Document Document Title
US08965526B2 Active rejection of MRI gradient signals in an implantable medical device
Active rejection techniques are used to cancel MRI gradient signals in an implantable medical device. An active component placed in an input channel of the implantable medical device actively rejects MRI gradient signals received on the input channel. A sensing circuit that senses an external MRI gradient signal generates a control signal that controls the active component. For example, the control signal may be the inverse of the external MRI gradient signal. An active component that receives an input signal including a desired signal component (e.g., a cardiac signal) and an undesired MRI gradient signal component may thus use this control signal to reject the undesired MRI gradient signal component.
US08965522B2 Implantable neurostimulator for providing electrical stimulation of cervical vagus nerves for treatment of chronic cardiac dysfunction with bounded titration
A system for providing electrical stimulation of cervical vagus nerves for treatment of chronic cardiac dysfunction with bounded titration is provided. The system includes a patient-operable external controller to transmit a plurality of unique signals. The system further includes an implantable neurostimulator, which includes a pulse generator to deliver electrical therapeutic stimulation tuned to restore autonomic balance through continuously-cycling, intermittent and periodic electrical pulses that result in creation and propagation (in both afferent and efferent directions) of action potentials within the cervical vagus nerve of a patient through a pair of helical electrodes via an electrically coupled nerve stimulation therapy lead. The neurostimulator also includes a recordable memory storing an autotitration operating mode that includes a maximum stimulation intensity and is configured to increase an intensity of the delivered electrical therapeutic stimulation up to a level not exceeding the maximum stimulation intensity upon receipt of one of the unique signals.
US08965519B2 Encoding fine time structure in presence of substantial interaction across an electrode array
Among other things, a stimulation strategy can be customized for a cochlear implant implanted in an individual by testing at least a pair of electrodes selected from an array of electrodes associated with the cochlear implant. Testing the at least a pair of electrodes includes applying a first stimulation to the at least a pair of electrodes using a first pair of pulse trains that are out of phase, and applying a second stimulation to the at least a pair of electrodes using a second pair of pulse trains that are out of phase. A determination is made on whether the at least a pair of electrodes stimulate the same neural population based on a sensitivity of the individual to detect a perceived difference between the two pairs of pulse trains. The one or more electrodes of the array of electrodes are selectively stimulated based on the determination.
US08965513B2 Systems, methods and devices for a skull/brain interface
Systems, methods and devices are disclosed for directing and focusing signals to the brain for neuromodulation and for directing and focusing signals or other energy from the brain for measurement, heat transfer and imaging. An aperture in the skull and/or a channel device implantable in the skull can be used to facilitate direction and focusing. Treatment and diagnosis of multiple neurological conditions may be facilitated with the disclosed systems, methods and devices.
US08965507B2 System and method for selection of pacing vectors
Various techniques are disclosed for quickly and efficiently determining cardiac pacing vectors that minimize phrenic nerve stimulation.
US08965504B2 Systems and methods of characterizing mechanical activation patterns for rhythm discrimination and therapy
An implantable sensor circuit can be configured to generate a first sensor signal representative of mechanical activation of a first chamber of a heart of a subject and a second sensor signal representative of mechanical activation of a second chamber of the heart. A chamber synchrony measurement circuit can be configured to generate a measure of synchrony of the mechanical activations of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber using the first and second sensor signals, a tachyarrhythmia detector circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit can be configured to receive an indication of a detected episode of tachyarrhythmia, and to initiate, select, or adjust a device-based therapy at least in part using the measure of synchrony of the mechanical activations in response to the tachyarrhythmia detection.
US08965503B2 Systems and methods for treating supraventricular arrhythmias
In various method embodiments, a supraventricular arrhythmia event is detected, and a supraventricular arrhythmia treatment, including neural stimulation to elicit a sympathetic response, is delivered in response to a detected supraventricular arrhythmia event. Some embodiments detect a precursor for a supraventricular arrhythmia episode, and deliver prophylactic neural stimulation to avoid the supraventricular arrhythmia event. Some embodiments detect a supraventricular arrhythmia episode, and deliver therapeutic neural stimulation for the supraventricular arrhythmia event.
US08965502B2 Cardiac stimulator for cardiac contractility modulation
At least one embodiment of the invention relates to a cardiac stimulator comprising at least one stimulation unit to deliver subthreshold stimulation pulses for a cardiac contractility modulation therapy via at least two stimulation electrode poles, and at least one sensing unit to detect cardiac electrical or mechanical actions. The at least one sensing unit detects signals characteristic of cardiac action and comprises, or is connected to, an evaluation unit that evaluates signals detected by the sensing unit and supplies a corresponding evaluation result signal. The cardiac stimulator further comprises a therapy control unit to control a respective cardiac contractility modulation therapy depending on a respective evaluation result signal. A respective cardiac contractility modulation therapy is activated/deactivated depending on a stimulation success/failure of a suprathreshold stimulation, and/or therapy parameters of a respective cardiac contractility modulation therapy are selected and/or adjusted depending on the respective evaluation result signal.
US08965497B2 Electrophysiological analysis system and method
The invention relates to an electrophysiological analysis system which comprises a plurality of electrodes (E1-E4), power supply means (10, 30) for successively applying a substantially continuous voltage ranging approximately from 1 to 5 volts and lasting from 0.1 to 5 seconds to different slotted electrode pairs, collecting and storing means (450) for recording the variation of a current flow in the electrode pairs to which said voltage slots are applied, means (50) for enabling the current variations obtained by comparison between at least two current variations caused by supposed identical conditions and means (50) for comparing data related to the current variations recorded for several electrode pairs and enabled with reference data. Said invention can be used for chronoamperometrically detecting pathologies, pathological areas and organ dysfunctions.
US08965493B2 Electromedical implant and monitoring system
An electromedical implant for monitoring a thoracic property of a living being is provided that includes a detector arrangement including an impedance measuring unit and an electrode arrangement, which are equipped to capture a measurement signal associated with the thoracic property in the form of an impedance signal; a monitoring arrangement, which is connected to the detector arrangement and equipped to generate a parameter from the measurement signal that is indicative of the thoracic property, and an evaluation unit, which is connected to the monitoring arrangement and equipped to determine an evaluation result regarding the thoracic property based on the parameter. According to the invention, the electrode arrangement comprises at least a plurality of mutually isolated electrodes, which are disposed on the housing and operatively connected by way of the impedance measuring unit and which can be separately controlled, wherein an electrode body has a strip shape.
US08965491B2 Adaptive waveform appraisal in an implantable cardiac system
Methods and implantable devices for cardiac signal analysis. The methods and devices make use of waveform appraisal techniques to distinguish event detections into categories for suspect events and waveform appraisal passing events. When adjustments are made to the data entering analysis for waveform appraisal, the waveform appraisal thresholds applied are modified as well. For example, when the data analysis window for waveform appraisal changes in length, a waveform appraisal threshold is modified. Other changes, including changes in sensing characteristics with which waveform appraisal operates may also result in changes to the waveform appraisal threshold including changes in gain, sensing vector, activation of other devices, implantee posture and other examples which are explained.
US08965490B2 Systems and methods for detection of the superior vena cava area
Described herein are systems, devices and methods to increase the accuracy of intravascular catheter placement, and to improve electrocardiogram (ECG), intravascular electrogram, and ultrasound Doppler signal processing to detect the Superior Vena Cava (SVC) area. Embodiments of the invention are intended to place an intravascular catheter within the lower ⅓ of SVC to the junction of the SVC and the right atrium (RA)—called the cavoatrial junction (CAJ). In particular, the improved accuracy of CAJ location detection during an intravascular catheter placement can be provided by optimization of ECG parameters and ultrasound Doppler signal using Neuro-Fuzzy logic and/or other processing techniques.
US08965486B2 Cavity filling biopsy site markers
The invention provides materials, devices and methods for marking biopsy sites for a limited time. The biopsy-marking materials are ultrasound-detectable bio-resorbable powders, with powder particles typically between about 20 microns and about 800 microns in maximum dimension, more preferably between about 300 microns and about 500 microns. The powders may be formed of polymeric materials containing cavities sized between about 10 microns and about 500 microns, and may also contain binding agents, anesthetic agents, hemostatic agents, and radiopaque markers. Devices for delivering the powders include tubes configured to contain the powders and to fit within a biopsy cannula, the powders being ejected by action of a syringe. Systems may include a tube containing powder, and a syringe containing sterile saline. The tube may be configured to fit within a biopsy cannula such as a Mammotome® or SenoCor 360™ cannula.
US08965484B2 Method and apparatus for generating a perfusion image
A method of displaying image data for a tissue of an organ includes acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) projection dataset using a Computed Tomography (CT) imaging system, performing a segmentation of the 3D projection dataset that includes a plurality of voxels, performing a perfusion viability cluster analysis to identify myocardium voxels, grouping the myocardium voxels into viable clusters and non-viable clusters based on a density and a location of the myocardium voxels, and generating an image of the myocardium and a coronary tree using the viable clusters and the non-viable clusters. An imaging system and a non-transitory computer readable medium are also described herein.
US08965481B1 Method to evaluate patients for thoracic outlet syndrome
Improvements in magnetic resonance imaging methods to obtain three-dimensional models and diagnoses of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome are described.
US08965464B2 Real-time location and presence using a push-location client and server
A system for providing real-time always-on location is presented for maintaining the current location of a mobile device, while saving the battery by managing the GPS in a power-saving mode while the device is considered to be stationary. The system also provides a real-time location in an indoor environment where a GPS signal may not be available. Additionally, methods for driving detection are also presented.
US08965462B2 Persistent display of priority information on a portable electronic device
Personal digital assistant devices are provided that query power subsystems to determine a level of battery power currently available for operating processes, and further determine a number of screen display changes that may be effected on a persistent display device at that determined level. If the determined number of screen display changes that may be effected at the determined level of available battery power fails to meet a specified minimum threshold number of images, the processing unit powers down subsystems of the personal digital assistant device and causes a highest listed image of a prioritized list of screen image instances to be displayed on the persistent display device, which persistently displays the image after a loss of power.
US08965461B2 Reverse link signaling via receive antenna impedance modulation
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer including generating an electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency of a transmit antenna to create a coupling-mode region within a near-field of the transmit antenna. A receive antenna placed within the coupling-mode region resonates at or near the resonant frequency. The receive antenna extracts energy from a coupling between the two antennas. Signaling from the receive antenna to the transmit antenna is performed by generating a first power consumption state for the receive antenna to signal a first receive signal state and generating a second power consumption state for the receive antenna to signal a second receive signal state. Signaling from the transmit antenna to the receive antenna is performed by enabling the resonant frequency on the transmit antenna to signal a first transmit signal state and disabling the resonant frequency on the transmit antenna to signal a second transmit signal state.
US08965459B2 Mobile terminal and control method thereof
A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal may be provided. The mobile terminal may display an application on a home screen and execute the application upon shifting to a page of the home screen on which the application is arranged. The mobile terminal may change display characteristics of an item arranged on the home screen in response to a drag input for the item.
US08965458B2 Protective cushion cover for an electronic device
Disclosed is a protective case for an electronic device. The protective case has two layers, an inner cushion cover that surrounds a portion of the electronic device and an outer rigid shell. The outer rigid shell has curved flexible arms that engage and hold the cushion cover 104 on the electronic device. The cushion cover has reduced thickness portions so that the curved flexible arms are embedded in the cushion cover and provide a protective case having a substantially smooth exterior. The cushion cover is capable of absorbing shocks from impacts on the rigid outer shell. Coring on the inner portion of the cushion cover provides additional softness and the ability of the cushion cover to absorb shocks while using a higher density material, which is able to conform to the electronic device.
US08965457B2 Method and apparatus for controlling an electronic device display for presenting information on said display
A method and apparatus for presenting information is provided. In an embodiment, an electronic device with wireless telephony features is provided. The display of the device is divided into at least two regions. The first region is reserved for presenting status information about the device, including such information as battery life, signal strength, time and date, carrier information, and the like. The second region is reserved for use by applications, such as at least a main menu application and an incoming telephone call application. When an incoming call arrives, the main menu application presented on the second region is replaced with the incoming call information, but the status information remains unchanged. As the status of the incoming call changes from unanswered to answered, only a portion of the second region is updated, as a remaining portion of the second region remains the same and indicates that an incoming call is being processed.
US08965452B2 Method for realizing user interface using camera and mobile communication terminal for the same
A method for realizing a user interface using a camera module and a mobile communication terminal for the same. If a user makes a predetermined motion in a state in which the camera module of the mobile communication terminal is activated, the mobile communication terminal performs a predetermined action according to the motion pattern by recognizing the user motion and patterning the motion. In this case, the action performed according to the motion pattern corresponds to mouse control in a mouse mode, game control in a game mode, and character input in a character input mode.
US08965451B2 Information processing terminal device
According to an embodiment, a smartphone having a display surface configured to display an image includes a liquid crystal panel, at least one CMOS image sensor, and a lens unit. The liquid crystal panel is a translucent display panel configured to display an image and allow light to pass through. The CMOS image sensor is arranged behind the liquid crystal panel and on a reflecting surface of a reflecting plate configured to reflect light toward the liquid crystal panel or at a position corresponding to a hole formed in the reflecting plate. The lens unit is arranged in front of an image capturing surface of the CMOS image sensor such that the CMOS image sensor can capture an image of a range corresponding to a display surface.
US08965449B2 Devices and methods for providing access to internal component
Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for applying concealment of components of an electronic device. In one embodiment, an electronic device may include a component that is disposed behind a window configured to selectively become transparent or opaque, such as a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PLDC) window. The component includes an image capture device, a strobe flash, a biometric sensor, a light sensor, a proximity sensor, or a solar panel, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the electronic device includes data processing circuitry configured to determine when an event requesting that the component be exposed occurs. Furthermore, the electronic device includes a window controller that may control the window to become transparent, to expose the component upon the occurrence of the event requesting that the component be exposed.
US08965448B2 Multimode access control method and multimode mobile station
In a multimode mobile station capable of communicating with a plurality of cellular systems where a current cellular system which the mobile station has acquired and a cellular system which the mobile station tries to access differ, access-failure information is stored at access failure time. The access-failure information includes any one of, or the combination of information on access failure such as access-system type, access time information, access location information, access failure reason, number of access failures, etc. Since an access cellular system is selected on the basis of the stored access-failure information, even when a current cellular system which the mobile station has acquired and a cellular system which the mobile station tries to access differ, it is possible to shorten re-acquisition time and to reduce power consumption.
US08965445B2 Signal transmission parameter control using channel sounding
A base station (BTS) may instruct a client station (CS) to transmit sounding signals that the BTS may analyze to determine what adjustments, such as power, time, and/or frequency adjustment(s) should be made by the CS. The BTS may control when and how the sounding signals are sent by the CS. This helps reduce the possibility of adjustment signals transmitted by two or more CSs colliding. Thus, sounding signals transmitted by the CS in response to a request by the BTS can be received by the BTS with higher a probability of success. This permits the BTS to more accurately characterize the channel and to provide better adjustment of power level, frequency offset, and/or timing offset for more optimal communication. Such techniques can be used to reduce bit error rates and to improve the overall signal to noise ratio encountered by the system.
US08965436B2 Method for controlling uplink transmit power in mobile communication system
Disclosed is a method for controlling uplink transmit power in a mobile communication system. A mobile communication includes a first base station and a second base station which are located in two mutually adjacent cells, respectively, at least one base station of the first and second base stations which generate a subframe offset of transmit power (SOTP), and transmits a subframe offset of transmit power generated by at least one base station of the first and second base stations to at least one terminal which belongs to a corresponding cell. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce signaling times for transmit power control, and to accurately control transmit power.
US08965434B2 Method and apparatus for aperiodically transmitting and receiving a sounding reference signal
A method for aperiodically receiving a sounding reference signal, comprises: determining a first range of an aperiodic sound signal of a first user equipment (UE), a second range which overlaps with the first range and allows a second UE to transmit a demodulation reference signal, data or a periodic sounding reference signal, and a third range which overlaps with the first range and allows a third UE to transmit a demodulation reference signal; generating a first instruction to the first UE to transmit an aperiodic sounding reference signal in the first range; generating a second instruction to the second UE to puncture or hold a signal containing data or a periodic sounding reference signal, if either signal is transmitted in the second range; transmitting the first instruction to the first UE, and the second instruction to the second UE; and receiving the aperiodic sounding reference signal from the first UE.
US08965426B2 Method and apparatus for intercell uplink interference control
Wireless user equipment (UE) operating in a wireless communication system may operate in a state, for example, the CELL_FACH state in UMTS, that does not allow for soft handoff from one cell to another. This inability to engage in soft handover may lead to intercell interference at a non-serving cell when the UE transmits on its uplink in close proximity to the non-serving cell. Therefore, provided in the present disclosure is method of wireless communication, which includes receiving a neighbor cell identification set indicating one or more neighbor cells, receiving a relative grant channel resource index corresponding to a relative grant channel shared by at least one of the one or more neighbor cells, detecting intercell interference associated with a user equipment (UE) in the one or more neighbor cells, and transmitting a non-serving relative grant message to the UE on the relative grant channel.
US08965425B2 System and method of transmitting coded messages using programmable icons
The present invention relates generally to a system and method of transmitting coded messages electronically using a wireless mobile communication device to transmit coded messages corresponding to programmable icons and providing for users to create and/or edit their own icons or coded messages.
US08965415B2 Short packet data service
A novel message exchange protocol is disclosed. In one example, a method of transmitting data includes generating, with a wireless device, an application data message for an application; evaluating one or more criteria for determining whether to send the application data message via a data radio bearer (DRB) channel or via a signaling radio bearer (SRB) channel that communicatively couples the wireless device to a network resource; and based on determining to send the application data message via the SRB channel, sending the application data message to the network resource via the SRB channel.
US08965412B2 Location-based services that choose location algorithms based on number of detected access points within range of user device
In one embodiment, in response to a user application request to determine a location of a user-device having a Wi-Fi radio, the Wi-Fi radio is triggered to transmit a request to Wi-Fi access points within range. Messages are received from the Wi-Fi access points, each message identifying the Wi-Fi access point sending the message. Signal strength of the messages received from the Wi-Fi access points is calculated. A reference database of stored locations for Wi-Fi access points in a target area is accessed to obtain the stored locations for the identified Wi-Fi access points. Based on the number of the identified Wi-Fi access points identified via received messages, a corresponding location-determination algorithm is chosen from a plurality of location-determination algorithms. The location of the user-device is determined using the stored locations for the identified Wi-Fi access points, the signal strengths of the received messages and the chosen location-determination algorithm.
US08965411B1 Positioning system with wireless beacons that vary transmission power levels
Systems and techniques are presented for determining the position of a mobile device. The mobile device receives two beacon packets transmitted at varying power levels by a first beacon and determines received signal strength (RSS) levels for the beacon packets. A maximum distance and a minimum distance are determined based on the power levels that the packets were transmitted at and the RSS levels that the packets were received at. An area around the first beacon is determined based on the distance range. The mobile device receives two additional beacon packets transmitted at varying power levels by a second beacon and determines RSS levels for the beacon packets. A distance range between the mobile device and the second beacon is determined and an area around the second beacon is determined based on the distance range. The area of overlap between the beacons is where the mobile device is positioned.
US08965407B2 Collaborative location-based search results
Multiple mobile devices can be enabled to collaboratively search online information databases for results that may be interesting to all of them. Such search results can involve places of interest at which all of the search participants can conveniently meet due to the locations of those results being near to all of the search participants, for example.
US08965403B2 Location tracking
One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for tracking a wireless device are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving signal strength data for each of a plurality of access points. The signal strength data from the plurality of access points is compared to identify an anchor access point having a highest signal strength. Remaining signal strength data from the plurality of access points are compared to a threshold signal strength to identify at least one attractor access point. A memory is accessed for locations of the anchor access point and the at least one attractor access point. A pull point is calculated along a line from the anchor access point to the at least one attractor access point. A location of the wireless device is estimated as an average of the pull point and the location of the anchor access point.
US08965401B2 Concurrent geofences with shared measurements
A system and method for a mobile device to efficiently use a geofence capability without draining its battery, and to allow flexibility in specifying various parameters related to geofencing, such as the latency and confidence in determining when or where a geofence breach occurs, and reducing the probability of not detecting a geofence breach.
US08965398B2 Bluetooth beacon based location determination
Examples disclosed herein relate to utilizing Bluetooth beacons for location determination of a mobile device. A Wi-Fi signal scan and a Bluetooth beacon scan are initiated at the mobile device. A location of the mobile device is determined based on at least on at least one Bluetooth beacon detectable by the mobile device, where the at least one Bluetooth beacon is transmitted from a first location, and where the first location is the location of the mobile device. A user of the mobile device is prompted for location information input, in response to determining that no Bluetooth beacons are detectable by the mobile device or when the at least one Bluetooth beacon detected is determined to be transmitted from a second location different from the location of the mobile device.
US08965396B2 Location system, method, server and terminal
This document discusses a location system, method, server and terminal. A location information server provides a Secure User Plane for Location, SUPL, Enabled Terminal, SET, with location information regarding the SET in a form of reference; the SET provides a Secure User Plane for Location, SUPL, server with the location information reference regarding the SET via an SUPL message; the SUPL server obtains the location information regarding the SET from the location information server according to the location information reference transmitted by the SET.
US08965371B2 Selecting a command node in a heterogeneous communication system
The present invention provides a method involving at least one mobile node and a heterogeneous network comprising a plurality of access nodes. One embodiment of the method includes providing at least one first message including information indicative of a selected access node. The access node is selected to provide command services to the at least one mobile node.
US08965367B1 Policy control for a carrier-aggregation network
A method, system, and medium are provided for regulating the allocation of radio-frequency (RF) channels in a carrier-aggregation network. A base station that is part of the carrier-aggregation network receives a registration request from a mobile station subscribing to services offered by a first wireless-telecommunications network within the carrier-aggregation network. The base station communicates the registration request to the first network and receives a set of policy parameters from the first network. The base station receives a service request from the mobile station. Based on the policy parameters and the service request and without communicating with the first network, the base station determines a set of RF channels available to the mobile station. The base station sends a resource assignment to the mobile station specifying the set of available RF channels.
US08965364B2 Service mobility via a femtocell infrastructure
Aspects of a method and system for service mobility via a femtocell infrastructure are provided. In this regard, a mobile cellular enabled communication device may detect a femtocell operable to deliver content for one or more services to the mobile cellular enabled communication device, where the one or more services may be provided via a set-top-box communicatively coupled to the femtocell. The mobile cellular enabled communication device may communicate a user profile to the femtocell, wherein information in the profile may be utilized by the set-top-box to authenticate and/or authorize access to the services by the mobile cellular enabled communication device and thus the mobile cellular enabled communication device may receive the content from the set-top-box based on the authentication and/or authorization. The content may comprise voice, video, data, text and/or still images. The mobile cellular enabled communication device may detect the femtocell by receiving one or broadcast messages from the femtocell.
US08965361B2 Method of managing inbound communications based on the current location of a wireless communications device
A method of managing inbound communications received by a roaming wireless communications device entails enabling a user of the roaming wireless communications device to activate an inbound communications filter having filter criteria based on a current location of a sender of an inbound communication. Once the wireless device has determined whether the inbound communication satisfies the filter criteria, the wireless device notifies the user that the inbound communication has been received provided that the inbound communication satisfies the filter criteria.
US08965352B2 Device with reduced communication-protocol transition time
In order to reduce the time delay when transitioning between different communication protocols used to communicate information via a cellular-telephone network, an electronic device (such as a cellular telephone) may only partially disable a software stack associated with a current communication protocol. In particular, after receiving an indicator that there is a message to be communicated using a second communication protocol while the electronic device is currently configured to communicate using a first communication protocol, the electronic device may disable a portion of a software stack associated with the first communication protocol and may enable a software stack associated with the second communication protocol. Then, the electronic device communicates the message using the second communication protocol. Next, the electronic device: may disable the software stack associated with the second communication protocol and may enable the portion of the software stack associated with the first communication protocol.
US08965351B2 Methods and apparatuses for efficient battery utilization during content delivery in telecommunication networks
Apparatuses and methods for controlling a manner of delivering content to a content user in a mobile telecommunication network are provided. The content is sent to the content user using first a first transmission rate when the content user is in a first radio state and uses a first battery power, and then using a second transmission rate that is lower than the first transmission rate, when the content user is in a second radio state and uses a second battery power that is smaller than the first battery power. The sending is performed such as, (A) while delivering the content, an amount of the content already received by the content user to exceed an amount of the content used by the content user, and (B) to minimize an energy used by the content user during delivery.
US08965334B2 Methods and devices for defending a 3G wireless network against malicious attacks
Wireless state information collected or inferred from a 3G wireless network is used to detect and prevent malicious attacks against the network.
US08965330B2 Split billing for a mobile device
The claimed subject matter provides a method for split billing. The method includes receiving a requested token. The requested token specifies conditions under which network traffic is allowed to be billed against a third party for content requested from a mobile computing device. The method also includes matching network traffic between the mobile computing device and a content provider to the specified conditions. The method further includes metering the matched network traffic to a billing account for the third party.
US08965326B2 Determination by PSAPs of caller location based on the WiFi hot spots detected and reported by the caller's device(s)
Location information associated with a wireless access point is used to assist with emergency call routing. Additionally, the location information can be used to assist with determining where an emergency call is physically originating from. This location information is one or more of enterable, detectable and/or populated with the assistance of a location determining device, such as a GPS, associated with the wireless network. The location information can also be dynamic to account for mobile wireless access points, such as a mobile access point provided on public transportation. The location information is also associatiable with an outbound communication, such as an emergency communication, with this location information usable to route the communication to an appropriate entity(ies).
US08965308B2 Mobile wireless communications device with reduced harmonics resulting from metal shield coupling
A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing, antenna, and circuit board carried by the housing and having radio frequency (RF) circuitry operative with the antenna for receiving and transmitting RF signals through the antenna. A power amplifier is connected within a transmission line for amplifying RF signals to be transmitted over the transmission line to the antenna. An antenna switch is connected to the antenna and RF circuitry. An RF shield surrounds the power amplifier and antenna switch and isolates the power amplifier and antenna switch from the antenna and RF circuitry. A low pass filter is connected to the power amplifier and antenna switch for reducing any RF coupling of voltage standing waves of upper harmonic frequencies from the power amplifier into the antenna switch through the RF shield while maintaining transmission of signals through the transmission line at a desired fundamental frequency.
US08965307B2 Cryogenic high power filters for high frequency shipboard applications
Systems and methods are disclosed relating to transmission of communications via high frequency antenna systems employing high-temperature superconductor filters and/or amplifiers. In certain embodiments, a comb linear amplifier combiner may be modified with, for example, cryogenically cooled and/or high-temperature superconductor components, such as matching units of bandpass filters. A computer control unit may be coupled to the transmission circuit to control operation of one or more of the low-power transmitters, filters, and/or amplifiers.
US08965306B1 Wireless device communication
A wireless device comprises a first unit and a second unit. Each of the first and second units comprises a respective transceiver, controller, display, and housing to support the transceiver, controller, and display. When the first and second units communicate through the first and second transceivers, the wireless device communicates with a communication network through one of the first or second transceiver.
US08965300B2 Method for testing transmission modes of a wireless communication device
A method for testing transmission modes of a wireless communication device. According to the method, a switching range is determined in a parameter space in a test device. The parameter of the parameter space describes the quality of transmission and influences a recommendation for a transmission mode to be adjusted in a device to be tested. The switching range is a subspace of the parameter space and contains at least one switching limit for the recommendation for the subsequent transmission mode to be adjusted. In a further step, random parameter points from the switching range are generated depending on a probability distribution which is defined for the switching range. A signal is generated for every parameter point and has a transmission mode determined by the parameter point and is transmitted to the device to be tested. The device to be tested then transmits one response signal per received signal to the test device, the response signal containing a recommendation for a subsequent transmission mode to be adjusted. All recommendations from all received response signals are evaluated in the test device.
US08965298B2 Establishing communication between devices
A method for establishing communication between a plurality of devices, including obtaining communication protocols that the plurality of devices support, determining which of the communication protocols are common to each the plurality of devices, determining operational parameters that are associated with each of the common communication protocols, indicating which of the common communication protocols and associated operational parameters can be used to establish communication between the plurality of devices, determining whether the plurality of devices can communicate with each other using the common communication protocols, and establishing communication between the plurality of devices using at least one of the common communication protocols.
US08965287B2 Battery powered passive keyless entry system for premise entry
A passive keyless entry (PKE) system, comprising a DC power source and a base station with a housing that includes a first portion being made of a first material that shields radio frequency (RF) signaling and a second portion being made of a second material that permits RF signaling, is particularly adapted for premise entry and is designed to be powered by common household batteries to unlock a premise door as a user approaches within a prescribed arms-length distance from the premise door. The PKE system further comprises a printed circuit board and a low frequency (LF) emitting antenna coil positioned both perpendicular to the printed circuit board and behind the second material of the housing while having a center axis oriented in a horizontal orientation. The LF emitting antenna coil transmits a LF interrogating signal upon detecting a user within the prescribed arms-length distance from the base station.
US08965280B2 Chip card communication arrangement and chip card communication circuit
According to an embodiment, a chip card communication arrangement is provided comprising a matching network and a chip card communication circuit comprising at least one matching network terminal, a receiver coupled to the matching network via the at least one matching network terminal and an active transmitter coupled to the matching network via the at least one matching network terminal.
US08965279B2 Recovering data in a near field communications apparatus
A communications device is disclosed that includes an antenna circuit with coupling connections that are used interchangeably as a receive coupling connection and a transmit coupling connection for an RF signal. A driver maintains a constant voltage or a constant current on a first coupling connection of the antenna circuit based on a drive signal that includes an output voltage and an output current. A demodulator extracts modulation from the RF signal based on a fluctuating voltage or a fluctuating current on a second coupling connection of the antenna circuit.
US08965277B2 Aircraft and conductive bodies
An aircraft, or other conductive body, (10) comprises transmission means for transmitting information to at least one other aircraft, said transmission means comprising: means (13) for generating an electric field external to the aircraft such that said field can control electrical charge (12) on at least one other aircraft; and means (40) for varying the electric field in accordance with information to be transmitted to said at least one other aircraft so that said at least one other aircraft can determine such information by detection of the control of electrical charge. The conductive body (10) comprises receiver means for receiving information from the transmission means of a similar conductive body, said receiver means comprising: electrical charge storage means (13) for storing electrical charge responsive to control by said transmission means; and detection means (34) for detecting the control of such electrical charge so as to determine information transmitted by said transmission means.
US08965272B2 System and method for providing reoccurrence display of commercial mobile alert messages
A commercial mobile alert message (e.g., without limitation, a WRITE-REPLACE message), delivered by a CMSP to one or more targeted mobile devices, specifies one or more reoccurrence display parameters adapted to invoke multiple reoccurrent displays of the CMAM by targeted mobile devices. The reoccurrence display parameters may comprise, for example, a mandatory or optional advisory; a number of displays condition; a time interval between consecutive displays condition; and a compliance time interval condition.
US08965267B2 Image forming apparatus and storage device
An image forming apparatus including: a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet; a printing unit configured to drive a developing device accommodating developer therein, supply the developer from the developing device to a photosensitive member having an electrostatic latent image formed thereon to thus form a developer image, and transfer the developer image onto the sheet, in accordance with the conveyance of the sheet by the conveyance unit; a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a remaining life span of the developing device based on a driving amount of the developing device; and an adjusting unit configured to adjust a distance between the sheets being conveyed by the conveyance unit based on the remaining life span of the developing device acquired by the first acquisition unit.
US08965261B2 Image heating apparatus
An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable endless belt, an opposing member forming a nip together with an outer surface of the belt, and a non-rotatable pressure applying member that contacts an inner surface of the belt and is pressed toward the opposing member. A recording paper carrying an image is nipped and conveyed through the nip to be heated and pressed. The pressure applying member has a metal slide contact portion against which the inner surface of the belt slides. Rz, the ten-point average roughness, of the slide contact portion in a belt movement direction is 0.29 μm or smaller and smaller than that in a direction perpendicular to the belt movement direction. Rz of the inner surface of the belt in the belt movement direction is 1.3 μm or larger and larger than that in a direction perpendicular to the belt movement direction.
US08965255B2 Image forming apparatus with color slippage correction
Image forming apparatus corrects for color slippage in toner image of a plurality of colors that have been sequentially transferred onto moving transfer target from the plurality of respective image carriers. A temperature of an interior of image-developing device is detected by first detection part, and a temperature of an interior of exposure device is detected by second detection part. First determination part determines whether or not the correction with respect to color slippage during temperature elevation is to be carried out, on the basis of first temperature detected by first detection part and second temperature detected by first detection part earlier than first temperature. Second determination part determines whether or not the correction with respect to color slippage during temperature decrease is to be carried out, on the basis of third temperature detected by second detection part and fourth temperature detected by second detection part earlier than third temperature.
US08965251B2 Powder container and image forming apparatus
A powder container includes a container body for storing powder, the container body having an introduction port from which the powder is introduced; a transport member having one end provided, in a rotatable manner, on a side wall of the container body, at a position below the introduction port, and the other end serving as a free end that is displaced upward as the amount of powder recovered in the container body increases, the transport member transporting the powder from the one end to the other end by being rotated; and guide portions provided on the container body to guide the transport member in directions intersecting a direction in which the other end of the transport member is displaced as the transport member is displaced upward.
US08965248B2 Image formation unit and image formation apparatus
An image formation unit includes a first unit rotatably supporting an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed, and a second unit rotatably supporting a developer carrier configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a developer. The first unit includes a first engagement portion formed at one end in the direction of the rotational axis of the image carrier, and a second engagement portion provided at a predetermined distance from the first engagement portion at the one end side. The second unit includes a first engaged portion engaged with the first engagement portion, a second engaged portion engaged with the second engagement portion, and a drive input portion provided between the first and second engaged portions and configured to rotate the developer carrier.
US08965247B2 Image formation apparatus and fixation device
A fixation unit includes a fixation member and a housing containing therein the fixation member. The fixation member is configured to thermally fix a developer image onto a medium being conveyed from an image formation unit to the fixation unit along a medium conveyance path, wherein the developer image is formed at the image formation unit and transferred onto the medium by the image formation unit. The developer attachment member is replaceably provided to the fixation unit and configured to attach thereto a part of the developer that is scattered in the neighborhood of the conveyance path.
US08965242B2 Developing device having developer bearing member and layer thickness regulating member
In a developing device, a layer thickness regulating member, configured to regulate thickness of a layer of developer borne on a surface of a developer bearing member, includes: a first plate-shaped member having a pair of opposite ends in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the developer bearing member, one end in the pair of opposite ends being in contact with the developer bearing member, the other end being supported by the casing; and a second plate-shaped member that is fixedly secured to the casing and that supports the first plate-shaped member. A seal member, which is in contact with an end portion of the developer bearing member in the axial direction of the developer bearing member, is in contact with an end portion of the first plate-shaped member in the axial direction of the developer bearing member. The second plate-shaped member holds the seal member.
US08965240B2 Cleaning device, intermediate transfer unit including the same, and image forming apparatus including the same
A cleaning device includes a housing, a cleaning member, a contact member, a torque limiter, and an urging member. The housing has an opening that opposes an image carrier and a waste toner receiver. The cleaning member includes a rotation member that is rotated in a forward rotation direction. The cleaning member is positioned near the opening in the housing and removes residual toner from the surface of the image carrier. The contact member is positioned so as to be in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the rotation member. The torque limiter is located on a rotation shaft of the rotation member and is capable of rotating independently of the rotation shaft when a torque that is greater than or equal to a predetermined torque is applied to the torque limiter. The urging member applies an urging force to the torque limiter in a reverse rotation direction.
US08965237B2 Image forming apparatus
The present invention provides a configuration in which an electrically connected condition can further be stabilized in electrical-connection zones between a body of an image-forming apparatus, and an image-forming unit and a plurality of image-forming cartridges. Developing electrode members and wire power-feed electrodes are attached to a slide frame. Each of the developing electrode members has a first body-side contact. The developing electrode members are electrically connected with the developing-roller output terminals. The wire power-feed electrodes are electrically connected with wire output terminals through contact with the wire output terminals. The developing electrode members are elastically deformed as a result of their first body-side contacts being pressed in a direction, which is along a slide direction, by the developing-roller output terminals. The wire power-feed electrodes are pressed in a paper width direction by the wire output terminals.
US08965235B2 Image forming apparatus and method of controlling power thereof
An image forming apparatus includes a power supply unit to generate DC power, a plurality of function units to perform the functions of the image forming apparatus, a control unit to control the operation of a plurality of function units, a switching unit to receive DC power of the power supply unit and switch power provided to the control unit and each of a plurality of function units, and a power management unit to receive DC power of the power supply unit and to control a switching operation of the switching unit according to an operation mode of the image forming apparatus.
US08965234B2 Image forming system and method of controlling the same
In a serial tandem image forming system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a double-side printing job can be performed in a way according to the needs of users by taking into consideration an adjustment operation. The serial tandem image forming system includes an upstream apparatus 200 and a downstream apparatus 300, as the image forming apparatuses, each of which is capable of forming images on both sides of a sheet. When receiving a double-side printing job while one of the image forming apparatuses is performing the adjustment operation, a control unit 260 displays information on a manipulation display 500 which prompts a user to select whether to immediately start the job by performing a single machine double-side printing process with the other image forming apparatus, or start the job by shifting to a tandem mode and performing a serial double-side printing process after the adjustment operation has finished.
US08965230B2 Fixing device
A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The pressure member presses against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which multiple recording media, each spaced apart from each other by an interval distance in a conveyance direction, are sequentially conveyed at a conveyance speed. The heater is disposed adjacent to the fuser member to heat the fuser member. The controller is operatively connected to the heater to control power supply to the heater through a series of on-off switching control cycles, each including an on-time during which the heater power supply is on, and an off-time during which the heater power supply is off, in synchronization with conveyance of the recording medium.
US08965229B2 Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a power supply unit, a pressure applying unit, and a controller. The fixing unit fixes toner onto a recording medium, using heat generated by a heat generator. The power supply unit supplies power to drive the fixing unit. The pressure applying unit applies pressure to the recording medium in a nip part between the pressure applying unit and the fixing unit. When plural recording media are sequentially transported, the controller controls the power supply unit to supply power during a first time period from when a trailing edge of one of the recording media passes the nip part to when a leading edge of the subsequent recording medium arrives at the nip part, in accordance with a relationship between the first time period and a second time period required to start the supply of power after the supply of power is stopped.
US08965224B2 Fixing unit controlling apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
A fixing unit controlling apparatus that includes a switching unit of a power supplier to supply power to a fixing unit according to a power supply controlling signal to control a temperature of the fixing unit, and a switching unit of a power shutter to shut off power supplied to the fixing unit when the fixing unit controlling apparatus operates abnormally, wherein the switching units of the power supplier and the power shutter are both connected to a snubber circuit of the power shutter.
US08965223B2 Image forming apparatus having a developing device including two electrode members, and further including a detection mechanism for detecting a capacitance between the two electrode members
An image forming apparatus includes a holding unit configured to change a developing device to first and second orientations. Whether a developer in the developing device is unevenly distributed in a longitudinal direction of the developing device is detected based on a capacitance C1 between first and second electrode members in the first orientation and a capacitance C2 between the first and second electrode members in the second orientation.
US08965217B2 Superimposing optical transmission modes
A method of superimposing N optical transmission modes for collective transmission along a multimode optical fiber is provided where each of the N optical signals comprises N distinct superimposed transmission modes (M1, M2, . . . ) and a portion of each of the N propagating optical signals is sampled at a receiving end of the data transmission network. N2−1 distinct measurement conditions are derived from a transmission matrix T and a special unitary matrix group SU(N) corresponding to the superimposed transmission modes (M1, M2, . . . ) at the receiving end of the data transmission network and N2−1 measurements are extracted from the sampled signals. The extracted N2−1 measurements are used to solve a matrix equation corresponding to the generated SU(N) matrices and the output matrix transposed and used to generating principal state launch conditions from the eigenvectors of the transposed output matrix to form a principal state in each of the N optical signals.
US08965213B2 Antenna device
An antenna device is provided, which includes a first antenna unit and a second antenna unit. The first antenna unit includes a first radiation module, a power divider/combiner network connected to the first radiation module, and a feeder interface connected to the power divider/combiner network. The feeder interface is configured to connect to a radio remote unit (RRU) or a base station. The second antenna unit includes a second radiation module, a transceiver array connected to the second radiation module, a baseband processing unit (BPU) connected to the transceiver array, and an interface connected to the BPU. The interface of the second antenna unit is configured to connect to a baseband unit (BBU). Therefore, after the existing passive antenna is replaced by the provided antenna device, the RRU or base station in the original network can still be used, which reduces waste of resources.
US08965212B2 Optical memory expansion
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to optical-based methods and expansion memory systems for disaggregating memory of computer systems. In one aspect, an expansion memory system comprises a first optical/electronic interface in electrical communication with a processor, a memory expansion board configured with memory, and a second optical/electronic interface attached to the memory expansion board. The first interface converts optical signals into electronic signals that are sent to the processor and converts electronic signals produced by the processor into optical signals. The second interface converts optical signals into electronic signals that are sent to the memory and converts electronic signals produced by the memory into optical signals. The optical signals are exchanged between the first and second interfaces. Embodiments also include methods for sending and receiving data in an expansion memory system.
US08965208B2 Multi-channel optical device
The multi-channel optical device includes a demultiplexer in a laser cavity. The demultiplexer is configured to demultiplex a multi-channel light beam into a plurality of channels. The demultiplexer limits the wavelengths of the channels that are output from the laser cavity. The gain element includes quantum dots as the gain medium.
US08965199B2 Method and apparatus for automatically restoring node resource state in WSON system
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically restoring node resource state in the Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing Based Automatic Switched Optical Network (WSON) system. This method comprises the following steps: using each node in the WSON system as an initiation node and notifying the resource state of the initiation node to a neighboring node; the neighboring node comparing the received resource state of the initiation node with the resource state of the present end; and under the condition that the resource state of the initiation node and that of the neighboring node are inconsistent, according to the actual resource state, determining one of the initiation node and the neighboring node to be the node whose resource is occupied, and automatically releasing the resource of the node. The present invention also provides an apparatus for automatically restoring node resource state in the WSON system. The present invention can effectively detect the problem of inconsistent wavelength resource in the WSON system caused by abnormal status, and can automatically correct the resource state information, release the link bandwidth resource occupied incorrectly, at the same time enhance the fault-tolerant capability and the stability of the WSON system.
US08965195B2 Image capturing system, image capturing device, and image capturing method
To enable satisfactory simultaneous and widely varied pictures to be obtained, for example, by allowing a common user to obtain an overall picture while the common user performing desired image capturing, or the like. A first image capturing device image-captures a subject to record this image, and also transmits a trigger signal to a second image capturing device. The second image capturing device image-captures an image to record this image in accordance with the trigger signal. Thus, the first and second image capturing devices enable both of an overall image and a zoomed image to be obtained with simultaneous timing.
US08965193B1 Mirrored lens for wide field of view and wide spectrum
Systems and methods are provided for a solid filled mirrored lens system capable of wider fields of view and wider spectra than current lens systems. The mirrored lens is used to focus light incident upon a right circular cylindrical central body comprising a substantially planar first surface and a substantially planar second surface. A primary reflecting surface is located on the second surface of the central body and shaped as an annulus with a void in the central region of the second surface. Further, a secondary reflecting surface is located in a central region of the first surface facing the primary reflecting surface.
US08965181B2 Automatic announcer voice attenuation in a presentation of a broadcast event
A method of automatic announcer voice removal from a televised sporting event. A sound processing circuit divides an audio input signal of a televised sporting event into multiple audio segments. The audio input signal includes crowd noise and announcer commentary. If an audio segment does not exceed a pre-defined amplitude threshold, a voice removal utility adds the audio segment to a recent crowd noise library and stores the segment in an output buffer. If the amplitude of a segment exceeds the threshold, the utility adds the segment to a recent announcer voice library. The sound processing circuit generates an attenuated version of the segment and blends the attenuated version with one or more mixed segments from the recent crowd noise library. The voice removal utility stores the attenuated and blended segment in the output buffer and outputs one or more audio segments from the buffer in a chronological order.
US08965176B2 Video displaying system and reproducing apparatus
When reproducing 3D contents, a video signal reproducing apparatus connected to a 3D display device of various 3D display schemes provides a guide display or a guide voice conformed to each of the 3D display schemes. Viewing requirements concerning the 3D display scheme of the 3D display device are transmitted to the video signal reproducing apparatus. When reproducing contents, the video signal reproducing apparatus is configured to conduct suitable guide display or voice guide on the basis of viewing requirements concerning the 3D display scheme.
US08965174B2 Method and apparatus for retrieving metadata for managing video data
A method and an apparatus for retrieving information for managing video data involving link information associating metadata with the video data. A metadata indicator is used to indicate that metadata exists in a stream with the linking information. Link information also associates the metadata with location information to identify where additional information on the video data, which is described by the metadata, may be found. Using the method or apparatus, a single metadata unit is able to be associated with a plurality of video data units, or a plurality of metadata units are able to be associated with a single video data unit, in order to provide more information on the video data.
US08965171B2 Recording control apparatus, recording control method, storage medium storing recording control program
A recording control apparatus that is capable of recording a video image at the time of starting motion detection before an event generation without setting pre-event recording time. A detection unit detects a moving subject in a video image. A setting unit sets a type of an event that is generated when specified time elapses after the detection unit detects a moving subject. A control unit stores the video image into an storage unit from the detection of the moving subject by the detection unit until recording time corresponding to the type of the event set by the setting unit elapses.
US08965166B2 Optical fiber adapter
An optical fiber adapter according to the present disclosure includes a main body, an inner housing and a cover plate. The main body has an accommodation room in an axial direction defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, wherein the first wall faces the third wall and connects with the second and fourth walls. An access opening is arranged on the first wall. The inner housing may be inserted into the accommodation room through the access opening on the first wall. Two protruding portions extend from the second and fourth walls, respectively. The cover plate is configured to cover the access opening on the first wall, wherein the cover plate has a plurality of hooking portions formed thereon for hooking on to the protruding portions, respectively.
US08965158B2 Crush-resistant fiber optic cable
A crush-resistant fiber optic cable is disclosed, wherein the cable includes a plurality of optical fibers. The fibers are generally arranged longitudinally about a central axis, with no strength member arranged along the central axis. A tensile-strength layer surrounds the plurality of optical fibers. A protective cover surrounds the tensile-strength layer and has an outside diameter DO in the range 3 mm≦DO≦5 mm.
US08965142B2 Method and device for classifying a light object located ahead of a vehicle
A method for classifying a light object located ahead of a vehicle, the method including a determination of a brightness curve assigned to the light object via at least two images which depict the light object at different times and a combination of the brightness curve with a characteristic brightness curve, in order to classify the light object.
US08965136B2 Pattern detection based on fractal analysis
Various systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer-readable mediums are provided for the detection of patterns. In one embodiment, a pattern detection method is provided that comprises the step of performing a fractal analysis of a pattern to generate a plurality of scaling parameters from a fractal associated with the pattern in a computer system. In addition, the method further comprises the step of detecting a degree of organization in the pattern by examining a degree of equality among the scaling parameters of the fractal in the computer system.
US08965128B2 Code recognition method, device and computer readable storage medium for storing code recognition method
A code recognition method includes the following steps: a first code-image block is received. Wherein, several first codes are displayed on the first code-image block. The first code-image block is partitioned into several second code-image blocks. Wherein, each of the second code-image blocks displays a second code respectively. Each of the second codes is one of the first codes. Each of the second code-image blocks is recognized as several third codes corresponding to each of the second codes respectively. Some of the neighboring second code-image blocks are combined to form several third code-image blocks. Wherein, each of the third code-image blocks displays a first code set, which comprises some of the second codes. Each of the third code-image blocks is recognized as a second code set corresponding to each of the first code sets respectively. Wherein, each of the second code sets includes the codes selected from the third codes.
US08965120B2 Image processing apparatus and method of controlling the same
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus for converting an original image. Processing of blurring an input original image is performed to generate a blurred image. A difference image that is the difference between the original image and an adjusted image obtained by adjusting the density of the blurred image is generated. The difference image and the original image are composited based on the density of the difference image and the density of the original image. This allows to easily obtain a painting-like effect even in, for example, a low-contrast portion of an image.
US08965113B2 Recognition apparatus, method, and computer program product
In an embodiment, a recognition apparatus includes an obtaining unit, a calculating unit, a principal axis selecting unit, a turning point setting unit, a section setting unit, and a determining unit. The obtaining unit obtains positions of a specific part in a coordinate system having a first axis to an n-th axis (n≧2). The calculating unit calculates a movement vector of the specific part. The principal axis selecting unit selects a principal axis. The turning point setting unit sets a position at which there is a change in the principal axis and sets a position at which there is a change. The section setting unit sets a determination target section, and sets a previous section. The determining unit calculates an evaluation value of the determination target section and an evaluation value of the immediately previous section and determines which of the first axis to the n-th axis is advantageous.
US08965112B1 Sequence transcription with deep neural networks
Systems and methods for sequence transcription with neural networks are provided. More particularly, a neural network can be implemented to map a plurality of training images received by the neural network into a probabilistic model of sequences comprising P(S|X) by maximizing log P(S|X) on the plurality of training images. X represents an input image and S represents an output sequence of characters for the input image. The trained neural network can process a received image containing characters associated with building numbers. The trained neural network can generate a predicted sequence of characters by processing the received image.
US08965094B2 Magnetic resonance spectroscopy pulse sequence, acquisition, and processing system and method
Systems and methods are provided for processing a set of multiple serially acquired magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) free induction decay (FID) frames from a multi-frame MRS acquisition series from a region of interest (ROI) in a subject, and for providing a post-processed MRS spectrum. Processing parameters are dynamically varied while measuring results to determine the optimal post-processed results. Spectral regions opposite water from chemical regions of interest are evaluated and used in at least one processing operation. Frequency shift error is estimated via spectral correlation between free induction decay (FID) frames and a reference spectrum. Multiple groups of FID frames within the acquired set are identified to different phases corresponding with a phase step cycle of the acquisition. Baseline correction is also performed via rank order filter (ROF) estimate and a polynomial fit. Sections of the ROF may be excluded from the polynomial fit, such as for example sections determined to be associated with relevant spectral peaks.
US08965093B2 Method for registering functional MRI data
A method for registering functional MRI data, comprising: computing the functional connectivity pattern for every voxel in its given spatial neighborhood for every fMRI image; extracting features invariant to spatial location of the neighboring voxels based on the functional connectivity patterns; constructing similarity metric between voxels of different images based on the extracted features, and using fluid-like demons registration model to spatial normalize the fMRI data. The present invention tries to exploit the multi-range functional connectivity information of the fMRI data, and to register functional MR images based on the extracted spatial-location-invariant features. The present invention is robust against local spatial perturbations and does not depend on the assumption that functional signals of different subjects are synchronic, hence can be applied to resting-state fMRI data, and can achieve a statistically significant improvement in functional consistency across subjects.
US08965091B2 Method and image-reconstruction apparatus for reconstructing image data
A method and an image-reconstruction apparatus are disclosed for reconstructing image data on the basis of measurement data from an imaging system. In at least one embodiment of the process, initial image data, initially reconstructed from the measurement data, is optimized in an iterative optimization method utilizing a substantially edge-maintaining noise regularization term and an additional sparsity regularization term.
US08965075B2 System and method for predicting future fractures
A method of predicting bone or articular disease in a subject includes determining one or more micro-structural parameters, one or more macroanatomical parameters or biomechanical parameters of a joint in the subject and combining at least two of the parameters to predict the risk of bone or articular disease.
US08965072B2 Image display apparatus and image display system
A storage unit stores data of a plurality of previous images of a plurality of regions generated during a previous catheter procedure. A route map generating unit arranges a plurality of first catheter images or blood vessel images included in the plurality of previous images according to the positional relationship between the plurality of regions to generate a route map indicating the distribution of the plurality of first catheter images or blood vessel images. A specifying unit specifies a specific portion of a second catheter image included in a current image generated during a current catheter procedure. A calculating unit calculates the position of the specified specific portion on the route map on the basis of the positional relationship between the current image and the previous image. A display unit displays a specific previous image corresponding to the calculated position.
US08965068B2 Apparatus and method for discriminating disguised face
An apparatus for discriminating a disguised face includes a face area detector configured to detect a face area in an input image provided from an external source. The apparatus includes a skin color modeling module configured to separate a skin color area from the face area and a disguised face discriminator configured to determine whether signals in the skin color area have a pulse component to discriminate whether a face in the input image is the disguised face.
US08965064B2 Systems and methods for capturing artifact free images
The present disclosure is directed towards methods and systems for capturing artifact-free biometric images of an eye. The eye may be in motion and in the presence of partially-reflective eyewear. The method may include acquiring, by a first sensor, a first image of an eye while the eye is illuminated by a first illuminator. The first image may include a region of interest. The first sensor may be disposed at a fixed displacement from the first illuminator and a second sensor. The second sensor may acquire, within a predetermined period of time from the acquisition of the first image, a second image of the eye. The second image may include the region of interest. An image processor may determine if at least one of the first and second images include artifacts arising from one or both of the first illuminator and eyewear, within the region of interest.
US08965062B2 Reporting imaged portions of a patient's body part
Described embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product. In a described system, a receiver circuit receives at least two reference images of a patient body part. Each reference image includes a respective landmark subsurface feature of the patient body part, and each imaged landmark subsurface feature has a respective spatial relationship to a respective region of a surface of the patient body part imaged during a medical examination. A feature matching circuit determines a correspondence between (x) each atlas landmark subsurface feature of the patient body part included in a landmark subsurface feature atlas and (y) each respective imaged landmark subsurface feature. A reporting circuit generates informational data reporting a depiction of an area of the surface of the patient body part by at least two adjacent imaged regions of the surface of the patient body part. A communication circuit outputs the informational data.
US08965060B2 Automatic detection of object pixels for hyperspectral analysis
A method is provided for automatically discerning between object and non-object pixels in a hyperspectral image data cube. In particular embodiments, the object of the method is a plant, plant part, plant trait, plant phenotype, plant pot or a plant medium. The method comprises a first step of providing a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) algorithm and a second step of applying the PLSDA algorithm to a hyperspectral image data cube to automatically determine which pixels contain the spectral properties of the object. The PLSDA algorithm of the method can be generated by establishing a training matrix, performing an eigenvector decomposition of the training matrix, experimentally determining a weighted linear combination of object signal-containing eigenvectors, calculating a regression vector using the weighted linear combination of signal-containing eigenvectors, generating a mask matrix and multiplying the mask matrix by the hyperspectral image data cube along two spatial dimensions.
US08965056B2 Vehicle surroundings monitoring device
When it is determined that a type of a physical body in real space corresponding to an image portion is a crossing pedestrian, a distance calculating unit 13 performs a first distance calculating process of calculating a distance between a vehicle 1 and the physical body, on the basis of a correlative relationship between the distance from the vehicle 1 set on assumption of a height of the pedestrian and a height of the image portion, according to the height of the image portion. When it is determined that the type of the physical body is not the crossing pedestrian, then the distance calculating unit 13 performs a second distance calculating process which calculates the distance between the physical body and the vehicle, on the basis of a change in size of the image portions of the physical body extracted from time-series captured images.
US08965036B2 Method and system for supporting watermark embedding in multimedia system-on-chips
A secure server may be utilized to support watermark embedding in multimedia system-on-chips, by generating an encrypted and signed watermarking signal for use in each particular system-on-chip. The encrypted and signed watermarking signal is generated based on a unique per-chip ID associated with the particular system-on-chip. The watermarking signal may be signed by the secure server utilizing a random number generated in and/or provided by the particular system-on-chip. The watermarking signal may be encrypted by the secure server based on a secret encryption key associated with the particular system-on-chip. The secret encryption key may be determined based on the unique per-chip ID associated with the particular system-on-chip. The secure server may store information, received from various system-on-chips, for use during generation of watermarking signals. The information received from each system-on-chip may comprise corresponding unique per-chip ID and/or a random number associated with each particular system-on-chip.
US08965023B2 Garment with built-in audio source wiring
An audio source system may be built into a garment to provide wiring from an audio source to earplugs. The wiring is brought from a point of connection to the audio source such as at a pocket and is then brought to the garment opening by tubes such as may be sewn with normal seams in construction of the garment such as side seams, sleeves seams and shoulder seams, and then into a channel at the opening, which may be a simple neck opening or a collared opening or a hood (in which the channel extends around the hood opening). An auxiliary wiring may be connected to allow a second hearing device such as ear buds or earphones. Wiring may be equipped with spring biased coils to allow stretching.
US08965018B2 Power supply voltage from class D amplifier
The present invention relates to a hearing aid comprising a receiver and signal processor circuitry operatively connected hereto. The signal processor circuitry comprises amplifying means (e.g., a Class D amplifier) adapted to generate a switched output voltage for driving the receiver of the hearing aid. Moreover, a power supply unit is included and is adapted to generate a DC output voltage from the switched output voltage. The present invention further relates to an associated method for generating a DC output voltage.
US08965015B2 Signal processing method, system, and apparatus for 3-dimensional audio conferencing
The present invention discloses a signal processing method, system and apparatus for 3-dimensional (3D) audio conferencing. The implementation is: a server obtains at least one audio stream relative to one terminal; the server allocates identifiers for the obtained at least one audio stream relative to the terminal; and the server combines the obtained at least one audio stream and the identifiers of the at least one audio stream and sends the combination to the terminal. With the technical solution of the present invention, the issue of excessive transmission channels required in the prior art is resolved and the terminal is capable of determining the sound image positions of other terminals freely.
US08965007B2 Personal listening device with self-adjusting sound volume
An exemplary personal listening device includes thermo-sensitive elements in its transducers. Each thermo-sensitive element senses temperature change of a corresponding transducer and changes a current flowing through the transducer according to temperature change of the transducer, to reflect the amount of time for which the personal listening device has been working.
US08965006B2 De-pop controller and method thereof
A de-pop controller and method thereof are provided. The controller includes an amplifier and a comparator. The amplifier receives and amplifies an audio input signal, and then outputs an audio output signal. The comparator, coupled to the amplifier, receives a transient indication signal. The comparator compares the transient indication signal with a reference voltage, and the comparison result is then applied to control the driving ability of the amplifier for de-popping.
US08964997B2 Adapted audio masking
Ambient sound is masked by receiving an audio signal, monitoring an acoustic signal that includes components of both the ambient sound the audio signal, determining a sound level sufficient to at least partially mask the ambient sound, and reproducing the received audio signal to produce an output acoustic signal at the determined sound level.
US08964987B2 Method and apparatus for storing and distributing encryption keys
A plurality of encryption keys is generated, and each encryption key is associated with one geographical area of a plurality of geographical areas. Each encryption key is forwarded to one or more base stations in the geographical area associated with the encryption key. At least one of the plurality of geographical areas that is adjacent to a first geographical area is determined, yielding one or more adjacent geographical areas, and an encryption key for at least one of the one or more adjacent geographical areas is forwarded to at least one base station covering the first geographical area.
US08964982B2 Cryptographic system, cryptographic communication method, encryption apparatus, key generation apparatus, decryption apparatus, content server, program, and storage medium
A cryptographic communication technology that is based on predicate encryption and that can operate flexibly is provided. A conversion rule information pair is determined in advance, which has attribute conversion rule information prescribing a conversion rule for converting attribute designation information to attribute information used in a predicate encryption algorithm and predicate conversion rule information prescribing a conversion rule for converting predicate designation information to predicate information used in the predicate encryption algorithm. One kind of conversion rule information included in the conversion rule information pair is used to obtain first attribute information or first predicate information from input information. The first attribute information or the first predicate information is used for encryption. Encryption information is decrypted with a decryption key generated by using second attribute information or second predicate information obtained from user information by using the other kind of conversion rule information.
US08964966B2 Multi-microphone system to support bandpass filtering for analog-to-digital conversions at different data rates
One exemplary problem addressed by the techniques disclosed herein is that the A-to-D converter of the broad-band audio codec that is being used more frequently in IP telephony, G.722, samples the analog audio source 16,000 times per second, rather than 8,000. Since all G.722-capable telephones must continue to be G.711-capable, one problem is that a microphone that provides appropriate bandpass filtering for G.722 encoding fails to provide adequate filtering for G.711. One exemplary aspect is therefore directed to telephones that must be able to switch back and forth between narrow-band digital audio encoding in which the A-to-D converter samples the audio stream 8,000 times per second, and a wide-band audio encoding in which the A-to-D converter samples the audio stream 16,000 times per second. This is accomplished using one or more of a plurality of switched microphones, a filter and a modification of the resonant frequencies of a handset.
US08964958B2 Grid-based contact center
A grid-based contact center and method of managing tasks within such a contact center is provided. Nodes within the contact center are adapted to perform multiple tasks associated with the contact center, including the management of task assignment within the contact center. Accordingly, a truly distributed contact center is provided whereby the building blocks of the contact center include the use of nodes with a conference call SRTP based Operations, Administration, and Management system.
US08964948B2 Method for setting voice tag
A method for setting a voice tag is provided, which comprises the following steps. First, counting a number of phone calls performed between a user and a contact person. If the number of phone calls exceeds a predetermined times or a voice dialing performed by the user is failed before calling to the contact person within a predetermined duration, the user is inquired whether or not to set a voice tag corresponding to the contact person after the phone call is complete. If the user decides to set the voice tag, a voice training procedure is executed for setting the voice tag corresponding to the contact person.
US08964947B1 Approaches for sharing data between electronic devices
Systems and approaches are provided to enable multiple user devices to share data between devices. In one scenario, a user may click on or touch a telephone hyperlink from a browser of a desktop computer to initiate a telephone call from the user's mobile phone. In another situation, a user may begin various computing tasks from a tablet in the evening, share data associated relating to her work with a business computer, and complete her tasks the next day in the office with little to no minimal disruption to her work flow. In effect, the user may “cut” or “copy” data from a first personal computing device and paste that “data” onto a second computing device.
US08964944B2 Systems, methods, and devices for testing communication lines
The invention generally relates to systems, devices, and methods for testing communication lines. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems and devices that include a digital/analog converter configured to operate with a computer processor and memory to send or receive an analog signal over a communication line that includes a plurality of signals having known frequencies. Inbound receiving sub-systems or devices sample the analog signal and measure a quality of the sampled, digital signal to evaluate the communication line. The key differentiator is the recognition that the human mouth and ear are intrinsically analog without encryption. By locating the test device as close to the user as possible, this system incorporates testing of complex communication streams including numerous variables and transforms (e.g. encryption, Analog to digital, Voice over IP, packet switching, ATM, SONET). Ultimately, it provides a simple interface to convert qualitative analysis to quantitative (numerical) analysis.
US08964943B2 Polymer layer on X-ray window
An x-ray window includes a mount with a support frame and an aperture. A window film has a stack of layers including: a thin film layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of diamond, graphene, diamond-like carbon, beryllium, and combinations thereof; a boron hydride layer; and a polymer layer. The window film, including the thin film layer, the boron hydride layer, and the polymer layer, extends across the aperture and is supported by the support frame. The window film is attached to the support frame, defining a sealed joint. The layers are capable of withstanding a differential pressure of at least 1 atmosphere. The window film is substantially transmissive to x-rays having an energy in the range of 100-20,000 electronvolts.
US08964934B2 Cone beam CT scanning
A CBCT system is described that includes a radiation source for emitting a cone beam of radiation in a beam direction towards an object, a detector for detecting the cone beam of radiation, and a positioner for moving the radiation source and the object according to a scanning trajectory. The system is operated according to a sampling pattern that includes intersections of the scanning trajectory and a reconstruction trajectory, wherein motion of the radiation source is substantially confined to a spherical shell. The positioner moves the radiation source at a speed higher than a highest speed of the object by a factor of at least 10. The largest angular discrepancy between any vector in a range of the scanning trajectory and the nearest sample of the scanning trajectory does not exceed 10°, preferably 6° and more preferably 3°.
US08964932B2 Shift register, gate driving circuit and display
A shift register, comprising a plurality of shift register sub-units connected in cascade, each of the plurality of shift register sub-units comprising first to third TFTs, an eleventh TFT, a first capacitor and a first reset control module for controlling the second TFT to be turned on or off. Besides the shift register sub-unit at a first stage, for each of the shift register sub-units at other stages, the second TFT gate control terminal thereof is connected to the third TFT gate control terminal of the shift register sub-unit at a previous stage. Accordingly, a gate driving circuit comprising the shift register and a display comprising the gate driving circuit are provided. Compared with the prior art, reliability of the shift register is highly improved and area occupied by the shift register is smaller.
US08964931B2 Frequency scaling counter
A counter is provided, where, as the number of events that occur increases, the frequency in which the events are counted is scaled.
US08964929B2 Method and apparatus for a jet pump three point slip joint clamp
A method and apparatus for providing a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) jet pump three point slip joint clamp to mitigate sleep joint leakage flow induced vibration of a BWR jet pump assembly. A collar, provided as one seamless component or in separate portions, is installed on the upper crown of a diffuser. The collar includes a lower set of fasteners and an upper set of fasteners that contact the inlet mixer and diffuser, respectively, to horizontally stabilize the inlet mixer in a fixed position inside of the diffuser. The upper fasteners may be anchored by bosses that ensure a light-weight design of the collar. An optional cantilevered seal (including a cantilevered overhang and a lip) may mitigate leakage from the slip joint interface.
US08964925B1 Multi-rate control loop for a digital phase locked loop
Methods and systems to generate control signals for timing recovery of a signal received over baseband communications systems are disclosed. The timing control circuit uses a multi-rate DSP structure for the implementation of the DSP functions in the control loop for use in an ASIC and requires a reduced DSP clock rate, which in turn reduces the need for pipelining and/or high-speed libraries. Thus lower latency, better tracking performance and lower power consumption are achieved. An example embodiment involves splitting the timing error signal, supplied at a given update rate, into a sum and a difference component, and processing each component in separate circuit chains at half the update rate. The resultant half-rate control signals from each separate circuit chain are joined to provide a control signal at the full update rate. Thus, implementations of the present disclosure perform like a full-rate structure, but require a halved DSP clock rate.
US08964904B2 Receiver filter for DC-wander removal in a contactless smartcard
Embodiments of a method for processing a baseband signal in a Direct Current (DC)-suppressed system, a system for processing a baseband signal in a DC-suppressed system, and a smart card are described. In one embodiment, a method for processing a baseband signal in a DC-suppressed system involves processing the baseband signal in the analog domain with a first high pass filter (HPF), converting the processed baseband signal to a digital signal, and processing the digital signal in the digital domain with a second HPF to provide a discrete-time differentiation of the baseband signal. Other embodiments are also described.
US08964891B2 Antenna system calibration
A method for calibrating an antenna system having electronics and two or more passive antennas for connection to the electronics and two or more signal interfaces for use with a pilot signal. The method includes compensating for three major errors in order to find calibration offsets in a deterministic process. These errors are caused by differences between antenna interfaces, differences between signal interfaces and frequency margin, i.e., frequency offset, between main signal and accessory (pilot) signal. In the method, a calibration offset is initially determined that accounts for the errors caused by antenna and signal interfaces. Further refinement is performed by accounting for errors caused by the frequency margin between the main and accessory signals.
US08964890B2 Adaptive spectral enhancement and harmonic separation
A circuit and method perform adaptive spectral enhancement at a frequency ω1 (also called “fundamental” frequency) on an input signal y which includes electromagnetic interference (EMI) at an unknown frequency, to generate a fundamental-enhanced signal φ1 (or its complement). The fundamental-enhanced signal φ1 (or complement) is thereafter used in a notching circuit (also called “fundamental notching” circuit) to generate a fundamental-notched signal y-φ1. The fundamental-notched signal y-φ1is itself enhanced to generate a harmonic-enhanced signal φ2 that is used to notch the fundamental-notched signal y-φ1again, in one or more additional notching circuits that are connected in series with the fundamental notching circuit. The result (“cascaded-harmonic-notched” signal) is relatively free of EMI noise (fundamental and harmonics), and is used as an error signal for an adaptation circuit that in turn identifies the fundamental frequency ω1. Use of a cascaded-harmonic-notched signal as the error signal improves speed of convergence of adaptation.
US08964888B2 System and method of generating a pre-emphasis pulse
A method includes detecting one or more of an upward transition of a single-ended data signal via a first driver path to a pre-emphasis transmitter or a downward transition of the single-ended data signal via a second driver path to the pre-emphasis transmitter. The method also includes generating a pre-emphasis pulse at the pre-emphasis transmitter in response to detecting the upward transition or the downward transition of the single-ended data signal.
US08964882B2 Method of determining precoding matrix and corresponding communication methods and devices
In order to improve the performance of the precoding scheme for closely-spaced cross-polarized CLA antennas, the invention proposes a new precoding codebook and precoding matrix. The invention also proposes a method for determining precoding matrix based on the new precoding codebook, and corresponding method and device for communicating by using this precoding matrix. The precoding codebook and matrix proposed in the invention has better performance.
US08964877B2 Changing power to first transmission signals upon detecting ISM band
A method includes transmitting a first set of transmission signals over an operating frequency band. The method includes detecting if a second set of transmission signals are transmitted adjacent the operating frequency band and reducing power to a subset of the first set of transmission signals when the second set of transmission signals are detected.
US08964872B2 Multiple input multiple output transmission method in a digital video broadcasting system and device for supporting same
Provided is a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transmission method in a digital broadcasting system. The method includes generating a plurality of first modulation symbols by modulating first information bits; generating a plurality of second modulation symbols by modulating second information bits; generating a plurality of first pre-coded symbols and a plurality of second pre-coded symbols by pre-coding the plurality of first modulation symbols and the plurality of second modulation symbols; and allocating the plurality of first pre-coded symbols and the plurality of second pre-coded symbols staggeringly through a first antenna and a second antenna and transmitting them.
US08964869B2 Pre-coding method and apparatus
The present invention provides a pre-coding method in a multi-user macro-diversity transmission system. The method comprises: obtaining, for a mobile station in the multi-user macro-diversity transmission system, a first sub-precoder that guarantees orthogonality between equivalent channels of users; obtaining a second sub-precoder by performing QR decomposition based on equivalent channels precoded through the first sub-precoder; obtaining a final pre-coder with respect to the mobile station by combining the first sub-precoder and the second sub-precoder; and performing pre-coding on data of the mobile station with the final precoder The present invention further provides a corresponding base station and a multi-user macro-diversity transmission system. Through the technical solution of the present invention, the multi-user macro-diversity transmission system may achieve more macro-diversity gain, thereby greatly enhancing the performance of the multi-user macro-diversity transmission.
US08964867B2 LTE scheduling
A method executed in a wireless communication network including at least one base station associated to a corresponding area transmitting/receiving data to/from corresponding user terminals located within the area. The method generates a user-rate matrix for each base station. Each element of the user-rate matrix provides a corresponding score, in terms of achievable rate, to a user terminal or group of user terminals within the corresponding area when a transmission is made to/from the user terminal or group of user terminals, respectively, from/to the base station by employing a selected transmission mode. The method further processes the elements of the user-rate matrix to create a scheduling list sorting the elements by a decreasing score, and associating to each user terminal a corresponding selected transmission mode based on the scheduling list for the transmission/reception of data to/from the base station.
US08964865B2 Filter structure for iterative signal processing
A method is for communicating by tracking time varying channels in a multiple access packet based communication network. Each packet includes a preamble portion including a data symbol, and a data portion including data symbols. The method may include initializing a channel estimate reference from an initial channel estimate based upon the data symbol in a preamble portion of a received packet, and updating the channel estimate reference based upon a channel estimate of a current data symbol and a previously received data symbol from the data symbols in a data portion of the received packet. The method may also include repeating the updating upon receipt of a subsequent data symbol from the data symbols in the data portion of the received packet.
US08964864B2 Transmission system
A transmission system has a receiver receiving data and a request signal from a transmitter, and a monitor circuit transmitting a valid acknowledge signal to the transmitter when a received data accumulation amount in the FIFO memory is smaller than a threshold, or transmitting an invalid acknowledge signal to the transmitter when the received data accumulation amount in the FIFO memory is larger than the threshold. The transmitter transmits the request signal which is valid and the data when the acknowledge signal is valid, or stops transmission processing of the data and transmits the request signal which is invalid when the acknowledge signal is invalid, and the receiver performs reception processing of the data when the request signal is valid or stops reception processing of the data when the request signal is invalid.
US08964862B2 Transmission method and system
A method for transmitting digital data via a line includes the steps of providing a clock signal and of transmitting the digital data in synchrony with the clock signal, the clock signal having a frequency that is variable over time.
US08964854B2 Motion-compensated prediction of inter-layer residuals
Techniques and tools are described for scalable video encoding and decoding. In some embodiments, an encoding tool encodes base layer video and outputs encoded base layer video in a base layer bit stream. The encoding tool encodes inter-layer residual video (representing differences between input video and reconstructed base layer video) using motion compensation relative to previously reconstructed inter-layer residual video. For the inter-layer residual video, the encoding tool outputs motion information and motion-compensated prediction residuals in an enhancement layer bit stream. A decoding tool receives the base layer bit stream and enhancement layer bit stream, reconstructs base layer video, reconstructs inter-layer residual video, and combines the reconstructed base layer video and reconstructed inter-layer residual video. Using motion compensation for the inter-layer residual video facilitates the use of separate motion vectors and separate codecs for the base layer video and inter-layer residual video.
US08964849B2 Multi-level significance maps for encoding and decoding
Methods of encoding and decoding for video data are described in which multi-level significance maps are used in the encoding and decoding processes. The significant-coefficient flags that form the significance map are grouped into contiguous groups, and a significant-coefficient-group flag signifies for each group whether that group contains no non-zero significant-coefficient flags. If there are no non-zero significant-coefficient flags in the group, then the significant-coefficient-group flag is set to zero. The set of significant-coefficient-group flags is encoded in the bitstream. Any significant-coefficient flags that fall within a group that has a significant-coefficient-group flag that is non-zero are encoded in the bitstream, whereas significant-coefficient flags that fall within a group that has a significant-coefficient-group flag that is zero are not encoded in the bitstream.
US08964846B2 Moving picture encoding apparatus, moving picture decoding apparatus, moving picture encoding method, moving picture decoding method, moving picture encoding program, and moving picture decoding program
A moving picture encoding apparatus for dividing a frame image as a coding target in a moving picture signal into plural target regions, detecting motion vectors for the respective target regions, and thereby performing coding based on motion compensation. The moving picture encoding apparatus comprises motion vector prediction means for performing a correction of scaling the motion vector of an adjacent region adjacent to the target region on the basis of the target reference frame image. The motion vector predicting means also performing a determination of an optimum predicted motion vector based on the motion vector of the adjacent region adjacent to the target region and thereby predicting the optimum predicted motion vector after the correction.
US08964845B2 Merge mode for motion information prediction
In one embodiment, for a current block of a first frame of digital image data, a list of motion vector prediction information for the current block is populated with candidate motion vector prediction data that includes default motion vector prediction data. In another embodiment, at least a portion of a coded video bitstream is received and a merge flag for a current block in a current frame is decoded. After the merge flag is decoded, at least one merge candidate for the current block is determined.
US08964841B2 Moving image stream processing apparatus, moving image reproduction apparatus equipped with the same, method, and program
Disclosed is a moving image reproduction apparatus including a stream extraction unit that extracts a bit stream of a prescribed number of consecutive pictures including an intra-frame coded picture as an initial picture from a bit stream of a coded moving image, a stream analysis unit that analyzes the extracted bit stream and decides whether or not, if decoding of the extracted bit stream is performed, one screen of decoded image including the intra-frame coded picture can be obtained, and a stream generation unit that generates a bit stream which complements an image of a region in which a decoded image cannot be obtained in one screen, based on a result of the analysis made by the stream analysis unit, when it is decided in the stream analysis unit that one screen of decoded image cannot be obtained.
US08964832B2 Offset type and coefficients signaling method for sample adaptive offset
This disclosure describes techniques for performing sample adaptive offset signaling and coding in a video coding process. Techniques of the disclosure include both a merge-based and prediction-based signaling process for sample adaptive offset information (i.e., offset values and offset type). The techniques includes determining offset information for a current partition, comparing the offset information of the current partition with offset information of one or more neighbor partitions, coding a merge instruction in the case that the offset information of one of the one or more neighbor partitions is the same as the offset information of the current partition, and coding one of a plurality of prediction instructions in the case that the offset information of the one or more neighbor partitions is not the same as the offset information of the current partition.
US08964826B2 Time domain analog multiplication techniques for adjusting tap weights of feed-forward equalizers
Feed-forward equalizer (FFE) circuits and methods are provided which implement time domain analog multiplication for adjusting FFE tap weights. For example, a method includes inputting data signals to FFE taps of a current-integrating summer circuit, wherein the data signals are time-delayed versions of an analog input data signal. A capacitance is charged to a precharge level during a reset period of the current-integrating summer circuit. An output current is generated by each FFE tap during an integration period of the current-integrating summer circuit. The output currents from the FFE taps collectively charge or discharge the capacitance during the integration period. A gating control signal is applied to a given FFE tap during the integration period to enable the given FFE tap during a portion of the integration period in which the gating control signal overlaps the integration period so as to effectively multiply the data signal input to the given FFE tap with an FFE coefficient value corresponding to a period of overlap between the gating control signal and the integration period.
US08964825B2 Analog signal current integrators with tunable peaking function
Analog signal current integrators are provided having tunable peaking functions. Analog signal current integrators with tunable peaking functions enable data rate dependent loss compensation for applications in high data rate receiver integrated circuits incorporating advanced equalization functions, such as decision-feedback equalizers. For instance, a current integrator circuit includes a current integrating amplifier circuit comprising an adjustable circuit element to tune a peaking response of the current integrator circuit, and a peaking control circuit to generate a control signal to adjust a value of the adjustable circuit element as a function of an operating condition of the current integrator circuit. The operating condition may be a specified data rate or a communication channel characteristic or both. The adjustable circuit element may be a degeneration capacitor or a bias current source.
US08964815B2 Method and apparatus for radio synchronization detection in a rake receiver
Enhanced reception in a communication system is achieved by performing radio synchronization (SYNC) detection after multipath signal components are combined via a Rake combiner. In a communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver, plural multipath signal components of a signal transmitted by the transmitter are received by the receiver. The plural multipath signal components are correlated with a known spreading code (e.g. a PN code). The correlated multipath signals are analyzed to identify plural correlation peaks and those correlation peaks that exceed a multipath threshold are selected. The selected correlation peaks are combined (i.e., coherently combined) to produce a combined signal. A synchronization event is declared when the combined signal exceeds an adjusted synchronization threshold and the combined signal is then decoded.
US08964807B1 Magnesium based gettering regions for gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode devices
In an example, the present invention provides a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode device. The device has a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate material comprising a surface region, which is configured on either a non-polar ({10-10}) crystal orientation or a semi-polar ({10-10} crystal orientation configured with an offcut at an angle toward or away from the [0001] direction). The device also has a GaN region formed overlying the surface region, an active region formed overlying the surface region, and a gettering region comprising a magnesium species overlying the surface region. The device has a p-type cladding region comprising an (InAl)GaN material doped with a plurality of magnesium species formed overlying the active region.
US08964806B2 System and method for generating an optimum side-mode suppression ratio continuous tuning path for a semiconductor tunable laser
A system and method to determine data sets of front mirror current, back mirror current and phase current that change the wavelength output by a semiconductor laser in a prescribed trajectory versus time, while maintaining the maximum side-mode suppression ratio at each point during the sweep.
US08964802B1 Traveling-wave ring-oscillators without a faraday rotator
A ring laser-resonator generating plane-polarized fundamental-frequency radiation includes an optically nonlinear crystal configured for type-II second-harmonic generation of fundamental-frequency radiation. The resonator is configured such that fundamental-frequency radiation circulating either clockwise or counter-clockwise therein makes two passes through the optically nonlinear crystal per round-trip in the resonator in opposite directions, with polarization planes perpendicular to each other. This arrangement forces unidirectional circulation of radiation in the resonator during which second-harmonic radiation is not generated by the crystal.
US08964794B2 Low latency and self-adjusting frame synchronization algorithm for data streaming applications
A method for maintaining a nominal decoder time phase alignment through a data drop-out period is provided. The method includes determining if a search window is open. A search-window width of the search window is an initial search-window width. The initial search-window width is larger than the width of the frame synchronization pattern. The method also includes determining if a bit clock rising edge is detected and searching for the frame synchronization pattern on a bit level when the search window is open and the bit clock rising edge is detected. If the frame synchronization pattern is not found responsive to the searching, the method also includes determining if a receipt time of the bit received when the bit clock rising edge was detected is coincident with an expected start time of the frame synchronization pattern.
US08964782B2 Multi-rate transparent MUX for optical communications networks
Bit-transparent muxing of an input signal for transport through an optical communications network is disclosed. A stuffing ratio is based on a line rate of the input signal and a data rate of a fixed length container. A number (NFS) of fixed stuffs is computed based on the stuffing ratio. The input signal and NFS fixed stuffs are inserted into the payload of the container, and the computed number of NFS are stored in the container's overhead. In some embodiments, the container is an overclocked OTU-3 (OTU3+) frame having a line rate of 44.6 Gb/s. This enables bit-transparent mux/demux of four nominal 10 Gig signals having line rates within a range of between 7.6 Gb/s and 10.4 Gb/s, or a single nominal 40 Gig signal having a line rate within a range of between 38.8 Gb/s and 41.6 Gb/s.
US08964779B2 Device and method for electronic controlling
An electronic controlling device and method is disclosed. One embodiment provides at least one module performing specific functions within one of a plurality of module modes on reception of a corresponding module mode request. A system control unit is provided to operate the at least module in one of a plurality of module modes by distributing a corresponding system mode request. The at least one module is adapted to translate the distributed system mode request to a module mode request which is configurable.
US08964777B2 Base station and method of interference handling
In a radio communication system where a base station provides blank time slots to avoid inter-cell interference, a decrease in throughput by an excess or shortage of blank time slots is prevented. This invention relates to a radio system that avoids interference in cooperation between base stations by providing blank time slots by a (first) base station. Other (second) base stations detect the number of served terminals affected by interference from the first base station that sets blank time slots, calculate required blank time slots so that the number of required blank time slots will increase with an increase in the number of terminals located in cell edges, and send a notification of the required blank time slots to the first base station. The first base station determines whether system throughput is anticipated to improve, based on the above notifications, and adjusts the length of blank time slots.
US08964774B2 Communication protocol for a lighting control system
A communication protocol for a lighting control system having a plurality of control devices coupled to a communication link uses a polling technique to coordinate the transmission of digital messages between the control devices. When the control devices are powered up, one of the control devices is established as a “master” device. During normal operation, the master device transmits a standard poll message to each of the control devices in succession using a unique semi-permanent Poll ID for each of the control devices. The master device periodically transmits a Poll-ID-Request poll message to the control devices allow those devices that do not have a Poll ID to request a Poll ID. If a control device determines either that the master device is not transmitting poll messages to it, or that another control device has the same Poll ID, the control device drops its Poll ID and acquires another Poll ID.
US08964768B2 VLAN numbering in access networks
The invention relates to VLAN numbering in access networks.
US08964764B2 Multimedia network system with content importation, content exportation, and integrated content management
This system provides wired and/or wireless access throughout a multimedia network built on a distributed architecture which can be transparent to the user. This multimedia network includes content which is imported or generated within the network. The system allows for the content provider to determine the license status of content and update the license status of content which was previously provided by that provider. The external content can be accessed in real time or downloaded and stored within the system for later access at the convenience of the user. The usage of some content is controlled by the use of encryption and other protection methods. The system allows for storage of live video by storing the digitized video and allowing the user to control how, when and where the content is viewed. The system makes available multiple multimedia services to all users in the network or connected via the internet.
US08964763B2 Inter-router communication method and module
A system and method of inter-router communication is described. The system and method include a routing protocol communication, configured to be sent between a plurality of routers on a network, and having a data plane update packet sent with a route update packet. The data plane update packet includes routing attributes corresponding to information export protocol signatures. A signature recognition module may be located on at least one of the routers in the network, and can store and recognize data packet signature patterns located in at least a portion of a payload of the data plane update packet. A data plane filter module can also be located on at least one of the routers, and can handle data packets according to filtering rules for specific data packet signature patterns.
US08964759B2 Method for direct access to information stored in nodes of a packet switching network
Method for direct access to information stored in the nodes of a packet switching network comprises the steps of: collecting the pointers, corresponding to which the information required for processing the packets belonging to one and the same flow is stored in each node of the network;—constructing a distributed linked data structure (DLDS) in which the pointers are contained inside packets (PI, P2, P3) that traverse the DLDS-aware routers constituting the path between sender (A) and receiver (B) of the flow;—use of the DLDS data structure for direct access to the information stored in a DLDS-aware router, using a pointer of the DLDS contained in the packet in transit;—selection of the pointer of the DLDS contained in the packet in transit based on its position inside said packet, said position being equal to the serial number of the DLDS-aware router in the flow path, and checking of validity by consistency tests.
US08964756B2 Signaling control method and system for service establishment based on G.709
A signaling control method for service establishment based on G.709 is provided in the present invention, including: a control plane obtaining routing information of an end-to-end service to be established, information of a gateway network element passed by end-to-end service routing and a multi stage multiplexing capability selected for the gateway network element, initiating an end-to-end connection establishment process, and sending an end-to-end connection establishment signaling to nodes passed by the end-to-end service routing, wherein, the end-to-end connection establishment signaling contains the multi stage multiplexing capability selected for the gateway network element passed by the end-to-end service routing, and a corresponding multi stage multiplexing capability is configured on the gateway network element. A signaling control system for service establishment based on G.709 is also provided in the present invention. In the method and system, the interconnection between old devices and new devices is better implemented.
US08964751B2 System and method for storing flow entries in hardware tables
A system and method for storing flow entries in hardware tables includes one or more controllers, memory, a first flow table for storing first flow entries, and a second flow table for storing second flow entries that override the first flow entries. The first flow table implements a fixed priority and the second flow table a flexible priority. The one or more controllers is configured to add a third flow entry with a first priority to the first table when the first priority is consistent with priorities of all overlapping first flow entries, move selected overlapping first flow entries to the second table and add the third flow entry to the first table when moving the selected first flow entries removes any priority inconsistencies in the first table when the third flow entry is added to the first table, and otherwise add the third flow entry to the second table.
US08964748B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for performing flow compilation packet processing
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for performing flow compilation packet processing are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a packet at a packet processing device and determining if the packet is associated with a packet flow previously processed at the packet processing device. If the received packet is determined to be associated with the packet flow, at least one database containing compiled flow programs is queried to locate a compiled flow program previously used to process the packet flow. The method also includes utilizing the located compiled flow program to process the received packet.
US08964746B2 Transmitting a packet from a distributed trunk switch
A method of transmitting an upstream communication packet from a distributed trunk (DT) switch is described. The method comprises receiving a packet from a device connected to a DT port of the DT switch; and transmitting the received packet via a non-DT port of the DT switch if the DT switch is the owner of the device and transmitting the received packet via a DT interconnect (DTI) port of the DT switch if the DT switch is not the owner of the device.
US08964737B2 Wireless communication circuit supporting antenna diversity
A wireless communication circuit for a wireless communication device having a plurality of antennas is disclosed. The wireless communication circuit includes: a transceiver for receiving and transmitting network packets; a control circuit for controlling the switching circuit to switch the transceiver among the antennas so that the transceiver receives the preamble of a first network packet; and a receiving signal strength detector for detecting the receiving signal strength value of respective antennas in respective receiving periods during the reception of the preamble conducted by the transceiver. If the receiving signal strength value of each antenna is less than a predetermined threshold, the control circuit selects an antenna with the maximum receiving strength value as a target antenna and controls the switching circuit to couple the transceiver to the selected target antenna so that the transceiver receives the rest of the first network packet through the target antenna.
US08964735B2 Translating media access control (MAC) addresses in a network hierarchy
In one embodiment a method includes receiving a packet including a destination media access control (MAC) address field having a MAC address of a hypervisor and a destination Internet protocol (IP) address field having an IP address of a virtual machine (VM) coupled to the hypervisor. The method further determines a MAC address of the VM using the IP address of the VM and applies the VM MAC address to the destination MAC address field of the packet to forward the packet to the VM.
US08964733B1 Control plane architecture for switch fabrics
In some embodiments, a system includes multiple access switches, a switch fabric having multiple switch fabric portions, and a control plane processor. Each switch fabric portion is coupled to at least one access switch by a cable from a first set of cables. Each switch fabric portion is configured to receive data from the at least one access switch via the cable from the first set of cables. The control plane processor is coupled to each switch fabric portion by a cable from a second set of cables. The control plane processor is configured to send control information to each access switch via a cable from the second set of cables, a switch fabric portion, and a cable from the first set of cables. The control plane processor is configured to determine control plane connections associated with each access switch and is configured to determine data plane connections associated with each access switch as a result of the control plane connections.
US08964728B2 Optimization of consolidating entities
A system and method for homogeneously merging locations in a telecommunications network including: calculating a characteristic of a carrier at a first location and a second location; determining a penalty for excluding the carrier based in part on the characteristic; comparing the penalty determined to a preselected value; and, if the penalty is less than the preselected value, merging the first location and the second location, thereby forming a merged location.
US08964726B2 Telephony web event system and method
An embodiment of the system for publishing events of a telephony application to a client includes a call router that generates events from the telephony application and an event router that manages the publication of events generated by the call router and that manages the subscription to events by clients. The system can be used with a telephony application that interfaces with a telephony device and an application server.
US08964724B2 Clock synchronization and distributed guard time provisioning
Embodiments provide a method to accommodate clock drift and guard time in a distributed fashion. A first device is adapted to communicate with a second device. A clock in the first device is synchronized to a clock in the second device using beacon or/and acknowledgement frames from the second device. A nominal guard time is computed that accounts for clock drift in the first and second devices during a nominal synchronization interval. An additional guard time is computed that accounts for clock drift in the first and second devices during an additional interval beyond the nominal synchronization interval. An available transmission interval is determined within an allocation interval for transmissions between the devices, wherein the beginning and/or the end of the available transmission interval are selected by accounting for the nominal guard time and/or the additional guard time. One or more frames are transmitted within the available transmission interval.
US08964718B2 Detecting bursty interference to trigger a coexistence indication
A user equipment (UE) may reduce coexistence issues with one or more radio access technologies (RATs) caused by a bursty interference. The bursty interference may be detected by detecting a number of modes in a measured signal sample and determining when a signal contains a multi-modal distribution based at least in part on the detecting. A coexistence indication is created based at least in part on the determining.
US08964710B2 Relayed content distribution and data collection using vehicles
Technologies for relaying digital content and collecting data using vehicles, and an access point associated with a vehicle or structure are provided. A stationary AP is associated with a stationary vehicle structure. A content distribution portal receives a content package including metadata and content segments from a content provider via the Internet. The content distribution portal sends the content package to the stationary AP via the Internet. A mobile AP is mounted on or in a vehicle and is associated with a display device mounted on the vehicle. The stationary AP wirelessly sends the content package to the mobile AP using a P2P protocol when a wireless connection is established between the stationary and mobile APs. After receiving the entire content package, the mobile AP presents the content segments on the display device mounted on the vehicle in a manner specified by the metadata.
US08964704B2 System and method of enhanced pilots for improved mobile station positioning
A system and method of enhancing transmission of highly detectable pilots (HDPs). At least one base station transmits at least one cellular signal in which each cellular signal includes repetitive HDP cycles. Each HDP cycle has a duration of N power control groups (PCGs) and includes an HDP period having a duration of M PCGs in which N is greater than M. Traffic and overhead channels are gated during each HDP period. An enhanced HDP symbol is transmitted during a selected HDP period for each set of X HDP cycles of each cellular signal. For single carrier configurations, only one enhanced HDP is transmitted at a time, or multiple HDPs are transmitted in different directions. Standard 1x pilots may be transmitted. The enhanced HDP may be a boosted standard 1x pilot or an additional standard HDP pilot. Multicarrier configurations are described with PCG or sub-chip and/or phase offsets.
US08964699B2 Method for synchronizing PDCP operations after RRC connection re-establishment in a wireless communication system and related apparatus thereof
A method used in an E-UTRAN for synchronizing PDCP operations after a RRC connection re-establishment procedure with a user equipment (UE) is provided. The method includes: initiating an RRC reconfiguration procedure to resume all radio bearers other than a signaling radio bearer 1 (SRB1) when an RRC connection is re-established; re-transmitting a designated group of PDCP Service Data Units (SDUs) to the UE when a data radio bearer (DRB) mapped on Radio Link Control (RLC) Acknowledged Mode (AM) is resumed.
US08964697B2 Connection management method, connection management system, mobile terminal, packet data gateway and mobile management gateway
When a mobile terminal transmitting/receiving a packet using a plurality of IP address types performs a handover to an access network (single address type connection network) permitting transmission/reception of a packet using a single IP address only, an IP address not permitted is unfortunately discarded at an access network as a handover destination. Disclosed is a technique configured so that a mobile terminal (UE 1) detecting a handover to the single address type connection network establishes a temporary connection with a mobility management gateway (PGW 5) and thereafter acquires an address of an ePDG 8 located at a core network and informs the ePDG of a communication state before the handover via a PDN using the temporary connection. The ePDG informs the PGW of the communication state of the UE before the handover. Thereby, the communication state of the UE before the handover is achieved with the PGW via the ePDG and the PDN.
US08964695B2 Optimization of handovers to untrusted non-3GPP networks
The invention relates to a method for ensuring IP session continuity upon a handover of a mobile node to a non-3GPP network, wherein an ongoing IP session of the mobile node goes via a packet data network gateway. For non-3GPP networks it is necessary to discover a security gateway and to then establish the corresponding tunnels to the ePDG to form the new data path; a security tunnel between the mobile node and the security gateway, and an IP tunnel between the packet data network gateway and the security gateway. In order to prepare the handover to possible non-3GPP accesses, the two tunnels are pre-established, however maintained deactivated until their use is actually needed. Accordingly, when handing over to the non-3GPP network, the IP session may be continued without any significant interruption by activating the already established tunnels.
US08964685B2 Methods and systems for dynamic spectrum arbitrage
Methods and system are provided for managing and monitoring allocation of RF spectrum resources based on time, space and frequency. A network may be enabled to allocate excess spectrum resources for use by other network providers on a real-time basis. Allocated resources may be transferred from one provider with excess resources to another in need of additional resources based on contractual terms or on a real-time purchase negotiations and settlements. A network may be enabled to monitor the use of allocated resources on real-time basis and off-load or allow additional users depending on the spectrum resources availability. Public safety networks may be enabled to make spectrum resources available to general public by allocating spectrum resources and monitoring the use of those resources. During an emergency, when traffic increases on a public safety network, the public safety networks may off-load bandwidth traffic to make available necessary resources for public safety users.
US08964676B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting system information in a mobile communication system
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting system information in a mobile communication system. The method includes configuring system information including first antenna configuration information and second antenna configuration information, and broadcasting the system information. The first antenna configuration information includes information about a number of antennas of a base station.
US08964672B2 Paging in heterogeneous networks with discontinuous reception
A method for operating a UE in a wireless communications network is provided. The method comprises attempting, by a UE configured to operate in a DRX mode and with time domain measurement resource restrictions, to read a paging message in a paging occasion in a restricted subframe during DRX active time.
US08964669B2 Method and apparatus for receiving downlink data in multi-carrier system
A method and an apparatus for receiving downlink data in a multi-carrier system are provided. A terminal receives a downlink grant on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) via a first component carrier, and determines a transmission power of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) depending on whether a control channel exists in each orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol of a subframe of a second component carrier that is indicated by the downlink grant. Based on the transmission power of the PDSCH, the terminal receives downlink data on the PDSCH indicated by the downlink grant via the second component carrier. When a control channel and a data channel coexist in the same OFDM symbol, the reliability of receiving the control channel can be increased.
US08964657B2 Apparatus and method for joint encoding of user specific reference signal information in wireless communication
An apparatus and method for providing encoded information pertaining to a user-specific reference signal associated with a user equipment in a multiple access wireless communication system are provided. The encoded information jointly indicates a rank of transmission together with at least one parameter relating to the user-specific reference signal, such as a set of antenna ports and a user-specific reference signal pattern. The encoded information is transmitted in a downlink control channel to reduce overhead in the channel.
US08964653B2 Peer-to-peer device identification and cognitive communication
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate identifying devices in a wireless network and cognitively communicating with devices over utilized frequencies. Devices can be identified by receiving downlink resource assignments related to the devices, evaluating uplink transmissions thereover, and identifying the devices from one or more aspects of the uplink transmissions (e.g., an identifier in the transmission). Moreover, the uplink transmissions can be re-transmitted to a serving device to provide relay functionality for the transmissions. Additionally, peer-to-peer communication with the device and/or other devices can be facilitated by using a portion of available transmission power to re-transmit while using the other portion to transmit peer-to-peer communications. Thus, interference caused by the peer-to-peer communications is mitigated by additionally functioning as a relay using a portion of the transmit power.
US08964652B2 Method for enhancing of controlling radio resources, method for transmitting status report, and receiver in mobile communication system
A method for improving radio resources, a method for transmitting a status report, and a receiving apparatus (receiver) in a mobile communication system are disclosed. In transmitting a status report by a receiving side RLC, although data that has not been received (missing PDU) is discovered, the receiving side does not immediately request its retransmission but transmits the status report after the lapse of a certain time (namely, a time point at which a timer expires), to thus reduce radio resources consumed for transmission of the status report.
US08964651B2 Traffic management employing interference management messages
Various traffic management techniques may be employed in a multi-hop wireless communication system. For example, a decision to transmit data to another node may be based on whether that node is able to effectively transmit its data. A decision to transmit an interference management message may be based on the amount of data a parent node may transmit. A decision to transmit an interference management message may be based on how effectively data is being transmitted. A weight may be assigned for an interference management message based on a traffic scheduling policy.
US08964650B2 System and method for semi-persistent and dynamic scheduling and discontinuous reception control
Methods of combining semi-persistent resource allocation and dynamic resource allocation are provided. Packets, such as VoIP packets, are transmitted on the uplink and downlink using respective semi-persistent resources. For each mobile device, awake periods and sleep periods are defined. The semi-persistent resources are aligned with the awake periods so that most of the time the mobile device can turn off its wireless access radio during the sleep periods. In addition, signalling to request, and to allocate, resources for additional packets are transmitted during the awake periods, and the resources allocated for the additional packets are within the awake windows.
US08964640B2 Hybrid beaconing method
Provided is a hybrid beaconing method in which a centralized beaconing scheme and a distributed beaconing scheme are combined. In the hybrid beaconing method, a beaconing scheme is converted according to a network condition, and a centralized beaconing scheme or a distributed beaconing scheme is used to maintain an optimum network status.
US08964637B2 Enabling local switching in mobile radio networks
When a new connection needs to be established in a mobile radio network between the core network and the radio access network to terminate a local circuit switched (CS) call, i.e. a CS call for which another connection has already been established between the core network and the same radio access network, the core network includes an optional information element containing “Other party information” in the messages that establish the new connection, allowing the radio access network to correlate the two connections, put them in direct communication and exclude the core network from the user plane data flow.
US08964636B2 Concentrator for multiplexing access point to wireless network connections
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate multiplexing communications from multiple downstream access points to one or more mobility management entities (MME). In particular, a concentrator component is provided that can establish a single transport layer connection with an MME along with multiple application layer connections over the single transport layer connection for each of multiple downstream access points and/or related mobile devices. The downstream access points and/or mobile devices can provide identifiers, such as tracking identifiers, to the concentrator component, which can utilize the identifiers to track communications with the MME. In this regard, the MME can send paging messages, and the concentrator component can determine downstream access points related to the paging messages based on a stored association with a tracking identifier in the paging message.
US08964633B2 Method, apparatus, and computer program product for authenticating subscriber communications at a network server
An apparatus for authenticating subscriber communications at a network server includes a determining element and an identification element in communication with the determining element. The determining element may be configured to receive an incoming message. The identification extractor may be configured to extract a device identifier and an address identifier from the incoming message. The determining element may be further configured to determine whether the device identifier and the address identifier of the incoming message match both a registered device identifier and a registered address identifier associated with the registered device identifier, respectively.
US08964631B2 Communication apparatus, control method for communication apparatus, and storage medium
A communication apparatus which is configured to receive a plurality of frames continuously transmitted or a plurality of frames transmitted as one frame from a transmission apparatus, the apparatus comprising: control unit adapted to control communication processing with the transmission apparatus; switching unit adapted to switch between a power saving mode of reducing power consumption by stopping a predetermined function and a normal mode of also making the predetermined function operate; and request unit adapted to request the transmission apparatus to stop transmitting the plurality of frames continuously transmitted or the plurality of frames transmitted as the one frame, when the switching unit switches from the normal mode to the power saving mode.
US08964626B2 Method for allocating backhaul link resources in relay communication system, and method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data using same
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving data in a relay communication system. The method and the apparatus allocate resources by dividing backhaul link resources into plural partitions, and then transmit and receive data. The data transmission method of the invention comprises the steps of: allocating a certain number of initial OFDM symbol transmission periods in a sub-frame of a downlink channel to a control channel that transfers the control information of the terminal, wherein data is transmitted from a base station to a relay or terminal through the downlink channel; dividing the resource blocks excluded from the control channel of the sub-frame into at least two partitions based on frequency domain; determining whether or not each divided partition is allocated to the relay or terminal as resources; and allocating data to the determined partition in order to transmit the partition to the relay or terminal through the downlink channel, wherein the partition determined for the allocation of resources to the relay is allocated to the relay through time division multiplexing (TDM) or frequency division multiplexing of both control and data channels of the relay.
US08964618B2 Method for transmitting and receiving frame performed by station operating in power save mode in wireless local area network system and apparatus for the same
A method for transmitting and receiving frames performed by a station (STA) in power save mode in a wireless local area network is provided. The method includes: transmitting a Power Save (PS) poll frame to an access point (AP) in a first 20 MHz channel; transmitting at least one duplicated PS poll frame to the AP in at least one second 20 MHz channel, the at least one duplicated PS poll frame being generated by duplicating the PS poll frame; and receiving a bufferable frame from the AP as a response of at least one of the PS poll frame and the at least one duplicated PS poll frame.
US08964608B2 Interference cancellation for division free duplexing or full duplex operation
In full duplex operation, a first signal is transmitted from a wireless device while a second signal in the same frequency band as the first signal is received at the device. A third signal can be generated that accounts for channel characteristics on the transmitted first signal. The third signal can be applied to the received second signal to compensate for interference caused by the transmitted first signal.
US08964606B2 Centralized channel selection method and apparatus for wireless networks in a dense deployment environment
A method and apparatus are described including scanning a channel, generating a report for the scanned channel, transmitting the channel report to an associated access point and receiving a channel assignment responsive to said channel report. Also described are a method and apparatus including scanning a channel, generating a first channel report, receiving a second channel report from an associated client, transmitting the first channel report and the second channel report to a server, receiving a channel assignment message from the server responsive to the first and second channel reports and transmitting the channel assignment message to the associated client. Further described are a method and apparatus including receiving a channel report from an associated access point, building an interference graph responsive to the channel report, determining channel assignments based on the interference graph and transmitting a channel assignment message to the associated access point.
US08964589B2 Method and device for obtaining carrier information and carrier information indication
A method and device for obtaining carrier information and carrier information indication include: a user equipment obtains parameters of uplink carrier information according to the message sent by a network side in broadcast manner, or, the user equipment obtains parameters of uplink carrier information according to the preset information. Time Division Duplex wireless communication system with asymmetry uplink frequency band and downlink frequency band can be supported effectively, guard frequency band near the intersection occurred when the adjacent frequencies coexist is utilized fully, and frequency spectrum utilization rate is improved; further more, Time Division Duplex wireless communication system with unequal uplink band width and downlink band width can be supported, and the application of the Time Division Duplex system is expanded effectively.
US08964579B2 Method for positioning user equipment in a wireless mobile communication system, and apparatus for performing the method
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to an apparatus for positioning a user equipment and method thereof. The present invention includes receiving, from a plurality of base stations including a serving cell, a predetermined number of consecutive positioning subframes in a radio frame at a predetermined period, each of the consecutive positioning subframe including a reference signal, measuring a time of arrival of the positioning subframes by using the reference signal, and transmitting a result of the measured time of arrival of the positioning subframe to the serving cell, wherein the predetermined period is set to be larger than a generation period of the reference signal and wherein sequences of the reference signals included in the consecutive positioning subframes are different from each other.
US08964578B2 Overload protection of a transformer loaded line driver
A line driver circuit an method for protecting the line driver circuit from overdrive that includes generating an output signal for a transformer coupled to a load, and comparing a voltage of the output signal to a threshold voltage value. If the comparison indicates overload, the method further includes generating a control signal to reduce an amplitude of the output signal.
US08964576B2 System and method of reporting in-service performance statistics in layered networks
A system and method of reporting in-service performance statistics in a network. The method includes the steps of a node detecting a problem related to a call connected within the network. A problem notification message is then 5 sent to the MSC. The MSC sends a call release message to one or more nodes within the network. The call release message includes a request to release all resources associated with the call. In response to the release request, the node releases all resources associated with the call. In addition, the node sends a release response message to the MSC. The release response message is 10 modified to include information relating to the call problem, thereby providing network statistics to the MSC. Preferably, the node is a Media Gateway (MGw) which sends a H.248 subtract response message modified to include information on the call problem.
US08964574B2 Network accessibility to any network attached device during reboot and power loss
A data communication network (DCN) having a plurality of network devices coupled to the DCN with at least one of the network devices having a “boot once” connectivity manager processor (CMP). The CMP receives its power over the DCN rather than from the power applied to the network devices. The CMP can execute special operating system code and maintain network connectivity even if the network device itself is powered off, is being booted or is otherwise non-functional. The CMP is also coupled to the network device's memory so that it may respond to out-of-band polling requests for device status information from network management tools. With CMP, network administrators can monitor the boot process of network devices, determine that a network device is non-functional due to power loss and can maintain an accurate inventory status of spare network devices that are stored un-powered in a spares closet.
US08964571B2 Method and apparatus for simultaneous support of fast restoration and native multicast in IP networks
The invention includes a method and apparatus for simultaneously supporting restoration and native multicast at a router in an Internet Protocol (IP) network. In one embodiment, a method includes establishing a point-to-point pseudowire having an endpoint at the router, associating the point-to-point pseudowire with an IP interface, and associating a multicast protocol with the IP interface. The point-to-point pseudowire is adapted for supporting restoration in response to a failure. The association of the multicast protocol with the IP interface enables running of the multicast protocol in a manner that gives an appearance that the multicast protocol is running natively on an IP link. This methodology may be repeated for each of a plurality of routers in an IP network in order to configure the routers to support restoration capabilities and native multicast capabilities such that fast restoration may be provided in response to failure conditions in a manner that is transparent to a multicast protocol providing multicast capabilities for the IP network. In this manner, both fast restoration and native multicast may be supported within an IP network, e.g., in an IPTV network or other types of IP networks supporting other types of services.
US08964563B2 Controller driven OAM for OpenFlow
A method performed by a network element implementing an OpenFlow controller, the OpenFlow controller including an operations, administration and management (OAM) module. The OAM module services an OAM function request in a network implementing OpenFlow. The method requests that a subset of OpenFlow switches in the network report metrics for an OpenFlow data flow to provide the OAM module with information for executing the requested OAM function. The method comprising the steps of receiving by an OAM module of the network element a request to execute the OAM function, generating a trigger monitoring message by the OAM module, the trigger monitoring message defining actions to be performed by an OpenFlow switch in the subset of OpenFlow switches, wherein the actions are to provide the metrics for the OpenFlow data flow, sending the trigger monitoring message to the OpenFlow switch, receiving a plurality of monitor response messages from the subset of OpenFlow switches, each of the plurality of monitor response messages including the metrics for the OpenFlow data flow, correlating the plurality of monitor response messages with the OAM function request, executing the requested OAM function using the metrics of the OpenFlow data flow by the OAM module, and returning a result of the requested OAM function.
US08964558B2 Transmission control method and communication apparatus
A transmission control method performed in a communication apparatus, the transmission control method including: receiving a packet from a counterparty apparatus, measuring a quality of communication with the counterparty apparatus and the fluctuation amount of the quality, controlling a transmission so as to transmit a packet to the counterparty apparatus when the fluctuation amount is relatively large in accordance with a first level and the quality is relatively high in accordance with a second level, and not to transmit a packet to the counterparty apparatus when the fluctuation amount is relatively large in accordance with the first level and the quality is relatively low in accordance with the second level.
US08964552B2 Base station, method for controlling base station, control program, and mobile station
To provide a base station in which an electric power consumed in the base station can be suppressed and an electromagnetic wave interference between the base stations can be avoided, a method for controlling a base station, a control program, and a mobile station. The base station includes storage means, traffic history generation means for measuring a traffic of the base station for each unit time and storing it in the storage means as a traffic history, and control means for controlling transmission of a control signal based on the traffic history.
US08964541B1 Method and system for using supplemental channels for a communication session
During an initial part of a communication session, a transmitting node transmits digital data over a first air interface channel to a receiving node, using a first data rate and a first level of repetition. A degradation in quality of the communication session is detected. During a subsequent part of the communication session, the transmitting node transmits digital data over the first air interface channel as before but also transmits the digital data over a second air interface channel, using a second data rate and a second level of repetition. The second data rate is higher than the first data rate, and the second level of repetition is higher than the first level of repetition. Thus, during a given transmission period, the transmitting node may transmit a voice frame once over the first air interface channel and N times over the second air interface channel.
US08964537B2 Method and system for egress policy indications
According to one embodiment, a method may include assigning one egress profile identifier out of a plurality of egress profile identifiers to an Ethernet frame based at least on an egress connection identifier (eXid) tag of the Ethernet frame at a traffic manager, receiving the Ethernet frame at a switching element from the traffic manager, receiving metadata at the switching element from the traffic manager, the metadata comprising the assigned egress profile identifier, an internal class of service marker, and an internal congestion marker, and mapping the internal class of service marker and the internal congestion marker to a priority marker and an external congestion marker in the Ethernet frame based on the egress profile identifier.
US08964534B2 Monitor/control device and monitor target device
A monitor and control device includes a monitor and control unit transmitting to a monitor target device a monitor and control signal (M&CS) through a M&CS path in a case of a malfunction occurred in a main signal path, and transmits to the monitor target device the M&CS through the main signal path in a case of a malfunction occurred in the M&CS path, the monitor target device including: a first path connection unit connected to the main signal path passing either a main signal in which the M&CS for monitoring and controlling the monitor target device is multiplexed or a main signal in which the M&CS is not multiplexed; a second path connection unit connected to the M&CS path passing the M&CS; and a selection unit selecting whether to perform transmission and reception of the M&CS by either one of the main signal path and the M&CS path.
US08964530B2 Increasing multi-destination scale in a network environment
An example method for increasing multi-destination scale in a network environment is provided and includes receiving a packet at a pair of switches comprising a first switch and a second switch in a network environment, where the first switch is configured as an elected forwarder, and the second switch is configured as a standby forwarder. A fabric extender (FEX) is connected to the first switch and the second switch with a virtual PortChannel. The method further includes forwarding the packet to a host connected to the FEX. The elected forwarder is configured with substantially all multi-destination virtual interfaces (VIFs) on the FEX in a forwarding table. The standby forwarder forwards the packet to the elected forwarder. In specific embodiments, the elected forwarder programs the FEX with the VIFs.
US08964515B2 Method and system for optical calibration
A system and method of calibrating optical measuring equipment includes optically measuring discrete objects of a first known predictable pattern from a calibration apparatus, wherein the first known predictable pattern is a bit pattern. A recording surface optical reader is calibrated based on the optically measuring. Using the first known predictable pattern, contamination is filtered from the results of the optically measuring.
US08964509B2 Remote communication and control of acoustic detectors
A method of controlling a function of an acoustic detector includes storing a reference power spectrum of a reference acoustic signal, the reference power spectrum being associated with a mode of operation of the acoustic detector; receiving an acoustic sound signal, the acoustic sound signal including a tone and harmonic tones; generating a real-time acoustic power spectrum of the acoustic sound signal responsive to the receiving of the acoustic sound signal; and performing the mode of operation when a comparison of the real-time acoustic power spectrum with the reference acoustic power spectrum indicates that the acoustic sound signal is a control signal.
US08964502B2 Zero offset profile from near-field hydrophones
Method for acquiring zero offset data from a marine seismic survey. Seismic data are recorded using source signature monitor receivers located very near the air guns or other sources (81). The recorded data are sorted into common-source gathers (82). A common trace is computed that is common to each gather (83). The common trace is subtracted from each trace in each gather (84), resulting in approximately zero-offset data.
US08964501B2 System and technique to determine high order derivatives from seismic sensor data
A technique includes obtaining multi-component seismic data acquired by two or more seismic sensors while in tow. The multi-component seismic data is indicative of a pressure wavefield and particle motion. The technique includes based on the data, determining at least one high order (i.e., second order or higher) spatial derivative of the pressure wavefield.
US08964493B2 Defective memory column replacement with load isolation
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for substituting a group of memory cells for a defective group of memory cells in a memory. In a step, an exemplary embodiment replaces a signal path to a group of defective memory cells with a signal path to a redundant group of memory cells. In another step, an exemplary embodiment isolates the signal path to the redundant group of memory cells from a load imposed by the signal path to the replaced group of defective memory cells.
US08964491B2 Graphene-based memory devices and methods therefor
Memory technology adapted to store data in a binary format. Such technology includes a semiconductor memory device having memory cells, each having a substrate and at least three graphene layers that are oriented to define a graphene stack disposed in a plane. The graphene stack of each memory cell is connected to a bit line and to a ground connection so that a conductive path is defined in the plane of the graphene stack. The in-plane conductivity of the graphene stack of each memory cell is altered during programming of the memory cell to define a binary value of bits stored in the memory cell.
US08964488B2 Non-volatile memory device using variable resistance element with an improved write performance
A non-volatile memory device using a variable resistive element is provided. The non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell array having a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a first voltage generator configured to generate a first voltage, a voltage pad configured to receive an external voltage that has a level higher than the first voltage, a write driver configured to be supplied with the external voltage and configured to write data to the plurality of non-volatile memory cells selected from the memory cell array; a sense amplifier configured to be supplied with the external voltage and configured to read data from the plurality of non-volatile memory cells selected from the memory cell array, and a row decoder and a column decoder configured to select the plurality of non-volatile memory cells included in the memory cell array, the row decoder being supplied with the first voltage and the column decoder being supplied with the external voltage.
US08964480B2 Detecting programmed word lines based on NAND string current
A number (Nwl) of programmed word lines in a block of NAND strings is determined by measuring a reference combined current (Iref) in the block when all of the memory cells are in a conductive state. Subsequently, to determine if a word line is a programmed word line, an additional combined current (Iadd) in the block is measured with a demarcation voltage applied to the selected word line. The selected word line is determined to be programmed word lines if Idd is less than Iref by at least a margin. Nwl can be used to adjust an erase-verify test of an erase operation by making the erase-verify test relatively hard to pass when the number is relatively small and relatively easy to pass when the number is relatively large. Or, Nwl can be used to identify a next word line to program in the block.
US08964479B2 Techniques for sensing a semiconductor memory device
Techniques for sensing a semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a semiconductor memory device comprising a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns and data sense amplifier circuitry coupled to at least one of the plurality of memory cells. The data sense amplifier circuitry may comprise first amplifier circuitry and resistive circuitry, wherein the first amplifier circuitry and the resistive circuitry may form a feedback loop.
US08964478B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a sense amplifier circuit. The sense amplifier circuit includes a cross-coupled first transistor and second transistor that perform amplification. The sources of the cross-coupled transistors are respectively connected in series with a third transistor and a fourth transistor, and electrical current supply capability of the third and fourth transistors is controlled by a control voltage given to control electrodes of the third and fourth transistors. In a data retaining period, a minimum sub-threshold current necessary for retaining the data is flowed to the third and fourth transistors according to the control voltage, and bit line potential is maintained.
US08964477B2 Nonvolatile memory, electronic apparatus, and verification method
A gate voltage generator which supplies first gate voltage at erase verify time to a first selected word line to which a first memory cell included in N memory cells is connected, which supplies the first gate voltage at the erase verify time to a second selected word line to which a first reference cell included in M reference cells is connected, which supplies second gate voltage at the erase verify time to a first non-selected word line connected to a memory cell array, and which supplies third gate voltage at the erase verify time to a second non-selected word line connected to a reference cell array is included. An electric current which flows through a reference cell connected to the second non-selected word line is stronger than an electric current which flows through a memory cell connected to the first non-selected word line.
US08964475B2 Memory cell string based on gated-diode cell and memory array using the same
The present invention provides a nonvolatile memory cell string and a memory array using the same. According to the present invention, a wall type semiconductor separated into twin fins and a memory cell string formed with memory cells having a gated diode structure along each fin are enabled to increase the degree of integration and basically prevent the interferences between adjacent cells. And a first semiconductor layer and a depletion region of a PN junction wrapped up by a gate electrode are enabled to remove GSL and CSL by GIDL memory operation and significantly increase the degree of integration for applying to a neuromorphic technology.
US08964468B2 Data storage system having multi-bit memory device and operating method thereof
A data storage device includes a non-volatile memory device which includes a memory cell array; and a memory controller which includes a buffer memory. The operating method of the data storage device includes storing data in the buffer memory, and determining whether the data stored in the buffer memory is data accompanying a buffer program operation of the memory cell array. When the data stored in the buffer memory is data accompanying the buffer program operation, the method further includes determining whether a main program operation on the memory cell array is required, and when a main program operation on the memory cell array is required, determining a program pattern of the main program operation on the memory cell array. The method further includes issuing a set of commands for the main program operation on the memory cell array to the multi-bit memory device based on the program pattern.
US08964465B2 Fractional bits in memory cells
Methods, devices, modules, and systems for programming memory cells can include storing charges corresponding to a data state that represents an integer number of bits in a set of memory cells. Programming memory cells can include storing a charge in a cell of the set, where the charge corresponds to a programmed state, where the programmed state represents a fractional number of bits, and where the programmed state denotes a digit of the data state as expressed by a number in base N, where N is equal to 2B, rounded up to an integer, and where B is equal to the fractional number of bits represented by the programmed state.
US08964464B2 System and method for accelerated sampling
A system and method for reading memory cells in a multi-level cell memory device. A set of thresholds may be received for reading a current page of the memory cells. The set of threshold may include hard decision thresholds for hard decoding, soft decision thresholds for soft decoding, erase thresholds for erase decoding and/or other combinations of thresholds. The set of thresholds may be divided into a plurality of groups of thresholds. The current page may be simultaneously read using multiple thresholds, where each of the multiple thresholds is divided into a different group of thresholds.
US08964463B2 Read disturb control in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having P-type memory cell transistor
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is provided which includes: a P-type memory cell transistor having a source, a drain, a gate, and a charge storage layer; and a control circuit which, in a case where the P-type memory cell transistor has its threshold greater than or equal to a first value (Vr) and less than or equal to a second value (Vrd), carries out a program operation of injecting electrons into the charge storage layer.
US08964457B2 Methods for operating SRAM cells
A circuit includes a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) array. An SRAM cell is in the SRAM array and includes a p-well region, a first and a second n-well region on opposite sides of the p-well region, and a first and a second pass-gate FinFET. The first pass-gate FinFET and the second pass-gate FinFET are p-type FinFETs. A CVss line is over the p-well region, wherein the CVss line is parallel to an interface between the p-well region and the first n-well region. A bit-line and a bit-line bar are on opposite sides of the CVss line. A CVdd line crosses over the SRAM cell. A CVss control circuit is connected to the CVss line. The CVss control circuit is configured to provide a first CVss voltage and a second CVss voltage to the CVss line, with the first and the second CVss voltage being different from each other.
US08964451B2 Memory cell system and method
A memory cell system/method incorporating reduced transistor counts and/or improved design-for-manufacturability (DFM) is disclosed. The system/method incorporates cross-coupled feedthru (3410)/feedback (3420) amplifiers to implement memory cell state memory, wherein the feedback amplifier incorporates a multi-state output drive capability (3423) allowing the memory cell to be read/written using only one access device (3430) connected to the output (3412) of the feedthru (3410) amplifier. The multi-state output drive capability (3423) modulates the feedback amplifier (3420) drive strength to enable reading/writing of the feedthru amplifier (3410) state with greatly reduced memory cell input fan-in requirements. The invention anticipates replacement of traditional DP/8T/6T/4T memory cell structures with corresponding 6T/6T/5T/3T memory cell configurations, resulting in a 16%-25% transistor reduction depending on memory array application context.
US08964450B2 Memory device and signal processing circuit
A memory device which can keep a stored logic state even when the power is off is provided. A signal processing circuit including the memory device, which achieves low power consumption by stopping supply of power, is provided. The memory device includes a logic circuit including a first node, a second node, a third node, and a fourth node; a first control circuit connected to the first node, the second node, and the third node; a second control circuit connected to the first node, the second node, and the fourth node; a first memory circuit connected to the first node, the first control circuit, and the second control circuit; and a second memory circuit connected to the second node, the first control circuit, and the second control circuit.
US08964444B2 One-time programmable memory, integrated circuit including same, and method therefor
A one-time programmable memory includes a first one-time programmable memory cell including a fuse core having an input terminal for receiving a trim signal, an output terminal for providing a sense signal, and a fuse. The fuse core conducts current through the fuse in response to the trim signal. The one-time programmable memory cell also includes a sense circuit having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the fuse core, and an output terminal for providing a termination signal, and a logic circuit having a first input terminal for receiving a program enable signal, a second input terminal for receiving a data signal, a third input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the sense circuit for receiving the termination signal, and an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the fuse core for providing the trim signal.
US08964438B2 Power converter with hold up
A power converter providing required hold up for a primary converter, particularly a cycloconverter, without the required hold up capacity by an auxiliary converter including storage capacitors having the requisite capacity. The auxiliary converter may be isolated from the primary converter during normal operation and switched in during power supply discontinuities. The storage capacitors may be charged via a voltage step up circuit to achieve improved charge utilization. The storage capacitors may be charged via a charge path independent of the auxiliary converter output path so that the storage capacitor charging rate may be set independently.
US08964435B2 Methods and systems for operating a power converter
A power conversion system for providing power to an electrical grid is described. The power conversion system includes a power converter coupled to a photovoltaic (PV) array and configured to control a PV array voltage. The power conversion system also includes a system controller communicatively coupled to the power converter and configured to select from a first reduced power operating point and a second reduced power operating point when a power available from the PV array is greater than a rated output power of the power conversion system.
US08964434B2 Rectification circuit
A rectification circuit includes a first input terminal, a first switch, an energy storage circuit, a first diode, a filtering circuit connected in series and in order to ground, a second diode, and a controller. Two opposite terminals of the second diode are connected to a first node between the first diode and the filtering circuit and a second node between the first switch and the energy storage circuit. The controller transmits control signals to the first switch and the second switch to control conductivities of the first switch and the second switch.
US08964432B2 Apparatus and method for controlling circulating current in an inverter system
A power conversion system is disclosed that provides multiphase power, including phase voltages for each phase of the multiphase power. The system comprises a plurality of inverters that generate PWM output voltages based on PWM control signals. A plurality of inductive components is configured to receive the PWM output voltages to generate the phase voltages. The PWM output voltages cause circulating current flows through the inductive components. A voltage controller is employed that is responsive to the phase voltages to generate voltage modulation signals corresponding to the phase voltages. A plurality of current sharing channels are respectively associated with each of the plurality of inductive components and are configured generate current sharing modulation signals in response to the circulating current flows. The PWM control signals are generated based on modulation signals obtained by combining the current sharing modulation signals and voltage modulation signals.
US08964429B2 Inverter device and electric power tool
An inverter device includes: an inverter circuit configured to perform ON/OFF operations with a preset duty cycle to convert a DC power into an AC power and output the AC power to an AC motor; and a controller configured to change a duty cycle of the ON/OFF operations.
US08964425B2 Power converter with controlled current source to reduce harmonic distortion
A power converter including a rectifier stage connected to plural phases of a network delivering an input current at a determined fundamental frequency, a DC power supply bus and a bus capacitor connected to the DC power supply bus. The converter includes a controlled current source situated on the DC power supply bus, the current source making it possible to control a rectifier current, flowing on the DC power supply bus, and a controller for the controlled current source to control a rectifier current, flowing on the DC power supply bus. The controller is configured to implement a regulation loop into which are injected a first harmonic and a second harmonic synchronized respectively at six times and twelve times the fundamental frequency of the input current delivered by the network, the amplitude and phase of these harmonics being determined to limit the THDi and the PWHD.
US08964423B2 Low weight 3-phase 5-output wire power conversion system for micro-grid
A power conversion system eliminates output transformers and replaces them with a zig-zag transformer and a filter that provides a 3-phase 5-wire system with significantly reduced weight and size as compared with conventional systems. The zig-zag transformer may have a low zero sequence impedance. The power conversion system also ensures operational safety by detecting various types of ground faults.
US08964415B2 Circuits and methods for increasing power factor of switch mode power supply
A switching mode power supply (SMPS) includes a rectifying device configured for converting a periodically varying input AC (alternating current) voltage into a DC (direct current) voltage, and a transformer including a primary winding, a secondary winding, and an auxiliary winding. The primary winding is coupled to the rectifying device. An input capacitor is coupled to the rectifying device and the primary winding of the transformer. A first power switch is coupled to the input capacitor. A control circuit is coupled to the first power switch and is configured to control the first power switch based on a phase or amplitude of the input AC voltage. By controlling the charging and discharging of the input capacitor, power is provided to the primary winding during a longer portion of the AC input voltage cycle, allowing the rectifier device to have a larger conduction angle to increase a power factor (PF).
US08964414B2 DC power supply including resonant circuit for reducing switching losses
A DC power supply including a resonant circuit on a secondary side of a transformer suppresses a surge voltage during power recovery of diodes constituting a rectifier circuit, correctly estimates a load current from a secondary current of the transformer, and adjusts supplied power when a load is light. The DC power supply includes a DC voltage source, a converter, a transformer, a rectifier circuit, a resonant circuit composed of a resonant switch and a resonant capacitor, a filter reactor, a filter capacitor, a snubber diode, a snubber capacitor, a load, first and second voltage sensors, a current sensor, and a controller for controlling gate pulses of semiconductor devices constituting a converter and the resonant switch and a signal for adjusting operation timings of A/D converters converting the signals of these sensors.
US08964409B2 Electronic module with EMI protection
An electronic module with EMI protection is disclosed. The electronic module comprises a component (1) with contact terminals (2) and conducting lines (4) in a first wiring layer (3). There is also a dielectric (5) between the component (1) and the first wiring layer (3) such that the component (1) is embedded in the dielectric (5). Contact elements (6) provide electrical connection between at least some of the contact terminals (2) and at least some of the conducting lines (4). The electronic module also comprises a second wiring layer (7) inside the dielectric (5). The second wiring layer (7) comprises a conducting pattern (8) that is at least partly located between the component (1) and the first wiring layer (3) and provides EMI protection between the component (1) and the conducting lines (4).
US08964406B2 Battery backup cover system
A battery backup unit (BBU) system and apparatus is provided for securing and communicating with a BBU for use with optical network terminals (ONTs) and/or residential gateways. In various aspects, the BBU system is configured to eliminate the possibility for reversing the polarity of the backup battery. The BBU system also provides an integrated communication circuit for receiving a variety of connectors.
US08964405B2 Portable electronic device sanitizer
A personal electronic device (PED) sanitization device comprises a compartment configured to receive a PED and a sanitization module configured to emit electro-optical (EO) radiation into the interior of the compartment. The compartment may comprise a support member configured to maintain the PED at a particular position and/or orientation. The support member may be transparent to the EO radiation, such that the entire surface of the PED can be irradiated. The device may further comprise an acoustic conduit to allow sounds generated by the PED to be transmitted outside of the compartment. The conduit may be configured to prevent EO radiation from leaking into the environment.
US08964403B2 Wiring board having a reinforcing member with capacitors incorporated therein
There is provided a wiring board including a multilayer substrate and a reinforcing member. The multilayer substrate has a first main substrate surface formed with a chip mounting area to which an electronic chip is mounted and a second main substrate surface opposed to the first main substrate surface. The reinforcing member is fixed to either an area of the first main substrate surface other than the chip mounting area or the second main substrate surface and has a body predominantly formed of ceramic material and incorporating therein at least one capacitor.
US08964398B1 Locking / indication system
A lockable infrastructure included a frame assembly, including a first portion of an electrical connector, configured for use within an IT infrastructure. A module assembly, including a second portion of the electrical connector, is configured to be removably positionable within the frame assembly. A locking system is configured to lock the module assembly within the frame assembly in one of a plurality of locked positions.
US08964396B1 Rack power and data bus
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to relates server rack architecture for housing computing components on a plurality of shelves. More specifically, the shelves of a particular rack may each include a power and data bus (“PDB”) pre-configured to support a particular number of devices of the shelf. A PDB may also include a number of power and data connections for blind mating with the devices of the shelf. The PDB may include two blades which extend away from the PDB and blind mate with the main bus bar. Thus, each PDB may route both power and data signals between a main bus bar for the rack and each of the devices of the shelf. A shelf may be reconfigured for a different number of devices by changing the configuration of the PDB.
US08964394B2 Heating and heat dissipating multi-layer circuit board structure for keeping operating temperature of electronic components
A heating and heat dissipating multi-layer circuit board structure for keeping operating temperatures of electronic components is provided. The outer layer of the multi-layer printed circuit board is in contact with electronic components. The operating temperatures of electronic components are measured through by a temperature measuring circuit. When the operating temperature of at least one electronic component is lower than a default temperature, the heating circuits corresponding to the electronic components are enabled respectively to heat the electronic components through corresponding heat conduction elements. When the operating temperature of at least one electronic component is higher than another default temperature, the heating circuits corresponding to the electronic components are disabled to transfer the heat from the electronic components to the heat conduction elements automatically. Therefore, the structure achieves the goal of keeping the operating temperature of each electronic component in the corresponding environment.
US08964391B2 Sectioned manifolds facilitating pumped immersion-cooling of electronic components
Cooling methods are provided for facilitating pumped immersion-cooling of electronic components. The cooling method includes: providing a housing forming a compartment about one or more components, and providing a supply manifold, a return manifold, and coupling a coolant loop coupling in fluid communication the supply and return manifolds and the housing. Coolant flowing through the coolant loop flows through the compartment of the housing and, at least partially, immersion-cools the component(s) by flow boiling. A pump facilitates circulation of coolant within the loop, and a coolant bypass line is coupled between the supply and return manifolds. The return manifold includes a mixed-phase manifold section, and the bypass line provides coolant from the supply manifold directly to the mixed-phase manifold section. Coolant flows from the coolant bypass line into the mixed-phase manifold section in a direction counter to the direction of any coolant vapor flow within that manifold section.
US08964384B2 Component cooling
Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for providing a cooling flow to a component. In various examples, a chip socket may include a cavity configured to couple to the component. The chip socket may include a first channel and a second channel. The first channel may act as an ingress channel while the second channel may act as an egress channel. The ingress and egress channels may be configured to facilitate cooling of the component.
US08964382B2 Computing device with support member
Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for which include support members having a port disposed thereon. The port may be accessible while the support member is an extended position. The port may be inaccessible or isolated while the support member is a stowed position.
US08964374B1 Vertical tray structure for rack in data center
Systems and methods are provided for cooling electronic equipment in a data center. Ambient air is vertically circulated from a workspace across a plurality of rack-mounted electronic devices. The electronic devices are located in a plurality of trays such that each tray has a major plane that is substantially parallel to a side plane of the rack. The circulated air is cooled with a heat exchanger that is connected to a vertical end of the rack via a sealed interface. Multiple racks can be arrayed in a distributed cooling arrangement, which increases reliability and scalability of the data center.
US08964368B2 Systems and methods for mounting of plug-in electronics dongles
Systems and methods for mounting of plug-in electronic dongles are provided. In one embodiment, an electronics mounting adapter device comprises: a base member that includes a cavity and at least one cable stabilizing element configured to secure a cable connector of a cable within the cavity, wherein the cable is routed though an opening in the base member into the cavity; a cover coupled to the base member by at least one fastener; one or more mounting provisions for securing the base member to a mounting surface; and at least one clamping element configured to clamp a dongle within the cavity, wherein the dongle is coupled to the cable connector.
US08964360B2 System to connect and multiplex sensor signals
Improvements in a system to connect and multiplex sensor signals that connects and multiplexes sensor signals is disclosed. The number of plug connections may line up and match the number of circuit breakers on one side of a panel. The device installs on panel board configurations to gathers precise power information for amps, volts, power factor, watts and kWh—and provides utility-grade data on each branch circuit metering. Up to 4 panel board strips per units of 4, 8 or 21 can be connected together to monitor 120 circuits. The system is adaptable to three phase monitoring and ground fault measurement and monitoring which is not conveniently provided by existing hard wired systems. The number of plug connections may line up with and match the number of circuit breakers on one side of the panel.
US08964356B2 Dielectric ceramic and laminated ceramic capacitor
A dielectric ceramic which is suitable for use in a laminated ceramic capacitor under a high-temperature environment, such as encountered in, for example, automobile use has a composition represented by the composition formula: (1−x) (Ba1-yCay)mTiO3+xCaTiO3+aRe2O3+bMgO+cMnO+dV2O3+eSiO2 in which Re is Gd, Dy, Y, Ho, and/or Er), 0.001≦x≦0.02, 0.08≦y≦0.20, 0.99≦m≦1.05, 0.01≦a≦0.04, 0.005≦b≦0.035, 0≦c≦0.01, 0≦d≦0.01, 0.01≦e≦0.04 when a, b, c, d, and e are each expressed in terms of parts by mol with respect to 1 mol of (1−x) (Ba,Ca)TiO3+xCaTiO3. This dielectric ceramic can constitute the dielectric ceramic layers of a laminated ceramic capacitor.
US08964355B2 Multilayer ceramic capacitor and manufacturing method thereof
There are provided a multilayer ceramic capacitor and a manufacturing method thereof, the multilayer ceramic capacitor including: a ceramic body; first and second internal electrodes; first and second external electrodes; and a first insulating layer.
US08964352B2 Mounting structures for components in electronic devices
An electronic device may be provided with a housing having housing sidewalls. A plate may be connected between a pair of the sidewalls. An audio jack may be mounted to the plate. A microphone may be mounted within the device between the audio jack and a given one of the sidewalls. A vibrator may be mounted between one of the sidewalls and the audio jack using a bracket. The vibrator may have a weight that is tapered along its length. A button may be formed in an opening in one of the housing sidewalls. The button may have a button member with a protrusion that extends through a button opening in the sidewall. A support structure may be interposed between a switch and the button member. The switch may have a portion that extends through an opening in the support structure and that is actuated by the button member.
US08964347B2 Device and method for controlling an electromagnetic valve
In a method for controlling an electromagnetic valve, the temperature of the valve is detected, and activation of and/or the current feed to the valve are performed as a function of the temperature of the valve.
US08964346B2 Surge arrester
An exemplary surge arrester includes a housing with protection against electric shock. A voltage-limiting active part is arranged in the housing and has a stack of varistor elements formed as a varistor column. An electrical connection is arranged outside the housing and is electrically conductively connected to the varistor column for connecting a high-voltage installation. The electrically conductive connection between the varistor column and the electrical connection is a flexible high-voltage cable conductor. The high-voltage cable has a first section arranged in the interior of the housing and formed without a shield, and a second section arranged outside the housing and having cable insulation and an electrically conductive shield that surrounds the cable conductor. The high voltage cable is electrically conductively connectable first to the housing and second to an encapsulation. The housing accommodates an apparatus for damping oscillations which are introduced into the varistor column from the outside.
US08964327B2 Tape storage device, data writing method, and program
A tape drive receives multiple write requests for data pieces and a synchronization request corresponding to the write requests from a device, performs a synchronization process, and returns a completion status of the synchronization request. The tape drive includes a write controller that stores data pieces transferred from the device in the buffer, according to a first write request, receives a first synchronization request and then a subsequent write request for at least one data piece, and returns the completion status when processing for the first synchronization request is completed and the subsequent write request is received with a command queuing function.
US08964312B2 Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens includes: a first lens group; an aperture stop; and a second lens group having a positive power, in this order from an object side. The first lens group includes a first lens having a negative power and a second lens having a positive power. The imaging lens satisfies Conditional Formulae (1), (2), and (3): −0.50
US08964311B2 Optical unit and imaging apparatus
The present invention provides an optical unit and an imaging device, which are capable of providing a small-sized low-cost imaging optical system that has high resolution and high heat resistance. The optical unit comprises at least a first lens group (110) and a second lens group (120) among the first lens group, the second lens group and a third lens group which are sequentially arranged from the object side to the image plane side. The first lens group (110) comprises an assembly of at least a first lens element (111) and a second lens element (112), a transparent body (113) and a third lens element (114) which are sequentially arranged from the object side to the image plane side. The first lens element (111) and the second lens element (112) of the assembly are formed from resin materials that have different temperature-dependent refractive index changes.
US08964308B2 Imaging capturing lens assembly
An imaging capturing lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface. The second lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The plastic fourth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, wherein the surfaces are aspheric. The plastic fifth lens element has a concave image-side surface, wherein an object-side surface and the image-side surface are aspheric, and at least one surface has at least one inflection point.
US08964307B2 Imaging lens and electronic device having the same
An imaging lens includes first, second, third, fourth, and fifth lens elements arranged from an object side to an image side in the given order. Through surface designs of the lens elements, the imaging lens has a relatively short overall length while maintaining good optical performance.
US08964305B2 Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens consists of a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group, which are arranged in this order from an object side. When magnification is changed from wide angle end to telephoto end, the first lens group and the third lens group are fixed, and the second lens group moves toward an image side, and the fourth lens group moves. The first lens group consists of a cemented lens of a negative lens and a positive lens, and two positive lenses, which are in this order from the object side. The third lens group consists of a negative partial lens group including a cemented lens, and a positive partial lens group, which are in this order from the object side.
US08964304B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with the same
A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having positive refractive power, a second lens unit having negative refractive power, a third lens unit having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having positive refractive power. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, each lens unit moves so that a distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit increases, and a distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit decreases. Each of the first lens unit, the second lens unit, and the third lens unit consists of a single positive lens and a single negative lens, and the fourth lens unit consists of a single positive lens. Focal lengths of the entire zoom lens at the wide-angle end and the telephoto end and focal lengths of the first lens unit and the second lens unit are appropriately set.
US08964300B2 Image display apparatus and head mounted display
An image display apparatus includes: (A) an image forming device; (B) an optical system that converts light emitted from the image forming device into parallel light; (C) an optical device to which the light beams converted into the parallel light by the optical system enter, in which the light beams are guided, and from which the light beams are emitted; and (D) a supporting member that pivotally supports at least the image forming device with respect to the optical device. An assembly of at least the image forming device and the supporting member has a center of gravity at a position apart from the pivoting central axis of the supporting member. At least the image forming device is pivoted with respect to the optical device by gravity. As a result, the image forming device is horizontally held even when the optical device moves.
US08964292B1 Passive anisotropic projection screen
An anisotropic projection screen accepts light projected at non-normal angles and redirects the light as high quality images along a viewing path that is near normal to the screen. This allows side projection of images in a manner that avoids the potential viewer obstruction of the projection path. The images may be projected onto the screen from any angle (e.g., sides, top, bottom, etc.) relative to the screen surface, and then redirected to the viewer who is viewing the screen essentially normal to the screen surface. The screen has arrays of passive elements that are oriented to collect and redirect light from one direction, while rejecting or absorbing light received from another direction.
US08964289B2 Microscope including micro and macro objectives
A microscope includes: an objective turret holding a micro and a macro objective for rotation to operational positions along an optical axis; observation optics in an imaging beam path, and an illumination device including a beam splitter for generating an illumination beam path and coupling the illumination beam path into the imaging beam path, the macro objective including a first subsystem attachable to the objective turret, and a second subsystem insertable into the imaging beam path between the turret and the observation optics when the first subsystem is operational, the illumination device allowing a telecentric beam path with an illumination pupil produced by either the micro objective or the macro objective, and adjustment optics in the illumination beam path having positive refractive power and causing the illumination pupil to be shifted to a rear exit pupil, located between the first optical subsystem and the beam splitter, of the macro objective.
US08964283B2 Reflective display
A display element comprises a cell containing a fluid including a plurality of wells at the bottom of the cell. A luminescent material is within the cell for modulating light incident from the top of the cell and for returning luminescent light; and a dispersion of particles is contained within the fluid. The dispersion of particles is movable between a first state in which the particles are substantially contained within the plurality of wells and a second state in which the particles are distributed between the top and bottom of the cell, to control the intensity of luminescent light returned by the display element.
US08964281B2 Optical probe
An optical probe includes a laser light source that emits laser light, a collimator lens that converts the laser light into parallel light, a light shape changing section that converts the parallel light into linear laser light, an irradiating section to irradiate an object with a selected part of the linear laser light, an image pickup section that picks up an image of the object based on the laser light reflected from the object, and a controller that controls irradiation of the linear laser light. The linear laser light is composed of a plurality of parts including one end part and the other end part; and the irradiating section irradiates the object with the parts of the linear laser light sequentially from the one end part to the other end part.
US08964279B2 Transparent electrode
An electrode is produced on a rigid or flexible support substrate, including a grid network of very fine electrically-conductive lines with nodes and links, to produce a diffraction pattern, as much as possible in an arc shape, in the light transmitted and that results in an absence of high-level optical impacts. The grid network may in addition be produced without preferential direction with a number of three lines joining up at each node and/or with conductive sections extending in the shape of an arc or in wave form between the nodes.
US08964276B2 Electro-wetting display apparatus
An electro-wetting display apparatus includes a first base substrate, a plurality of first electrodes on the first base substrate, an insulating layer which overlaps the first electrodes, a pixel wall on the insulating layer, where the pixel wall partitions a plurality of pixels respectively corresponding to the plurality of first electrodes, a second base substrate which face the first base substrate, a second electrode on the second base substrate and including a plurality of openings, and a fluid between the first base substrate and the second base substrate and in the plurality of pixels. The movement of the fluid in the plurality of pixels is controlled by voltages respectively applied to the first electrodes and the second electrode.
US08964272B2 Transparency template
Various method and apparatus are disclosed for scanning a transparency with a template
US08964253B2 Image processing using derived correction amount
Color shifting correction is performed first based on shifting amount information indicating a shifting amount with respect to the scanning direction on an image carrier of each image forming unit, and halftone processing is then performed, thus suppressing caused by color shifting correction, and forming a high-quality image. An image forming engine has color shifting amount storage units storing actual shifting amounts with respect to ideal scan directions on image carriers in image forming units. Color shifting correction amount arithmetic units calculate color shifting correction amounts for respective color components using stored color shifting amounts. Color shifting correction units perform color shifting correction by converting coordinates upon reading image data from bitmap memories using calculated color shifting correction amounts, and perform tone correction. Data after tone correction undergo halftone processing. PWM processors generate PWM signals for scanning, and output them to exposure units of respective image forming units.
US08964249B2 Image test apparatus, image test system, and image test method for testing a print image based on master image data
An image test apparatus includes a color-image-data acquiring unit that acquires color image data being data of an image to be formed with a color material; a master-image-data generating unit that converts the color image data depending on transparent image data being data of an image to be formed with a transparent color material, thereby generating master image data; and an image testing unit that tests, using the master image data, a test image data which is generated by optically reading a print image from a printed matter on which the print image based on the color image data and the transparent image data has been printed.
US08964225B2 Printing control method, printing control device and printing device with printing data printed according to height of another blank space
The disclosure provides a printing control method, a printing control device and a printing device with printing data printed according to height of another blank space. The printing control method comprises the following steps: receiving printing data; acquiring first printing format information of the printing data, wherein the first printing format information includes a first blank space height; acquiring paper-saving parameter information; obtaining second printing format information according to the first printing format information and the paper-saving parameter information, wherein the second printing format information includes a second blank space height; and printing the printing data according to the second blank space height. With the disclosure, a significant paper-saving effect can be achieved during printing.
US08964224B2 Computer readable recording medium storing image processing program and image processing method transmitting function execution command for making a preset setting screen
An image processing method includes: displaying a functional image; storing processing information in association with the functional image; displaying a first setting screen and comprises an execution instruction image if an input made by a first operation for the functional image is received; transmitting, to the image forming apparatus, a function execution command if an input for the execution instruction image is received; displaying, on the display unit, a second setting screen if an input made by a second operation for the functional image is received; storing non-display information if a non-display instruction is received, and displaying, on the display unit, operation information if the non-display instruction is received.
US08964222B2 Facsimile apparatus that connects via session initiation protocol and control method therefor, as well as storage medium
A facsimile apparatus which makes it possible to certainly perform facsimile communication via an IP network. The facsimile makes connection with a communication destination according to Session Initiation Protocol to perform facsimile communication with the communication destination via an IP network. A first connection sequence of starting call connection using a session of performing image communication is executed, and then a second connection sequence of starting call connection using a session of performing voice communication is executed. When one of the first connection sequence and the second connection sequence fails in the call connection, the other of the first connection sequence and the second connection sequence executes the call connection.
US08964209B2 Printer and printer control method for daisy chain connection
A printer that receives requests to print on plural different media enables efficient system maintenance and system changes. A printer connected in a daisy chain to a host device or a first printer on one side and to a second printer on the other side has a communication unit that receives print request data from the host device or the first printer, and sends the print request data to the second printer; a print unit that interprets the received print request data and executes a printing control process based on the result of data interpretation; and a response unit that generates individual response data for the printer based on the result of the printing control process, generates unified response data from response data received from the second printer and the individual response data, and sends the unified response data to the host device or the first printer.
US08964206B2 Printing device, management device and management method
A printing device includes an authentication unit, a job input unit configured to receive input of a print job, a printing processing unit configured to perform printing processing for the print job, and an instruction input unit configured to receive input of an instruction on output of a printed matter of the print job. The printing processing in the printing processing unit is controlled in accordance with an instruction from a user successfully authenticated by the authentication unit. The printing device further includes a proxy registration processing unit capable of setting, for the print job, a user different from an issuer of the print job as a user who instructs output of the printed matter, and causes the printed matter to be output when the instruction on output is made by the user set as the user who instructs output of the printed matter.
US08964205B2 Print control apparatus, inkjet printing apparatus, print control method, and recording medium with data compression/decompression
Compressed data transmitted to a print control apparatus includes break data having information on a compressed size and a decompressed size for each page. When the compressed data is transferred to a decompressing unit, the break data is converted to NOP data. Information on the decompressed size included in each break data is provided to a checking unit. During a period in which a decompression process is performed, a decompression flag is turned on. The checking unit obtains the actual decompressed size by counting a period in which the decompression flag is turned on, to check whether the decompression process has been normally performed. During a period in which the decompressing unit and the checking unit perform processes for a certain page, a reading unit reads compressed data for the next page.
US08964204B2 Image processing apparatus having secure print function, control method therefor, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus which is capable of solving a problem that printing cannot be performed due to a shortage of a storage area for image data after rendering of a secure print job, and reducing a wait time from authentication to start of printing. A first storage unit performs rendering on a received secure print job, and stores image data in a storage area. A first transition unit makes the secure print job transit to waiting-for-authentication state. A first suspending unit suspends rendering when a stored image data amount reaches a full capacity during rendering in the waiting-for-authentication state. A second transition unit makes the secure print job transit to a successfully-authenticated state. A second storage unit performs printing on the stored image data, erases the printed image data, starts rendering on a subsequent page, and stores image data obtained by converting the subsequent page.
US08964203B2 Image forming apparatus and image reading apparatus including interfaces that receive commands to transition from power saving modes
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a power supply controller controls the image forming apparatus to operate in a power saving mode, in which supply of power to the image forming unit is cut off, and a normal mode; and a plurality of interfaces that receives a transition command for transitioning from the power saving mode to the normal mode. The power supply controller is configured to perform: an interface-power supply process of supplying power to at least one interface; a determining process of determining whether availability is high or low for an operating interface receiving power supply in the interface-power supply process; and a changing process of changing a power supply target from the operating interface to an idle interface when the availability of the operating interface is determined to be low.
US08964187B2 Micro-machined imaging interferometer having a static interferometric cavity
A micro-machined optical measuring device including: a set of photosensitive detector elements situated on a given face of a first support; a second support, assembled to the first support, forming a prism and including a first face through which a visible radiation is intended to penetrate and a second face, forming a non-zero angle θ with the first face and a non-zero angle α with the given face of the first support, the second face being semi-reflective, the first support and the second support being positioned such that an interferometric cavity is made between the second face and the given face, the distance between the given face of the first support and the second face of the second support varying regularly.
US08964186B2 Optics sensor structure for detecting water or oil leakage inside a conservator having a bladder or membrane
Optical sensor structure senses the presence of liquid in a sealed conservator tank. The sensor structure includes a sensor head having a body with first and second opposing ends, a plurality of perforations through the body and spaced between the first and second ends, and a mirror disposed at the second end. The perforations are constructed and arranged to receive and hold fluid therein. The sensor head is constructed and arranged to rest on a surface of a bladder. The sensor structure includes a light source, a first fiber optic cable between the light source and the first end of the body, a light detector, and a second fiber optic cable between the light detector and the first end of the body. The amount of light received by the light detector is reduced when liquid, instead of air, is in at least some of the perforations in the body.
US08964185B1 Gas detection system using a fiber laser with double-wavelength combination having reference-cavity compensation function
A fiber laser gas detection system with a double wavelength combination using reference cavity compensation is provided. The system comprises an optical fiber laser respectively emitting beams having a first and second wavelengths, which consists of a laser diode pump source, a first wavelength division multiplexer, an active optical fiber, a first fiber bragg grating and a second fiber bragg grating connected successively; an optical isolator; a coupler for dividing the beams according to power ratio, the divided beams is introduced into a reference gas chamber and a detecting gas chamber respectively; a second wavelength division multiplexer connecting the reference room and a third wavelength division multiplexer connecting the detecting gas chamber; a first, a second, a third and a fourth photoelectric detector; a feedback control unit, receiving the first to fourth light intensity signals and adjusting the fiber laser using the comparison results as a feedback signal.
US08964180B2 Self-contained and portable optical spectrometer
The invention relates to a portable and self-contained optical spectrometer for analyzing a light spectrum backscattered by an illuminated sample, in order to deduce the content of at least one compound constituting the sample, said spectrometer being arranged about an optical axis and including: a target area centered on said optical axis; a plurality of optical sensors trained on the target area; an opaque measurement chamber including: an opening centered on said optical axis; at least one diffusing filter blocking said opening; and an inner bottom capable of housing the plurality of optical sensors and a main illumination device capable of illuminating the sample. The invention further relates to a method for using such a spectrometer.
US08964178B2 Method and system for use in monitoring properties of patterned structures
A method and system are presented for use in characterizing properties of an article having a structure comprising a multiplicity of sites comprising different periodic patterns, where method includes providing a theoretical model of prediction indicative of optical properties of different stacks defined by geometrical and material parameters of corresponding sites, said sites being common in at least one of geometrical parameter and material parameter; performing optical measurements on at least two different stacks of the article and generating optical measured data indicative of the geometrical parameters and material composition parameters for each of the measured stacks; processing the optical measured data, said processing comprising simultaneously fitting said optical measured data for the multiple measured stacks with said theoretical model and extracting said at least one common parameter, thereby enabling to characterize the properties of the multi-layer structure within the single article.
US08964175B2 Colorant identification method and colorant identification apparatus
Distribution is acquired for a reflectance spectrum and a fluorescence emission spectrum on a sample composed of color-image recorded matter. Then, on the basis of the distribution of the reflectance spectrum and the fluorescence emission spectrum, a single color portion is identified that is generated with one colorant selected from colorants of plural colors used in generating a color image. A control unit stores in advance Raman spectra of colorants of single color for each manufacturer. Laser light is projected onto the single color portion of the sample so that a Raman spectrum is measured. Then, the measured Raman spectrum is compared with the Raman spectra stored in advance so that the manufacturer of the colorant is identified and hence the colorant is identified.
US08964173B2 Maskless exposure apparatus and spot beam position measurement method using the same
A maskless exposure apparatus which precisely and rapidly measures positions of spot beams of a plurality of optical systems by calculating positions of respective BMSs using a plurality of FMs engraved on an FBA on a movable table. The centers of the respective BMSs are aligned with the centers of random FMs of the plurality of FMs. Thereafter, positions of spot beams irradiated from the plurality of optical systems are quickly and precisely measured using the positions of the respective BMSs and the positions of the FMs measured by the BMSs, thereby more quickly generating mask data to execute maskless exposures.
US08964168B1 Methods and systems for detecting an object
A detection system for detecting an object includes a transmitter including a light source configured to emit a first light beam having a first frequency towards the object. The detection system also includes a receiver configured to receive a second light beam reflected from the object, and a detector positioned within the receiver. The second light beam has a second frequency as a result of a non-linear optical response of a surface of the object to the first light beam. The detector is configured to detect the object based on the second frequency of the second light beam.
US08964161B2 Electro-optical device and method for controlling color with polymer stabilized liquid crystal
The present invention provides an electro-optical device comprising a cell of polymer-stabilized blue phase (PSBP) liquid crystal under an electrical field and a method of controlling the reflection and transmission of an incident electromagnetic radiation such as visible light, by way of controlling the electrical field. The invention exhibits merits such as cost-effectiveness; simpler manufacturability due to the removal of requirements of polarizer and color filter; and fast switching, among others.
US08964159B2 Display device and method for manufacturing the same
In an outer peripheral part between a first substrate and a second substrate of a liquid crystal display device 10, a first sealing material containing sealing material ingredients including ground glass fibers and conductive beads is arranged in a frame shape so as to surround a display region. In a region inside relative to the first sealing material and outside the display region, a second sealing material which does not contain the sealing material ingredients is arranged.
US08964143B2 Liquid crystal display device, backlight module and backboard structure
The present invention provides a backlight module and a backboard structure incorporated therein. The backboard structure is configured with a first bracket having the buckle, and a second bracket having defined with the retaining slot. With the interengagement between the buckle and the retaining slot, the embossment and the positioning slot, the backboard structure can be readily constructed by the assembling of the first and second brackets. Since no screws are necessary for the assembling of the backboard structure, no laborious work is required as well. This can effectively reduce the manufacturing cost, and is really beneficial to the automation.
US08964137B2 Image display device
According to one embodiment, an image display device includes an image display unit and a liquid crystal optical apparatus stacked with image display unit. The image display unit emits image light having a polarizing axis. The liquid crystal optical apparatus includes first and second substrate units and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate unit includes a first substrate and first electrodes extending along a first direction. An angle between the polarizing axis and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees. The liquid crystal layer is provided between the first and second substrate units. An angle between a long-axis direction of the liquid crystal and the polarizing axis is greater than 0 degrees and less than the angle between the polarizing axis and the second direction.
US08964128B1 Image data processing method and apparatus
A data processing method and a data processing apparatus applied to an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes an acquiring unit. The data processing method includes: obtaining a first image acquired by the acquiring unit; determining a first sub image in the first image, where the first sub image corresponds to an operator; obtaining at least one second image acquired by the acquiring unit with the operator in the first sub image as a target, where each second image comprises a second sub image, and each second sub image corresponds to the operator, and where a first ratio of the first sub image in the first image is less than a second ratio of each second sub image in the corresponding second image; obtaining an operation command corresponding to the operator in at least one second sub image; and executing the operation command.
US08964126B2 Video processing system, video processing method, database for video processing and generating method thereof, video processing apparatus, control method thereof and control program thereof
A video processing apparatus includes a storage unit, an input unit, and a determining unit. The storage unit stores a plurality of scenes included in a scene group and characteristic amounts which are extracted from a series of plural frames included in the respective scenes in the scene group, in association with each other, defining one scene out of the plurality of scenes included in the scene group as a typical scene and the other scenes as a derived scene, the scene group being a group of a plurality of scenes derived from a common scene. The input unit inputs a characteristic amount which is extracted from each of the frames of a new scene. The determining unit determines whether the new scene represented by the inputted characteristic amount is the derived scene of the scene group or not by verifying the inputted characteristic amount with the characteristic amount of the typical scene of the scene group stored in the storage unit.
US08964121B2 Home audio video display device (AVDD) as sensor monitor
An audio video display device (AVDD) system includes a display, a processor controlling the display, and a computer readable storage medium accessible to the processor and programmed with instructions. The instructions cause the processor to establish communication with at least one sensor. The instructions then cause the processor to receive information from the sensor conforming to an application programming interface (API) provided by a manufacturer of the AVDD to an entity affiliated with the sensor, or sent from the AVDD to the sensor. Thereafter, the instructions cause the processor to present the information from the sensor on the display in accordance with the API.
US08964104B2 Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus of the invention includes: an optical imaging system; an image pickup device; a defocus quantity calculation section for calculating a defocus quantity based on a phase difference between signals for focus detection obtained from pixels for focus detection; a high-frequency component quantity detection section for detecting a quantity of high-frequency component contained in a pixel signal outputted from a pixel other than the pixels for focus detection; a region determination section for determining in accordance with which of the defocus quantity and the high-frequency component quantity the optical imaging system is to be driven, according to a detection result of detecting in which of a plurality of divided blocks of the image pickup device an object of interest is present; and a focusing section for driving the optical imaging system in accordance with a determination result of the region determination section.
US08964102B2 Self-calibrated ringing compensation for an autofocus actuator in a camera module
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an actuator driver in a camera module, and more particularly to methods, systems and devices of employing self-calibrated ringing compensation to improve the autofocus rate of the camera module that is driven by an actuator. Oscillation characteristics of the actuator are calibrated to control a sink current that drives the actuator during an autofocus. The actuator driver comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a filter, a current sink and a self calibration module. The self calibration module calibrates the free-oscillation frequency and damping coefficient, and accordingly, the DAC generates a voltage that may be subsequently bypassed, filtered or shaped by the filter. This voltage is further converted to the sink current by the current sink. Such self-calibrated ringing compensation allows close tracking of free oscillation, and may efficiently enhance the settling time of the lens and autofocus rate of the camera module.
US08964100B2 Digital camera
A digital camera includes an image sensor, a display device which displays a live-view display of an object image, an autofocus adjuster which detects a focal state and brings a specified object image into an in-focus state by moving a focal-adjusting lens group of a photographing lens, a focus lock-on device which prohibits the focal-adjusting lens group from moving and enters a focus locked-on state when the autofocus adjuster brings the specified object image into an in-focus state, a focus lock-on detector, and a distinguishing-display controller. When the focus lock-on detector detects a focus locked-on sate, the distinguishing-display controller performs image processing on part or the entirety of the specified object image, and a peaking display of the specified object image is displayed on the display device.
US08964098B2 Imaging device and focus control method having first and second correlation computations
Provides an imaging device including, imaging element in which plural first lines arrayed with first phase difference detection pixels, and plural second lines arrayed with second phase difference detection pixels, are arrayed alternately; reading out section read out signals of the phase difference detection pixels; first correlation computing section carry out first correlation computation on signals read out from a set of the first and the second phase difference detection pixel; second correlation computing section carry out second correlation computation on signals read out from at least one set among a set of plural first phase difference detection pixels of the first line, and a set of plural second phase difference detection pixels of the second line; correcting section corrects results of the first correlation computation, by results of the second correlation computation; and focusing section control focusing based on the corrected correlation computation.
US08964097B2 Image capturing apparatus capable of improving the durability of a viewfinder equipped with a variable magnification lens
An image capturing apparatus includes: a photographing optical system; an image capturing element; and a viewfinder device, in which the viewfinder device includes at least one variable magnification lens that may be inserted on and removed from an optical path of the viewfinder device, and a drive mechanism configured to drive the variable magnification lens, in which the image capturing apparatus further includes: a variable magnification lens control unit configured to supply a drive signal to the drive mechanism so as to control the insertion and removal of the variable magnification lens on and from the optical path, and perform a high-speed control to move the variable magnification lens through a maximum moving distance for a first time, and a low-speed control to move the variable magnification lens through the maximum moving distance for a second time that is longer than the first time.
US08964095B2 Image pickup optical system and image pickup apparatus using the same
The image pickup optical system comprises: an aperture is placed on the most object side, the image pickup optical system comprises, in order from the object side: a first lens having a positive refractive power; a second lens having a negative refractive power; a third lens having a positive refractive power; a fourth lens having a positive refractive power; and a fifth lens having a negative refractive power, and the following conditional expression is satisfied: −1.49<(r6+r7)/(r6−r7)<1.24  (1) where r6 is the paraxial radius of curvature of an object side surface of the third lens, and r7 is the paraxial radius of curvature of an image plane side surface of the third lens.
US08964090B2 Control apparatus, control method, and computer-readable recording medium
A control apparatus for controlling an image capture apparatus includes a communication unit and a control unit. The communication unit transmits a first command to the image capture apparatus if a predetermined area in a captured image received from the image capture apparatus and a pointer operated by an operation unit are overlapped. The communication unit transmits a second command to the image capture apparatus if a button of the operation unit is clicked in a state that the predetermined area and the pointer are overlapped.
US08964089B2 Systems and methods for simulated preview for preferred image exposure
Systems and methods for simulating an image exposure capture a first set of images of a scene; and generate a flash preview image based on the first set of images, an estimated scene spectral reflectance, an estimated spectral power distribution of the scene, and one or more flash device settings, wherein the flash preview image approximates a brightness and a color appearance of a final image of the scene captured while the scene is illuminated by a flash device according to the one or more flash device settings.
US08964081B2 Solid-state image sensor including a photoelectric conversion element, a charge retaining element, and a light shielding element, method for producing the same solid-state image sensor, and electronic apparatus including the same solid-state image sensor
A solid-state image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a photoelectric conversion element converting incident light into a charge and a charge retaining section temporarily retaining the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion element and a light shielding section having an embedded section extending in at least a region between the photoelectric conversion element and the charge retaining section of the semiconductor substrate.
US08964078B2 Solid-state imaging device and camera system
A solid-state imaging device and a camera system are disclosed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit and a pixel signal readout circuit. The pixel signal readout circuit includes a plurality of comparators disposed to correspond to a pixel column array, and a plurality of counters. Each counter includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a mirror circuit to from a current mirror in parallel with the second amplifier. The first amplifier includes differential transistors, initializing switches connected between gates and collectors of the differential transistors, and first and second capacitors connected to each of the gates of the differential transistors. The second amplifier includes an initializing switch and a third capacitor. The mirror circuit includes a gate input transistor whose gate is inputted with a voltage sampled by the first amplifier or a voltage sampled by the second amplifier.
US08964075B2 Imaging apparatus and shutter operation selecting method
An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device that includes a plurality of pixels; a first curtain that travels to block incidence of light on the imaging device; a second curtain that permits the incidence of light on the imaging device earlier than the traveling of the first curtain; a reset unit that sequentially reset-scans lines of the pixels earlier than the traveling of the first curtain; and an operation selecting unit that selects one of a mechanical shutter operation performed by the traveling of the first curtain and the second curtain and an electronic shutter operation performed by the first curtain and the reset unit depending on a slit width formed by the first curtain and the second curtain or a slit width formed by the first curtain and the reset-scanning of the reset unit.
US08964066B2 Apparatus and method for generating image including multiple people
Provided is an apparatus and a method for generating an image including multiple people, in which images are photographed, face images are detected from each of the photographed images, a face score for each of the face images detected from the photographed images is calculated, it is determined whether each of the face scores calculated for each of the face images is at least equal to a predetermined threshold, and each of face images having a highest face score for each of the face images is synthesized, to output the synthesized image as a final image, in order to generate a most satisfactory photographed image for a user.
US08964060B2 Determining an image capture payload burst structure based on a metering image capture sweep
A first plurality of images of a scene may be captured. Each image of the first plurality of images may be captured with a different total exposure time (TET). Based at least on the first plurality of images, a TET sequence may be determined for capturing images of the scene. A second plurality of images of the scene may be captured. Images in the second plurality of images may be captured using the TET sequence. Based at least on the second plurality of images, an output image of the scene may be constructed.
US08964056B2 Encoder-supervised imaging for video cameras
A controller controls a camera that produces a sequence of images and that has output coupled to a video encoder. The camera has an operating condition including a field of view and lighting, and one or more imaging parameters. The video encoder encodes images from the camera into codewords. The controller receives one or more encoding properties from the video encoder, and causes adjusting one or more of the imaging parameters based on at least one of the received encoding properties, such that the camera produces additional images of the sequence of images for the video encoder using the adjusted one or more imaging parameters.
US08964055B2 Combining images based on position offset detection of a series of images
An image processing apparatus includes an imaging unit that is configured to acquire a plurality of images with different exposure times, a position offset detection unit that is configured to detect a position offset between a plurality of images filmed by the imaging unit, a combining ratio calculation unit that is configured to calculate a combining ratio in case of combining the plurality of images based on pixel values of at least one image among the plurality of images filmed by the imaging unit and the amount of the position offset detected by the position offset detection unit, and an image combining unit that is configured to combine the plurality of images based on the combining ratio calculated by the combining ratio calculation unit.
US08964050B2 Image capturing apparatus, control method therefor, and program
An image capturing apparatus having a plurality of communication modes comprises an image capturing unit adapted to capture an object image and obtain image data, and a control unit adapted to control the image capturing apparatus, wherein the plurality of communication modes include a host mode in which the image capturing apparatus is able to communicate with a plurality of external devices and a client mode in which the image capturing apparatus is disable to simultaneously communicate with the plurality of external devices, and wherein the control unit is able to automatically switch the image capturing apparatus to the host mode after an image capturing instruction is applied to the image capturing unit.
US08964045B2 Image blur detection
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for quantifying blur of an image. Blur may result due to motion of a camera while the image is captured. Accordingly, motion measurement data corresponding to motion of the camera during an exposure event may be used to create a camera rotation matrix. A camera intrinsic matrix may be obtained based upon a focal length and principle point of the camera. A transformation matrix may be estimated based upon the camera rotation matrix and/or the camera intrinsic matrix. The transformation matrix may be applied to pixels within the image to determine a blur metric for the image. In this way, blur of an image may be quantified offline and/or in real-time during operation of the camera (e.g., so that the image may be re-acquired (e.g., on the fly) if the image is regarded as being overly blurry).
US08964042B2 Imaging device for radiating internal heat
A first heat radiation unit is formed on one surface of the imaging unit in a vertical direction. A second heat radiation unit is formed on the other surface of the imaging unit in the vertical direction. A third heat radiation unit is formed on a surface opposite to an imaging direction of the imaging unit. A first heat transfer unit transfers heat of a first heat source of the imaging unit to the first heat radiation unit and the third heat radiation unit. A second heat transfer unit transfers heat of a second heat source of the imaging unit, which has a higher maximum allowable temperature than the first heating unit, to the second heat radiation unit. A heat insulation unit suppresses heat transfer between the first and the second heat radiation units and between the third and the second heat radiation units.
US08964041B2 System and method for video stabilization of rolling shutter cameras
Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards rolling shutter video stabilization utilizing three dimensional motion analysis. In stabilizing the rolling shutter video, a three dimensional motion of the device capturing the image may be determined or estimated. In some example embodiments the three dimensional motion may be a purely rotational motion, a purely translation motion, or a rotational and translational motion. The estimated three dimensional motion may be utilized to adjust the pixels of an image frame in order to rectify and stabilize the video image.
US08964036B2 System and method for capturing, storing, analyzing and displaying data related to the movements of objects
A system and method for the capture and storage of data relating to the movements of objects, in a specified area and enables this data to be displayed in a graphically meaningful and useful manner. Video data is collected and video metadata is generated relating to objects (persons) appearing in the video data and their movements over time. The movements of the objects are then analyzed to detect the movements within a region of interest. This detection of movement allows a user, such as a manager of a store, to make informed decisions as to the infrastructure and operation of the store. One detection method relates to the number of people that are present in a region of interest for a specified time period. A second detection method relates to the number of people that remain or dwell in a particular area for a particular time period. A third detection method determines the flow of people and the direction they take within a region of interest. A fourth detection method relates to the number of people that enter a certain area by crossing a virtual line, a tripwire.
US08964022B2 Dynamic imaging system
A dynamic imaging system is provided. The system includes an assembly line, for an object to be placed thereon and for moving the object in a moving direction; a sensor set, for sensing a moving speed and the width of the object on the assembly line; a photography device, for capturing images of the object; and a controller, coupled to the sensor set and the photography device, for controlling the photography device to move and capture images of the object according to the moving speed and the width of the object.
US08964017B2 Optical tissue imaging based on optical frequency domain imaging
Optical devices and techniques for imaging and measuring targeted objects, e.g., tissues.
US08964013B2 Display with elastic light manipulator
A display system is provided that enables three-dimensional images to be displayed. The display system includes an elastic light manipulator positioned proximate an image generator. The image generator includes a pixel array. The elastic light manipulator includes an elastic material and is mounted in a manner that allows for automated stretching thereof. For instance, the elastic light manipulator may be an elastic lenticular lens, an elastic parallax barrier, etc. Because the elastic light manipulator can be stretched, optical properties of the elastic light manipulator can be dynamically modified, thereby changing the manner in which light emanating from the pixel array is delivered to the eyes of viewer(s). This allows for adaptive accommodation of, for example, a changing viewer sweet spot. The elastic light manipulator may be automatically rolled up or otherwise automatically removed from in front of the image generator in order to facilitate switching between 2D and 3D views.
US08964010B2 Display device and method of outputting audio signal
A display device receives first data for an object to be displayed at a first point in time and second data for the object to be displayed at a second point in time, the second point in time being after the first point in time. A controller determines a difference between the first and second data and controls output of an audio signal based on the difference. The difference is indicative of a change in perceived depth by a viewer.
US08964004B2 Three channel reflector imaging system
A system for providing a three-dimensional representation from a single image includes a reflector apparatus for providing an image of a scene comprising three adjacent views of the scene. The apparatus defines a left light path, a center light path, and a right light path, wherein each of the left light path and the right light path comprise opposed reflective surfaces for redirecting light, whereby light passing through the left light path, light passing through the right light path, and light passing through the center light path converge at a nodal point of an imager to create an image of the scene providing three adjacent views of the scene arrayed in a three-by-one rectangular grid. A client computing device receives data from the imager and transforms the data into a stereoscopic image or an image-plus-depth rendering, and/or converts or switches back and forth between two-dimensional and three-dimensional images.
US08964002B2 Method and apparatus for mapping in stereo imaging
A method for registering a first imaging detector to a surface projects a sequence of k images toward the surface, wherein k≧4, wherein each of the k images has a pattern of lines that extend in a direction that is orthogonal to a movement direction. The pattern encodes an ordered sequence of labels, each label having k binary elements, such that, in the movement direction, any portion of the pattern that is k equal increments long encodes one label of the ordered sequence. The method obtains, for at least a first pixel in the first imaging detector, along at least one line that is parallel to the movement direction, a first sequence of k signal values indicative of the k binary elements of a first label from the ordered sequence of labels and correlates the at least the first pixel in the first imaging detector to the surface.
US08963998B2 Full reference system for predicting subjective quality of three-dimensional video
A method of generating a predictive picture quality rating makes a disparity measurement of a three-dimensional image by comparing left and right sub-components of the three-dimensional image. Then the left and right sub-components of the three-dimensional image are combined (fused) into a two-dimensional image, using data from the disparity measurement for the combination. A predictive quality measurement is then generated based on the two-dimensional image, and further including quality information about the comparison of the original three-dimensional image.
US08963989B2 Data distribution apparatus, data distribution method, and program
This technique relates to a data distribution apparatus, a data distribution method, and a program capable of selecting stream data required by a portable terminal from among multiple stream data, and distributing the stream data.A receiving unit receives a first image generated by capturing an image, audio data generated by collecting sound, and second image data generated in advance before the first image is generated. An analyzing unit analyzes at least one of the audio data and the second image data. A generating unit generates distribution data including at least one of the first image and the second image in accordance with an analysis result provided by the analyzing unit. A distribution unit distributes the distribution data to a portable terminal as a stream. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a video conference apparatus.
US08963983B2 Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same
A mobile terminal including a speech recognition unit configured to recognize input speech; a mobile communication unit configured to perform a calling operation with at least one other terminal; and a controller configured to receive a predetermined input while performing the calling operation, to recognize voice call contents through the speech recognition unit based on the received predetermined input, to tag the recognized voice call contents to at least one application executed by the mobile terminal, and to execute the at least one application using the tagged voice call contents.
US08963974B2 Transfer apparatus and transfer method
To perform preheating on a recording medium before transfer with an inexpensive configuration to reduce a transfer failure due to a change in temperature of a transfer film and further reduce thermal damage to the transfer film, in a transfer apparatus for nipping a transfer film and recording medium with a transfer roller and transfer platen, preheating treatment of the recording medium is performed by heat of the transfer roller before transfer processing. When the preheating treatment is performed using the transfer roller, the transfer film exists between the transport roller and the recording medium, and by shifting the position of the transfer film during the preheating treatment, it is possible to suppress thermal damage to the transfer film without applying heat of the transfer roller to only a part of the transfer film excessively.
US08963973B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus comprises a feed section configured to feed a medium; an image forming section configured to form an image on the surface of the medium with a thermally erasable recording material or a recording material which is not thermally erasable; a heating section configured to heat the medium; a control section configured to conduct a control in a color erasing mode. The image forming apparatus also comprises a color erasing counter configured to count up, according to the size of the medium, the number of the mediums the color of which is thermally erased in the color erasing mode; and a print counter configured to count up, according to the size of the medium, the number of the mediums on which an image is fixed in the image formation mode.
US08963970B2 Image forming apparatus equipped with laser light source
An image forming apparatus improved in the accuracy of detecting a time period over which a laser beam is scanned. A laser beam emitted from a laser light source is deflected by a polygon mirror such that the laser beam scans a photosensitive drum. The deflected laser beam is guided onto the photosensitive drum via an imaging lens. A mode hop detection unit detects a mode hop of the laser beam. An image pulse generation section detects a main scanning magnification of an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. When a mode hop is detected, the main scanning magnification in a next scanning cycle is corrected using a correction value stored in a storage unit and used most lately, whereas when no wavelength variation has not detected, the main scanning magnification in the next scanning cycle is corrected using the latest correction value.
US08963968B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method to perform screen process on image data of a plurality of colors using threshold matrix for each color
An image processing apparatus to perform a screen process on color image data using threshold matrices includes an address calculation section, threshold processor and shift section. The address calculation section calculates an address in the threshold matrix. The threshold processor acquires a threshold by the address, and performs an n-valued process (n≧2) on a pixel value using the threshold. The shift section divides the image data into blocks in units of the threshold matrix, determines shift amounts for each block, and shifts the address. The threshold processor acquires a threshold by an address after the shift for at least one color, and performs the n-valued process using the threshold. The threshold matrix for a color for which the address is shifted has a screen ruling with a lower number of lines than the address is not shifted.
US08963955B2 Information processing program, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method
An information processing section of a game apparatus executes a program which includes: acquiring a real world image; setting the most recent view matrix of a virtual camera based on a detected marker S204; reading the previous view matrix S206; calculating correction view matrixes so as to change a blending ratio at which the most recent view matrix is blended depending on a distance S208 to S210; selecting the correction view matrix such that the longer the distance between an object and the marker is, the lower the blending ratio is; and rendering a virtual object in a frame buffer in a superimposed manner by using the selected correction view matrix.
US08963943B2 Three-dimensional urban modeling apparatus and method
Disclosed herein is a 3D urban modeling apparatus and method. The 3D urban modeling apparatus includes a calibration unit for calibrating data about a translation and a rotation of at least one capturing device at a time that input aerial images and terrestrial images were captured. A building model generation unit generates at least one 3D building model based on the aerial images and the terrestrial images to which results of the calibration have been applied. A terrain model generation unit generates a 3D terrain model by converting an input digital elevation model into a 3D mesh. A texture extraction unit extracts textures related to the building model and the terrain model from the aerial images and the terrestrial images. A model matching unit generates a 3D urban model by matching the building model with the terrain model, which are based on the textures, with each other.
US08963940B1 Isochronous hub contracts
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a method for transmitting display data to a display device. The method includes the steps of receiving a contract for a frame of display data, preparing the frame of display data to ensure the timing requirements of the display device can be satisfied based on the contract, and transmitting the frame of display data to the display device while the contract is pending.
US08963936B1 Method and apparatus for refreshing a display
Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus. The apparatus includes a display module configured to display an image frame on a screen based on pixel data of the image frame, a memory chip configured to include a frame buffer that stores pixel data of image frames to be displayed by the display module and an integrated circuit, such as a system on chip (SOC). The integrated circuit includes a memory controller coupled to the memory chip and configured to access the memory chip to fetch the pixel data from the frame buffer in response to data requests, and a display controller coupled to the display module. The display controller is configured to send data requests to the memory controller to fetch the pixel data from the frame buffer and transmit the pixel data to the display module when the apparatus is in a first mode, such as an active mode. Further, the display controller is configured to selectively drop a portion of the data requests to increase an idle time of the memory chip when the apparatus enters a second mode, such as an e-book mode, so that the memory chip enters a memory power saving mode when the apparatus is in the second mode.
US08963933B2 Method for urgency-based preemption of a process
The desire to use an Accelerated Processing Device (APD) for general computation has increased due to the APD's exemplary performance characteristics. However, current systems incur high overhead when dispatching work to the APD because a process cannot be efficiently identified or preempted. The occupying of the APD by a rogue process for arbitrary amounts of time can prevent the effective utilization of the available system capacity and can reduce the processing progress of the system. Embodiments described herein can overcome this deficiency by enabling the system software to pre-empt a process executing on the APD for any reason. The APD provides an interface for initiating such a pre-emption. This interface exposes an urgency of the request which determines whether the process being preempted is allowed a grace period to complete its issued work before being forced off the hardware.
US08963929B2 Animation drawing device, computer-readable recording medium, and animation drawing method
An interpreter 11 outputs a drawing request to an animation controller upon interpreting an animation drawing instruction defined with use of a predetermined script variable. The animation controller 12 animation-displays a GUI by executing a program module described in a native language. Upon receiving the drawing request, the animation controller 12 converts the script variable into a native variable in the form of the native language, and animation-displays the GUI while sequentially updating the native variable.
US08963924B2 Target selection apparatus that detects target, control method therefor, and storage medium
A target selection apparatus capable of quickly carrying out selection processing when selecting a desired target according to a target detection result and carrying out image processing on the target. An image corresponding to image data is displayed on a display unit. A drawing line is drawn on the image displayed on the display unit. A target included in the image data is selected based on the drawing line. In response to the drawing line becoming a closed curve, the selected target is determined.
US08963921B1 Technique for enhanced perception of 3-D structure in point clouds
In one embodiment, a user's perception of three-dimensional (3-D) structure of points in a point cloud is enhanced by use of a flashlight virtual object. The flashlight virtual object has a field of view that includes an inner cone that encloses an inner zone and an outer cone that encloses an outer zone. A current position and orientation of the flashlight virtual object within the 3-D space of the point cloud is found. It is determined whether the any points of the point cloud fall within the inner cone of the flashlight virtual object, and, if so, the points of the point cloud that fall within the inner cone are highlighted. It is further determined whether any points of the point cloud fall within the outer cone of the flashlight virtual object, and, if so, the points of the point cloud that fall within the outer cone are highlighted.
US08963905B2 Liquid crystal display panel driving circuit
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display panel driving circuit for driving a liquid crystal display panel with a resolution of N bits. N-bit digital data including upper X bits and lower Y bits is inputted. The liquid crystal display panel driving circuit includes a resistor string unit according to areas, a DAC converter switching unit according to areas, and an interpolation amplifier. The resistor string unit outputs analog reference voltages at different ratios according to three areas. The DAC converter switching unit receives the N-bit digital data, selects (Y+1) analog voltages from the analog reference voltages based on the upper X bits, outputs the (Y+1) analog voltages, and outputs the (Y+1) analog voltages of different combinations based on the lower Y bits. The interpolation amplifier receives the (Y+1) analog voltages and generates an interpolated output voltage by setting weights for the (Y+1) analog voltages by using multi-factors.
US08963903B2 Image display device having memory property
An image display device is provided which suppresses discomfort “flickering” in a process of renewing a screen to realize multiple gray level displaying including an intermediate color. Electrophoretic particles are made up of n-kinds of charged particles C1, . . . , Ck, . . . , Cn having colors different from one another and threshold voltages to initiate an electrophoresis. Each of charged particles C1, . . . , Ck, . . . , Cn satisfies a relationship characteristic of threshold value voltage of charged particles> . . . >threshold value voltage of charged particle Ck> . . . >threshold value voltage of charged particle Cn. A voltage applying unit, at time of renewing a screen, renews a screen to a next screen having a desired density by a transition of a relative color density of each charged particle to a relative color density of a corresponding intermediate state in order of charged particle C1> . . . >Ck, . . . , Cn for a voltage driving waveform of each charged particle.
US08963901B2 Display device and method for adjusting gray-level of image frame depending on environment illumination
A display apparatus and method for adjusting the gray level depending on environment illumination is used to adjust the average-gray-level of an image frame with a plurality of pixels. The display device includes a display-panel, an optical-sensor, a controller, and an adjusting module. The display-panel displays the image frame with the plurality of pixels. The optical-sensor is used to obtain the environment illumination. The controller is used to drive the display-panel to display the image frame. The adjusting module is used to adjust gray-levels of the pixels according to the environment illumination. When the environment illumination is too high, the adjusting module raises the gray-level of partial or all pixels; and when the environment illumination is too low, the adjusting module reduces the gray-level of partial or all pixels; so that visual effect of the display device is enhanced.
US08963899B2 Driver circuit for reducing IC malfunction and liquid crystal display panel comprising same
A driver circuit and a liquid crystal display panel for reducing IC malfunction are provided. The driver circuit includes a source driver IC, a gate driver IC, and a wire on array, wherein the source driver IC and the gate driver IC connects through the wire on array. The source driver IC provides a signal to the gate driver IC through the wire on array. The driver circuit further includes a negative feedback module electrically connected with the wire on array to be configured to keep the wire on array voltage constant. This invention also provides a liquid crystal display panel using the driver circuit. Through the above method of this invention the driver circuit and a liquid crystal display panel for reducing IC malfunction can avoid the gate driver IC to generate the malfunction caused by the voltage fluctuation of the array and improve the display quality of the liquid crystal display panel.
US08963893B2 CRT light pen interface for flat panel displays
A CRT light pen emulating interface with power save and remote access for flat panel displays includes a pen flat panel display that indicates at least one of a user action with a light pen switch or other device and a presence of a light pen emulating object positioned on or proximate to a display surface of the electromagnetic pen flat panel display. A light pen emulating object is positioned proximate to the electromagnetic pen flat panel display. A processor generates a light pen emulation signal comprising position data for the light pen emulating object relative to the display surface of the electromagnetic flat panel display. A light pen CRT electronic interface converts the position data for the light pen emulating object into a corresponding signal that is comparable to a signal generated by a CRT light pen viewing a scanning dot on the CRT screen.
US08963892B2 Pen-shaped input device having variable stiffness of writing tip
The present invention relates to a pen-shaped input device having variable stiffness of writing tip, which at least includes a support, a printed circuit board, a hollow barrel, a first rubber member, a hollow ferrite core, a linear shaft, a writing tip and a pen head, and characterized in that: a second rubber member, a switch unit and a stagger unit are installed, the switch unit is formed with at least a stop piece, wherein one of the stop pieces is formed with a hollow convex column, the hollow convex column is formed with a switch pin, when the switch pin is at a first position, the first rubber member is served to provide a first stiffness to the writing tip, when the switch pin is transversally moved to a second position, the second rubber member is served to provide a second stiffness to the writing tip.
US08963888B2 Apparatus comprising an optically transparent sheet and related methods
An apparatus includes an optically transparent sheet having an electrically conductive layer, an electrode element, and electro-vibration circuitry configured to provide a time-varying voltage signal across the electrically conductive layer and the electrode element so as to cause a user to experience electro-vibration in a first body part of the user when the first body part is moved across an exterior surface of the optically transparent sheet while a second body part of the user is in contact with the electrode element.
US08963881B2 Low power switching mode driving and sensing method for capacitive multi-touch system
A low power switching mode driving and sensing method for capacitive multi-touch systems is used in a capacitive multi-touch system with a capacitive touch panel. When the capacitive touch system operates in an idle mode, the method uses a self-capacitance driving and sensing technology to detect touch points. When the touch points are detected on the capacitive touch panel, the capacitive touch system is switched to an active mode and uses a mutual-capacitance driving and sensing technology to detect touch points for accurately acquiring the positions related to the touch points detected. During a predetermined time interval in which there is no touch point detected, the method automatically performs a calibration to update a mutual-capacitance base image raw data and a self-capacitance base image raw data, so as to overcome the drifting of sensors of the capacitive touch system.
US08963879B2 Positioning method for touch display panel
A positioning method for a touch display panel is provided. The touch display panel includes a touch panel and a display panel. The display panel is disposed on the touch panel, and sensing points and reference positions are set on the touch panel. In the method, pressures with different values are repeatedly applied to each reference position; under the pressures with the different values, average capacitance values of the reference positions corresponding to the sensing points are calculated. When an object touches the display panel, the sensing points of the touch panel correspondingly generate second capacitance values. Under a touch pressure value, the average capacitance values of the reference positions corresponding to the sensing points are selected. The second capacitance values and the average capacitance values of the reference positions corresponding to the sensing points under the touch pressure value are used to calculate a touch position of the object.
US08963874B2 Touch screen rendering system and method of operation thereof
A touch-screen display apparatus, the apparatus may include first and second sheets having opposed major surfaces and a size and shape defined by a periphery. The periphery may be defined by opposed ends and opposed edges. The first and second sheets may each have a conductive pattern including a pair of opposed busbars and a plurality of traces electrically coupled to, and extending between, corresponding pairs of opposed busbars. The transparent force sensing (TFS) sheet may have opposed major surfaces and a variable resistance which is related to a force exerted upon one or more of its major surfaces. The TFS sheet may be situated between the first and second sheets. The apparatus may also include one or more separation portions situated between the TFS sheet and the first or second sheet to bias the TFS sheet apart from the first or second sheet.
US08963872B2 Position detector, position detecting circuit, and position detecting method
A capacitive type position detector is provided, which includes a conductor pattern formed of a plurality of conductors disposed in a first direction and in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; a transmission signal supplying circuit for supplying a transmission signal to said plurality of conductors disposed in the first direction; and a differentially amplifying circuit having first and second input terminals for amplifying signals inputted thereto. The differentially amplifying circuit is configured to receive signals from a set of at least three conductors among said plurality of conductors disposed in the second direction, to thereby receive signals from the conductors located on both end sides of the set via said first input terminal and to receive a signal(s) from the conductor(s), which is(are) located between said conductors located on both end sides of the set, via said second input terminal.
US08963865B2 Touch sensitive device with concentration mode
Techniques are disclosed for providing a concentration mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The concentration mode can be used to highlight given textual content on a line by line basis, or other consumable content. The user can engage the mode with a particular gesture. Once engaged, a UI feature is displayed that assists the user in viewing the given content. In some cases, the UI feature includes a reading pane that encompasses one to three complete lines of displayed text or other content. Background content outside the reading pane can be faded or otherwise softened. In some cases, the UI feature also includes, or alternatively includes, a straight-edged reading guide. The initial placement of the UI feature can be set, for instance, based on the initial contact point touched by the user. As the contact point moves, the UI feature moves accordingly. Concentration mode disengages when user releases contact point.
US08963864B2 Mobile terminal and editing controlling method
A mobile phone includes a display provided with a touch panel. If a memo pad function is performed, a document and a cursor which indicates an editing position are displayed on the display. If a pinch out operation is made by two fingers in a state that a character is being displayed, the character being displayed on the display is enlarged. In such a state, if a third finger touches the touch panel between the two fingers, a cursor position is changed based on a touch position of a touch by the third finger.
US08963860B2 Electronic device, control method, and control program
An electronic device includes a display unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The display unit displays a character string or an image. The detection unit detects contact with the display unit. In a state where a character string or a image is displayed on the display unit, in a case in which the detection unit detects contact with the character string or the image, the control unit causes at least a part of the character string or the image to be selected in accordance with such detection. The control unit activates a different function in accordance with a condition of contact with the character string or the image when the character string or the image is selected. Furthermore, the control unit causes the character string or the image thus selected to be utilized in the function thus activated.
US08963858B2 Use of resistive touch screen as a proximity sensor
An apparatus and method for the use of a resistive touch screen as a proximity sensor. The touch screen operates in a touch sensing mode and a proximity sensing mode. The proximity sensing mode turns off the touch sensing circuit and uses the equivalent capacitor formed by the top layer of the touch screen with a nearby object to detect proximity. A control circuit selectively connects the touch screen with measurement circuits to perform each of the sensing functions. The control circuit can be implemented with timing based control or an event driven topology.
US08963857B2 Electronic device and method of controlling the same
According to the present invention, an electronic device is disclosed that includes a display unit including a bent state and a flat state that are distinguished from each other depending on a degree of bending, wherein the display unit is divided into at least two regions in the bent state by bending and a control unit configured to display information on the display unit according to a first video output characteristic when the display unit is in the flat state and to display information on a first region of the at least two regions according to a second video output characteristic and information on a second region of the at least two regions according to a third video output characteristic when the display unit changes from the flat state to the bent state.
US08963854B2 Data processing device, and computer program and data processing method thereof
A calling and display unit displays the image of a function calling icon (FCI) on at least one of the four corners of a screen of a touch panel. An icon calling unit calls function activation icons (FAI) in correspondence to a touch manipulation on the FCI. A function display unit displays the images of the called FAIs so as to be arranged on at least one of the four sides of the screen, which communicates with one of the four corners where the FCI is located. Therefore, the proportion in which the images of the displayed FAIs obstruct a display image displayed on the screen can be minimized. In this way, a data processing device minimizes the proportion in which the images of the FAIs displayed on the touch panel obstruct the display image.
US08963846B2 Method for cursor motion control by a touchpad to move a cursor on a display screen
A cursor control method using a touchpad triggers an automatic movement signal for a cursor when an object moves from a first defined region into a second defined region of a two-dimensional touch sensor, or when an object stays in the second defined region for a preset duration after it moves from the first defined region into the second defined region, and define the automatic movement signal with the direction identical to that of the object moving into the second defined region, so that the cursor will keep moving in its last moving direction.
US08963843B2 Capacitive touch sensor system
A method of matrix sensing using delay-based capacitance sensing, including using X-axis lines as active lines for capacitance measurements and using Y-axis lines as a disturbance to identify the location of a touch in a key matrix is disclosed. A sensing signal is applied to the X-axis lines, and a disturbance signal is applied to the Y-axis lines. If a location is touched, cross-capacitance is reduced, which is measured by sweeping data along the X-axis lines.
US08963841B2 Keyboard backlight features for a portable computer
The present application describes various embodiments of systems and methods for internal components for portable computing devices relating to keyboard components and keyboard backlighting. In one embodiment, a keyboard module can include a rectangular light guide panel and a driver board including discrete light sources mounted on the driver board where the driver board is disposed along one edge of the light guide panel and light emitted for the discrete light sources is captured by the light guide panel and distributed to predetermined locations.
US08963829B2 Methods and systems for determining and tracking extremities of a target
An image such as a depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. A grid of voxels may then be generated based on the depth image such that the depth image may be downsampled. A background included in the grid of voxels may also be removed to isolate one or more voxels associated with a foreground object such as a human target. A location or position of one or more extremities of the isolated human target may then be determined.
US08963815B2 Organic light-emitting display device
An organic light-emitting display device including: pixels on a first surface of a substrate, each pixel having a first region and a second region; pixel circuit units in the first region, each pixel circuit unit including at least one TFT; a first insulation film covering the pixel circuit units; first electrodes on the first insulation film, each first electrode being independently disposed in the first region and electrically connected to each pixel circuit unit; a second insulation film covering at least part of the first electrodes; a second electrode facing the first electrodes, the second electrode being electrically connected throughout the pixels and formed in at least the first region; an organic film between the first electrodes and the second electrode; a sealing member facing the first surface of the substrate; and a reflection preventing film on a second surface of the substrate.
US08963813B2 Organic compound and organic light emitting device having the same
An organic compound contains indacenodiperylene as the basic skeleton.
US08963810B2 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 gain adjustable fast charge current source, 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.
US08963805B2 Executable virtual objects associated with real objects
Embodiments for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object are disclosed. In one example, a method for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object includes receiving sensor input from one or more sensors attached to the portable see-through display device, and obtaining information regarding a location of the user based on the sensor input. The method also includes, if the location includes a real object comprising an associated executable virtual object, then determining an intent of the user to interact with the executable virtual object, and if the intent to interact is determined, then interacting with the executable object.
US08963803B2 Method for synchronizing content displayed on multiple devices in an array
A method comprising providing multiple video units in an array, playing video content on the video units in a synchronized manner, and detecting when one of the video units is removed from the array. In response to detecting removal of the video unit, the video content played on the video units remaining in the array in a synchronized manner is adjusted.
US08963801B1 Automatic configuration of multiple monitor systems
Control of multiple display screens associated with a computer, wherein the auxiliary screen display content that depends on conditions of the computer. During some times the auxiliary screen displays content associated with the presently executing program, and during other times the auxiliary screen displays history information. The rules can be automatically changed or manually changed.
US08963792B2 Wireless local area network antenna array
A wireless local area network (“WLAN”) antenna array (“WLANAA”) is disclosed. The WLANAA may include a circular housing having a plurality of radial sectors and a plurality of primary antenna elements. Each individual primary antenna element of the plurality of primary antenna elements may be positioned within an individual radial sector of the plurality of radial sectors.
US08963789B2 Conformal hybrid EO/RF aperture
A conformal hybrid elctro-optical/radio frequency (EO/RF) aperture including an optical phased array (OPA) in a center portion of the aperture, and a variable inclination continuous transverse stub (VICTS) RF antenna surrounding the OPA using a plurality of continuous transverse stub (CTS) subarrays.
US08963784B2 Antenna with folded monopole and loop modes
Electronic devices may be provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antennas. An antenna may have an antenna ground that is configured to form a cavity for the antenna. The antenna ground may be formed on a support structure. The antenna ground may have an opening. The support structure may have a planar surface on which the opening is formed. A folded monopole antenna resonating element and an L-shaped conductive antenna element may be formed in the opening and may be capacitively coupled. The folded monopole antenna resonating element may have an end at which a positive antenna feed terminal is formed. A ground antenna feed terminal may be formed on the antenna ground. A segment of the antenna ground may extend between the ground antenna feed terminal and an end of the L-shaped conductive antenna element.
US08963776B2 System and method for presenting flight tracking data to a user based upon the user's access permissions to various sources
A computer-implemented system and method for the processing and presentation of flight tracking data from a number of sources, with at least one source include a user access restriction, is disclosed. Substantially real-time flight tracking data is received over a digital network from a number of different sources and is stored in at least a database. Various determined flight paths are stores for a single flight based upon the number of flight data sources contributing data regarding that flight. Upon receiving a query from a user, the user's access with respect to the available data providers in retrieved and the best flight for the selected flight which is determined only from data that the requested user is authorized to access is presented. In one form, the results may be presented to the user in the form of digital map having an aircraft image and historical flight path shown.
US08963764B1 Ship heading and pitch using satellite ephemerides and radar range measurement of satellite
There may be situations in which a ship at sea is lost and GPS is not available due to jamming, and neither a position fix nor GPS is available, or the heading and attitude sensors are degraded. A system and method allow estimating a ship's heading and pitch using radar range measurements, multiple antennas and satellite ephemeris data.
US08963752B2 A/D converter, motor drive device, magnetic disk storage device, and electronic appliance
An A/D converter has an analog multiplexer stage which selects one of a plurality of first analog signals as a second analog signal, an amplifier stage which amplifies the second analog signal to generate a third analog signal, an A/D conversion stage which converts the third analog signal into a digital signal, and a sequencer which controls those stages. The sequencer performs input switching processing in the analog multiplexer stage on completion of sample hold processing by the A/D conversion stage, when performing a plurality of times of A/D conversion processing sequentially, without waiting for completion of the A/D conversion processing.
US08963750B2 Time-to-digital conversion with analog dithering
There is described a time-to-digital conversion scheme using an arrangement of delay elements based Time-to-Digital Converter, TDC (20), wherein dithering is built in the digital domain and introduced in the analog domain as a modulation of a supply voltage (TDC-supply) supplying delay elements of the TDC, each having a propagation delay which exhibits a dependency to their supply voltage.
US08963747B2 Decoding apparatus, encoding apparatus, decoding method, and encoding method
According to an embodiment, a decoding apparatus includes a clipping unit and a decoding unit. The clipping unit is configured to clip pieces of encoded data each having a predetermined first code length from input data encoded with variable-length encoding. The predetermined first code length is greater than or equal to a maximum code length among a plurality of pieces of encoded data included in the input data. The decoding unit is configured to decode the clipped piece of encoded data by using variable-length decoding.
US08963741B1 Methods and systems for dynamic alerting during missions
A method for alerting a user of a sequence of events that has occurred, based on data contained within messages occurring on one or more communications buses is described. The method includes entering, via a user interface, data defining a sequence of events for which an alert is desired, monitoring, with a unit coupled to the user interface, the messages occurring on the one or more communications buses for data indicative of an occurrence of the defined sequence of events, and providing an indication to the user that the sequence of events has occurred.
US08963735B2 Turbine meter pre-scaling terminal block electronics
An electronic circuit for converting higher-frequency output signals from a sensor into lower-frequency input signals for a discrete input wireless transmitter. The circuit includes a differential amplifier, a digital comparator, a digital frequency divider, and a transistor switch. The differential amplifier amplifies the sensor signals as a function of a frequency of the sensor signals. The digital comparator generates a square wave signal by comparing the amplified sensor signals to a fixed reference voltage. The digital frequency divider generates a lower-frequency signal by dividing the square wave signal. The transistor switch generates the lower-frequency input signals for the discrete input wireless transmitter by switching as a function of the lower-frequency signal from the digital frequency divider.
US08963726B2 System and method for high-sensitivity sensor
A sensor unit that includes at least one sensor configured to measure an ambient condition is described. The controller can be configured to receive instructions, to report a notice level when the controller determines that data measured by the at least one sensor fails a report threshold test corresponding to a report threshold value. The controller can also be configured to obtain a plurality of calibration measurements from the at least one sensor during a calibration period and to adjust the threshold based on the calibration measurements. The controller can be configured to compute a first threshold level corresponding to background noise and a second threshold level corresponding to sensor noise, and to compute the report threshold value from the second threshold. In one embodiment, the sensor unit adjusts one or more of the thresholds based on ambient temperature.
US08963722B2 Apparatus and method for playing and/or generating audio content for an audience
An apparatus for at least one of playing and generating audio content for an audience includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors monitoring the audience. The circuitry is configured to analyze said sensor data to identify characteristic movement patterns of one or more members of the audience. The circuitry is configured to select music and generate verbal communication other than music to address the audience, based on the identified characteristic movement patterns. The circuitry is further configured to output said selected music and said verbal communication. A corresponding method for at least one of playing and generating audio content for an audience is also provided.
US08963720B2 RFID tag container
An RFID tag container includes a container body having a first container portion and a second container portion detachably engaging the first container portion, wherein the container body is sized and configured to contain an RFID tag in a flame-proof, fluid-tight and vapor-tight seal.
US08963718B2 RFID chip and antenna
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device antenna has a feed region of interdigitated fingers. The interdigitated fingers have parallel centerlines and are spaced one from another. A chip having opposing ends overlays opposing interdigitated fingers. A coupling is established between the chip and the antenna at the interdigitated fingers.
US08963714B2 Tamper-evident packaging
A tamper-evident package for pharmaceuticals is described. The package includes a case. A tray holding pharmaceuticals slides in and out of the case. The package includes an alarm that can be set to armed and triggered mode. When the alarm is armed, the system of the package changes the alarm to triggered in response to the tray being opened. The package may engage an access indicator in response to the alarm being triggered. The package may also flash an indicator light upon request, prior to opening the tray, to indicate whether the alarm was triggered since being previously armed. The alarm can be armed again if it is triggered, by entering a security code while the tray is closed.
US08963708B2 Breach detection in solid structures
An implantable device includes at least one solid structure having an external surface and a volume beneath the surface. One or more of a first conductor or set of conductors is disposed externally and/or internally on or within the structure and an array of elongate electrically conductive elements are disposed radially outwardly within the volume. A breach is detected when a conductive fluid intrudes into the volume through the surface.
US08963705B2 Wireless control and coordination of light bar and siren
A wireless interface module is used with at least one of a light bar, a control head, and/or a siren so that a mobile device can wirelessly control the light bar and/or siren via a user interface.
US08963699B2 Catalytic converter theft protection arrangement
A catalytic converter theft protection arrangement includes a metal cage rigidly attached to an underside of a vehicle such that the cage surrounds a catalytic converter of the vehicle. An electronic tamper-detecting device is disposed within the cage and transmits an alarm signal in response to detecting motion around the catalytic converter and/or vibration of the cage. A remote controller selectively activates and deactivates the electronic tamper-detecting device in response to actuation of the remote controller by a user.
US08963698B2 System and method for setting functions according to location
An apparatus, system, and method for controlling functions of a vehicular alarm. The method includes receiving one or more signals including location information, determining a location of the vehicle using the location information, setting one or more functions based on the location information, determining whether an alarm function is activated, and activating the one or more functions according to the setting upon determining that an alarm has been activated. The method may further include using GPS data or signals transmitted from one or more base stations (e.g., from cellular telephone base stations, computer networks, proprietary transmitters, etc.) to determine the position of the apparatus (e.g., installed in the vehicle). The apparatus may also inform a user of regulations relating to an area dependent upon its location.
US08963697B2 Display device, in particular for a motor vehicle
A display device, notably for an automobile vehicle, comprises a head down display module, and a head up display module. Means are provided for adjusting the position at least of the head up display module. The inclination of one or both of the head up and the head down display modules may also be adjusted. In such cases, the inclination of the modules may be the same or different. An adjustment axis may be provided for such adjustments, and this axis may be generally perpendicular to a normal viewing direction.
US08963688B2 Stacked tire RFID reader system and method
A product management system and method for reading electronic identification tags from a vertical stack of tires. Each tire has an electronic identification tag secured at a position to operative to electronically transmit data to an antenna element positioned internally within a toroidal opening of each tire in the stack. An elongate read wand is positioned in a substantially vertical orientation within the aligned toroidal openings of the tires. The antenna element is carried by the read wand and is thus positioned by the read wand to receive an electronic transmission from each electronic identification tag in the aligned tire stack. The read wand may be ceiling-mounted, floor mounted, or hand held.
US08963682B2 Multi-dimensional control of lighting parameters
A multi-dimensional controller (150) controls the multiple parameters of a lighting system (250). A track-ball (100) that provides three axes of rotation (101-103), for example, is used to control each of three lighting parameters, such as chrominance, luminance, and saturation. In like manner, intensity, direction, and diffusion control may be controlled by a device with three degrees of freedom/control. Force-feedback (120) is optionally provided to indicate divergence from established presets (220) or recommended operating conditions. Switches (130) and other control elements are also provided to store or recall preset parameters (220), override scheduled lighting settings, and so on.
US08963681B2 Operating control system for electronic equipment
The operating control system can be use on electronic equipment, such as cell phones, computers, engine analyzers, etc. An input device, programming a single or multiple devices, enables the input of user access data by a primary user for multiple modes. Through use of a black list, blocked numbers can be stored or immediately deleted with notification going to the user as well as the owner of the blocked number. A temporary shut down feature enables the ring tone on the device to be shut down for a programmed period of time and reactivated at the end of that time.
US08963675B2 Method for fabricating a carrier with a three dimensional inductor and structure thereof
A method for fabricating a carrier with a three-dimensional inductor comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a protective layer; forming a first photoresist layer on the protective layer; patterning the first photoresist layer to form a second opening and a plurality of disposing slots; forming a first metal layer in second opening and disposing slots; removing the first photoresist layer; forming a first dielectric layer on the protective layer; forming a second photoresist layer on the first dielectric layer; patterning the second photoresist layer to form a plurality of slots; forming a second metal layer in slots to form a plurality of inductive portions; removing the second photoresist layer; forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer; forming a third photoresist layer on the second dielectric layer; patterning the third photoresist layer to form a plurality of slots; and forming a third metal layer in slots.
US08963671B2 Semiconductor transformer device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor transformer includes a first coil inductor and a second coil inductor. The first coil inductor has a first port, a second port and a first coil inductor wall, the first coil inductor wall having a height substantially equal to a thickness of the substrate. The second coil inductor has a third port, a first extension wall connected to the third port, a fourth port, a second extension wall connected to the fourth port and a second coil inductor wall.
US08963670B2 Tap changer
A tap changer for connection to a regulating winding of a rated regulation voltage is provided. The tap changer having a linear tap selector having at least one current collector and a linear arrangement of fixed contacts. Tap changer further includes a shielding structure arranged to shield the tap selector from an external electrical field. The shielding structure includes: a first shielding part arranged to be electrically connected to a current collector; and a second shielding part formed at least partly by the fixed contacts. The first and second shielding parts are separated so that the distance between the first and second shielding parts reaches or exceeds the rated regulating voltage insulation distance of the tap changer.
US08963658B2 Micropstrip transmission line/coplanar waveguide (CPW) transistor structure
A structure having a coplanar waveguide transistor; and a microwave section, coupled to the transistor, having: a strip conductor coplanar with the electrodes of the coplanar waveguide transistor and a ground plane conductor disposed under the strip conductor.
US08963657B2 On-chip slow-wave through-silicon via coplanar waveguide structures, method of manufacture and design structure
On-chip, high performance, slow-wave coplanar waveguide with through-silicon via structures, method of manufacture and design structures for integrated circuits are provided herein. The method includes forming at least one ground plane layer in a substrate and forming a signal layer in the substrate, in a same plane layer as the at least one ground. The method further includes forming at least one metal filled through-silicon via between the at least one ground plane layer and the signal layer.
US08963647B2 Self-powered timer apparatus
A method is provided for implementing a timer using a floating-gate transistor. The method includes: injecting a charge into a floating-gate transistor at an initial time, where a gate terminal of the floating-gate transistor is comprised of polysilicon encased by an insulating material; creating lattice imperfections at boundary of the polysilicon to cause leakage from the floating-gate transistor; measuring current read out from the floating-gate transistor at a time subsequent to the initial time; and determining an amount of time between the initial time and the subsequent time using the measured current.
US08963646B1 Delay line ring oscillation apparatus
The delay line degradation protection architecture as build-in ring oscillation apparatus includes a two gates logical circuit, a buffer, a clock input buffer and a delay lock loop circuit. The two gates logical circuit receives a clock enable signal, specific mode signal, and delayed clock output signal. The two gates logical circuit performs a logical operating on the clock enable signal, the specific mode signal and the delayed clock output signal for generating a mode selecting signal. The buffer generates a feedback signal according to the mode selecting signal and a control signal. The clock input buffer decides whether to transport the input clock signal to an output end of the clock input buffer or not according to the feedback signal. The delay lock loop circuit generates the delayed clock output signal. A frequency of the feedback signal is adjusted according to the control signal.
US08963642B2 Performance of off-chip connection for power amplifier
There is provided an integrated circuit comprising a main push-pull amplifier (108, 110) with balanced outputs and an additional push-pull amplifier (862, 863) with balanced outputs. Each of these balanced outputs is connected to an off-chip load (822) via respective bonding wires (818, 828, 830, 880) to provide a combined amplified signal to the load. The additional amplifier serves to compensate for crossover distortions generated by the main amplifier.
US08963640B2 Amplifier for output buffer and signal processing apparatus using the same
An amplifier for an output buffer includes an operational amplifier including a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, the operational amplifier is configured to generate an input bias current and amplify a voltage difference between signals applied to the first input terminal and the second input terminal, and to output the amplified voltage difference; and a self-bias circuit connected to the first input terminal and the second input terminal, the self-bias circuit is configured to generate first and second current paths when the voltage difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage, to generate a tail current on the first or second current path, and to add the generated tail current to the input bias current of the operational amplifier, wherein the second input terminal is connected to the output terminal.
US08963636B1 Outphasing power amplifier linearization method with improved output power back-off efficiency
A high efficiency outphasing power amplifier is disclosed which provides a high-efficiency, high-linearity outphasing amplifier capable of amplifying complex, wideband, multi-tone signals. Systems herein may amplify at least 256 symbol QAM signals with negligible distortion, while achieving high direct current-to-radio frequency efficiency sustainable at virtually all power levels. Embodiments of the outphasing amplifier employ a bridge output network formed from two complementary Class-D amplifiers to switch a dc supply voltage across the load. In embodiments, the phase of both halves of the bridge is varied from zero to +/−90 or zero to 180 degrees to split the workload, to correct for phase error within the bridge network and to control output power. Because the current through the load and thus through the two halves of the amplifier vary directly with output level, the efficiency remains high even when power output is low.
US08963635B2 Apparatus and method for producing signals coded with amplitude shift keying
An apparatus for coding a signal by means of amplitude shift keying comprises a class E amplifier including a switching transistor, to whose gate is supplied a voltage having an operating frequency for operating the class E amplifier. For achieving an amplitude shift keying in the output signal of the class E amplifier, a circuit for switching the operating frequency of the voltage supplied to the gate of the switching transistor, or the resonance frequency of the class E amplifier, between a first value and a second value is provided and in order to switch a deviation degree between the operating frequency and the resonance frequency between a first value and a second value.
US08963630B2 System and method for boosted switches
In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes activating a first semiconductor switch having a first switch node coupled to a first input of a bootstrap circuit, a second switch node, and a control node coupled to a first end of a capacitor of the bootstrap circuit. A first end of the capacitor is coupled to the first input of the bootstrap circuit and a second end of the capacitor is set to a first voltage. Next, the first end of the capacitor is decoupled from the first input of the bootstrap circuit, and the second end of the capacitor is set to a second voltage. The control node is boosted to a first activation voltage that turns on the first semiconductor switch.
US08963628B2 Transistor-based filter for inhibiting load noise from entering a power supply
A transistor-based filter for inhibiting load noise from entering a power supply is disclosed. The filter includes a first transistor having an emitter coupled to a power supply, a collector coupled to a load, and a base. The filter also includes a first capacitor coupled between the base of the first transistor and a ground terminal The filter further includes an impedance coupled between the base and a node between the collector and the load, or a second transistor and second capacitor. The impedance can be a resistor or an inductor.
US08963623B2 Low voltage and high driving charge pump
The present disclosure relates to a charge pump circuit having one or more voltage multiplier circuits that enable generation of an output signal having a higher output voltage. In one embodiment, the charge pump circuit comprises a NMOS transistor having a drain connected to a supply voltage and a source connected to a chain of diode connected NMOS transistors coupled in series. A first voltage multiplier circuit is configured to generate a first two-phase output signal having a maximum voltage value that is twice the supply voltage. The first two-phase output signal is applied to the gate of the NMOS transistor, forming a conductive channel between the drain and the source, thereby allowing the supply voltage to pass through the NMOS transistor without a threshold voltage drop. Therefore, degradation of the charge pump output voltage due to voltage drops of the NMOS transistor is reduced, resulting in larger output voltages.
US08963611B2 Power and impedance measurement circuits for a wireless communication device
Exemplary embodiments disclosed are directed to power and impedance measurement circuits that may be used to measure power and/or impedance are described. A measurement circuit may include a sensor and a computation unit. The sensor may sense (i) a first voltage signal across a series circuit coupled to a load to obtain a first sensed signal and (ii) a second voltage signal at a designated end of the series circuit to obtain a second sensed signal. The sensor may mix (i) a first version of the first sensed signal with a first version of the second sensed signal to obtain a first sensor output and (ii) a second version of the first sensed signal with a second version of the second sensed signal to obtain a second sensor output. The computation unit may determine the impedance and/or delivered power at the designated end of the series circuit based on the sensor outputs.
US08963609B2 Combinatorial circuit and method of operation of such a combinatorial circuit
An integrated level shifting combinatorial circuit receives a plurality of input signals in a first voltage domain and performs a combinatorial operation to generate an output signal in a second voltage domain. The circuit includes combinatorial circuitry includes first and second combinatorial circuit portions operating in respective first and second voltage domains. The second combinatorial circuit portion has an output node whose voltage level identifies a value of the output signal and includes feedback circuitry which applies a level shifting function to an intermediate signal generated by the first combinatorial circuit portion. A contention mitigation circuitry reduces a voltage drop across at least one component within the feedback circuitry in situations when the combinatorial circuitry's performance of the combinatorial operation causes the combinatorial circuitry to switch the voltage on the output node, the contention mitigation circuitry thereby assists the combinatorial circuitry in the output node voltage switching.
US08963608B1 Peak-to-peak average power ratio reduction and intermodulation distortion pre-suppression using open-loop signal processing
The peak-to-average power ratio of an input signal can be reduced prior to amplification. This reduction in the peak-to-average power ratio can be accomplished without adding significant intermodulation distortion to the input signal. The resulting input signal can therefore have a peak-to-average power ratio that does not exceed the output backoff of the amplifier thereby preventing the amplifier from being operated in saturation and, as a result, minimizing the intermodulation distortion added by the amplifier. The peak-to-average power ratio of an input signal can be reduced using two stages of signal clipping. By employing two stages, the intermodulation distortion introduced to the input signal as it passes through the stages is minimized. Also, because this two-stage approach does not attempt to account for intermodulation distortion introduced by the downstream amplifier, it can be implemented without any prior knowledge of the amplifier's transfer function or any output monitoring scheme.
US08963602B2 Fast pulse generator
A pulse generator is disclosed. The pulse generator can include an ac source for providing an ac signal. A pulsed switch can be connected to an ac output of the ac source that is adapted or configured to generate a pulsed output from the ac signal and a non-linear frequency multiplier adapted or configured to shorten the pulses of the pulsed output. The pulsed switch can include a mixer.
US08963601B1 Clock gated delay line based on setting value
In an embodiment, a delay circuit includes a delay line with a clock input signal and a delayed clock output signal that is based on a setting value. Each delay element of the delay line receives one of several delay element select signals and outputs a delayed signal based on the delay element select signal. The setting value may be a binary encoded value representing the desired delay. The delay element select signals may correspond to a thermometer encoded value of the binary encoded setting value.
US08963597B1 Cross-domain enablement method and electronic apparatus
A cross-domain enablement method is configured for providing a local clock signal to a logic-circuit device, which is operated in a delay-locked loop (DLL) domain. The logic-circuit device includes a command input and a clock input. The cross-domain enablement method comprises steps of: starting to provide the local clock signal to the clock input of the logic-circuit device by enabling a clock signal in the DLL-domain when a first command signal in a clock domain is activated; and, providing a second command signal in the DLL-domain to the command input of the logic-circuit device. The second command signal in the DLL-domain is activated later than the first command signal in the clock domain.
US08963595B2 Phase-locked loops that share a loop filter and frequency divider
A shared loop filter includes an input port configured to selectively receive a first input from a first charge pump. The first charge pump is connected to a first phase locked loop (PLL) in a first die. The input port is further configured to selectively receive a second input from a second charge pump, the second charge pump connected to a second PLL in a second die separate from the first die. The shared loop filter further includes an output port configured to selectively provide an output to a first voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The first VCO is connected to the first PLL. The output port is further configured to selectively output a second output to a second VCO. The second VCO is connected to the second PLL.
US08963593B2 High-frequency signal processing device
A high-frequency signal processing device having a frequency synthesizer (PLL: Phase Locked Loop) is provided. A control circuit measures oscillation frequencies obtained upon setting a bias current of an oscillation circuit to first and second bias setting values and acquires a frequency difference amount of the oscillation frequencies. The frequency difference amount may be acquired as difference amount of setting values of a coarse adjustment capacitance setting signal (CTRM) using, for example, an automatic frequency selector unit. The control circuit retains a relationship of a difference amount of bias setting values and a difference value of setting values of the CTRM and approximating the relationship to a linear function. Thereafter, the control circuit defines, upon switching the bias current during locking of the PLL, the CTRM based on the linear function and switches the CTRM together with the bias current.
US08963589B1 Ramp generator circuit
An oscillator circuit selectively charges and discharges a capacitor with currents having variable magnitudes. A trimming circuit functions to measure a half period of the oscillator signal. The measured half period is compared to a reference period to generate an error signal. The variable magnitudes of one or the other or both of the current for sourcing or sinking at the capacitor are adjusted in response to the error signal.
US08963586B2 Power stage
A power stage has a differential output stage 2 driven by one or more buffer stages 4. The buffer stages 4 are implemented as high and low side buffers 12,14, each of which is itself a differential buffer implemented using transistors formed in an isolated-well technology such as triple-well CMOS.
US08963580B2 Logic device and method of operating the same
A logic device may include a first functional block, the first functional block including, a first storage block, a second storage block, and a first function controller. In a first operation time period, the first function controller may be configured to receive a first configuration selection signal and a first configuration command signal that instructs a first function be configured, select the first storage block as a configured storage block in the first operation time period based on the first configuration selection signal, and configure the first function in the first storage block based on the first configuration command signal.
US08963574B2 Circuit and method for detecting a fault attack
A device for detecting a fault attack, including: a circuit for detecting an interruption of a power supply; a circuit for comparing the duration of said interruption with a first threshold; and a counter of the number of successive interruptions of the power supply having a duration which does not exceed the first threshold.
US08963569B2 Semiconductor chip probe and the conducted EME measurement apparatus with the semiconductor chip probe
The present invention discloses a semiconductor chip probe for measuring conducted electromagnetic emission (EME) of a bare die and a conducted EME measurement apparatus with the semiconductor chip probe. The semiconductor chip probe comprises a substrate, a dielectric layer, an impedance unit, a measuring unit and a connection unit. The measurement apparatus comprises a semiconductor chip probe, a high frequency probe, a signal cable and a test receiver. The integrated passive component network designed and embedded inside the semiconductor chip probe forms the 1Ω or 150Ω impedance network. And the semiconductor chip probe is able to directly couple the EME conducted current or voltage from the test pin of the flipped chip under test to the test receiver for measurement.
US08963563B2 Capacitive sensor for detecting the presence of a substance
A capacitive sensor for detecting the presence of a substance includes a plurality of upstanding conductive pillars arranged within a first layer of the sensor, a first electrode connected to a first group of the pillars, a second electrode connected to a second, different group of the pillars, and a dielectric material arranged adjacent the pillars, for altering the capacitance of the sensor in response to the presence of said substance.
US08963549B2 Electromagnetic measurements using a group of two or more electromagnetic receivers
To survey a subterranean structure, for acquiring an electromagnetic (EM) measurement signal across EM receivers having a target axial spacing, a group of more than two EM receivers in an interval defined by the target axial spacing along a sensor cable is provided. The spacing between successive ones of at least some EM receivers in the group is less than the target axial spacing. EM measurements are acquired using the EM receivers in the group.
US08963546B2 Method for NMR spectroscopy
A method for performing magnetic resonance spectroscopy on solid samples containing nuclei of interest with spin quantum number I subjects the sample to a static magnetic field. The sample is spun at the magic angle and broad-band excitation of transverse magnetization of the nuclei of interest is effected by applying a first train of rotor-synchronized rf-pulses, having a carrier frequency, to the nuclei of interest with a pulse duration 0.1 μs<τp<2 μs, the first train of rf-pulses comprising k·n pulses extending over k rotor periods τrot with n pulses per rotor period τrot, wherein n is an integer n>1. Uniform excitation of a great number of spinning sidebands or families of sidebands that arise from large first-order quadrupole or hyperfine interactions is enabled and signal intensity is thereby improved.
US08963541B2 Position sensor using a moveable ferromagnetic element
The invention relates to a contactless magnetic sensor for detecting a linear or angular position, comprising a moveable ferromagnetic element (1) the position of which is detected, and a stator assembly (2) itself, comprising two ferromagnetic parts (3, 4), defining with the moveable ferromagnetic element (1) two respective air gaps (7, 8), a permanent magnet (5) and a magneto-sensitive element (6) subjected to a magnetic field that depends on the position of the moveable ferromagnetic element (1) and designed to deliver a measurement signal that depends on the magnetic field to which it is subjected. According to the invention, the two ferromagnetic parts (3, 4) define therebetween a third air gap (9), the permanent magnet (5) being rigidly connected only to the first ferromagnetic part (3) and the magneto-sensitive element (6) being placed in the third air gap (9).
US08963538B2 Magnetometer test arrangement and method
Manufacturing of magnetometer units (20′) employs a test socket (41) having a substantially rigid body (43) with a cavity (42) therein holding an untested unit (20) in a predetermined position (48) proximate electrical connection (50) thereto, wherein one or more magnetic field sources (281, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336) fixed in the body (43) provide known magnetic fields at the position (48) so that the response of each unit (20) is measured and compared to stored expected values. Based thereon, each unit (20) can be calibrated or trimmed by feeding corrective electrical signals back to the unit (20) through the test socket (41) until the actual and expected responses match or the unit (200) is discarded as uncorrectable. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic field sources (281, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336) are substantially orthogonal coil pairs (332, 333, 334) arranged so that their centerlines (332-1, 333-1, 334-1) coincide at a common point (46) within the predetermined position (48). Because the test-socket (41) is especially rugged and compact, other functions (e.g., accelerometers) included in the unit (20) can also be easily tested and trimmed.
US08963534B2 Triaxial piezoelectric sensor
A triaxial piezoelectric sensor includes a PVDF layer, a first line layer, and a second line layer. The PVDF layer has multiple first electrodes and multiple second electrodes. Each first electrodes corresponds to each second electrodes for forming directions of polarization along the X-Y-Z axes. The first line layer has multiple first electrical connection portions and multiple first signal lines. Each first electrical connection portions corresponds to each first electrodes. The second line layer has multiple second electrical connection portions and multiple second signal lines. Each second electrical connection portions corresponds to each second electrodes. The PVDF layer is sandwiched between the first line layer and the second line layer. When an external force is applied to the PVDF layer, the first signal lines and the second signal lines transmit electrical signals according to the deformation of the PVDF layer.
US08963532B2 Reference current distribution
Example reference current distribution circuitry described herein include current mirrors having resistive elements of varying sizes between gate nodes of sense amplifier transistors along a voltage distribution line. Examples of counter coupling capacitances which may be coupled to the gate nodes of sense amplifier transistors are also described.
US08963529B2 Transition mode charge control for a power converter
One embodiment relates to power conversion system. The system includes a converter configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage, the converter comprising at least one switch that is controlled in response to an activation signal to provide current through an inductor. A transition mode controller is configured to provide the activation signal based on a measure of charge derived from current through the switch and based on the current through the inductor.
US08963528B2 Method and means to implement fixed frequency operation of buck mode switching
A buck mode switching power supply under hysteretic control is provided. A fixed frequency pattern generator is operatively connected to the supply and configured to provide dynamic adjustment of the hysteretic threshold voltage level, resulting in the fixed frequency operation of the supply.
US08963514B2 Large signal VCO
An alternation voltage- or current generator comprises a first switch driving output network whose frequency can be tuned. The tuneable network comprises a first Inductor that is coupled with a first capacitor. A second inductor and/or at least a second capacitor and/or at least a series circuit of a third inductor and a third capacitor which is coupled via at a second switch to the network. The second switch is controlled by a controlled delay (PWM) which is synchronized by a sign change of current and/or voltage in the network.
US08963508B2 Method of controlling speed of a variable speed generator
Some embodiments relate to a method of controlling speed of a variable speed generator. The method includes detecting a load of the variable speed generator and determining a target speed for the variable speed generator based on the load supplied by the variable speed generator. The method further includes using a controller to adjust the speed of the variable speed generator based on the target speed. The method may further include correcting the target speed by calculating a correction factor that corrects the target speed based on a voltage produced by the variable speed generator.
US08963503B2 Safety discharge apparatus for an electrical storage element
A safety discharge apparatus for an electrical storage element includes a load device for discharging the electrical storage element connected to the safety discharge apparatus via input connections. The apparatus includes a clocked switching device connected to a control device that serves to produce and interrupt a discharge current via the load device and the storage element, and a voltage detection device that detects a storage voltage of the electrical storage element to be discharged. The voltage detection device is connected to a discharge condition monitor that checks a dischargeability of the electrical storage element. An operating method for a safety discharge apparatus is also disclosed.
US08963496B2 Lithium battery pack and system for charging the same
A lithium battery pack according to the present invention has inherent information stored therein, which comprises a plurality of cells, nominal voltage, maximal voltage of the cells, range of temperature etc. A charging parameter is determined by a charging controller based on an identified data of the cells and the inherent information, and is transmitted to an adapter. A controlled module in the adapter receives the charging parameter through a control terminal and adjusts an AC/DC circuit to output a current with accurate charging voltage to the battery pack.
US08963494B2 Charge rate optimization
A charging system for a battery pack, including a charging station transferring energy to the battery pack at a maximum fast charge rate in a first operational mode and transferring energy to the battery pack at a slower charge rate in a second operational mode; a data collection system acquiring data indicating a state of charge of the battery pack and one or more desired charge optimization parameters; and a station control, responsive to the data and to the desired charge optimization parameters, automatically establishing a charging profile for the battery pack to assert a control signal and operate the charging station in the second operational mode whenever the charging station is able to transfer sufficient energy to the battery pack at the slower charge rate to meet an SOC target and a charge completion time target.
US08963486B2 Wireless power from renewable energy
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless charging. A charging system may comprise at least one power generation system configured to convert renewable energy to another form of energy and convey the another form of energy. The charging system may further include at least one transmit antenna coupled to the at least one power generation system and configured to receive the another form of energy from the at least one power generation system. Further, the at least one transmit antenna is configured to wirelessly transmit energy to at least one other antenna positioned within an associated coupling-mode region.
US08963483B2 Charging stand, charging system, and charging method thereof using RFID tag battery separation information
A charging system is provided. The charging system includes: a charging stand for obtaining vehicle information from the vehicle and transmitting the obtained vehicle information to a management server, and supplying power to a battery equipped in the vehicle on the basis of the transmitted vehicle information; and the management server for determining a charging condition of the battery equipped in the vehicle by using the vehicle information transmitted through the charging stand, and transmitting charging information corresponding to the determined charging condition to the charging stand.
US08963481B2 Charging service vehicles and methods using modular batteries
Charging service vehicles and methods using modular batteries are disclosed. The service vehicles are vehicles having electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment, and removably mounted battery modules or battery module connection points. The battery modules are connected to the EV charging equipment as a source of electrical energy. Some embodiments disclose integrating the EV charging equipment with the vehicle, recharging modules through a distribution grid connection, the manner of discharging the batteries, modes of connecting and disconnecting the modules, the size and weight of the modules, quick-disconnectability of modules, control and monitoring of the modules and charging equipment, and/or ways of connecting modules to the vehicle. These features are beneficial to efficiently keep service vehicles available for EV charging through exchanging battery modules or providing additional battery modules when necessary, and may keep operators safe through de-energization of connectors and other precautions inherent in these designs.
US08963480B2 Charging control system and device
A charging control system for charging a secondary battery from a solar battery, including a first path for transmitting power from the solar battery to the secondary battery, a second path for sensing the voltage of the secondary battery, and a comparison unit for comparing the solar battery voltage with the sensed voltage of the secondary battery. The first path includes a first interrupter, controlled by the comparison unit, which interrupts the first path to prevent discharge of the secondary battery through the solar battery when the solar battery voltage falls below the secondary battery voltage. The second path includes a second interrupter that interrupts the second path after the first path is interrupted, to prevent the secondary battery from discharging through the second path when not being charged through the first path.
US08963479B2 Power conversion device for a rotary electric machine
A power conversion device includes an inverter unit and a control unit. The inverter unit includes high SWs and low SWs for each phase of coils of a motor. The control unit, in a case that the on-time of the high SWs and the low SWs is shorter than a predetermined time determined based on a dead time, changes an output voltage average value such that the on-time of the high SWs or the on-time of the low SWs becomes longer than the predetermined time. The voltage use rate can be improved without disposing a special circuit, and distortion of inter-line voltages or distortion of currents can be suppressed.
US08963475B2 Micro-step driving control apparatus for stepping motor
A micro-step driving control apparatus for a stepping motor in which torque fluctuations caused by influence of detent torque can be reduced without performing preliminary driving, including: a phase difference estimator calculating, based on detected motor current and a command value, an estimated phase difference between the command value and the current; low-speed and high-speed motor rotational angle estimators calculating an estimated motor rotational angle at a low speed rotation and an estimated motor rotational angle at a high speed rotation; an addition unit calculating, based on the command value, an estimated motor rotational angle by mixing the estimated motor rotational angles at an appropriate rate; a detent torque estimator calculating, based on the mixed estimated motor rotational angle, estimated detent torque; and a compensation signal generator generating a compensation signal based on the estimated detent torque and the mixed estimated motor rotational angle.
US08963474B2 Motor control device
A motor control device includes: an acceleration/deceleration processing unit that generates a servo command according to an acceleration/deceleration parameter; a servo control unit that controls a motor drive torque to drive a control target machine motor according to the servo command; a power supply unit that supplies electric power of a predetermined power supply capacity from a commercial power supply to the servo control unit; an electrical storage unit that supplies electric power supplementing the electric power; and an acceleration/deceleration parameter setting unit that computes maximum power that can be used for acceleration/deceleration based on a power storage amount in the electrical storage unit, the power supply capacity, and all energy required for acceleration, computes an acceleration/deceleration parameter that causes electric power at a time of acceleration/deceleration to be equal to or lower than the maximum power, and sets the acceleration/deceleration parameter.
US08963470B2 Motor control apparatus
A motor control apparatus that controls rotation of a rotor of an electric motor powered from an electric power source includes a learning portion that executes an initial drive learning process, and a controller that executes a normal drive operation to sequentially change an exciting phase of the electric motor based on a count value of a counter which is corrected by a correcting portion such that the rotor is rotated to a target position after an initial drive operation is finished. The learning portion re-executes the initial drive learning process after a predetermined condition is satisfied, when the initial drive learning process is failed.
US08963467B2 Motor driving device and method of controlling the same
There are provided a motor driving device and a method of controlling the same. The motor driving device includes a controlling unit; a plurality of unit circuits provided within the controlling unit and controlling driving of a motor; and a time slice controller provided within the controlling unit and periodically generating a wake-up signal, wherein some unit circuits among the plurality of unit circuits are operated for a certain operation time upon receiving the wake-up signal, thereby allowing for effective power consumption of the motor.
US08963464B2 Control device and control method for the drive unit of a windshield wiper system
The invention relates to a control device (160) for a drive unit (120) of a vehicle windshield wiper system (100) comprising at least one wiper arm (140). The control device (160) is designed to determine a load quantity (L) of the drive unit (120) and to set the wiping frequency (WH) of the wiper arm (140) on the basis of the ratio of the load quantity (L) to at least one load threshold value (LS). Furthermore, the control device (160) is designed to set the wiping frequency (WH) depending on the current speed (v) of the vehicle.
US08963460B2 Method and system for controlling motor
A method for controlling a motor is provided. The method comprises obtaining electrical signals of the motor with a signal unit, the electrical signals comprising a motor torque and an angular velocity, calculating a voltage phase angle of a voltage vector with a calculating component, wherein a command torque, the motor torque, the angular velocity and a voltage amplitude of the voltage vector are inputs of the calculating component, and wherein the voltage phase angle is a variable and the voltage amplitude is a constant. The method further comprises modulating the voltage phase angle and the voltage amplitude to a switching signal for controlling an inverter; converting a direct current voltage to the voltage vector according to the switching signal, and applying the voltage vector to the motor.
US08963457B2 Electric storage system and control method of electric storage system
An electric storage system includes a charger which supplies power from an external power source to an electric storage apparatus and supplies power of the electric storage apparatus to an external device. A first and a second system main relay allow connection between a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the electric storage apparatus and a load, respectively. A third system main relay is connected in series with a current limiting resistor and, together with the current limiting resistor, is connected in parallel with the first system main relay. A first and a second charge relay allow connection between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of the electric storage apparatus and the charger, respectively. A third charge relay is connected in series with the abovementioned current limiting resistor and, together with the current limiting resistor, is connected in parallel with the first charge relay.
US08963452B2 Motor drive device, magnetic disk storage device, and electronic appliance
A motor drive device has: a power supply line to which a power supply voltage is applied; a ground line to which a ground voltage is applied; and a first motor driver that, when the power supply voltage is normal, rotates an N-phase first motor (where N is an integer of 2 or more) by using the supply voltage and, when the power supply voltage is abnormal, generates a rectified voltage from phase voltages of different phases appearing while the first motor is idling to regenerate the rectified voltage to the power supply line. The first motor driver, when generating the rectified voltage, boosts the rectified voltage by periodically repeating a brake cycle to make all the terminals of the different phases of the first motor conduct to the ground line and a boost cycle to rectify the phase voltages of the different phases synchronously while making at least one of the terminals of the different phases conduct to the power supply line.
US08963443B2 Method of driving a light source, light source apparatus for performing the method and display apparatus having the light source apparatus
A light source apparatus includes a plurality of light source parts, a power supply part, a current selection part and a current control part. The plurality of the light source parts are connected in parallel and the power supply part provides power to a first terminal of each of the light source parts. The current selection part selects the current level of one of the light source parts as a reference current level. The current control part adjusts the levels of the currents flowing through the light source parts to be substantially equal to the reference current level. Selection of the light source part that provides the reference current level is dynamically changed.
US08963437B2 High power dimmer and dimming system having switchable power modes, dimming device and method for transmitting power and dimming commands
A dimming system is composed of a dimmer having switchable power modes and at least one lighting device. When the dimmer is in a non-dimming bypass mode, an input power is directly transmitted to the at least one lighting device with the dimmer being bypassed so that the circuit in the dimmer consumes no power. When the dimmer is in a dimming mode, an output selector of the dimmer outputs a dimming output power having a dimming command therein to each one of the at least one lighting device for each lighting device to decode the dimming command embedded in the dimming output power and perform a dimming operation according to the dimming command. As the dimming operation lasts briefly, the power consumed by the dimmer is extremely small. Accordingly, no heat dissipation issue arises and the present invention is applicable to all sorts of high power lighting devices.
US08963431B2 Circuit for driving LEDs
A circuit is disclosed for driving a plurality of LED strings from an AC supply and arranged to, in use, drive current through a series arrangement of a plurality N of the LED strings when the AC voltage is sufficient to drive the plurality N of the LED strings: the circuit comprising a first current source configured to be switchably connected to a one end of said series arrangement of N LED strings; a series combination of a second current source and a heat dissipater, wherein the series combination of the second current source and the heat dissipater is arranged in parallel with the first current source; and a current balancer for balancing the current through the first current source and the second current source. A driver for such a circuit is also disclosed.
US08963425B2 Power supply device, lamp fitting, and vehicle
Provided is a power supply device, which is capable of coping with semiconductor light source loads to be set in various ways, and has high efficiency, in which a current to be supplied to each of the loads has a small ripple. The power supply device supplies power to a semiconductor light source load and lights the semiconductor light source load, and includes: a DC-DC converter; and a controller. The DC-DC converter includes an inductance element and a switching element, and performs voltage conversion by storing energy in the inductance element from an input power source when the switching element is on, and discharging the energy, the energy being stored in the inductance element, to a load side when the switching element is off. The controller controls ON/OFF operations of the switching element so that an output current of the DC-DC converter can be the same as a target value. In the power supply device, means for regulating timing of turning on the switching element so that a current flowing through the inductance element can flow in a continuous mode operation is provided at least in the controller.
US08963423B2 Barrier film composite, display apparatus including the barrier film composite, method of manufacturing barrier film composite, and method of manufacturing display apparatus including the barrier film composite
A barrier film composite includes a film with an undulating surface; and at least one decoupling layer and at least one barrier layer disposed on the undulating surface of the film.
US08963422B2 Method for manufacturing organic light-emitting device and organic light-emitting device
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an organic light-emitting device capable of simply manufacturing the organic light-emitting device without requiring a vacuum atmosphere. The manufacturing method of the present invention includes: a step of preparing a supporting substrate having an organic electroluminescent element formed thereon, the organic electroluminescent element containing an anode, a light-emitting layer, an electron injection layer made by forming a film with a solution containing an ionic polymer, and a cathode; and a step of laminating the supporting substrate and a sealing member to one another so as to seal the organic electroluminescent element.
US08963421B2 Electroluminescent device including moisture barrier layer
An electroluminescent device includes: a substrate; an electroluminescent layered structure disposed over the substrate and including first and second electrode layers and an electroluminescent material layer disposed between the first and second electrode layers; and a moisture barrier layer in contact with the electroluminescent layered structure for preventing moisture from diffusing into the electroluminescent layered structure. The moisture barrier layer includes at least two inorganic films of a silicon-nitrogen-containing compound and at least one polymer film interposed between the inorganic films.
US08963418B2 Display panel and panel inspection apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display panel based on active matrix driving having a display area made up of N pixel control lines, M video signal lines orthogonally intersecting the N pixel control lines, and pixel circuits arranged at intersections between the N pixel control lines and M video signal lines, wherein positional identification patterns are arranged on every k (k being a natural number) pixel control lines inside each of the pixel circuits.
US08963416B2 Organic compound
An organic compound is represented by general formula (1): where R1 to R18 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group.
US08963415B2 Organic EL element, display panel, and display device
An organic EL element comprises: a transparent electrode; a reflective electrode opposite the transparent electrode; and a light-emitting layer having a film thickness of 20 nm to 200 nm, between the electrodes. The reflective electrode is a layered film of: a metal film including Al as a main component and having a film thickness of at least 43 nm; and a Ni film, whose film thickness d satisfies: 0 nm
US08963414B2 Organic electroluminescent device, lighting apparatus, and method for manufacturing the organic electroluminescent device
According to one embodiment, an organic electroluminescent device includes first and second electrodes, an interconnection layer, an organic light emitting layer and a light scattering layer. The first electrode has includes first, second and third portions. The interconnection layer is electrically connected to the first electrode. The third portion overlays the interconnection layer when projected to the plane. The first and second portions do not overlay the interconnection layer. The second electrode overlays the second portion and does not overlay the first and the third portions. The organic light emitting layer is provided between the second portion and the second electrode. The second portion is disposed between the fourth portion of the light scattering layer and the second electrode. The fifth portion of the light scattering layer overlays the interconnection layer. The light scattering layer does not overlay the first portion when projected to the plane.
US08963411B2 Assembly for illuminating a control panel
A control console assembly includes a diffusion layer and an electrode of a capacitive sensor. The diffusion layer has an outer surface and an inner surface substantially opposite the outer surface. The electrode of the capacitive sensor is mated to at least one of the inner surface or the outer surface of the diffusion layer.
US08963407B2 Spark plug
A spark plug includes an insulator having an axial hole, a first inner circumferential surface, a second inner circumferential surface whose diameter is greater than that of the first inner circumferential surface, and a ledge portion connecting the first and the second inner circumferential surfaces. The spark plug also includes a center electrode having a large-diameter portion, a projection portion, and a circular columnar leg portion that projects into a space surrounded by the first inner circumferential surface. The spark plug includes a seal portion which fixes the center electrode within the axial hole. When C
US08963406B2 Spark plug
A spark plug is provided having a resistor. The resistor is made from resistor glass material containing an alkali free barium alumino-silicate glass mixed with mullite. In one embodiment, the resistor is a 15 to 30 wt % alkali free barium alumino-silicate glass and 10 to 25 wt % mullite. The resistor material provides for a greater processing kiln temperature range with reduced resistor variability and improved durability performance.
US08963403B2 Piezoelectric device and method for manufacturing thereof
In a piezoelectric device, a lower covering layer, a piezoelectric material layer, a lower electrode layer, and an upper electrode layer, which define common layers, and an upper covering layer, which defines a specific layer, are laminated on a substrate. The piezoelectric material layer is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. First to third vibration regions are provided in which the electrodes are superimposed with the piezoelectric material layer therebetween when viewed in a transparent manner in the direction in which the layers are laminated. The upper covering layer includes only a portion having with a first thickness in the first vibration region, includes a portion having the first thickness and a portion having a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness in the second vibration region, and includes only a portion having the second thickness in the third vibration region.
US08963402B2 Piezoelectric vibrator element, piezoelectric module, and electronic device
A piezoelectric vibrator element includes a vibrating portion that excites thickness-shear vibration, and a peripheral portion that is disposed on the periphery of the vibrating portion and has a thickness thinner than the vibrating portion, the vibrating portion and the peripheral portion being formed in a piezoelectric substrate. A buffering portion and a mount portion are sequentially connected to the peripheral portion. The buffering portion includes a slit formed between the mount portion and the peripheral portion. The mount portion has notches which are formed at both end portions in a direction orthogonal to an arrangement direction of the mount portion, the buffering portion, and the peripheral portion.
US08963401B2 Vibration actuator
There is provided a vibration actuator including: a housing providing an internal space and including holes formed to allow the internal space to be in communication with the outside; a diaphragm disposed to separate the internal space into first and second chambers; a mass body coupled to the diaphragm; and a piezoelectric element coupled to one inner surface of the housing and disposed under the mass body.
US08963397B2 Brush holder device of vehicle AC generator
A brush holder device of a vehicle AC generator includes: a regulator circuit that adjusts magnitude of an AC voltage generated in a stator; a base that is attached within a rear bracket and formed by integrally molding a brush holder portion having a brush insertion hole and holding a brush within the brush insertion hole and a regulator circuit housing portion in which the regulator circuit is housed and held; a cap that is made of resin and has sufficient elasticity to close the brush insertion hole; and a plate that is made of metal, integrally has the cap made of resin, and is attached to the brush holder portion.
US08963394B2 Cage rotor with starting bar
The invention relates to a cage rotor for an asynchronous machine (1) comprising starting bars for improving the starting behavior. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a cage rotor. In order to achieve as great an efficiency as possible, the cage rotor comprises a laminated rotor core (2) having grooves (3) and operating bars (5; 6; 7; 8; 15) disposed in the grooves (3) and contacting the laminated rotor core (2) directly on the inner groove base as seen in the radial direction of the cage rotor, wherein the operating bars (5; 6; 7; 8; 15) comprise partial cladding (9; 10; 11) enclosing an outer surface of the operating bars (5; 6; 7; 8; 15) as seen in the radial direction (12) of the cage rotor, wherein the material of the operating bars (5; 6; 7; 8; 15) comprises a greater specific conductivity than the material of the partial cladding (9; 10; 11).
US08963387B2 Motor rotor including a resolver rotor for detecting rotation position
A motor rotor and a method for manufacturing a motor rotor, enabling crimping of the resolver rotor at low cost with less influence on the detection accuracy. A motor rotor includes a resolver rotor and a rotor shaft to which the resolver rotor is affixed by crimping. The rotor shaft includes a first stepped section with which a crimping punch makes contact to deform the first stepped section, a second stepped section with which an end surface of the resolver rotor makes contact, and a cutout groove formed in a surface which is located near the first stepped section and with which an inner peripheral hole section of the resolver rotor makes contact. In the crimping operation, the first stepped section of the rotor shaft is bent within the cutout groove to form a crimping protrusion which presses the end surface of the resolver rotor.
US08963386B2 Spindle motor
A spindle motor is provided, the motor comprising: a base plate, a PCB on the base plate, a bearing assembly arranged on the base plate, a stator coupled to a periphery of the bearing assembly, a rotor rotationally coupled to the bearing assembly, the rotor including a yoke and a magnet, and a rotation shaft rotationally coupled to the bearing assembly. The base plate includes a planar portion and a protruding portion arranged along with a periphery of the yoke, the protruding portion being apart from the yoke. The base plate is partially covered with the PCB in a region where the stator is arranged. And, a height from the planar portion to an upper surface of the protruding portion is smaller than a height from the planar portion to a lower surface of the periphery of the yoke.
US08963380B2 System and method for power generation system
A power generation system comprises a tube, a coil assembly, a magnetic assembly, and a direct detonation source. The coil assembly comprises at least one coil configured outside the tube. The magnetic assembly comprises at least one magnet inside the tube. The magnetic assembly is configured to move relative to the tube. The direct detonation source produces a detonation impulse that causes one of the tube or the magnetic assembly to move thereby generating power based on the movement of the magnet assembly relative to the coil assembly where the direct detonation source produces the detonation impulse at an ignition point without requiring a period of deflagration.
US08963379B2 Paper shredder control system responsive to touch-sensitive element
The invention is directed to a touch-sensitive paper shredder control system. The touching feature is implemented through a series of electronic circuits, taking input from a conductive touch panel on the shredder feed throat, processing the signal, and through a motor driving circuit, stopping the mechanical parts of the shredder. The system has a touch detection circuit unit, which contains a bioelectricity controlled switching circuit to sense the conductive touch panel. The bioelectricity controlled switching circuit is configured to trigger a ground switching circuit in the touch detection circuit unit which outputs to a multifunction control circuit unit. The control circuit unit then takes care of the remaining protection issues. The touching device for paper shredders protects humans and other living beings including pets from injuries through automatic and real time monitoring. The complete control process is both safe and sensitive.
US08963373B2 Grid tie solar system and a method
A grid tie system includes a plurality of solar panels, a plurality of inverters, wherein each of the inverters is in electrical communication with at least one of the solar panels to convert a direct current to an alternating current, wherein each of the inverters has an active state and an inactive state and at least one of the inverters includes a tracking component to track a maximum power point of at least one of the solar panels, and a controller in communication with at least one of the inverters for selectively toggling the at least one of the inverters between the active state and the inactive state.
US08963371B2 Power supply with dual asymmetrical inputs
A dual asymmetric input power supply architecture for use in power systems employing input power source redundancy. The dual asymmetric input power supply operates from a main input of the power supply when acceptable voltage is present on the main input. If the main input fails or is out of tolerance, power can be supplied from an auxiliary input through a transformer isolated switching converter. The dual asymmetric input power supply architecture maintains the high efficiency of a single-input power supply while providing an auxiliary connection for input power source redundancy.
US08963370B2 Load sharing apparatus
Load sharing apparatus for load sharing between a plurality of power supplies (1, 2). The apparatus comprises one or more load sharing modules (Share1, Share2), each for association with a respective power supply. The or each load sharing module comprises load determining means for generating a signal which represents a load value corresponding to the power or current supplied by the respective power supply, and voltage control means for controlling the output voltage of the respective power supply to vary inversely with said load value at a first rate when the load value is below a threshold value, and for controlling the output voltage of the respective power supply to vary inversely with said load value at a second rate when the load value equals or exceeds said (first) threshold value. Said second rate is greater than said first rate.
US08963369B2 Distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources
A distributed power harvesting system including multiple direct current (DC) power sources with respective DC outputs adapted for interconnection into a interconnected DC power source output. A converter includes input terminals adapted for coupling to the interconnected DC power source output. A circuit loop sets the voltage and current at the input terminals of the converter according to predetermined criteria. A power conversion portion converts the power received at the input terminals to an output power at the output terminals. A power supplier is coupled to the output terminals. The power supplier includes a control part for maintaining the input to the power supplier at a predetermined value. The control part maintains the input voltage and/or input current to the power supplier at a predetermined value.
US08963358B2 Linear faraday induction generator for the generation of electrical power from ocean wave kinetic energy and arrangements thereof
Various embodiments of permanent magnetic arrays are disclosed. Such arrays include a central support tube; permanent magnets arranged along the central support tube, where the permanent magnets are oriented such that like poles of the magnets are placed adjacently to concentrate a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the central support tube; and pole pieces arranged along the central support tube, each pole piece in contact with two neighboring permanent magnets and separating those two neighboring permanent magnets.
US08963357B2 Apparatus for generating electricity from a tidal water flow
Apparatus (2) for generating electricity from a tidal water flow, which apparatus (2) comprises a plurality of units (4) which generate electricity, and a base (6) for securing the units (4) to a water bed (8), the apparatus (2) being such that: (i) the units (4) each comprise a housing (10) and a turbine generator (12) which is positioned in the housing (10) and which generates the electricity; (ii) the housing (10) has openings (14, 16) for allowing the tidal water to flow through the housing (10) and rotate the turbine generator (12) in order to cause the turbine generator (12) to generate the electricity; (iii) the housing (10) has at least six sides (18) and is symmetrical in end view; (iv) the units (4) contact each other along at least two adjacent sides (18), whereby the units (4) securely connect to each other and provide support for each other; (v) the base has an upper surface (20) with at least one recess (22) which receives a lower part of at least one of the units (4); and (vi) the recess (22) is of a complementary shape to the shape of the lower part of the unit (4) that is located in the recess (22), whereby a plurality of sides of the unit (4) engage adjacent sides of the recess (24), and whereby the unit (4) in the recess (22) securely connects to the base (6).
US08963353B1 System and method to minimize grid spinning reserve losses by pre-emptively sequencing power generation equipment to offset wind generation capacity based on geospatial regional wind conditions
A system and method to preemptively adjust power generation of one or more non-wind power generators based on near term wind generation capability, spinning reserve margin, and/or power grid spinning reserve forecast requirements to offset wind power generation based on geospatial regional wind conditions.
US08963339B2 Stacked multi-chip integrated circuit package
A multi-chip integrated circuit (IC) package is provided which is configured to protect against failure due to warpage. The IC package may comprise a substrate, a level-one IC die and a plurality of level-two IC dies. The level-one IC die having a surface that is electrically coupled to the substrate. The plurality of level-two IC dies is stacked above the level-one IC die. The plurality of level-two IC dies may each have an active surface that is electrically coupled to the substrate. The plurality of level-two IC dies may be arranged side by side such that the active surfaces of the plurality of level-two IC dies are positioned substantially in a same plane. Relative to a single die configuration, the level-two IC dies are separated thereby inhibiting cracking, peeling and/or other potential failures due to warpage of the IC package.
US08963330B2 Circuit structures and electronic systems
The invention includes methods of forming layers conformally over undulating surface topographies associated with semiconductor substrates. The undulating surface topographies can first be exposed to one or more of titanium oxide, neodymium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide and vanadium oxide to treat the surfaces, and can be subsequently exposed to a material that forms a layer conformally along the treated surfaces. The material can, for example, comprise an aluminum-containing compound and one or both of silane and silazane. The invention also includes semiconductor constructions having conformal layers formed over liners containing one or more of titanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide and vanadium oxide.
US08963316B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for making the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first redistribution layer and a conductive via. The substrate has a substrate body and a pad. The pad and the first redistribution layer are disposed adjacent to the first surface of the substrate body, and electrically connected to each other. The interconnection metal is disposed in a through hole of the substrate body, and contacts the first redistribution layer. Whereby, the pad can be electrically connected to the second surface of the substrate body through the first redistribution layer and the conductive via.
US08963302B2 Stacked packaged integrated circuit devices, and methods of making same
A device is disclosed which includes a first packaged integrated circuit device, a second packaged integrated circuit device positioned above the first packaged integrated circuit device and a plurality of planar conductive members conductively coupling the first and second packaged integrated circuit devices to one another. A method is also disclosed which includes conductively coupling a plurality of extensions on a leadframe to each of a pair of stacked packaged integrated circuit devices and cutting the leadframe to singulate the extensions from one another.
US08963298B2 EMI shielding package structure and method for fabricating the same
An EMI shielding package structure includes a substrate unit having a first surface with a die mounting area and a second surfaces opposite to the first surface, metallic pillars formed on the first surface, a chip mounted on and electrically connected to the die-mounting area, an encapsulant covering the chip and the first surface while exposing a portion of each of the metallic pillars from the encapsulant, and a shielding film enclosing the encapsulant and electrically connecting to the metallic pillars. A fabrication method of the above structure by two cutting processes is further provided. The first cutting process forms grooves by cutting the encapsulant. After a shielding film is formed in the grooves and electrically connected to the metallic pillars, the complete package structure is formed by the second cutting process, thereby simplifying the fabrication process while overcoming inferior grounding of the shielding film as encountered in prior techniques.
US08963293B2 High resistivity silicon-on-insulator substrate and method of forming
A semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same. In one embodiment, a method of forming a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer substrate includes: providing a handle substrate; forming a high resistivity material layer over the handle substrate, the high resistivity material layer including one of an amorphous silicon carbide (SiC), a polycrystalline SiC, an amorphous diamond, or a polycrystalline diamond; forming an insulator layer over the high resistivity material layer; and bonding a donor wafer to a top surface of the insulator layer to form the SOI wafer substrate.
US08963291B2 Semiconductor chip with seal ring and sacrificial corner pattern
A semiconductor device including a low dielectric constant film of which the relative dielectric constant is less than 3.5, is provided with one or more seal rings that are moisture blocking walls forming a closed loop in a plan view, and where at least one of the seal rings includes a seal ring protrusion portion in inward protruding form in the vicinity of a chip corner.
US08963282B2 Crack stop structure and method for forming the same
A semiconductor structure includes a matrix, an integrated circuit and a scribe line. The matrix includes a scribe line region and a circuit region. The integrated circuit is disposed within the circuit region. The scribe line is disposed within the scribe line region and includes a crack stop trench which is disposed in the matrix and adjacent to the circuit region. The crack stop trench is parallel with one side of the circuit region and filled with a composite material in a form of a grid to form a crack stop structure.
US08963281B1 Simultaneous isolation trench and handle wafer contact formation
Techniques are described to simultaneously form an isolation trench and a handle wafer contact without additional mask steps. In one or more implementations, an isolation trench and a handle wafer contact trench are simultaneously formed in a substrate. The substrate includes an insulating layer that defines a trench bottom of the handle wafer contact trench. A handle wafer is bonded to a bottom surface of the substrate. An oxide insulating layer is deposited in the isolation trench and the handle wafer contact trench. The oxide insulating layer is then etched so that the oxide insulating layer covering the trench bottom is at least partially removed. The trench bottom is then etched so that a top surface of the handle wafer is at least partially exposed. The handle wafer contact trench may then be at least partially filled with an electrical conductive material.
US08963280B1 Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture
Semiconductor devices with reduced substrate defects and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a dielectric material on a substrate. The method further includes forming a shallow trench structure and deep trench structure within the dielectric material. The method further includes forming a material within the shallow trench structure and deep trench structure. The method further includes forming active areas of the material separated by shallow trench isolation structures. The shallow trench isolation structures are formed by: removing the material from within the deep trench structure and portions of the shallow trench structure to form trenches; and depositing an insulator material within the trenches.
US08963275B2 Resistive-switching device capable of implementing multiary addition operation and method for multiary addition operation
A resistive-switching random access memory device includes a memory cell disposed between a bit line and a word line, the memory cell having a resistive-switching element (40) and a Schottky diode (30). The Schottky diode (30) and the resistive-switching element (40) are connected in series. The Schottky diode (30) includes a metal layer and a semiconductor layer contacting each other. An interface between the metal layer and the semiconductor layer has a non-planar shape.
US08963271B2 Solid-state imaging device
In a solid-state imaging device, a photoelectric conversion unit, a transfer transistor, and at least a part of electric charge holding unit, among pixel constituent elements, are disposed on a first semiconductor substrate. An amplifying transistor, a signal processing circuit other than a reset transistor, and a plurality of common output lines, to which signals are read out from a plurality of pixels, are disposed on a second semiconductor substrate.
US08963269B2 Light-transmissive member, optical device, and manufacturing methods thereof
A light-transmissive member has a first principal face, a second principal face, and side faces. The first principal face has a first portion including a center of the first principal face and a second portion between the first portion and the side face sides. The member includes a plurality of altered portions formed between the first principal face and the second principal face so that the plurality of altered portions do not appear on the first principal face, the second principal face, and the side faces. Orthogonal projections of the plurality of altered portions onto the first principal face are included in the second portion.
US08963268B2 Free-standing two-sided devices
Devices having features deposited on two sides of a device substrate and methods for making the same. The devices are useful, for example, as the components in a macroelectronic system. In a preferred embodiment, the devices are photosensors having a plurality of electrodes patterned on a first side of the device and an electromagnetic interference filter patterned on a second side of the device. The method facilitates the fabrication of two-sided devices through the use of an immobilizing layer deposited on top of devices patterned on a first side of a device substrate; flipping the device substrate; processing the second side of the device substrate to produce patterned features on the second side of the device substrate; and releasing the devices having patterned elements on two sides of each device.
US08963261B2 Capacitive transducer and methods of manufacturing and operating the same
Provided are a capacitive transducer, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. The capacitive transducer includes: a monolithic substrate comprising a first doping region, a second doping region that is opposite in conductivity to the first doping region, and a vibrating portion; and an empty space that is disposed between the first doping region and the vibrating portion. The vibrating portion includes a plurality of through-holes, and a material film for sealing the plurality of through-holes is disposed on the vibrating portion.
US08963256B2 CMOS device structures
Latch-up of CMOS devices is improved by using a structure having electrically coupled but floating doped regions between the N-channel and P-channel devices. The doped regions desirably lie substantially parallel to the source-drain regions of the devices between the Pwell and Nwell regions in which the source-drain regions are located. A first (“N BAR”) doped region forms a PN junction with the Pwell, spaced apart from a source/drain region in the Pwell, and a second (“P BAR”) doped region forms a PN junction with the Nwell, spaced apart from a source/drain region in the Nwell. A further NP junction lies between the N BAR and P BAR regions. The N BAR and P BAR regions are ohmically coupled, preferably by a low resistance metal conductor, and otherwise floating with respect to the device or circuit reference potentials (e.g., Vss, Vdd).
US08963253B2 Bi-directional bipolar junction transistor for high voltage electrostatic discharge protection
A bi-directional electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device may include a substrate, an N+ doped buried layer, an N-type well region and two P-type well regions. The N+ doped buried layer may be disposed proximate to the substrate. The N-type well region may encompass the two P-type well regions such that a portion of the N-type well region is interposed between the two P-type well regions. The P-type well regions may be disposed proximate to the N+ doped buried layer and comprise one or more N+ doped plates, one or more P+ doped plates, one or more field oxide (FOX) portions, and one or more field plates. A multi-emitter structure is also provided.
US08963252B2 Semiconductor device and method for forming the same
Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device may include a semiconductor element disposed on a substrate and including an insulating layer and a gate electrode, a doped region having a first conductivity-type on the substrate, a conductive interconnection electrically connected to the gate electrode, and a first contact plug having a second conductivity-type and electrically connecting the conductive interconnection and the doped region to each other and constituting a Zener diode by junction with the doped region.
US08963248B2 Semiconductor device having SSOI substrate with relaxed tensile stress
A method comprises: forming a tensile SSOI layer on a buried oxide layer on a bulk substrate; forming a plurality of fins in the SSOI layer; removing a portion of the fins; annealing remaining portions of the fins to relax a tensile strain of the fins; and merging the remaining portions of the fins.
US08963247B2 Selective amorphization for electrical signal isolation and linearity in SOI structures
Provided is a structure for improved electrical signal isolation between adjacent devices situated in a top semiconductor layer of the structure and a method for the structure's fabrication. The structure comprises a gate situated on the top semiconductor layer, the top semiconductor layer situated over a base oxide layer, and the base oxide layer situated over a handle wafer. The top surface of the handle wafer is amorphized by an inert implant of Xenon or Argon to reduce carrier mobility in the handle wafer and improve electrical signal isolation between the adjacent devices situated in the top semiconductor layer.
US08963233B2 Power MOSFET device structure for high frequency applications
This invention discloses a new switching device that includes a drain disposed on a first surface and a source region disposed near a second surface of a semiconductor opposite the first surface. An insulated gate electrode is disposed on top of the second surface for controlling a source to drain current and a source electrode is interposed into the insulated gate electrode for substantially preventing a coupling of an electrical field between the gate electrode and an epitaxial region underneath the insulated gate electrode. The source electrode further covers and extends over the insulated gate for covering an area on the second surface of the semiconductor to contact the source region, An epitaxial layer is disposed above and having a different dopant concentration than the drain region. The gate electrode is insulated from the source electrode by an insulation layer having a thickness depending on a Vgsmax rating of the vertical power device.
US08963228B2 Non-volatile memory device integrated with CMOS SOI FET on a single chip
A structure and method provided for integrating SOI CMOS FETs and NVRAM memory devices. The structure includes a SOI substrate containing a semiconductor substrate, a SOI layer, and a BOX layer formed between the semiconductor substrate and the SOI layer. The SOI substrate includes predefined SOI device and NVRAM device regions. A SOI FET is formed in the SOI device region. The SOI FET includes portions of the BOX layer and SOI layers, an SOI FET gate dielectric layer, and a gate conductor layer. The structure further includes a NVRAM device formed in the NVRAM device region. The NVRAM device includes a tunnel oxide, floating gate, blocking oxide, and control gate layers. The tunnel oxide layer is coplanar with the portion of the BOX layer in the SOI device region. The floating gate layer is coplanar with the portion of the semiconductor layer in the SOI device region.
US08963226B2 Semiconductor device with gate electrodes
A semiconductor memory array includes a first nonvolatile memory cell having a first charge storage layer and a first gate electrode and a second nonvolatile memory cell, adjacent to the first memory cell in a first direction, having a second charge storage layer and a second gate electrode. The first and second electrodes extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first electrode has a first contact section extending toward the second electrode in the first direction, and the second electrode has a second contact section extending toward the first electrode in the first direction. The first and second contact positions are shifted in the second direction, respectively, and the first electrode and the first contact section are electrically separated from the second electrode and the second contact section.
US08963219B2 Tunnel field effect transistor
A tunnel field effect transistor and a method of making the same. The transistor includes a semiconductor substrate. The transistor also includes a gate located on a major surface of the substrate. The transistor further includes a drain of a first conductivity type. The transistor also includes a source of a second conductivity type extending beneath the gate. The source is separated from the gate by a channel region and a gate dielectric. The transistor is operable to allow charge carrier tunnelling from an inversion layer through an upper surface of the source.
US08963218B2 Dual-gate VDMOS device
Semiconductor devices are described that include a dual-gate configuration. In one or more implementations, the semiconductor devices include a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The substrate includes a first and a second body region formed proximal to the first surface. Moreover, each body region includes a source region formed therein. The substrate further includes a drain region formed proximal to the second surface and an epitaxial region that is configured to function as a drift region between the drain region and the source regions. A dual-gate is formed over the first surface of the substrate. The dual-gate includes a first gate region and a second gate region that define a gap there between to reduce the gate to drain capacitance.
US08963216B2 Chemical sensor with sidewall spacer sensor surface
In one implementation, a chemical sensor is described. The chemical sensor includes chemically-sensitive field effect transistor including a floating gate conductor having an upper surface. A dielectric material defines an opening extending to the upper surface of the floating gate conductor. A conductive sidewall spacer is on a sidewall of the opening and contacts the upper surface of the floating gate conductor.
US08963198B2 Semiconductor device
In one surface of a semiconductor substrate, an n− layer, a p base layer, a p well layer, another p well layer, a channel stopper layer, an emitter electrode, a guard ring electrode, and a channel stopper electrode for example are formed. In the other surface of the semiconductor substrate, an n+ buffer layer, a p+ collector layer, and a collector electrode are formed. In a curved corner of the p well layer, a p low-concentration layer having a lower impurity concentration than the impurity concentration of the p well layer is formed from the surface to a predetermined depth.
US08963197B2 Light emitting diode package
An LED package includes a package body having a well formed in its upper surface, where the well is configured to receive a light emitting chip. An optical lens is disposed above the package body and includes a hollow dome structure located above and encompassing the lateral extent of the light emitting chip within the well of the package body. In one implementation, the package body and the optical lens collectively include at least one protrusion and concave, where the protrusion is aligned with the concave so that the optical lens mates with the package body, thereby causing the optical lens to self align with the package body. In another implementation, a protruding inner portion of the upper surface of the package body mates with the hollow dome structure, achieving a similar purpose. Consequently, generation of an eccentric fault between the optical lens and the package body is prevented.
US08963195B2 Flexible lighting device including a heat-spreading layer
A lighting element, comprising: a first substrate; a first and second conductive elements located on the first substrate; a light-emitting element having first and second contacts that are both on a first surface of the light-emitting element, the first contact being electrically connected to the first conductive element, the second contact being electrically connected to the second conductive element, and the light-emitting element emitting light from a second surface opposite the first surface; a top layer adjacent to the second surface; and an affixing layer located between the first substrate and the top layer, the affixing layer affixing the top layer to the first substrate; and a heat spreading layer having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the heat spreading layer being affixed beneath the first flexible substrate at the third surface, wherein the flexible top layer is substantially transparent to light.
US08963188B2 Light emitting diode package and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting diode (LED) package is provided. The LED package includes a printed circuit board (PCB), an electrode pad, an LED, a wire, and first and second moldings. The electrode pad and the LED are formed on the PCB. The wire electrically connects the LED with the electrode pad. The first molding is formed on the LED and the second molding is formed on the first molding.
US08963187B2 Wavelength-converting light emitting diode (LED) chip and LED device equipped with chip
A wavelength-converted light emitting diode (LED) chip is provided. The wavelength-converted LED chip includes an LED chip and a wavelength-converted layer. The LED chip emits light in a predetermined wavelength region. The wavelength-converted layer is formed of a resin containing phosphor bodies of at least one kind which convert a portion of the light emitted from the LED chip into light in a different wavelength region. The wavelength-converted layer is formed on an upper surface of the LED chip, and has a convex meniscus-shaped upper surface.
US08963183B2 Light emitting diode having distributed Bragg reflector
A light-emitting diode (LED) according to an exemplary embodiment includes a light-emitting structure arranged on a first surface of a substrate, the light-emitting structure including a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer and the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer. A first distributed Bragg reflector is arranged on a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface, the first distributed Bragg reflector to reflect light emitted from the light-emitting structure. The first distributed Bragg reflector has a reflectivity of at least 90% with respect to blue, green, and red light.
US08963174B2 TFT-LCD array substrate and display device
A TFT-LCD array substrate and a display device. The TFT-LCD array substrate comprises a pixel area the pixel area comprising a plurality of pixel units arranged in an array, and each of the pixel units comprising a first electrode and a second electrode generating a horizontal electric field with the first electrode. The second electrode comprises strip electrodes, and the strip electrodes constitute a radial pattern of a regular triangle, a regular polygon or a circle in each of the pixel units.
US08963171B2 Image display device and the method for manufacturing the same
An image display device includes a resin film, an organic film which is formed above the resin film, a circuit layer which is formed above the organic film and includes at least a thin film transistor, and a barrier layer which is formed between the organic film and the circuit layer. The organic film has a first surface which faces the circuit layer and a side surface which crosses the first surface. The barrier layer covers the first surface and the side surface.
US08963157B2 Thin film transistor, array substrate, and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film transistor, an array substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method comprises: forming a buffer layer and an active layer sequentially on a substrate, and forming an active region through a patterning process; forming a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode sequentially; forming Ni deposition openings; forming a dielectric layer having source/drain contact holes in a one-to-one correspondence with the Ni deposition openings; and forming source/drain electrodes which are connected with the active region via the source/drain contact holes and the Ni deposition openings.
US08963156B2 Semiconductor devices including WiSX
Some embodiments include a semiconductor device having a stack structure including a plurality of alternating tiers of dielectric material and poly-silicon formed on a substrate. Such a semiconductor device may further include at least one opening having a high aspect ratio and extending into the stack structure to a level adjacent the substrate, a first poly-silicon channel formed in a lower portion of the opening adjacent the substrate, a second poly-silicon channel formed in an upper portion of the opening, and WSiX material disposed between the first poly-silicon channel and the second poly-silicon channel in the opening. The WSiX material is adjacent to the substrate, and can be used as an etch-landing layer and a conductive contact to contact both the first poly-silicon channel and the second poly-silicon channel in the opening. Other embodiments include methods of making semiconductor devices.
US08963153B2 Thin film transistor and organic light emitting display device having the same
A thin film transistor (TFT) and an organic light emitting display device having the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a TFT includes a gate electrode formed on a substrate. A gate insulating layer is formed on the substrate having the gate electrode. An active layer is formed on the gate insulating layer. A source electrode is formed over the active layer. A drain electrode is formed to substantially surround at least three surfaces of the source electrode on the active layer.