a magnetic circuit member; a voice coil; a membrane; wherein the magnetic circuit member and voice coil are rounded and the membrane includes an elliptic surrounding and an elliptic body with a center portion and a peripheral portion; the peripheral portion is fixed to a bottom edge of an inner surface of the surrounding and the center portion corresponding to the peripheral portion defines a rigid strengthened region in a longer elliptic shape; the center portion has a length of a long side longer than a diameter of the voice coil at a predetermined distance; whereby the elliptic body is combined with the circular voice coil to form a vibrating structure in order to increase the rigidity of the membrane.
US08965034B2 Suspension structure
[Problems] To provide a multifunction vibration actuator which has flat rising and falling frequency characteristic at the time of generation of bodily sensation vibration and which is stable for an input signal.[Means for Solving Problems] Flat frequency characteristics can be obtained by using a two-fold rotational symmetry frame type suspension, and miniaturization of the whole multifunction vibration actuator can be made by the user of the frame type suspension. With regard to the frame type suspension, use of protruded configuration of corner parts ensures the effect of absorption of deflection of the suspension.
US08965032B2 Garment with built-in audio source wiring
An audio source system may be built into a garment such as a hooded garment in such a way that safety concerns such as with a hooded garment for children are taken into account so that the audio system wiring cannot be made loose causing a danger of strangulation nor can the hood be cinched. This is done by putting speakers into the hood between a lining and an outer layer and passing the wires into the space between them and then into a tube that is open to the hood inner space and down the tube to a pocket in the body of the garment. Also securing tabs are used to prevent cinching action upon pulling the wire.
US08965031B2 Earphone with elastic holder for driver and cord
The earphone of the Present Disclosure includes a driver for converting electric signals into sound waves, a cord connected to the driver, an elastic holder, a housing and an earpiece. The elastic holder integrally possesses a cylindrical driver housing portion for inserting the driver, and a cord housing portion for housing the end portion of the cord. The housing possesses a cylindrical main body for inserting at least the driver housing portion of the elastic holder, and a sound conduit provided in the end portion of the main body. The earpiece is fitted into the ear canal.
US08965029B2 Headphone
A headphone includes a housing having a storage space in the interior thereof and a driver unit provided within the storage space movably with respect to the housing.
US08965020B2 Sound processors with light transmissive seals and implantable cochlear stimulation systems including the same
Sound processors with light transmissive seals and systems including such sound processors are disclosed. A seal, formed in part from substantially translucent material and having at least a portion of the substantially translucent material associated with the housing exterior of the sound processor, transmits light from a light emitter carried within the housing to indicate an operational aspect of the sound processor.
US08965013B2 Echo cancellation
The invention is directed to echo cancellation for a microphone system. An exemplary microphone system comprises a first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the first transistor is connected to a ground terminal via a microphone electret element, the microphone electret element being associated with a capacitance and a voltage, the microphone electret element reverse biasing the first transistor; and a second transistor in parallel with the first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the second transistor is connected to the ground terminal via a capacitor, the capacitance of the capacitor being selected to suppress at least a portion of a common mode signal, and wherein the gate terminal of the second transistor is not connected to the microphone electret element. The common mode signal comprises the echo, which may be the output of a speaker system that is received as input to the microphone system.
US08965010B2 Multi-stage amplifiers to reduce pop noise
An amplifier (50) for voice or audio signals, and particularly for headset applications, uses a low gm amplifier (54) for initially charging an output node (OUT) at the beginning of a power-on phase. After charging the output node, a main amplifier (56) is enabled to amplify the voice or audio signal. At power-down, a sample-and-hold circuit (58) drives an output transistor to discharge an AC coupling capacitor (20). Thus, spikes at the output node are eliminated and an external filtering capacitor is not needed.
US08965004B2 Method for acquiring audio signals, and audio acquisition system thereof
Method for acquiring audio signals is described, wherein a microphone probe (11) equipped with a plurality (Y) of microphone capsules (B) detects a plurality of audio signals, and wherein said detected audio signals are combined together in order to obtain a virtual microphone signal. The latter is generated as a function of characteristic probe data (IRs) measured during a probe characterization step, wherein the signals detected by each microphone capsule (B) are measured following a corresponding predetermined test signal. An audio acquisition system is also described which allows to implement the method.
US08965001B2 Mic rubber apparatus for portable electric device
A microphone rubber apparatus mounted on an SMD microphone prepared on a printed circuit board to protect the SMD microphone from an external physical impact and the like in a portable communication device such as a portable terminal and a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The microphone rubber apparatus includes a microphone holder portion formed to engage with and wrap up a microphone, a connection portion protruding to one side of the microphone holder portion and delivering a transmission sound to the microphone through an inside thereof, and at least one shock absorbing portion deformably formed around the connection portion to ease an impact caused by an external force. Thus, the shock absorbing portion having a wrinkled shape can be deformed no matter in which direction an impact is applied to the portable communication device, thereby easing the impact and preventing the microphone rubber from being detached from the microphone due to the external impact or during a distribution test.
US08964994B2 Encoding of multichannel digital audio signals
A method for coding a multi-channel audio signal representing a sound scene comprising a plurality of sound sources is provided. This method comprises decomposing the multi-channel signal into frequency bands and, per frequency band, obtaining directivity information per sound source of the sound scene, the information being representative of the spatial distribution of the sound source in the sound scene, of selecting a set of sound sources of the sound scene constituting principal sources, of matrixing the selected principal sources to obtain a sum signal with a reduced number of channels and, of coding the directivity information and of forming a binary stream comprising the coded directivity information, the binary stream being transmittable in parallel with the sum signal. A decoding method is also provided that is able to decode the sum signal and the directivity information to obtain a multi-channel signal, to an adapted coder and an adapted decoder.
US08964989B2 Method for adding nodes to a quantum key distribution system
An improved quantum key distribution (QKD) system and method are provided. The system and method introduce new clients at intermediate points along a quantum channel, where any two clients can establish a secret key without the need for a secret meeting between the clients. The new clients perform operations on photons as they pass through nodes in the quantum channel, and participate in a non-secret protocol that is amended to include the new clients. The system and method significantly increase the number of clients that can be supported by a conventional QKD system, with only a modest increase in cost. The system and method are compatible with a variety of QKD schemes, including polarization, time-bin, continuous variable and entanglement QKD.
US08964988B2 Secret sharing system, sharing apparatus, share management apparatus, acquisition apparatus, secret sharing method, program and recording medium
A sharing apparatus independently shares a value corresponding to each element θ(ψ, i, β)·g2 of basis vectors bi*(θ) among each subset SUB(α) consisting of H(α) share management apparatuses PA(α, 1), . . . , PA(α, H(α)) to generate share information SH(ψ, i, β, α, h(α)) corresponding to each element θ(ψ, i, β)·g2. The share management apparatus PA(α, h(α)) generates a share secret value DSH(ψ, α, h(α)) by performing a common calculation common in the subset SUB(α) on common information shared in the subset SUB(α) and the share information SH(ψ, i, β, α, h(α)). An acquisition apparatus generates reconstructed secret values SUBSK(ψ, α) for each subset SUB(α) by performing a reconstruction processing for the subset SUB(α) and generates generation information D*(ψ) from the reconstructed secret values SUBSK(ψ, α).
US08964986B2 Systems and methods for preventing transmitted cryptographic parameters from compromising privacy
A method for secure cryptographic communication comprises transmitting information that identifies a group key from a first device to a second device. The method further comprises, in the first device, using the group key to encrypt an input vector, transmitting the encrypted input vector, encrypting privacy-sensitive information using a device key, an encryption algorithm, and the input vector, and transmitting the encrypted privacy-sensitive information to the second device.
US08964985B2 Recovery from decryption errors in a sequence of communication packets
A method in a receiver includes receiving from a transmitter a sequence of communication packets, which carry data encrypted with an encryption scheme. The encryption scheme depends on a counter value that is incremented independently by each of the transmitter and the receiver. Attempts are made to decrypt the data of a received packet multiple times using different, respective counter values, to produce multiple respective decrypted outputs. A decrypted output in which the data has been decrypted correctly is identified, the counter value is corrected, and the data of the received packet is recovered from the identified decrypted output.
US08964978B2 Method and apparatus for efficiently fixing transformed part of content
Provided are a method and apparatus for effectively fixing scrambled content. The method includes checking fixing information for a program map table (PMT) packet of packets constituting the content, the fixing information being used to fix a transformed part of the content; extracting location information of a next PMT packet containing fixing data for fixing the transformed part of the content from the fixing information of the PMT packet; and fixing the transformed part of the content by using the fixing data in the next PMT packet indicated by the extracted location information. Accordingly, it is possible to easily detect a location of the content, which stores the fixing information, thereby expediting fixing of the transformed content.
US08964974B2 Zero configuration of security for smart meters
Techniques for injecting encryption keys into a meter as a part of a manufacturing process are discussed. Since various encryption keys injected into meters may be specific to each individual meter, a utility company customer may require a copy of the injected encryption keys associated with each individual meter. The techniques may include providing a copy of keys injected into each meter to a utility company customer. In some instances, the meter manufacturer may not store or persist various encryption keys that are injected into the meters during the manufacturing process.
US08964965B1 Smart capture
A system for updating a network accessible address book for a user is disclosed. The system includes a network address reference detection agent that detects a network address reference resulting from user interaction with a network addressable device. Network address references include e-mail addresses, SMS addresses, and telephone numbers. After the network address reference detection agent detects an event, a user identity data store is accessed. The user identity data store provides a reverse-lookup of one or more profile elements based upon the network address reference detected by the network address reference detection agent. The system also includes a capture agent for evaluating a business rule based at least on the network address reference. If the business rule is satisfied, the capture agent provides a prompt as to whether the one or more profile elements should be added at least in part to the network accessible address book for the user.
US08964959B2 Electronic device, incoming call answering and rejection method and digital data storage media
An incoming call answering and rejecting method, an electronic device, and a digital data storage media are provided. The method is applied to an electronic device having a touch screen and has the following steps. A request of an incoming call is received. A dragging signal is generated on the touch screen. When the dragging signal is an answering signal, the incoming call is answered. When the dragging signal is a rejecting signal, the incoming call is rejected.
US08964955B2 Presence-based message waiting indicator and missed calls
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for using a presence-based network to provide call notification information. According to one embodiment, a method of providing information related to a communication can comprise receiving a publication of one or more presence attributes. The one or more presence attributes can comprise at least one attribute indicating call notification information. A presence profile can be associated with an entity. For example, the entity can comprises a recipient of the communication. The presence profile can be updated based on the received presence attributes. The attribute indicating call notification information can be provided to one or more subscribers to the presence information such as the entity associated with the presence profile, another party to the communication, another authorized principal, etc.
US08964951B1 Apparatus and methods for telecommunication authentication
The present invention is related to telecommunications, and in particular to systems and methods of using telecommunication services for user authentication. Account information is stored for a user, the account information including at least a first phone number associated with the user. A user order is received. A verification phone call is received from the user, the call including charge phone number information. The charge number information is compared to the first phone number to authenticate that the user is associated with the first phone number. Based at least in part on the comparison, the user order is selectively caused to be fulfilled.
US08964942B2 Imaging system using multisource collimation and a method assembly and system for providing multisource collimation
Disclosed is a collimator assembly for a multi-radiation-source medical imaging system (e.g. CT) and a medical imaging system utilizing the collimator. According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a collimator assembly including at least two apertures, which apertures are adjustable substantially synchronously by one or more actuators.
US08964940B2 Dynamically adjustable filament control through firmware for miniature x-ray source
An x-ray beam control system includes a feedback control loop circuit having a modulation circuit. The feedback control loop circuit generates a control signal. A x-ray tube, has a filament response profile of tube current versus filament temperature that is non-linear. A compensation circuit receives the control signal and modifies the control signal according to a compensating function that is matched to the filament response profile. The modulation circuit receives the modified control signal and generates a drive signal. The x-ray tube receives the drive signal at a filament thereof, and outputs a tube current signal having a linear response to the control signal. The feedback control loop circuit receives the tube current signal.
US08964930B2 Coupling structure of fuel assembly
A coupling structure of a fuel assembly includes a screw coupling means to provide a coupling structure of a fuel assembly which prevents foreign matters from mixing in the fuel and in which no vertical play is generated at a fitting portion between a latch sleeve 10 and a lock key 20. The coupling structure of the fuel assembly includes: the latch sleeve 10 having a projecting portion 11 formed at an upper end portion thereof; an upper nozzle 30 having formed therein a latch sleeve installation hole 31 into which the upper end portion of the latch sleeve 10 is inserted; and the lock key 20 which is installed inside the latch sleeve installation hole 31, and which has an opening portion 21 formed on a bottom surface thereof, the opening portion 21 having a shape corresponding to the projecting portion 11. The screw coupling means screw couples the lock key 20 to the upper nozzle 30 with a male screw thread 23 formed on a side surface of the lock key 20.
US08964926B2 Ex-core nuclear instrumentation system
An ex-core nuclear instrumentation system in which the width of measurable neutron detector current can be accurately widened is obtained. In order to output the condition of neutron flux in operation by performing arithmetic processing of a current value measured by a neutron detector by using a detector signal processing circuit, the detector signal processing circuit includes a current/voltage conversion unit which converts the current value converted by the neutron detector into a voltage value corresponding to the current value; and a variable gain amplification unit which has an operational amplifier having a resistance circuit for corresponding to current levels, the resistance circuit being capable of selecting a gain, and a D/A converter that adjusts the gain, and amplifies the voltage value converted by the current/voltage conversion unit.
US08964923B2 Low latency high bandwidth CDR architecture
Provided is a low latency high bandwidth clock and data recovery (CDR) system. For example, there is a low latency high bandwidth CDR system including a demultiplexer configured to convert a high frequency input datastream to a low frequency output datastream according to a first latency and a phase error processor at least partially embedded into the demultiplexer and configured to determine a datastream phase error of the high frequency input datastream according to a second latency. The embedded phase error processor allows a portion of a total latency of the CDR system due to the demultiplexer and the phase error processor to be less than a sum of the first and second latencies.
US08964918B2 IC first, second communication circuits each with three communication states
Data is communicated through two separate circuits or circuit groups, each having clock and mode inputs, by sequentially reversing the role of the clock and mode inputs. The data communication circuits have data inputs, data outputs, a clock input for timing or synchronizing the data input and/or output communication, and a mode input for controlling the data input and/or output communication. A clock/mode signal connects to the clock input of one circuit and to the mode input of the other circuit. A mode/clock signal connects to the mode input of the one circuit and to the clock input of the other circuit. The role of the mode and clock signals on the mode/clock and clock/mode signals, or their reversal, selects one or the other of the data communication circuits.
US08964916B2 Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) dependent channel tracking for smart utility networks (SUN) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)
An orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed (OFDM)-based receiver for channel tracking with signal-to-noise ratio dependent parameters that includes a memory; and a signal processor, coupled to the memory. The signal processor to estimate a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for a received packet of OFDM symbols and determine an SNR region in which the SNR estimate falls, wherein the signal processor implements a different set of finite impulse response (FIR) filter coefficients for each SNR region.
US08964910B2 Method for identifying and detecting a radio signal for a cognitive communication system
A method of identifying an RF signal for a cognitive radio system. The signal is identified with a digital watermarking performed downstream from the digital modulation of the symbols to be transmitted. A method of detecting an RF signal watermarked is also disclosed. The identification method includes demodulating the received RF signal as a baseband, converting it digitally, and correlating the digital signal obtained with a predetermined digital signature. The correlation values are averaged using a recursive filter and the maximum value of the average values output from the filter is compared to a threshold to decide whether the RF signal is present.
US08964903B2 Methods and apparatus for synchronization in multiple-channel communication systems
Methods and apparatus for processing multichannel signals in a multichannel receiver are described. In one implementation, a plurality of demodulator circuits may provide a plurality of outputs to a processing module, with the processing module then simultaneously estimating noise characteristics based on the plurality of outputs and generating a common noise estimate based on the plurality of outputs. This common noise estimate may then be provided back the demodulators and used to adjust the demodulation of signals in the plurality of demodulators to improve phase noise performance.
US08964897B2 Transmitting device and transmitting method
A transmitting device that transmits a FSK-modulated wireless signal to a receiving device includes a controller that determines a transmitting content transmitted to the receiving device and a value of a maximum frequency shift in the FSK modulation, and outputs output information including the transmitting content, the value of the maximum frequency shift, and a value of a center frequency in the FSK modulation; a generator that generates a FSK modulation signal based on the transmitting content, the value of the maximum frequency shift, and the value of the center frequency, which are output from the controller; and a transmitting antenna that transmits the FSK modulation signal, which is generated by the generator, in a form of a wireless signal.
US08964892B2 Apparatus and method for operating a transmitter
A linear transmitter includes a closed loop feedback path to maintain linearity of a power amplifier subsystem. The closed loop feedback path provides RF injection of one or more reference RF carrier signals (172, 174) combined with a radio frequency (RF) feedback signal (149) to generate a feedback RF error signal (173). A narrowband receiver (170) continuously monitors stability of the feedback RF error signal (173). A loop phase adjusting circuit (188) generates phase adjustments (189) to compensate for instabilities in the closed loop feedback path thereby maintaining stability of the PA RF output signal (146).
US08964883B2 Distributing clock associated with a wired data connection over wireless interfaces using frequency correction at the transmitter side
A clock extractor extracts clock frequency f2, from a wired data connection feeding the transmitter with data clocked at the clock frequency f2. A clock error estimator estimates clock frequency error between the clock frequency f2 and a clock frequency f1 derived from a local clock of the transmitter. Clock adder adds the clock frequency error to the clock frequency f1, resulting in a synthesized clock frequency f2. A modulator uses the synthesized clock frequency f2, to modulate a data stream into a modulated signal.
US08964875B2 Adaptive IQ imbalance estimation
A transceiver includes an input node to receive an input signal having in-phase (I) data and quadrature (Q) data, the input signal including several data samples. A correlation module determines an autocorrelation of the in-phase data, an autocorrelation of the quadrature data, a difference between the autocorrelation of the in-phase data and the autocorrelation of the quadrature data, and a cross correlation between the in-phase data and the quadrature data. An averaging module determines an average of the difference between the autocorrelation of the in-phase data and the autocorrelation of the quadrature data, and an average of the cross correlation between the in-phase data and the quadrature data, in which the averages are determined over a specified number of data samples. A compensation module, based on the average difference between the autocorrelation of the in-phase data and the autocorrelation of the quadrature data, and the average cross correlation between the in-phase data and the quadrature data, determines compensated in-phase data and quadrature data having reduced IQ mismatch.
US08964868B2 Method and apparatus for uplink power control in multiple-input multiple-output
A method and apparatus for uplink power control in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) includes adjusting a total uplink transmit power level with a power offset based on a number of antennas via which an uplink subframe is transmitted. The uplink power control formula may be altered to include an additional power offset term to compensate for a MIMO mode or an existing term may be adjusted to compensate for the MIMO mode.
US08964861B2 Active and programmable HDMI cable and method
A method for optimizing the performance of an active HDMI cable. An active cable compensator is provided within the HDMI cable itself. This device applies an individually-adjusted equalizer to each of the TMDS video data lines. A non-equalizing amplifier is applied to the two TMDS clock lines. An accelerator is applied to the I2C data bus. The parameters controlling each of the active components (such as parameters setting gain and frequency distribution) within an individual HDMI cable are set through a programming process. In that process, a calibration source sends known signals through the cable to a programming unit. A programming unit analyzes the signals through the cable and sends commands to the active cable compensator in the cable. The commands adjust the parameters in order to optimize the performance of the individual cable.
US08964856B2 Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. A receiving system of the digital broadcasting system includes a receiving unit, an SI handler, and a decoding unit. The receiving unit receives broadcast signals including mobile service data and main service data. Herein, the mobile service data may configure a data group, and the data group may include a signaling information region in some of a plurality of data regions. Also, the signaling information region may include TPC signaling data and FIC signaling data. The SI handler acquires channel configuration information of the mobile service data from the broadcast signal using pre-decided IP access information, and extracts encoding format information for each IP stream component within a corresponding virtual channel service RTP-packetized and received from the acquired channel configuration information. The decoding unit decodes the mobile service data of the corresponding IP stream component based upon the extracted encoding format information.
US08964839B2 Moving picture coding method, and moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus for performing inter-picture predictive coding for pictures constituting a moving picture is provided with a coding unit for performing predictive error coding for image data; a decoding unit for performing predictive error decoding for an output from the coding unit; a reference picture memory for holding output data from the decoding unit; and a motion vector detection unit for detecting motion vectors on the basis of the decoded image data stored in the memory. When coding a B picture as a target picture, information indicating whether or not the target picture should be used as a reference picture when coding another picture is added as header information. Therefore, in a decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream Bs outputted from the moving picture coding apparatus, management of a memory for holding the reference picture can be facilitated on the basis of the header information.
US08964838B2 Video coding system using sub-channels and constrained prediction references to protect against data transmission errors
A coding technique is disclosed in which frames of a video sequence are assigned to one of a plurality of sub-channels to be transmitted to a decoder. The frames are coded according to predictive coding techniques such that ordinarily prediction references of the frames in each sub-channel only reach the reference frames that occur within the same sub-channel. Thus, if transmission errors arise with respect to one sub-channel, decoding may occur for another sub-channel until the transmission error is detected and corrected.
US08964827B2 Adaptation of equalizer settings using error signals sampled at several different phases
An apparatus includes an error sample generating circuit and an adaptation circuit. The error sample generating circuit is generally configured to generate error samples at a plurality of phases. The adaptation circuit may be configured to adjust one or more equalizer settings based upon a data sample and the error samples.
US08964820B2 Serializer/deserializer apparatus with loopback configuration and methods thereof
The present invention is directed to integrated circuits. In a specific embodiment, high frequency signals from an equalizer are directly connected to a first pair of inputs of a sense amplifier. The sense amplifier also has a second pair of inputs, which can be selectively coupled to output signals from a DAC or high frequency loopback signals. There are other embodiments as well.
US08964811B2 Embedded meta-carrier with spread spectrum for periodic-burst carriers via overlaid carriers
A method for identifying the presence of an electronic transmission comprising detecting, by a detecting device, the presence of a burst of electromagnetic energy that results from the presence of an original carrier signal and transmitting, by a transmitting device, a spread spectrum meta-carrier signal within a portion of a bandwidth of the original carrier signal, wherein the meta-carrier signal contains information about the original carrier signal and is transmitted such that the meta-carrier signal occupies at least a portion of a bandwidth of the original carrier signal during the presence of the burst of electromagnetic energy.
US08964808B2 Laser light source and method for producing a laser light source
A laser light source comprises, in particular, a semiconductor layer sequence (10) having an active region (45) and a radiation coupling-out area (12) having a first partial region (121) and a second partial region (122) different than the latter, and a filter structure (5), wherein the active region (45) generates, during operation, coherent first electromagnetic radiation (51) having a first wavelength range and incoherent second electromagnetic radiation (52) having a second wavelength range, the coherent first electromagnetic radiation (51) is emitted by the first partial region (121) along an emission direction (90), the incoherent second electromagnetic radiation (52) is emitted by the first partial region (121) and by the second partial region (122), the second wavelength range comprises the first wavelength range, and the filter structure (5) at least partly attenuates the incoherent second electromagnetic radiation (52) emitted by the active region along the emission direction (90).
US08964805B2 Thermally optimized mechanical interface for hybrid integrated wavelength division multiplexed arrayed transmitter
An apparatus comprising a plurality of laser dice and a heat sink positioned between the laser dice and thermally coupled to the laser dice. Also included is an apparatus comprising a chip comprising a laser core, a stopper at least partially defining a groove, wherein the stopper and the groove are positioned adjacent to the chip, and a heater located between the laser core and the groove.
US08964801B2 Method and system for stable and tunable high power pulsed laser system
A laser system includes an injection laser source having an output and operable to provide a laser output characterized by a first wavelength, a first linewidth, an output power. The laser system also includes a tunable pulsed source characterized by a gain bandwidth. The tunable pulsed source is operable to provide an output signal having an average power. The output signal includes a plurality of optical pulses. Each of the plurality of optical pulses is characterized by a second wavelength, a second linewidth, and a peak power. The laser system further includes an optical combiner having a first port coupled to the output of the injection laser source, a second port coupled to the tunable pulsed source, and a third port.
US08964800B2 Microcrystal laser for generating laser pulses
A microcrystal laser for generating laser pulses has a laser resonator which has a laser medium arranged between two mirrors; and an arrangement for stabilizing the optical path length is provided. The laser resonator has a saturable absorber medium for pulse generation.
US08964796B2 Structure for electron-beam pumped edge-emitting device and methods for producing same
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a light guiding structure, a light emitting layer disposed within the light guiding structure, and a structure for discharging excess electric charge within the device. The device may be excited by an electron beam, as opposed to an optical beam, to create electron-hole pairs. The light emitting layer is configured for light generation without requiring a p-n junction, and is therefore not embedded within nor part of a p-n junction. Doping with p-type species is obviated, reducing device loss and permitting operation at a short wavelengths, such as below 300 nm. Various structures, such as a top-side cladding layer, are disclosed for discharging beam-induced charge. A single device may be operated with multiple electron beam pumps, either to enable a relatively thick active layer or to drive multiple separate active layers. Cooperatively curved end facets accommodate for possible off-axis resonance within the active region(s).
US08964788B2 System and method of an in-band modem for data communications over digital wireless communication networks
A system is provided for transmitting information through a speech codec (in-band) such as found in a wireless communication network. A modulator transforms the data into a spectrally noise-like signal based on the mapping of a shaped pulse to predetermined positions within a modulation frame, and the signal is efficiently encoded by a speech codec. A synchronization sequence provides modulation frame timing at the receiver and is detected based on analysis of a correlation peak pattern. A request/response protocol provides reliable transfer of data using message redundancy, retransmission, and/or robust modulation modes dependent on the communication channel conditions.
US08964780B2 Sounding in multicarrier wireless communications
A wireless device transmits one or more sounding reference signals in parallel with transmission of at least one of a first preamble and a first packet. The wireless device is configured to not transmit a first sounding reference signal if at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: a) the first sounding reference signal transmission and a second preamble transmission coincide in the same subframe of the same cell group, b) the wireless device has insufficient power to transmit the first sounding reference signal in parallel with at least one of a third preamble and a second packet.
US08964776B2 Shared use of time slots
The invention relates to a network comprising at least one first client and at least two second clients connected to the first client by a message transmission device, wherein the network is configured such that there is communication between the first client and the second clients in a communication time slot and data can be transmitted between the first client and the second clients in the communication time slot, said communication time slot having at least one first message time slot and one second message time slot, wherein the first message time slot can be used by a selected second client to transmit a message to the first client and the second message time slot can be used by a plurality of second clients to transmit a message to the first client.
US08964773B2 Method and system for establishing cooperative routing in wireless networks
A system and method is presented for establishing relayed communications involving (1) sending a request message from a source node to a destination node through a plurality of intermediate nodes, (2) receiving the request message at the destination node, and (3) sending an acceptance message from the destination node to the source node through at least a subset of the intermediate nodes, wherein an intermediate node relays the request or acceptance message by receiving the message and re-transmitting the message, and wherein the intermediate node is capable of receiving the message from more than one other intermediate node.
US08964769B2 Networked computer telephony system driven by web-based applications
A networked telephony system and method allow users to deploy on the Internet computer telephony applications associated with designated telephone numbers. The telephony application is easily created by a user in XML (Extended Markup Language) with predefined telephony XML tags and easily deployed on a website. The telephony XML tags include those for call control and media manipulation. A call to anyone of these designated telephone numbers may originate from anyone of the networked telephone system such as the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone System), a wireless network, or the Internet. The call is received by an application gateway center (AGC) installed on the Internet. Analogous to a web browser, the AGC provides facility for retrieving the associated XML application from its website and processing the call accordingly. The architecture and design of the system allow for reliability, high quality-of-service, easy scalability and the ability to incorporate additional telephony hardware and software and protocols.
US08964767B2 Packet processing in federated network
Some embodiments provide a novel method for forwarding a packet at a managed switching element in a first domain. The method receives a packet from a local machine. The method encapsulates the packet with a first context identifier that identifies a first logical port of a first logical switching element that couples to machines in both the first domain and a second domain. The first logical port maps to a destination address of the packet. Based on a mapping of the first logical port to a second logical port of a second logical switching element that couples to machines in only the first domain, the method encapsulates the packet with a second context identifier that identifies the second logical port. The method transmits the twice-encapsulated packet out of a port of the managed switching element based on the second context identifier.
US08964765B2 Mobile handheld multi-media gateway and phone
A system and method for providing a mobile handheld multi-media gateway and phone. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise a first communication interface module that is adapted to communicatively couple the mobile telephone to a mobile telephone communication network. A second communication interface module may be adapted to communicatively couple the mobile telephone to a computer communication network. At least one module may utilize the second communication interface module to communicate with the computer communication network to establish an independent network presence for the mobile telephone on the computer communication network. The mobile telephone may, for example, be established as an autonomous addressable device on the computer communication network.
US08964762B2 Timing re-synchronization with reduced communication energy in frequency hopping communication networks
In one embodiment, a battery-operated communication device “quick-samples” a frequency hopping sequence at a periodic rate corresponding to a substantially low duty cycle, and is discovered by (e.g., attached to) a main-powered communication device. During a scheduled sample, the main-powered communication device transmits a control packet to be received by the battery-operated communication device, the control packet containing timing information and transmitted to account for worst-case clock drift error between the two devices. The battery-operated communication device responds to the control packet with a link-layer acknowledgment containing timing information from the battery-operated communication device. Accordingly, the two devices may re-synchronize their timing based on the timing information in the control packet and acknowledgment, respectively.
US08964754B2 Backplane interface adapter with error control and redundant fabric
A backplane interface adapter with error control and redundant fabric for a high-performance network switch. The error control may be provided by an administrative module that includes a level monitor, a stripe synchronization error detector, a flow controller, and a control character presence tracker. The redundant fabric transceiver of the backplane interface adapter improves the adapter's ability to properly and consistently receive narrow input cells carrying packets of data and output wide striped cells to a switching fabric.
US08964740B2 Group signaling using synthetic media access control addresses
Methods, systems and computer program products to communicate using a synthetic Media Access Control (synMAC) addresses are provided. The method includes the step of receiving and storing a first message assigning a first synMAC address. The first synMAC address is distinct from a unique stored Media Access Control (MAC) address. A second message including a second synMAC address is received. The first synMAC address is compared to the stored second synMAC address. The second message is accepted and processed if the first synMAC address is equal to the second synMAC address. In another example, a first device assigns a common synthetic Media Access Control (synMAC) address to multiple devices. The first device then broadcasts a message including the common synMAC address to each of the devices.
US08964739B1 Self-healing data transmission system and method to achieve deterministic and lower latency
The invention provides a method of simulcasting data fragments sent over a first packet-switched computer network to a trunk network and redistributed over a second packet-switched computer network. A method is provided comprising the steps of providing a trunk network including multiple links including an RF link and a fiber link, wherein all the transmission links transmit data packets to a receiver which will redistribute the earliest data packets with a matching frame check sequence (FCS) over the second packet switched computer network. The method provides for a sender for adding an incremental sender sequence number and sender FCS to the data packets, creating a sender data packet. Transmitting a sender data packet, simulcast over the transmission links, receiving, by a receiver, via the fastest links which may drop or change some bits unintentionally, a sender data packet and receiving, by the receiver, via slower links which are unlikely to drop or change some bits unintentionally, a sender data packet. The method provides for checking, by the receiver, a receiver calculated FCS of the received sender data packet and comparing them to the sender FCS that was added by the sender. Transmitting over the second packet-switched computer network, the first sender data packet with the next sequence number increment after the incremental sender sequence number and verifying sender FCS, verifying, by the receiver, the sender data packets and identifying, by the receiver, a gap between sender data packets, queueing up verified sender data packets when there is a gap in the verified sender data packets and sending all verified sender data packets in sequence order, once the gap is filled by any transmission link.
US08964738B2 Path computation element protocol support for large-scale concurrent path computation
A system for a global concurrent path computation in a communication network is disclosed. The system includes a path computation element communication protocol, wherein the protocol includes an indicator field indicating the global concurrent path computation, a global objective function field providing an overarching objective function, a global constraint field specifying at least one global constraint, a global concurrent vector field specifying at least one path computation request, and another indicator field indicating an outcome of a path computation request.
US08964732B2 System and method for topology transparent zoning in network communications
An Autonomous System domain comprising a topology transparent zone comprising a plurality of topology transparent zone nodes at least some of which are topology transparent zone edge nodes, wherein the topology transparent zone nodes are interconnected with one another via a plurality of internal links, and a plurality of neighboring external nodes connected to the topology transparent zone edge nodes via a plurality of external links, wherein no link state advertisements (LSAs) describing the internal links are distributed to the neighboring external nodes.
US08964731B2 Enhanced calling features
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for scheduling and initiating calls. For example, a request for a prospective call between a caller and a callee can be received via a server. In response to a determination that both the caller and the callee are available, a call between a caller device and a callee device can be automatically initiated.
US08964721B1 Service period recovery scheme for wireless communications
Systems and methods for service period recovery in a wireless communications system are provided. An initial service period for transmitting data is assigned to a first remote station. Data period schedule information, including the assignment of the initial service period, is transmitted from a central station. In response to determining that the first remote station is not transmitting during the initial service period, a modified service period is assigned to the first remote station. A service period change announcement, including the assignment of the modified service period, is transmitted from the central station. In response to determining that the first remote station is not transmitting during the modified service period, the initial service period is truncated and a service period truncation is transmitted from the central station.
US08964720B2 MIMO OFDMA and preamble design
A method is provided for coupling a plurality of access nodes wirelessly to a plurality of access terminals. The method includes dividing up a carrier frequency into a plurality of subbands; scheduling one or more access terminals to share one of the plurality of subbands; and via one of the plurality of access nodes, first communicating with the one or more access terminals over the one of the plurality of subbands. The communicating includes, within the one of the plurality of subbands, time division multiplexing interlaces corresponding to each of the one or more access terminals.
US08964716B2 Estimating signal characteristics
A method of transmitting an RF signal over a wireless communication network is provided. The method comprises determining a respective weighting factor for each of a plurality of digital signals each corresponding to a respective channel, the weighting factors weighting the digital signals to produce a composite signal intended for transmission as an RF signal via a power amplifier. The method further comprises executing instructions on a processor to dynamically calculate a metric related to the non-linearity of the power amplifier's transfer characteristics for the composite signal using the determined weighting factors. The method further comprises supplying to the power amplifier a signal for transmission as an RF signal and amplifying the signal for transmission at the power amplifier to transmit an RF signal over the wireless communication network via at least one antenna. The method further comprises controlling the transmission based on the metric related to the amplifier non-linearity.
US08964708B2 Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling remote devices
Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling remote devices are provided. In an embodiment, a system can comprise one or more remotely controlled sensors and actuators. The remote sensors/actuators can interface with uniquely identified remote transceivers that transmit and/or receive data. The embodiment can also comprise a plurality of transceivers each having a unique address, and a controller adapted to communicate with at least one of the transceivers in a preformatted message. A sensor can be associated with at least one transceiver to detect a condition and output a data signal to the transceiver, and an actuator can be associated with a transceiver to receive a control signal and activate a device. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.
US08964700B2 Tone based cognitive radio for opportunistic communications
Within both the licensed and unlicensed wireless spectrum, benefits are obtained in allowing devices to form and communicate based upon opportunistic spectrum availability. At present such ad-hoc networks are established using either directly existing Media Access Control protocols or proposing modifications to them. According to the invention, there is provided a method for allowing abstract wireless links, i.e., arbitrary cooperation among a set of proximate wireless nodes, to be established between devices in a fast and efficient manner. Beneficially the approach allows multi-standard cognitive radios to operate in ad-hoc environments and non-ad-hoc environments. Accordingly a wireless module monitors a plurality of sensing tones and polling tones, each pair of sensing and polling tones associated with a transmission channel. A wireless module determines a vacant transmission channel by the absence or both a sensing tone and its associated polling tone. An abstract wireless link could be established by the wireless module transmitting the polling tone associated with the vacant transmission channel and detecting from second other wireless modules the sensing tone associated with the vacant transmission channel.
US08964694B2 Communication system, communication processing device and authentication processing device
Disclosed is a technique to enable a session handover between devices with different key generation functions in an authentication protocol. According to the technique, when a session where a UE (200) receives contents from a contents server (700) is to be handed over to a target node (300), the UE firstly transfers information (session HO information) necessary to the session handover to the target node (Step S1001). The target node performs authentication processing with an authentication server (600) of the network to which the UE is connected and notifies the authentication server of the session HO information transferred from the UE (Step S1003). The authentication server performs authentication for the session handover based on the session HO information, and when the authentication succeeds, the session is handed over from the contents server to the target node, and the contents are distributed to the target node (Step S1005).
US08964688B2 Method and device for effecting uplink HARQ on a wireless communications system
The present invention provides a method and device for effecting uplink HARQ (hybrid automatic repeat request) on a wireless communications system. A terminal receives HARQ setting data from a base station. If the terminal receives a NAC signal for an initial transmission block, the transmission characteristics of a retransmission block for the initial transmission block are adjusted on the basis of the HARQ setting data.
US08964687B2 Wireless communication base station equipment, wireless communication terminal device and search space setting method
Disclosed is wireless communication base station equipment in which CCE allocation can be flexibly performed without collision of ACK/NACK signals between a plurality of unit bands, even when wideband transmission is performed exclusively on a downlink circuit. In this equipment, an allocation unit (105) sets up mutually different search spaces for each of a plurality of downlink unit bands, with respect to wireless communication terminal devices that communicate using a plurality of downlink unit bands, and allocates resource allocation information of downlink circuit data destined for the wireless communication terminal devices to CCEs in mutually different search spaces for each of the plurality of downlink unit bands, and an ACK/NACK reception unit (119); extracts a response signal in respect of the downlink circuit data from the uplink control channel associated with the CCE to which the resource allocation information of this downlink circuit data was allocated.
US08964681B2 Method and apparatus for user scheduling in multi-user multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system
A method and apparatus for user scheduling in a multi-user multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system are provided. The method includes identifying a user group comprising user terminals. The method further includes comparing power consumptions based on the user group. The method further includes scheduling the user terminals based on the comparing.
US08964673B2 Method and apparatus for performing a hybrid automatic repeat request process for an uplink multi-codeword transmission in a wireless communication system which supports a multi-antenna transmission
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for performing a hybrid automatic repeat request process for an uplink multi-codeword transmission in a wireless communication system which supports a multi-antenna transmission. The uplink multi-codeword transmission method according to one embodiment comprises the following steps: transmitting first and second codewords, transmitting information on the status of transmission buffer for the first and second codewords, receiving downlink control information (DCI) containing acknowledgement (ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NACK) information on each of the first and second codewords, and re-transmitting the codeword for NACK information, wherein the codeword for NACK information, wherein the codeword for ACK information is not transmitted to a base station in cases where the transmission buffer is empty.
US08964664B2 System and method for association and uplink adaptation in a relay network
In a system for allocating resources of a wireless communication system power levels of downlink (DL) communication channels and coupling losses of uplink (UL) communication channels are determined. When the power level of the DL communication channel between a base station and a UA is greater than the power levels of the DL communication channels between each of a plurality of RNs and the UA, and the coupling losses of the UL communication channel between at least one of the RNs and the UA are less than the coupling losses of the UL communication channel between the base station and the UA, a DL communication channel resource on the base station to the UA, and a UL communication channel resource on the at least one of the plurality of RNs to the UA are allocated.
US08964663B2 Method and apparatus for signaling paging configurations and channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) configurations
A UE or eNnodeB receives a paging configuration or channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) configuration of a neighbor cell. The configuration enables calculating when the CSI-RS or muting of the neighbor cell will occur.
US08964659B2 Random access channel resource allocation
The present invention provides a method of configuring random access resources for random access transmission, the method comprising: determining a number n of preamble signatures that can be used for random access transmission; grouping the n preamble signatures into K groups j (j=1, 2K) wherein K corresponds to a number of downlink component carriers and K is greater than or equal to 2; assigning each group j to a respective downlink component carrier; assigning configuration data to each group j; and transmitting the group j configuration data on the corresponding downlink component carrier.
US08964658B2 Methods of contention-based transmission
A method for contention-based (CB) uplink transmission in a wireless communication network is provided. A base station (eNB) first transmits CB configuration information and CB grant to a user equipment (UE). The UE derives a plurality of transmission opportunities from the uplink CB grant and in response transmits uplink CB data via one of the transmission opportunities. The UE then receives an acknowledgment from the serving base station. If the uplink CB data is non-decodable by the eNB due to multiple contention UEs, then the UE retransmits the uplink data in response to a negative acknowledgment. In one novel aspect, the uplink transmission radio resource carriers both the uplink CB data and UE-selected signature information. In one embodiment, the UE-selected signature information is transmitted via pilot tones. By eliminating a separate phase of contention resolution, the overall latency of CB transmission is reduced and transmission efficiency is improved.
US08964654B2 Avoidance of feedback collision in mobile communications
The invention relates to feedback transmission for data packets in a mobile communication system. In particular the invention provides a communication system wherein feedback information of a retransmission protocol for transmitted data packets is transmitted. Further, the invention relates to a method for determining radio resources for the transmission of feedback information of a retransmission protocol for transmitted data packets as well as to a base station and a mobile station performing the method. In order to prevent potential collisions of feedback information while omitting a destination identifier for identifying the receiver of the feedback, the feedback resources for sending the feedback are determined at least based on a current transmission counter for a packet.
US08964649B2 Configurable random access channel structure for range extension in a wireless communication system
The present invention provides a method involving a configurable random access channel structure. One embodiment of the method includes generating a random access channel burst that includes a cyclic prefix and a selected number of repetitions of a preamble. The number of repetitions is selected based on at least one of a cell radius and a radio transmission frequency. This embodiment of the method also includes transmitting the random access channel burst over an air interface.
US08964648B2 Systems and methods for providing time and location dependent bandwidth in wireless networks
Systems and methods are described for allocating bandwidth in a wireless network. Entry of subscriber equipment into a wireless network is detected at a base station which typically provides information used to determine geographic location of the subscriber equipment. Based on the determined location, a level of service is selected from a plurality of service levels available to a subscriber and provided. Location can be determined based on information provided by the subscriber equipment, provided by a global positioning system and/or provided by a user of the subscriber equipment. Location of the subscriber equipment can be identified with an activity of a user of the subscriber equipment, including business and non-commercial activity. Selection of the level of service may be further based upon time of day, day of week or upon a date and time of provision of the level of service.
US08964645B2 Apparatus and method for uplink synchronizing in multiple component carrier system
A user equipment (UE) of re-organizing a timing advance group (TAG) is provided. The UE comprises: a receiving unit for receiving, from a serving base station, secondary serving cell (SCell) configuration information which includes a first field and a second field, the first field including an ScellIndex of an SCell to indicate a removal of the SCell, the second field including at least one of the ScellIndex to indicate an addition of the SCell and a TAG ID indicating a TAG of the SCell, and a radio resource control (RRC) processing unit for performing the addition of the SCell after performing the removal of the SCell from one or more SCells configured in the UE, and for reorganizing the TAG by including the SCell in the TAG.
US08964639B2 Uplink segmentation
A device (110) receives a radio link control (RLC) protocol data unit (PDU) (740) or service data unit (SDU) (760) to be segmented, defines a padding threshold (840) for a segmentation mechanism, and determines a padding ratio (850) after enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination (ETFC) selection (730). The device selects a first transport block (960) and a second transport block (970) associated with the RLC PDU/SDU (740/760) when the padding ratio (850) is greater than or equal to the padding threshold (840), and generates a modified segmentation of the RLC PDU/SDU (740/760) based on the first and second transport blocks (960/970) when a padding ratio (RTB) associated with the first and second transport blocks (960/970) is less than the padding threshold (840) and a size ratio (STB) associated with the first and second transport blocks (960/970) is within a size threshold (980).
US08964622B2 Cocktail party: side conversations and talking over in wireless mesh networks
The present disclosure proposes a method for minor modifications to the Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) channel access mechanism in order to enable a greater number of concurrent communications in a unit area in compliance with the current protocol design. The method comprises equipping nodes with wider neighborhood information than what is obtained with IEEE 802.11, and with a device calibration that equips the device with the knowledge of its performance in the presence of interference. The present disclosure medium access mechanism increases the aggregate throughput with every additional concurrent communication that is enabled in the shared medium. Cocktail Party-capable devices can fairly coexist with 802.11 legacy DCF devices, and co-operate with these devices in the same network without changes to those devices or to the standard. The same or similar mechanisms can be applied to other systems and standards in order to enable concurrent communications in the same contention area.
US08964615B2 Methods and devices for facilitating early header decoding in communications devices
Communications devices are adapted to receive a plurality of RF bursts of a radio block, where the plurality of RF bursts includes a number of RF bursts less than a total number of RF bursts for the radio block. A header can be decoded from the received plurality of RF burst. From the decoded header, a determination may be made whether the radio block is intended for the communications device or for another device. According to at least some examples, if the radio block is determined to be intended for another device, at least a portion of a receiver circuit of the communications device can be powered down. Also, according to at least some examples, if the radio block is determined to be intended for the receiving communications device, a data payload of the radio block may be decoded. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
US08964612B2 Communication apparatus belonging to a plurality of networks, method for controlling the same, to reduce poweron consumption
A communication apparatus includes a participation unit, a formation unit, a management unit, and a notification unit. The participation unit participates in a first network formed by a first base station. The formation unit forms a second network as a second base station. The management unit manages a power mode of another communication apparatus participating in the second network. Moreover, when the participation unit participates in the first network and the formation unit forms the second network, the notification unit notifies the first base station of a change of a power mode of the communication apparatus according to the power mode managed by the management unit.
US08964610B2 System and method of reducing factory program time for wireless devices
A system and method of booting a wireless device is disclosed and may include reading a factory test mode memory item when the wireless device is powered on, determining whether the factory test mode memory item is set to yes, and preventing an operating system of the wireless device from booting when the factory test mode memory item is set to yes. The system and method may further include remaining in a boot loader mode, enumerating a port as a diagnostic serial port, and receiving one or more diagnostic packets. Moreover, the system and method may include allowing the operating system of the wireless device to boot when the factory test mode memory item is set to no.
US08964603B2 Method of unified parameter mapping
A method of unified parameter mapping for a communication device comprising a medium access control (MAC) abstraction sub-layer for converging a plurality of media in a network system is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a unified parameter and value of the unified parameter from an upper layer of the MAC abstraction sub-layer, and a medium type of a MAC layer underlying the MAC abstraction sub-layer, determining a special parameter for configuration of the medium type of the MAC layer and a format of the special parameter according to the medium type of the MAC layer and the unified parameter, and generating value of the special parameter according to the value of the unified parameter and the format of the special parameter.
US08964602B2 Network communication apparatus, method and program
The present invention filters packets and reduces traffic when communication is performed with a device on a network utilizing the IPv6 protocol. To achieve this, a printer driver operating in a personal computer correlates and stores the name of the communicating party and an address for which communication actually succeeded from among addresses that have undergone name resolution, and uses the stored address in communicating with the same communicating party from then onward.
US08964601B2 Network switching domains with a virtualized control plane
A distributed switching fabric system includes multiple network switches coupled to a cell-based switching fabric by cell-fabric ports. A virtual machine runs on a server connected to a network port of one or more of the network switches that are members of a given switching domain. The virtual machine manages a control plane for the given switching domain. The server receives a protocol control packet from one of the network switches and forwards the received protocol control packet to the virtual machine for processing.
US08964597B2 Method for exchange of routing messages in a wireless meshed communication network
In a method for exchanging routing messages in a wireless meshed communication network with network nodes and a root node, a routing tree is set up with data transmission paths. The root node sends routing requests at regular time intervals to set up the paths, wherein a request contains a specification for a first bidirectional path mode or a second unidirectional path mode. At a respective node, a first field is used to indicate a first or a second node state. If, upon receipt of a request, the first field is in the first state, a routing response is always sent and otherwise not. Next, the node checks the mode specified in the request, ensuring that the respective mode is set. In case of a node to root data transmission, a node also ensures that the first field of the respective network node is in the first state.
US08964594B2 Network processor unit and a method for a network processor unit
A method of and a network processor unit for processing of packets in a network, the network processor comprising: communication interface configured to receive and transmit packets; at least one processing means for processing packets or parts thereof; an embedded switch configured to switch packets between the communication interface and the processing means; and wherein the embedded switch is configured to analyze a received packet and to determine whether the packet should be dropped or not; if the packet should not be dropped, the switch is configured to store the received packet, to send a first part of the packet to the processing means for processing thereof, to receive the processed first part of the packet from the processing means, and to transmit the processed first part of the packet.
US08964592B2 Wireless terminal device, wireless communication system and control method for wireless terminal device
A wireless terminal device includes: a processor connected to a memory, configured to: acquire an estimated reception sensitivity of the wireless terminal device based on reception powers from a plurality of other wireless terminal devices with which the wireless terminal device performs random access communication, notify the other wireless terminal devices of the estimated reception sensitivity of the wireless terminal device, and select a transmission destination from among the other wireless terminal devices based on requested reception powers of the other wireless terminal devices, the requested reception powers being calculated based on estimated reception sensitivities of the other wireless terminal devices notified from the other wireless terminal devices.
US08964590B2 Random access mechanism for a wireless device and base station
A wireless device receives at least one control message configuring a plurality of cell groups and a pathloss reference for each secondary cell in at least one secondary cell. The wireless device transmits uplink signals to a base station in a first secondary cell in a secondary cell group. Transmission power of the uplink signals is determined employing a received power of the pathloss reference assigned to the first secondary cell. Timing of the uplink signals in the secondary cell group employs a second synchronization signal on an active secondary cell in the secondary cell group as a secondary timing reference.
US08964587B2 Receiving apparatus and data obtaining method
A receiving apparatus for communication area evaluation includes a receiving unit configured to receive a first signal transmitted from a base station; a delay profile calculation unit configured to calculate a downlink delay profile based on the first signal; and an estimated value calculation unit configured to calculate an estimated cyclic prefix length based on the calculated downlink delay profile.
US08964582B2 Data integrity scoring and visualization for network and customer experience monitoring
Systems and methods for data integrity scoring and visualization for network and customer experience monitoring are described. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving a first set of vectors, each vector representing a network event generated by a network testing system, each vector including a plurality of dimensions and a first plurality of values, each value associated with a corresponding one of the dimensions. The method may also include identifying a second set of vectors representing at least a portion of the network events as observed by a network monitoring system, each vector in the second set of vectors including the plurality of dimensions and a second plurality of values. The method may further include calculating a presence score as a ratio between a number of vectors in the second and first sets of vectors, and/or an accuracy score as a measure of a discrepancy between corresponding values.
US08964581B2 Bandwidth variable communication method, bandwidth variable communication apparatus, transmission bandwidth determination apparatus, transmission bandwidth determination method, node apparatus, communication path setting system, communication path setting
A bandwidth variable communication method is provided that enables effective use of frequency bandwidths in which the bit rate is constant in every optical path. The bandwidth variable communication method includes, when a network management apparatus sets or changes an optical path that passes through plural communication apparatuses, measuring or obtaining an optical signal quality deterioration amount in a route of the optical path; selecting a modulation format in which a spectrum bandwidth is the narrowest from among modulation formats by which transmission is available on conditions of the optical signal quality deterioration amount and a desired bit rate B (bit/s); and exchanging control information between the network management apparatus and a control unit of each communication apparatus on the optical path route. A bandwidth variable communication apparatus receives the control information, and changes a passband based on the received control information.
US08964577B1 Method and system for indicating a number of page messages in a subsequent page message transmission period
A radio access network (RAN) schedules at least one page message for transmission during a page message transmission period of a synchronous capsule. The at least one page message includes a first number (zero or more) of first-priority page messages followed by a second number (zero or more) of second-priority page messages. The RAN transmits an indication of the first number prior to the page message transmission period. The indication of the first number may be reflected in a time offset between a beginning of the synchronous capsule and a beginning of a predefined time slot, or the indication of the first number may be included in an overhead message in the synchronous capsule. A wireless device that is configured to receive first-priority page messages determines whether to monitor the page message transmission period, and how many page messages to receive, based on the indication of the first number.
US08964573B2 Wireless network path setting apparatus and method
A wireless network path setting apparatus includes a receiving module configured to receive input of wireless network paths, an investigating module configured to investigate a communication environment and status of each of routes constituting the wireless network paths that have been input through the receiving module, and a registering module configured to register the wireless network paths that have been input through the receiving module as network paths to be used in a field wireless system if the communication environment and status of each route investigated by the investigating module is appropriate.
US08964560B2 Apparatus, method, computer program product and system for requesting acknowledgment of transmitted data packets
An apparatus, method, computer program product and system are provided for initiating a request for acknowledgment of successfully, or unsuccessfully, transmitted data packets, wherein the request is initiated in response to the detection of a potential overload situation or an upcoming resource limitation. In particular, a transmitter may monitor certain resources associated with the transmitter, such as memory consumption or processing capacity, and automatically request that a receiver transmit an acknowledgement when a potential overload of one or more of the resources is detected. This may occur, for example, when it is determined that memory consumption has exceeded a predefined threshold or that the processing capacity has been substantially exhausted, to name a few.
US08964556B2 Methods and apparatus for flow-controllable multi-staged queues
In one embodiment, a method includes sending a first flow control signal to a first stage of transmit queues when a receive queue is in a congestion state. The method also includes sending a second flow control signal to a second stage of transmit queues different from the first stage of transmit queues when the receive queue is in the congestion state.
US08964546B1 Indirect measurement of user traffic on links
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for measuring the traffic flow on a link. The system includes a processor that is configured to generate aggregate egress data for multiple origin endpoints by aggregating amounts of egress traffic detected by servers processing the egress traffic at the origin endpoints. The processor is also configured to obtain the proportions of traffic flows that traverse each path between each endpoint pair, which includes an origin endpoint and a destination endpoint. Each path includes multiple network links such that a single network link may be shared across multiple paths. Finally, the processor computes an amount of traffic flow on a shared link based on the aggregate egress data and the obtained proportions.
US08964540B2 Method and apparatus for dynamically allocating upstream bandwidth in passive optical networks
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates dynamic allocation of upstream bandwidth in a passive optical network which includes a central node and at least one remote node. Each remote node is coupled to at least one logical entity, which corresponds to a device or a user, that transmits upstream data to the central node and receives downstream data from the central node. The central node is coupled to an external network outside of the passive optical network through a shared out-going uplink.
US08964538B2 Method and apparatus for supporting differentiated performance for multiple categories of packets in a passive optical network
Embodiments of an apparatus including a user network interface configured to receive from a network a packet to be transmitted upstream over a PON are provided herein. The packet is marked with a first category type or a second category type. The apparatus further includes an upstream first in, first out (FIFO) queue configured to store the packet if the packet is marked with the first category type or the second category type.
US08964533B2 Method and system for providing mobile wireless call failover
An approach for call failover to a packetized voice session is described. Impending signal failure is detected on a cellular link supporting a cellular call with a user device. A failover procedure is initiated in response to the detection, wherein the failover procedure includes detecting presence of a wireless data connection, and terminating the cellular call and concurrently activating a voice call application to establish a packetized voice session over the wireless data connection with the user device.
US08964532B2 Wireless communication device including a standby radio
A wireless communication device includes more than one radio. A lossless switching module allows for selectively using one of the radios in a standby mode. The switching module allows for switching in the standby radio in the event that another radio fails without introducing any loss. In disclosed examples, switching module inputs coupled with inactive or failed radio output ports are coupled to an impedance corresponding to the associated radio. Disclosed examples are also useful for combining the outputs of more than one radio under selected circumstances.
US08964523B2 Scattered pilot pattern and channel estimation method for MIMO-OFDM systems
A method and apparatus are provided for reducing the number of pilot symbols within a MIMO-OFDM communication system, and for improving channel estimation within such a system. For each transmitting antenna in an OFDM transmitter, pilot symbols are encoded so as to be unique to the transmitting antenna. The encoded pilot symbols are then inserted into an OFDM frame to form a diamond lattice, the diamond lattices for the different transmitting antennae using the same frequencies but being offset from each other by a single symbol in the time domain. At the OFDM receiver, a channel response is estimated for a symbol central to each diamond of the diamond lattice using a two-dimensional interpolation. The estimated channel responses are smoothed in the frequency domain. The channel responses of remaining symbols are then estimated by interpolation in the frequency domain.
US08964512B2 Exterior element for a wristwatch
A wristwatch includes a bezel, a series connected photovoltaic cell, a rechargeable battery, and an electronic device. The bezel defines an internal volume, which houses the photovoltaic cell, the rechargeable battery, and the electronic device.
US08964511B2 Timepiece with a wireless function
A timepiece with a radio function assures both a good appearance and antenna performance. The GPS wristwatch 1 has a movement 110 for displaying the time, a conductive external case 101 that houses the movement 110, a crystal 130 that is disposed on the face side of the external case 101 and covers the surface of the movement 110, a C-shaped conductive antenna electrode 112, an annular dielectric substrate 111, an GPS antenna 11 disposed between the movement 110 and the crystal 130, and a conductive, round solar panel support substrate 120 disposed between the movement 110 and GPS antenna 11. The outside diameter of the solar panel support substrate 120 is smaller than the inside diameter of the external case 101 on the plane where the solar panel support substrate 120 is disposed.
US08964498B2 Systems and methods for reducing peak power consumption in a solid state drive controller
In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, systems and methods are provided for reducing an amount of peak power consumption in a device. In certain implementations, a first signal and a second signal are received, wherein the first signal and the second signal are indicative of amounts of power consumption in a device. The first signal is combined with the second signal to generate a combined signal, and at least a portion of the second signal is shifted in time to cause a combination of the first signal and the shifted portion to have a peak amplitude less than a peak amplitude of the combined signal.
US08964490B2 Write driver circuit with low voltage bootstrapping for write assist
Embodiments of a memory are disclosed that may allow for a negative boost of data lines during a write. The memory device may include a data input circuit, an address decode circuit and a plurality of sub-arrays. Each of the sub-arrays may include a plurality of columns, a write selection circuit, a first write driver circuit, a second write driver circuit, and a boost circuit. Each of the columns may include a plurality of data storage cells. The write selection circuit may select a column of the plurality of columns. Each of the write driver circuits may be configured to discharge a data line of a selected column into a common node. The boost circuit may be configured to initialize the common node to the first voltage level and couple the common node to a second voltage level, where the second voltage level is lower than the first voltage level.
US08964483B2 Semiconductor device and memory system
A semiconductor device is disclosed in which a plurality of memory cores are provided on a semiconductor chip. Each of the memory cores comprises: first and second circuit regions and a first and second through electrode groups. a first power supply is supplied in the first circuit region in which a data bus for parallel data is driven, and a second power supply separated from the first power supply is supplied in the second circuit region in which the parallel data and serial data are bidirectionally converted. The first through electrode group includes through electrodes supplying the first power supply to the first circuit region, and the second through electrode group includes through electrodes supplying the second power supply to the second circuit region.
US08964481B2 Nonvolatile memory device and sub-block managing method thereof
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory block, a row decoder, a voltage generator and control logic. The memory block includes memory cells stacked in a direction intersecting a substrate, the memory block being divided into sub-blocks configured to be erased independently. The row decoder is configured to select the memory block by a sub-block unit. The voltage generator is configured to generate an erase word line voltage to be provided to a first word line of a selected sub-block of the sub-blocks and a cut-off voltage, higher than the erase word line voltage, to be provided to a second word line of the selected sub-block during an erase operation. The control logic is configured to control the row decoder and the voltage generator to perform an erase operation on the selected sub-block.
US08964474B2 Architecture for 3-D NAND memory
Apparatuses are described that include stacked arrays of memory cell strings and their methods of operation. Apparatuses include architectures that reduce the use of several common components, allowing greater device density and smaller device size for a given semiconductor area.
US08964473B2 Select gate materials having different work functions in non-volatile memory
In a 3D stacked non-volatile memory device, multiple smaller drain-end selected gate (SGD) transistors replace one larger SGD transistor. The SGD transistors have different work functions in their control gates so that, during a programming operation, a discontinuous channel potential is created in an inhibited NAND string. The SGD transistor closest to the bit line has a higher work function so that the channel potential under it is lower, and the next SGD transistor has a lower work function so that the channel potential under it is higher. The different work functions can be provided by using different control gate materials for the SGD transistors. One option uses p+ polysilicon and n+ polysilicon to provide higher and lower work functions, respectively. Metal or metal silicide can also be used. A single SGD transistor with different control gate materials could also be used.
US08964472B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory array including memory blocks stacked in a plurality of layers on a substrate, first vertical lines suitable for coupling bit lines, and second vertical lines suitable for coupling word lines of the memory blocks vertically stacked, wherein the memory blocks include selection lines vertically stacked and separated from each other, and the bit lines are coupled to the memory blocks and arranged in a plurality of layers.
US08964467B1 Systems and methods for partial page programming of multi level cells
Multiple bits of data are programmed together to each cell of a segment of a word line while other segments of the same word line are unprogrammed. Subsequently, additional segments are similarly programmed. Data is read from a partially programmed word line (with a mix of programmed and unprogrammed segments) using a single reading scheme.
US08964461B2 Techniques for providing a direct injection semiconductor memory device
Techniques for providing a direct injection semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for biasing a direct injection semiconductor memory device including the steps of applying a first non-negative voltage potential to a first region via a bit line and applying a second non-negative voltage potential to a second region via a source line. The method may also include applying a third voltage potential to a word line, wherein the word line may be spaced apart from and capacitively to a body region that may be electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region. The method may further include applying a fourth positive voltage potential to a third region via a carrier injection line, wherein the third region may be disposed below at least one of the first region, the body region, and the second region.
US08964456B2 Semiconductor memory with similar RAM and ROM cells
A semiconductor memory includes an array of volatile memory cells, wherein one of the volatile memory cells has transistors connected in a first memory cell circuit, and at least one non-volatile memory cell having transistors connected in a second memory cell circuit, wherein the transistors in the first memory cell circuit are at least one more than the transistors in the second memory cell circuit.
US08964454B1 Three-dimensional static random access memory cell
Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a static random access memory (SRAM) cell in a multi-layer semiconductor device structure. The SRAM cell includes two pull-up transistors, two pull-down transistors, a plurality of operation-assistance transistors, and two pass-gate transistors. The first pull-up transistor and the second pull-up transistor are formed in a first device layer of the multi-layer semiconductor device structure. The first pull-down transistor and the second pull-down transistor are formed in a second device layer of the multi-layer semiconductor device structure. The plurality of operation-assistance transistors are formed in the first device layer and configured to provide local supply voltages to the first pull-up transistor and the second pull-up transistor respectively. The first pass-gate transistor and the second pass-gate transistor are formed in the second device layer and configured to provide access to the data bit.
US08964442B2 Integrated circuit 3D phase change memory array and manufacturing method
A 3D phase change memory device can store multiple bits per cell represented by a plurality of non-overlapping ranges of resistance all of which are established by different resistance ranges corresponding to respective amorphous phase thickness of the phase change memory material. An array of access devices can underlie a plurality of conductive layers, separated from each other and from the array of access devices by insulating layers. An array of pillars extending through the plurality of conductive layers contact corresponding access devices. The phase memory material is between the pillars and conductive layers. Circuitry is configured to program data in the memory cells using programming pulses having shapes that depend on the resistance range of the cell before programming and the data values to be stored.
US08964439B2 Semiconductor device having hierarchical bit line structure
A semiconductor device comprises first and second global bit lines, a sense amplifier amplifying a voltage difference of the first and second global bit lines, first and second local bit lines corresponding to the first and second global bit lines, and first and second hierarchical switches controlling electrical connections between the first and second global bit lines and the first and second local bit line. In a precharge operation prior to accessing a selected memory cell belong to the first local bit lines, a pair of the first and second hierarchical switches, which is not in an access path, is kept ON, and remaining ones thereof are kept OFF. Subsequently, in an access to the selected memory cell, a first hierarchical switch of the pair is switched from ON to OFF, and simultaneously a first hierarchical switches in the access path is switched from OFF to ON.
US08964430B2 Active snubber circuit and power supply circuit
An active snubber circuit for a switching power supply, in which a main switching element repeatedly operates an on-off operation so that current intermittently flows in a primary coil, has a capacitor for surge voltage absorption, a sub-switching element and a sub-control circuit controlling the sub-switching element. A circuit in which the capacitor for surge voltage absorption and the sub-switching element are connected in series is connected in parallel with the primary coil, and the sub-control circuit turns on the sub-switching element for a predetermined time period just after the main switching element is off.
US08964413B2 Two stage resonant converter enabling soft-switching in an isolated stage
A resonant converter comprising: a controllable current source; a resonant tank circuit coupled to the current source; and an isolated buck-type converter coupled to the resonant tank circuit, the isolated buck-type converter having an output, wherein the resonant tank circuit enables switches in the isolated buck-type converter to switch under soft-switching conditions. In some embodiments, the controllable current source is a switch-mode-type current source. In some embodiments, the isolated buck-type converter comprises a half-bridge converter. In some embodiments, the isolated buck-type converter comprises a full-bridge converter. In some embodiments, the isolated buck-type converter comprises a push-pull converter.
US08964408B2 Electromagnetic interference absorber, display device and electronic device having the same
An electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorber includes an EMI conductive sheet having first and second portions, the first portion absorbing EMI from an EMI absorption target and the second portion for conducting EMI to an EMI discharge target, and an elastic member covered by the first portion.
US08964407B2 Substrate with built-in electronic component
A substrate with built-in electronic component includes: a core layer that includes a core material and a cavity formed in the core material and containing an insulating material; an insulating layer that includes a ground wiring and a signal wiring and is formed on the core layer; and a plurality of electronic components that each include a first terminal and a second terminal and are stored in the cavity, the plurality of electronic components each having one end portion and the other end portion, the first terminal being formed at the one end portion and connected to the ground wiring, the second terminal being formed at the other end portion and connected to the signal wiring, the plurality of electronic components having at least one of arrangements in which the first terminals face each other and in which the second terminals face each other.
US08964397B2 Electronic media production system and system for use therewith
A system comprising modules. Each module includes: a presentation system including one or more of a speaker and a video screen; and a port. In use, if the presentation system includes the speaker, the system produces sounds derived from data obtained via the port. If the presentation system includes the screen, the system displays images derived from data obtained via the port. The module can also include connectors and the system can also include actuators. Each actuator, in use, can be coupled without soldering to a connector, and the presentation system of each module can operate in response to the actuator or actuators coupled to said each module. The system can also include data storage devices, each adapted to be releasably coupled to a respective port, and the port can be selected from: microchip socket and USB port. The system can be used as part of a method.
US08964385B2 Air flow system
An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes a faceplate having a plurality of slots arranged on a front portion of the faceplate, a top plate attached to a top portion of the faceplate, and a screen attached to the faceplate and the top plate. A channel may be disposed behind the faceplate and between a bottom surface of the top portion of the faceplate, a bottom surface of the top plate and a top surface of the screen. The screen may include a plurality of openings. In a specific embodiment, the apparatus may be removably attached to a removable line card of a switch. In a specific embodiment, air may be guided through the slots, by a fan operating behind the apparatus, along the channel and through the plurality of openings to one or more heat generating components on the line card.
US08964380B2 Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal has a connector which moves relative to a cover and case. The connector moves through a hole in the case to become electrically coupled to a circuit when the cover is coupled over the case. When the cover is removed, the connector moves to a second position relative to the hole and circuit. The circuit may be an antenna circuit coupled to the cover or another circuit at a different location. An area of the connector is greater than an area of the hole to prevent any components under the connector from being visible when viewed through the hole.
US08964377B2 Electronic device having slide-tilt operation
An electronic device includes a first body and a second body that may be disposed in a first position in which the second body overlaps the first body, a second position in which the second body is slid from the first body, and a third position in which the second body is tilted with respect to the first body, and includes an exposure prevention member that prevents a flexible connection member that electrically connects the first and second bodies from being externally exposed when the first and second bodies are disposed in the third position.
US08964375B2 Techniques for data center cooling
Techniques for cooling in a data center are provided. In one aspect, a computer equipment rack is provided comprising one or more air inlets; one or more exhaust outlets; and one or more of: an air inlet duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the air inlets, the air inlet duct having a lateral dimension that approximates a lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than a length of the computer equipment rack, and an air exhaust duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the exhaust outlets, the air exhaust duct having a lateral dimension that approximates the lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than the length of the computer equipment rack.
US08964372B2 Docking station
A docking station for a portable electronic device that includes a first port and one or both of a second port and a jack. The docking station has a first electrical connector that fits into the first port when the portable electronic device is coupled to the docking station and a second electrical connector that is adapted to be electrically coupled to the second port or the jack when the portable electronic device is coupled to the docking station.
US08964369B2 Solid-state mass data storage device
In an example, a solid-state data storage system comprises a housing forming an enclosure; a plurality of trays within the enclosure of the housing; a plurality of non-volatile, rewriteable solid-state memory chips mounted to flexible circuit substrates within each of the trays; and a controller configured to apply a power-sequencing scheme that supplies power to active flexible memory strands.
US08964364B2 Carrying case for controlling a mobile device
A carrying case for controlling a mobile device is provided, the carrying case comprising: a body enabled to mate with a mobile device to physically protect the mobile device; at least one input device, the body comprising the input device; a processor enabled to control communications with the mobile device; a power interface enabled to receive power from the mobile device to power the processor; and, a data interface enabled for relaying the communications between one or more of the at least one input device and the processor, and the mobile device, for controlling applications at the mobile device.
US08964359B2 Medical care units for power supply and/or data transmission
A medical care unit provides power supply or data transmission in medical apparatuses. In particular, current consumers and data transmission apparatuses are slidable along a coupling device of the medical care unit. The medical care unit includes an oblong support that includes the coupling device, which extend along the support and include at least two electrically insulated bus bars continuously extending in the coupling device. At least two bus bars are formed as power supply bus bars, at least one bus bar is formed as a data transmission bus bar, the coupling device as a hollow bar is formed with an opening along its longitudinal direction, and the power supply bus bars and the data transmission bus bars are arranged inside the hollow bar.
US08964353B2 Multilayer ceramic electronic component
Multilayer ceramic electronic component includes: a ceramic body including dielectric layers and having first and second main surfaces, first and second side surfaces, and first and second end surfaces; a first internal electrode including a capacitance forming portion having an overlap region for forming capacitance and a first lead-out portion extended from the capacitance forming portion to be exposed to the first side surface; a second internal electrode alternately stacked with the first internal electrode, having the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, insulated from the first internal electrode, and having a second lead-out portion extended from the capacitance forming portion to be exposed to the first side surface; first and second external electrodes connected to the first and second lead-out portions, respectively; an insulation layer.
US08964351B2 Robotic arm
A robotic arm includes: an arm having one or more joints; an arm securing unit provided at at least one of the one or more joints and configured to secure, by electrostatic adhesion, a positional relationship between two parts coupled by each of the at least one of the one or more joints; and a control unit configured to turn on and off the electrostatic adhesion of the arm securing unit.
US08964343B2 Semiconductor device and switching regulator using the device
The semiconductor device according to the present invention has an n-channel output transistor wherein an input voltage is impressed on a drain, and a pulsed switching voltage that corresponds to a switching drive of the transistor is brought out from a source; a bootstrap circuit for generating a boost voltage enhanced by a predetermined electric potential above the switching voltage; an internal circuit for receiving a supply of the boost voltage to generate a switching drive signal, and supplying the signal to a gate of the output transistor; an overvoltage protection circuit for monitoring an electric potential difference between the switching voltage and the boost voltage, and generating an overvoltage detection signal; and a switching element for establishing/blocking electrical conduction between the internal circuit and the end impressed with the boost voltage, in accordance with the overvoltage detection signal.
US08964335B2 Head suspension with piezoelectric element support having electrically insulative adhesive layer
A head suspension 31 has a piezoelectric element 13 that deforms in response to a voltage applied thereto, a base plate 33 having an attaching part to which the piezoelectric element 13 is attached, and a load beam 35 having a flexure 39. A front end of the load beam 35 moves in a sway direction according to the deformation of the piezoelectric element 13. The head suspension 31 includes adhesives that attach the piezoelectric element 13 to the attaching part. The adhesives are applied to and hardened at the attaching part one by one. At least one of the adhesives that is first applied to and hardened at the attaching part is electrically insulative. The head suspension 31 properly maintains electric insulation between the piezoelectric element 13 and the attaching part, sufficiently demonstrates original functions, and secures a rigidity balance and proper vibration characteristic.
US08964332B1 Microwave-assisted magnetic recording head with asymmetric side gap for shingled magnetic recording
Approaches to improving the signal-to-noise ratio in a microwave-assisted magnetic recording hard disk drive over the entire region from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the disk, especially in the context of shingled magnetic recording, include a narrower side gap on the side opposing a spin torque oscillator offset direction than the side gap in the offset direction, thereby increasing the gradient of the recording magnetic field in the cross-track direction and reducing the track edge noise of the recording pattern. Embodiments include use of a side shield on the side opposing the offset direction that has a higher saturation magnetization than the side shield on the side in the offset direction, thereby further increasing the gradient of the recording magnetic field in the cross-track direction.
US08964329B2 Spindle motor with a lead wire guide member for use in disk drive apparatus
A lead wire guide member is made of an electrically insulating material, and arranged to extend along a lower surface of a base portion. A movement restricting portion is arranged in the lower surface of the base portion. Lead wires are arranged to pass through base through holes to reach the lower surface, and extend along the lower surface to be connected to the circuit board. A spindle motor further includes a sealant arranged between an entire circumferential extent of each base through hole and an entire circumferential extent of the corresponding lead wire. The lead wire guide member includes an inner edge and an outer edge. The inner edge is arranged opposite to the lead wires. The outer edge is arranged to at least face radially outward. The movement restricting portion is in contact with the outer edge of the lead wire guide member.
US08964326B1 Disk storage apparatus and method for regulating head flying height before seek operation
According to one embodiment, a first slider of a disk storage apparatus includes a first head and flies over a first recording surface of a first disk. A heater element in the first head projects the first head toward the first recording surface of the first disk depending on heater power. A controller of the apparatus reduces a value for the heater power from a first value to a second value before performing a seek operation of moving the first head such that the first head moves across a concentric circular area including a protrusion on the first recording surface. The controller measures a wait time needed for a flying height of the first head to increase to a first flying height in response to the reduction and starts the seek operation after the wait time elapses.
US08964323B1 System and method for detecting and correcting shift in a DC level of an input signal
A system including a first filter module configured to receive an input signal including (i) a first shift in a DC level of the input signal and (ii) a second shift in the DC level of the input signal. The first shift has (i) a first magnitude and (ii) a first duration. The second shift has (i) a second magnitude and (ii) a second duration. The second magnitude is different than the first magnitude. The second duration is greater than the first duration. The first filter module is configured to pass the first shift. The second filter module is configured to detect one or more of (i) the first shift and (ii) the second shift, and in response to detecting one or more of (i) the first shift and (ii) the second shift, filter one or more of (i) the first shift and (ii) the second shift.
US08964322B2 Size adjustable inter-track interference cancellation
Technologies are described herein for cancelling inter-track interference in a storage device utilizing size-adjustable segments. Data is read from one or more sectors on a data track adjacent to a target sector on a target track of a recording medium of the storage device. The target sector is divided into a plurality of segments and data is decoded from the read signal read from each of the segments individually using corresponding data from the one or more sectors of the adjacent track and independent inter-track interference factor values.
US08964320B1 Disk drive defect scanning by writing consecutive data tracks and skipping tracks when reading the data tracks
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks. A plurality of consecutive data tracks are written, and after writing to the plurality of consecutive data tracks, a first number of the consecutive data tracks are read and a second number of the consecutive data tracks are skipped, wherein the second number of data tracks are interleaved with the first number of data tracks. Defects in the data tracks are detected in response to reading the first number of data tracks.
US08964310B2 Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens includes a negative first lens, a negative second lens, a third lens of a plano-convex shape having a convex surface directed toward an object side or of a positive meniscus shape having a convex surface directed toward the object side, and a fourth lens of a plano-convex shape having a convex surface directed toward an image side or of a positive meniscus shape having a convex surface directed toward the image side, which are arranged in this order from the object side. Further, the following conditional formula (4) is satisfied: 1.0
US08964295B2 Refractive steganography lens and method for determining milling plan for same
Techniques are described for designing and manufacturing a refractive surface that produces a desired image when placed over a target image. The refractive lens surface may include a set of lens patches, each of which indexes a region on the source image to refract light from the indexed region to recreate a patch of the target image. And together, the lenses reproduce the target image. In one embodiment, the refractive geometry of the lens surface (i.e., the shape of each lens) is determined by formulating and efficiently determining a solution to an inverse light transport problem. The solution may account for additional constraints imposed by the physical manufacturing procedure. Doing so results in a design for a refractive surface amenable to milling (or other manufacturing process).
US08964291B2 Mechanically stabilized optical mounting assembly
An ocular mounting assembly with mechanical stabilization includes a housing with a through-bore having an interior and opposing open ends, the interior of the through-bore being defined in part by an upper wall having a lower surface interior to the through-bore, and a lower wall having an upper surface interior to the through-bore. A pair of support arms are provided, each arm being slidingly received by a respective one of the open ends of the through-bore of the housing. A pair of stabilizing bodies are also provided, each body being positioned between a respecting one of the support arms and the interior of the housing. In contrast to existing designs, both stabilizing bodies are either positioned between a support arm and the lower surface of the upper wall of the housing, or between a support arm and the upper surface of the lower wall of the housing.
US08964288B2 Systems for chromatic aberration correction in total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy
Correction elements that can be incorporated in objective-based TIRF microscopy instruments to correct for chromatic aberrations are described. A correction element can be placed between a multiple wavelength excitation beam source and the microscope objective lens. In one aspect, the thickness of the correction element is defined to compensate for different axial positions of the focal points associated with each excitation wavelengths traveling along the outer edge of lenses comprising a microscope objective lens. In another aspect, the correction element can be angled and/or configured so that the different wavelengths of multiple wavelength excitation light are shifted to adjust the angle of incidence for each wavelength at the specimen/substrate interface.
US08964285B2 Microscope optical system
Observation over a superwide field of view is possible with a short, lightweight, and inexpensive eyepiece optical system and a binocular barrel. A microscope optical system includes an objective optical system configured to collect light from a specimen; an imaging optical system configured to image the light coming from the specimen and collected by the objective optical system; and an eyepiece optical system configured to magnify the image of the specimen formed by the imaging optical system and form a virtual image in an eye of an observer, wherein the following conditional expressions are satisfied, M=Fntl/Fob×250/Fne  (1) Fntl=Ftl×Kt  (2) Fne=Fe×Kt  (3) 0.4
US08964280B2 Method of manufacturing MEMS devices providing air gap control
Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a depth of a cavity between two layers of a light modulating device. A method of making a light modulating device includes providing a substrate, forming a sacrificial layer over at least a portion of the substrate, forming a reflective layer over at least a portion of the sacrificial layer, and forming one or more flexure controllers over the substrate, the flexure controllers configured so as to operably support the reflective layer and to form cavities, upon removal of the sacrificial layer, of a depth measurably different than the thickness of the sacrificial layer, wherein the depth is measured perpendicular to the substrate.
US08964269B2 Image reader
An image reader includes a discharge cover disposed on a side of the image reader, the discharge cover forming part of a side surface when closed and forming a discharge port when opened. Undesired illumination from light entering the image reader through the discharge port is suppressed from impinging on a contact image sensor.
US08964267B2 Image reader detecting leading or trailing end document sheet in response to change in light receiving state
An image reader is provided, which includes a light guide unit forming an optical path to guide light emitted by a first light emitting portion of a first reading unit to a second light receiving portion of a second reading unit, which optical path passes across a feeding path in a detection position such that a document sheet passing through the detection position on the feeding path blocks the light on the optical path, and a controller determining that a leading end or a trailing end of the document sheet passes through the detection position in response to detecting a change in a light receiving state of the second light receiving portion when the document sheet passes through the detection position with the first light emitting portion emitting light and a second light emitting portion of the second reading unit not emitting light.
US08964265B2 Illumination apparatus, image sensor unit, image reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus
An illumination apparatus includes: a light guide that is formed in a rod shape and includes a positioning portion that is formed at one end in a longitudinal direction, and light incident surfaces that are formed at two end faces in the longitudinal direction; and light sources that are arranged in the vicinity of the light incident surfaces, respectively, and that emit light that is incident on the incident surfaces. The light guide is formed by injection molding. A gate portion for supplying a resin material during injection molding opens at a position that corresponds to a tip face of the positioning portion.
US08964262B2 Image sensor unit, and image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus using the same
An image sensor unit includes: a light guide reflecting light rays entering through a first light entering surface and a second light entering surface provided at both ends thereof, by a reflection surface to make the light rays exit through a light exiting surface and illuminates an original; a first light source provided near the first light entering surface; a second light source provided near the second light entering surface and different in wavelength from the first light source; and a first reflection part and a second reflection part provided on the reflection surface and composed of dot patterns constituted of two kinds of dots different in spectral reflectance.
US08964261B2 Document reading device and image forming apparatus
A document reading device includes a reading table, an openable member, a detection member, an open and close movement member, a reading member, a reading movement member, and a controller. The reading table, which allows a document to be placed thereon, is covered or uncovered by closing or opening the openable member. The open and close movement member is moved as the openable member is opened or closed. The open and close movement member positioned at the detection position is detected by the detection member. The reading member reads the document on the reading table while being moved by a drive force controlled by the controller. The reading movement member is moved as the reading member is moved. The reading movement member positioned at the detection position is detected by the detection member.
US08964258B2 Scanners and scanner housings
Scanners and scanner housings are disclosed. An example scanner includes a housing to carry an optical element, the housing having a first support feature, and a printed circuit board having a second support feature to mate with the first support feature of the housing, the printed circuit board to provide vertical support to the housing when the first and second support features are mated.
US08964252B2 Display input device and image forming apparatus having touch panel
A display input device includes a display portion and a touch panel portion. The display portion displays a screen and an image and displays an object which is an image to be cut or copied. The touch panel portion is provided for the display portion, accepts an input from a user, detects a plurality of positions that are touched, and accepts a first operation of narrowing the interval between two points touched at the same time. In addition, the touch panel portion accepts an input of designating, as a designated object, the object displayed at one or both of the positions of the two touched points, and accepts the first operation as an input of giving an instruction to cut or copy the designated object.
US08964242B2 Print controller generating print data causing print executing unit to perform printing operation
A print controller controls a print executing unit having a print head in which L nozzles are arranged in a first direction. A pitch of first nozzles in the first direction is set to a first predetermined nozzle pitch. The print controller generates print data based on image data. The print data causes the print executing unit to execute N pass printing. A pitch of lines formed through N pass printing is one N-th of the first predetermined nozzle pitch. At least one of the L number of first nozzles is unused for forming dots on the printing medium in each pass printing. Combinations of the first nozzles used in the N number of pass processes are different from one another. A movement distance of the print head when the first moving process is executed once is different from that when the second moving process is executed once.
US08964237B2 Imaging device including wear leveling for non-volatile memory and secure erase of data
Methods and apparatus teach wear leveling non-volatile memory and secure erasure of data. A computing device receives data to be stored. The data is encrypted, including generation of encryption/decryption key(s). The key(s) are stored in either non-volatile or volatile memory according to a plurality of classification schemes. In a first scheme, key(s) are stored in non-volatile memory and will be retained in the event of a power cycle of the computing device. Otherwise, key(s) stored in volatile memory will be lost upon a power cycle. Upon issuance of a key destruction command, key(s) in the non-volatile memory are sanitized or erased, but the underlying encrypted data need not be erased since no key(s) exist that can recover original content. These techniques limit erasure commands to the non-volatile memory which prolongs its service life. Further embodiments note techniques in imaging devices conducting imaging operations, such as printing or scanning.
US08964231B2 Device capable of extracting two-dimensional code, and method and program thereof
The present invention relates to a device having a first determining unit configured to determine whether version information included in a two-dimensional code included in an input image is version information that is supported by the device and a second determining unit configured to determine to prohibit printing of the input image when the included version information is determined to be version information that is not supported by the device or to determine whether to permit or prohibit printing of the input image based on information other than the version information included in the two-dimensional code when the included version information is determined to be version information that is supported by the device. With this arrangement, it is possible to execute processing in accordance with version information included in a two-dimensional code.
US08964227B2 Print server, print data transmission method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with print data transmission program
A print server includes a temporary storage portion to temporarily store externally received print data, an extraction portion to extract a set of one or more print data serving as a transmission target from the temporarily stored print data, a print data transmission portion to successively transmit one or more print data included in the extracted set without transmitting two or more simultaneously to a requestor apparatus that has transmitted a request, and a hold portion. If a plurality of sets are extracted by the extraction portion while print data is being transmitted, and if there exist one or more not-yet-transmitted data among one or more print data included in the same set as the print data being transmitted, the hold portion holds transmission of not-yet-transmitted data after transmission of the print data being transmitted is completed.
US08964218B2 Printing system and printer
A printing server includes a registration request reception unit, a registration unit which allocates connection information for connection with the transmission origin of the registration request and an electronic mail address for receiving a printing request to the transmission origin of the registration request, a registration information transmission unit which transmits the registration information which has been allocated, a connection unit which receives the connection information and starts connection, a printing data generation unit which generates printing data, a printing waiting information transmission unit which transmits printing waiting information to the transmission origin of the XMPP connection request using XMPP when the printing data is generated, and a printing data transmission unit which receives an acquisition request for the printing data and transmits the printing data to the transmission origin of the acquisition request for the printing data according to the acquisition request for the printing data.
US08964216B2 Predicting the times of future events in a multi-threaded RIP
Disclosed is a method (2500) of determining, for a rendering job (2402) comprising one or more page building jobs, a start time for a print engine (195) to print the rendering job (2402), the method including determining (2502) for the rendering job a current start time for printing based on at least a predicted finishing time of a page building job, determining (2503) a difference between the predicted finishing time and an actual finishing time of the page building job, determining (2504) if, based on the difference, a predetermined condition is satisfied, and if the predetermined criterion is satisfied, determining (2505) an updated start time for printing the rendering job based on information relating to the actual finishing time of the page building job, and starting (2509) the print engine to print the rendering job at the updated start time.
US08964215B2 Device control program, device control method, and printer control device
A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing a device control program including instructions for controlling a device based on setting values assigned to each setting item received from an application program, the instructions including the steps of: retrieving at least one setting value batch including data that specifies values for each setting item, wherein each setting item corresponds to an operation of the device; generating a list of values for at least one of the setting items, the list of values including at least one setting value and the at least one setting value batch; receiving a request for the list of values from the application program; upon receipt of the request, providing the list of values to the application program; and receiving a selection of one of the at least one setting value batch from the application program.
US08964214B2 Image processing apparatus and distributed printing system
An image processing apparatus is connected to an external device and includes a first receiving unit that receives information indicating a first volume of unprinted print data out of print data capable of being subject to distributed printing from the external device; a deciding unit that decides a second volume of the unprinted print data to undertake in the image processing apparatus for distributed printing on the basis of a predetermined condition upon reception of the information indicating the first volume of the unprinted print data; a first transmitting unit that transmits information indicating the second volume to the external device; and a second receiving unit that receives a piece of the unprinted print data corresponding to the second volume from the external device.
US08964210B2 Image forming apparatus which uses both of HDDs and an SDD, and which saves the power consumption
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, including: a first storing device; a second storing device in which consumed power is low as compared with the first storing device; and a control unit configured to start up the image forming apparatus by a program stored in the second storing device, and to execute the job by using one of the storing devices as a storing area for the image data, wherein the control unit controls the image forming apparatus in a first operation mode in which the image forming apparatus is started up without supplying electric power to the first storing device, and in which when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the job is executed by using the second storing device and when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the job is executed by supplying the electric power to the first storing device and using the first storing device.
US08964208B2 Image forming apparatus, user restriction method and use history generation method
An image forming apparatus is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes a user database in which user identification information for identifying an user of the image forming apparatus is registered, an operation panel for receiving a key operation input, a secure program used for determining whether a user service can be provided on the basis of the user identification information in the user database and another user identification information input by the user.
US08964201B2 Assistive technology for the visually impaired
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for generating accessible documents. In one embodiment, an initial document in a print format is obtained. The print format of the initial document is identified as one of a plurality of print formats. A parser corresponding to the one of the plurality of print formats is applied such that the initial document is parsed according to the print format of the initial document. An intermediate document that conforms to an intermediate format is generated based upon results obtained from applying the parser. A template for converting the intermediate document into an accessible document is obtained. The template is then such that an accessible document corresponding to the initial document is generated, wherein the accessible document includes a plurality of tags that designate an order of a plurality of regions of the accessible document.
US08964195B2 Recording device for detecting the length of a recording medium, a control device, a control method for a recording device and a recording medium
A multifunction device has a recording controller that buffers image data for an image to be recorded on a medium to an image buffer, and starts recording the image from a specific start recording position on the medium based on the buffered image data; a media length detector that detects the length of the medium being conveyed; an image length calculator that calculates the length of the image; and a start recording position controller that sets the start recording position for recording the image to the medium based on the length of the medium detected by the media length detector, and the length of the image to be recorded on the medium calculated by the image length calculator.
US08964192B2 Print verification database mechanism
A method is disclosed. The method includes reading image data from a print medium and performing image processing on the image data by querying a database to verify that each object to be included on the print medium appears on the medium in a manner in which it is supposed to appear.
US08964183B2 Systems and methods for screening of biological samples
A screening module configured to screen at least a portion of a biological sample disposed on an analysis surface is provided. The screening module comprises a laser source a scanning unit comprising one or more scanning devices, wherein the scanning devices are configured to rotate in an oscillatory scanning motion about an axis of rotation to scan the analysis surface in at least one direction, wherein the scanning unit is physically coupled to the laser source, and a detection unit comprising one or more detection devices.
US08964167B2 Cylindrical magnetic levitation stage and lithography
The present invention provides a cylindrical magnetic levitation stage and an exposure apparatus, which can form a nanoscale pattern of a large area directly on the surface of a large cylinder. The present invention provides an exposure apparatus including a new type of cylindrical magnetic levitation stage, which can levitate, rotate, and move a cylinder in the axial direction by the principle of magnetic levitation in a non-contact manner and form a nanoscale pattern on the surface of the cylinder, and a light source for irradiating light on the surface of the cylinder, thereby reducing the position error of the cylindrical magnetic levitation stage to a nanoscale size and correcting the error caused by mechanical processing in real time. Moreover, the present invention provides an exposure apparatus, which includes a differential vacuum means combined with the cylindrical magnetic levitation stage to create a partial vacuum environment between the light source and the surface of the cylinder, and thus it is possible to employ light sources such as X-rays, electron beams, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) rays, etc.
US08964166B2 Stage device, exposure apparatus and method of producing device
A stage device is provided with a mobile body retaining a mask illuminated with exposure light and moving along a predetermined plane, and a flow control section moving substantially together with the movement of the mobile body so as to control the flow of gas in proximity to the mask thereby.
US08964158B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal (LC) display device includes a first substrate having a pixel unit and a second substrate. The pixel unit has a pixel electrode unit including a primary electrode region. A LC layer with chiral dopants is disposed between the first and second substrates. The pixel unit has a first boundary along a horizontal direction of an upper portion of the pixel unit. The first boundary has a first central point. The primary electrode region has a first side along the horizontal direction of an upper portion of the primary electrode region. The first side has a second central point left to the first central point. The primary electrode region has a second side located on the left to the second central point, and a first angle between the first and second sides is larger than 90 degrees or equal to 90 degrees.
US08964152B2 Active matrix substrate, display panel, display device, and television reception device
The array substrate 20 of the present invention includes pixel electrodes 25 formed in an area demarcated by a plurality of gate wiring lines 26 and source wiring lines 27 that intersect each other, and capacitance wiring lines 126 that are arranged in parallel with the gate wiring lines 26 and that form a capacitance with the pixel electrodes 25. The capacitance wiring lines 126 are arranged overlapping outer edges of the adjacent pixel electrodes 25, and formed on the capacitance wiring line 126 are: a first insulating film that covers the capacitance wiring line 126; a second insulating film 29 that is an insulating film formed on the first insulating film, and that has a protruding band part 129 with a line width narrower than the capacitance wiring line 126 and arranged along the capacitance wiring line 126. The pixel electrodes 25 are above the second insulating film 29 and are formed so the outer edges 125 of the adjacent pixel electrodes 25 and 25 ride up on the protruding band part 129.
US08964136B2 Active shutter glasses comprising a half-wave plate disposed at an outer side of a linear polarizing element and a stereoscopic image projection system
The present invention provides active shutter glasses including shutters in which orientations of their components are freely determined, and provides a stereoscopic image projection system. The present invention provides active shutter glasses for a stereoscopic image projection system, the active shutter glasses comprising: a right-eye shutter; and a left-eye shutter, wherein the right-eye shutter and the left-eye shutter each include a liquid crystal layer and a linear polarizing element, at least one of the right-eye shutter and the left-eye shutter includes a layer adopted to change a vibration direction of polarized light, the linear polarizing element is provided at the outer side of the liquid crystal layer, and the layer adapted to change a vibration direction of polarized light is provided at the outer side of the linear polarizing element.
US08964131B2 Illumination device, display device and television receiving device
A display device (10) according to the present invention includes: a liquid crystal panel (11) having a display area (S1) and a frame shaped non-display area (S2) surrounding the periphery of the display area (S1); a transmissive frame section (61) that is provided on the edge part on the side of the rear surface (11b) of the liquid crystal panel (11), and that is formed into frame shape through which light can pass; and light sources (17) that are disposed inside the transmissive frame section (61), and that radiate light onto the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel (11). As a result, even if the width of the non-display area (S2) is set to be narrow, display anomalies can be prevented from occurring in the periphery of the display area (S1).
US08964130B2 Electric apparatus and an operation method thereof
The present invention discloses an electric apparatus and operation method thereof. The electric apparatus includes: display unit to display the output content from said electric apparatus; operation unit used to operate said electric apparatus; the apparatus further includes: the primary indication unit, when the primary indication unit is started up, the operation unit is in visible status and otherwise the operation unit is in invisible status. The design of the present invention improves the front visual effect and the interactive performance of the electrical apparatus.
US08964125B2 Image display apparatus and method of controlling image display apparatus
An image display apparatus includes: an HDBaseT receiver circuit that receives signals based on N (N is an integer number satisfying N≧2) standards that can be transmitted as HDBaseT signals; a dedicated receiver circuit that is compliant with only a first standard of the N standards and receives signals of the first standard; a signal processing unit that processes the signals received by the HDBaseT receiver circuit or the dedicated receiver circuit; and a circuit switching unit that switches an output target circuit that outputs the signals of the first standard to the signal processing unit to one of the HDBaseT receiver circuit and the dedicated receiver circuit.
US08964124B2 Video display device that stretches a video signal and a signal of the light source and television receiving device
A video display device increases a feeling of brightness and expresses a video with high contrast by detecting a part of a video signal that emits light, enhancing the display luminance of the light-emitting part, and displaying the part. A light emission detection portion (1) uses a prescribed feature quantity related to the brightness of an input video signal, predetermines the light emission quantity for the video signal on the basis of the relationship with the feature quantity, and detects the light emission quantity for each input video signal frame from the feature quantity. A backlight luminance stretch portion (3) stretches the light source luminance of the backlight according to the light emission quantity detected. A video signal luminance stretch portion (6) stretches the video signal according to the light emission quantity or the luminance distribution of the input video signal.
US08964120B2 Television system and method for managing applications therein
A storage medium disposed in a television is provided. A code of a television software system is stored in the storage medium. The television software system includes a first application, a second application and an application management module. The first application has a first function library. The second application has a second function library different from the first function library. The application management module manages the first application and the second application according to the first function library and the second function library, respectively.
US08964119B2 Methods and apparatuses for transmitting and for receiving multimedia contents
Methods and apparatuses are provided for transmitting and receiving multimedia contents that include at least two components (C1, C2). The reception method entails the reception of a first component (C1) from a first transmission medium (DVB) and the reception of a second component (C2) from a second transmission medium (IP), as well as the steps of: detecting (A4) a first “watermark” sequence from the first component (C1), detecting (A4) a second “watermark” sequence from the second component (C2), synchronizing (A5) the first and second components (C1, C2) on the basis of the first and second “watermark” sequences, and combining (A6) the synchronized first and second components (C1, C2) to form the multimedia content (MM); of course, the reception method provides the desired results if both components have been suitably and repeatedly marked prior to transmission.
US08964116B2 Spatial and temporal de-interlacing with error criterion
A de-interlacing device and method are provided that may be used in a memory based video processor. The de-interlacer mixes the output of a temporal de-interlacer and a spatial de-interlacer. Two separate error values are used; one for the temporal de-interlacer and another for the spatial de-interlacer. The de-interlacing device calculates from the two error values, using a non-linear mapping, a mix factor used to mix between the outputs of the spatial and temporal de-interlacers.
US08964111B2 Illumination apparatus and image pickup apparatus
The illumination apparatus includes a reflector unit to reflect a light flux from a light source. The reflector unit includes a first reflector and a second reflector whose relative positions are changeable to change an illumination angle. At a first illumination angle, the second reflector is disposed inside the first reflector, and the light flux from the light source is reflected by the second reflector to exit from the reflector unit. At a second illumination angle smaller than the first illumination angle, the first reflector is disposed further on a light exit side than the second reflector, and the light flux from the light source is reflected by at least one of the first and second reflectors to exit from the reflector unit. A distance between the light source and the second reflector at the second illumination angle is shorter than that at the first illumination angle.
US08964110B2 Imaging apparatus
In the imaging apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention, the aperture area ratio between the plurality of regions of the multifocal lens is appropriately configured. Thereby, it is configured such that, when a plurality of images are simultaneously imaged via the plurality of regions using the illumination light source, brightness of the image of the subject at an in-focus distance corresponding to one region of the plurality of regions, the image imaged via the one region, the brightness arising from the illumination light, is substantially equal to brightness of the image of another subject at an in-focus body distance corresponding to another region, the image imaged via the other region except the one region, the brightness arising from the illumination light. Accordingly, the subject at any of the distances does not suffer excess or deficient exposure.
US08964109B2 Image processing device and method
A flash detection unit is configured to detect whether or not each frame of image data includes a high luminance portion due to a flash. A holding unit is configured to hold a past frame of the image data. A correction processing unit is configured to, if it is detected by the flash detection unit that frames include high luminance portions, correct the image data so as to consolidate a first image data and a second image data into one frame. The first image data is included in a first portion in a first frame stored in the holding unit. The second image data is included in a second portion in a second frame which is adjacent to the first frame. The first and second portions are high luminance portions.
US08964099B2 Lens device capable of utilizing an AF-frame automatic tracking function
A lens device according to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter obtains camera information indicating whether a mounted camera is a first camera with an AF-frame display function or a second camera without the AF-frame display function; when the camera information indicating the first camera is obtained, when the camera information indicating the second camera is obtained and an automatic tracking mode is set, the lens device changeably sets position and size of the AF frame; and when the camera information indicating the second camera is obtained and the automatic tracking mode is not set, the lens device fixes the AF frame at a predetermined position and size.
US08964096B2 Imaging lens and imaging device
An imaging lens satisfies the following conditional expression (1) and is configured by disposing a first lens group that has a positive refractive power, an aperture stop, and a second lens group that has a positive refractive power in order from an object side to an image side. The first and second lens groups are moved from the image side to the object side in a state in which a gap between the lens groups is constant on an optical axis when a subject distance changes from infinity to approach, and the second lens group is configured by at least two negative lenses and at least three positive lenses. 0.01
US08964091B2 Digital device and method for controlling the same
A digital device according to an embodiment includes a sensor unit configured to sense a user input to the digital device and to provide a signal corresponding to a sensed result to a processor, a camera unit configured to acquire an image, a display unit configured to display the acquired image, and the processor configured to control the sensor unit, the camera unit, and the display unit. The processor is further configured to: display the image acquired through the camera unit on the display unit, and provide a preview interface indicating a to-be-captured area in the displayed image, wherein the preview interface includes a first frame indicating a preview area of a first picture and a second frame indicating a preview area of a second picture.
US08964088B2 Time-delay-and-integrate image sensors having variable intergration times
In various embodiments, a time-delay-and-integrate (TDI) image sensor includes (i) a plurality of integrating CCDs (ICCDs), arranged in parallel, that accumulate photocharge in response to exposure to light, (ii) electrically coupled to the plurality of ICCDs, a readout CCD (RCCD) for receiving photocharge from the plurality of ICCDs, and (iii) electrically coupled to the RCCD, readout circuitry for converting charge received from the RCCD into voltage.
US08964084B2 Solid-state image sensor and camera system
Provided is a solid-state image sensor including a pixel array portion formed from a two-dimensional array of ordinary imaging pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion as a pixel signal, and focus detection pixels for detecting focus. The focus detection pixels include at least a first focus detection pixel and a second focus detection pixel each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to transfer and output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion to an output node. The first focus detection pixel and the second focus detection pixel share the output node. The first focus detection pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion unit, and a first transfer gate for reading out an electron generated through photoelectric conversion in the first photoelectric conversion unit to the shared output node.
US08964076B2 Solid-state image pickup device and camera system
A solid-state image pickup device including a pixel section arranged with multiple pixel circuits in A matrix having functions for converting an optical signal to an electrical signal and for accumulating the electrical signal depending on an exposure time, and a pixel driving section capable of driving through a control line to reset, accumulate, transfer, and output signal electric charge of the pixel section. The pixel section may have a pixel shared structure arranged with one selection control line, one reset control line, and multiple transfer control lines, including a readout-pixel section and an unread-pixel section in its entirety. The pixel driving section includes a pixel control section where an unread-pixel is normally fixed in a reset state. When reading a readout-pixel in a shared relationship, if its address is selected or a selection signal becomes active, the unread-pixel reset-state is cancelled to turn into an unread state.
US08964067B2 Array-camera motion picture device, and methods to produce new visual and aural effects
A system and method for creating special effects comprising capturing an image of an object or objects in motion from each of a plurality of cameras aligned in an array, assembling the images from each camera into a series of images in a manner providing a simulation of motion from a perspective along the array with respect to the object or objects within the images when a series of images is displayed in sequence, wherein certain object or objects appear substantially stationary in time during the simulation of motion.
US08964054B2 Capturing selected image objects
Exemplary embodiments provide a technique that processes captured images derived from selected targeted objects in a field of view. The captured images may be transferred via a communication link to a Storage location for future availability. A possible aspect may provide a cross-reference association between saved multiple exposures having different quality characteristics. In some instances an identifier record is provided to enable future accessibility to selected captured data by one or more authorized parties or approved devices or authorized recipients. In some embodiments the captured data may include both a video data stream and one or more still image frames derived from related fields of view. Stored versions of the captured images may be provided in original or altered form to be incorporated in a composite visual work.
US08964048B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method for camera-shake correction
An image processing apparatus includes: a histogram computation block configured to compute a histogram of a plurality of motion vectors of each image detected for each of continuously taken images; an acceleration vector computation block configured to compute an acceleration vector corresponding to a change in the histogram; and a camera-shake correction amount computation block configured, on the basis of the acceleration vector and first motion vector for correction used in processing on an image preceding an image subject to processing, by assuming a second motion vector for correction for use in processing on the image subject to processing, to compute a camera-shake correction amount corresponding to the second motion vector for correction.
US08964047B2 Self-correcting adaptive long-stare electro-optical system
An imaging platform minimizes image distortion when there is relative motion of the imaging platform with respect to the scene being imaged where the imaging platform may be particularly susceptible to distortion when it is configured with a wide field of view or high angular rate of movement, or when performing long-stares at a given scene (e.g., for nighttime and low-light imaging.) Distortion correction may be performed by predicting distortion due to the relative motion of the imaging platform, determining optical transformations to prevent the distortion, dynamically adjusting the optics of the imaging platform during exposure, and performing digital image correction.
US08964046B2 Amount-of-shake sensing apparatus, imaging apparatus, and method of detecting the amount of shake
The apparatus of the invention is characterized by executing first integration operation for time-integrating the first acceleration to calculate a first velocity, second integration operation for time-integrating the first velocity to calculate an amount of movement in the first axial direction, estimation operation for calculating an estimated first velocity in the first axial direction based on a first velocity change found by time integration of the first acceleration from a first timing at which the third angular velocity becomes zero to a second timing at which the third angular velocity again becomes zero, the second angular velocity at the first timing, and the second angular velocity at the second timing, and update operation for updating the first velocity calculated in the first integration operation to the estimated first velocity estimated in the estimation operation.
US08964040B2 High dynamic range image registration using motion sensor data
Motion sensor data may be used to register a sequence of standard dynamic range images for producing a high dynamic range (HDR) image, reducing use of computational resources over software visual feature mapping techniques. A rotational motion sensor may produce information about orientation changes in the imaging device between images in the sequence of images sufficient to allow registration of the images, instead of using registration based on analysis of visual features of the images. If the imaging device has been moved laterally, then the motion sensor data may not be useful and visual feature mapping techniques may be employed to produce the HDR image.
US08964035B2 Method for calibrating the image of a camera
A method for calibrating the image (3I, 3II) of a camera (1), and, in particular, a traffic-monitoring camera, with respect to its viewing space, such that the camera projection parameters (mk1) of a camera projection of the viewing space onto the image are determined, includes the steps of providing a movable carrier (4) with at least four markings that can be viewed by the camera (1) and that span a volume and that form known first world points (wi) in the viewing space, recording a first image (3I) of the viewing space, shifting the carrier (4) in the viewing space by an unknown offset (v) in order to obtain second world points (wi) dependent on this offset in the viewing space, recording a second image (3II) of the viewing space, detecting the markings in the first image (3I) as first image points (pi) and in the second image (3II) as second image points (pi), and determining the camera projection parameters (mk1), while also determining the offset (v), from the known first world points, the second world points dependent on the offset, the detected first image points, and the detected second image points.
US08964034B2 Vehicle surroundings awareness support device
Provided is a vehicle surroundings awareness support device capable of providing a prompt for a driver to intuitively direct their attention, without the driver feeling hassled. Captured images comprising a plurality of frames taken sequentially by an onboard camera for imaging the surroundings of the vehicle are received; an optical flow is computed on the basis of feature points contained in the plurality of frames imaged at different times; moving objects in the surroundings of the vehicle are detected on the basis of the optical flow; and a display for showing movement trajectories for the moving objects is superimposed on the captured images on the basis of the optical flow.
US08964021B2 Radiation tolerant camera
A Radiation tolerant camera, including a camera module and having an electronic image sensor. The camera module is arranged in a radiation shielding enclosure, the enclosure having an opening for allowing passage of light into the image sensor. Furthermore, the camera module is connected to a heat absorbing cooling element dissipating heat from the camera module.
US08964018B2 Video display systems
Various embodiments of the present invention arc directed to video display systems. In one embodiment, a video display system comprises a display screen; and a video capturing system. The video capturing system is configured to capture line-of-sight video images of a video display user's face and eyes while the display user looks at the display screen, enabling establishment of eye contact between the video display user and the person exhibited on the display.
US08964012B2 Display panel having a polarizing layer and display apparatus having the same
A display panel and a display apparatus are provided. The display panel includes first and second substrates which are disposed opposite to each other and a liquid crystal layer formed in between; a color filter polarizing layer which is formed on one surface between the first and second substrates; and a polarizing layer. The color filter polarizing layer comprises a first metal linear grid arranged at different pitches to emit a first polarized component of incident light with different colors, and a second metal linear grid formed on an opposite surface of the one surface between the first and second substrates. The provided display panel and display apparatus, have reduced manufacturing costs and a simplified manufacturing process.
US08964006B2 Three-dimensional display apparatus and three-dimensional video display method
A three-dimensional display apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a display unit including pixels arranged in a matrix form; and an optical plate opposed to the display unit, the optical plate functioning as a plurality of optical apertures which are extended nearly in a straight line manner in a second direction and arranged in a first direction. Each of the pixels is divided into M sub-pixels respectively comprising M color components arranged in the first direction where M is an integer of at least 1, and Q/B is an integer N, M×P/A is a non-integer, and (Q/B)/(P/A) is a non-integer, where P is a period of the optical apertures in the first direction, Q is a period of the optical apertures in the second direction, A is a period of the pixels in the first direction, and B is a period of the pixels in the second direction.
US08963995B2 Stereo image data transmitting apparatus, stereo image data transmitting method, stereo image data receiving apparatus, and stereo image data receiving method
[Object] To maintain perspective consistency among individual objects in an image in superimposition display of a caption (caption unit) in an ARIB method.[Solution] A multiplexed data stream including a video data stream and a caption data stream is transmitted from a broadcast station to a set top box. A video data stream supplied from a video encoder 113 includes stereo image data. A caption data stream supplied from a caption encoder 133 includes data of captions (caption units) in the ARIB method serving as superimposition information and disparity information (disparity information set). In the caption data stream, the pieces of data of a certain number of captions that are to be displayed on the same screen are sequentially arranged via a separator. Also, the disparity information (disparity information set) inserted into the caption data stream includes a certain number of pieces of disparity information added with respective pieces of identification information indicating the arrangement order of the pieces of data of the certain number of captions.
US08963994B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting stereoscopic image data
A method and apparatus transmitting stereoscopic image data according to a variable channel environment are provided. The method includes granting a priority to each of a plurality of frames constituting one image group; determining a number of transmittable frames based on a variable channel environment; and selecting transmittable frames from among the plurality of frames based on the determined number of transmittable frames and the granted priorities.
US08963992B1 Capturing and publishing product imagery
Disclosed are various embodiments for capturing item imagery and generating corresponding content pages. A plurality of images is captured from an image capture apparatus that includes a plurality of image capture devices positioned at various angles relative to an item. The images are associated with an item identifier and/or image identifier. A content page based on a page template is then generated that includes references to at least a subset of the images.
US08963986B2 System and method for scaling a video presentation based on presentation complexity and room participants
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a first presentation material for a videoconference, wherein the first presentation material is to be displayed in a display area associated with the videoconference; determining a first complexity of the first presentation material; and displaying the first presentation material on a first display based on the determined first complexity. In more particular embodiments, the method can include determining a location of a participant that will view the first presentation material; and displaying the presentation material on a second display based on the location of the participant. The location of the participant can be determined using audio data or video data.
US08963979B2 Fixing structure for fixing optical element, laser scanning apparatus, image forming apparatus, and method for fixing optical element
A fixing structure for fixing an optical element at a predetermined position in an optical device, the fixing structure has a plurality of first pressing members to fix the optical element at at least two positions on a surface of the optical element orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical element and a second pressing member to fix the optical element at a predetermined position on a surface of the optical element to the optical axis. A depth of pressing of the surface of the optical element by a tip of the second pressing member is larger than the depth of pressing of the surface of the optical element by the tips of the first pressing members.
US08963975B2 Printer and printing method
The disclosure discloses a printer comprising a printing-head, a cutter, a print object receiving portion, an increment mode receiving portion, a cutting mode receiving portion, and a printing control portion. The printer continually produces a plurality of printed matter wherein the print object is respectively formed in a predetermined order. The print object receiving portion receives an input operation for the print object which is disposed in at least one block that includes a print identifier that can be incremented. The increment mode receiving portion receives a setup operation for an increment mode. The cutting mode receiving portion receives a setup operation for a cutting mode at a boundary. The printing control portion controls the feeder and the printing-head to generate a plurality of the printed matter in which is respectively formed the print object which includes the print identifier incremented, and which is cut using the cutting mode.
US08963971B2 Laser exposure method and product
Provided are a high-resolution laser exposure method and a product manufactured with use of the laser exposure method, the laser exposure method being capable of performing high-resolution laser plate-making in gravure plate-making, offset plate-making, flexo plate-making, and the like, and being usable in laser exposure of a circuit pattern in an electronic component such as a printed circuit board, a liquid crystal display, and a plasma display, or in special printing for prevention of forgery of banknotes and the like. The laser exposure method, which uses a laser exposure apparatus, includes: scanning laser beams to form a laser spot array having a predetermined length on a photosensitive film; and exposing the photosensitive film coated on a plate surface to light, to thereby form a photosensitized part and a non-photosensitized part. The scanning includes sequentially scanning, for exposure, a subsequent laser spot array so that at least a half region of a previously scanned laser spot array in a width direction thereof is subjected to superimposed exposure.
US08963969B2 Providing an automated visualization of a collection of data values divided into a number of bins depending upon a change feature of the data values
A collection of data values is divided into plural bins, wherein a number of the bins is dependent upon a change feature of the data values. Parameter values associated with respective bins are determined. Based on the parameter values, visualization of the plural bins is provided in corresponding plural display screen partitions of a display screen, wherein at least one of the display screen partitions has a resolution that is different from another of the display screen partitions.
US08963966B2 Display driver circuit, liquid crystal display device, display driving method, control program, and computer-readable recording medium having same control program recorded therein
Provided is a display driver circuit (50) which carries out frame interpolation and overshooting. An interpolation frame generation section (52) has (i) a first generation mode of generating, based on an image of a key frame corresponding to a video signal, an interpolation frame so that a position of an object is changed with passage of time and (ii) a second generation mode of generating, based on the image of the key frame, an interpolation frame so that a display gradation of the object is changed with passage of time. An overshooting section (53) causes an emphasis level in a tone transition for the interpolation frame generated according to the second generation mode to be different from that for the key frame. Thus, a configuration is proposed which can improve a moving image response characteristic in a display driver circuit which carries out frame interpolation and overshooting.
US08963964B2 Computer-readable storage medium having display control program stored therein, display control method, display control system, and display control apparatus
A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a program that is executed by a computer using a display section and an input section for designating a position on a screen of the display section. The program causes the computer to operate as: means for displaying at least a part of a first content and a second content such that a first region defined by the first content includes a second region for displaying the second content; means for determining, on the basis of a position designated by the input section, whether or not a criterion concerning the input is met; and means for switching between a first mode in which the input operation changes a display form of the first content, and a second mode in which the input operation changes a display form of the second content within the second region, depending on a result of the determination.
US08963962B2 Display of multiple images
Some embodiments provide an image-viewing application. The image-viewing application calculates an average aspect ratio of several images for display in an image viewing area. A first image in the several images has a first aspect ratio and a second image in the several images has a second, different aspect ratio. The application determines a number and size of regions of the image viewing area for displaying the several images. The regions have the calculated average aspect ratio, and each image is for display in a different one of the regions. The application displays the several images in the regions of the image viewing area. Each displayed image has a same visual weighting. The first image is displayed at the first aspect ratio and the second image is displayed at the second aspect ratio.
US08963960B2 System and method for content aware hybrid cropping and seam carving of images
A system and method for performing content aware cropping/expansion may be applied to resize an image or to resize a selected object therein. An image object may be selected using an approximate bounding box of the object. The system may receive input indicating a lowest priority edge or corner of the image or object to be resized (e.g., using a drag operation). Respective energy values for some pixels of the image and/or of the object to be resized may be weighted based on their distance from the lowest priority edge/corner and/or on a cropping or expansion graph, and relative costs may be determined for seams of the image dependent on the energy values. Low cost seams may be removed or replicated in different portions of the image and/or the object to modify the image. The selected object may be resized using interpolated scaling and patched over the modified image.
US08963959B2 Adaptive graphic objects
Some embodiments provide a method that defines a group of associated graphic objects for display on a display device. The method defines a set of operations to perform on the associated graphic objects in a particular order. The operations include one or more transforms applied to at least one of the graphic objects. For each particular transform applied to a set of the graphic objects, each graphic object in the set has a set of parameters indicating whether the graphic object is affected by each of a set of primitive transforms of the particular transform. The method stores the set of associated graphic objects and set of operations as a single graphic object.
US08963957B2 Systems and methods for an augmented reality platform
Systems and methods for augmenting a view of reality. In an embodiment, a first medium is superimposed over a first view of reality. One or more changes to the superimposed medium are received, such as a change in transparency, change in size, and change in position. A first marker, comprising at least a portion of the first view of reality, is generated. First metadata related to the first medium and/or the first marker are also generated. The first medium, the first marker, and the first metadata are sent to a depository. In a further embodiment, a second medium, second marker, and second metadata are received from the depository. The second marker is matched to a least a portion of a second view of reality, and the second medium is superimposed over the at least a portion of the second view of reality to generate an augmented view of reality.
US08963948B2 Circuit for color space conversion and associated method
A circuit for color space conversion and associated method compresses a portion of an xvYCC color space exceeding an sRGB color space into the sRGB color space via a simplified circuit design when a conversion from the xvYCC color space to the sRGB color space is performed, thereby improving visual effects. The circuit for color space conversion includes a conversion unit converting a pixel signal from the xvYCC color space to the sRGB color space. During the conversion, the conversion unit generates a pixel component on each dimension of the sRGB color space, and compresses the pixel component to output a compressed pixel component when a value of any pixel component is in a compression interval. The compressed pixel component does not exceed a defined range on a corresponding dimension of the sRGB color space.
US08963941B2 Image display apparatus and image display method
An image display apparatus that displays an image on the basis of input image signals corresponding to sub-pixels forming one pixel includes a shift-amount storing unit that stores shift amounts of display positions of the sub-pixels relative to given reference positions in a display image, an image-signal correcting unit that corrects the input image signals according to the shift amounts, and an image display unit that displays an image on the basis of the image signals corrected by the image-signal correcting unit.
US08963937B2 Display controller driver and testing method thereof
A display controller driver and a testing method thereof are provided. The display controller driver includes an image data memory, a timing control circuit, and a data line driving circuit. The image data memory stores display data. The timing control circuit obtains the display data from the image data memory. The data line driving circuit is coupled to the timing control circuit. The data line driving circuit receives the display data and outputs a grayscale voltage signal corresponding to the display data through at least one data-line output terminal of the display controller driver. In a test operation mode, the timing control circuit further transmits the display data from the image data memory to at least one test output port of the display controller driver.
US08963932B1 Method and apparatus for visualizing component workloads in a unified shader GPU architecture
A method of calculating performance parameters for a type of data being executed by a unified processing subunit. In one embodiment, a task (e.g., a draw call) is executed by a processing pipeline (e.g., a GPU). An ALU within a unified processing subunit (e.g., a unified shader processing unit) is queried to determine a type of data (e.g., vertex processing, pixel shading) being processed by the ALU. Performance parameters (e.g., bottleneck and utilization) for the type of data being processed by the ALU is calculated and displayed (e.g., stacked graph). Accordingly, software developers can visualize component workloads of a unified processing subunit architecture. As a result, utilization of the unified processing subunit processing a particular data may be maximized while bottleneck is reduced. Therefore, the efficiency of the unified processing subunit and the processing pipeline is improved.
US08963928B2 Stereoscopic image processing apparatus and stereoscopic image processing method
Provided is a stereoscopic image processing apparatus allowing a manufacturer of image data to grasp parallax of a subject in display data easily and accurately. The stereoscopic image processing apparatus includes units: acquiring two pieces of image data having horizontal parallax; composing the two pieces of image data to generate display data; deriving parallax of a predetermined object in the two pieces of image data and generates parallax information representing the parallax; holding the generated parallax information in relation to time information assigned to each piece of the image data; generating parallax time image data representing the parallax represented by the parallax information and time represented by the time information as a two-dimensional image; causing the generated parallax time image data and the display data to overlap each other; and displaying the display data overlapping the parallax time image data on a display unit.
US08963925B2 Maximize data visibility using slated viewer
A slanted viewer is provided to maximize data visibility. In the context of computer graphics and a rendering technique, the slanted viewer's use of three-dimensional rendering provides an instant view of full data without compromising the visibility of other view areas or data and with minimum user interactions. The slanted viewer combines the use of two-dimensional and three-dimensional concepts to enhance, as well as to preserve, a well-established user interaction environment and navigation system. The slanted viewer serves effectively in viewers showing extended length of text or objects horizontally.
US08963923B2 Method and apparatus for electrical power visualization
A method and apparatus for providing a visualization of power for display. The method establishes a power visualization scale based on a color saturation and intensity range for a hue and a range of power to be visualized, and generates a display image for at least one measured value of power as a level of color saturation and intensity for the hue based on the power visualization scale.
US08963922B2 Automatic presentational level compositions of data visualizations
Embodiments of the invention provide for generating a data presentation artifact. In one aspect of the invention a first data presentation object and a second data presentation object are received from a repository. The first data presentation object defines a first data presentation artifact. The second data presentation object defines a second data presentation artifact. At least one mashup operation is identified that may be performed using the first data presentation object and the second data presentation object. One or more mashup operations are selected from the identified mashup operations. A third data presentation artifact is then generated by applying the selected mashup operations to the first and the second data presentation objects.
US08963920B2 Image processing apparatus and method
Provided is an image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus may perform an intersection test for rendering of a ray tracing scheme. The image processing apparatus may include a first calculator and a second calculator. The first calculator may perform a ray-plane test to determine whether a ray intersects a plane including a primitive and a barycentric test to determine whether the ray intersects the primitive. The second calculator may calculate a hit point based on the ray which intersects the primitive.
US08963915B2 Using image content to facilitate navigation in panoramic image data
The present invention relates to using image content to facilitate navigation in panoramic image data. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for navigating in panoramic image data includes: (1) determining an intersection of a ray and a virtual model, wherein the ray extends from a camera viewport of an image and the virtual model comprises a plurality of facade planes; (2) retrieving a panoramic image; (3) orienting the panoramic image to the intersection; and (4) displaying the oriented panoramic image.
US08963910B2 Pixel information management apparatus and image capture apparatus using the same
The present invention relates to a pixel information management apparatus that is capable of efficiently storing information on defective pixels of imaging pixels and information on evaluation pixels in the same format. Pixel information having a region that contains information indicating whether the pixel is a defective pixel of the imaging pixels or an evaluation pixel, a region that contains information that depends on whether the pixel is a defective pixel of the imaging pixels or an evaluation pixel, and a region that contains information for specifying a position of the pixel is stored, and a relative distance from another defective pixel of the imaging pixels or another evaluation pixel is stored as the information for specifying the pixel position, the relative distance being a distance that conforms to a predetermined pixel scan rule.
US08963907B2 Pixel circuit and driving method thereof
A driving method of a pixel circuit, implemented with five transistors and two capacitors, includes steps of: supplying three control signals and a gate signal to the pixel circuit; modulating an operation state of each control signal and keeping the gate signal being disable so as to reset data of the pixel circuit and have an voltage compensation effect on the pixel circuit; and enabling the gate signal so as to operate the pixel circuit in a data writing period, and supplying, in the data writing period, a data voltage to the pixel circuit so as to change a terminal voltage of a driving transistor, which is used to drive the light-emitting device. A pixel circuit is also provided.
US08963904B2 Clock feedthrough and crosstalk reduction method
Systems and methods of the present disclosure relates generally to techniques for controlling a gate signal applied to a transistor in an electronic component. One embodiment includes decreasing a skew rate at the rising and/or falling edges of the gate signal to reduce the effects of data signal errors. Decreasing the gate signal falling edge skew rate may decrease clock feedthrough effects of the transistor, and decreasing the gate signal rising edge skew rate may decrease crosstalk effects between more than one data paths in the electronic component. The falling edge skew rate may be manipulated by initially increasing the activating voltage of the gate signal to a higher voltage, such that the gate signal may take longer to fall. The rising edge skew rate may be manipulated by increasing a voltage later during the activating period, such that the gate signal may take longer to rise.
US08963900B2 Bidirectional scanning driving circuit
The invention provides a bidirectional scanning driving circuit, which comprises N stages of driving modules. Driving module comprises an output unit, a forward input unit, and a reverse input unit. For the n-th stage driving module, the forward input unit receives a first input voltage and a front forward scan signal of any of the driving modules lower than or equal to (n−2)th stage for charging or discharging a control node of the output unit. The reverse input unit receives a second input voltage and a back reverse scan signal of any of the driving modules higher than or equal to (n+2)th stage for charging or discharging the control node of the output unit. When the forward input unit is charging the output unit, the output unit outputs a forward scan signal; when the reverse input unit is charging the output unit, the output unit outputs a reverse scan signal.
US08963887B2 Optical touch screen and method for assembling the same
The present invention relates to an optical touch screen and a method for assembling the same, the screen including a flat plate display panel; a case mounted and assembled with the flat plate display panel; brackets assembled at each corner of the case; a camera module mounted at each bracket; and a retro reflector arranged along an inner lateral surface of the case.
US08963870B2 Mobile terminal
There is disclosed a mobile terminal including a touchscreen configured to generate a touch signal by sensing touch input, a stylus pen having a variable length, and comprising a first pen tip provided in an end to touch the surface of the touchscreen to create a first touch signal, a sensing part configured to sense state variation of the stylus pen including length variation of the stylus pen, and a controller configured to switch an input mode of the touchscreen according to the state variation of the stylus pen, wherein the input mode selects one of a mouse input mode, a gesture input mode; and a quick-memo input mode.
US08963862B2 Driving signal generating system for a touch panel
In a driving signal generating system, a boost circuit provides a power voltage, an amplifier provides an analog waveform driving signal, and a level shifter provides a digital waveform driving signal. A select device selects the analog waveform driving signal as a driving signal for a touch panel in an analog waveform mode, and selects the digital waveform driving signal as a driving signal for the touch panel in a digital waveform mode. The boost circuit provides the power voltage to the amplifier, and the amplifier, in the digital waveform mode, generates an output voltage as a power for at least one last stage of the level shifter.
US08963859B2 Edge grip detection method of a touch panel and a device using the same
The present disclosure relates to a touch panel technology, and especially to an edge grip detection method of a touch panel and a device using the same. The edge grip detection method comprises: determining whether an edge area state has changed; eliminating a first edge signal when the edge area state does not change; and updating the first edge signal as next standard signal when the edge area state changes. The edge grip detection method and an edge grip detecting device of the touch panel opportunely detect and dynamically update state and data of the edge area, thereby eliminating edge grip signals from touch signals of the touch panel to obtain normal touch signals. Thus, impact on the normal operation of the touch panel by edge grips is reduced.
US08963853B2 Smartpad split screen desktop
A multi-display device is adapted to be dockable or otherwise associatable with an additional device. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the multi-display device is dockable with a smartpad. The exemplary smartpad can include a screen, a touch sensitive display, a configurable area, a gesture capture region(s) and a camera. The smartpad can also include a port adapted to receive the device. The exemplary smartpad is able to cooperate with the device such that information displayable on the device is also displayable on the smartpad. Furthermore, any one or more of the functions on the device are extendable to the smartpad, with the smartpad capable of acting as an input/output interface or extension of the smartpad. Therefore, for example, information from one or more of the displays on the multi-screen device is displayable on the smartpad.
US08963845B2 Mobile device with temperature sensing capability and method of operating same
The present invention relates to electronic devices such as mobile devices, and methods of operating such devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device includes first and second temperature sensors positioned at different respective locations on the electronic device and at least one processing device. The first and second temperature sensors respectively output first and second signals indicative of the respective temperatures experienced at those respective sensors. The at least one processing device (i) receives the first and second signals respectively from the first and second temperature sensors respectively and generates based thereon an indication of a difference or a relationship between the first and second temperatures, and (ii) determines an operational context of the electronic device based at least in part upon the difference. In an additional embodiment, other sensor information from one or more other sensors is taken into account in determining the operational context.
US08963840B2 Smartpad split screen desktop
A multi-display device is adapted to be dockable or otherwise associatable with an additional device. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the multi-display device is dockable with a smartpad. The exemplary smartpad can include a screen, a touch sensitive display, a configurable area, a gesture capture region(s) and a camera. The smartpad can also include a port adapted to receive the device. The exemplary smartpad is able to cooperate with the device such that information displayable on the device is also displayable on the smartpad. Furthermore, any one or more of the functions on the device are extendable to the smartpad, with the smartpad capable of acting as an input/output interface or extension of the smartpad. Therefore, for example, information from one or more of the displays on the multi-screen device is displayable on the smartpad.
US08963839B2 Wireless mouse and wireless input device
A wireless mouse includes a base, a battery fastener and a top cover. The base has a top portion that is formed with a battery container unit. The battery fastener includes a fastener body connected removably with the top portion of the base. The battery fastener further includes a blockade unit extending from the fastener body and disposed directly above the battery container unit so as to prohibit the battery unit from exiting the battery container unit. The top cover is connected removably with the base for covering the battery container unit. When the top cover is connected with the base, the battery fastener is located between the top portion of the base and the top cover.
US08963838B2 Enhanced projected image interface
An interactive display projection system, includes a pointing device which determines a location on the projected display indicated by the pointing device using a combination of a location signal in the display captured by the pointing device and optical mouse circuitry to determine motion of the pointing device when the pointing device is close to the projected display. In another embodiment, the pointing device also includes an inertial sensor and associated circuitry which detects linear accelerations and rotational rates to determine motion and orientation of the pointing device, which are also used to determine the location on the projected display indicated by the pointing device.
US08963837B2 Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
According to one embodiment, a mobile terminal includes: a touchscreen configured to display a first menu and receive a plurality of touch inputs of a first pattern via the first menu and to display a second menu and receive a plurality of touch inputs of a second pattern via the second menu; and a controller configured to: calculate a first moving distance of a pointer for each of the received touch inputs of the first pattern; determine a minimum among the plurality of calculated first moving distances; calculate a second moving distance of the pointer for each of the received touch inputs of the second pattern; determine a maximum among the plurality of calculated second moving distances; and determine a threshold moving distance of the pointer for discriminating the touch input of the first pattern from the touch input of the second pattern by using the minimum and the maximum.
US08963836B2 Method and system for gesture-based human-machine interaction and computer-readable medium thereof
A method and system for gesture-based human-machine interaction and computer-readable medium are provided. The system includes a capturing module, a positioning module, and a transforming module. The method includes the steps of: capturing images from a user's video streams, positioning coordinates of three or more predetermined color blocks in the foreground, simulating movements of a mouse according to the coordinates of the first color block, and simulating click actions of the mouse according to the coordinates of the other color blocks. The embodiments according to the current disclosure position coordinates of a plurality of color blocks through processing the captured user's video streams, and simulate mouse actions according to the coordinates of the color blocks. Processing apparatuses like computers may be extended to facilitate gesture-based human-machine interactions through a very simple way, and a touch-sensitive interaction effect can be simulated, without the presence of a touch screen.
US08963826B2 Video display apparatus including brightness control based on ambient illuminance
Light leakage and black float are reduced in dark ambient while a perception of high contrast is achieved when a backlight is divided into a plurality of areas and backlight brightness is controlled depending on a video signal corresponding to each area. An area active control portion (2) divides a video signal into a plurality of areas and outputs a first feature value for each area. An LED control portion (3) acquires a first brightness for each divided area of an LED backlight (5) depending on the first feature value of each area, and acquires a second brightness for each area that is acquired by uniformly multiplying a specific multiplying factor acquired depending on the lighting ratio of the LED backlight (5) with respect to the first brightness within a range where a total value of the LED driving current does not exceed a predetermined permissible current value. When the lighting ratio of the LED backlight (5) is at or below a predetermined value, the second brightness is reduced in accordance with ambient lighting detected by a photosensor (8) to acquire a third brightness.
US08963821B2 Scan driving device and repair method thereof
A scan driving device includes: a first node transmitted with a clock signal input to a first clock signal input terminal; a second node transmitted with an input signal according to a clock signal input to a second clock signal input terminal; a first transistor transmitting a power source voltage to an output terminal according to a voltage of the first node; a second transistor formed to transmit the clock signal input to the third clock signal input terminal to the output terminal according to the voltage of the second node; and a dummy transistor formed to transmit the clock signal input to the third clock signal input terminal to the output terminal according to the voltage of the second node. One of the second transistor and the dummy transistor is cut off.
US08963819B2 Light modulating display device using electrowetting effect
A light-modulating or display apparatus employs electrowetting effect to controllably modulate, directly or indirectly, the shape or location of one or more measures of liquid. In one embodiment, at least one measure of liquid obstructs the passage of at least some portion of light passing onto, through or reflected off said apparatus, and thereby controllably modulating the angle of distribution, amplitude or intensity of light emitted or reflected by or passing through said apparatus. In another embodiment, light is propagating within a media due to the phenomenon of Total Internal Reflection, and one or more properties of light escaping from within said media through one or more adjacent measures of liquid is controllably modulated due to said change of shape or location of the measures of liquid.
US08963817B2 Energy sensing light emitting diode display
A display that includes energy sensors within the display itself is disclosed. An Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) can be made to operate both as a light emitter and as an energy detector. When forward biased with an appropriate driving signal, the OLED emits light via electroluminescence, which can be used to make a portion of an image on the display. In another mode, the OLED can detect energy by converting incoming photons or energy into an electrical signal by the photoelectric effect. By operating OLEDs in the display in both emissive and sensing modes, energy that shines on the display, such as from an outside source can be detected at the same time an image is shown. Additionally, a display including OLEDs can detect light energy generated by the display itself.
US08963814B2 Organic light emitting display device and method of driving the same
A method of driving an organic light emitting display device including a plurality of pixels during a frame including subframes includes: representing gray levels by utilizing some of the subframes of the frame prior to degradation of an organic light emitting diode of each of the plurality of pixels; and compensating for the degradation of the organic light emitting diodes by changing the utilized subframes to increase a portion of the frame utilized by the plurality of pixels to represent the gray levels.
US08963811B2 LED display systems
An LED display system comprises an LED array and an LED driver circuit. An LED driver circuit comprises components including a phase lock loop, a pulse width modulation engine, a configuration register, a series of gain adjustable fast charge current sources, and a serial input/output interface. The components in this driver circuit may be integrated on a same chip. The LED array may be arranged in a common cathode configuration.
US08963809B1 High performance caching for motion compensated video decoder
A method for high performance caching is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) and (B). Step (A) may fetch a plurality of reference samples of a reference image from a first circuit to a cache of a second circuit. The cache may include a plurality of cache blocks and a plurality of valid bits. Each of the cache blocks generally corresponds to at most one of the valid bits. A size of the cache blocks may match a smallest read access size of the first circuit. Step (B) may transfer the reference samples having the corresponding valid bit set to valid from the cache to a processor of the second circuit.
US08963799B2 Mirroring graphics content to an external display
A data processing system composites graphics content, generated by an application program running on the data processing system, to generate image data. The data processing system stores the image data in a first framebuffer and displays an image generated from the image data in the first framebuffer on an internal display device of the data processing system. A scaler in the data processing system performs scaling operations on the image data in the first framebuffer, stores the scaled image data in a second framebuffer and displays an image generated from the scaled image data in the second framebuffer on an external display device coupled to the data processing system. The scaler performs the scaling operations asynchronously with respect to the compositing of the graphics content. The data processing system automatically mirrors the image on the external display device unless the application program is publishing additional graphics content for display on the external display device.
US08963795B1 Wedge shaped scimitar antenna
A wedge shaped scimitar radio frequency (RF) antenna can include a lip, an RF signal feed connected to the lip, a base, and a back surface. The antenna can also include a convexly curved outer surface that extends from the lip to the back surface. The convexly curved outer surface can be wedge shaped from the back surface of the antenna to the lip. The antenna can also include a concavely curved outer surface that extends from the lip to the base of the antenna, and the concavely curved outer surface can be wedge shaped from the base of the antenna to the lip.
US08963785B2 Antenna structure for using with a metal frame of a mobile phone
An antenna structure includes a carrier body, a circuit board, a metal coupling sheet, a first grounding part, a second grounding part, and a metal frame. A first slot and a second slot are between the metal frame and the carrier body after the parts mentioned above are assembled. The metal coupling sheet, the first grounding part, and the first slot form a first communication path. The first communication path forms a low-frequency resonance and a high-frequency resonance as well, so that the antenna structure is applied to a four bands GSM850/900/1800/1900. The metal coupling sheet, the second grounding part, and the second slot form a second communication path. The second communication path forms the WCDMA2100 resonance, so that the antenna structure is applied to a five bands 850/900/1800/1900/2100.
US08963783B2 Antenna device of a mobile terminal
An antenna device of a mobile terminal having improved performance by utilizing a metal object located in proximity to the antenna device as an antenna radiator is provided. The antenna device includes an antenna pattern connected to a feeder and a ground line, and a metal component positioned on the antenna pattern and including a metal that forms an antenna radiator.
US08963775B2 Tracking radio signal sources
A method and system of determining the position of a radio signal transmitter are described. The method includes determining the type of radio signal being transmitted from the radio signal transmitter by analysing radio signal characteristics and correlating different sets of information to determine the position of the radio signal transmitter. Each set of information corresponds to a different relative position of at least one receiver to the transmitter and includes radio signal data derived from radio signals received by the at least one receiver from the transmitter at each respective relative position and positioning data containing information about the position of the at least one receiver at each respective relative position.
US08963772B2 Method and system for acquiring ephemeris information
An approach provides for conversion of global positioning system (GPS) data. A user terminal receives positioning data from a base station, wherein the positioning data is received in a second format, and wherein the second format was derived from ephemeris data broadcast via a global positioning system (GPS) in a first format. The user terminal converts the positioning data from the second format into a third format that is compatible with a protocol of the GPS system, and determines a first fix using the third format of the positioning data.
US08963771B1 Closest to optimal answer selection technique for single-ship geolocation
Techniques are disclosed for selecting a closest to optimal radar/emitter location for single-ship applications. In accordance with some embodiments, given single-ship geolocation estimates are organized so that clusters of those estimates can be identified, wherein optimal solutions may be found in consecutive, adjacent segments of distance (bins) along each axis of given a coordinate system. Once the clusters are identified in each axis, an optimal cluster can be selected for each. To determine the closest answer to optimal, the coordinate data points in each of the optimal clusters can be averaged (or other sound mathematical process) for each axis in the coordinate system, so as to provide an optimal 3-D coordinate in the given coordinate system. In other embodiments, the optimal 3-D coordinate can be further used to establish an origin in a second coordinate system (e.g., for conversion from 3-D to 2-D coordinate system).
US08963768B2 Measurement system comprising a pressure resistant feed-through
Stated is a process separation device for a fill-level measuring device including a pressure resistant feed-through for an inner conductor. The process separation device comprises an inner conductor, an outer conductor, a process side, a control side, and a feed-through. The inner conductor comprises a first conical region, and/or the outer conductor comprises a second conical region. The feed-through comprises the first conical region and/or is encompassed by the second conical region, and in this manner establishes a connection having positive fit between the inner conductor and the outer conductor.
US08963767B2 Method for detecting the motion of object by ultra-wideband radar imaging and system thereof
A method for detecting the motion of object by ultra-wideband radar imaging and system thereof to be used to present the motion of object in a reference gray-level image by using the delay time to analyze the distance between the detected position of object and the detecting position to compare the time-varying distance variation between the reference distance and the detecting distance. The system includes a transmitter module, a receiver module and a signal processing module. The transmitter module is used to transmit a first ultra-wideband signal from a detecting position to the object. The receiver module is used to receive a second ultra-wideband signal reflected from the object in the detecting position. The signal processing module is used to analyze the signal delay time of the second ultra-wideband signal received in the detecting position to analyze the detecting distance between the second ultra-wideband signal and the detecting position.
US08963760B2 Analog-to-digital converter and solid-state imaging device
To obtain accurate digital data while using a successive approximation system when performing analog-to-digital conversion processing in a plurality of steps, an AD converter includes: a signal generation unit that generates a ramp voltage based on a count signal; a signal conversion unit including a circuit that holds an input signal voltage, a successive approximation capacitance group that outputs bias voltages according to a connection combination of capacitances having different capacitance values, and a unit that compares one of the ramp voltage and the bias voltage with the signal voltage; and a control unit generating a digital signal of the signal voltage based on a comparison result of the bias voltage and the comparison result of the ramp voltage while acquiring data for calibration of the capacitance group based on the connection combination and the ramp voltage.
US08963753B2 Oversampling A/D converter
An oversampling A/D converter includes a first filter including a first resistive element, a first capacitive element, a second resistive element, an operational amplifier, and a second capacitive element; a second filter receiving an output of the first filter; a third filter including a third resistive element, a third capacitive element, and a fourth resistive element; a quantizer receiving an output of the third filter and generating a digital signal; and a D/A converter converting the digital signal to an analog current signal. The D/A converter inputs the generated analog current signal to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier.
US08963746B2 Photoelectric touch-sensitive linear adjustment switch for an electric appliance
A touch-sensitive linear adjustment switch is configured to be touched along a linear direction in order to turn on or off, or make stepwise adjustment to the power supplied from, an external power source. The switch includes a housing having a light-permeable sensing surface. The touch control circuit board in the housing has a touch control circuit layer adjacent to the sensing surface. The surface of the touch control circuit layer is divided into plural first sensing areas arranged along the linear direction and is provided at intervals with plural first light-emitting elements, each located beside or in one first sensing area. When touched, the sensing surface triggers the touch control circuit layer in the corresponding first sensing area to control light emission of the light-emitting element(s) beside or in the first sensing area and to output a coded signal for controlling power supply from the external power source.
US08963739B2 Sequential barricade light
A barricade light includes a light member, a receiver, a transmitter and a controller. The receiver is configured to receive an incoming signal from an adjacent barricade light and deliver the incoming signal to the controller. The incoming signal includes information about a position of the adjacent barricade light in a row of barricade lights. The controller is configured to determine a position of the barricade light in the row of barricade lights based on the information, synchronize operation of the light member to the adjacent barricade light, and transmit an outgoing signal via the transmitter. The outgoing signal includes information about a position of the barricade light in the row of barricade lights.
US08963733B2 System and method for blind fault detection for rotating machinery
A system includes more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of rotating equipment and a blind fault detection device. The blind fault detection device includes an input interface configured to receive at least one input signal from the one or more sensors. The blind fault detection device also includes a processing unit configured to identify a fault in the rotating equipment using the at least one input signal. The blind fault detection device further includes an output interface configured to provide an indicator identifying the fault. The processing unit is configured to identify the fault by determining at least one family of frequencies related to at least one sensor point, determining an average energy for the at least one sensor point based on the at least one family of frequencies, and comparing the average energy to a baseline value.
US08963731B1 Electrical outlet unit
An electrical unit outlet device is disclosed for controlling power isolation, based on a predetermined time, for a device charger, while remaining plugged into a power outlet. An electrical outlet unit circuit cuts any power to the charging device off when charge is complete. An electrical device to limit the electrical power consumed by battery chargers, that are used to recharge the batteries of devices is described which includes: (1) a means to initiate a charging cycle; (2) surge protection circuit to protect both the battery charger and the device being recharged; and (3) an automatic control circuit to terminate a charging cycle. Secondly for the device to maintain the battery at full charge for extended periods of time while limiting power consumption, which includes: (1) a means to repeatedly initiate an abbreviated charging cycle and (2) a means to control the amount of time between the abbreviated charging cycles.
US08963719B2 Systems and methods to selectively connect antennas to receive and backscatter radio frequency signals
Systems and methods to selectively attach and control antennas via diodes and current sources. In one embodiment, a system includes: an RFID reader having a plurality of reader antennas of different polarizations to transmit radio frequency signals; and at least one RFID tag. The RFID tag includes: a plurality of tag antennas of different polarizations; a plurality of diodes coupled to the plurality of tag antennas respectively; a receiver coupled to the plurality of diodes to receive the radio frequency signals from the tag antennas when the diodes are forward biased; and a set of one or more current controllers coupled to the plurality of diodes. In a receiving mode the controllers selectively forward bias the diodes to receive the signals from the RFID reader. In a transmitting mode the controllers selectively change the state of the tag antennas to transmit data via backscattering the radio frequency signals.
US08963711B2 Presence decision apparatus, presence decision method, and program
A detection data acquisition unit acquires detection data indicating the detection results from a human sensor. An operation data acquisition unit acquires operation data indicating the presence or absence of operation input to a prescribed machine. A detection data validity determining unit determines from the detection data and the operation data, the validity of the detection data. A presence determination unit determines from the detection data, the operation data, and the validity determination results with respect to the detection data, whether or not an operator is within the area of a prescribed machine.
US08963710B2 Systems and apparatus for container conversion
Aspects of the present invention relate to an apparatus for converting a container into a smart bottle. A tapered plug comprising a channel portion, wherein a first sensor is located proximate to a first end of the channel portion and a second sensor is located proximate to a second end of the channel portion, and a non-channel portion, wherein the non-channel portion houses a processor, a memory, a battery, a power-management system, a clock and a communication interface, may replace a standard container cap, thereby providing monitoring, verification and communication capabilities.
US08963694B2 System and method for remote controlled device selection based on device position data and orientation data of a user
A system and method are provided for selecting a remote controlled device to be controlled from among a plurality of remote controllable devices. The system includes an electronic device having a registration interface configured to register device data corresponding to the plurality of remote controllable devices, a position locator configured to determine position data corresponding to a position of the electronic device, and an orientation interface configured to receive orientation data corresponding to an orientation of a user. A controller is configured to select the remote controlled device based on the device data, the position data, and the orientation data. The plurality of remote controllable devices each may include a respective data source configured to provide the device data, and a headset may be configured to generate the orientation data.
US08963684B2 Gamma sterilizable RFID system that prevents unauthorized operation of associated disposable bioprocess components
This invention provides a system and apparatus that is able to authenticate and prevent illegal manufacturing and unauthorized operation of disposable bioprocess components. This invention utilizes a ferro-electric random access memory (FRAM) chip to store error-correctable information on a RFID tag attached to the disposable bioprocess components, where the error-correctable information is written into the memory chip, so that the information can remain in the chip when the RFID tag and disposable bioprocess component is gamma-sterilized. Also, this invention includes a method for authenticating the disposable bioprocess component that reduces liability in that a counterfeit poor quality disposable component is not used on the hardware so the user will not file an unjustified complaint.
US08963679B2 Connection terminal of shunt resistor, and battery state detection device
It is an object to provide a configuration with an enhanced sensing accuracy, in which a shunt resistance main body and a terminal member are formed as separate pieces. A shunt resistor includes a resistance main body and a terminal member (21) that is electrically connected to the resistance main body. The terminal member (21) includes a resistance connection portion (23) to be in contact with the resistance main body, and a circuit connection portion (24) provided so as to extend from the resistance connection portion (23). The circuit connection portion (24) is divided into two parts by a slit (27) being formed therein. The slit (27) is formed up to a part of the resistance connection portion (23).
US08963673B2 Hand tool device having at least one charging coil
In a hand tool device having at least one charging coil provided for transmitting energy, the charging coil includes a coil core having at least two core segments which are movable relative to each other.
US08963672B2 Wiring board
This wiring board is provided with an insulating core substrate, a first conductor pattern, a second conductor pattern, and a conductive material. The first conductor pattern and the second conductor pattern are adhered to the insulating core substrate. The second conductor pattern has a first surface and a second surface. The second conductor pattern has a concavity and a through-hole. The opening of the concavity that opens to the first surface and the opening of the through hole that opens to the first surface are interconnected to each other. The first conductor pattern is positioned at the opening of the concavity. The first conductor pattern and the second conductor pattern are electrically connected by means of the conductive material, which fills from the opening of the through hole that opens to the second surface.
US08963667B2 Assembly of magnetic plates for electromagnetic machines, the assembly being provided with fixing means and a method of manufacturing such an assembly of plates
Packet of plates provided with fixing means, characterized in that at least some of the plates have a cut-out to form a housing receiving an insert provided with fixing means and having a fixing axis, the housing having at least one wall cooperating with an exterior surface of the insert to retain the insert along the fixing axis.Method of manufacturing such a packet.
US08963664B2 Magnetic field manipulation devices
Magnetic field manipulation devices and magnetic actuators are disclosed. In one embodiment, a magnetic field manipulation device includes an iron base substrate having a surface, and at least four electrically conductive loops embedded in the surface of the iron substrate. The at least four electrically conductive loops are electrically coupled to one another, and are arranged in the surface of the iron substrate such that the magnetic field manipulation device diverges magnetic flux lines of a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field source positioned proximate the magnetic field manipulation device. In another embodiment, the at least four electrically conductive loops are electrically isolated such that the magnetic field manipulation device converges magnetic flux lines of a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field source positioned proximate the magnetic field manipulation device.
US08963660B2 Electromagnetic relay
A electromagnetic relay including a plate-shaped pivoting piece (32), one end of which is supported in cantilever state, pivoted by a movable block (40), which reciprocates in the up-down direction on the basis of excitation and demagnetization of an electromagnet block (20) housed within a housing (10, 50), and causes a movable contact (34) formed on the other end of the plate-shaped pivoting piece (32) to make/break contact with an anchored contact (36) formed on the tip section of an anchored contact terminal (35). In particular, the one-end section of the plate-shaped pivoting piece (32) is supported pivotably in cantilever state by the upper end section of a movable contact terminal (31), with a support spring (33) comprising a conductive sheet spring material interposed therebetween.
US08963649B2 PLL with oscillator PVT compensation
A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) includes a current controlled oscillator, a voltage-to-current converter, and a sensing circuit. The sensing circuit includes a delay unit, and the sensing circuit is configured to generate a plurality of compensation control signals in response to a time delay of the delay unit. The voltage-to-current converter is configured to generate a current signal in response to a VCO control signal and the plurality of compensation control signals. The current controlled oscillator is configured to generate an oscillating signal in response to the current signal.
US08963648B2 Low noise oscillator having switching network
Apparatus and methods are also disclosed related to an oscillator that includes a switching network configured to tune a resonant frequency of a resonant circuit. One such apparatus includes a switching network having a circuit element, such as a capacitor, that can be selectively coupled to the resonant circuit by a switch, such as a field effect transistor. For instance, the switch can electrically couple to circuit element to the resonant circuit when on and not electrically couple the circuit element to the resonant circuit when off. An active circuit can assert a high impedance on an intermediate node between the switch and the circuit element when the switch is off.
US08963641B1 Source-series terminated differential line driver circuit
A differential amplifier circuit that includes a negative resistor in parallel to synthesize a larger source resistance is disclosed. In one or more implementations, a differential amplifier circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor is configured to receive a first differential input and the second transistor is configured to receive a second differential input. The differential amplifier circuit also includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor that form a pair of cross-coupled transistors coupled to the first transistor and the second transistor. The pair of cross-coupled transistors are configured to generate a negative impedance at an output node, and the negative impedance, combined with an impedance of the first transistor, is configured to generate a sufficient termination impedance for a transmission line electrically connected to the output node.
US08963632B2 High-frequency power amplifier with doherty extension
A high-frequency power amplifier comprises a broadband amplifier (30), a Doherty extension (31) and a coupling device (33). In this context, the broadband amplifier (30) provides a power splitter (34), a main amplifier path (64) and an auxiliary amplifier path (65). The Doherty extension (32) provides a first offset line (60), a second offset line (61) and an impedance inverter (62). The broadband amplifier (30) amplifies an input signal and supplies the amplified signal to the Doherty extension (31) or to the coupling device (33).
US08963625B2 Semiconductor device driven by a main power supply voltage and an auxiliary power supply voltage
A microcomputer includes a first switch coupled between a main power supply terminal and a power supply node, and a second switch coupled between an auxiliary power supply terminal and the power supply node. The microcomputer compares a voltage V1 of the main power supply terminal with a reference voltage VR1. When V1>VR1, the microcomputer turns on the first switch and turns off the second switch, and when V1
US08963599B2 Multi-frequency clock skew control for inter-chip communication in synchronous digital systems
Embodiments are disclosed of a multi-chip apparatus capable of performing multi-rate synchronous communication between component chips. Each chip may receive a common clock reference signal, and may generate an internal clock signal dependent on the clock reference signal. A clock distribution tree and phase-locked loop may be used to minimize internal clock skew at I/O circuitry at the chip perimeter. Each chip may also generate an internal synchronizing signal that is phase-aligned to the received clock reference signal. Each chip may use its respective synchronizing signal to synchronize multiple clock dividers that provide software-selectable reduced-frequency clock signals to the I/O cells of the chip. In this way, the reduced-frequency clock signals of the multiple chips are edge-aligned to the low-skew internal clock signals, and phase-aligned to the common clock reference signal, allowing the I/O cells of the multiple chips to perform synchronous communication at multiple rates with low clock skew.
US08963587B2 Clock generation using fixed dividers and multiplex circuits
Embodiments of an apparatus are disclosed that may allow for changing the frequency of a clock coupled to a functional block within an integrated circuit. The apparatus may include a plurality of clock dividers and a multiplex circuit. Each of the plurality of clock dividers may divide the frequency of a base clock signal be a respective one of a plurality of divisors. The multiplex circuit may be configured to receive a plurality of selection signals, select an output from one of the plurality of clock dividers dependent upon the received selection signals, and coupled the selected output of the plurality of clock dividers to the functional block.
US08963582B2 Signal amplification circuit and method
A signal amplification circuit includes a differential amplification unit to differentially amplify an input signal and an input signal bar, to output to a first node and a second node, respectively, a first inverting element to output a first logic value to a first output node when the level of the amplified signal is higher than a logic threshold, and to output a second logic value to the first output node when the level of the amplified signal is lower than the logic threshold, a second inverting element to output the first logic value to a second output node when the level of the amplified signal bar is higher than the logic threshold, and to output the second logic value to the second output node when the level of the amplified signal bar is lower than the logic threshold, a first current path, and a second current path.
US08963579B2 Spin torque magnetic integrated circuits and devices therefor
Spin torque magnetic integrated circuits and devices therefor are described. In an example, a spin torque magnetic device for a logic circuit includes a majority gate structure. An output is coupled to the majority gate structure. Three inputs are also coupled to the majority gate structure.
US08963570B2 Contactless loop probe
The invention relates to a contactless loop probe for the contactless decoupling of an HF signal for a contactless measuring system, comprising at least one coupling structure (10) and at least one first signal conductor (12) electrically connected to the coupling structure (10) by a first transition (20), said signal conductor being electrically connected by a second transition (22) to an output (14) for electrically connecting to the measuring system, wherein the coupling structure (10) is designed as an HF waveguide comprising at least one signal conductor (24; 30) and at least one reference conductor (26; 32).
US08963567B2 Pressure sensing and control for semiconductor wafer probing
A wafer probing system includes a probe card assembly having a plurality of individual probe structures configured make contact with a semiconductor wafer mounted on a motor driven wafer chuck, with each probe structure configured with a pressure sensing unit integrated therewith; and a controller configured to drive the probe card assembly with one or more piezoelectric driver units response to feedback from the pressure sensing units of the individual probe structures.
US08963566B2 Thermally adaptive in-system allocation
An integrated circuit device includes component devices (that include primary and alternate devices) and storage elements connected to the component devices. The storage elements store different sets of repair addresses indicating which of the primary devices and alternate devices are to be enabled. Further, a controller is connected to the storage elements, and a temperature sensor is connected to the controller. The temperature sensor senses the temperature. The controller selects one of the different storage elements to select at least one of the sets of repair addresses based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. The sets of repair addresses share use of at least one of the alternate devices and at least one of the primary devices.
US08963559B2 Variable impedance device
A variable impedance device includes a passive tuner that includes at least one variable component, which is controllable to apply a variable impedance value to an input signal of the passive tuner. A low noise amplifier is configured to supply the input signal to the passive tuner by amplifying an input RF (radio frequency) signal.
US08963557B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for locating possible fault locations in an electrical power network
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for locating possible fault locations in an electrical power network. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for locating possible fault locations in an electrical power network. The method can include receiving fault information including one or more of: an identifier associated with at least one tripping device or a fault impedance value associated with a faulted section of the electrical power network; determining a fault direction; and generating a list of possible fault locations based at least in part on the received fault information and the fault direction.
US08963553B2 Systems and methods for use in determining hazardous charging conditions
A charge detection device includes a dielectric member, a base plate coupled to the dielectric member, and a processing unit coupled to the plate. The dielectric member is representative of at least one material on a location of a vessel and the dielectric member induces an electrostatic potential energy when charged. The plate channels the induced energy through at least a portion of the device. The plate further receives at least one signal that is representative of an electrostatic discharge from a different location of the vessel. The processing unit generates at least one first output of a measurement for the induced energy. The processing unit further generates at least one second output of the presence of the electrostatic discharge to facilitate a correlation between the first and second outputs such that a user is enabled to determine the presence of at least one hazardous charging condition on the vessel.
US08963551B2 Abnormality detecting system for battery assembly
An abnormality detecting system sequentially compares the output voltages of n-piece battery cells that are connected in series, with a criteria voltage, at respective points in time Tv1-Tvn, and produces a determination signal indicative of the presence or absence of any battery cell whose voltage becomes lower than the criteria voltage at time Tvc. The battery current Ib is sampled a predetermined number of times at intervals of a predetermined sampling cycle period ΔTi. The current sampling times Ti1-Ti3 are provided within a period that lies inside a voltage sampling period Ta-Tb including the above-indicated times Tv1-Tvn, with a given period of time (ΔTi−2) or less provided at each side of the period. When detecting an increase in the internal resistance based on a comparison between the maximum value of the current sampling values and a criteria current, the abnormality detecting system corrects the criteria current in view of a current variation in a half of the sampling cycle period due to current ripple.
US08963540B2 Hall-effect-based angular orientation sensor and corresponding methods and devices
A sensor for sensing an angular orientation of a magnetic field of a magnet includes: N≧2 Hall effect devices (HD1, HD2, . . . ), each having a detection direction and including a first and a second pair of connectors, wherein, in presence of the magnetic field, a flow of an electric current between the connectors of the first pair allows to pick up a Hall voltage between the connectors of the second pair induced by the magnetic field, unless a magnetic field component of the magnetic field along the detection direction is zero, wherein the N Hall effect devices are aligned such that they have a common detection direction lying along an axis; a filtering-or-resonating unit (F) comprising an input and an output, wherein a signal outputted from the output is referred to as filtered signal.
US08963524B2 Drive circuit for switching elements
A first-path connects an input-terminal and an output-terminal of a high-potential-side switching-element and includes a high-potential-side rectifying-device and a high-potential-side passive-element. A second-path connects the output-terminal of the high-potential-side switching-element and the output-terminal of a low-potential-side switching-element and includes a low-potential-side rectifying-device and a low-potential-side passive-element. A high-potential-side applying-unit applies voltage to a connecting point between the high-potential-side rectifying-device and the high-potential-side passive-element. A high-potential-side determining-unit determines that an overcurrent is flowing between the input-terminal and the output-terminal of the high-potential-side switching-element by using a first-value. A limiting-unit limits a current between the low-potential-side rectifying-device and the output-terminal of the high-potential-side switching-element if the overcurrent is flowing. A low-potential-side applying-unit applies voltage to a connecting point between the low-potential-side rectifying-device and the low-potential-side passive-element. A low-potential-side determining-unit determines that an overcurrent is flowing between the input-terminal and the output-terminal of the high-potential-side or low-potential-side switching element by using a second-value.
US08963513B2 Switching power source
A switching power source according to one embodiment includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor is connected to a positive electrode of a DC voltage source. The second transistor is connected between the first transistor and a negative electrode of the DC voltage source. The first transistor and the second transistor are alternately placed in conducting state. A gate signal is applied to a gate terminal of the first transistor with reference to a voltage of a terminal of the first transistor that is connected to the positive electrode. A gate signal is applied to a gate terminal of the second transistor with reference to a voltage of a terminal of the second transistor that is connected to the negative electrode. The first transistor and the second transistor are configured with wide bandgap semiconductors of mutually different materials, respectively.
US08963510B1 Acyclic exciter for an alternator
A self-excited alternator for generating electrical energy. The alternator includes a stator, a rotor, and an exciter. The rotor includes conductors which are integrated within the rotor via one of a casting process, a welding process, or a fastening process. The exciter includes a magnet producing a static magnetic field, and a rotatable conductive member coupled to the shaft and electrically coupled to the one or more conductors. The rotatable conductive member is operable to output the direct current to the one or more conductors upon rotation within the static magnetic field, thus exciting the alternator.
US08963509B2 Method and device to compensate for a dip in the output voltage of a motor-vehicle alternator
A dip in the output voltage of a motor-vehicle alternator, owing to a connecting of a load or a change in speed, is compensated with the aid of an alternator regulator which provides a control signal that has a duty factor and increases the excitation current of the motor-vehicle alternator. After the occurrence of the voltage dip, in a first step, the duty factor of the control signal is increased by a differential amount, and in a subsequent second step, the rate of correction is limited. After the occurrence of the voltage dip, parameters describing the instantaneous working point of the motor-vehicle alternator are determined, and in the first step, the differential amount is set as a function of the working point.
US08963505B2 Method and apparatus for charging batteries
A charge system is disclosed. A charge system includes a switching device and a controller. The switching device performs switching of a DC input voltage at a predetermined switching frequency to generate an output voltage, and the output voltage being utilized for charging said battery. The controller allows the switching device to operate at a first switching frequency immediately after starting of charge and at a second switching frequency when a frequency changing condition holds. The second switching frequency is higher than that of first switching frequency.
US08963498B2 Modular hand-held electronic device charging and monitoring system
This specification relates to a charging, securing and monitoring system for hand-held electronic devices such as cell phones, BlackBerry's, PDA's, cameras, or the like and the components therefore. More particularly the teachings herein include a coaxial cable construction that permits securing and charging of said hand-held devices which are on display at a typical retailer. Further the cable may be accumulated on a unique recoiler assembly at one end of the coaxial cable and engages a unique holding device proximate the other end thereof.
US08963497B2 Cordless tool system
A tool discharges one battery pack and a charger simultaneously charges another battery pack to provide for continuous and circular operation of the tool. The ratio of the discharging time to the charging time is approximately 25:35.
US08963491B2 Contactless charging module, contactless charging device, and method of manufacturing contactless charging module
A contactless charging module, a contactless charging device, and a method of manufacturing the contactless charging module, wherein a magnetic sheet can be prevented from being damaged and giving an adverse effect on power transmission characteristic, by adopting a flexible magnetic sheet having slits, and wherein power transmission efficiency of the contactless charging module can be prevented from decreasing significantly. The contactless charging module is provided with: a planar coil unit; a magnetic sheet upon which the planar coil unit is to be mounted; a recess section or a slit that is formed on the magnetic sheet, and that is for housing therein a portion of a conductor wire of the planar coil unit; and a plurality of flexible slits that are for giving flexibility to the magnetic sheet. At least one of the plurality of flexible slits is formed such that a virtual extension line of the flexible slit will be arranged within the width of the recess section or the slit.
US08963468B2 Motor control device and electric power steering device
A motor control device includes an anomaly detection means that detects an anomaly occurring on power feeding paths of respective phases on the basis of first electric current values, second electric current values of the respective phases and a phase electric current value obtained by the first electric current values and the second electric current values. When at least one of an absolute value of the first electric current value and an absolute value of the second electric current value exceeds a first threshold value corresponding to a limit value of an electric current detection and an absolute value of the phase electric current value is smaller than a second threshold value corresponding to zero in any one phase, the anomaly detection means determines that an anomaly of an electric current sensor has occurred as regards the corresponding phase.
US08963462B2 Driving apparatus for multiplex-winding rotary machine
Provided are rotational position detection means detecting the rotational position of a multiplex-winding rotary machine; failure determination means determining failure of the rotational position detection means; control means calculating a voltage instruction for each winding group, based on the rotational position detected by the rotational position detection means; and voltage application means applying voltage to each winding group, based on the voltage instruction. According to the failure determination by the failure determination means, the control means outputs a voltage instruction for rotational position estimation to the voltage application means, and estimates the rotational position θe, based on at least one of voltage and current obtained from the winding group in accordance with the voltage instruction.
US08963456B2 Power converter and power converter of rolling stock
A power converter includes a first electric power conversion unit having an inverter for converting a first DC electric power to an AC electric power, an AC circuit connected to the first electric power conversion means; a second electric power conversion unit for receiving the first DC electric power and converting the same to a second DC electric power having a voltage level that differs from the voltage level of the first DC electric power, a power storage unit for storing the second DC electric power of the second electric power conversion unit; and a ripple suppressor having a first inductance for guiding the second DC electric power of the second electric power conversion unit to the power storage means and a second inductance for suppressing the ripple component included in the second DC electric power arranged between the second electric power conversion unit and the power storage unit.
US08963449B2 Lighting system with power factor correction control data determined from a phase modulated signal
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system includes a power factor correction (PFC) controller that determines at least one power factor correction control parameter from phase delays of a phase modulated signal. In at least one embodiment, a peak voltage of the phase modulated signal is a PFC control parameter used by the PFC controller to control power factor correction and generation of a link voltage by a PFC LED driver circuit. The phase delays. are related to a peak voltage of the phase modulated signal. Thus, in at least one embodiment, detecting the phase delay in one or more cycles of the phase modulated signal allows the PFC controller to determine the peak voltage of the phase modulated signal.
US08963448B2 Output buffer circuit, devices including the same, and operating method of the output buffer circuit
An output buffer circuit includes an amplifier and a transmission circuit. The amplifier includes a plurality of inputs and an output. The inputs provide first input signals and second input signals to the amplifier. The output provides an output signal as a first input signal of the first input signals to the amplifier. The transmission circuit has an input coupled to the output of the amplifier and further has an output that provides a transmission circuit output signal as a second input signal of the second input signals to the amplifier.
US08963444B2 Controlling the light output of one or more LEDs in response to the output of a dimmer
An apparatus for controlling the brightness of one or more light emitting diodes includes a sensing circuit to sense a dimming level of a dimmer. A microprocessor receives from the sensing circuit a signal indicative of the dimming level, and a drive circuit drives the one or more light emitting diodes. The microprocessor is arranged to generate a PWM waveform or current level corresponding to the dimming level and to provide the PWM waveform or current level to the drive circuit.
US08963440B2 Two-wire dimmer switch for controlling low-power loads
A two-wire load control device such as a dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load such as a high-efficiency lighting load may be provided. The load control device may include a bidirectional semiconductor switch coupled between the source and the load and a controller operable to control the bidirectional semiconductor switch. The load control device may also include a front accessible trimming actuator to adjust a low end intensity setting of the load control device. The trimming actuator may be coupled to the controller such that the controller may control the bidirectional semiconductor switch appropriately. Additionally, the trimming actuator may include indicia to help a user readily identify the proper low end intensity setting.
US08963435B2 Light emitting system and light emitting instruction apparatus
An apparatus and a system using an infrared ray for performing a variety of stage effect operations. In a light emitting system including a light emitting instruction apparatus and a light emitting device, the light emitting instruction apparatus includes an infrared output which outputs an infrared signal modulated by a control code, and the light emitting device includes a receiver which receives the infrared signal, an extractor which extracts the control code from the infrared signal acquired by the receiver, a light emitter which emits visible light in a plurality of colors, and a controller which executes drive control of the light emitter. The control code transmitted by the light emitting instruction apparatus includes a plurality of verification codes which verify whether to match with ID codes preliminarily stored in the light emitter.
US08963412B2 Display device and electronic apparatus having a display device
A display device includes a plurality of main pixels. Each main pixel includes a plurality of sub-pixels. At least two of the sub-pixels emit light of different colors. The at least two sub-pixels are different in size.
US08963410B2 LED bulb
A LED bulb includes a bulb head, a power PCBA of which a bottom is equipped with power pins, a LED PCB mounted to a top of the power PCBA and electrically connecting with the power PCBA, and a cover covered on the LED PCB. The bulb head includes a housing, electrical terminals disposed in the housing and including an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, and a power connection unit mounted to a bottom of the housing and including a bulb base and an anode element. One end of the anode terminal is electrically connected with a top end of the anode element. One end of the cathode terminal projects outside the housing to be electrically connected with the bulb base. The power PCBA is mounted on the housing. The power pins are electrically connected with another two ends of the anode terminal and the cathode terminal.
US08963409B2 Discharge element and method of manufacturing the same
A discharge element includes a first electrode that is made of a plastically-deformable conductive material and that has an internal space and an opening communicating with the internal space, a base that is made of an insulating material and that is air-tightly joined to the opening so that the internal space of the first electrode becomes an airtight space, and a second electrode that is made of a conductive material and that is inserted into the internal space via the base so as to form a spark gap between itself and the first electrode. Therefore, it is possible to provide the discharge element that realizes a high production yield, a simple structure, and a cost reduction and a simple manufacturing method of the discharge element.
US08963400B2 Piezo driver having recharging capability
A piezo driver is described that is configured to furnish electric charge to a piezo component and configured to transfer electric charge from the piezo component to a passive energy storage component during various operational states of the piezo driver. In one or more implementations, the piezo driver includes a first passive energy storage component and a second passive energy storage component configured to store electric charge. The piezo driver also includes a voltage converter configured to electrically connect between a piezo component and the first passive energy storage component and the second passive energy storage component. The voltage converter is configured to furnish electric charge from the first passive energy storage component to the piezo component, and vice versa. The voltage converter is also configured to furnish electric charge from the second passive energy storage component to the piezo component, and vice versa.
US08963398B2 Current control brush assembly
A system, in certain embodiments, includes a current control brush assembly including a first electrically conductive arcuate housing section retaining a first set of electrically conductive filaments. The first set of electrically conductive filaments extends generally inward along a radial direction. The current control brush assembly also includes a second electrically conductive arcuate housing section retaining a second set of electrically conductive filaments. The second set of electrically conductive filaments extends generally inward along the radial direction. Furthermore, the current control brush assembly includes a hinge configured to facilitate rotation of the second electrically conductive arcuate housing section relative to the first electrically conductive arcuate housing section about an axis substantially perpendicular to a first axial surface of the first electrically conductive arcuate housing section.
US08963396B2 Electromechanical device and assembly method
An electromechanical device includes a rotor and a stator, wherein the stator includes multiple teeth excitable by a coil. The stator is formed from multiple stator sections with one section having a protrusion in spaced relation with a first tooth and a second section having a second protrusion in spaced relation with a second tooth. The protrusions have voids for receiving opposing protrusions in an overlapping manner to integrally form the first stator section with the second stator section. The electrical coil is extended around at least a portion of one tooth before mating the multiple stator sections. The rotor has a diametral magnetized magnet extending into the aperture.
US08963384B2 Electric motor assemblies including stator and/or rotor cooling
An electric motor assembly including a stator having a stator core and windings around the stator core is disclosed. The stator core has opposing ends and an outer surface extending between the opposing ends. The electric motor assembly also includes a housing having an inner surface enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and at least one fluid passage between the outer surface of the stator core and the inner surface of the housing. The fluid passage permits a coolant in the fluid passage to contact one or more portions of the outer surface of the stator core to remove heat from the stator core during operation of the electric motor assembly. Additional motor assemblies including stator and/or rotor cooling features are disclosed.
US08963378B1 Method and apparatus for interconnecting distributed power sources
A method and apparatus for power wiring. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a splice box comprising (i) a plug having a plurality of plug pins, each plug pin of the plurality of plug pins for coupling to a conductor within a cable adapted for coupling to a power line; (ii) a first pin receptacle for coupling to a first guide pin of a connector; and (iii) a first pair of retention bars disposed within the first pin receptacle, the first pair of retention bars for retaining the first guide pin.
US08963374B2 System and method for integrating wind power generation with wave power generation
A system for integrating a wind power generation with a wave power generation includes a wind power generation device, a wave power generation device and a power integration device. The wind power generation device generates a first voltage. The wave power generation device generates a second voltage. The power integration device integrates the first voltage with the second voltage.
US08963364B2 Vehicle-mounted device and key switch identification method
A voltage detector 22 has an input port IN connectable to a steering remote control 6 of a voltage dividing type adapted to output one of output voltages different from each other for each of key switches to be pressed by a user, and detects through the input port IN an output voltage output from the steering remote control 6. A pull-up resistor 21a is connected in series between the input port IN and a power supply Vdd supplying a voltage to the steering remote control 6, and has a variable resistance. A controller 23 controls the pull-up resistor 21a to have sequentially changed resistances in a course of pressing the key switches. A processor 3 operates on sets of output voltages given respectively for the resistances in the course of pressing the key switches, to select a resistance of the pull-up resistor.
US08963360B1 Hydro-electric system and device for producing energy
An energy producing unit is provided for producing energy from an artificial fall of fluid. The energy producing unit includes a host structure immersed in a fluid and a moveable member disposed within the host structure. The moveable member is independently vertically movable relative to the host structure between a risen position and a lowered position and is buoyantly biased to the risen position. An expandable compartment is formed within the host structure between a horizontal wall and a second horizontal member of the moveable member disposed below the horizontal wall. The expandable compartment expands and retracts when the moveable member is vertically moved between the risen position and the lowered position. The energy producing unit includes a conduit in communication with the expandable compartment and an energy extraction disposed within the conduit. As fluid flows through the conduit into the expandable compartment, energy is extracted from the flowing fluid.
US08963355B2 High-performance wind turbine generator that can be driven in horizontal/vertical axis directions with the use of 3D active intelligent turbine blades
Provided is a 3D active intelligent-type high-performance wind turbine generator. The 3D active intelligent-type high-performance wind turbine generator may be driven in horizontal/vertical axis directions. This novel wind turbine generator includes blades for driving a generator shaft of which cross sections are arranged symmetrically to increase the efficiency of the wind turbine generator and a cylindrical type cam and cam follower for controlling the angle of each blade in every direction to an optimum condition, so as to guide a working fluid having kinetic energy to be introduced at right angles to the direction of the cross section of each blade, thereby maximizing the driving force of the blades. Thus, the wind turbine generator may operate satisfactorily even at a low initial start-up wind speed and may be driven in any horizontal/vertical axis directions.
US08963336B2 Semiconductor packages, methods of manufacturing the same, and semiconductor package structures including the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, a through-via electrode extending through the substrate. The through-via electrode has an interconnection metal layer and a barrier metal layer surrounding a side surface of the interconnection metal layer. One end of the through-via electrode protrudes above the second surface. A spacer insulating layer may be provided on an outer sidewall of the through-via electrode. A through-via electrode pad is connected to the through-via electrode and extends on the spacer insulating layer substantially parallel to the second surface. A first silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer are stacked on the second surface. A thickness of the first silicon oxide layer is greater than a thickness of the silicon nitride layer.
US08963324B2 Semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device, a semiconductor module is pressed against a cooler by a spring member. The spring member is compressed by a beam member that is connected with a strut fixed to the cooler. The cooler has a pressed part in which the semiconductor module is pressed, and a strut fixing part to which the strut is fixed. The strut fixing part has higher rigidity than the pressed part.
US08963322B2 Electric power conversion apparatus
An electric power conversion apparatus includes a stacked body, a capacitor, a metal frame and a case. The stacked body is formed by stacking semiconductor modules with coolant passages formed therebetween. The frame has both the stacked body and the capacitor fixed therein. The case has all of the stacked body, the capacitor and the frame received therein. Further, the frame has a separation wall that separates the stacked body and the capacitor from each other, a stacked body-surrounding wall that surrounds the stacked body with the help of the separation wall, and a capacitor-surrounding that surrounds the capacitor with the help of the separation wall. The capacitor has a pair of end portions that are opposite to each other in a predetermined direction, in which control terminals of the semiconductor modules of the stacked body protrude, and each at least partially exposed from the capacitor-surrounding wall of the frame.
US08963320B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with thermal structures and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a thermal attach cluster includes: forming a heat collector having a heat dissipation surface, forming a cluster bridge, having a thermal surface, connected to the heat collector, forming a cluster pad, having an attachment surface, connected to the end of the cluster bridge opposite the heat collector; connecting an integrated circuit to the thermal attach cluster; and forming an encapsulation over the thermal attach cluster with the heat dissipation surface, the thermal surface, and the attachment surface exposed from and coplanar with the encapsulation.
US08963319B2 Semiconductor chip with through hole vias
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate, a via and an insulating layer. The semiconductor substrate has a first major surface and a second major surface on opposite side from the first major surface. The semiconductor substrate is provided with a circuit section including an element and a wiring and a guard ring structure section surrounding the circuit section on the first major surface side. The via is provided in a via hole extending from the first major surface side to the second major surface side of the semiconductor substrate. The insulating layer is provided in a first trench extending from the first major surface side to the second major surface side of the semiconductor substrate.
US08963317B2 Thermal dissipation through seal rings in 3DIC structure
A package includes a die, which includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of through-vias penetrating through the semiconductor substrate, a seal ring overlapping and connected to the plurality of through-vias, and a plurality of electrical connectors underlying the semiconductor substrate and connected to the seal ring. An interposer is underlying and bonded to the die. The interposer includes a substrate, and a plurality of metal lines over the substrate. The plurality of metal lines is electrically coupled to the plurality of electrical connectors. Each of the plurality metal lines has a first portion overlapped by the first die, and a second portion misaligned with the die. A heat spreader encircles the die and the interposer. A wire includes a first end bonded to one of the plurality of metal lines, and a second end bonded to the heat spreader.
US08963310B2 Low cost hybrid high density package
A microelectronic assembly includes a substrate, a first and second microelectronic elements, a lead finger, electrical connections extending between contacts of the second microelectronic element and the lead fingers, and an encapsulant overlying at least portions of the first and second microelectronic elements, lead finger and electrical connections. The substrate has contacts at a first surface and terminals at an opposed second surface that are electrically connected with the substrate contacts. The first microelectronic element has contacts exposed at its front face. The front face of the first microelectronic element is joined to the substrate contacts. The second microelectronic element overlies the first microelectronic element and has contacts at a front face facing away from the substrate. The lead frame has lead fingers, wherein the second surface of the substrate and the lead fingers define a common interface for electrical interconnection to a component external to the microelectronic assembly.
US08963307B2 Compact device package
Various embodiments related to a compact device package are disclosed herein. In some arrangements, a flexible substrate can be coupled to a carrier having walls angled relative to one another. The substrate can be shaped to include two bends. First and second integrated device dies can be mounted on opposite sides of the substrate between the two bends in various arrangements.
US08963304B2 Semiconductor device and semiconductor device mounting structure
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of functional element chips, an electric connection member joined to two of the functional element chips, a first wire and a resin configured to cover the functional element chips, the electric connection member and the first wire. One of the two functional element chips may be a first semiconductor chip having first and second major surface electrodes facing toward the same direction and a first rear surface electrode facing in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first major surface electrode faces. The electric connection member may be joined to the first major surface electrode. The first wire may be joined to the second major surface electrode. The first wire may include a portion overlapping with the electric connection member in a thickness direction of the first semiconductor chip.
US08963300B2 Semiconductor device with selective planished leadframe
A semiconductor device includes a leadframe, a semiconductor chip, a packaging compound. The leadframe has a pad with straps. Leads on the leadframe include first and second portions. The pad, the straps, and the leads have a mechanically rough surface. The semiconductor chip is attached to the pad and wire bonded to the first lead portions. A packaging compound encapsulates the chip, the pad, the straps, the bonding wires and the first lead portions. The second lead portions are left un-encapsulated. The strap ends are exposed on the surface of the package. At least one of the straps includes a portion adjacent to the exposed end. This portion having a mechanically smooth surface transitioning by a step into the rough surface of the remainder of the strap.
US08963299B2 Semiconductor package and fabrication method thereof
A semiconductor package is provided, including: a substrate having at least a conductive pad; a semiconductor element disposed on the substrate; a conductive adhesive formed on top and side surfaces of the semiconductor element and extending to the conductive pad; and an electronic element disposed on the conductive adhesive. The conductive adhesive and the conductive pad form a shielding structure so as to prevent electromagnetic interference from occurring between the semiconductor element and the electronic element.
US08963296B2 Double trench rectifier
A high power density or low forward voltage rectifier which utilizes at least one trench in both the anode and cathode. The trenches are formed in opposing surfaces of the substrate, to increase the junction surface area per unit surface area of the semiconductor die. This structure allows for increased current loads without increased horizontal die space. The increased current handling capability allows for the rectifier to operate at lower forward voltages. Furthermore, the present structure provides for increased substrate usage by up to 30 percent.
US08963294B2 Dense chevron finFET and method of manufacturing same
A method, structure and alignment procedure, for forming a finFET. The method including, defining a first fin of the finFET with a first mask and defining a second fin of the finFET with a second mask. The structure including integral first and second fins of single-crystal semiconductor material and longitudinal axes of the first and second fins aligned in the same crystal direction but offset from each other. The alignment procedure including simultaneously aligning alignment marks on a gate mask to alignment targets formed separately by a first masked used to define the first fin and a second mask used to define the second fin.
US08963270B2 Fabrication of interconnected thin-film concentrator cells using shadow masks
A method for fabricating thin film solar cells for a concentrated photovoltaic system uses three shadow masks. The first mask, used to deposit a back contact layer, has multiple horizontal and vertical lines defining columns and rows of cells, and multiple tabs each located in a cell along a center of a vertical border. The second mask, used to deposit a CIGS absorption layer, a window layer and a transparent contact layer, is similar to the first mask except the tabs are located along the opposite vertical border of the cells. The third mask, used to deposit a metal grid layer, has multiple bus bar openings and finger openings. Each bus bar opening is located along a horizontal center line of a cell and overlaps the second tab of a neighboring cell. The cells in a horizontal row are connected in series, forming a linear solar receiver.
US08963260B2 Power semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof
A power semiconductor device includes a cell region on a semiconductor substrate, at least a transistor device in the cell region, a peripheral termination region encompassing the cell region, a plurality of epitaxial islands arranged around the cell region, and a grid type epitaxial layer in the peripheral termination region. The grid type epitaxial layer separates the plurality of epitaxial islands from one another.
US08963258B2 FinFET with bottom SiGe layer in source/drain
A FinFET includes a substrate, a fin structure on the substrate, a source in the fin structure, a drain in the fin structure, a channel in the fin structure between the source and the drain, a gate dielectric layer over the channel, and a gate over the gate dielectric layer. At least one of the source and the drain includes a bottom SiGe layer.
US08963254B2 Simultaneous formation of FinFET and MUGFET
A method and structure comprise a field effect transistor structure that includes a first rectangular fin structure positioned on a substrate. The first rectangular fin structure has a bottom contacting the substrate, a top opposite the bottom, and sides between the top and the bottom. The structure additionally includes a second rectangular fin structure positioned on the substrate. Similarly, the second rectangular fin structure also has a bottom contacting the substrate, a top opposite the bottom, and sides between the top and the bottom. The sides of the second rectangular fin structure are parallel to the sides of the first rectangular fin structure. Further, a trench insulator is positioned on the substrate and is positioned between a side of the first rectangular fin structure and a side of the second rectangular fin structure.
US08963246B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
There is provided a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. Within the N-type semiconductor layer formed from a high resistance N-type substrate, the P-type well diffusion layer and P-type extraction layer are formed and are fixed to ground potential. Due thereto, a depletion layer spreading on the P-type well diffusion layer side does not reach the interlayer boundary between the P-type well diffusion layer and the buried oxide film. Hence, the potential around the surface of the P-type well diffusion layer is kept at a ground potential. Accordingly, when the voltages are applied to the backside of the N-type semiconductor layer and a cathode electrode, a channel region at the MOS-type semiconductor formed as a P-type semiconductor layer is not activated. Due thereto, leakage current that may occur independently of a control due to the gate electrode of a transistor can be suppressed.
US08963245B2 Integrated circuit having lateral compensation component
An integrated circuit and component is disclosed. In one embodiment, the component is a compensation component, configuring the compensation regions in the drift zone in V-shaped fashion in order to achieve a convergence of the space charge zones from the upper to the lower end of the compensation regions is disclosed.
US08963239B2 800 V superjunction device
A superjunction device includes a substrate having first and second main surfaces and a first doping concentration of a first dopant. A first semiconductor layer having a second doping concentration of the first dopant is formed on the substrate. A second semiconductor layer is formed on the first layer and has a main surface. At least one trench extends from the main surface at least partially into the first semiconductor layer. A first region having a third doping concentration of the first dopant extends at least partially between the main surface and the first layer. A second region having a fourth doping concentration of a second dopant is disposed between the first region and a trench sidewall and extends at least partially between the main surface and the first layer. A third region having a fifth doping concentration of the first dopant is disposed proximate the main surface.
US08963238B2 Double diffused drain metal-oxide-semiconductor devices with floating poly thereon and methods of manufacturing the same
A metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device is disclosed. The MOS device includes a substrate of a first impurity type, a diffused region of a second impurity type in the substrate, a patterned first dielectric layer including a first dielectric portion over the diffused region, a patterned first conductive layer on the patterned first dielectric layer, the patterned first conductive layer including a first conductive portion on the first dielectric portion, a patterned second dielectric layer including a second dielectric portion that extends on a first portion of an upper surface of the first conductive portion and along a sidewall of the first conductive portion to the substrate; and a patterned second conductive layer on the patterned second dielectric layer, the patterned second conductive layer including a second conductive portion on the second dielectric portion.
US08963234B2 Semiconductor device
The substrate is made of a compound semiconductor, and has a recess, which opens at one main surface and has side wall surfaces when viewed in a cross section along a thickness direction. The gate insulating film is disposed on and in contact with each of the side wall surfaces. The substrate includes a source region having first conductivity type and disposed to be exposed at the side wall surface; and a body region having second conductivity type and disposed in contact with the source region at a side opposite to the one main surface so as to be exposed at the side wall surface, when viewed from the source region. The recess has a closed shape when viewed in a plan view. The side wall surfaces provide an outwardly projecting shape in every direction when viewed from an arbitrary location in the recess.
US08963222B2 Spin hall effect magnetic-RAM
A spin Hall effect magnetoresistive memory comprises apparatus of a three terminal magnetoresistive memory cell having an MTJ stack, a functional magnetic layer having a magnetization anti-parallel or parallel coupled with a recording layer magnetization in the MTJ stack, and a SHE-metal base layer. The control circuitry coupled through the bit line and the two select transistors to selected ones of the plurality of magnetoresistive memory elements to supply a reading current across the magnetoresistive element stack and two bottom electrodes and to supply a bi-directional spin Hall effect recording current, and accordingly to directly switch the magnetization of the functional magnetic coupling layer and indirectly switching the magnetization of the recording layer through the coupling between the functional magnetic coupling layer and the recording layer.
US08963217B2 Wafer structure and power device using the same
In one embodiment, a wafer structure configured for a power device can include: (i) a first doping layer having a high doping concentration; (ii) a second doping layer on the first doping layer, where a doping concentration of the second doping layer is less than the high doping concentration; and (iii) a third doping layer on the second doping layer, where a doping concentration of the third doping layer is greater than the doping concentration of the second doping layer. For example, the power device can be part of a switching voltage regulator.
US08963214B2 Thin film transistor, method of manufacturing the thin film transistor and organic light emitting display device have the thin film transistor
A thin film transistor for an organic light emitting display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the thin film transistor includes: a substrate, an active layer formed over the substrate, wherein the active layer is formed of an oxide semiconductor, a gate insulating layer formed over the substrate and the active layer, and source and drain electrodes formed on the gate insulating layer and electrically connected to the active layer. The transistor may further include a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating layer and formed between the source and drain electrodes, wherein the gate electrode is spaced apart from the source electrode so as to define a first offset region therebetween, and wherein the gate electrode is spaced apart from the drain electrode so as to define a second offset region therebetween. The transistor may further include a passivation layer formed on i) the gate insulating layer, ii) the source and drain electrodes and iii) the gate electrode; and at least one auxiliary gate electrode formed on the passivation layer, wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary gate electrode is located directly above the first and second offset regions.